Chapter 304

Wei Ming's words first made Liu Rulong stunned. *Weren't we here to submit work? Why are we buying someone else's company? *

Seeing Seeing Biaozi was sighing. He could at most buy some jewelry and cosmetics for his wife, but Brother Ming actually wanted to buy a company!

Shangguan Xiao Bao wasn't surprised, because someone had wanted to invest in and acquire *Joyful News* before, with the premise that he and his brother would stay to manage it together.

Those bosses had the idea of uniting with them to resist Huang Yulang. It was just that this "Wei the Madman" only wanted *Joyful News* and didn't show interest in the brothers themselves, which was somewhat disappointing.

However, wouldn't *Joyful News* without the brothers be just a shell? Huang Yulang probably wouldn't even look at it.

Shangguan Xiao Bao narrowed his eyes and suddenly said: "You aren't Wei the Madman, are you?"

"Why do you say that?"

"I've seen the news. You are clearly the screenwriter of *Heroes Born of Ancient Times*, Wei Ming. *The Human Path is Full of Vicissitudes* was written by you." Shangguan Xiao Bao was a bit angry. He was a reader of *The Human Path*, and he felt he had been deceived.

Wei Ming laughed: "Mr. Xiaobao, you've misunderstood. Wei Ming and Wei the Madman are actually in the relationship of Kwong Tung-Yuen and Shangguan Xiao Bao. It's just that I publish more works under my real name."

"Ah?"

Wei Ming: "I heard Mr. Xiaobao also has a pen name, Shangguan Siwei. I actually have other pen names too."

"Oh, do you also write 'salty' (erotic) novels?" Shangguan Xiao Bao became interested. His main work under the pen name "Shangguan Siwei" was *Little Bar Girl*, a story about women in the entertainment industry, which was quite yellow.

Wei Ming waved his hand: "I write fairy tales."

"Don't tell me it's Wei 'Whatever'!" Shangguan Xiao Bao immediately had this association.

Now it was Wei Ming's turn to be surprised: "Mr. Xiaobao knows Wei 'Whatever'?"

Shangguan Xiao Bao slapped his thigh: "Mr. Why, right? When I took my family to England for a trip, I bought a copy of *Jumanji* for my son. I couldn't understand the English, but I could look at the pictures and understand the gist. I was also planning to buy him a copy of your *The Lion King*."

Shangguan Xiao Bao's son was a "second-generation comic fan" named Kwong Sai-Kit, who later produced the comic version of *The King of Fighters 97*. He was only 8 years old this year.

Wei Ming smiled: "I'll send him a Chinese version later. It's just that I don't know if he can read simplified characters."

Shangguan Xiao Bao thanked Wei Ming on behalf of his son and also requested an autograph. Then he asked again: "Mr. Wei should be from the Mainland, right?"

"Of course."

"Then I don't understand. After buying *Joyful News*, how do you plan to manage it? Are you planning to immigrate?" If someone like Wei Ming immigrated to Hong Kong, it would definitely be easier than those who came to do manual labor.

Wei Ming shook his head: "I haven't thought about immigrating for now. However, I will come to Hong Kong often in the future. And I am a person who writes stories. I will find a cooperation method most suitable for comic lead artists."

Hong Kong comics respect screenwriters and lead artists. Screenwriters are the people who design the plot and dialogue, while lead artists are the people who turn text into comics. Overall, lead artists are still more powerful. The independent comic forces in Hong Kong are basically led by comic lead artists.

This is also one of the important reasons why Hong Kong comic plots are prone to collapse, because lead artists are more powerful than screenwriters, so the story always runs off track as it's written, leading to collapse. There aren't many Hong Kong comics that can have a good ending.

And Wei Ming wanted to create a model with himself, the screenwriter, as the core, cooperating with multiple lead artists separately.

Of course, if the lead artists themselves have the ability to write long-form stories, he could also give them opportunities.

Shangguan Xiao Bao was extremely impressed by Wei Ming's ability to write stories. Wei the Madman's *A Terracotta Warrior*, Wei Ming's *The Human Path is Full of Vicissitudes*, Wei 'Whatever's *Jumanji*—whether it was the creativity of short and medium stories or the stability of long stories, none of them were qualities a young man in his twenties should possess.

