Chapter 185 The sun comes out from the west?
In the reception room of the publishing house, Chen Jianfei personally brought Zhang Wei a cup of tea and then handed him a cigarette.
"Thank you, I don't smoke. It's harmful to health and costs money." Zhang Wei waved his hand and refused.
“It’s rare to see a writer who doesn’t smoke! Look at Lu Xun, many of his images show him with a cigarette in his mouth.” Chen Jianfei smiled and took back the cigarette.
"So he died of lung disease!" Zhang Wei continued: "I am engaged in scientific research. If I smoke and smell like smoke, I won't even be able to enter the laboratory!"
"Haha, if you don't smoke, then I won't smoke either." Chen Jianfei put the cigarette case aside, then took out the manuscript of "San Ti" and continued:
"Teacher Zhang Wei, your I have finished reading "Three Body" three times in a row! Every time I read it, I have new feelings! This is definitely the best work I have read in the past ten years!"
< br>"Editor Chen, you are flattering me. If you think it is appropriate, then I will publish this book with you?" Zhang Wei said.
"No problem, we are very welcome. As for the royalties, they will remain as before, 15%. If you think it is appropriate, we can sign the contract right away." Chen Jianfei said.
15% is the top royalty rate in the industry. Given this figure, Chen Jianfei can be considered sincere, so Zhang Wei was not greedy. He nodded directly: "I have no objection to this."
"Okay, I'll immediately arrange for someone from the copyright department to get the contract for you."
"Wait a moment. I have no problem with royalties, but there is one more thing. I hope your publishing house can help. "
"No matter what we need to do, Teacher Zhang Wei will not refuse as long as we can do it."
"I plan to do this "Three Ti". I have no way to publish English editions and books abroad, so I hope your publishing house can help contact foreign publishing houses.”
“We have business relationships with many foreign publishing houses. , some have cooperative relationships. If you want to publish abroad, we can help you contact the publishing house, but you must first translate the work into a foreign language. The translation of this kind of literary works is often more rigorous and requires professionals, which may cost a lot. Be higher.”
"As for translation, you don't have to worry. I have already translated it well, and it is definitely no worse than professionals." Zhang Wei said with confidence.
Future "Three-Body" novels have been published in many countries and translated into more than 30 languages. For Zhang Wei, a set of three-body translation in a foreign language can be exchanged in a few hours of life, so there is no need to spend money to find a translator.
Seeing Zhang Wei so confident, Chen Jianfei couldn't say anything more, so he could only nod and agree.
Then Chen Jianfei asked: "Teacher Zhang Wei, the "Three-Ti" you wrote only states that the Three-Ti people are already on their way to the earth. There should be a follow-up story, right?"< br>
“There is indeed a story behind it, and I am writing it.” Zhang Wei nodded.
"Have you started writing? That's good. I stayed up all night yesterday, always looking forward to the follow-up story!" Chen Jianfei paused, and then said: "Teacher Zhang Wei, if it is suitable, we will publish the follow-up story The agreement has also been signed?”
“Editor Chen, you are really smart, you are asking me to sign a contract of sale!”
“Teacher Zhang Wei, this follow-up publishing agreement, no. Let you sign for free. We can sign for a guaranteed amount! For example, for the second part of "Three Body", we guarantee a certain number of prints, so that you can have a guaranteed income."
" There is also a share of royalties based on the number of publications, right?”
“Of course! We are not Zhou Papi, and we are not signing a contract to sell ourselves, so we must not let the writers suffer!”
Zhang Wei thought for a while and said: "Actually, I am very confident in the subsequent sales of "Three Ti". I think this series can sell at least five million copies in China."
"Five million Register? We don't dare sign this!" Chen Jianfei shook his head.
Five million copies, Zhang Wei still said it was conservative. According to later statistics, the sales volume of Da Liu's "The Three-Body Problem" exceeded 30 million copies.
“I know you don’t dare to sign five million copies, how many can you sign?” Zhang Wei then asked.
"We can still sign half a million copies." Chen Jianfei said.
At that time, half a million copies was already a considerable number.
For example, in 2005, the TV series "Liang Jian" became popular, which also led to the novel "Liang Sword". As of 2006, the novel "Liang Sword" had been reprinted many times and had only printed less than 400,000 copies.
Everyone who reads online novels should know how popular "Bright Sword" is. It has been broadcast for almost 20 years, and it can still support Qidian Military Channel!
As popular as it was, it sold less than 400,000 copies that year. Therefore, the guarantee of 500,000 copies issued by Chen Jianfei can be regarded as quite sincere.
