Chapter 82: Burn the Boats!

According to Xu Yuexin's observation, People's Literature has historically rarely serialized long novels, and he doesn't know whether they will break that precedent for themselves.

Tomorrow he'll ask Wang Chaoyin in person; if it's okay, he'll keep submitting to them, if not he'll switch to another.

Anyway, he's already familiar with the editors at Contemporary and October Magazine, so he'll send them a Telegram.

The next morning, at the People's Literature Editorial Office, Xu Yuexin and Wang Chaoyin expressed the idea of starting a column serialization.

"Starting a column, right? No problem, I'll just tell the Chief Editor about it."

Wang Chaoyin answered in one breath, "Did you bring the manuscript?"

"I did. It's a total of 110,000 words; please have a look first."

Xu Yuexin placed the bag containing the manuscript on the desk and said, "Each spot marked with a red check is the chapter division for when the serialization begins."

"When these 110,000 words are all published, I'll submit another manuscript to you."

"Alright, I understand. After the manuscript passes review, I'll send the royalties to Keyuan."

Wang Chaoyin brought the bag close, pulled the manuscript out from inside, and said.

After submitting the manuscript, Xu Yuexin pedaled his bicycle away from Chaonei 166.

As he passed the main street, he heard Boom— and a Suzuki motorcycle roared past from ahead.

Many passersby cast surprised, envious glances toward the direction where the motorcycle vanished.

"Wow, that's fast,"

"If only I could get one sometime; then I'd look even cooler than that kid,"

Xu Yuexin muttered to himself.

In theory, the country only began mass‑importing foreign motorcycles in the early 1980s, so where did this kid get it?

Xu Yuexin couldn't quite figure it out, and could only explain it as everyone having their own connections.

Back home, after opening the door, Xu Yuexin saw Chen Qiaoqiao in a cheongsam, bending over with her back to the doorway, tidying things.

"The daughter‑in‑law's awareness is really getting higher,"

"Knowing she needed to go home, she put on her battle dress in advance and was ready,"

Xu Yuexin stared at Chen Qiaoqiao's high, peach‑shaped hips, felt unable to restrain himself, and quietly stepped forward, embraced her, pressing his body against her curvaceous form from behind.

Chen Qiaoqiao stood up, Xu Yuexin reached out and covered her small mouth, preventing her from turning, and then his other large hand began to assault continuously.

The beautiful legs revealed by the cheongsam slit, the perky peach‑shaped hips, the slender waist…

With Xu Yuexin's movements, the body in his arms emitted a fierce struggle and tremor.

At this moment, Xu Yuexin had taken her earlobe into his mouth for a kiss, and suddenly felt the hand sensation was off.

"She's bigger than a daughter‑in‑law!" Xu Yuexin inhaled deeply, squeezed hard, then released his grip.

Anyway… having already thrust into thief, might as well enjoy it as much as possible.

The tall beauty ahead managed to turn around.

"Just wait for it!"

Chen Yixue glared at Xu Yuexin viciously, hurried into the bedroom, and slammed the door shut.

At that moment, the storage room door also opened.

"What's this?"

Chen Qiaoqiao stepped out from inside, asking somewhat inexplicably, "I just finished taking photos for sister, and I'm developing the film now."

"Did you argue with her?"

"No, she went into the house to look for something."

Xu Yuexin let out a long sigh and said.

Since Chen Yixue didn't go straight to the storage room to complain, it meant nothing was wrong.

Come to think of it, why would she wear Chen Qiaoqiao's clothes for no reason, causing the two to misunderstand?

"Oh, okay, pour her a glass of water, and I'll continue developing the film."

Chen Qiaoqiao, not understanding, said, and slipped back into the storage room.

After a while, Chen Yixue also emerged from the bedroom, her face taut, and a few hints of murderous intent flashed in her cold, aloof eyes.

The contrast was that a slight rouge remained on her cheeks, a result of Xu Yuexin's handiwork.

"Come over to me."

She lowered her voice, speaking each word deliberately.

Xu Yuexin, as if nothing had happened, walked over, spreading his hands: "What just happened? Why don't I remember anything?"

"Don't try to slip by unnoticed."

Chen Yixue glared at him fiercely, saying, "You did it on purpose just now."

"Sister, don't joke. Even if I had eighteen guts, I wouldn't dare do that to you,"

Xu Yuexin, with an innocent expression, said, "At home it's just me and Qiao Qiao now, and you're wearing her clothes, and…"

"Can you blame me for that?"

"Anyway, it's all your good deed!"

Chen Yixue, still in a sour mood, said, "I originally thought you were quite proper, but it seems I'll have to watch out for you from now on."

"Can you even defend against me?"

Xu Yuexin muttered silently, his gaze shifting outward, "Has any audio‑visual society written to you lately?"

"No!"

Chen Yixue also turned her face and said, "Even if there were, I don't need you to accompany me to discuss it."

"Anyway, the money that should go to you won't be short a cent!"

In fact, a recent audio‑visual publishing house had written to Chen Yixue, expressing willingness to publish NightAtTheMilitaryPort.

Even though Chen Yixue told the other side that she would need six months before she could find another publisher, they still sincerely invited her to meet for negotiations.

She came today specifically to invite Xu Yuexin to go together, but now she has no such plan.

"Don't act rashly; you'll only bring trouble upon yourself."