If Wei Ming were willing to be a screenwriter at *Joyful News*, Shangguan Xiao Bao would even be willing to refuse Huang Yulang's olive branch.

"To tell you the truth, Huang Yulang has come to invite our brothers to join Jade International several times, and we are a bit tempted. However, he hopes we will bring all of *Joyful News*'s assets into Jade International, which conflicts with Mr. Wei's idea."

Shangguan Xiao Bao directly stated his inner thoughts. He really was someone who didn't know how to do business.

Wei Ming asked about his words: "Mr. Xiaobao, I want to know, as a master of Hong Kong comics, why are you willing to join Jade International?"

"Those who have attained are teachers. Because he is successful, I want to learn from him how he actually managed to do it." Shangguan Xiao Bao confessed. He mainly wanted to learn Huang Yulang's cost control.

Wei Ming laughed: "Then that is to say, you don't exclude the possibility of breaking away from Jade International in the future and standing on your own again."

"Uh, this." Having spoken his true feelings, Shangguan Xiao Bao began to worry that Wei Ming was sent by Huang Yulang to fish for his words.

Without waiting for him to answer, Wei Ming added: "Then if the Hong Kong comic industry only has one Jade International in the future, is that better, or are more competitors more beneficial to Mr. Xiaobao?"

Shangguan Xiaowei, who was thirty years old on the side, said: "Of course, the more chaotic, the better."

Wei Ming laughed. The facts were indeed so. Later, because Huang Yulang's listed company committed fraud, Jade International was shaky. Only then did Shangguan Xiao Bao and Shangguan Xiaowei get rid of Huang Yulang, stand on their own again, and form a tripartite confrontation with Huang Yulang.

But if it weren't for Huang Yulang encountering a financial crisis, it would have been very difficult for the brothers to fight against Huang Yulang, who had unified the world.

Wei Ming added: "I not only want *Joyful News*, but I am also willing to let all the apprentices of *Joyful News* stay. Instead of taking them to strengthen Jade International, it's better to leave them to me to cause some trouble for Jade International. Maybe the two of you will be able to use them when you make a comeback in the future."

Shangguan Xiao Bao laughed: "Is Mr. Wei willing to make wedding clothes for others?"

Wei Ming: "You are master and disciple after all. I'm sure my company will be free to come and go, as long as they can't bear to part with the stories I give them."

Shangguan Xiao Bao thought to himself: *You are one person, and separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, how many stories can you write? *

The two brothers looked at each other and began to think seriously about Wei Ming's words. If they took their disciples to join Jade International, Huang Yulang could absolutely unify the Hong Kong comic world. Then it would be difficult for their brothers to share the market from Huang Yulang in the future.

"How much are you offering?"

After chatting for so long, Shangguan Xiao Bao finally talked about the price issue. The balance had tilted toward Wei Ming.

Wei Ming smiled: "I first need to know what the two of you can leave for me."

Shangguan Xiao Bao said: "A publishing house, the *Joyful News* brand, a circulation of about 10,000 per issue, *Joyful News*'s distribution channels, plus the rent for this office space for the next half year, all office equipment, and the contracts of those apprentices. But we are taking the works with us."

Wei Ming wasn't interested in the two's works either. The most famous *Bruce Lee* didn't make it in the future, and the others were even worse. He had plenty of works—Japanese comics, Hong Kong comics, American comics, domestic comics, he had whatever he wanted.

Oh, and Korean comics!

Wei Ming didn't give a price for the time being. He needed to find professionals to conduct asset evaluation, also to evaluate the psychological expectations of the Shangguan Xiao Bao brothers, strive to take it down in one go, and find a lawyer. This aspect might trouble A Long's father.

And the Shangguan Xiao Bao brothers also had to consider how to tell Huang Yulang and their disciples about this matter. After all, they had initially thought about taking the disciples with them.

After leaving *Joyful News*, A Long finally asked his doubts.

"Ah Ming, why did you suddenly want to buy this company?"

Wei Ming spread his hands: "You've seen it too. Shangguan Xiao Bao and the others intend to sell the company to Huang Yulang. That way, our comics will have no platform to publish in Hong Kong. Since there's no platform, we have to build one ourselves."

