Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 682 Celebrating Christmas

Fang Minghua's family, Li Li who comes back every year to celebrate Christmas, and Zhao Hongjun's family of three also came to join in the fun.

The babysitter was busy cooking in the kitchen, and the children were decorating the potted cypress tree in the yard as a Christmas tree.

Fang Minghua and Zhao Hongjun were drinking tea and chatting in the living room. In fact, the four of them were not chatting, but talking about the affairs of Shengshi Group.

In the year that is about to pass, Shengshi Group has developed well overall.

The group now has four subsidiaries, namely Shengshi Books, Shengshi Film and Television, the newly established Shengshi Property, and the Western Film and Television Group, a joint venture with Zhang Xianliang.

Shengshi Books has achieved good results, publishing nearly 30 books (sets) this year, covering serious literature, popular literature (animation), Chinese studies, and popular science bestsellers.

"In the Name of People", "True Story of the Gulf War" and "Sailor Moon" (anime) have all sold millions of copies, and the overall operating profit is estimated to be around 2000 million.

Shengshi Property was established not long ago and is mainly engaged in the office leasing business of Shengshi Building. After the initial losses, Western Film and Television Group started to make profits in the past two years, and this year's operating profit is expected to reach about 1000 million.

In comparison, Shengshi Film and Television seems a little overshadowed.

The movie "Face/Off" suffered huge losses, and the other three movies: "Extreme Cold" did not obtain the Dragon Mark as expected and could not be released in the mainland, but was approved by the Film Bureau to be exhibited overseas, so the losses are already a fact.

Zhang Yimou's "Raise the Red Lantern" and Wang Quan'an's "The Piano in a Factory" have not yet been released, but according to past practice, Zhang Yimou's films have not performed well at the mainland box office, so we have to rely on overseas sales.

However, Wang Quanan is full of confidence in "The Piano in a Factory". With the support of the already published novel and his own abilities, profit should not be a problem.

The final TV series "In the Name of People" has been completed and is undergoing intensive post-production. It is expected to meet the audience during the Spring Festival.

Song Tangtang, the helmsman of Shengshi Film and Television, feels a lot of pressure: the investment in the new film and television base is as high as 6000 million yuan. In addition to the fixed asset investment, the company's account has a floating loss of 4000 million yuan so far! Although the two movies and one TV series have not been released, there is no income for the time being.

But the two big bosses of Shengshi Group, Fang Minghua and Zhao Hongjun, are very open-minded.

Especially Zhao Hongjun, he advised: "Tangtang, it's okay. The film and television industry is a high-risk industry with high investment. Losing tens of millions is nothing. Besides, "In the Name of People" has not yet been broadcast, so we will definitely be able to make back the losses."

Now everyone in Shengshi Film and Television regards "In the Name of People" as a performance turnaround.

Fang Minghua also said in a joking tone: "It's better to make a loss. You see other film studios are losing money. If you make a profit, others will be jealous. It's better to make a loss and follow the crowd."

"What are you talking about?" Song Tangtang rolled her eyes at her husband, but she felt a little better.

"Where is Lili? Where did Lili go?" Song Tangtang looked at the living room and suddenly found that an adult was missing.

"It's over there." Wang Xia pointed outside.

Through the glass door, Song Tangtang saw Lili decorating the Christmas tree with three children, laughing and jumping happily.

"Tangtang, I found that your cousin really likes playing with children." Wang Xia said.

"Yes, Lili likes children very much."

"Then get one quickly." Wang Xia blurted out, but saw her husband glaring at her, so she quickly shut up.

Song Tangtang didn't notice the couple's expressions. Looking at Li Li who was having fun, she agreed, "Yes, we should have one. If we don't, we will be too old to have one. Okay, you guys chat. I'll go help Xiaoqin cook. She can't handle it alone."

"I'll go too." Wang Xia stood up.

The two wives left, and only two men were left in the living room, which suddenly became quiet. They both looked at Li Li who was playing with the children outside.

At this time, Li Li was wearing a white down jacket and a red scarf. She was laughing and jumping, as happy as a child.

"Hey, Minghua, your sister-in-law is pretty good. She's in her early thirties, but she looks like a girl in her twenties. She's not only pretty, but also very elegant!"

"Nonsense, he's a doctor of literature, as the ancients said: A man of learning is naturally elegant. Hey, Red Army, you don't know how to do that?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? You should be the one with the idea! As the saying goes, "Half of the sister-in-law's butt belongs to her brother-in-law." Zhao Hongjun said in a low voice.

"Get lost! You can't spit out ivory from a dog's mouth!"

After dinner, everyone sang Christmas songs and gave gifts to the children. It was almost ten o'clock in the evening before Zhao Hongjun and his wife left with their daughter.

Li Li was about to leave, but Ruirui strongly requested to sleep with her tonight, and Li Li agreed because she couldn't resist.

"Brother-in-law, let me tell you something." Li Li said.

"Ok?"

"I have a colleague at San Francisco State University named Suzuko Soron, a Japanese professor. She and I have a good relationship. She knows that I am translating your book 'The Convenience Store of Sorrow'. She is also fluent in Chinese. After reading it, she felt it was very good and suggested that we translate it into Japanese and publish it in Japan. What do you think?" Li Li said.

"Yes, if you want to publish in Japan, you can contact Kodansha. Several of my books have been published there."

Fang Minghua is right.

That was ten years ago in 1984. Ichiro Sanbon, deputy editor-in-chief of Kodansha, and Osamu Iwakami, president of the Japanese "Chinese Science Fiction Research Association", went to Yenching to find Fang Minghua, who was participating in the selection of the second "National Literature Award" at the time. They wanted to publish his three science fiction novels published in "Science and Literature" in Japan.

Later, "Our Journey is the Sea of ​​Stars" and "The Legend of Sun Wukong" written by Fang Minghua were published one after another, which were warmly welcomed by readers. Kodansha also purchased the comics and film and television adaptation rights of the novels.

After publishing a series of anime novels and TV series, Fang Minghua became a household name in Japan, and he and Kodansha also made a lot of money.

In addition to these best-sellers, some of Fang Minghua's serious literature, such as his early "Selected Pioneering Short Stories by Minghua" and "Selected Realistic Short Stories by Minghua", his later "Selected New Realistic Short Stories by Minghua", "The Piano in a Factory", and his essay collection "Fragments of Civilization", have also been released to readers in Japan, but they are mainly published by Kadokawa Shoten.

Now that Li Li suggested that "The Convenience Store of Sorrow" be published in Japan, Fang Minghua naturally thought of Kodansha.

"Okay, I'll give the Japanese translation of this book to my colleague. I guarantee she can do a good job," said Li Li.

"Okay, I'll give you full authority over this matter." Fang Minghua agreed immediately.

With Li Li as his overseas plenipotentiary representative, Fang Minghua is happy to have some free time.

Song Tangtang was a little unhappy when she heard this.

"Minghua, don't you think Lili is too tired? You asked her to be responsible for publishing the works in Europe and America, and now you're giving her the responsibility of publishing in Japan.

"It's okay, cousin." Li Li said quickly, "I am happy to do these things."

Why.
Really.

Song Tangtang didn't know what to say.

(End of this chapter)