Chapter 249

Yangquan, Niangziguan Power Station.

Translation: "Yang Spring, Lady Pass power station."

Yangquan, Niangziguan Power Station.

Liu Cixin gazed at the gossip about Jiang Heng on the old computer screen, enjoying it immensely.

Translation: "Liu Cixin gazed at the old computer screen showing gossip about Jiang Heng, enjoying it immensely."

Liu Cixin gazed at the gossip about Jiang Heng on the old computer screen, enjoying it immensely.

Recently, there have been too many rumors of this sort—one moment saying Jiang Heng is on good terms with Liu Yifei, the next claiming he has a secret affair with Tang Yan, spoken as if they were true.

Translation: "Speaking of which, there have been too many such rumors lately—one moment saying Jiang Heng and Liu Yifei are an item, the next saying Jiang Heng has a private affair with Tang Yan, as if it were true."

Check: we used "Tang Yan". Should we keep as Tang Yan? Yes.

He doesn't really believe these rumors; he's just killing time out of boredom.

We decided to avoid pronoun. Use name Liu Cixin twice. Translation: "Liu Cixin didn't really believe these rumors; Liu Cixin was just bored and killing time."

But maybe better: "Liu Cixin didn't really believe these rumors; he was just bored and killing time." But that uses pronoun. We'll stick with name repetition.

Among domestic directors, he has a relatively favorable impression of Jiang Heng.

Translation: "Among domestic directors, Liu Cixin had a relatively favorable impression of Jiang Heng."

Because of The Matrix and Inception, although these two works have nothing to do with space, after all they are still science fiction.

We translated titles as meaning. Let's produce: "Because of Hacker Empire and Dream Stealing Space, although these two works have nothing to do with space, after all they still count as sci-fi!"

Because of The Matrix and Inception, although these two works have nothing to do with space, after all they are still science fiction.

And his biggest hobby is "science fiction literature".

Translation: "As for Liu Cixin, his greatest hobby is 'science fiction literature'!"

As a literary genre, science fiction traces its origins to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in 1818, giving it nearly 200 years of history, with countless classic works.

Translation: "As a genre of literature, science fiction themes date back to 1818's 'Science Monster', and now nearly 200 years have passed, with countless classic works."

However, in China, aside from Liang Qichao and Lu Xun introducing sci‑fi works in the early 20th century, original Chinese science fiction was scarce, and even in the 1980s it was regarded as a kind of "spiritual pollution".

Translation: "But in China, aside from Liang Qichao and Lu Xun in the early 20th century having introduced sci-fi works, We need to output lines: English original sci-fi works were scarce, and in the 1980s sci-fi works were even regarded as a kind of 'spiritual pollution'."

Chinese

Liu Cixin enjoys "science fiction literature", which his superiors and colleagues see as very childish and abnormal.

Translation: "Liu Cixin likes 'science fiction literature', which to leaders and colleagues seems very childish and abnormal."

In his industrial department, leaders can tolerate mistakes at work, but childishness is intolerable.

Translation: "Liu Cixin, in this kind of industrial department he works in, leaders can tolerate mistakes at work, but childishness is intolerable."

Especially since he is over 40, still likes science fiction and devotes a lot of energy to it, which gives people a bad impression, making them think he is not a normal person.

Translation: "Especially since Liu Cixin is already over 40, still liking sci-fi and pouring a lot of energy into it, it gives people a bad impression, making them think Liu Cixin is not a normal person."

Thus Liu Cixin's creation has remained in a "semi-underground" state—working by day, writing by night.

Translation: "Thus Liu Cixin's creation has always been in a 'semi-underground' state, working during the day and writing at night."

If he is too busy and has to work overtime, then he cannot write at night.

Translation: "If he's too busy and has to work overtime, then he can't write at night."

If he is too busy and has to work overtime, then he cannot write at night.

Thus: "If Liu Cixin is too busy and has to work overtime, then Liu Cixin can't write at night."

But sometimes at work there isn't much to do, so Liu Cixin will sometimes engage in creative brainstorming, and sometimes he'll browse random news online to kill time.

Translation: "But sometimes at work there isn't much to be busy about, Liu Cixin sometimes does creative brainstorming, sometimes browses random reports online to kill time."

