Dreams of the Fragrant River

: Thirteen [Bargaining Price]

The 1970s was the most prosperous period for Hong Kong newspapers. The palm-sized Hong Kong peninsula had nearly 70 newspapers at the same time. After fierce competition and survival of the fittest, there were only 55 newspapers in Hong Kong in 1982 and 38 in 1997.

According to the population of Hong Kong and the total circulation of newspapers at this time, almost every two and a half Hong Kong people will buy a newspaper, which is second only to Japan in Asia.

With so many newspapers and fierce media competition, Kang Jianfei has a good novel in his hand, so how could he worry about not being able to sell it?

Since Ming Pao does not want it, Kang Jianfei will not hang himself on a tree. He has two other best choices—Oriental Daily and Sing Tao Daily.

In Hong Kong, Ming Pao, Oriental Daily, and Sing Tao Daily have the largest sales volume. Those who chase after each other take turns to be the “Newspaper Sales Champion”, with sales of over 100,000 copies in each issue.

During this time, Ming Pao’s sales exceeded 150,000 copies due to the resurgence of the Wesleyan series, which caused a headache for Oriental Daily and Sing Tao Daily. Kang Jianfei sent “Looking for Qin Ji” to his door at this time. If the editors of the two newspapers had the vision, they should have obtained the treasure and packaged and promoted it.

The first thing Kang Jianfei went to was “Oriental Daily”. This newspaper often claimed to be the No. 1 sales volume in Hong Kong. This time, the sales were suppressed by “Ming Pao” for several months. They should be the most urgent.

“Oriental Daily” seems to be more alert than the “Ming Pao” side, Kang Jianfei just opened his mouth to ask where the editor-in-chief’s office is, when a thin young man came over and asked: “What is this gentleman looking for the editor-in-chief? ?”

Kang Jianfei made a big statement: “I have a way to increase the sales of Oriental Daily and beat Ming Pao, which is on top of you. I think Editor-in-Chief Xu should be very interested in this matter.”

The young man’s name is Yun Bo, who was originally an ordinary reporter from the “Oriental Daily”. He came to ask questions after seeing Kang Jianfei sneakily inquiring about the location of the editor-in-chief. Unexpectedly, Kang Jianfei’s words were not amazing, but he actually said that he could increase the sales of “Oriental Daily” and beat their mortal rival “Ming Pao”.

Seeing the confidence on Kang Jianfei’s face, Yun Bo didn’t seem to be cheating. He was a little uncertain, and did not know whether Kang Jianfei was a lunatic or a real expert. Turning his head, Yun Bo whispered to Kang Jianfei, “The second room on the left on the third floor is the editor-in-chief’s room.”

“Thank you.” Kang Jianfei said.

Seeing Kang Jianfei go upstairs, Yun Bo quietly followed. If Kang Jianfei can get along with the editor-in-chief, he will “accidentally” reveal that he brought Kang Jianfei up, which is somewhat of a credit for the introduction; know about it.

The editor-in-chief of “Oriental Daily” is called Xu Jixin. He looks in his early 50s and looks younger than Pan Yuesheng, the editor-in-chief of “Ming Pao”.

“I’m sure to increase the sales of Oriental Daily.” This is the first sentence Kang Jianfei said when he walked into the editor-in-chief’s office.

Xu Jixin was really caught off guard by such rhetoric, and asked hesitantly, “Excuse my clumsiness, may I ask who you are…”

Kang Jianfei took out the manuscript of “Looking for Qin Ji”, put it on his desk, and said, “Editor Xu can take a look at this first.”

Xu Jixin still hasn’t figured out what Kang Jianfei is here for, so he opened the manuscript in confusion. He didn’t like the urban plot at the beginning, and even wanted to abandon the book, but the next time he changed his writing style, he actually came to the Warring States Period, and Xu Jixin’s eyes suddenly lit up.

After reading the same article, different readers have different reactions.

It’s like an online game novel. Fifty-year-old readers don’t want to read a few paragraphs, but twenty-year-old readers read it with relish. This is a matter of taste.

Jin Yong didn’t like “Looking for Qin Ji”, and felt that the tone of the book was too frivolous, and its meaty drama was unbearable. Although the plot is novel and may be able to sell well, but “Ming Pao” already has Ni Frame’s Wesley series, Jin Yong will not consider “Xun Qin Ji”.

Xu Jixin, on the other hand, looked at “Xun Qin Ji” purely from a commercial point of view, so the shortcomings of this book can be completely ignored. Many plots are remarkable and can definitely be sold.

After reading tens of thousands of words in one breath, Xu Jixin looked away from the manuscript and asked Kang Jianfei and Hu Juncai, “What are the names of the two gentlemen?”

Kang Jianfei said: “Mr. Xu, you’re welcome, my name is Kang Jianfei, this is my friend Hu Juncai.”

Xu Jixin has already seen that the two are mainly Kang Jianfei, and Hu Juncai is a dozen soy saucers, so he asked Kang Jianfei: “Is this “Looking for Qin Ji” written by Mr. Kang?”

Kang Jianfei said with a smile, “If it’s fake, it will be replaced.”

Xu Jixin asked straight to the point: “Mr. Kang is willing to serialize this novel in the Oriental Daily?”

“I’m very happy,” Kang Jianfei asked, “I just don’t know how the royalties are calculated?”

Xu Jixin said, “How about 50 yuan per thousand words?”

Kang Jianfei smiled and said, “Is it too low?”

Xu Jixin shook his head and said, “No less. Mr. Kang is an unknown new author. The maximum amount of this kind of manuscript in Ming Pao is 30 yuan per thousand words.”

