After chatting about "Crossing the Boat" for a while, the topic at the dinner table turned to studies and work.
Zha Haisheng is the youngest among the three of them, but he was the first to start working.
Therefore, when talking about work, Luo Yihe and Xi Chuan behaved indifferently. Only Zha Haisheng was worried, and Tao Yumo felt some sympathy.
One of them is a flower in the greenhouse, and the other is too young. Zha Haisheng is only nineteen years old this year, and both are mentally immature.
"Work is for life."
"You have to balance work and life. If you can't balance work and life, you should still focus on life."
"When you first start working, you have to calm down. It's normal to not do well at work. If you can do everything well, wouldn't you become a leader?"
…
Tao Yushu listened to Lin Chaoyang's talk and went off the rails more and more, fearing that he would lead these two good boys astray and stop him from performing.
After the meal, Lin Chaoyang paid for the meal, received thanks from Zha Haisheng and others, and then the two parties said goodbye.
Luo Yihe had an out-of-character personality. Looking at the backs of Lin Chaoyang and the others, he said with envy: "If I were born into a family like Tao Yumo, I would be very happy, right?"
Listening to his words, Zha Haisheng couldn't help but feel the same way.
My family comes from a scholarly family, my father is a university professor, my brother-in-law is a well-known writer, and I am a top student at Yanda University.
It doesn’t matter that he comes from a good family, he is pretty and has a good personality.
He and Tao Yumo have been classmates for four years, and he has never seen her worry or get angry about anything. Her life seems to always be full of sunshine.
Zha Haisheng recalled Tao Yumo's worries about work, and felt that her worries were more like unfounded worries, which were completely different from his own situation.
"The starting point for people like her may be our ending point!" Xi Chuan said with emotion.
Zha Haisheng fell silent for a moment.
That night, Lin Chaoyang finished writing the novel and Tao Yushu also finished reading the manuscript. The couple sat on the sofa in the living room and discussed the magazine articles, chatting and laughing, playing the piano and the harp in harmony, just like a couple of gods.
Tao Yumo, who had just put his nephew to sleep and came out of the bathroom after washing the diaper, could not help but grit his teeth when he saw this scene.
People who don't know the truth will always see the appearance. In the eyes of Zha Haisheng and others, Tao Yumo is the proud daughter of heaven who wins at the starting line.
But when she returned to her sister's house, she was just Dehua, and she had to face endless urinals every day.
If it weren't for the salary of RMB 50, Tao Yumo thought sadly and angrily.
Yes, she got a salary increase recently.
On the one hand, it was because she was taking care of her eldest nephew full time, and on the other hand, it was also because she was about to start working. Fifty cents a day and one yuan could no longer scare her, so Tao Yushu gave her a higher salary.
Thinking about the salary of RMB 1.5, Tao Yumo felt a little better.
Just be friendly to each other, it won't stop me from making money anyway.
Tao Yumo felt particularly dazzled when he saw the couple making love to each other, so he went back to the house after finishing his work.
In the living room, Tao Yushu pointed to the article in the magazine and showed it to Lin Chaoyang, "Hey, have you read this author's novel? The writing is quite good."
Lin Chaoyang looked at the familiar name in the magazine and fell into silence. The writing was not only good, it was quite good.
The magazine Tao Yushu took out was the local literary magazine "Lotus Pond". Lin Chaoyang said: "If you think it's good, just make an appointment with him for a manuscript!"
Tao Yushu rolled his eyes and said, "Read the novel first."
Lin Chaoyang looked at her expression and knew that she must have something on her mind, so he said, "What do you want me to do again?"
Seeing through his thoughts, Tao Yushu said delicately: "Can you write a review for me?"
"It's okay to write a review. But why don't you write it yourself?"
Tao Yushu has been writing literary criticism since college, and has been doing so for the past few years. When it comes to writing literary criticism, Lin Chaoyang feels that he may not be able to write better than her.
"Lao Wang transferred me to "People's Literature" and thinks so highly of me that I want to make some achievements as soon as possible."
Lin Chaoyang understood this when he heard this, but what does this have to do with writing comments?