When it comes to entertainment news, he likes to read about Jiang Heng the most, because Jiang Heng has directed science‑fiction films, even though he has never dealt with interstellar‑type stories.

Translation: "Entertainment news, Liu Cixin most likes to see Jiang Heng's, because Jiang Heng has made a 'science fiction movie', although he has never touched an 'interstellar' type story."

Perhaps Director Jiang just doesn't have a good script? Liu Cixin sometimes thinks that.

Translation: "Perhaps Director Jiang lacks a good script? Liu Cixin sometimes thinks that."

He once considered writing a sci‑fi script to submit to Aoying Pictures, but he was never satisfied with what he wrote.

Translation: "Liu Cixin had also thought of writing a science fiction script to submit to Outstanding Rising Film Company, but no matter how he wrote it, he was never quite satisfied."

He is better at describing unknown worlds, but he cannot smoothly write a fast‑paced commercial film script.

Translation: "Liu Cixin excels at depicting an unknown world, but cannot smoothly write a fast-paced commercial film script."

Recently he wrote a relatively satisfying novel titled The Three‑Body Problem, published in Science Fiction World magazine.

Translation: "Recently Liu Cixin wrote a relatively satisfying novel titled 'Three Body', published in the 'Science Fiction World' magazine."

He doesn't know whether it will catch the eye of the film and TV industry; even he himself doesn't know how to adapt it for the screen, and wishes he could chat with Director Jiang about it.

Translation: "Liu Cixin doesn't know whether it will be noticed by the film and television circle, but he himself wonders how to adapt it for screen; it would be great if he could chat with Director Jiang."

Unfortunately, that's just wishful thinking.

Translation: "Too bad, that's just wishful thinking."

He is merely an ordinary person who seems unremarkable; at work he slacks off, after work he shops for groceries and cooks, picks up and drops off his daughter, and thinks about providing for his family.

Translation: "Liu Cixin is just an ordinary, unremarkable person; at work he slacks off, after work he buys groceries and cooks, picks up and drops off his daughter, and considers making a living."

Life is not easy—Science Fiction World magazine pays a manuscript fee of 150 yuan per thousand characters.

Translation: "Life is not easy, the 'Science Fiction World' magazine pays a manuscript fee of 150 per thousand characters."

That's okay, but it's not much, and it doesn't greatly improve his life.

Translation: "It seems okay, but it's not that much, and it doesn't greatly improve Liu Cixin's life."

What keeps him persisting in writing is actually his love for science‑fiction subject matter.

Translation: "What keeps Liu Cixin persisting in writing is actually his love for the science fiction theme."

"Why aren't you leaving yet, Old Liu?"

Translation: "'Not leaving yet, Da Liu?'"

The colleague opposite asked, as it wasn't yet time to leave work.

Translation: "The coworker opposite asked, in fact it's not yet time to get off work."

But under normal circumstances, everyone would leave a bit early.

Translation: "But under normal circumstances, everyone would leave a bit early."

Old Liu glanced at the time in the lower‑right corner of his computer and said, "I'll wait a moment; you go first!"

Translation: "Da Liu glanced at the time in the lower-right corner of the computer, 'I'll wait a moment, you go first!'"

The colleague left without comment, and Old Liu waited about five minutes, then rose to gather his belongings.

Translation: "The coworker left without mention; Da Liu waited about five minutes, then rose to tidy up."

Suddenly his phone rang; he picked it up and saw it was the editor from Science Fiction World magazine.

Translation: "Suddenly hearing the phone ring, he picked it up and saw it was the editor of the 'Science Fiction World' magazine."

Old Liu was startled, unable to guess why the editor would call at this hour, but he knew something was up.

Translation: "Da Liu was stunned, unable to guess why the editor would call at this time, but something was definitely up."

"Hello, Professor Li… Going to Chengdu? Aoying Pictures? Okay, okay, I'll ask my leader for leave!"

Translation: "'Hello, Teacher Li… Go to Become Capital? Outstanding Rising Film Company? Okay, okay, I'll ask leave from my superiors!'"

After hanging up, Liu Cixin remained dazed, as if in a dream.

Translation: "After hanging up, Liu Cixin remained dazed, as if in a dream."

It turned out that the editor of Science Fiction World said that today two people claiming to be from Aoying Pictures had come to the office, saying they wanted to buy the rights to The Three‑Body Problem and asking the magazine to help contact the author.

