Chapter 153: The Negotiation

"This Seven-Inch Blade... may I ask your surname?"

Pei Wencong was silent for at least ten seconds before he calmly spoke to Seven-Inch Blade on the other end of the phone again.

Although the other party's tone was very aggressive, he, Pei Wencong, was a graduate of the University of Hong Kong after all, so he couldn't have the same character as a small gangster in Causeway Bay.

But the voice on the other end of the phone was still cold and straightforward: "Does my surname have anything to do with the two conditions I just mentioned?"

"..."

Pei Wencong's fingers couldn't help but squeeze the phone receiver tightly; he was both angry and surprised.

He didn't understand why, since they were all "literati" from the Mainland, the gap was so big?

When Pei Wencong dealt with Blue Sea Publishing House in the past, Blue Sea Publishing House had always been very polite.

Pei Wencong only had to spend a few hundred Hong Kong dollars to help them buy a few world-leading literary journals, and he would receive sincere thanks.

In the process of talking to each other recently, Blue Sea had embodied "friendly respect" to the extreme.

Whenever Pei Wencong made a call, there would inevitably be a main leader of Blue Sea Publishing House talking to him; ordinary small staff members didn't dare to answer at will.

But now, why was this Seven-Inch Blade on the opposite side so arrogant?

"Then I will call you Mr.," Pei Wencong said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Mr., the promotion and sales of *Soaring Northern Wind* have just begun, and it hasn't reached the profit stage yet, so your requirement of 20% profit is not established."

"Not established?" Li Ye said indifferently: "How much profit did you have per month before publishing *Soaring Northern Wind*?"

Pei Wencong couldn't say that before publishing *Soaring Northern Wind*, his situation was very bad and he didn't have much profit.

He had to say: "This is not easy to say, and besides, this is also a trade secret."

Li Ye didn't entangle with him and said directly: "Then take the profit after you publish *Soaring Northern Wind* and subtract the previous profit. I want 20% of the difference between the two. Is there a problem?"

You are so smart!

Pei Wencong was truly impressed. Who said that people in the North were all warm-hearted proletarian brothers? Isn't this the same bird-like appearance as the capital crocodiles in Hong Kong?

Of course, maybe a little better, because in a situation like Pei Wencong's, the capital crocodiles would likely eat him directly.

"Mr., 20% is not very appropriate. You are just one work, and there are many other authors' works in our publication."

Pei Wencong finally took it seriously and set up a bargaining posture with Li Ye.

But Li Ye said: "You think 20% is not appropriate, then how about 25%?"

Pei Wencong really wanted to hang up the phone directly.

Do you really think this is a gangster grabbing territory? Whoever is more vicious has the upper hand?

But Pei Wencong now needs this *Soaring Northern Wind*; otherwise, he wouldn't dare to sign a contract with Book Union Sales, and he would lose the opportunity to turn over.

However, Pei Wencong had been struggling in the industry for more than ten years and had seen many difficult people.

So he immediately changed the subject and said: "Mr., we have a dispute over the 20% profit issue. Let's talk about the second issue first, okay?"

Li Ye said briefly: "Okay, but don't talk too much nonsense. I don't like beating around the bush."

Pei Wencong had adapted to Li Ye's way of speaking and said calmly: "Mr., you want me to issue an invitation letter for you to come to Hong Kong to see. It is what I should do in terms of reason and emotion.

However, an invitation letter is not something that can be opened casually. It takes time to apply and handle, and I cannot determine the specific time."

Just as Pei Wencong finished speaking, an incomprehensible question came from the other end of the phone: "Three months, isn't that enough for you to develop?

If you can't sell *Soaring Northern Wind* to the point of explosion in three months, are you still a graduate of the University of Hong Kong? By that time, what is an invitation letter worth?"

"..."

Pei Wencong finally felt surprised because the Seven-Inch Blade on the opposite side seemed to have guessed the explosion of *Soaring Northern Wind*.

He hadn't told Blue Sea Publishing House about the sales of *Soaring Northern Wind*.

Indeed, if he could sign a contract with Book Union Sales, with Pei Wencong's ability, three months would be enough to make Treading Waves Literature Publishing House reborn.

Being a taxpayer is also graded. Pei Wencong three months later will have a different face than Pei Wencong now.

"Okay, Mr., I will definitely handle the invitation letter. At that time, I will take you to appreciate the style of the Pearl of the Orient, to see Lion Rock, Ocean Park..."

You can't agree to anything right away. Pei Wencong thought the time was ripe.

He was very clear about the desire of Mainland people to come to Hong Kong.

