Chapter 243: He also said that you don’t know martial arts
It has been almost half a month since the release of "The Grandmaster Huang Feihong", and the sales of "Flower City" nationwide have exceeded 2 million copies.
Fan Hansheng told Fang Yan the great news immediately, with endless gratitude in his tone that was beyond words.
"Flower City" not only ranks among the top magazines, keeping pace with "October", "Contemporary", and "Harvest", but in the literary world, there are already voices calling it the "Four Famous Dandies".
The most important thing is that "Flower City" has carried the literary banner that no other journal can carry, "Lingnan Literature".
All of this is brought about by dialect, the beacon of literature!
"Flower City" is happy, but "October" is sour.
After all, Dialect is the favorite of the entire editorial department, and even Yanjing Publishing House, but his works are never included in "October."
Fortunately, Fang Yan got an appointment with Feng Jicai's manuscript, which soothed the "injured" hearts of everyone in the editorial department.
These days, in addition to helping Feng Jicai conceive the outline and plot of "The Divine Whip", Fang Yan is also brewing the next work.
How could I buy more than 9,000 paintings and calligraphy without making more money?
At this time, he was sitting at the table, thinking quietly.
Outside the hospital, there was suddenly a burst of trivial footsteps.
"Teacher Fang! Teacher Fang!"
There are male voices and female voices, mixed together.
Fang Yan looked through the glass and saw Bai Ruoxue, Su Ya, Tang Shengnan, Suzuki Yoko, and Hashimoto Yui coming together.
The person walking in the front is Mike, wearing a suit.
After asking, I found out that today is December 31st, and they were here to invite me to the Friendship Hotel to attend tonight’s New Year’s Eve party.
"Teacher Fang, you deceived me."
Mike shook his head with a serious look on his face.
Fang Yan felt fresh, "What did I lie to you about?"
"Teacher Fang, you lied to me and said you didn't know martial arts."
"I really don't know martial arts."
< br>"Then what is this?"
Mike took out "Once Upon a Time in the Grandmaster" from his briefcase, "Teacher Fang, you said you don't know martial arts?"
Fang Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and explained that those who write martial arts novels may understand martial arts, but they may not be good at it.
Mike wondered: "But if you don't know Chinese martial arts, why do you know Chinese martial arts so well?"
"Because there are experts who have given you guidance."
Fang Yan said that he found a martial arts coach from Shichahai Sports School to be his guidance counselor, and the fighting scenes were specially designed.
Mike couldn't help but get excited and quickly asked if he could ask them to be his teachers and teach him the superior Chinese martial arts.
Fang Yan was greatly surprised, "Do you want to become a disciple?"
Mike nodded excitedly: "When I came to China, I just wanted to find someone who really knows Chinese Kung Fu, teach me Chinese martial arts, and then become like Bruce Lee. A master."
As he spoke, he put on Bruce Lee's signature pose, muttered "Ah, hit" and touched his nose with his fingers.
"I can't make the decision on this matter. It depends on whether others agree or not."
Under Mike's repeated requests, Fang Yan agreed to take him to Shichahai Sports School, and then went straight to the Shichahai Sports School with everyone. Go to Shichahai.
…………
When you arrive at a station, the bus will stop for a while.
On the way, Mike and Bai Ruoxue talked about "Saving Private Ryan". The translated first draft had been mailed to the United States a few days ago together with "Blood and Sand", and Mike Sr. would receive it soon.
During the chat, Fang Yan asked about the royalties seemingly casually.
Mike directly used his favorite "Science Fiction Magazine" as an example. Basically, short stories with less than 7,500 words will be charged 6 cents per word, while novellas with more than 12,500 words will only be charged 6 cents per word. I got 5 cents, and manuscripts in between were priced at a flat price of $450, with no bargaining allowed.
Of course, different magazines and publishers have different manuscript fee standards. For example, "Fantasy and Science Fiction" will be higher, ranging from 6 cents to 9 cents per word.
“What’s the highest price you can get?”
Fang Yan was very curious.
“If you are willing to sign an exclusive writer agreement, you can basically get 2 US dollars per word. This is already the highest per-word remuneration that top magazines and publishing houses can offer. Of course, there are exceptions.”
Mike changed the topic.
Publishers will occasionally offer higher manuscript fees, but this depends on the urgency of the manuscript and the author's reputation. Only very few best-selling authors are qualified for this.
“What if you don’t sign an exclusive writer agreement?”
“The publishing houses I have asked will only give a fee of about US$1 to US$1.5 per word. "
"That's right."
Fang Yan frowned. After the translation, the total number of words in "Saving Private Ryan" is only 93,000. If calculated as 6 cents per word. , the basic royalties are US$5,580.
The U.S. royalty system is an incremental mechanism, that is, when the number of printings reaches a baseline, the royalty rate will increase accordingly.
Of course, this is all before tax.