"But we are all in Yanjing after all. Isn't it a bit beyond our reach?"

Wei Ming: "This is indeed a problem, so I plan to let Shao Liushu help look after this company for the time being. You can reunite with him after you graduate, and you will take charge."

A Long didn't have any opinion about coming to Hong Kong. He was a Cantonese person to begin with and would be like a fish in water in Hong Kong. Moreover, he had looked through all the comics on the market these past few days and had more confidence in his own work and the career he and Ah Ming were about to create. It was just that he didn't know if Sister Ying would be willing to come with him.

A Long would graduate in two years. In two years, Wei Ming would likely not be able to stay in the country. By then, he could just happen to create a career here. It was just that these two years might be a bit difficult to endure. He had to keep comic talents like Ma Wing-Shing here for two years.

After leaving this company, the group didn't leave immediately. They were waiting for the people from *Joyful News* to get off work. After these people came out one after another, Wei Ming asked Seeing Seeing Biaozi to invite the refined man with glasses over.

"Seeing Seeing Biaozi, be polite."

This process had no difficulty. After all, Ma Wing-Shing had just seen Zhao Debiao and knew it was Wei Ming inviting him, so he was quite proactive.

He already knew Wei the Madman was Wei Ming, after all, the office space was a bit small, and he had overheard it at the door.

In a Hong Kong-style tea restaurant, Ma Wing-Shing expressed his admiration for Wei Ming.

"I really like your *A Terracotta Warrior*. A Qin dynasty person ate an elixir of immortality and lived until now. This story template is very interesting."

Wei Ming laughed: "I have another story here, also about a Qin dynasty person who is immortal, but this time it doesn't have much to do with love. This person has lived for a long time, can't die, and has practiced superb martial arts, so he takes pleasure in wreaking havoc on the world and manipulating people's fates."

"Is this a martial arts story?" Ma Wing-Shing's eyes lit up. He liked martial arts themes very much.

Wei Ming nodded. This Qin dynasty person was called Xu Fu, or you could call him Di Shitian.

The first part of *Wind and Cloud* was mainly based on the revenge line of Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun against Xiongba and others, constructing a vast and magnificent martial arts system. Various divine skills exceeded the existing martial arts system, which could be said to be a quite amazing masterpiece.

The second part introduced powerful villains like Di Shitian, and Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun were also growing. Although Hong Kong comics had many problems, such as cuckoldry and combat power collapse, overall, it could also be called a masterpiece.

By the third part, the character settings and combat power collapsed completely.

In the final analysis, the comic was too successful, and the author and publisher couldn't bear to end it. This situation was also common in Japanese comics and online novels.

Wei Ming didn't rush to chat with Ma Wing-Shing about *Wind and Cloud*. He said: "You should also know that your masters intend to cooperate with Huang Yulang. After they take you over, there will only be one Jade International left in the Hong Kong comic world. By then, you will have to accept whatever salary Huang Yulang gives you, because this is the power of monopoly. But if you stay, I can promise you that you can become a lead artist immediately, with stories written by me personally for you to draw. You are the first, because the first person I saw after entering the company was you. And I will also support your fellow disciples to become lead artists one after another. With me, you will get more opportunities and salaries than Jade International. Think about it." The young Ma Wing-Shing said directly: "No need to think about it. If you can buy *Joyful News* from my master, I will stay and work with you."

Because he wasn't sure when he would be able to become a lead artist after going to Jade International. The family conditions of comic apprentices were all poor, and he wanted to make money as soon as possible and become a famous comic artist as soon as possible. Even if he failed, having his own work would be very different when going to Jade International later.

"Alright, it's a deal. The management of the company will also rely on you in the future. You must keep all your fellow disciples. What we want to do is a career that competes with Jade International and even defeats Jade International."

Later, Ma Wing-Shing was also a giant in the comic world and had certain management abilities. In terms of professionalism, Wei Ming and A Long were beyond their reach, so they temporarily needed a leader. "Governing Hong Kong with Hong Kong people," Wei Ming chose Ma Wing-Shing, who had the highest talent.

