Chapter 124 "Ming Pao"
Chen Jiawei also acted quickly. He bought a plane to Xiangjiang that night and reported the matter to Cha Liangyong, the president of "Ming Pao" in Xiangjiang at work the next day.
Ming Pao Building, located on Jiaxing Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong Island, is a nine-storey "Nankang" building that "Ming Pao" bought in 1976 through a bank mortgage for more than 8 million yuan. Building", which was later renamed "Ming Pao Building".
The location is in a corner of the city, surrounded by mostly industrial areas, so it is not as prosperous as the city center, but Cha Liangyong likes this place very much.
Quiet, you can read and learn.
Today he was sitting in his office, looking at the manuscripts that editor Chen Jiawei had brought back from the mainland.
This time, Chen Jiawei failed to go to the mainland to discuss the publication of his martial arts novel, and he was not surprised at all.
After all, the mainland has only been reforming and opening up for a few years, and the people are very welcoming of this kind of popular novels, but the official attitude is still very cautious, and they even think it is a scourge.
If it weren’t for Teresa Teng and other songs from Hong Kong and Taiwan, would they still be classified as “extreme music” in the mainland?
Don’t rush, take it step by step, there will always be a day when all restrictions will be lifted. I went to the mainland to visit the chief designer two years ago, and I clearly felt this.
But what I didn't expect was that Chen Jiawei would also bring a "wonderful book" written by a mainlander!
It is indeed a strange book.
Cha Liangyong looked at the manuscript called "The Legend of Wukong".
The first surprise: It completely subverted that classical masterpiece!
Second wonder: His writing style is a bit like his friend and rival Gu Long, especially his later works, with their chaotic plots and poetic narrative style.
Of course, serious literature in the West is called "stream of consciousness"
The third wonder: the text inside reveals a kind of Hong Kong-style humor, which is called "nonsense" in Cantonese slang.
The writing is good, Cha Liangyong sighed inwardly.
Of course, this is considered from the perspective of a writer and scholar. He is now the president of "Ming Pao". As a businessman, he must consider it from the perspective of economic benefits.
"Jia Wei, what do you think the sales of this book will be if it is published?"
"Mr. Cha, it is definitely not as good as the novel you wrote." Chen Jiawei first flattered him a little, and then continued: "But this book has its own uniqueness in terms of commerciality and artistry. More importantly, What’s more, this is the first book published in Xiangjiang after the reform and opening up in the mainland!”
What Chen Jiawei said is not accurate.
Has the Xiangjiang Literary Research Society published Mr. Yang Jiang’s "Collection of Reflections"?
Xiangjiang Sanlian Publishing House has also successively published classic books by some famous mainland writers.
But Cha Liangyong had no intention of correcting it.
He understood what Chen Jiawei meant. Those were all already famous writers. After the reform and opening up in the mainland, no young writer had published a book in Hong Kong!
"Ming Pao" wants to be the first to eat crabs.
"Mr. Cha, I have just thought of the slogan for this book. It is the first book by a new mainland writer in Hong Kong! Let you see a Journey to the West story that is completely different from "Journey to the West"."
Looking at Chen Jiawei's complacent look, Cha Liangyong smiled.
“Okay, you will be responsible for this matter. Contact Harvest and Mr. Fang Minghua as soon as possible to purchase the copyright!”
Today is Saturday, and Song Tangtang came over in the afternoon.
Song Tangtang usually likes to come over on Saturday afternoons. They both work. Although Sunday is a holiday, Fang Minghua has to attend correspondence classes and has no time, so he comes over at this time to get together.
Fang Minghua asked for leave, and the two of them either read in the dormitory in the backyard, or went to the neighborhood to patrol the streets together, or took the girl on a bicycle to ride around the city.
The weather is not hot today. Fang Minghua pushed his bicycle and Song Tangtang out to go to the museum in the Forest of Steles, but as soon as he reached the gate, he heard Wang Juan's voice from behind
"Fang Minghua, your long distance call is from Shanghai!"
Is there any news from the editorial department of "Harvest"?
Fang Minghua quickly parked his bicycle to the side, said something to Song Tangtang, and hurriedly walked into the office on the first floor and picked up the phone. Xiao Dai's Mandarin with a Shanghainese accent came from the phone. "Xiao Fang, there is a publishing house in Xiangjiang that is interested in your book and is ready to publish it."
"Which one?"
""Ming Pao"! ”
Mr. Jin’s publishing house.
This surprised and delighted him.
On the phone, Xiao Dai briefly explained the ins and outs of the matter, and finally said: "I gave your detailed address to Mingpao, and they will send an editor named Chen Jiawei to Xijing to talk to you in person about the copyright purchase. Please be prepared."
"Thank you, thank you very much."
"Why are you so polite?"
"Editor Xiao, you can help me the most by publishing this book!"
The two chatted for a few words, hung up the phone, Fang Minghua walked out of the building, and hurriedly told the news outside. Song Tangtang is waiting.
The girl was also very happy and said with a smile: "Minghua, you want to treat me!"
"What do you want to eat?"
"Popsicles."
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Fang Minghua rode with Song Tangtang, and the two of them walked out of the unit door talking and laughing.
The Ming Pao newspaper in Xiangjiang also moved very quickly. Only four days later, a middle-aged man came from Xiangjiang. It was Chen Jiawei.
Fang Minghua met him in the dormitory of his unit. He looked at the other person’s work permit and the letter of introduction stamped with the Ming Pao magazine, shook hands with the other person, smiled and said: "Editor Chen, you have worked hard all the way."
“It’s not hard work.” He spoke in Hong Kong Mandarin.
But I was complaining in my heart, this place is too remote!
There is no direct flight from Xiangjiang to Xijing. He took a plane to Shanghai first, and then took a train to Xijing.
The two chatted for a few words and then got down to business.
"Mr. Fang, I think you don't know much about our "Ming Pao". Let me introduce it to you first." After that, he started talking.
From the history of Ming Pao's fortune to the "glorious deeds" of President Cha Liangyong, Chen Jiawei talked endlessly.
Fang Minghua smiled and listened.
"The purpose of Ming Pao Publishing House is to appeal to both refined and popular people. It not only publishes a large number of pure literary books, but also has made great achievements in the field of popular novels. In particular, the large number of new martial arts novels written by our Mr. Zha Liangyong under the pen name Jin Yong are very popular in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. Popular.”
“I know that Mr. Jin’s martial arts novels are good, but they are not very prolific, right? Just fourteen of them: Flying Snow Shoots the White Deer, and the Laughing Book of Gods Rely on Biyuan. , if you want to criticize it horizontally, the remaining article "Yue Nu Sword" is just right." Fang Minghua said with a smile.
"You, you know everything?!" Chen Jiawei suddenly looked shocked.
Of course I know!
I have read many versions of novels and TV series, I guess they are more familiar than you!
"I have a relative in Xiangjiang and we have written letters, so I know the situation there fairly well." Fang Minghua said slowly.
“Since I understand, I don’t need to explain more.” Chen Jiawei was a little embarrassed and continued:
“Let’s just talk about the copyright issue of your book. According to mainland regulations, the novel manuscript fee The maximum is 10 yuan for 1,000 words. We, Mr. Cha, appreciate your talent, Mr. Fang, so we will double the fee to 20 yuan for 1,000 words!”
“Mr. Fang, are we sincere?” Chen Jiawei? Finally said.
“You are sincere.” Fang Minghua nodded and suddenly changed the subject: “Are you planning to publish in the Mainland?”
(End of this chapter)