Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 382 381 "I want royalties!"

Haiyi’s real name is Lv Haiyi, 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.

His 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 deputy director of the Central Song and Dance Theater and director of the Second Art Bureau of the Ministry of Culture.

Like Wang Shuo, he first joined the army and was placed in the Yanjing Public Security Bureau after retirement. 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 85 and was immediately welcomed by readers. This year (1987) it was adapted into a 12-episode TV series of the same name. The fire spread all over the country.

Taking advantage of the popularity 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 "business opportunity."

After packing his briefcase, Haiyi put the newspaper that published Wang Meng's interview into it, then went out and drove Santana straight to the People's Literature Publishing House on Chaoyangmen Nei Street.

"Royalty?!" Editor Liu picked up the newspaper and read it carefully, his expression becoming complicated.

"I want the royalties."

"So, we plan to re-publish. We also told you on the phone. Now we invite you to come and sign the re-publication contract with you in person."

"Editor Liu, does this have anything to do with my current career?" Hai Yi naturally crossed his legs and smiled: "I just want to get my share now."

"this."

"Hai Yi, you're here, sit down, sit down." Editor Liu greeted him warmly and poured him a cup of tea on the sofa opposite him.

Haiyi took out the newspaper from his briefcase and handed it to Editor Liu.

"Hai Yi, this is just Minister Wang's personal opinion. It does not represent the official opinion. This is not acceptable." Editor Liu refused.

The other party looked gentle and polite, but his tone was very strong. Of course, there were reasons for being strong.

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.

"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."

"Then why?" Editor Liu was surprised.

Haiyi was silent for a moment and said: "Editor Liu, I have no objection to the reprint, but it can no longer be settled with royalties."

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.

"Editor Liu, we are old acquaintances. Let me tell the truth. It took me three years to write "Plain Clothes Police". How much did I pay for the last time I published "Plain Clothes Police"? The standard is 8 yuan for 4 words. The total is less than 780 yuan. It was adapted into a TV series by CCTV. How much money did I get? Look at how the prices have gone up now!"

After hearing what he said, Editor Liu said, half jokingly and half seriously: "Hai Yi, people outside call you Mr. Lv. You are not short of money, right?"

On the third floor, an editor named Liu received him.

Most writers rely on royalties to make a living and would love to have a good relationship with the publishing house. How dare they 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 Yi, otherwise, we can increase the standard of royalties appropriately, but I'm afraid we can't pay royalties. There is no such precedent." "There is always the first one to eat the crab." Human." 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 Hai Yi 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 reporters? Doesn't this give our publishing house a headache?"

"Forget it, I'm just an ordinary editor, so I'd better report to the leader first."

Besides, Haiwei left the magazine and drove his Santana straight to the Kunlun Hotel on Xinyuan South Road, Chaoyang District. He sat in his spacious office, blowing the cold air from the air conditioner, and suddenly felt much more comfortable.

"Hey, the dignified People's Literature Publishing House doesn't even have an air conditioner in the office. The electric fan makes people uncomfortable."

Haiyi muttered something, took out a "Zhonghua" and started smoking slowly.

When Haiyi went home in the evening, he saw his daughter-in-law He Qianqian and told her about the incident during dinner.

He Qianqian and Hai Wei were colleagues in the public security system. After hearing what he said, she asked, "Do you want royalties? How many points?"

Haiyi pondered for a moment: "At least eight points."

"At eight o'clock, we will print 50 copies. Based on the original price of yuan per book, you will have to pay more than . 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 is the one who wrote "Life". He spent several years writing the long novel "The Ordinary World". In the end, people were so tired that they almost vomited blood and went to see Marx! Why did you work so hard?”

"I have listened to and watched the broadcast of "The Ordinary World", and it was very touching." Wang Qianqian said.

"I also read it, it's about a million words." Hai Yi took the words and continued:

"Even if you give him a manuscript fee of 20 thousand words, it's only yuan. Including the magazine serialization, the manuscript fee is doubled again, yuan. It's not as much as those young men who make a lot of 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 calmly.

"Okay, let's not talk about this. Will the publishing house agree to this 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 the 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 tacky business in your mouth. Forget about eating."

Sure enough, within a few days, Haiyi received another call from the publishing house. They agreed in principle to pay royalties, but asked him to go to the publishing house to discuss the specific situation in detail.

Haiyi didn't hesitate, and Santana went straight to the publishing house after starting work. After some bargaining, he finally got 8% of the royalties. The publishing house planned to print 50 copies, priced at 4.6 yuan.

Haiyi made a rough estimate and estimated that he could get just over 20 yuan.

The goal was achieved, and he happily signed the contract.

(End of this chapter)