Chapter 43 You don’t believe it? I do!
"Could you please give me a receipt? Also, how do I get to No. 2 Middle School in Qingshui County?"
Gengzhi handed the money to the cashier at the guesthouse, got back his letter of introduction, and then asked for directions.
He suddenly received "good news" at noon today. After comprehensive research by the publishing house, it was decided that he would contact "Seven Inch Blade" to finalize the publication of "The Hidden" as soon as possible.
Gengzhi was so angry that he almost exploded on the spot.
[Aren't you asking me to clean Feng Bo's ass? Whoever poops gets to eat it.]
But in the end, Gengzhi still endured it.
Because he was really optimistic about the book "Insidious", he wanted to try again.
It was just that Feng Bo was scheming and did not tell Geng Zhi clearly about the phone call to Principal Chang.
So Gengzhi didn't know that someone from a publishing house had come to look for Li Ye. After arriving in Qingshui County, he thought about staying there first and getting some money for his departure.
In those days, there was no way to "buy invoices" for business trips, so the only way was to earn a little money for travel expenses.
Gengzhi will set off today at noon for one day, and there will be at least one more day tomorrow. Although the two-day travel expenses are not much, it is enough for the family to eat meat twice, or to improve the quality of cigarettes this month.
But at this moment, Gengzhi caught a glimpse of a middle-aged man wearing glasses leaving the guesthouse and running away.
[What's wrong with this person? Was he chased by a dog? ]
"Take your receipt, turn left out of the County No. 2 Middle School, and walk about a mile to your destination."
The waiter at the guesthouse handed Gengzhi the invoice and pointed him in the direction.
Gengzhi took a quick look and realized that this was the direction where the guy was being chased by the dog.
His heart moved, and he felt a sudden sense of panic for no reason.
[It’s still early, why don’t we go to the County No. 2 Middle School first? ]
Gengzhi walked out of the door and headed towards the No. 2 Middle School in the county.
Qingshui County is located in a plain area with a long and straight street. From afar, Gengzhi could see Dong Yuejin, who was gasping for breath with every step because he had run out of breath.
Gengzhi looked around, very confused.
[There is no dog chasing him! ]
But the next moment, Gengzhi saw Dong Yuejin look back at him, then jumped up again.
"Is he looking at me?"
Gengzhi subconsciously guessed a possibility and unconsciously quickened his pace.
Gengzhi was much younger than Dong Yuejin, and Dong Yuejin, who was in front of him, was out of breath and could not get rid of Gengzhi.
Seeing Dong Yuejin entering the No. 2 Middle School in the county, Gengzhi still didn't understand what was going on. But when the security guard Lao Liu stopped him, he cried out that something was wrong.
"What are you doing? Who are you looking for?"
"I'm from Dahe Publishing House, looking for Li Ye."
"You're from the publishing house again. Are you in the same group as the guy in front?"
“.”
"Wow~~"
. . . . . . .
When Dong Yuejin arrived at the repeater class with his mouth wide open and panting, Li Ye and others were holding their enamel pots and preparing to go to the cafeteria to get food, crowding the corridor outside the classroom.
Dong Yuejin fought his way through the crowd and rushed to Li Ye. He swallowed his saliva and said, "Li Ye, I have asked the publishing house. Your manuscript fee can be increased to 8 yuan per thousand words."
Li Ye was a little surprised. It was 5 yuan a few hours ago, but now it suddenly became 8 yuan. Something must have happened in the meantime.
Otherwise, given the office efficiency and rigid thinking of the 1980s, this situation would never have happened.
Since you are in a hurry, I am not in a hurry.
Li Ye smiled gently and said, "Editor Dong, let's not rush. Let's eat first, and then talk slowly, okay?"
What a bullshit!
Dong Yuejin directly took out a stamped contract from his schoolbag, took out a pen and handed it to Li Ye, and began to persuade him like a devil bewitching a lamb.
"Li Ye, believe me. No one will offer a higher price than me. Your book has nearly 300,000 words. As long as you sign this contract, you can get 2,400 yuan in royalties in two days at most."
"Wow~~"
"Oh my god, 2400 yuan~"
"What did Li Ye write to earn so much money? He wouldn't make any mistakes, would he?"
"If you make a mistake, you can get 2,400. Make one for me and see."
The students crowded in the corridor were in an uproar. They all stood on tiptoe to look at Li Ye who was surrounded in the middle, as if they were looking at a shining money tree.
2400 yuan, in the early 1980s, could build several large tiled houses, buy more than a dozen bicycles, and marry dozens of wives.
An ordinary worker earns 30 to 40 yuan a month. I wonder how many years it will take for him to save up 2,400 yuan.
The reason why Dong Yuejin said this number on the spot was to arouse the shock of the students around him and use the momentum to hit Li Ye with a hammer.
Even young people of this age, upon hearing about such a large sum of money, would be so excited that they would just surrender.
Of course, speaking from a conscientious point of view, considering Li Ye's status as a new author, the price of 8 yuan per thousand words is indeed not low. It was only because of the intervention of Dahe Publishing House that Dong Yuejin was forced to resort to this little trick.
