Chapter 355

This was a face with Asian features; at first glance, Wei Ming felt the other party was likely Chinese.

"Excuse me, is this that *Lion King*? My god, five million! Has it really sold that many already!"

"Yes, this is the total global sales for both the English and Chinese versions." Seeing a potential deal, Melinda immediately went over to handle it.

Several publishers had just been attracted by the imposing poster for *The Lion King*, but they were all English-language publishers, and since their businesses overlapped, it was finally a relief to encounter someone who clearly wasn't from an English-speaking country.

"Sir, where are you from?" Melinda asked.

"Oh, I'm a publisher from the United States."

Wei Ming: Yo, an American-born Chinese. However, this sentence deflated Melinda's enthusiasm.

The man continued, "We not only have our own publishing company but also our own chain of bookstores, with over fifty locations in North America. *The Lion King* has been in the top ten of our chain's sales charts for three consecutive months."

Hearing that the man also operated bookstores and that the scale was quite considerable, Melinda became noticeably more enthusiastic: "The excellence of *The Lion King* deserves such good results. We have two other new works here; one is about dinosaurs, and the other teaches how to use a Rubik's Cube. May I ask how to address you?"

"Just call me Beyond."

Wei Ming, who was reading a book in a rocking chair behind them, nearly fell off. You're called Beyond?

The American-born Chinese man named Beyond said, "It seems these two new books haven't appeared on the market yet."

"Yes, this is their debut. It might take a while before they appear in the American market." As she spoke, she took him to see the Rubik's Cube activity. At this moment, Wei Hong was teaching several publishers how to solve the cube according to her own method, and everyone was having a great time.

Beyond flipped through *Jurassic Park* and immediately said, "Our bookstores want ten thousand copies of each. I hope we can be the first bookstore in North America to receive the stock."

In addition to selling translation rights for various languages, books can also be sold directly at the book fair. For instance, the "China International Bookstore," which was later renamed the China International Book Trading Group, was responsible for book imports and exports.

They not only distribute Chinese books abroad but also introduce foreign books, periodicals, and audiovisual products.

Institutions like universities and libraries all have original foreign-language books, and they all require such agencies to handle the introductions.

On the flight over, Wei Ming had chatted with the comrades from the International Bookstore. They were interested in introducing the English picture book versions of *The Lion King* and *Jumanji*, but the quantity certainly wouldn't be too large—about a thousand sets would be enough, mainly for the convenience of people in China learning English and foreigners living in China.

Hearing that the man wanted ten thousand copies of each, Melinda was naturally happy, but she was also a bit worried for him: "Can your bookstore chain digest that many?"

That would require each store to sell 200 copies, which is no small number.

Beyond said, "Our bookstores are mainly located in Chinese communities, and we have a high reputation in the overseas Chinese circle. Moreover, Chinese children really like educational toys like the Rubik's Cube. I believe it shouldn't be a problem; we might even need to restock later."

Since he had said as much, Melinda immediately prepared to draft a letter of intent.

At this point, Beyond proposed, "Ms. Melinda, could you introduce me to him through you? I would very much like to chat with him personally."

Melinda flipped through her documents and pointed behind her: "Go introduce yourself."

Wei Ming put down the "little yellow book" in his hand, stood up, and waved to this Mr. Beyond.

The man was greatly surprised, excitedly stepped forward two paces to shake Wei Ming's hand, and said in a Chinese accent somewhat similar to Melinda's, "Mr. Wei Ming, hello. My name is Gong Biyang, and I am the manager of the Chinatown Publishing Company in San Francisco."

Two questions immediately popped into Wei Ming's mind.

The first: "Which 'Gong' is it?"

"The 'Gong' from Gong Zizhen."

Wei Ming: Isn't that the same 'Gong' as my Sister Xue's! Wei Ming immediately formed a very good impression of this person.

The second: "Mr. Gong, where are your ancestors from?"

"I am a third-generation immigrant in the United States. My grandparents moved to San Francisco from the Magic City."

Hey, he's even a fellow townsman of Sister Xue. Maybe 500 years ago, they were one family. Wei Ming immediately liked him even more.

Gong Biyang introduced their Chinatown Publishing Company and the Chinatown bookstore chain.

"Our company has a long history of forty years, and our users are primarily of Chinese descent. Our bookstores carry Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and English books. One of the reasons I wanted to meet you this time is that I want to introduce the book *In the Name of the People* to the United States."

Wei Ming was surprised: "You've read this novel in the United States too?"

"Yes, I saw the serialized version in *Harvest* from students studying abroad from the mainland. It was written so well. I heard a standalone volume has already been released?"

"Yes, you can see it in Hall 6. I can take you over to have a look. We have many other books there suitable for our overseas compatriots." Wei Ming was moved to help Director Liu and the others boost their performance.

"Great."

Wei Ming then greeted Melinda and took Gong Biyang to Hall 6.

On the way, Wei Ming asked him for advice on what types of Chinese books have the most market in the United States.

This Gong Biyang was very qualified to speak: "Books about dining and cuisine, traditional culture, and medical health are most loved by foreign readers. In the acupuncture and physical therapy clinics in Chinatown, a large portion of the business comes from white people."

"Then are literature books read much?"