Seeing that he was still confused, Tao Yushu patiently explained:
"The fastest way to achieve results is to release new works by influential newcomers. I have been reading the works in various local literary magazines recently, trying to find some good ideas among them."
Lin Chaoyang looked at the magazine in his hand and understood, "This is the good seedling you have chosen!"
"That's right."
"But his works are not published in People's Literature. If you ask me to write a review to praise him, isn't that just making wedding clothes for others?"
"Who said I asked you to write it now? Besides, you are so busy writing novels now. When he comes back, his novels will be published in our "People's Literature"."
Tao Yushu finally asked Lin Chaoyang to help him, so naturally he couldn't refuse.
However, he did not rush to agree, but looked at Tao Yushu with a smile.
"Comrade Yushu, your operation is a bit illegal. In principle, it is not easy to handle!"
Tao Yushu looked at him, not knowing what he was thinking. She cooperated and sat on Lin Chaoyang's lap, looking at him with a chuckle.
"In principle, if it can't be done, then it can be done." She breathed out like a blue.
Lin Chaoyang's hand gently climbed up to her waist, "Well...it depends on your sincerity."
Tao Yushu took his hand and entered the room.
Tao Yumo went into the room and lay down for a while. While she was half asleep and half awake, a sad and sad sound suddenly came from her ears. She thought for a while that Xiao Dongzi, who was sleeping next to her, had woken up from hunger.
After opening her eyes, she immediately recognized the voice. When she realized something was wrong, her cheeks instantly turned red, and she was filled with resentment.
If your child sleeps with me, you are not ashamed!
There is no way I can live this day!
Time passed by the end of the month, and Lin Chaoyang received a letter from "Flower City", discussing with him the publication of "The Story of a Crossing Boat".
Lin Chaoyang thought of "Little Shoes" and "Wreaths Under the Mountains" that he still holds in his hands, as well as "Parental Love" and "Raiko's Summer" whose contracts will expire in a few months.
He thought this was an opportunity for negotiation, so he called Li Shifei and briefly explained the situation to him.
As expected, Li Shifei showed extremely strong interest and promised Lin Chaoyang that he would go to Yanjing as soon as possible to discuss the matter in detail.
Not two days after the phone call, Li Shifei arrived in Yanjing, showing his sincerity.
His sincerity is of course not groundless. A "Crossing Boat Story" helped "Flower City" sell 2.08 million copies, not to mention how great the impact was.
In terms of sales and sales volume alone, the 2.08 million sales volume is almost equivalent to the total sales of the previous three to four issues of "Flower City". You must know that "Flower City" is a bimonthly literary magazine, and this issue of the magazine is equivalent to "Flower City".
All of a sudden, half a year of effort was saved.
Talking about Ma Yang, "Flower City" is priced at 1 yuan, so 2.08 million copies means 2.08 million yuan.
Even if Xinhua Bookstore's order price is only 20% to 20% off the list price, it is still 15.6 million yuan.
Anyone who has studied economics and finance understands that the cost of a product is related to the total production volume.
When the output of a product is higher, the unit cost required for its production will be lower. This is the so-called diminishing marginal cost.
The first issue of "Huacheng" magazine in 1983, after excluding various costs and expenses, brought Huacheng Publishing House a net profit of at least 800,000 yuan.
Today's Lin Chaoyang, in the eyes of Li Shifei and everyone at Huacheng Publishing House, is a proper money-spreading boy, so it is not difficult to understand his sincerity.
Li Shifei came with sincerity, but he still underestimated Lin Chaoyang's persistence in royalties.
"You want royalties?"
Li Shifei looked at Lin Chaoyang in surprise. He understood the royalty payment system. This is the royalty payment system adopted by most countries in the world today.
But since most countries have adopted it, it does not mean that China must use it.
In the 1950s, when China still adopted a per-thousand-word fee for manuscripts, writers in the literary world were criticized for being too high.
Nowadays, China has adopted a system of basic royalties plus royalties based on the number of prints. The royalties are close to the level in the 1950s. Considering the current domestic income level, the current royalties are not low.
What's more, Lin Chaoyang's income is among the best among contemporary writers. Li Shifei really didn't expect that he would want royalties.
"Chaoyang, to tell you the truth, I was actually angry with the president before I came here.
