Chapter 58: The Impact of Three Days Without Updates

August 29.

Just past one in the afternoon.

Cao Sheng carried his luggage bag, stepped off the train, walked out of Huizhou Railway Station, and got into a taxi.

Three days ago, he had returned to his hometown to check on the progress of the new house there.

The main structure of the new house was finished, and the courtyard walls were also built.

But the interior and exterior plastering had not yet been done.

The progress was about what he had estimated.

Building the house this summer had darkened his parents' skin considerably, but the smiles on their faces had increased, and their energy was much better than before.

His father's voice was even louder than before.

The fifty thousand yuan he had given them last time had only spent a little over ten thousand so far.

Even so, his parents kept complaining that building the house this way was too expensive.

Originally, according to their wishes, the ground beams didn't need to be made, the pillars didn't need to be made, the floor slabs didn't need to be cast in place, and precast slabs could be used directly; if the second-floor roof was tiled, another sum could be saved.

If the walls were built as hollow walls, more than half the bricks could be saved.

But according to Cao Sheng's requirements, the cost had multiplied several times over.

However, they were very satisfied with the quality of the finished main structure, they just kept complaining that it was too expensive.

Cao Sheng summarized it in one sentence: Except for being expensive, there were no other drawbacks.

Before returning to school this time, he discussed with his father—asking him not to go to the kiln factory to unload kilns anymore.

After considering it, his father agreed.

In the past, he had always worked at the kiln factory because of the pressure of supporting his son's education; now that he didn't have to worry about his son's tuition, and seeing that the expenses for his son's future marriage didn't seem to require his burden either, he wasn't so masochistic that he had to go to the kiln factory to suffer.

Back at the small courtyard on Binjiang Road.

Cao Sheng cooked himself a bowl of egg noodles.

After eating his fill, he took a shower, changed his clothes, went to the second-floor study, turned on the computer, and prepared to update "I Wish to Become an Immortal".

During these three days in his hometown, internet access was inconvenient, so he hadn't updated for three days.

He estimated that the book fans were already like hungry chicks waiting to be fed, starving.

So, he prepared to update two chapters today.

Consider it a make-up for everyone.

The result?

When he logged into the author backend of Rongshuxia, he unexpectedly saw two internal messages sent to him by Rongshuxia.

What's going on?

Did they assign me a recommendation spot again? Did they assign me two this time?

With such doubts, he clicked open the message box.

He saw the first internal message: "Hello Zhongyuan Yidianhui, thanks to our efforts, Changjiang Literature and Art Publishing House intends to publish your 'I Wish to Become an Immortal', but like other publishing houses, they do not agree to give you a 14% royalty split directly. However, they are willing to give you 14% or even a higher split when your work's sales reach a certain quantity. For specific terms, please check your email; we have a dedicated person who will contact you. — Rongshuxia"

The second internal message: "Cao Sheng! What is going on with you? In these three days, you not only didn't reply to my email, but you also stopped the serialization of 'I Wish to Become an Immortal'? If you are not satisfied with the conditions of Changjiang Literature and Art Publishing House, you should tell me! We will help you find other publishing houses. Why did you stop the serialization? Please reply to my email as soon as you receive this, I beg you! — Wang Jing"

In front of the computer.

After reading the first internal message, Cao Sheng's eyes still held some confusion, wondering what quantity Changjiang Literature and Art Publishing House meant by sales reaching a certain quantity.

What were the specific terms?

But after reading the second internal message, he couldn't help but laugh.

He didn't expect that simply returning to his hometown and not updating for three days would make Wang Jing so nervous.

Interesting.

Since Wang Jing was so nervous, he wouldn't be in a hurry to reply to her email.

After all, the nervous person wasn't him.

He first followed his plan, pulled up two chapters of stored drafts, and updated "I Wish to Become an Immortal".

Then he read posts in the book review section for a while.

As he expected, after not updating for three days, the book review section was indeed full of resentment.

"Ahhh... Three days! Why no update after three days? Where did the author die? If you're not updating, why not say something?"

"Still no update? What's going on?"

"Did the author get stuck on the plot? No inspiration?"

"As everyone knows, this book has already been published to volume 8 in Taiwan, so this serialization break is definitely not because the author can't write; this is a character issue! He clearly has a huge backlog of drafts, he just won't update! That damn guy!"

"I originally thought the worst people in the world were villains who kill and burn, but now I know it's Zhongyuan Yidianhui who has drafts but won't update!"

"The author is male, right? Does he have those few days every month too? Otherwise why hasn't he updated?"

"Zhongyuan Yidianhui! Dare you reveal your address? I'm just asking if you dare!"

Cao Sheng laughed helplessly.

He thought: This can't be blamed on me. If Rongshuxia had a scheduled update function, would I have broken the serialization? Or if laptops weren't so expensive now, I would have brought my laptop home this time, and the update wouldn't have broken; you are scolding the wrong person.

Although he shifted the blame to himself in his heart, he still posted a single chapter, explaining that he had returned to his hometown for a few days and also apologized to everyone.

He knew he had been negligent this time.

Before going home, he should have updated a few more chapters, or told everyone in advance.

After doing all this, he finally logged into his email.

There were already three emails from Wang Jing in the email inbox.

First letter:

"Cao Sheng, good news! Recently, we contacted over a dozen publishers, and finally found one that didn't completely reject your terms.

This publisher says your requested 14% royalty split is acceptable—anything higher is fine too.

But there are a few conditions.

If sales fall below 100,000 copies, you receive 9%.

For sales exceeding 100,000 copies, the excess portion earns you 10%.

For sales exceeding 200,000 copies, the excess portion earns you 11%.

For sales exceeding 300,000 copies, the excess portion earns you 12%."

And so on: for sales exceeding 400,000 copies, the excess portion earns you 13%.

For sales above 500,000 copies, 14%.

The maximum cap is 15%.

In other words, they can offer you up to 15% royalty split—what do you think of these terms?

I believe that if you have confidence in the quality of this book, you should sign this contract. Frankly speaking, among domestic publishers, it's extremely hard to find one willing to offer you 12% or even 14% directly. The terms offered by Changjiang Literature & Art Publishing House are the best we've found in all these days. Please consider carefully and reply to me soon. —Wang Jing

Second email:

"Huh? It's been two days—why haven't you replied yet? Have you still not decided? —Wang Jing"

Third email:

"Cao Sheng, what's going on? It's been three days—you haven't replied to my email, and you've even stopped serializing 'I Wish to Become an Immortal'? Don't do that! If you're unsatisfied with this publisher's terms, we can help you find others; perhaps in time we'll find one that meets your requirements. Why stop the serialization? Look at the comment section! So many readers are eager for the next chapters—can you bear to disappoint them? Please, just reply to me! I beg you! —Wang Jing"