Chapter 154 153 "This also creates foreign exchange for the country!"
After the Spring Festival, Fang Minghua became busy.
First of all, the first draft of "Crossing Guandong" has been completed, about 500,000 words, and he first handed it over to Lu Yao to help check it.
Lu Yao agreed and said that he would take it home and take a good look at it during this period.
Xiao Dai from "Harvest" magazine in Shanghai also made a long-distance call to inquire about the publication of Fang Minghua's "The Legend of Wukong" in the mainland.
This time Fang Minghua did not refuse and readily agreed.
Since the country introduced the latest royalties system this year (1984) and increased the royalties, the royalties for Fang Minghua's novel also increased from 9 yuan per thousand words to 16 yuan per thousand words.
What he didn’t expect was that people not only at home but also abroad were reading his book.
Tokyo, Uchiyama Bookstore.
In Tokyo, where land is at a premium, most ancient bookstores are located in remote corners. There are only a handful of spacious stores. The only one that occupies an entire building is Uchiyama Bookstore.
In the entire three-story store, new books from RB, China, including mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are available in a complete range, and the update rate is also very fast. They often appear here shortly after they are published.
A man wearing black-rimmed glasses was flipping through books casually in the bookstore. He looked very young and was less than thirty years old.
His name is Toriyama Akira, a cartoonist in Tokyo who has become somewhat famous. His comic "Arale" has been serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" since 1981, and it is very popular among readers. The magazine The number one ace work.
But now he is bored and wants to end it.
This request was immediately rejected by "Weekly Shōnen Jump". In Japan, the end of a comic book largely does not depend on the author himself, but on the magazine - how can such a hen that lays golden eggs be killed at will?
Not even if you are the hen owner!
In the end, both parties made concessions after many negotiations. "Arale" can be completed, but Akira Toriyama must release a new film containing "Chinese flavor" and "Kung Fu" within three months after the completion. Elements of comic strips.
He chose the Chinese classic "Journey to the West", with four masters and apprentices. Except for Bulma, the image of the protagonist Sun Wukong is completely the comic Q version of the Monkey King.
The name of the comic is "Dragon Ball". In "Journey to the West", the four masters and apprentices of Tang Monk were shot in the west, so I asked him to collect dragon balls and defeat monsters to upgrade in the same way.
Unfortunately, the "plagiarism" this time was too obvious, and the editor directly rejected it, saying that you didn't write an application before using this kind of persona, and you are not an international superstar. If you use such a saucy operation, then But I must apologize to the whole country, including the Chinese people!
He is now continuing to look for inspiration in this bookstore that has a deep connection with China.
Inadvertently, he discovered this "The Legend of Wukong", he picked it up from the bookshelf and flipped through it.
It is in traditional Chinese and published by Xiangjiang.
Toriyama clearly understands Chinese. Although he is not very proficient, he can barely understand it. He flipped through the book and was immediately attracted to it.
Wow. He saw a completely different style of Sun Wukong from "Journey to the West".
This hot-blooded young man is a bit of a middle-class boy!
Isn’t this kind of character and persona what I want?
Yes, the Sun Wukong in my comics must be passionate and perfect!
Also, "Journey to the West" can be so magically modified, so why don't I completely subvert the original work?
Why do you have to collect dragon balls like Tang Monk did when he shot the scene in Xitian?
change! Complete change! Change boldly!
Toriyama Akira bought this book and left in a hurry.
Hey. It would be great if there was a Japanese translation! After all, there are some contents that I can’t understand.
Of course Fang Minghua didn't know the impact this "The Legend of Wukong" would have on the creation of the island country's classic comic "Dragon Ball", but he received a call from Xiangjiang Ming Pao.
It’s Chen Jiawei calling.
"Mr. Fang, hello, we have settled the early royalties account of your "The Legend of Wukong" and remitted all the money to you."
"Thank you."
Fang Minghua felt regretful.
It is really a loss to convert Hong Kong dollars into RMB, but there is no other way. He has to open an account in Hong Kong himself.
This is the early 1980s, and there is a quota for visiting Xiangjiang!