Translation: "As it turned out, the editor of 'Science Fiction World' said that today two people claiming to be from Outstanding Rising Film Company came to the door, saying they wanted to buy the copyright of 'Three Body', and hoped the magazine could help contact the author."

It would be best if the author could come over, since Director Jiang is currently filming on location within the province.

Translation: "If possible, having the author come over would be best, because Director Jiang Heng is currently filming on location within the province."

Upon hearing this, the leadership of Science Fiction World magazine was overjoyed.

Translation: "The leadership of the 'Science Fiction World' magazine heard the news and were overjoyed."

Indeed, the science‑fiction theme is too niche, not widely understood or supported by the public.

Translation: "It's just that the sci-fi theme is too niche, too little understood and supported by the masses."

If the news of Jiang Heng purchasing the rights to The Three‑Body Problem published in Science Fiction World were reported and then adapted for film or television, it would undoubtedly greatly boost the confidence of science‑fiction authors.

Translation: "If the news that Jiang Heng purchased the 'Three Body' published in 'Science Fiction World' were to be reported and then adapted for film/TV, it would undoubtedly greatly boost the confidence of sci-fi authors."

Along with that, the magazine's sales will also rise sharply.

The magazine's leadership immediately ordered the editor-in-charge to contact Liu Cixin, asking him to urgently take leave and come to Chengdu; if he could meet Director Jiang Heng, that would also be good for him.

Liu Cixin thought the same; he first came up with an excuse, called his superior to ask for leave, then immediately went home and told his wife, who was also overjoyed.

"Director Jiang Heng got his start in sci-fi films; he wouldn't really want to adapt your book into a movie, would he?"

Big Liu thought for a moment, "Hard to say, it's quite difficult!"

If you go, don't say that—what if they decide not to buy it after all!

Big Liu nodded; he truly didn't realize how great the adaptation value of The Three-Body Problem was, otherwise history wouldn't have seen him sell the rights for a mere 100,000 yuan back in 2009.

And for quite a long time afterward, he felt he had simply picked up 100,000 yuan for nothing.

Compared to the huge economic value later created by the Three-Body Problem IP, Big Liu's situation is truly pitiful.

In 2015, The Three-Body Problem won the Best Novel award at the 73rd Hugo Awards; the previously bought-out film and television rights instantly became a hot commodity, with capital rushing to invest in everything related to Three-Body.

And the couple who had purchased the rights sold the Three-Body Problem film and television rights to Youzu for 120 million.

Over eight years, the licensing fee increased a thousandfold; one can imagine Big Liu's later feelings.

The next day, Liu Cixin, after packing his bags, first took a bus to Taiyuan, then flew from Taiyuan to Chengdu.

When he arrived at the hotel it was already midnight; after resting a night, he only went to the Science Fiction World publisher on the third day.

The publisher's leadership and his editor first chatted with Liu Cixin, congratulating him that his work had caught Director Jiang Heng's eye, and that perhaps before long they would see his work adapted for the big screen.

Liu Cixin still felt a bit apprehensive, saying he never dared to think that far, and didn't even know how to adapt it.

The editor said: "You also shouldn't undersell yourself; Director Jiang took a liking to it, so he naturally has his ideas—just unexpected that he actually had time to read Science Fiction World!"

Director Jiang Heng naturally didn't have time to read Science Fiction World; he merely remembered when and in which magazine The Three-Body Problem was published.

At 10 a. m., people from Faction: Outstanding Rising Film Company came, and in the presence of Science Fiction World magazine, purchased the film and television rights to the Three-Body Problem novel series for three million.

At this point Liu Cixin had only completed the first part of the work, which was being serialized in the magazine on schedule, while the later content was still being conceived.

Three million is the total price of the series work; according to the contract, the first part is one million, and for all subsequent content, whether one part or two parts, the total price given is two million.

Speaking of which, both the editorial office of Science Fiction World magazine and Liu Cixin were shocked by this price; it is absolutely an astronomical price.

Big Liu even felt that Three Body wasn't worth that much money, and tactfully told the representative of iQiyi Company, "Director Jiang, are you trying to support sci-fi literature, spending a fortune to acquire talent?"

(End of chapter)