Chapter 20: No! I almost fell in love

Out of professional sensitivity, he is also a senior fan of martial arts novels.

Just by looking at the synopsis of the novel written by Fan Wumian, editor Shang Shangchang guessed that he probably had a wonderful story in his head.

Although the price of one dollar per word made Shangjia Chang feel that it was not appropriate, the final decision was in the hands of the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, so he decided to go back to the company to ask.

After chatting for a while, editor Shangjia Chang left first with his briefcase.

It happened to be a Chinese class. Teacher Ning Da accompanied Fan Wumian to the classroom and asked in confusion:
"Student Fan, I didn't expect you to be so amazing. How did you come up with such a story?"

Fan Wumian responded calmly and said:
"As the old saying goes, when God closes a door, he will also open a window. Although my grades have been terrible for many years, besides being handsome, I do have some other advantages."

"You're right. Good grades are not the only way out. When I went to college and finished my master's degree and left campus, some of my classmates had already started their own companies and their income was at least dozens of times more than mine. I was really envious."

Teacher Ningda sighed.

Her family's conditions were not good. They lived on Lantau Island, far away from the city. Her parents were farmers and sold vegetables. They successfully applied for a public housing unit through the school. The total area was only about 13 square meters, and it was rented.

When Ning Da thought that a newspaper was willing to pay Fan Wumian one dollar per word for just three short essays, she felt that life was truly wonderful and that good luck could not be stopped.

Fan Wumian had no idea that he was being envied. In his head he was piecing together the novels he had read in his previous life, and was planning to find some time to write some manuscripts.

Just like textbooks and exercise books for classes are very expensive, literary creation also has a bright future in Hong Kong. Take Mr. Jin Yong for example. As early as the 90s, his total net worth had exceeded 10 billion Hong Kong dollars. Although most of it was earned by founding a newspaper, the income from writing martial arts novels is even higher than that earned by many celebrities from filming movies and doing endorsements.

Writing a book was not in Fan Wumian's plan.

However, there are no good ways to make money in the short term, so we can only work harder and try to make money across industries.
the other side.

Editor Shangjia Chang returned to the company in a hurry. He didn't have time to chat with his colleagues. As soon as he put down his briefcase, he knocked on the glass door of the editor-in-chief's office.

When he learned that Fan Wumian did not want to write an essay but was planning to write a novel, the editor-in-chief named Zou Yaozeng almost laughed out of anger and said while sitting on a chair:
"Even when I was an assistant to Liang Yusheng, the founder of the new school of martial arts novels, his commission price was less than HK$1 per word. Is that student surnamed Fan your relative? It's your first day at work in the company? You dare to ask me such an outrageous condition? What will other columnists think if this gets out?"

Blocked by this series of questions, Shang Jia Chang's editor didn't even have a chance to answer.

So he quietly took out the novel introduction written by Fan Wumian, covered his face with it to block the spit of Chief Editor Zou Yaozeng, and replied:

"I can't do anything about it. I don't know what's wrong with his brain. After reading the introduction, I was dumbfounded and even had goose bumps. I don't think the price is too high for a weekly manuscript of 2,000 to 3,000 words. It will probably increase the sales of our newspapers and journals among students, and even attract subscriptions from other novel readers outside the campus."

Shang Jiachang has been working as a reporter and editor for so many years, and Editor-in-Chief Zou has more trust in his vision.

Editor-in-Chief Zou slowly put on his reading glasses and read the novel introduction written on the paper. He was also a little surprised by the grand worldview described between the lines. He savored it carefully several times before slowing down his tone and saying:
"The handwriting is a bit ugly, but the story looks quite novel. Even saints, emperors, dragons and immortals appear. Young people are indeed more imaginative. Let's try publishing it in the newspaper first. Don't make the contract too strict. If it's not well written and no readers like it, then end the cooperation as soon as possible to cut losses in time."

Editor Shang Shangchang asked: "Then what is the commission price per word?"

"Working with me on your first day? Even I liked it after reading it. I'll like Ming Bao and Yangdao Daily even more. People nowadays like to read the news online. Traditional newspapers are almost dead. As long as they come across a novel that can increase sales, they will definitely rush to spend money to buy it."

Editor-in-Chief Zou made an appointment with a barber to come to his house to trim his beard. The barber had already arrived and waved his hand to ask Editor Shang Chang to leave first.

Before the contract for the article was ready, Shangjia Chang, the editor, called Fan Wumian's Chinese teacher Ning Da and told her that she could try writing about 15,000 words for publication in the newspaper.

This number of words can roughly be divided into five issues, and by then we should be able to tell whether it is good or bad. If it is exciting enough, there will naturally be readers who curse and call to urge them to update as soon as possible.

Fearing that he would be implicated by Fan Wumian if he made a mistake, editor Shang Shangchang did not intend to pay one dollar per word for the trial and error words. He only told Teacher Ning Da that he could pay 5000 yuan. After reading the readers' feedback, he would decide whether to execute a formal contract, which would calculate the remuneration at 1 Hong Kong dollar per word.

get out of class just ended.

