Chapter 379: Li Zhi

A Long's considerations were entirely sincere; he hoped his parents-in-law and his good brothers could all witness his happy event, and it wouldn't be perfect if anyone were missing.

Wei Ming sighed, "I don't even know if I'll be in Hong Kong at that time."

A Long said, "Then we'll hold it in the Magic City; it's easier for my parents to return to the mainland than for our parents to come to Hong Kong."

Wei Ming smiled and continued back to *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*: "Master Jin only gave the copyright for one *Condor Heroes*, right?"

"Yeah, I think it's better for you to negotiate this kind of thing. You have more influence; maybe you can take down the entire *Condor Trilogy*, *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*, and *The Deer and the Cauldron* all at once."

He felt that the most valuable works of Jin Yong's martial arts were these six great long novels.

Wei Ming shook his head: "Taking down the entire *Condor Trilogy* is about enough. Although adapting other people's novels into comics can utilize the popularity of the original work, the cost-performance ratio isn't high. We only have the comic copyright; we still have to share the money with the original author when publishing single volumes, and there's almost no derivative value."

It was only during the magazine's development phase that he would consider cooperating with Old Jin. Once they dominated the Hong Kong comic scene, it wouldn't be very meaningful. The *Condor Trilogy* should be enough to serialize for several years; it's sufficient.

A Long pondered for a moment: "What you say makes sense. Then after Li Li Zhiqing finishes *The Condor Heroes*, let someone else take over *The Return of the Condor Heroes* and *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*."

Wei Ming: "Do you have anyone else available here?"

A Long shook his head: "Not yet."

Although there were a few comic apprentices without representative works, Li Li Zhiqing's style and ability were not something just anyone could replace.

Wei Ming said: "So we should start training newcomers, and we also need more works. Since you've been to Japan and seen the three major youth weeklies, have you ever thought about turning *Madman Comics* into a weekly?"

Hearing Wei Ming bring this up, A Long perked up: "I have. Actually, I think serializing comics on a weekly basis is the most appropriate. Half a month is still too long; it's easy to wear out the readers' enthusiasm. But with our current manpower and story creation ability, running a weekly would definitely mean sacrificing quality."

Wei Ming: "Then use all the company's profits to train newcomers. You can hold some comic events to dig out potential comic talents among the readers, or people who can tell stories. I can afford long-term unprofitability."

A Long nodded: "The Hong Kong comic market, even including Taiwan, is far from as big as Japan's. It might not be able to accommodate three major weekly comics, but it can accommodate one. Let our *Madman Comics* be Hong Kong's only comic weekly!"

Wei Ming felt that this kid had become increasingly "chuunibyou" after going to Japan. He pressed his hand down: "Easy, easy~"

A Long sat down and picked up a copy of *Dr. Slump* from the table: "After going to Japan, I realized that this Akira Toriyama is already a top-tier Japanese comic artist. Fortunately, Japan isn't full of Akira Toriyamas, otherwise we really wouldn't have a chance to get ahead. However, under the Japanese comic atmosphere, many comic artists with strength close to Akira Toriyama can have their works published in the three major weeklies based on merit. That is truly enviable."

Wei Ming mused: "Many famous Japanese comic artists started as assistants; it's a special kind of master-apprentice inheritance. Geniuses like Akira Toriyama who debuted as comic artists without ever being assistants are actually the minority. So, if you see good seedlings, you can keep them by your side as assistants. In the future, your school will be considered to have branched out."

Like Eiichiro Oda's (*One Piece*) master was Nobuhiro Watsuki (*Rurouni Kenshin*), and Nobuhiro Watsuki's master was Takeshi Obata (*Hikaru no Go*).

A Long laughed: "I am currently focusing on training Liangzi. He can help me share a lot of the work for *The Legend of Qin*, but I feel embarrassed to let him call me Master."

Liangzi was A Long's classmate at the Beijing Film Academy, the only one among the three classmates who decided to stay in Hong Kong.

Wei Ming thought for a moment and said: "Tell me, once Liangzi is trained, can you handle two series simultaneously while taking care of *The Legend of Qin*?"

Because Wei Ming had one work he only trusted A Long to handle; others couldn't reach the level of ability and trust required.

"Two series simultaneously?" A Long twisted his mouth, "My brush can keep up, but can your stories keep up?"

Wei Ming took several notebooks out of his bag: "This is for *The Legend of Qin*, this is for *Fung Wan*, and this is for *Happy Ghost*."

Writing this is simple; it doesn't take a week, three days is enough.

A Long flipped through them: "You are too brief; it's become a flow of outlines."

"Otherwise, what are those screenwriters being raised for? They are also sharing the screenwriting profits with me."

A Long accepted these scripts and continued to look forward to the weekly: "When it becomes a weekly in the future, it will be released every Saturday, so that teenagers will honestly stay at home and read comics on weekends, saving them from going out and becoming gangsters. It can also be considered as reducing unstable factors for society."

Wei Ming said: "Why Saturday? Just make it Monday."

"Monday?"

"Yes, Monday. If they read comics on the weekend, there's no one to communicate with, and there's no fun in competing for comics. How else can we expand our influence?"

A Long thought about the principle for a moment and couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "It still has to be you!"

Afterwards, the two discussed how to absorb and train newcomers, strengthen the comic artist team, and even had the idea of poaching from Huang Huang Yulang. When they reached the point of excitement, the office was filled with strange, cackling laughter.

Wei Ming also told A Long about becoming the chief consultant for CCTV's *Journey to the West*. Speaking of *Journey to the West*, A Long expressed: "If this subject can be written with new ideas, it's actually better than an original one. It has natural popularity, no need to worry about the original author sharing the profits, and there is room for copyright operation."