It is said that the number of visits to Xiangjiang in the entire Xijing City does not exceed 10 targets a year. In principle, it is only limited to visiting immediate relatives such as parents, husband and wife, or going to funerals, etc. Visiting cousins is not allowed, let alone tourism and business activities, which are rare. And little. Moreover, the application procedures are extremely complicated. You have to submit an application report, unit opinions, supporting materials for the application, and at least two invitation letters from overseas. You will not be able to get it done within a few months.
Of course, if it is not an individual application but is sent out by the state, it will be relatively simple.
But Fang Minghua estimates that the country will not allow him to go to Xiangjiang to open an account. He will wait until he has the opportunity in the future.
On the phone, Chen Jiawei still said: "Mr. Fang, we are preparing to print an additional 50,000 copies. Are you interested in publishing this book to Baodao and Japan? Can our Mingshe serve as a publishing agent? ”
Published to Treasure Island, RB?
Of course you can have this.
However, Fang Minghua didn’t know much about agency publishing. He couldn’t talk about such big things on the phone all the time, and it wasn’t easy to meet in person, but he thought of someone.
Isn’t Song Tangtang’s aunt in Pengcheng?
We work in the cultural department and are very close to Xiangjiang. How about entrusting her to handle this matter?
Of course, this matter still needs to be discussed with Song Tangtang.
Tonight is Wednesday, Song Tangtang is going to attend classes at Night University, so Fang Minghua rides directly to the gate of Night University to wait.
At half past nine, students came out of the school gate one after another. Not long after, he saw Song Tangtang and a girl walking out of the school gate each pushing a bicycle, talking and laughing.
“Oh Tangtang, the great writer is here to pick you up.” The girl immediately said to Song Tangtang when she spotted Fang Minghua pushing a bicycle.
This girl’s name is Liu Xiaohui. She is a salesperson in a state-owned store. Her family also lives near Houzaimen. She met Song Tangtang at Ye Da, and the two often go to and from classes together.
Fang Minghua walked over with the cart and smiled at the girl as a greeting.
"Okay, I'm leaving now. I won't be a light bulb anymore. Goodbye." The girl bid farewell to the two of them on her bicycle.
“Let’s go for a walk.” Fang Minghua said.
"Yeah"
As the two pushed their bicycles slowly down the street, Fang Minghua told Song Tangtang the call he received from Xiangjiang during the day and his thoughts.
"Okay, I'll call my aunt when I get back in the evening. I think she will definitely agree!"
As soon as Song Tangtang got home in the evening, he put down his schoolbag and couldn't wait to pick up the phone at home and dial the number.
My father was reading the newspaper and my mother was knitting a sweater. Seeing her daughter like this, my mother Zhou Yunjuan couldn't help but asked:
"Tangtang, it's so late, who are you calling? Phone number?”
“My aunt”
"What do you want to see your aunt for?"
"I'll tell you later."
"Aunt, this is Tangtang. I'm calling you so late. I have something I want you to help me with." Phone Here, Song Tangtang explained the entire process in detail.
"Okay." Song Tangtang's aunt on the other side of the phone agreed: "Our unit still has some business dealings with Xiangjiang, so I'll leave this matter to me. I guarantee you won't let you suffer!. Oops , Tangtang, when will you bring such a capable boyfriend to Pengcheng for your aunt to see?”
“I will visit you and my aunt with Minghua when I have the opportunity,” Song Tangtang felt. Feeling a little hot.
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yunjuan, who was waiting impatiently at the side, quickly asked: "Tangtang, are you saying that Minghua's book is going to be published in Baodao and Japan?"
"Yes, Xiangjiang's Ming Pao "I offered to be an agent, and I asked my aunt to help. I'm exhausted from class." After saying this, Song Tangtang walked into his boudoir.
"Xiaojuan, let me tell you, Fang Minghua is a very talented young man. His books can be sold to treasure islands and even abroad. This is also creating foreign exchange for the country!" Dad was very satisfied with this.
“Hey” Zhou Yunjuan sighed.
It may not be a good thing that this man is too talented.
Especially writers and poets, they have a lot of fun!
Zhou Yunjuan became worried about her daughter again.
(End of this chapter)