Chapter 40: Royalty

"Published?" Wu Jianping glanced at his son.

"Don't even think about it before the New Year."

After a new author creates their own work, they are all in an impatient state, wishing that their work would be published and sold the next day and seen by readers.

Wu Jianping understood very well that his son wanted *Bright Sword* to be published urgently. But January was approaching the New Year, and at that time, everyone in the publishing house would have their minds flown to the Spring Festival. Even if everything passed, it would be arranged for after the New Year.

Wu Yuchen was silent for a moment. He didn't expect that even if his dad was an insider, it would have to be dragged until after the New Year. It would take at least a month or two to see the market response. It seemed that if he wanted to count on the income from the novel, it would take at least half a year.

However, doing things in China these days, many are like this, not so particular about efficiency, and he is not a big shot who can let people serve him.

Wu Yuchen sighed in his heart. This kind of thing can't be rushed. Then he asked again:

"Dad, then let me ask, how many points do you estimate the royalty can get?"

This is related to the income of the *Bright Sword* novel, so Wu Yuchen can't help but care.

Wu Jianping stretched out his right thumb and index finger to gesture.

"8 points? Dad, can't you get preferential treatment within the unit and get 10 points?" Wu Yuchen frowned when he saw this.

"Heh, what are you thinking, kid? Being able to get 8 points is already the publishing house taking care of me!"

Wu Jianping scolded with a smile, and then explained to his son the current situation of royalties given by domestic publishing houses to writers.

Currently, the royalty range given to writers in China is between 4% and 15%.

If you are a new author with no fame, and the level of the book is just barely publishable to test the water, you get the lowest 4%; if the publishing house is more optimistic about your work, it is estimated that you can get 5%-6% royalty; writers with a little fame can get seven or eight points; those who can get 10% royalty have already stepped on the threshold of famous writers.

Currently, the ceiling of domestic royalties is 15%. Do you know who it is?

Temporarily setting aside Jin Yong, a Hong Konger, it is not Shi Tiesheng, Yu Hua, and other literary masters that everyone thinks, but the fairy tale king Zheng Yuanjie. Although he writes children's books, he is really popular!

Yu Hua's *To Live* was also reprinted after it became popular, and only then could he get 15%. In the final analysis, this thing depends on your sales.

Wu Yuchen understood after listening to his father's narration.

Initially, he thought that Han Han's first long novel *Triple Door* in his past life could get 8% royalty, and thought his father should be able to get higher.

But when Han Han published *Triple Door*, he was already a famous genius young writer, so the publishing house was willing to give him 8% royalty.

However, this guy later broke the domestic 15% royalty ceiling and got 20%, which led Zheng Yuanjie to directly shout on his blog:

"Since there has been civilization, literature, and royalties on earth, the last writer to enjoy a 20% royalty rate was Hu Shi. At that time, Hu Shi set the royalty rate for his own books at 15% for the first edition and 20% for the reprint. If it is lower than this standard, he will definitely not publish the book. The royalty rate of my *Pipi Lu's Total Mobilization* is 15%, and I also want to learn from Hu Shi, learn from Han Han, and strive for 20%."

This was Old Zheng using Han Han to put pressure on his own publishing house.

Pulling his thoughts back, Wu Yuchen pondered secretly. If so, then Wu Jianping being able to get 8 points was indeed a discount given by the publishing house. Of course, there must be a reason why the publishing house knew Wu Jianping's level.

However, in Wu Yuchen's view, these 8 points were still a bit low!

Wu Yuchen had a flash of inspiration and asked his father:

"Dad, I don't know if you have heard of the foreign ladder royalty system?"

"You mean..." Wu Jianping has been in this line for many years, so he naturally knows about it.

"Dad, can you fight for it with the publishing house? You can give up 8% and we can go for the ladder royalty."

"If the sales are less than 10,000, you get 4%, 10,000-30,000 get 5%, 30,000-50,000 get 6%, and so on. If the sales are 500,000, you get 10%, 1,000,000 get 12%, if..."

Wu Jianping directly waved his hand to interrupt his son with a smile: "Wait, 1,000,000 copies, do you really think your book can be an instant hit?"

Wu Yuchen smiled: "Dad, I have confidence in you!"

Wu Jianping shook his head: "How can it be as simple as you think!"

This kind of military-themed novel didn't seem to have a particularly popular precedent before, so Wu Jianping still held a conservative attitude.

"Dad, don't worry about whether our book can be popular, just tell me if this ladder royalty thing can be done?"

Wu Jianping hesitated and said: "This is hard to say. After all, our publishing house has no precedent, and it is rarely heard of in China. It is estimated that it will have to be discussed in a meeting."

"If there was no precedent before, then Dad, you should be the first to open this precedent!"

"Aren't we all advocating learning from foreign advanced experience now?"

"If this ladder royalty system doesn't exist in China, it's even better. Your publishing house should be the first to eat crabs, so that your attractiveness to writers in the future will definitely be higher than your peers!"

Wu Yuchen was trying hard to agitate his old father on the side.

Seeing that his son was so active, and what he said made some sense, Wu Jianping smacked his lips:

"I'll go to the unit and ask first, it's not necessarily successful."

He was an old man in the unit, and he was a leader of some size. Even if he could talk to the number one, he could try to mention it, and use his book as a pilot case.

"Dad, you will definitely succeed!" Wu Yuchen flattered his old father.

"Heh, you kid, you're just finding things for me to do!" Wu Jianping pointed at his son and laughed.

Wu Jianping, who was in middle age, had already become accustomed to this leisurely and lying-flat rhythm of life. He didn't expect his son to suddenly make him busy.

But there was no way, who let this be his son!

The next day, Wu Yuchen rushed back to school early in the morning.

Coming to a corner of the school, he saw Jiang Qinqin practicing morning exercises with several girls, practicing tongue twisters in Mandarin.

Wu Yuchen didn't disturb them, just stood on the side and watched with great interest.

However, he was a living person standing there, and was soon discovered by the girls.

I saw several girls laughing at Jiang Qinqin, then Jiang Qinqin pushed them away, ran to Wu Yuchen, and asked with a mixture of joy and shyness: "Why are you here?"

"Missed you~"

Wu Yuchen's words made Jiang Qinqin feel sweet in her heart again.

"Wait until you finish practicing, let's go have breakfast together." Wu Yuchen didn't tease her anymore and said with a smile.

He didn't even eat at home, just came over to brush up on Jiang Qinqin's favorability.

After yesterday, the two had already established a relationship.

Wu Yuchen didn't have any extra thoughts, just simply wanted to fill up the intimacy early and achieve the achievement of a home run.

Thank you all for your support with tickets. Are there any book list bosses? Please add a book list~

(End of this chapter) ===== CHAPTER 41 =====