"Classical literature and some works by great masters from the Republican era are still quite popular. Of course, most of the consumption is by the Chinese-descendant community. I also read Lu Xun from a young age, and I've read both the Chinese and English versions. Like the Four Great Classical Novels, there weren't very good translated versions when I was young, so I read the originals, which was quite strenuous."

"Haha, you've come at the right time. This time, our Foreign Languages Press has brought the complete English-translated set of *Dream of the Red Chamber*. If you didn't understand it before, you should be able to understand it more smoothly this time."

"Oh, really? Then our Chinatown Bookstore will definitely welcome it warmly!" He then added, "We also hope to publish the English-translated version of *In the Name of the People* in the United States, so that more Westerners can understand this epic history."

Hearing this, Wei Ming was stunned: "You also want to buy the English translation rights for *In the Name of the People*?"

"Yes, this can be said to be my main purpose for coming to Frankfurt this time."

Wei Ming smiled and shook his head: "Brother, you're in luck. You don't need to translate it yourselves. Just wait for the translation by our Foreign Languages Press's Mr. Yang Xianyi and Ms. Dai Naidie. They are the translators of *Dream of the Red Chamber*, and their skills are quite profound. I don't know if you've heard of them."

"I'm in this business, so naturally I know. I've read the English version of *The Scholars* translated by him and his wife. But our boss hopes that our company can handle the translation and publication of *In the Name of the People*."

Wei Ming waved his hand: "This is non-negotiable. This is a decision from above."

Because *In the Name of the People* involves many real historical figures from both the KMT and the CCP, some of whom are even still alive, for the sake of political correctness, the English translation with the widest reach must be firmly held in our own hands. This is a dispute over the right of interpretation.

Gong Biyang was dejected, feeling he wouldn't be able to answer to his boss when he returned.

As they approached Hall 6, Gong Biyang said, "Mr. Wei, may I make a phone call first?"

"To your boss?"

"Yes."

"Alright. Our booth is on the first floor. It occupies a large space and has Chinese-style lanterns hanging. Just come find us directly after you come in. Don't get it mixed up with the Taiwan booth. I'll go in first to take a look."

Gong Biyang nodded and immediately went to find a place to make an international long-distance call.

The call went directly to the Chinatown Publishing Company. Gong Biyang is the president of Chinatown Publishing, and above him is a general manager of the publishing company, who is responsible for both the publishing and bookstore businesses and is also Chinese.

And above the general manager is a big boss; the publishing company is just one insignificant item among her many industries.

Gong Biyang couldn't reach the big boss and could only report to the general manager. Securing the English translation rights for *In the Name of the People* before leaving was the most important task the general manager had assigned.

The general manager hesitated for a moment and said, "I will tell the big boss. I'll call your hotel later. But your top priority now is to secure the copyrights for Wei Ming's other works. The big boss appreciates him very much."

"I appreciate him too, but not all of his works have market potential. I just discovered that his two new books are both good, but some of his old works, I'm afraid..."

General Manager: "That's none of my business. In short, you have to do whatever it takes to make the big boss happy."

When Gong Biyang was making the phone call, the Chinese booth was also quite lively.

After the Reform and Opening-up, we started to look at the world, and the world was also very curious about China. This naturally attracted the attention of many foreign publishers.

However, having just come over from the European and American area and returning to the domestic area, Wei Ming could clearly feel the gap in the appearance of domestic books. The cover designs were all too simple and plain, and they were naturally a cut below in visual appeal.

Take Wei Ming's Chinese version of *The Lion King*, for example; there wasn't even a lion on the cover, though there were a few illustrations inside.

At this moment, an Asian man picked up a copy of *The Lion King*. Wei Ming could tell at a glance that he wasn't Chinese.

Sure enough, soon Mike from the embassy went over to communicate with him. After speaking two sentences in English, he switched to Japanese. I didn't expect Mike to be an expert too!

Wei Ming couldn't understand what they were saying. He had mainly learned daily vocabulary, while they were speaking professional terminology.

Seeing him come over, Mike immediately greeted him: "Teacher Wei, here, here!"

He introduced the two to each other. It turned out that this man was a staff member sent to Frankfurt by Tokuma Shoten, specifically responsible for copyright trading.

Wei Ming politely shook hands with the other party. Tokuma Shoten was actually quite good; its founder, Yasuyoshi Tokuma, was a well-known left-wing pacifist and had even been received by the Premier after the founding of New China.

Tokuma Shoten doesn't just do book business; it also makes movies. Yasuyoshi Tokuma made many contributions to China-Japan cultural exchange, including two excellent co-productions, *The Go Masters* and *Dunhuang*.

And Yasuyoshi Tokuma's greatest contribution to world culture was supporting Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata in founding Studio Ghibli.

Recently, exchanges between China and Japan have been very close. Generally, there are special exchange activities for copyright cooperation between China and Japan.

Previously, it was through this kind of China-Japan exchange that the Japanese translation rights for Wei Ming's *The Ox and Ox Two* were bought by Tokuma Shoten, but it hadn't been translated yet, so Wei Ming was still a transparent person in the Japanese literary scene.

Kato Daisho, who was in middle age, bowed to Wei Ming. It was very formal. He recognized Wei Ming because he had heard Wei Ming's songs.