Chapter 237: Adaptation?

After moving the luggage and having lunch, Xu Yuexin rode his motorcycle to Dazhaolan to buy an electric blanket for Da Yizi.

The reason he didn't drive is that this area is too bustling for cars to get in.

Compared with a few years ago, Dazhaolan is livelier, with crowds of customers on the street and an ever‑increasing variety of goods.

Some Sole Proprietorship merchants set up their stalls directly outside, making the whole street feel even more bustling.

Xu Yuexin entered a shop selling bedding and told the clerk that he wanted to buy a large‑size electric blanket.

"A 2.0 × 1.8 electric blanket?"

"We don't have that here."

The clerk shook his head and said, "We do have a 1.6 × 1.8 one, would you like that?"

"Never mind."

Xu Yuexin said that and turned to leave.

If the electric blanket is too small, the bed will be cold in one spot and hot in another.

Xu Yuexin still wanted Da Yizi to sleep comfortably, so he went to the next shop to keep looking.

But the next shop also didn't have one.

In the end, average living space is still small these days; most families can't fit a big bed, so large‑size electric blankets are hard to find.

Xu Yuexin asked shop after shop along Dazhaolan, and finally, at the end of the street, found a store that sold large electric blankets.

For 30 yuan, he got a 2.0 × 1.8 large electric blanket.

Because the street was crowded and he was pushing his motorcycle, Xu Yuexin was drenched in sweat after buying the blanket.

After returning home, Chen Yixue was surprised to see him covered in sweat.

"Why are you sweating so much?"

Chen Yixue took out a handkerchief and handed it to Xu Yuexin, saying.

Xu Yuexin then explained the whole story to Chen Yixue.

"You worked hard."

"You went through so much trouble to buy a bed electric blanket for me."

Chen Yixue, feeling moved, said, "Let me spread it."

She thought Xu Yuexin was being overly considerate toward her.

"The blanket is big; I can't spread it alone."

Xu Yuexin walked toward the Guogong Mansion Main Hall and said, "We'll spread it together."

The two went to Chen Yixue's bedroom; Xu Yuexin folded the quilt and sheets, placed them on a nearby chair, and together they unfolded and spread the electric blanket.

"Go take a shower."

After tossing the cup back onto the bed, Xu Yuexin said, then returned to his own bathroom, turned on the water heater.

Soon, sounds of bathing came from the bathroom.

At that moment, a shout from the mail carrier came from outside the courtyard.

"There's a letter for your family."

"Is anyone home?"

"Coming."

Chen Yixue answered, jogged to the front yard, opened the gate, confirmed the letter was for Xu Yuexin, and signed for it.

After a dozen minutes, Xu Yuexin emerged from the bathroom; Da Yizi, hearing the noise, took the letter and walked to his bedroom.

"There's a letter for you, sent by the production studio."

Da Yizi handed the letter to Xu Yuexin, saying.

Xu Yuexin opened the letter and saw it was from a production studio in Hu Hai, wanting to discuss adapting Great Ming 1566 into a television series.

Sss.

This day had finally arrived.

Xu Yuexin folded the letter away and took a deep breath.

Given the rapid development of the film‑and‑TV industry over the past two years and his literary fame, a studio reaching out for an adaptation was expected.

Xu Yuexin even felt that this day had come a bit late.

Of course, he hadn't actually planned to sell the film rights so quickly.

As for the reason…

It's still about the price.

Based on current market rates, the other side could probably offer about 500 yuan for Great Ming 1566?

At most 600?

Xu Yuexin shook his head inwardly.

If he could only sell it for that amount, he'd rather keep the rights in his hand and wait for them to appreciate later.

"What? Did the letter say something that made you unhappy?"

Noticing Xu Yuexin's sour expression, Da Yizi stepped up.

"Nothing much; someone wants to turn my novel into a TV series, and I'm pondering it."

"Adapt it into a TV series? That's a good thing."

Da Yizi asked in surprise, "Why aren't you happy?"

"I figure they won't offer a high price, so I'm in a bad mood."

Xu Yuexin explained to Da Yizi.

"Oh, I see, because of that."

Da Yizi fell silent after speaking.

Like the vast majority of people in this era, Da Yizi thinks that having her work adapted and seen by more people is a good thing.

As for the payment, she really didn't think much about it.

"What, you don't agree with my idea?"

