Back to 80: My Literary Life

"Hello, Mr. Luo." Fang Minghua was polite.

"Please forgive me for coming uninvited." Luo Bin also spoke politely. He saw that the room was relatively small, so he smiled and said: "Mr. Fang, it's still early, how about I invite you out for a drink or two? Is it nearby? There is a bar with a nice environment.”

Fang Minghua also knew that Yi Shu brought Luo Bin here today because of the martial arts novel. He couldn't explain it in a few words. He also wanted to know Luo Bin's plan, so he agreed.

The three of them left the hotel. People were coming and going on the street, and neon lights were flashing on both sides. It was a scene of drunkenness and wealth.

Fang Minghua followed Luo Bin and Yi Shu into a bar and asked for a private room.

Compared with the hustle and bustle outside, it seems very quiet here, and a very touching Cantonese song is playing.

I don’t know if there will be an end there

All I know is that the time that passes will never come back

Every string of tears accompanies every dream

Without realizing it, they all slipped away

"Flow, Counter Flow" sung by Xu Xiaofeng.

"Mr. Fang, what would you like to drink?" Luo Bin asked.

"Whatever."

"Have a bottle of Rémy Martin XO."

Soon, the waiter picked up a bottle of Remy Martin and ordered Norwegian salmon and grilled oysters. The two of them started drinking, with Yi Shu still drinking.

Luo Bin didn't beat around the bush and said the topic directly:

"Mr. Fang, Yi Shu called me today and told me that you were going to write a martial arts novel called "The Fighting Swordsman in the Snow." I rushed over as soon as I heard that. Please, sir, be sure to vote for our "Martial Arts World". The manuscript fee will definitely guarantee your satisfaction."

At this point Luo Bin paused: "One Hong Kong dollar per word!"

The price is indeed not low!

Fang Minghua was surprised and put down his wine glass.

Although the current official exchange rate between Hong Kong dollars and RMB is relatively poor, 100 Hong Kong dollars can be exchanged for about 45 yuan, but if you don't exchange it and deposit it directly in a bank in Hong Kong, it is definitely not a small amount.

Sure enough, he was much more generous than Jin Yong.

However, Fang Minghua did not agree immediately, but asked with a smile: Mr. Luo, I guess you also know that I have never written a martial arts novel, including the one you mentioned, which is just a preliminary idea. Are you sure I can write it well? If you don't write well then, won't you suffer a loss if you pay such a high price? "

Luo Bin laughed after hearing this: "Mr. Fang, if it were anyone else, I would naturally not pay such a high price, but you are different."

"What is the difference?"

"You are the vice chairman of the Mainland Provincial Writers' Association. Your novel has won the Mao Dun Literary Award, and your writing skills are naturally outstanding."

"But those who write serious novels may not be able to write popular novels well." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"You are right, but you have written science fiction novels, just like Ni Kuang, and your science fiction novels are better than those written by Ni Kuang!"

This is true.

Fang Minghua does not deny that the "Wesley" series written by Ni Kuang is not science fiction and is more appropriately classified as adventure novels.

"More importantly, I listened to the passage you read at the wine table, Yi Shu. It was so domineering, almost comparable to Mr. Cha's writing style! So, I am sure that you can definitely write martial arts well!"

"Minghua, Mr. Luo is really sincere." Yi Shu also said next to him.

Fang Minghua pondered and said, "Okay, I agree."

"Okay!" Luo Bin was very happy. The two discussed the details of the contract and finally agreed that Fang Minghua was guaranteed to write a novel of no less than 1 million words. He would first write a 100,000-word draft, mail it over and then publish it.

"Mr. Fang, I know you are busy with work, just make sure you can produce 40,000 words per month." Luo Bin said his request: ""Martial Arts World" is a weekly, published every Friday, and each issue will publish 10,000 words of your novel. Of course, the first two or three issues should be serialized with more words to attract readers.”

Don't learn from Gu Long.

I like to procrastinate.