After receiving the news, Teacher Ning Da did not talk to Fan Wumian privately. Instead, she came to the classroom during the break and told him publicly:
"I have a temporary notice for everyone. Fan Wumian has been commissioned as a writer for Huiwen Daily. A very wonderful novel will be published there. Let us applaud and congratulate Fan. I hope he can truly create a new world of his own and go further and further on the road of being a writer."

The classmates were mostly surprised, and not many actually applauded and congratulated him.

Mantis, Bird King and others were stunned, wondering why their boss, who had been roaming the world together, suddenly took the lead in rebellion and stopped learning martial arts to learn literature.

But there is only one Fan Wumian in the school, so he would not make a mistake in such a matter.

His bad friend Youpian patted his fat butt from a distance and shouted, "Here, boss, be gentle! I will be yours from now on, and you must take me out to have fun when you make money! Good brother! For life!" Fan Wumian picked up a pack of tissues and threw it over, then walked over to Teacher Ning Da and talked to her in detail, mainly concerned about the issue of royalties.

After learning about the conditions offered by the Huiwen Daily, he thought it was quite good. He was only worried about having to worry about how to feed himself.

Now there is no computer at home for him to type, and writing by hand is simply too tiring.
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The script writing continues to be put on hold temporarily.

In addition to practicing the piano to develop muscle memory and studying, Fan Wumian has a new task of writing novels.

Fortunately, after editor Shang Jiachang learned of his situation, he advanced him 5000 Hong Kong dollars in royalties, plus a 3000 Hong Kong dollars prize for the short essay competition, allowing Fan Wumian to have enough spare money to buy an Asus laptop, and finally avoid having to handwrite the traditional Chinese version of the novel.

It took him four days to revise the manuscript and finally finish it with 15000 words, which he sent to Shangjiachang editor via email.

It was already time to get off work when I submitted the manuscript.

The next two days were Saturday and Sunday. He did not sit in front of the computer waiting for a reply, because tomorrow was September 9th - the day when the Yau Tsim Mong Secondary School Singing Competition officially started.

Compared to Fan Wumian, Zhuang Muxi, who lived next door to him, was even more excited. He once again took advantage of the fact that his parents were not at home and knocked on the glass of his balcony with a clothesline.

After seeing Fan Wumian, the girl clenched her fist and said:
"Come on! I will go to watch your game tomorrow. There will be a lot of people there, so you have to be mentally prepared in advance and don't be nervous."

"It's a small scene, and we won it steadily. On the contrary, you, Wei Mei, look more nervous than me."

Under the light, Zhuang Muxi's face was rosy, making people want to reach out and pinch it.

Having worked as a part-time singer in a bar for three or four years, Fan Wumian has seen all kinds of scenes. He is not afraid of the stage and adds: "Will there be a lot of people tomorrow?"

"Of course. More than 100 schools will participate. Even if each school only has people, there will be more than spectators in total."

Remembering something, Zhuang Muxi asked again:
"My dad has been sending me to school a lot lately, so I haven't had a chance to congratulate you. I heard that you've opened a column in Huiwen Daily and are planning to publish your novel? The book's introduction has already been published on the front page of Huiwen Daily. Many of my schoolmates have been talking about it these past two days. It's really amazing."

"Well, I just finished writing 15000 words and sent it to the newspaper editor. I named the book "Emperor of the Desolate Sky". I estimate that it will be serialized next week. But you are my creditor, if you are willing to give me some benefits, it would be okay to show it to you in advance."

Fan Wumian's words had just fallen.

Zhuang Muxi, who was standing on the balcony next door, suddenly felt a little embarrassed and asked with a smile, "So, what benefit do you want?"

"You're so cute like this. Oh no! I almost lost my mind and fell in love. I need artificial respiration to save me."

Fan Wumian pretended to cover his chest.

Zhuang Muxi smiled and said:
"You are so mean. Boys only think about these things. I won't be fooled easily. Just like going out to eat with girls during the holiday, the purpose is nothing more than that."

Done.

She also leaned over to look down, mainly because she was afraid that some impolite neighbor might eavesdrop again.

Fan Wumian replied: "Actually, in front of that thing, eating is not that important."

Seeing him winking at her, Zhuang Muxi suddenly realized that she had spoiled the topic and it was not appropriate to talk about these things with Fan Wumian.

The girl changed the subject calmly and asked:

"So tomorrow, are you going to sing the song you wrote called 'You Hide My Secret'? You know, Miss Zuo might be there too."

"???"

Hearing this, Fan Wumian immediately realized that Zhuang Muxi must have misunderstood, and just said:
"I blame myself for being too young. It's all in the past. Now I just want to focus on my career. I'm afraid poverty will catch up with me."

"Emperor of the Desolate Sky" will begin serialization in newspapers next week. I wonder if these readers in 2004 can withstand the power of this punch.
(End of this chapter)

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