Xu Yuexin was at that moment pondering the price of the rights, and his mood was a bit sensitive.

So when he saw Da Yizi silent, he immediately pressed the question.

"I… never thought about it that way."

Da Yizi thought for a moment and said frankly to Xu Yuexin, "If I were the author and someone wanted to adapt my book into a TV drama, I might not care about the payment at all."

"Why not care?"

Xu Yuexin retorted, "A novel is the crystallization of the author's hard work; the author rightfully deserves appropriate payment from the creation."

"Great Ming 1566 alone has already earned nearly 200,000 in printing manuscript payment."

"On what basis can others buy its film and television rights for just a few hundred yuan?"

Xu Yuexin wasn't angry at the production company; he felt the current market for film and television rights was abnormal.

By the late 1980s, Ordinary World had sold its TV drama rights for only 700 yuan, while the per‑capita disposable income of Jingcheng residents had already reached 1,500 yuan.

That means a phenomenon‑level work's film and television rights were worth less than half a year's salary for an ordinary person, which is definitely abnormally low.

If one faced such unreasonable pricing without any emotion, that would not be Xu Yuexin.

Hearing Xu Yuexin's words, Da Yizi hurriedly comforted, "Don't get angry; they never told you the price."

"Whether they say it or not, the market price is there."

Xu Yuexin spread his hands and said, "Of course, I'm not angry; I just want to change the situation a bit."

"How to change it?"

Da Yizi said with a hint of doubt.

Although she isn't the author, she knows that to turn a book into a TV drama or film now, one can only approach production companies.

As long as every production company refuses a high price, even a famous author would be powerless.

"Explain the matter clearly to the production company."

Xu Yuexin said confidently, "Anyway, I'm not short of money now; if the money they offer doesn't satisfy me, I'd rather not film it."

"Then… I wish you success."

Da Yizi thought it over and finally offered her blessing.

Deep inside, Da Yizi felt Xu Yuexin's move had little hope.

Yet at this moment she greatly admired Xu Yuexin's courage and determination.

The day after receiving the Letter, Xu Yuexin dialed the phone number of the sending Hengguang Production Company.

Hengguang Production Company is a medium‑sized production house located in Hu Hai that has previously filmed two historical TV dramas.

Xu Yuexin didn't expect to reach a deal, but wanted to convey his attitude. "Hello, may I speak to Hengguang Media?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"I am Xu Yuexin; I received your Letter yesterday."

"Oh, it's you. Hello, hello, we wrote to you this time mainly to discuss cooperating on filming Great Ming 1566."

"Let's talk over the phone first."

"Alright, let me introduce the situation here."

"Our company has studied the book Great Ming and finds its plot ingenious and its ideas lofty, making it very suitable for a TV drama."

"At present, we have already selected suitable directors and actors; once we reach an agreement with you, we can sign the contract and start filming."

"Oh, I see. How much money are you prepared to spend to buy our adaptation rights?"

"As for the price, of course we'll give you a preferential rate; we're ready to pay 400 yuan to buy it."

"Got it, just as expected."

"Only 400 yuan, and it's still called preferential."

Xu Yuexin shook his head self‑deprecatingly, feeling speechless.

The other end of the phone sensed Xu Yuexin's silence and immediately guessed the reason.

"May I ask, you think the 400 price is too low, right…?"

"Then we can add another 50, making it 450 yuan, how about that?"

"Not really."

"If I may be frank, ordinary workers now earn 800–900 yuan a year; do you think offering 400 yuan for a book like this is appropriate?"

"It's not 400, it's 450."

"Is there a difference? The work is the author's hard‑won effort; selling it for so little I can't accept it."

"Moreover, Great Ming alone has already earned nearly 200,000 in printing manuscript payment, yet its film and television adaptation rights can only fetch a meager 450 yuan; don't you find that absurd?"

On the phone, the people from Hengguang Production Company were left speechless by Xu Yuexin.

A book that sold over a million copies and earned six‑figure printing manuscript payment could only sell its TV drama rights for 450 yuan.

Under such a stark contrast, anyone would find it unreasonable.

Let the production‑company people think it over properly.

Xu Yuexin thought, without pressing because of his silence.

The handset stayed silent for a while, and only after nearly half a minute did sound return.

And this time the speaker changed.

"Hello comrade Xu, I'm Production Department Director Chen Lin; you can call me Old Chen."