However, Fang Minghua readily agreed,

Forty thousand words a month is still no problem.

But Fang Minghua made a request: "You don't need to publish it under your real name or pseudonym Minghua, but use a new pen name: Fenghuo."

Finally, both parties agreed to sign a formal contract tomorrow afternoon.

"When Remy Martin is opened, good things will come naturally. It seems that my bottle of Remy Martin XO is opened correctly!" Luo Bin was very happy and raised his glass.

"Mr. Fang, cheers to our cooperation!"

"cheers!"

After finishing the drink, the three left.

Yi Shu was about to take a taxi home. When she was about to get into the taxi, she suddenly turned around and said to Fang Minghua: "Thank you, Minghua, for helping my brother repay Luo Bin's favor."

Ah?

"I owe you a favor. I'll pay it back when I get the chance." After saying that, Yishu got into the taxi and quickly disappeared into the night.

These two siblings are quite interesting.

Fang Minghua couldn't help but shake his head.

The next day, Fang Minghua did not go shopping with him. Instead, he opened an account for himself at Standard Chartered Bank, and all future royalties and royalties were deposited into the account.

Anyway, I am not in a hurry to spend money.

After signing the contract, one day later, the five-member delegation left Xiangjiang early in the morning and returned to Pengcheng through Luohu Port.

At this time, in the office of Luo Bin, the owner of the Global Publishing House in Sheung Wan New Street, Hong Kong, Zheng Zheng, the editor-in-chief of "Martial Arts World" magazine, and Luo Bin were having a fierce quarrel.

"Boss, why did you sign this contract with Fang Minghua without telling me in advance? I am the editor-in-chief and am responsible for publishing the magazine!"

"The matter was urgent, and you weren't here when I called you, so Yi Shu and I rushed there." Luo Bin explained.

"But at least you have to read what he writes and then sign a contract with him. One yuan per word. This price can be higher than any martial arts novel writer's remuneration."

"I just told you the reason. I believe that the novel written by Fang Minghua is worth the price!"

"Believe it? You believe the words of a person who has never written a martial arts novel!" Zheng Zheng laughed angrily.

He did not expect that Luo Bin, who had always been steady, would make such a reckless move.

"Boss, are you betting?"

Looking at Zheng Zheng's aggressive gaze, the good-tempered Luo Bin couldn't help but said loudly:

"Yes, Lao Zheng, I am betting, can't I not bet? If this continues, our "Martial Arts World" will be doomed!"

"Liang Yusheng stopped writing like Jin Yong a long time ago. Wo Longsheng stopped writing novels and went to China Television to work as a TV screenwriter and producer."

"Sima Ling finished writing "Jade Hook Slope", but the other "The Lonely Sword" was not finished in the end and even the people disappeared. Liu Canyang was injured and has been away from home for the past two years to recover. Who else do you think we have?

"Who else?!"

Seeing Luo Bin getting angry, he solemnly lowered his voice: "Don't we still have Zhuge Qingyun and Murong Mei?"

"Yes. There are still these two who contribute to us, but you haven't noticed that their condition and writing power are not as good as before. Their peak period has long passed." At this point, Luo Bin sighed deeply.

"Looking at Jin Yong's side, although Jin Yong has already closed the book, there are Ni Kuang and Huang Ying, and now suddenly there is Wen Ruian, who is as popular as Gu Long back then. Do you think I can't be impatient?"

"Ni Kuang is such a rebel!"

Mentioning the name Ni Kuang makes Zheng Zheng angry.

It was his boss who made him famous, but after he became famous, he fell into the arms of his opponent!

"Okay, let's not talk about him anymore." Luo Bin was a little tired and sat on the boss's chair: "This time Yishu tried his best to win over Fang Minghua to contribute to us. I know that I want to repay his brother's debt to me."

"Yishu is a loving woman, which his brother cannot compare to." He nodded solemnly: "I just hope that Yishu is not wrong about the person."

"I also hope... I saw the right person." Luo Bin closed his eyes and murmured.