Of course, Chen Jianfei said there was room for bargaining when he said 500,000 copies. How could he possibly quote the lowest price from the beginning when negotiating for something like this? He said 500,000 copies, just waiting for Zhang Wei to make an offer, and then the two parties would bargain.
However, Zhang Wei nodded: "Okay, you said five hundred thousand copies, then let's do five hundred thousand copies!"
"You agree now? Don't you want to negotiate the price?" Chen Jianfei was slightly startled. .
The next second, Chen Jianfei suddenly felt that the price he offered for 500,000 copies was too high? It seems like a bit of a loss!
Zhang Wei continued: "As for the guarantee, I won't lower the price for you, but you have to help with the other thing."
"It's really not that simple. !" Chen Jianfei thought to himself, and then asked: "Teacher Zhang Wei, what else do you need from us?"
"If the sales of "San Ti" are good, can you help me run the Galaxy Awards? The main reason is that I don't have many connections in this area. Of course, I can bear the cost of establishing connections." Zhang Wei said.
The Galaxy Award was established in 1985. It is the highest award for Chinese science fiction novels. The winning works also represent the highest level of Chinese science fiction creation. Compared with the later Nebula Award, Gravity Award, etc., it is also more prestigious. face.
Chen Jianfei frowned and thought for a while, then said: "The organizer of the Galaxy Award is the magazine "Science Fiction World", and many of the award-winning works are also articles published in "Science Fiction World"."< br>
“Not working?” Zhang Wei asked.
“It’s not that it can’t work, it’s that it’s not easy to operate. Although the works published in "Science Fiction World" will be recommended first, when it comes to the actual selection, the judges still have to consider the academic level, influence and professionalism of the works. and other aspects, conduct multi-angle and all-round evaluations to ensure the literary value and innovation of the winning works.”
"As long as the judges are fair and objective, I am confident." Zhang Wei said.
......
After leaving the publishing house, Zhang Wei took out his mobile phone. On it was a text message from Ye Haotian, saying that he had received a letter from the United States. The sender was Princeton University. .
Zhang Wei knew that this must be an invitation letter sent by Professor Shi to apply for a visa for Zhang Wei.
Zhang Wei has already applied for a US visa once before. As long as he has no criminal record in the United States, applying for a US visa again should be a matter of seconds. "Otherwise, I won't go back to Qinhai and fly directly to Beijing to get the visa first."
Thinking of this, Zhang Wei called directly to book a flight to Beijing.
After returning to Tsinghua University, Zhang Wei immediately went to Principal Gu, intending to report to him about applying for a US visa.
Seeing Zhang Wei walk into the office, Principal Gu said with surprise: "Zhang Wei, what a coincidence. I was just planning to call you, and you came?"
"Principal, do you have anything to do with me?" Zhang Wei asked.
"Let me show you this. It is a manuscript written by our school's Propaganda Department. It is planned to be published in major media!" Principal Gu said and clicked on a manuscript on the computer.
The main title is, the United States has spent huge sums of money to introduce advanced Chinese technology, and China has made a great breakthrough in scientific research!
The subtitle is that many top scientific research institutes in the United States are seeking to purchase genetic scissors technology from Tsinghua University.
Looking at the content again, it introduces the genetic scissors technology newly developed by Tsinghua University. It has not only reached the top international level, but also is an important breakthrough in biological science. Even American scientific research institutes have not developed it. , so they come to Tsinghua University to buy technology.
Principal Gu then introduced: "In addition to this article, I also asked the Publicity Department to write several articles, and then submit them to different media, and there will be a wave of media bombardment!"
"Principal, is it true that Americans are buying genetic scissor technology?" Zhang Wei asked.
“Of course it’s true, you thought I couldn’t fake it! Several top 100 universities are sending people to inspect, and there are also many medical research institutes that are interested in genetic scissor technology. Even the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory wants to buy genetic scissors technology.
I have already asked people to prepare for the reception. I plan to invite several more TV media to come over. It would be best to invite CCTV over and let them come. Take a picture of a foreigner buying technology. Let’s show the whole country that China’s scientific research is not a vegetarian! If you’re lucky, you might even be able to appear on the “Seven O’clock Broadcast”! ”
Principal Gu! He looked cheerful. After all, for so many years, we have been lagging behind developed countries in Europe and America in technology. We have always bought technology from other countries and looked at other people's faces. Now that I can finally feel proud and proud, I have to wait for thirty years in the east of Hedong and thirty years in the west of Hexi. Don’t let the young man look poor and have no future!
