Back to 80: My Literary Life

That afternoon, Li Li and Fang Minghua rushed to Zhang Qing Accounting Associates together with their client Meng Dawen.

Zhang Qing is slightly older, looking to be in his forties.

Later, I heard from Meng Dawen that unlike his family where three generations lived in San Francisco, Zhang Qing's parents were in Taiwan and were from other provinces.

After graduating from Soochow University, he came to the United States alone. After completing his master's degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he opened an accounting firm in San Francisco. After several years of hard work, the accounting firm he established became very famous in San Francisco.

"Mr. Fang, after listening to Dawen's introduction, I will personally take charge of your business." Zhang Qing's Mandarin still has a Taiwanese accent.

"In the past, the Chinese who did business in San Francisco were basically from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Since the reform and opening up in the mainland, more and more people from the mainland have come here to do business. I hope the more the better, after all, we are all Chinese."

"Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Zhang." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

After a few chats, Zhang Qing took out a thick piece of information from the drawer and handed it to Fang Minghua: "This is the basic information of Ashley Press, as well as its fixed assets and financial status."

"According to our private investigation, the financial situation of this publishing house is indeed very poor and it is at risk of bankruptcy. The owner of the publishing house, Mr. Garcia, does have the intention to sell."

"That's good."

"This publishing house now has a total of 46 employees. Its fixed assets mainly include a three-story building, a car, a pickup truck, and some office equipment including computers, desks and chairs, and a small number of books, etc." Zhang Qing explained.

"Does that mean that the most valuable building is that building?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Yes, after our evaluation, the market price of that building is around US$3 million."

Fang Minghua nodded and continued to read.

"Do they have debts?" Fang Minghua saw a line of data on the document.

"Yes, the specific data is unknown, but it should not exceed 2 million. There are also future copyright income and book balances of some books. These cannot be investigated and require the other party to provide data." Zhang Qing continued to explain:

"After comprehensive evaluation, we finally determined that if you want to completely acquire this publishing house, you will need 4-5 million US dollars. The specific amount will depend on the amount of the other party's liabilities and the results of negotiations between the two parties."

"Thanks."

Fang Minghua said and handed the information to Meng Dawen next to him: "Lawyer Meng, then negotiate with the other party according to the data provided in the information. Try to negotiate for 4 million, and the maximum cannot exceed 5 million."

"OK!" Meng Dawen took the information and said with a smile: "Mr. Fang, don't worry, we will try to win 4 million!"

"During negotiations, our accounting firm will send professionals to provide consulting services." Zhang Qing added.

"OK!" Meng Dawen said and turned around to look at Fang Minghua:

"Mr. Fang, you entrust me with the negotiation, so you don't have to worry about it. You just need to prepare the cash for the acquisition now. Four million is not a small amount. Do you need a loan? I can provide you with legal services on loans. I can do this business for free.”

Oh?

This professional quality is quite good.

But some don't believe in my strength.

The same goes for the look in Zhang Qing's eyes.

How much royalties can a mainland writer earn in the United States?

4 million US dollars, not 4 million RMB!

Fang Minghua didn't say much, but asked Li Li sitting next to him in a low voice: "Lili, how much cash is there in my account now?"

"It's only over 100,000 US dollars, and according to the contract, Mr. Meng and Mr. Zhang should each be paid half of the remuneration immediately."

"So few?"

"Didn't you say that in addition to leaving 100,000 US dollars in the account for emergencies, the rest of the royalties and the dividends from Sun Lizhe's company were all bought into stocks. Apple, Microsoft, and HP each bought one-third. I just bought them once in June." Li Rei explained quietly.

So obedient?

Well, not bad.

"Okay, from now on you can pay Lili to the other party and then use your phone." Fang Minghua said.

Li Li immediately took out a Motorola Mobile Phone from her bag. Fang Minghua took out an address book from his pocket and found a person's name:

Phillips.

This is when Fang Minghua came to the United States in 1988. He met a young trader at the Chicago Stock Exchange and became his personal financial advisor with a salary of US$5,000 per year.

However, from that day on, Fang Minghua never contacted him again when he returned to China. He originally waited until the millennium to find him again, but it seems that he has to move forward now.

Fang Minghua dialed the phone.

Chicago Stock Exchange.

Phillips was talking to an elderly client in his private office.

"Mrs. Jones, please trust my professional vision. The Dell stock I recommended to you has a very high growth potential. Look at the K-line chart. How much has its stock price increased in the past few years?"

The old woman named Jones looked at the computer screen and was a little confused: "Mr. Phillips, since it has risen so high, will it fall in the future?"

"Mrs. Jones, you are wrong. As the saying goes, the strong will always be strong. According to the company's results announced this year, operating income and profits are both in a period of rapid growth, and the stock price will be higher in the future!" Phillips explained patiently.

Seeing that the old lady was still a little skeptical, he suddenly thought of the mysterious Chinese man who bought the stock seven years ago.

Then he said, "Mrs. Jones, let me tell you a story about stocks."

"Oh? You said it." Mrs. Jones suddenly became interested.

"Seven years ago, I met a young man from the mysterious China in the East who came here to buy stocks. You know, there was no stock market in China at that time, and he didn't even know what stocks were."

Inadvertently, Phillips' words were a bit exaggerated.

"I recommended three stocks to him, oh, two stocks, one of which was HP!" Phillips continued.

"What about the other one?" Mrs. Jones asked curiously.

"Microsoft, of course, it's not bad for you to buy Microsoft now." Phillips replied.

I won't talk about Apple.

The performance is a bit poor, Phillips muttered in his heart.

"I bought it at $8.5 per share in 1988. Look at the current stock price? $98! It has increased 11 times! That Chinese is very grateful to me!" Phillips looked very proud, and after thinking for a while, he added:

"This Chinese is quite famous in our country. He is a writer, Fang Minghua, whose pen name is Minghua. Several of his books were published in our country."

"Minghua? Is he the Chinese who wrote "The Bridges of Madison County"? "Minghua exclaimed Mrs. Jones.

"Yes, that's him! He used his royalties to buy stocks. I'm sorry I can't tell you the exact amount. I have to keep it confidential for my client."

Mrs. Jones was a little tempted. Of course, she also suspected that Phillips was full of nonsense. There were few good people on Wall Street, although he was not on Wall Street.

At this moment, the phone on the desk suddenly rang.

"Sorry, please wait." Phillips said, and picked up the microphone: "Hello, this is Phillips' office at the Chicago Stock Exchange."

A man's voice came from the other side of the microphone immediately, with a strange accent, like a foreigner speaking English.

"Mr. Phillips, I am the Chinese writer Fang Minghua, do you remember?"

"Oh, Mr. Minghua! Of course I remember, you came to the United States?" Phillips' voice immediately became excited.

"Yes, I am in San Francisco now, and I want to sell some stocks."

Phillips was about to say that I am happy to serve you, but suddenly heard the old woman next to him scream: "Mr. Minghua really came to the United States?! Can I say a few words to him?"

"You?" Phillips looked at the bloated old woman in front of him, feeling a little unhappy.

I am talking about business with my big client, why are you interrupting?

"I am his loyal reader," Mrs. Jones explained quickly.