Chapter 413

Li Xin understood the situation, but the meat delivered to his mouth—if he didn't take a couple bites, could he face the readers?

Who are the readers?

There's a poem as proof.

Since ancient times, readers have produced extraordinary talent; timeless famous lines come at hand.

Anciently Li Bai was an immortal among poets, but he cannot match readers who casually compose.

If the Tang dynasty had readers, Tang poetry would be far more than three hundred poems.

Fortunately Li Bai died early, otherwise his title as Poet Immortal would be hard to keep.

Alas, Ah Biao lacks culture; he can only mutter 'holy shit' and roam the world.

Let me reread the Little Emperor's Book, then compare with the readers.

In short, it's just one sentence: none of them are decent people!

Li Xin sat on the sofa and instructed Jianguo: 'Boil water, boil it well, serve tea, serve good tea; the two gentlemen have graced my humble abode—we must not neglect etiquette.'

Jin Yong and Ni Kuang exchanged a glance; after going out once, their attitude did a complete 180-degree turn.

What medicine is he trying to sell in the gourd?

The answer was soon revealed.

Li Xin spoke: 'Mr. Zha, Mr. Ni, your actions have badly affected my reputation.'

'But I'm reasonable; Mr. Ni has already apologized carrying firewood, yet I keep holding on—that loses my magnanimity.'

'I see your sincerity; you've saved face, but where's the substance?'

After hearing that, both had the same thought: Do you want to see what you're saying?

Do reason and magnanimity have anything to do with you?

However, Jin Yong secretly sighed; Ni Kuang had nothing Li Xin could value, but he did have something good.

He could only steel himself and ask: 'Mr. Li, speak plainly—my heart's still fine!'

'Hmm!'

Li Xin nodded satisfactorily: 'Mr. Jin, you're so straightforward—I won't hide anything anymore.'

'First, I want the adaptation rights to your and Mr. Ni's books; second, I want shares in Bright Report—no less than twenty percent. Those are the two conditions.'

'If you agree, our grievances will be wiped clean—what do you say?'

Ni Kuang immediately replied: 'No problem, Mr. Li—if you like my humble work, it's my honor.'

Jin Yong looked at Ni Kuang as if he wanted to eat him—this bastard, you're fine, but what am I to do?

In Gangdao, speaking of Jin Yong, everyone knows him; his fourteen martial arts novels have influenced the entire Chinese-speaking world.

"Flying Snow, Continuous Sky, Shooting White Deer; Laughing in the Divine Hero, Leaning on the Jade Duck"—saying everyone has read them might be an exaggeration, but saying one-third have read them is definitely conservative.

Moreover, he elevated lowbrow martial arts novels to a higher level, making him an unavoidable figure in modern literary history.

Everyone knows he's a martial arts novelist, but besides writing martial arts novels, Jin Yong is also a social commentator who loves writing film reviews and is an entrepreneur.

What he devoted his life to was not martial arts novels but a newspaper—Bright Report. In 1959, Jin Yong resigned from the Southeast Times and began his venture.

He co-founded Bright Report with Shen Baoxin and Pan Yueming; Bright Report's political stance is neutral, emphasizing fairness and peace, and it holds an important position in Gangdao's media.

Bright Report faced many difficulties at its launch, but after three years it got on track and became an extremely influential newspaper.

So how does entrepreneur Jin Yong treat his employees? Gangdao has circulated a few anecdotes.

As Bright Report prospered, Jin Yong hired many famous writers to contribute articles, the most renowned being Ni Kuang and Yi Shu.

Yi Shu asked for higher pay; Jin Yong replied, 'You don't spend money—what's the point of increasing your fee?'

This remark made Yi Shu furious, cursing: 'Whether I spend money or not is my business; whether you give or not is yours—what necessary connection is there between the two?'

Afterward Yi Shu wrote articles attacking Jin Yong, who remained unmoved; Ni Kuang also asked for higher pay and was likewise rebuffed.

Jin Yong's stinginess applied not only to the writers who wrote for him but also to his employees.

For example: Bright Report's retired editor Huang Ling, who had edited for over a decade, was given only a few thousand in retirement pay by Jin Yong at retirement; Huang Ling was quite dissatisfied and planned to advertise Jin Yong's unfair treatment, but in the end Jin Yong had no choice but to pay him off.

Also, Wang Sima, who illustrated Jin Yong's martial arts novels, received low pay during his contributions to Bright Report.

He earned only a few hundred dollars a month; finally, at Ni Kuang's urging, he raised Wang Sima's fee from over three hundred to over twelve hundred.

Bright Report's annual profit is around tens of millions, and most of that money goes into Jin Yong's own pocket.

In 1979, Wanwan writer Li Ao published an article exposing Jin Yong's hypocrisy, believing Jin Yong's exterior and interior don't match—he appears kind but is inwardly deceitful.

Now Li Xin demands he give up the adaptation rights and Bright Report shares as compensation—this is nothing short of cutting his flesh and gouging his heart!

Li Xin saw Jin Yong silent, slapped his forehead, and explained: 'Mr. Jin, I will purchase Bright Report shares for cash—I cannot simply take your property for free.'

'After all, I'm reasonable and not a tyrannical landlord—how could I seize by force?'

Jin Yong cursed inwardly: 'You only say Bright Report shares will be paid for, yet you mention nothing about the novels' adaptation fees—how is that reasonable?'

'No choice!'

'The situation outweighs the individual; indeed Bright Report was at fault first—I can only reply: "No problem, I'll wait at Bright Report for Mr. Li's people to arrive—let's leave it at that."'

Jianguo brought over three cups of tea, placing one in front of each person.

'Please!'

Li Xin took a sip of honeysuckle tea, sighed, and said to the two: 'I've been feeling fiery lately, so I'm drinking this tea—don't dislike it!'

Having paid such a price, Jin Yong very much wanted to know the details.

'Mr. Li, we can understand this—could you tell us the details? Otherwise this matter could suffocate someone!'

Li Xin glanced at Ni Kuang, then said: 'Mr. Ni accepted others' benefits, which led to this; the ones pulling his strings are the He and Huang Li two young masters.'

'Mr. Jin, can you swallow this anger?'

'If I had your writing talent, I could curse the Li family's eight generations of ancestors in the newspaper so fiercely they'd leap from their coffins.'

Li Xin saw Jin Yong show no expression at all, and felt a little disappointed.

Your scholar's integrity, huh?

People are already using your Ming Pao to write articles, and you're not even a bit angry, damn it?

Jin Yong thought to himself, you and the Li family are fighting over Hong Kong Electric; we ordinary people can't get involved, better stay away, so I didn't respond to Li Xin's words.

Li Xin saw Jin Yong had no reaction, turned his head and asked Ni Kuang, "Mr. Ni, what do you think of this?"

Ni Kuang's thought was similar to Jin Yong's: I can't afford to offend you, Li Xin—how could I offend the Li family?

But Li Xin's question demanded an answer; Jin Yong had surrendered his Ming Pao shares, yet he lacked that confidence.

"Mr. Li, you immortals fighting just make things difficult for us mortals!"

"When I go back I'll break that unfilial son's leg, I'll definitely give you an explanation."