“In addition to foreigners who want to buy technology, there are also many domestic research institutes who also want to buy technology. Several of them have been sold now!
The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences has been planning to use gene editing technology to genetically repair the hematopoietic stem cells of thalassemia patients so that they can restore normal hemoglobin expression.
However, because gene editing technology is too expensive, the research and development process has been hindered. Now that we have genetic scissors, this research can be put on the agenda. Maybe we will soon be able to conquer the disease thalassemia.
There is also the Lingnan Institute of Infectious Diseases. After hearing about this technology, they immediately flew people over. There are more mosquitoes there, which spread dengue fever all year round, especially in summer, when dengue fever is most common.
They plan to use gene editing technology to change the genetic genes of mosquitoes and cause sterility in male mosquitoes. This will make mosquitoes unable to reproduce and reduce the occurrence of infectious diseases.
Then two companies have already purchased the technology, and the other one has also expressed its intention to purchase, but we need to send someone to contact you. This is what I want to talk to you about. I want you to go and do it in person. trip! ”
"Who is so proud that if you want to buy our technology, we have to send someone there?" Zhang Wei asked with a smile.
Tsing University is already the highest-level university in the country. Even the Chinese Academy of Sciences has to give Tsing University some respect, let alone other universities and research institutes.
There are not many people who buy Tsinghua University’s technology and dare to ask Tsinghua University to send someone to make a trip.
Principal Gu replied: "Hybrid Rice Research Center!"
"Where is Mr. Yuan? He is over seventy years old! We have to go there in person!" Zhang Wei nodded.
"According to the information provided by the Hybrid Rice Research Center, they are looking for ways to enhance the drought tolerance and disease resistance of rice, which requires the use of gene editing technology."
"Okay, I will follow the school's arrangements and run away Let’s go to the Hybrid Rice Research Center!” Zhang Wei nodded.
......
In a newspaper with a large sales volume in Beijing, a headline appeared: "The United States spends huge sums of money to introduce China's advanced technology, a great breakthrough in China's scientific research!" 》
Although it is not on the front page, this kind of title will definitely attract the attention of many readers.
In those days, it was normal for China to buy technology from the United States, but when the United States bought technology from China, wouldn't it mean that the sun was rising from the west!
The Chinese in that era did not have the national self-confidence they do now. After all, China was still producing clothes, shoes, socks and toys at that time, and it really could not produce decent industrial products.
Not to mention big items like cars, even household appliances are of average quality. They can only be said to be usable, and there is a certain gap in performance and quality compared to Japanese household appliances.
What's more, in that era, there were magazines such as "Reader" and "Yilin" that published some public knowledge articles all day long, and the paper media would also excerpt from them.
The sewers built in Germany; the toilet water in Japan is drinkable; the President of the United States called 110 to save the sparrow; the old lady took the deposit certificate from 200 years ago, and the Swiss bank cashed him 1.5 million, of which 1 million Or bonuses, etc., they all come from there.
In this public opinion environment, there were many people who worshiped foreign countries, and it even became a kind of political correctness. If you said something bad about foreign countries, a lot of people would criticize you.
So when the news about the United States coming to China to buy technology appeared, it immediately attracted a lot of attention. Some people praised it, but many people questioned it. After all, in the eyes of many people, how could the United States come to China if its technology is so advanced? Buy technology? This is impossible to happen.
......
In the Temple of Heaven Park, a group of adults and aunties gathered for morning exercises.
An old man was holding a fresh newspaper and was reading in trance.
"Old Sun, what are you looking at?" Another uncle came over.
"Lao Zhu, don't you say every day that China's technology is backward? Look at this report, Americans are buying technology from us!" Uncle Sun said.
“Let’s see, China’s innovation strength is internationally recognized: The United States buys key technology patents? I read this report the day before yesterday! You believe the nonsense in the newspaper?
You Think about it, we are no better than Americans buying patents. The United States’ technology is so advanced, how can we buy patents from China? Unless the sun rises from the west!”
“Lao Zhu, don’t believe it. , look, there are pictures on it! There are several foreigners signing an agreement!" Uncle Sun pointed at the newspaper.
Sure enough, there was a picture in the newspaper showing the two parties signing an agreement. Although the newspaper was in black and white, it could still be seen that one of the parties signing the agreement was a foreigner.
This can be said to be a picture and a truth.
Uncle Zhu immediately stayed on the spot, and then couldn't help but look at the sky.
Does the sun really come out from the west?
(End of this chapter)