The literary era since 1979

Chapter 299: Don't Be a Famous Scholar

The Imperial Hotel Tokyo is located in the heart of bustling Tokyo.

It is known as the originator of Japanese hotels and is one of the first generation of "Tokyo's Big Three Hotels" along with Okura and New Otani.

Shochiku chose this place to hold a celebration party for the huge success of the movie "The Village Postman".

Fangyan arrived at the hotel entrance on time and got out of the taxi with Hashimoto Yui and others.

Suzuki Yoko was surprised to find Suzuki Shunjiro standing in the lobby: "Oh, Do-san?"

Suzuki Shunjiro shook Fangyan's hand and explained that he was waiting for him here.

Fangyan was not immune to surprise: "Wait for me?"

Suzuki Shunjiro nodded and said in a low voice: "This time we completely followed Fangyan-kun's instructions and did not transfer all the royalties into the account like before."

"Excuse me, what about the other thing?"

Fangyan was quite satisfied. As the prize money for the Akutagawa Ryunosuke Prize was included, he did not plan to convert the Japanese yen into US dollars for the time being.

Before the Plaza Accord, the yen had been depreciating.

In the past, the exchange rate fell below 160 yen, but now it is not worth mentioning at all. Now 1 US dollar can be exchanged for at least 278 yen.

Instead of exchanging it into US dollars or RMB, it is better to invest directly in Japanese real estate. Now is the time to buy the bottom of the property market!

"We have arranged it and can start any time."

Suzuki Shunjiro cast a meaningful look.

Suzuki Yoko looked left and right, "Teacher Fang, do you want to buy a house in Tokyo or Kyoto?"

"As long as it looks good, it can be anywhere."

Fangyan smiled and then changed the topic to the current sales of the novel.

“There are already more than 16 copies.”

Suzuki Shunjiro held up five fingers and said, "After a meeting, we unanimously decided to print this number next time."

Fangyan also stretched out his hand and opened it, "I think adding another 5 copies should be no problem."

Suzuki Shunjiro grinned and said that the sales of works that won the Akutagawa Ryunosuke Prize basically did not fall below 50 copies. What they are adopting now is just a hunger marketing strategy to whet the appetite of readers, and then open the floodgates to release the floodgates when the box office and reputation of the movie continue to rise and the media continue to report on it.

"Being the head of the Kyoto branch is a waste of your talent." Fang Yan said with a smile, "You should definitely be the vice president of Yuhikaku!"

"Haha, thank you for your kind words, Mr. Fangyan."

Suzuki Shunjiro raised his hand and said that whether he could become the vice president would depend on great writers like Fangyan.

"Then strike while the iron is hot."

Fang Yan asked, "I wonder if Yuhige has decided to publish The Ring?"

"It's settled."

Suzuki Shunjiro's tone was full of excitement.

Long before receiving the letter from Fangyan, a series of promotional activities for "The Ring" were planned in advance.

“When is it going to be published?”

What Fangyan thought was almost the same time as Yuhikaku's plan, and it would be released all over Japan half a month later.

In this way, it can not only take advantage of the popularity of "The Village Postman" but also avoid distracting the readers' attention and avoiding diversion.

"Mr. Fangyan, regarding the manuscript fee and royalties, we have prepared a new contract for you."

As he walked, Suzuki Shunjiro briefly stated the terms of the new contract.

When he heard that the standard of manuscript fee had increased, Fangyan smiled in his heart but appeared calm on the surface.

But when he heard that the royalties had increased from 12% to 20%, he was pleasantly surprised and asked cautiously, "So, what are the conditions?"

"It's The Ring, and the exclusive rights to the next two novels."

Having been in the industry for so many years, Shunjiro Suzuki can naturally see the potential commercial value of "The Ring" and Fang Xiaojiang.

Fang Yan hesitated for a moment, then heard the elevator ding and the door opened:
"I think it's worth considering. After all, we have a pleasant cooperation."

After hearing this, Suzuki Shunjiro was overjoyed and immediately revealed another good news.

