Chapter 199: Cheng Xuyuan, You Are Too Frivolous
As an employee of a trading company, Qin Wenhui understands money better than ordinary people.
His salary is not low, and he also receives subsidies. From time to time, he can also get some electrical appliances that are difficult for others to buy, so his life is quite enviable.
Twenty dollars per thousand words, one million words, that's twenty thousand Hong Kong dollars.
Although foreign exchange now needs to be exchanged through a bank, 20,000 Hong Kong dollars is still a considerable amount.
My annual salary is only about 600 to 700 yuan. How many years will it take to earn that much money?
If I were Cheng Xuyuan, I would definitely agree without hesitation.
He looked at Cheng Xuyuan eagerly. At this moment, he deeply realized that this brother-in-law who was a writer could make so much money! Cheng Xuyuan was not struck by this condition. He looked at Mr. Lin, and various thoughts flashed quickly in his mind.
As far as he knew, the 1970s and 1980s were a time when the newspaper industry in Hong Kong was booming, with various newspapers competing with each other.
The novels in the supplements have become a major selling point.
Take Mr. Ni for example. He received a thousand yuan per thousand words as his final payment.
I get 20 yuan per thousand words, which is not low for a newcomer, but compared with the influence of "Things about the Ming Dynasty", 20 yuan per thousand words is indeed not high.
After a moment of silence, Cheng Xuyuan said to Mr. Lin, "Mr. Lin wants to publish my work. Do you want to use it to help your newspaper increase sales?"
Mr. Lin was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Cheng Xuyuan to hit the nail on the head and point out his purpose directly.
After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Yes, I think if your work is serialized, it will be very helpful in maintaining our sales."
"So Mr. Cheng, 20 yuan per thousand words, I am very sincere."
"After all, our newspaper is relatively niche, and the average article is basically three yuan per thousand words."
Cheng Xuyuan said: "Then I also want three yuan for a thousand words."
Hearing Cheng Xuyuan's words, Mr. Lin was stunned, while Manager Wang and Qin Wenhui even thought that Cheng Xuyuan had been kicked in the head by a donkey.
Just an hour ago, you walked away in anger because someone offered you three yuan for a thousand words.
Now people pay you 20 yuan per thousand words, but you turn it around and insist on charging 3 yuan per thousand words. What are you thinking?
If it weren't for Manager Wang being there, Qin Wenhui really wanted to walk over and remind Cheng Xuyuan to stop going crazy.
Although Mr. Lin is also one of us, you can't be so selfless! Teacher Ma was originally very leisurely. Although Cheng Xuyuan was a student of their Yenching University, the matter of royalties had nothing to do with them.
But this is too much of a disadvantage.
He even wanted to come forward and give Cheng Xuyuan some advice.
Mr. Lin hesitated for a moment and looked at Cheng Xuyuan and said, "Mr. Cheng, do you have any other conditions for such a low price?"
"Of course." Cheng Xuyuan said: "If there are no other conditions, everyone will think I have a problem with my brain!"
Cheng Xuyuan said: "Mr. Lin, based on your current sales volume, I want three yuan per thousand words, but I hope my royalties can increase as your sales volume increases."
"For every 10,000 copies you increase in sales, I hope my royalties will increase by three yuan per thousand words."
Mr. Lin originally thought that Cheng Xuyuan would offer some unpleasant conditions, but when he heard this condition, he felt relieved.
Now, their newspaper sales, let alone growth, would be very good if they could maintain the status quo, because it is shrinking at an irreversible rate.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have come here in person and tried to find another way to stabilize the sales of his own newspaper.
Growth, this is unimaginable! He couldn't help but look at the young man in front of him. His handsome face, full of vigor, made him sigh in his heart that heroes emerge from youth.
But although the youth's heroic spirit is good, it is a bit too arrogant and too ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth! In a flash, he said in a deep voice: "Mr. Cheng, I really admire your confidence."
"To be honest, I admire you a little bit."
"But I can't let myself face you with guilt."
At this point, he said solemnly: "The type of our newspaper makes it very difficult for us to increase sales."
"At our best, we didn't sell 50,000 copies."
"Not to mention, in the current situation, we want to increase our sales."
"So, if you follow your suggestion, I think it will be difficult for you to get the royalties I just gave you."
Mr. Lin said this more seriously, "I read your book "Things about the Ming Dynasty" yesterday, and I admire you very much."
"So I just gave the best conditions I could."
"Mr. Cheng, please think twice before you act."
Qin Wenhui hesitated for a moment and said to Cheng Xuyuan: "Xuyuan, 20,000 Hong Kong dollars is really not a small amount."
"With this money, I can also exchange some overseas remittance coupons, which has many benefits!"
Cheng Xuyuan smiled and said, "Brother, thank you for thinking about me, but I have made up my mind about this matter."
"I don't make much money, but that's because of my own ability. I want to challenge my limits and try to write this book well."