In the past twenty years, countless Mainland people have swum to Hong Kong, bearing the name of illegal residents and enjoying it.

And those Mainland people who came here on business were also full of envy and yearning for the prosperity of Hong Kong. Just an Ocean Park made them linger and forget to return.

But Li Ye continued: "I have no interest in Ocean Park. I want to see Victoria Harbour, and I also want to see Kowloon Tong.

I want to see if there are teenagers racing on Castle Peak Road. I want to see if there are really so many immortals on the Mid-Levels... By the way, Boss Pei, you have a luxury house on the Mid-Levels, right?"

If I had a luxury house on the Mid-Levels, I wouldn't say another word to you, damn it!

Pei Wencong couldn't help but scold his mother several times in his heart, and it was a close call that he didn't curse out loud.

Who are you insulting?

What kind of people live on the Mid-Levels? Would they chat with you about small businesses of tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or at most millions?

But Li Ye didn't wait for him to answer and said again: "Of course, I am most interested in Hong Kong's cultural market. I want to visit Chung Hwa Book Co., Joint Publishing, Commercial Press, Ming Chuang Publishing House..."

Pei Wencong listened blankly to Li Ye's narration like "reporting dishes." By the time Li Ye reported the names of more than 20 publishing houses, the calmness and superiority in his heart had long since vanished.

【So, this Seven-Inch Blade understands Hong Kong. In fact, from the very beginning, he guessed that I was just a small shrimp.】

When Pei Wencong dealt with Blue Sea Publishing House, he always maintained the style of a "Hong Kong big businessman."

But now he understood that this Seven-Inch Blade had already seen through his background.

No luxury house in the Mid-Levels, no fame for the publishing house, didn't even dare to say he could turn over in three months... Unconsciously, Seven-Inch Blade had already gently picked open Pei Wencong's scars.

Pei Wencong sighed for a second and made a decision.

"Mr., long-distance phone calls are quite expensive. I will handle the invitation letter for you during the Spring Festival.

Let's talk about the profit sharing! I think 20% is very reasonable."

Pei Wencong was a little uneasy; he was afraid that the Seven-Inch Blade on the opposite side would say numbers like 25% or 30% again.

At this moment, he had no bargaining chips.

As long as Seven-Inch Blade writes a letter to Joint Publishing or Commercial Press saying that the copyright of *Soaring Northern Wind* is not in the hands of Treading Waves Publishing House, then his more than a month of hard work would be making wedding clothes for others.

Working hard to make *Soaring Northern Wind* famous, and then letting those big fish pick the peaches?

He, Pei Wencong, was not reconciled.

As for the 20% profit mentioned by Seven-Inch Blade, he could make some articles about it later...

Pei Wencong thought of this and suddenly remembered a sentence from Li Ye on the phone—don't play tricks.

Should I play tricks?

Will it be more than the loss?

Li Ye hung up the phone in the Xicheng Post and Telecommunications Bureau, curled his lips, and gave a light laugh.

He had considered that the one who could connect with Blue Sea Publishing House wouldn't be a large publishing house. After all, Blue Sea wasn't a titan of culture in the Mainland.

But he didn't expect the other party to be so weak.

Li Ye was still young, so when talking to the other party, he couldn't be polite and yielding; that would only make people look down on him.

So Li Ye highlighted a crisp and decisive, an "unreasonable" style.

But Treading Waves Literature House didn't even have the intention to resist.

Or rather, he didn't have the confidence to overturn the table and be domineering at all, not even the courage to slap the table with Li Ye.

Either that Pei Wencong was a small character with no strength who grabbed whatever he could, or he was a cunning and treacherous person who was prepared not to fulfill his promise.

Given the situation between the Mainland and Hong Kong now, it wouldn't be difficult for the other party to play tricks.

But so what?

Can he, Pei Wencong, play tricks, and Li Ye can't?

I'll cut off your serialization halfway, and if I'm even more ruthless, I'll give you a special version that goes into the ditch unconsciously. The Hong Kong British government might even invite you to drink tea!

Li Ye dialed Dong Yuejin of Blue Sea again.

"Brother Dong, is that reprint contract you prepared ready? If it's ready, find someone to send it over to sign!"

Dong Yuejin on the other side paused and scolded with a laugh: "It was ready long ago, just waiting for you, the great writer, to nod and agree! But when you signed the contract, did you already anticipate today's situation?"

It turned out that when Li Ye signed the contract with Dong Yuejin, he had specified that it was for Mainland sales rights.