Yuhikaku hopes to purchase the copyrights of other novels in dialect, especially short stories, and plans to compile them into a collection of novels together with "That Mountain, That Man, That Dog". With the current popularity of "The Village Postman", he can boost the sales of the entire collection, killing two birds with one stone!
"I don't seem to have a reason to say no."

The dialect is hilarious, it's really cunning, but I like it!

…………

Ding!
The elevator door opened again, and Fang Yan, Suzuki Shunjiro and others walked out and entered the banquet hall. At the celebration banquet, except for the film delegation, almost all the others were people from Shochiku Film Company.

Fangyan took a quick look around and found that Keiko Matsuzaka was still like a ripe cherry, and Kurihara Komaki still had a scholarly temperament. He discovered an unexpected face among the crowd of actresses.

Damn, Captain Iruma Megumi from "Ultraman Tiga"!
"Her name is Takashu Mio. Do you need help getting to know Fangyan?" Okuyama Rong's eyes were full of amusement.

What are you looking at me like! I'm a serious person!

Fang Yan rolled his eyes and said, "You misunderstood. I just thought he looked very similar to a friend of mine."

"I see."

Seeing that he had no interest, Okuyama Rong said, "I'll take you to see our president first. He has always wanted to meet you."

So Fangyan followed him and met Shiroto Shiro, and they exchanged polite words with each other.

"Given the quality of "The Village Postman", I think it can be nominated for the Japan Academy Award for Best Foreign Film."

"It doesn't really matter whether it wins an award or not. What I'd like to see most is that this movie can attract more Japanese movie fans' attention, appreciation and reflection." Fangyan said with a smile.

"You are indeed worthy of being Mr. Fangyan."

Shiro Kido sighed, "I heard that A Bite of China was also written by you, is that right?"

Fangyan told the truth that the collection of essays was written by himself, but the entire documentary was the result of collective hard work and wisdom.

"I just did my best."

"To be honest, compared to The Village Postman, I personally prefer A Bite of China."

Shiro Kido said directly: "After watching it, I have an urge to travel to China, to taste the Chinese food shown in the documentary, and to see all the beautiful scenery captured. It is really something that makes people yearn for."

Fang Yan said that if he came to Yanjing in the future, he would do his best to be a good host and entertain them well.

"There will be this opportunity."

Okuyama Rong smiled and said, "Maybe we will cooperate on movies in the future."

“I thought now was an opportunity.”

Shunjiro Suzuki recommended "The Ring" with a smile.

Okuyama Rong asked: "From the title, it sounds like a horror novel."

"No, this is a science fiction story disguised as a horror story." Fang Yan succinctly recounted the general plot of "The Ring".

"This shoot is not easy, especially when it comes to special effects." Okuyama Rong immediately grasped the key point.

Fangyan did not refute that the level of special effects technology in China and Japan in the 80s was indeed far behind that of Hollywood.

But I never thought of making "The Ring" into a science fiction movie, but a pure horror movie.

Of course, we don’t plan to let the film be shot by Shochiku Films because we don’t want to let outsiders take over the film.

…………

Half an hour later, the celebration banquet reached its climax.

Pushing cups and changing cups, drinking and drinking together.

During the breaks, geishas were even invited to perform.

Each of their faces was made up in a pale color, which was extremely creepy and horrifying, with a faint smell of the underworld.

I smacked my lips, not appreciating it, I really couldn't appreciate it, but at least it was better than the Paris Olympics.

Suzuki Yoko next to him suddenly asked, "Teacher Fang, when are you going to go and look at the house?"

Fangyan thought for a while and said, "We'll set off whenever it's convenient for you."

Yoko Suzuki looked embarrassed and hesitated to speak.

Fangyan asked curiously, "Yoko, is there any problem?"

"Teacher Fang, I don't have a driver's license, so it might be inconvenient for me to travel."

Yoko Suzuki suggested asking Shunjiro Suzuki to arrange for Yuhikaku to provide a special car for pick-up.

Fang Yan waved his hand and said, "Forget it. I am here for personal matters. I'd better not trouble your father and You Feige."

"Teacher Fang, there is one more thing."

Suzuki Yoko whispered, "Master Morimura Seiichi has been discharged from the hospital, and he asked my father to invite you to meet him in Saitama Prefecture."

(End of this chapter)