Xu Yuexin, seeing the situation, gave no persuasion and calmly dropped a sentence.

…

Several days later, Chen Yixue met with the audio‑visual company that had written a Letter at a small restaurant.

The representative they sent was a female Deputy Manager, her face covered with snowflake cream, appearing fairly gentle and amiable. Yet when the real negotiations began, Chen Yixue found the other side truly hard to deal with.

"Can't publish until six months later? What does that mean? It means we can only eat someone else's leftovers. A price of 900 yuan is already pretty good!"

"A lyricist from the state‑owned Cultural Troupe gets only a 50‑yuan subsidy for a song; you should be content."

"If we don't buy, no one else will. You must seize the opportunity now…"

The female Deputy Manager haggled with abnormal ferocity, and Chen Yixue kept retreating before her, utterly unable to parry.

In the workplace, Chen Yixue stands out like a crane among chickens thanks to her professional skill, earning colleagues' full respect; at home, she can rely on her past role as the family's provider, leaving her mother with no room for objection.

Yet today, she entered a completely unfamiliar domain, where she could only be at the mercy of others.

Seeing the price negotiations stall, Chen Yixue hastily took her leave.

In the afternoon, she met another audio‑visual publishing house that had written yesterday, and the other side quoted an even more outrageous price: 500 yuan! Moreover, just like the previous party, they refused to raise a single cent no matter how much Chen Yixue strained her tongue.

Chen Yixue faced defeat once again.

If only Xu Yuexin were here…

After swallowing the bitter fruit of failure again, a thought sprang into Chen Yixue's mind.

The more invitation letters she had accumulated, the more Chen Yixue realized that if she went into negotiations alone as before, the outcome would be no different.

With endless helplessness, Chen Yixue could only go to Xu Yuexin for help.

"The two audio‑visual companies in the city and three in Tianjin have replied, indicating they are willing to negotiate with us."

In the Xu Family's living room, Chen Yixue avoided eye contact as much as possible, pretending nothing was amiss, and said, "Do you want to give it a try?"

"Did you realize you can't solve it yourself?"

Xu Yuexin replied bluntly.

"Indeed. I'm not as good as you at negotiations."

Chen Yixue's eyes were complex as she said, "Let's set the past aside and first get the publishing matter sorted."

"I'll arrange meetings with those publishers again, and then you and I will negotiate together."

Xu Yuexin lifted his arm, used it as a pillow behind his head, and leaned his upper body against the chair back.

"Did I agree to you?"

Xu Yuexin asked lightly.

Chen Yixue's expression froze for a moment, and she involuntarily shifted her gaze onto him.

"The song contains a share of your effort, and the profit will be split fifty‑fifty."

"For yourself, you should also go negotiate."

Chen Yixue said earnestly.

"You're overthinking it. I've already earned over three thousand from this song, and I also have income from my main job of writing novels."

"The reasons you gave are insufficient to persuade me to go with you."

Xu Yuexin said seriously, with no hint of joking in his words.

Chen Yixue gasped sharply: without Xu Yuexin, her career couldn't proceed.

And this time, he seemed earnest.

"Sending a Buddha to the west; it was you who urged me to jump out of the Cultural Troupe back then."

Chen Yixue said with a puzzled expression, "If our cooperation ends here, it will be very difficult."

"And it's not about the monk's face but the Buddha's; for Qiao Qiao's sake, at least…"

"You can't put it that way. I've written two songs for you, earning over five thousand, which is more than enough."

Xu Yuexin's attitude remained resolute.

Chen Yixue closed her eyes in despair.

Clearly that day, it was she who was being held and touched, so why in the end…

This person really doesn't make sense! "Anything else? If not, you may leave."

Xu Yuexin said in a neutral tone.

"No, I must ask you to go together today."

Chen Yixue opened her eyes, her gaze unwavering, and said, "You are very important to me."

"I want to go far, and I can't be without you."

"It's still the same: set the past aside. From now on… I won't make such a big fuss."

Finally, she was willing to admit making a big fuss.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuexin lowered his arm, realizing that Da Yizi's bottom line had once again been crossed by him.

"How did your talks with them go?"

Xu Yuexin asked expressionlessly.

"Very poorly. One quoted 900, another 500, and they wouldn't budge on price."

"I'm afraid that if I agree, every song later will be forced down in price, so I didn't consent."

"Oh, then don't contact them for now."

"You were bragging outside, saying you intend to sign an exclusive publishing right with Pacific Audio‑Visual."

"In two days we need to go to Guangzhou again."

Xu Yuexin swiftly and meticulously arranged, "If someone asks you to go negotiate again, you shouldn't go."

In short, Da Yizi's previous two talks collapsed, and this matter has definitely already spread throughout Jingcheng and even the whole northern music publishing circle.

Without a full-scale move, we simply cannot turn the situation around.

"What if they don't fall for it?"

Chen Yixue asked anxiously.

"If they don't fall for it, then we'll treat the fake act as real."

Xu Yuexin's gaze was resolute as he said, "Even if we have to sign an exclusive, we can't let those goods get a cheap advantage."

"Remember, without the resolve of burning one's boats, you cannot win the negotiation."

Chen Yixue straightened their posture and stared blankly at Xu Yuexin.

At that moment, they clearly saw light emanating from Xu Yuexin.

(End of chapter)