Kang Jianfei retorted: “How did I hear that Ni Jiao’s novels cost 500 yuan per thousand words?”

“Haha, that salary can’t be used as a standard,” Xu Jixin laughed, “Huang Yulang bought horse bones through Wesley’s hot daughter half a year ago in order to launch a new magazine. My own magazine is very popular, so the fee of 500 yuan for 1,000 words is very empty. You must know that Ni Jiao’s manuscript fee for “Ming Pao” is only 180 yuan for 1,000 words.”

Xu Jixin was afraid that Kang Jianfei would not understand, and gave him a brief introduction to the remuneration of Hong Kong newspaper articles. This introduction was very different from what his cousin Wu Chenggang said that day.

Wu Chenggang said that the column cost is about 700 yuan per thousand words, but that is only the price of a famous artist. For example, if you invite Yi Shu to write a film review, it is almost the same amount – Ming Pao will give a maximum of 500 yuan per thousand words, while Oriental Daily will give you thousands. Word 700 yuan. And it must be a highly professional and creative manuscript. If Yi Shu writes a random essay, the manuscript fee will not exceed 200 yuan per thousand words.

If you invite an ordinary university professor to write a column, the maximum payment for a thousand words is 150 yuan.

As for the manuscripts of novels, famous writers are only paid about 100 yuan per thousand words, and ordinary novel writers are paid only 50 yuan per thousand words – Ni Jiaang is an exception.

After listening to Kang Jianfei, after being silent for a while, he suddenly stared at Xu Jixin and asked, “Chief Editor Xu, do you think “Looking for Qin” is only worth 50 yuan per thousand words?”

Xu Jixin and Kang Jianfei looked at each other, just from the look in each other’s eyes, he knew that Kang Jianfei was not someone who could be fooled at will, and he said, “Mr. Kang seems to be very confident in his novels, so it’s 80 yuan per thousand words, it’s already That’s the price tag of a well-known novelist.”

Kang Jianfei shook his head and said, “Not enough.”

Xu Jixin’s expression turned cold, and he said, “Mr. Kang, don’t be too aggressive. No new author’s novel can be paid 80 yuan per thousand words. I’ve made an exception for you.”

Kang Jianfei didn’t seem to hear his words, and continued: “Editor Xu, if we were like this, we would calculate the manuscript fee for “Xun Qin Ji” at 50 yuan per thousand words for the first seven days. After a week, we will talk about how much the manuscript fee will be. The market reacts to make adjustments.”

Xu Jixin understood it, the young man in front of him had great confidence in the novel he wrote. This kind of person is the most difficult to deal with, especially after the novel has a good response, the manuscript fee is even more difficult to calculate.

Although Xu Jixin was very optimistic about this novel, he didn’t want to argue about the royalties in the future. He said, “Mr. Kang…”

“I know what you’re going to say,” Kang Jianfei interrupted. “The best-selling novels in Hong Kong today are Ni Jiao and Wen Rui’an. One of their works was published in Ming Pao, the other in Ming Pao. It was published in the Evening News. Editor-in-chief Xu rejected a novel that could compete with Ni Jiao and Wen Ruian for the mere 100 yuan fee?”

What an arrogant guy!

This is the first time Xu Jixin has met such a brazen and arrogant young man, and he keeps saying that he can compete with Ni Jiao and Wen Ruian. How good does it make him feel?

However, Xu Jixin has to admit that “Looking for Qin” is likely to be a big hit.

Ni Jiao actually wrote novels on Oriental Daily, but it was not a Wesleyan series. The response from readers was not very good. Oriental Daily really needed a best-selling novel to support the page.

Kang Jianfei took back the manuscript of “Looking for Qin Ji” and said, “Editor Xu, my condition is not excessive, right? If you don’t want to, then I have to take the manuscript to “Sing Tao Daily”.”

“Wait!” Xu Jixin stopped him immediately, Kang Jianfei’s last sentence hit his weak spot. “Ming Pao” is already powerful enough, if this novel is pushed to “Sing Tao Daily”, then “Oriental Daily” will face double pressure, he said with a slightly hypocritical smile on his face, “That’s it. Yes, the first week’s manuscript fee is 50 yuan per thousand words, and the second week is adjusted according to readers’ reactions.”

Kang Jianfei smiled and said, “A very wise choice.”

Xu Jixin asked a hairy boy to control the scene, obviously feeling a little unhappy, and asked, “Mr. Kang, do you want to take a pseudonym?”

Kang Jianfei raised his eyebrows: “A pseudonym? Is the pseudonym ‘Long Aotian’ okay?”

Xu Jixin read it twice, nodded and said, “Yes, Long Aotian is a great pen name, easy to remember and domineering.”

Kang Jianfei sweated madly and said, “Just sign Kang Jianfei. If editor-in-chief Xu likes the pseudonym Long Aotian, I will give it to you for free.”

Hu Juncai followed Kang Jianfei out of the “Oriental Daily” building, as if in a dream, stared at Kang Jianfei and said, “A Fei, have you really become a writer?”

Kang Jianfei nodded and said, “That’s right.”

Hu Juncai felt that the world was too crazy. He and Kang Jianfei had known each other since childhood, and they sneaked across the sea to Hong Kong together. He is still on the line of food and clothing. Kang Jianfei not only won the appreciation of the great director Wang Tianlin, but also became a writer in a blink of an eye, which is like a fantasy.

Looking at Kang Jianfei’s back on the street waving for a taxi, Hu Juncai thought of the statue of the chairman waving his hand, and Kang Jianfei’s image in his mind instantly became tall and mighty.