Wei Ming smiled: "Isn't that so~"

They didn't fall into a deep sleep until around two in the morning.

The first person to arrive at the company the next morning was Xu Xu Jinjiang. He wasn't from *Madman Comics*, but A Long gave him a job drawing covers, which could increase his income a little and also make the cover of *Madman Comics* have great artistic tension. He could earn a few hundred dollars for two issues a month.

What he was drawing now was the "January 1982 · First Half" issue. With a new look for the New Year, characters from several popular comics would all appear on the cover of this issue. The two were discussing the design plan.

Wei Ming reminded A Long: "You didn't go home when you came back yesterday. Remember to go back at noon."

A Long nodded and said: "I'll give A Ying a call. At noon, we'll find a restaurant downstairs to date and eat, both without delay."

Xu Xu Jinjiang hurriedly said: "Brother Ming, I brought breakfast xiaolongbao for A Long, but I didn't expect you to be here too. Why don't you share it?"

A Long said: "You eat it all. I still have instant noodles here."

"There are instant noodles? Then I'll just soak some noodles. I haven't eaten them for a long time." Wei Ming reached out to rummage. He had only eaten them twice in Hong Kong, the sesame oil flavor. The sensory stimulation was far behind the braised beef and old altar pickled cabbage of later generations.

Wei Ming was holding the noodles and listening to the two discuss the cover design plan when others arrived one after another to work. They were the company's only two female employees, one named A Zhen and one named A Zhu.

A Zhu was the receptionist and clerk, the company's face, while A Zhen was responsible for the screenwriting and some copywriting work for *Happy Ghost*.

This was also some stimulation for a comic company with male protagonists, to inspire their fighting spirit.

However, Wei Ming's appearance became their stimulation, and they circled around Wei Laoshi one after another.

Fortunately, Huang Huang Guoxing arrived at this time, and Wei Ming called him into A Long's office.

"Xingzai, how many more issues until *Monk Sha's Diary* is finished?"

"Wei Laoshi, I have two issues of stock now. Another two or three chapters and it should be over."

After all, it was a short story.

Wei Ming said: "Then it's time to consider a new work. Do you have any ideas yourself?"

Huang Huang Guoxing shook his head and smiled flatteringly: "I'm just waiting for the big boss to lead me to fly."

Gan Xiaowen and he were the faces of the company's comedy comics. Now Gan Xiaowen's *Fight Back to School* was booming, and he was envious looking at it.

After all, they were both young. Expecting them to create good stories themselves was indeed unrealistic. It was good enough if they could draw well, so it was still mainly based on Wei Ming's ideas.

"Good, this time I came to Hong Kong, I will write a script for you."

"Is it funny?" Huang Huang Guoxing was more concerned about this.

I haven't even written it yet, how would I know? Wei Ming laughed: "It should be on par with *Fight Back to School*."

It's a pity that *The Mask* was already created last year. Wei Ming saw it in Frankfurt. Otherwise, this creative idea would actually be very suitable for Huang Huang Guoxing to play with, and he could sell a Hollywood copyright later.

Subsequent comic artists arrived one after another. Wei Ming met with everyone, encouraged them a few words, and prepared to leave, and then heard the sound of *da da da* high heels.

Wei Ming followed the sound and looked over. The first thing he saw was a pair of silk-stockinged beautiful legs, black ones.

Then Wei Ming heard the sound of many people swallowing saliva.

"Sister Xiao Li!"

The teenage comic apprentice Feng Feng Zhiming immediately greeted her, and the others also stretched their necks to look, no longer focused as they were at the beginning.

Because of the business dealings between Langning Toy Factory and *Madman Comics*, once Wei Wei Lingling brought Li Zhi here, and then Miss Li Zhi's beautiful figure was deeply imprinted in the hearts of this group of otaku comic artists.

A Zhu at the front desk curled her lips: *Slutty thing, isn't she just relying on those few ounces of meat on her chest? If I squeezed, I'd have them too. *

Actually, Li Zhi's dress really wasn't revealing, just a short skirt and silk stockings, a white small suit, a normal urban beauty outfit, plus she was getting better at dressing up, and her figure conditions were too superior, so she could support an exaggerated arc no matter how she dressed.

What a wicked figure!

She was carrying two bags in her hands and smiled gently: "Our President Wei asked me to send a batch of toys to everyone. Putting them in the company can make the mood better... Ah, Wei Laoshi, you are here too!"

Wei Ming narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly. He felt that Li Zhi had seen him long ago, and even the first thing she did after coming in was looking for him. Only after confirming his position did she start her lines.

Wei Ming walked over and glanced at the toys in the bag: "It's History Meow."

"Yeah, it officially goes on sale starting this month. I also brought a few for all the comic artists."

In the bag on the left were plush versions, larger in size, and on the right were plastic versions, smaller and more delicate.

Wei Ming let her put all two bags of toys on the table for everyone to choose.

As a result, all the plush toys were chosen first. Those who didn't grab a plush toy rummaged through the plastic toys and asked: "Is there a Qin Shi Huang?"

Seeing there wasn't, they took a Kuafu Meow. Finally, there were a few plastic History Meows left that no one wanted, so they were placed in the public area.

This stuff is suitable for display, while the plush ones are suitable for hugging, sitting, and leaning on.

Wei Ming looked at all of this: "Alright, I still have things to do, I'm leaving first. Ah Long, no need to see me off. I'm staying at a hotel tonight, no need to leave the door unlocked for me."

Li Zhi hurriedly followed Wei Ming: "Wei Laoshi, are you going to the toy factory? Can you give me a lift?"