Chapter 276 Charity is a business
“Father, I booked a ticket to New York.”
“Yes, the invitation letter says the venue is New York, and I plan to live in New York. "
"What! Are you in New York now?"
After receiving the invitation from Random House, Mike rushed back to the United States.
Take a boat from eastern Guangdong to Xiangjiang. After spending a night at this transit station, you can take a flight tomorrow.
Before leaving, I wandered around the streets of Xiangjiang for a while until I came to a bookstore.
I suddenly had a sudden impulse to read martial arts novels.
When the boss saw that he was a foreigner, and a foreigner who spoke Mandarin, he did not dare to neglect him at all.
Even now, the 1983 version of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" has been broadcast on TV, and the theme song echoes in the store.
"Ahhhhh~"
"It seems like I have seen it before in my dream, and my heart is filled with waves."
"Throw away the worldly affairs and let go of sorrow and resentment."
" Together to the end of the world..."
The boss brought Mike to the martial arts novel column.
On the bookshelf, rows of martial arts novels are neatly placed, including Jin Yong, Liang Yusheng, Gu Long, Wen Ruian, etc.
“You’ve come to the right place.”
The boss boasts that his bookstore has not only many martial arts novels, but also a comprehensive range of them, including almost all martial arts writers.
Mike said: “Then whose novel is the most popular?”
“Of course it’s Jin Yong!”
The boss pointed to "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and said that TVB was broadcasting a TV series of the same name, which immediately made the novel popular.
Mike glanced around and asked, "Is there a dialect version of "Once Upon a Time in the Master"?"
The boss was stunned, surprised that he actually knew there was such a martial arts novel.
Seeing him skillfully pulling it out from a shelf, Mike asked curiously: "How is the sales of this book?"
The boss said in Cantonese Pu: "It's just average. ”
Mike couldn't help but thought: "Is it not selling well?"
"Then it depends on who you compare with. Compared with Jin Yong, Liang Yusheng, and Gu Long, it will definitely not sell well."
The boss said, “But compared to ordinary martial arts novel writers, it is definitely better. Quite a few, especially in the past few weeks, have sold more than a dozen copies."
Mike asked: "Why is this happening?"
"It seems that the author of this novel is in the market. It is very famous in the United States and has been published in many newspapers.”
The boss said: "Some people came to buy because of the reputation. Originally, there were only some readers who loved reading martial arts novels and disciples who called themselves Hongmen willing to buy and read."
After chatting for a while, Mike I really feel that the sales volume of "Once Upon a Time in China" is not high, and it is not accustomed to the local environment in Hong Kong.
"People are too impetuous now. Although the book is a good book, few people will read this traditional martial arts style."
The boss shook his head and couldn't help complaining.
In this place in Xiangjiang, it is tense and orderly. Everyone is rushing to make money, queuing up expressionlessly to wait for the minibus, queuing up to enter the company, queuing up to eat, queuing up to drink tea. In such a tight time and space, where can we go? What kind of literature and art can be produced locally without money?
Although the Hong Kong Book Fair attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year, books by local pure literary writers in Hong Kong still cannot be sold.
Hong Kong writers hold lectures on weekdays, and the audience is often only three or four kittens, and sometimes there are only dozens of people.
In Xiangjiang, if a novel can sell 3,000 copies, it is considered very successful and best-selling.
"That means that "Once Upon a Time in the Grandmaster" actually sold well?"
Mike looked at the first and second parts of the novel.
"How should I put it? It's amazing that a mainland writer can do this."
The boss added, "It's a good thing that he made a name for himself in the United States, otherwise, this good book would have been buried." "
"Don't worry, his book will never be buried!"
Mike was determined that "Saving Private Ryan" would win.
With this expectation in mind, I flew to New York excitedly.
Three days later, in his own mansion, he opened the door in person to welcome Fang Yan and Bai Ruoxue from afar.
"Teacher Fang! Ruoxue!"
"Mike! Long time no see!"
Fang Yan was given a bear hug by him.
Bai Ruoxue smiled and looked around as she walked, and saw that the entire mansion deserved the word "trench".
It collects a large number of antiques from various countries, including Indian, Chinese and large oil paintings, and Persian tapestries can be seen everywhere.
From a few pages of the world's first "Bible" to the huanghuali rose chair in the early Qing Dynasty, we have collected them all. "This house is an old house. After the previous owner passed away, his son couldn't afford the inheritance tax, so he had to sell the house and all the artworks." Mike laughed, "My dad spent a lot of money on it. I bought it for a big price.”