Hearing Cheng Xuyuan being so stubborn, Qin Wenhui stopped talking.
Good words cannot persuade a damned ghost, and mercy without salvation will only kill him. Since this little Cheng won't listen to advice, we can only let him go down this path to the end! "Mr. Lin, I appreciate your kindness, but just do as I say."
"But your newspaper has the right to publish my book only once."
Facing Cheng Xuyuan who had made up his mind, Mr. Lin said helplessly: "Mr. Cheng, since you have made up your mind, I can only report it."
"I think it shouldn't be a big problem."
At this point, he turned to Manager Wang and said, "Can I make a phone call here? I want to make a call home."
Manager Wang talked with Teacher Ma for a while, then accompanied Mr. Lin to make a phone call. In the end, only Cheng Xuyuan and Qin Wenhui were left in the office.
Without outsiders, Qin Wenhui said, "Xuyuan, if we calculate it based on three yuan per thousand words, your book of one million words is only three thousand Hong Kong dollars."
"But twenty yuan per thousand words is a lot."
"For an ordinary person, it would be a blessing to encounter such a good opportunity once. I'm afraid you won't have the chance to encounter it again."
"I think you should still pay 20 per thousand words. It's not too late to regret now."
"If you continue to wait, you may not have the chance to regret it."
Cheng Xuyuan hesitated for a moment and said, "Brother, I'll tell you the truth. I've read some records about manuscript fees these days. I think 20 yuan per thousand words is too low. I'm sorry for the energy I spent on this book."
"So, I want to ask for money based on sales volume."
"If I earn less money, it's because I'm not capable enough, I can't blame anyone else."
Looking at Cheng Xuyuan who looked peaceful, Qin Wenhui shook his head and finally stopped talking.
But in his heart, he had already labeled Cheng Xuyuan as humble on the outside but arrogant on the inside.
This is a crazy student.
This kind of guy will only turn back when he hits a wall.
This kind of guy will only know who is truly good to him after he suffers a loss.
Cheng Xuyuan didn't know what Qin Wenhui was thinking, and in fact he didn't care what Qin Wenhui was thinking.
He is confident about "Things about the Ming Dynasty".
After all, the sales of a classic that was able to attract so many people to read on the Internet back then could not be low.
Ten minutes later, Mr. Lin, Manager Wang and others came back.
Mr. Lin glanced at Cheng Xuyuan and finally said, "Mr. Cheng, our editor-in-chief agrees to your conditions."
"However, he asked me to remind you that our greatest pursuit is to maintain our sales volume."
"As for growth, although everyone of us is looking forward to it, it is too difficult to achieve. So, Mr. Cheng, you still have a chance to regret it."
"If you are still sure you want to sign the agreement as you just said, I can sign it for you."
"But you'd better think about it again."
"Now, my proposal still counts, but once the agreement is signed, it can't be changed!"
Manager Wang sighed. He wanted to speak, but thinking of his responsibilities, he didn't say anything in the end.
However, in his heart, he also felt that this young man named Cheng Xuyuan was still full of youthful vigor. Alas, he had not experienced the hardships of real life and was taking things for granted!
Teacher Ma couldn't help but ask, "Xuyuan, how about you think about it again, or discuss it with your family?"
"After all, this is no small matter."
As a teacher, he would naturally favor his own students, let alone someone like Cheng Xuyuan who was outstanding in the school.
He couldn't say it directly, so he had to delay and let Cheng Xuyuan discuss it with his family.
Cheng Xuyuan smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Ma. Since I proposed this matter, I have made up my mind."
"Mr. Lin, if we can sign the agreement now, then we can sign it now."
Looking at Cheng Xuyuan who did not want to be questioned, Mr. Lin felt regretful, but he finally said, "Mr. Cheng, let's do as you say."
"But what I want to say is that you will definitely regret it after signing this agreement."
"Because the royalties you get will never be more than what I give you."
Cheng Xuyuan smiled and said, "This is my own choice, I can't blame others, but I think that when I finish writing this book, the royalties I get will definitely be more than what you give me, Mr. Lin."
Mr. Lin was stunned for a moment, and finally smiled helplessly: "Mr. Cheng, I am also looking forward to it. After all, this is also a good thing for our newspaper."
"But the chances of such a good thing are slim!"
Under the witness of Manager Wang and others, Mr. Lin took out the contract that had been prepared, and after modifying it according to Cheng Xuyuan's requirements, he signed the contract.
Holding the two-page contract, Cheng Xuyuan felt a surge of emotion.
Although he had written two or three novels, this was the first time he got a contract. After all, at this time, submissions did not require a contract.
Before leaving, Qin Wenhui wanted to say something to Cheng Xuyuan, but in the end, he just sighed and stopped talking.
Cheng Xuyuan understood what Qin Wenhui meant, but he didn't care. He believed that as time passed, some things would always be proven.
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(End of this chapter)
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