Hearing Wei Ming's ambition, the young Ma Wing-Shing also felt his blood boil. He and A Long clinked glasses on the spot.

It was just that after the meal, when Ma Wing-Shing's blood cooled down, he began to think: *Is it possible? Can this group of apprentices really defeat Jade International, which possesses Shangguan Xiao Bao, Shangguan Xiaowei, and Huang Yulang? *

Before the end of the meal, Wei Ming asked A Long to take out the manuscript of *The Legend of Qin* for Ah Wing to see.

"This is a new work by Liu Rulong and me. After the company changes hands, this will be the work we use to lead the charge. Take a look."

Don't look at A Long, who was only 21 years old. This was his childhood training, and he was a master of the Lingnan School and an old master of the Northern School *lianhuanhua*. Two years after enrollment, not only did he absorb a lot of nutrition from his teachers and the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang, but under Wei Ming's influence and his own pondering, his drawing style became more and more mature. Just this opening chapter of one person with one sword fighting hundreds of Qin soldiers was enough to amaze Ma Wing-Shing.

These lines, this composition, this dialogue—cool!

Ma Wing-Shing was immediately drawn into it, only regretting it was too short.

If Hong Kong comics were all of this quality, he felt there was nothing to fear from Japanese comics.

At this moment, Ma Wing-Shing's heart to follow Wei Ming became even more sincere.

At the same time, Old Ghost returned home early and hid in the dark to observe, wanting to see how Ah Ming and Mao Mao Amin were progressing.

If they had come back holding hands, it would have been settled. He didn't expect that Mao Mao Amin would come back alone tonight.

*What's wrong with this brat Ah Ming? He didn't even see Mao Mao Amin off. Look, Mao Mao Amin has "disappointment" written all over her face. *

"What are you looking at?" someone suddenly asked.

"Oh, I'm looking at..." Old Ghost turned his head. "Ah!"

*Seeing a ghost. * "Ling Ling, when did you come?"

"I've been here for a while. Seeing you so focused, I didn't disturb you." Wei Lingling was still cold in her speech.

Old Ghost explained: "That girl is the daughter of my business partner. She might become your niece-in-law."

"Oh." Wei Lingling didn't care, and wasn't even very concerned about that nephew. To her, they were all strangers.

"Are you here in Hong Kong to see me?"

"No," Wei Lingling said coldly and proudly, "I graduated. Uncle handed me a toy company in Hong Kong to manage and see."

Old Ghost understood. Big Brother was just creating an opportunity for them, father and daughter, to get close. He asked: "Aren't you studying law?"

"Double degree in law and management." Wei Lingling rolled her eyes. This biological father didn't know anything about her studies.

"Wow, so amazing. If you could add medicine, it would be even better." Old Ghost laughed.

Wei Lingling said: "Studying medicine can't save the Chinese people. Also, Aunt asked me to bring you a message."

As she spoke, she took out Wei Lindi's power of attorney, entrusting Wei Lingling to receive the old Western-style house in Shanghai and let her, Wei Jiefang, and Wei Ping'an divide it equally. There were only three of them in the second generation of the Wei family.

"I can't handle this matter alone. Isn't that grandson of yours in Hong Kong? I want to meet him, and then go back to Shanghai together to get the house back." She explained her purpose. She didn't dare to go to the Mainland alone; in her view, it was a place like a dragon's pool and a tiger's den.

"Alright, you aunt and nephew should meet. Ah Ming is very promising. You should have heard his name in the United States, right?"

"Never heard of it. Besides the late Bruce Lee, there are no famous Chinese people in the United States."

Old Ghost: "That's not right. I saw on the news that the songs he wrote reached that... what is it, Billboard number one. He should be very famous, right?"

Wei Lingling looked at the old man in front of her. *Yo yo yo, he even knows Billboard. *

"Isn't he a novelist? Do you think Billboard is a bestseller list?"

"I know it's a music chart. Although he has been on the New York bestseller list, he hasn't taken number one. I didn't expect him to take number one on the music chart. Have you really never heard *Moonlight Shadow*?"

"What? *Moonlight Shadow*! He wrote it?"

"You wrote all these!?" A Long looked at Wei Ming's notebook in disbelief.