Now with the reform and opening up, things are different from the past. Even the peasant comrades no longer eat from the same big pot. It is impossible for us in the literary world to continue to follow the same old standards.
Your works are popular and recognized by readers, which creates benefits for our publishing house.
We talked for a long time, and we both thought it was natural for you to get more royalties.
but……"
When Li Shifei said this, he stopped talking and his face was full of embarrassment.
"But royalties are not in line with our country's long-standing tradition. You see, how about we pay based on the basic royalties plus the royalties for the number of prints? I will try my best to give you a satisfactory price."
Li Shifei's tone was sincere and his posture was very low.
Originally, he had obtained the president's authorization before coming, and thought he had gotten a price that would satisfy Lin Chaoyang, but now he no longer had any confidence.
After all, royalties are directly linked to Ma Yang, and the royalties that publishers want to transfer to authors are real profits.
But Lin Chaoyang also has his own point of view. After all, literature is also a content industry, and naturally content is king. If even the creators cannot get considerable benefits corresponding to their achievements, what are the development prospects of this industry?
His remarks are very much in the style of today's liberals. Li Shifei is in Guangdong and he wholeheartedly agrees with this argument.
But he also knew that this gap should not be opened easily. The two had been arguing for a long time. Li Shifei's attitude was always gentle, but firm.
The royalties are easy to negotiate, but royalties are not.
After Lin Chaoyang stopped talking, the atmosphere reached a deadlock.
While Li Shifei was feeling uneasy, Lin Chaoyang was silent for a long time.
Lin Chaoyang knows very well how difficult it is to get royalties based on the current domestic atmosphere and policies.
But everything is difficult at the beginning. If everyone shrinks because of fear of difficulties, who will change this situation?
In fact, he didn't expect to get the royalties right away. Today's argument with Li Shifei was more about setting the stage for them to accept it.
"Okay!" Lin Chaoyang felt that time was almost running out, so he pretended to sigh helplessly.
Li Shifei was overjoyed.
"This time I will still be paid based on the basic royalties plus royalties for the number of prints, but next time..."
When Lin Chaoyang said this, his eyes were full of determination, and he said to Li Shifei eloquently: "The next novel to be published must be paid with royalties. If you don't agree, I can only change the company to cooperate."
Li Shifei was very happy when he heard Lin Chaoyang compromised, but when Lin Chaoyang expressed his attitude, he became melancholy again.
Why can’t we get over the royalties issue?
"Chaoyang, what if you change the publishing house? There is no precedent for this in China. Not only our publishing house, but other publishing houses will not agree to it."
There was something hidden in Li Shifei's words, and Lin Chaoyang looked at him sharply.
"Lao Li, you are right and wrong in saying that payment of royalties is not the custom in our country.
Just because we did it this way in the past does not mean we will do it this way in the future. We Chinese people always like to talk about the laws established by our ancestors. Let me ask you, if we still do Confucius’ way of respecting Zhou rites, what will happen to New China now?
?”
Lin Chaoyang's tone was not very polite and his expression was serious. Li Shifei didn't want to argue with him and avoided his eyes.
Seeing that he was silent, Lin Chaoyang said again:
"Routines are meant to be broken. Of course, this kind of breaking must require results that exceed the routine.
Let's be honest, you should know better than I do how much benefit "The Ferry" has created for your publishing house."
In terms of appeal among readers, Lin Chaoyang can be said to be the most popular writer in China today. Judging from the sales volume of the first issue of "Flower City" this year, the most important factor in achieving such brilliant results is naturally because of "Flower City".
"The Story of a Boat Ferry".
Li Shifei tried to find some words to refute Lin Chaoyang, but Lin Chaoyang didn't give him this chance at all.
"Old Li, without your Huacheng Publishing House, readers would still recognize my works, Lin Chaoyang. But without my works, would your Huacheng Publishing House still have such high sales?"
Lin Chaoyang always behaved like a good gentleman, but today he occasionally showed his dignity, and his words and expressions were full of self-confidence.
If an ordinary writer had said this, Li Shifei would have refuted it on the spot, but now it was Lin Chaoyang sitting in front of him.
For a moment, he was speechless.
Chapter completed!