"Just now, when our comrade was communicating with you, some words may not have been expressed properly, leading to a misunderstanding between us."

"Never mind, Director Chen, go ahead."

"The situation is this: currently the market for novel-to-screen adaptation rights is roughly like this. The usual adaptation price ranges between 200 and 300 yuan."

"The 450‑yuan quote for this case is a price we discussed at length in the Production Department, mainly because your work is of high quality and high reputation."

"If we raise the price further, the factory likely won't approve it; you understand what I mean, right?"

"I know, you're not deliberately suppressing the price."

Xu Yuexin calmly said, "I have previously looked into the market for adaptation rights."

"But the market is the same everywhere; that doesn't mean I have to compromise."

"If I can't get a satisfactory price, I'd rather leave the work unadapted."

"Um... Comrade Xu, you really don't need to be like that. Adapting the book Great Ming into a film or TV series could also boost the book's own popularity."

"No need; my book's reputation is already high enough. I don't need to promote it by sacrificing my reasonable interests."

"..."

The Production Department Director was also silenced by Xu Yuexin.

He hadn't expected that this young writer, far away in Jingcheng, would be so tough.

It's basically a dead‑end, no profit.

"How about this: you tell us your ideal price, and we'll discuss it again?"

"Hehe, that would certainly be higher than the manuscript payment I'm currently receiving from the print run."

"Higher than the print‑run manuscript payment?"

Chen Lin was almost frightened into faintness by Xu Yuexin.

Xu Yuexin had just said that the print‑run manuscript payment for the book Great Ming 1566 had reached nearly 200,000 yuan.

"Spending that much money to buy a film‑and‑TV adaptation right?"

"If he dares to pay, the Factory Director would probably strip him of his Production Department Director position the next day."

Chen Lin thought to himself.

"Um, that's indeed too high, far beyond our factory's capacity to bear."

"Hope there's a chance for cooperation next time."

"Hope so, goodbye."

Xu Yuexin said that and hung up.

Xu Yuexin hadn't intended to reach a deal from the start; this outcome was as he expected.

Even if it later becomes fodder for others' gossip, Xu Yuexin wants to make his stance clear: an author's film‑and‑TV adaptation rights have value.

They cannot be bought and sold cheaply.

After the call with Hengguang Production Company ended, everything returned to calm.

In the days that followed, Xu Yuexin received no more calls from the production company.

And he devoted all his energy to writing, no longer contacting Hengguang Production Company.

Time passed day by day like this, and the Spring Festival approached.

One afternoon, Xu Yuexin was planning New Year purchases at home with Qiao Qiao and Chen Yixue, when the phone rang.

"Hello, may I speak with comrade Xu Yuexin?"

Xu Yuexin answered, and on the other end came the voice of Director Chen.

"Yes."

"Hello, Comrade Xu, this is Chen Lin, old Chen. I'm calling mainly to ask again for your thoughts on adapting the work Great Ming into film and TV."

"I have many ideas."

Xu Yuexin said cheerfully, "But the most important thing is to have the money first."

"Ahem, regarding the money issue, I'm afraid we can't meet your demand."

"Two hundred thousand yuan is really too much."

"The money still can't be agreed upon, right? Then... I'm afraid I can only express regret once more."

Under the watchful eyes of Qiao Qiao and Chen Yixue, Xu Yuexin said bluntly.

All problems, at the end of the day, are money problems.

If the money can't be settled, there's no need to discuss other matters.

"That, not necessarily."

Inside the handset, Chen Lin said cautiously, "I have a flexible proposal here; would you like to hear it?"

"Go ahead."

Xu Yuexin replied in an agreeable tone.

Xu Yuexin was merely insisting on his own interests, not being obstinate.

As long as Hengguang Production Company can present a plan that satisfies his interests, he could accept it.

"Here's the thing: nowadays many state‑owned factories are accepting Sole Proprietorship Gua Kao affiliations."

"I think you could register as a Sole Proprietorship and affiliate under our Production Department's name."

"When filming begins, our Production Department will contribute part of the funds, you contribute part, and we can tilt the profit sharing in your favor to some extent."

"For example, each of us puts in 50% of the capital; in the final split you take 60%, our production factory takes 40%, as compensation for the value of your work."

"May I ask what you think of this proposal?"

Chen Lin's tone remained fairly sincere.

Sss— funding a film? This really exceeds Xu Yuexin's original projected range.

(End of chapter)