Chapter 382 381 “I want royalties!”
Hai Yi’s real name is Lu Hai Yi, and he is 33 years old this year.
His great-grandfather was the Accountant of the Anti-Smoking Supervision Office of the Nationalist Government, his grandfather was the lieutenant colonel secretary to Tang Enbo, the Nanjing Garrison Commander of the Nationalist Government, and his grandmother was a famous red agent and writer of the League of Leftists .
My father is a revolutionary playwright. He has been engaged in literary and artistic work in Yan'an since he was a teenager, and created many popular revolutionary dramas. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as the deputy director of the Central Song and Dance Theater and the second art director of the Ministry of Culture. Bureau chief and other positions.
Like Wang Shuo, he first joined the army and was placed in the Yanjing Public Security Bureau after he was discharged. It is said that in 1983, Haiyi passed by the People's Literature Publishing House opposite his home at work and decided to write a book for them to publish.
He started writing based on his experience as a plainclothes policeman being sent to Tiananmen Square as a background, and wrote the famous novel "Plainclothes Policeman".
This book was published by the People's Literature Publishing House in 1985 and was immediately welcomed by readers. This year (1987) it was adapted into a 12-episode TV series of the same name, which became a hit on the screen. The ending song "Youth" sung by Liu Huan "Aspirations Don't Tell of Sorrows" is even more popular all over the country.
Capitalizing on the success of the TV series, People's Literature Publishing House plans to publish a second edition, so today I invited Hai Yi to come over and discuss it in detail.
At this time, Haiyi read Wang Meng's interview news, and he immediately smelled a hint of "business opportunity."
Packing up his briefcase, Haiyi put the newspaper that published Wang Meng's interview in it, then went out and drove Santana straight to the People's Literature Publishing House on Chaoyangmen Nei Street.
On the third floor, an editor named Liu received him.
"Hai Yi, you're here, sit down, sit down." Editor Liu greeted him warmly to sit down, and poured him a cup of tea on the sofa opposite him.
"Hai Yi, the TV series adapted from your novel has become a hit across the country. Many viewers and readers have written letters requesting to read the original novel. Last time, only 100,000 copies were published, which is far from enough."
"So, we plan to re-publish. We also told you on the phone. Now I invite you to come and sign the re-publication contract with you in person."
Hai Yi was silent for a while and said: "Editor Liu, I have no objection to the republication, but it can no longer be settled with royalties."
"Then what?" Editor Liu was surprised.
“This.”
Hai Yi took out the newspaper from his briefcase and handed it to Editor Liu.
“I want royalty income.”
“Royalty?!” Editor Liu picked up the newspaper and read it carefully, his expression became complicated.
"Hai Yi, this is just Minister Wang's personal opinion. It does not represent the official opinion. This is not acceptable." Editor Liu refused.
"Editor Liu, we are old acquaintances. Let me tell the truth. It took me three years to write "Plain Clothes Police". How much royalties did you give me for the last time I published "Plain Clothes Police"? At the standard of 8 yuan per thousand words, the total cost is less than 4,000 yuan. CCTV adapted it into a TV series. It is so popular, how much money do I get? Look at the price of things now!"
< br>After listening to his words, Editor Liu said half jokingly and half seriously: "Hai Yi, people outside call you Mr. Lv. You are not short of money."
"Editor Liu, this has nothing to do with me. Doesn't it matter what career you have now?" Hai Yi crossed his legs and smiled naturally: "I just want to take my part now."
The other party looked gentle, but his tone was very strong. Of course there are strong reasons.
He was born in a big courtyard and has a good foundation. More importantly, he serves as the deputy general manager of Yanjing Kunlun Hotel.
This is one of the largest enterprises in the public security system and the first joint venture five-star hotel. However, this year the state stipulates that public prosecutors and law enforcement agencies are not allowed to engage in commercial activities, and the Kunlun Hotel has just been taken over by Shanghai Jinjiang Group. Haiyi chose to leave the public security system and stay in the company as vice president.