The creativity inside involved martial arts, romance, history, suspense, horror, ghosts, and slapstick comedy, and they were all so, so innovative, making people wonder how his brain grew.

Wei Ming: "These are all creative openings. Subsequent development will take some time. Time is limited. Before leaving Hong Kong, I can only focus on *Wind and Cloud*."

A Long read tirelessly and sighed: "Originally, I was worried that your investment this time would lose money. Now I'm not worried anymore. If these works can be drawn by excellent comic artists, Jade International is no match at all."

Wei Ming sighed: "The problem is there aren't that many excellent comic artists."

Even Ma Wing-Shing, whom he was most optimistic about, was still immature. He only achieved great success during the second part of *Wind and Cloud*. He was still too green now, completely no match for the two Shangguans and Huang Yulang, let alone A Long. Wei Ming was treating them as potential stocks, but also worried they would run away before their potential exploded.

"So before the two of us officially come to Hong Kong, my goal is for the company not to make money, give them two or three sets of stories to draw, and as long as they can be fed, that's enough."

Hearing Ah Ming say this, A Long was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "I've got it!"

"Got what?"

A Long said: "I know a few workers at the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang who are responsible for drawing and tracing. Their craftsmanship is quite solid, with ten-plus years of skill, and they all really want to make money."

"You mean?"

A Long said: "I can ask them if they are willing to come to Hong Kong. If they are willing to come, the drawing strength here will be greatly improved. It's just that I'm afraid the styles won't be compatible."

The drawing style of the Shanghai Animation Er Yingchang was very different from Hong Kong comics. However, Wei Ming didn't feel that a unified Hong Kong comic style was correct. His comic company had to be inclusive, do the comic business for all Chinese people, and become a world-class IP!

"Alright, it's settled. After going back, it should be summer vacation. By then, you run to Shanghai and accompany Ah Ying back to her maiden home by the way."

Mentioning Ah Ying, A Long became worried again. He didn't know if she would be willing to accompany him to Hong Kong to work in the future.

The next day, the day to leave Hong Kong was getting closer and closer. Wei Ming had to speed up his actions.

He drove the van and took Liu Rulong to find Shao Liushu Bin. Early in the morning, the car drove directly outside the village house where Mao Mao Amin lived.

Wei Ming and A Long went upstairs and knocked on the door of the two single men. And in a building opposite, Zhou Zhou Zhou Huimin carried her schoolbag downstairs, preparing to go to school, and happened to see Ah Ming's van.

Zhou Zhou Zhou Huimin circled the car and was pleasantly surprised: "Ah Ming came to find me, but where is he?!"

"Eh?" Mao Mao Amin touched the car door and was pleasantly surprised to find that the car wasn't locked!

After entering Old Ghost's room, there was only him inside.

"Oh, Ah Bin has already gone out to find a venue for the new shop. A Long, do you miss your dad?"

"No, we have serious business." A Long said to this mysterious "Uncle Ghost." He was very measured and didn't ask in detail about the other party's identity to Ah Ming.

Then Wei Ming explained that he wanted to buy a comic company in Hong Kong and hoped Shao Liushu would help settle the valuation and contract issues. In the future, he would also need him to be responsible for managing the company's accounts until A Long came over to take over.

"Finding Ah Bin is not as good as finding..." Old Ghost paused, "I'll introduce you to someone. She is more professional than Ah Bin, returned from studying in the United States, and her grades in all subjects were very ideal."

Hearing him say this, Wei Ming had already guessed it. It must be his own excellent "CEO Little Aunt."

According to the timeline, she should have graduated from university and started taking over the assets of the Great-Grandfather from a small factory.

Old Ghost wrote an address and asked Ah Ming to find Wei Lingling.

"It just so happens she also wants to see you." Old Ghost patted Wei Ming on the shoulder.

Wei Ming nodded and looked at the Peninsula Hotel address on the slip of paper.

"Let's go, A Long, go see the big hotels in Hong Kong."

Downstairs, into the car, the three headed straight for Tsim Sha Tsui.

Wei Ming, A Long, and Zhou Zhou Zhou Huimin~

(End of chapter) *** **CHAPTER 305** **【305-0】 Recognize a Little Aunt, Pick Up a Beauty**