Fang Yan raised his eyebrows and assessed Old Mike’s net worth.
There are nominally 1.3 million millionaires in the United States these days, but in fact there are less than 400,000.
Looking at this posture, even if Mike's family is not at the level of multi-millionaires, it is at least a millionaire in the true sense.
Of course, compared with Fang Xiaojiang, a future billionaire, it is still a little bit behind.
"Dad, the person you have always wanted to see is here!"
Mike reminded Fang Yan and Bai Ruoxue to just call him "Johnson".
When Fang Yan came to the living room, he saw an old man who looked to be in his 60s. He was slightly fat, with blond hair and a rosy face. He was well-kept. He was sitting in front of the grand piano and playing "" God Bless America".
The next second, the piano sound stopped suddenly.
Old Mike suddenly stood up. Under his son’s introduction, he and Fang Yan got to know each other.
“Sit down, sit down, I’ve asked someone to prepare dinner specially for you, let’s chat while eating.”
So, everyone came to the restaurant. In addition to lettuce and a soup, The main course is the most exquisite tender steak in the United States.
A piece of beef about half an inch thick and as big as two palms, when cut with a knife, there will be a faint trace of blood.
Bai Ruoxue wanted a well-cooked portion. While cutting the steak, she asked softly: "Mike, didn't you say you have a sister?"
"You mean Luo Dian? She took over temporarily. I picked up a case and flew back to Chicago.”
Before his son could speak, Old Mike answered with a smile.
Fang Yan asked curiously: "Your daughter is..."
"A lawyer, a civil rights lawyer."
There was a hint of helplessness in Old Mike's proud tone.
“This is really amazing!”
Fang Yan sighed from the bottom of his heart.
During my stay at the University of Iowa, I learned more or less about the situation of women in the 1980s through speeches on the affirmative movement. For example, banks required women to provide their husband’s personal information when applying for credit. Co-sign.
In the American judiciary, although there are law firms willing to hire women, most of them regard them as mascots of the affirmative action movement.
And civil rights lawyers who serve black people, women, disabled people, etc. are even rarer. After all, their salaries are low and their work is busy.
"Haha, I think so too. Originally, I wanted her to be my legal advisor, but she refused."
Old Mike said with a smile from ear to ear. , “But sometimes when it comes to tax, she is still willing to help me take another look.”
Hearing “tax”, Fang Yan asked about the feasibility of registering a company in the Cayman Islands and then transferring the copyright to the company. .
“If you still want to invest in the United States, my suggestion is that it is best to set up a charitable foundation.” Old Mike advised.
"Is it difficult to set up this kind of charity foundation?"
Fang Yan raised his eyebrows.
The purpose of establishing charitable foundations in the United States is to avoid taxes. The money in them is tax-free in large amounts while alive, and does not require inheritance tax after death. The only restriction is that it spends at least 5% of total assets every year.
For example, if 10 billion is injected, 500 million will have to be spent. However, this does not necessarily have to be a donation. It can also be used for investment.
For example, biochemical medicine.
As long as you persist for 20 years, the 5% limit will disappear. Once the rich man passes away, his children will be able to control the charitable foundation and avoid high inheritance taxes. Isn't that what Buffett does.
“No, it’s not difficult at all.”
Old Mike smiled and said: “It is very easy to register a foundation in New York, as long as you attach a check for US$10 to the registration letter. For the fee, you can get the registration retention certificate soon, and then submit the application form to the New York State Department of State, along with the registration retention certificate and the US$75 application fee received previously..."
said eloquently Continuously, and then took a drink of water.
“The reason why I recommend you to register a foundation is because now New York State, in order to encourage funds from overseas and out-of-state, does not require registered foundations to have a contact person in New York State, but only needs to hire a secretary Just register.”
"Is it that simple?"
Fang Yan was greatly surprised.
Bai Ruoxue was startled. It was an eye-opener. She didn’t expect that charity is also a business.
“Then what should I donate for my 5%?”
Fang Yan pondered for a moment.
"I know some Chinese friends, and their families will set up a special scholarship fund to support Chinese students abroad."
Old Mike smiled brightly.
"Student Fund."
Fang Yan suddenly thought of the international writing project of Nie Hualing and his wife, and also thought of the Mao Dun Literary Award.
Is it possible to sponsor the winners of the Mao Dun Literary Award to participate in this international writing program?
Thinking, thinking, and even thinking of simply dragging Shen Shuang's family into this foundation.
(End of this chapter)