Most writers rely on manuscript fees to make a living, and are eager to have a good relationship with the publishing house. How dare you make such a request!
But people dare!
Seeing that the other party had no intention of retreating, Editor Liu pondered for a moment and said, "Hai Wei, otherwise, we can increase the fee standard appropriately, but I'm afraid we can't pay royalties. There is no such precedent." "There is always a possibility. He is the first person to eat crabs." Haiyi said with a smile: "If this is the case, then there is no need to publish it, just leave it alone. Goodbye!" Haiyi stood up and turned around and walked out.
Watching Haiyi disappear outside the door and looking at the newspaper on the table, Editor Liu couldn't help but smile bitterly.
“Minister Wang, Minister Wang, why did you say this to the reporter? Doesn’t this give our publishing house a headache?”
“Forget it, I am just an ordinary editor, so I should start with Report to the boss."
As soon as Haiyi left the magazine, he drove Santana straight to the Kunlun Hotel on Xinyuan South Road, Chaoyang District. He sat in his spacious office and felt comfortable with the cold air from the air conditioner. many.
"Hey, the dignified People's Literature Publishing House doesn't even have an air conditioner in the office. The electric fan makes people uncomfortable."
Hai Wei muttered, took out a "Zhonghua" and started smoking slowly.
Going home in the evening, Haiyi saw his daughter-in-law He Qianqian and told her about the matter during dinner.
He Qianqian and Hai Wei were colleagues in the public security system. After hearing what he said, she asked: "You want royalties? How many points?"
Hai Wei thought for a moment: "At least eight ”
"At eight o'clock, we will print 500,000 copies. Based on the original price of 3.2 yuan per book, you will have to pay more than 100,000. You insist on cutting a piece of flesh from the publishing house." Wife smiled.
“We can’t just let publishing houses get rich, right? They make a lot of money. As for the writers, each one is thinner than the other. Lu Yao from Qin Province, who wrote “Life”, spent several years writing a long novel. "Ordinary World", people were so tired that they almost vomited blood and almost went to see Marx! Why did you work so hard?"
"I have listened to and watched the "Ordinary World" broadcast. Very touching." Wang Qianqian said.
“I also read it, it’s about a million words.” Hai Yi took the words and continued:
“Even if I give him a royalties of 20 per thousand words, it’s only 20,000 yuan. Serialized in a magazine, the manuscript fee is doubled again, 40,000 yuan, which is not as much as those young men who make money by reselling steel with dad’s note.”
"Shh, don't talk nonsense!" Wang Qianqian quickly stopped her.
"Don't worry, I'm not one of those passionate college students or an angry young man. I'm just talking at home." Hai Yi said lightly.
"Okay, if you don't talk about this, will the publishing house agree to it if you mention it?" Wang Qianqian asked again.
"Yes." Haiyi was quite confident. "Even if they are given a royalty of hundreds of thousands, their publishing house will still make a lot of money. They will not stop doing this kind of business."
"You, since you became the general manager of a hotel, all you talk about every day is business. "The wife said angrily.
"Nowadays, the country promotes business. Writing and publishing are inherently commercial activities, which is normal." Haiyi said.
“Hey, what was originally a noble literary career has become a very tacky business in your mouth. Let’s forget about eating.”
Sure enough, within a few days, Haiyi He received a call from the publishing house again, agreeing in principle to pay royalties, but asked him to go to the publishing house to discuss the specific situation in detail.
Hai Yi didn't hesitate. After getting into his workplace, Santana went straight to the publishing house. After some bargaining, he finally got 8% of the royalties. The publishing house was going to print 500,000 copies at a price of 4.6 yuan.
Hai Yi made a rough estimate and found that he could get just over 200,000 yuan.
The goal was achieved, and he happily signed the contract.
(End of this chapter)