"Teacher Fang, there has always been a popular saying in the United States that there are two things in life that are inevitable, and that is death and taxes." Mike held out five fingers, "If I am not mistaken, it should be To pay 50% high income tax and federal tax.”
Everyone, including Dialect, was taken aback.
“It’s a bit high, but it’s much better than before.”
Mike showed a helpless smile and said that the current president, Ling Zong, had carried out tax reform and lowered the top personal income tax rate from 70% to the current 50%. Fang Yan listened patiently and heard him give an example.
Stephen King, who wrote "The Shining", "The Shawshank Redemption" and other masterpieces, is also currently the first-class best-selling author in the United States. He wrote a short story and the fee was two thousand dollars. , but what he actually got was only 769.5 US dollars. In addition to paying taxes, he also had to give commissions to the broker and the business manager.
I calculated in my mind that I was left with 30% to 40% for co-writing.
My money! My money!
Damn it, 70% of it belongs to someone else!
…………
Arrived at Shichahai Sports School, Fang Yan introduced Mike to Wu Bin, Wu Junfeng and others.
“Do you know Chinese Kung Fu?”
Mike looked up and down at the unattractive Wu Bin.
"Yes, I can!"
Wu Bin squinted his eyes, his expression unchanged.
"Then can I try?"
Mike likes free fighting and has also learned boxing. The only requirement for choosing a teacher is to be able to beat him.
So, without any preparation, the two started to compete with their bare hands.
Mike made a boxing move, and Wu Bin took advantage of the gap between his movements to take a step and hit him in the face with a palm. He was blinded at the same time. At the same time, his feet were hooked, and his whole body fell down instantly.
Suzuki Yoko's eyes widened and she shouted "Si Guoyi".
"I'm not ready yet, can you do it again?"
Mike rubbed his face, feeling unconvinced.
Old comrades, who do not respect martial ethics, actually "sneak attack"!
"Okay."
Wu Bin and Fang Yan looked at each other and smiled.
This time, it was Mike who took the initiative and kicked.
Wu Bin ducked sideways, hugged his legs with both hands, and still knocked him down with a hook, looking down at him.
Seeing Wu Bin not sweating at all, Fang Yan shook his head and laughed. He is worthy of being the master of Jet Li, Zhen Zhuan, Wu Jing and others.
A connoisseur will know if it is there as soon as he reaches out his hand.
Although Mike was knocked to the ground, he was not annoyed at all, but became even more excited.
"Chinese Kung Fu, awesome! So awesome!"
Then he clasped his fists and expressed his stance: "Coach, I want to learn Kung Fu from you! Can you accept me as your disciple!"< br>
Wu Bin glanced at it, "Teacher Fang, do you see?"
Fang Yan said with a smile: "I think this is a good opportunity to promote Chinese martial arts, but I don't know if it's convenient for you?"
Li Junfeng lowered his voice and said: "This matter involves foreign countries, we need to ask the leader for instructions, but I I think it should be approved.”
Wu Bin then told Mike that if the superiors agreed, Mike would be allowed to stay in Shichahai Sports School to learn martial arts.
"When the time comes, I will take one day a week to teach you. Before each class, you must make a cup of tea in advance."
"Making tea?"
Mike didn't understand the logic.
Fang Yan explained: "To learn martial arts, you must first learn morality. If you want to learn Chinese martial arts, you must respect your teachers and teach them, and promote martial ethics."
"Oh! OK, OK..."< br>
Mike suddenly understood and readily agreed.
Fang Yan looked around, but Li Lianjie and Zhen Zhuan were nowhere to be seen, and he couldn't help but be surprised.
"Oh, Bullet has finished her studies and has been taken back to the United States by her mother."
Wu Bin said: "She said she was going to participate in an international martial arts competition."
When it was Li Lianjie's turn, Dialect paid attention He looked complicated, sighing and sad at the same time.
Li Junfeng then said that Li Lianjie was seriously injured in training a few days ago. The medial ligament, cruciate ligament, and meniscus were all injured. The operation lasted seven and a half hours. Although he has recovered and can live a normal life, But it was impossible to continue the martial arts career.
Fang Yan’s eyes flashed, thoughtfully.
Bai Ruoxue said: "That's really a pity."
Wu Bin waved his hand, "Oh, in fact, after Lian Jie finished playing "Shaolin Temple", he wanted to leave the martial arts team and become an actor. The leader has been refusing to let it go. Now, he has finally got his wish."
Then. After a pause, "Teacher Fang, if you have the chance, I hope you can praise him."
"Don't worry, I have said it before."
Fang Yan said with a smile. : "If "The Grandmaster Once Upon a Time" is made into a movie, he will definitely be cast."
Wu Bin thanked him repeatedly: "Then I will first thank Teacher Fang for Lianjie!"
At this moment, a childish voice came from behind.
"Teacher Fang, what about me! What about me!"
Fang Yan turned his head, looked at Wu Jing jumping up and down, touched his head, and pondered:
"As for you..."
(End of this chapter)