But Li Ye has seen "big money", so how could he be easily moved?
He shook his head and pointed at the students around him and said, "Editor Dong, look here, this isn't a good environment for conversation, is it?"
"I"
Dong Yuejin wished he could hold down Li Ye right now, drag his fingers over him, and make him sign the contract just like he had held down Yang Bailao to sign the indenture.
But looking at Li Ye's harmless smile, Dong Yuejin felt deeply powerless.
[This guy is a sly guy. No, he is a profiteer. ]
"Excuse me, which one is Li Ye?"
Gengzhi appeared at the end of the corridor, his eyes passing over the crowded students and accurately staring at the contract in Dong Yuejin's hand.
More than a dozen arms pointed at Li Ye, and enthusiastic classmates pointed out in unison: "He is Li Ye!"
Gengzhi squeezed over, glanced at Dong Yuejin, and stretched out his hand and said, "Hello, Li Ye, I'm Gengzhi from Dahe Publishing House, and I'm in charge of publishing your novel now."
"Another person from the publishing house? That's really strange."
The students around didn't go to get food anymore, they all crowded outside the classroom to watch the show.
They had never seen or even heard of a scene where two publishing houses competed for a student.
Li Ye asked Geng Zhi curiously, "Isn't it Feng Bo who contacted me about your publishing house?"
Gengzhi felt annoyed, but he still explained: "Feng Bo just happened to answer the phone. In fact, I was responsible from beginning to end."
"Oh, oh, oh," Li Ye was in a good mood and said with a smile, "Then let's eat first, I'll treat you, and we can talk slowly, okay!"
. . . . .
Half an hour later, in the mutton soup restaurant outside the school, the three people were silent.
The scramble that Li Ye had expected did not happen. Dong Yuejin and Gengzhi, perhaps by telepathy, suddenly formed a tacit understanding and started a "cold confrontation" with Li Ye.
But how could Li Ye, who has lived two lives, not see through these two people's little tricks?
He slurped down his mutton soup, said goodbye to the two of them and was about to leave.
"Take your time eating. I'm going to class first. If you have anything to talk to me, you can talk to me alone or together."
Gengzhi immediately lost his patience. From the way Dong Yuejin ran just now, he was absolutely sure that Dong Yuejin would talk to Li Ye alone.
Anyway, the empty promise didn't cost money, so he said frankly: "Mr. Li Ye, can you let me take a look at the manuscript first? Don't worry, our Dahe Publishing House is first-class and can offer the most generous conditions."
Li Ye scratched his head and said modestly: "I just finished writing the manuscript, and I always feel that there are still some shortcomings. I'd better find a few senior people to take a look at it. After confirming the final version, I will ask you to correct it!"
“.”
[Are you looking for someone to take a look? Are you submitting your manuscript to another publisher? ]
Gengzhi was so angry that his teeth were itching, and Dong Yuejin shook his head helplessly.
There are many publishing houses in China. Although they may not be able to offer higher conditions, it will definitely make things more complicated.
[Give up? Wouldn't that mean that someone else would take advantage of you? ]
Dong Yuejin exhaled a depressed breath and said firmly: "10 yuan, 10 yuan per thousand words, this is the sincerity of our Blue Ocean Publishing House."
Gengzhi looked at Dong Yuejin in surprise, and suddenly he seemed to see a tragic warrior.
Li Ye blinked and asked, "What about the royalties for the number of copies printed?"
【Do you want to be paid for the number of copies printed? 】
Gengzhi stared at Li Ye with eyes wide open, and suddenly felt that letting Feng Bo and Li Ye work together was the perfect match like a turtle and a mung bean.
Dong Yuejin smiled and said, "Regarding the issue of the number of copies printed and the remuneration, I cannot answer you right away.
But we have recently established connections with several literary media in Hong Kong Island and can recommend your novel to them.
The royalties there are very high. If they take a fancy to your work, you can get tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention a few thousand.”
"Tsk~, do you believe this?"
Gengzhi sneered and turned his face away.
Since the island city accounts for 80% of the province's exports, it is indeed easier for it to establish connections with the outside world, but how credible are those connections?
What's more, how could a novel with obvious colors like "The Hidden" be favored by the media in Hong Kong Island?
Not only did Gengzhi not believe this, even Dong Yuejin himself did not believe it.
But the two were surprised to find that the cunning little thief actually seemed to believe it.
Li Ye's eyes suddenly became bright.
Damn, there is such an awesome relationship, you should have told me about it earlier!
Novels like "Insidious" are definitely not acceptable.
But I have "A Step into the Past"!
What kind of novels do you want, such as Grave Robbers' Chronicles or Ghost Blows Out the Light?
If all else fails, there are still various romantic novels for women. Aunt Qiong Yao, can we have a friendly exchange?
5% per 10,000 copies, increased to 8% in 1990.
Thanks to the book friend "鱼了个猫" for the reward, thank you big guy!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