At that time, Blue Sea didn't expect a broken book to earn foreign exchange, so they skipped it without caring.

As a result, now they have to sign a contract with Li Ye again and peel off a layer of profit.

Li Ye also laughed and said: "The times are changing. We all have to look at things with a developmental perspective, right? Besides, this money is something you picked up for nothing. I'm just sharing a little bit of the benefits. It's not too much."

"Brother, you can't say that," Dong Yuejin said seriously: "No matter how famous you are in the Mainland, you are just an individual. Blue Sea is a government unit.

I don't want to ask too much about why you insist on connecting with Hong Kong, but brother, I want to remind you that apart from Blue Sea Publishing House, any agreement you have with Hong Kong may not be effective. Capitalists don't talk about credibility with you."

"I know, brother. Effectiveness comes from strength."

"Hey, what you said is good. It's about having strength. Our Blue Sea has strength."

"..."

Li Ye didn't want to explain to Dong Yuejin. The "strength" he was talking about wasn't Blue Sea.

Given the current situation, if Hong Kong really wants to play the rogue, Blue Sea has no way at all.

But Li Ye didn't believe Pei Wencong couldn't see the strength of *Soaring Northern Wind*.

If we talk about the masters in Hong Kong, there must be a gathering of heroes, and Gu, Liang, and Jin are all masters of a generation.

But *Soaring Northern Wind* is a literary work that spans nearly thirty years. The author is writing on the shoulders of predecessors. Whether it is vision or control of reader psychology, it is far beyond the level of the 1980s.

Predecessors used countless works to test the preferences of readers, and successors absorbed them all unconsciously.

Many people now just feel that *Soaring Northern Wind* is very refreshing to read, but the core inside is completely different.

"Li Ye, how did you talk to Hong Kong? Are they willing to issue you an invitation letter?"

Dong Yuejin tried his best to control his tone so that Li Ye wouldn't feel his strangeness.

When the publishing house held a meeting, they said to let Seven-Inch Blade test the water and see the attitude of Hong Kong. If it was feasible, they could also handle an invitation letter!

Anyway, Seven-Inch Blade is young, and it's not embarrassing to be rejected.

"They said they have to apply, it's not easy to handle," Li Ye said: "I won't chat with you anymore, Brother Dong. Recently, a similar work might be sent to you. Take care of it when the time comes."

"A similar work? What work?"

"The name hasn't been decided yet, but the mailing address should be Beijing University."

"Oh, that invitation letter..."

"Beep beep beep~"

Dong Yuejin listened to the busy signal on the phone and shook his head, self-deprecatingly saying: "It's not that easy!"

Li Ye hung up the phone and settled the phone bill under the astonished gaze of the post office staff.

Several tens of yuan in this day and age is really not a small amount of money.

Riding his bicycle, he slowly went to find Li Huaisheng and the others. Today is the last day for new mailings. If he is any later, he won't be able to catch the printing of the next issue of *New Wind*.

Li Ye arrived at Li Huaisheng's activity room. Before he even entered the door, several people were pushing and shoving with Li Huaisheng and Yang Yumin and were squeezed out of the door.

These people were not as strong as Li Huaisheng and didn't take advantage in the pushing, but they didn't spare their words: "What promoting historical culture? It's just feudal dross picked out of the garbage heap.

You have been cultivated by the new society, yet you promote and praise the corrupt feudal dynasty. You are truly the shame of Beijing University. Only a fool would publish your articles."

Li Huaisheng and the others were also red-faced, clearly very angry in their hearts.

Yang Yumin, who had always had a good temper, grabbed a mop handle and scolded and cursed at the few people outside the door.

"You write your poetry, we write ours. If you dare to say one more word, I'll break your head with one stick."

"You hit me, you hit me. If I dodge, count it as you being powerful."

The poet outside was very stubborn, but his body was pushed far away by Li Huaisheng involuntarily, and finally left angrily.

Yang Yumin threw down the mop and looked at Li Ye, who was laughing and watching the fun on the side, feeling very angry.

"Little brother, you came at a good time today. You saw a funny joke. You have to buy a ticket."

Li Ye didn't mind his teasing and asked: "Who are those two people? What grudge do they have with us?"

"Two great poets," Li Huaisheng snorted coldly and nudged his chin toward the activity room: "That is the grudge, but no one is willing to admit it."

Li Ye took two steps forward, looked inside, and discovered a very tall girl.

A long braid was neatly draped behind her back, revealing a spirit of capability.

Li Ye whispered: "Who is fighting for jealousy?"

"Jealousy my ass. She just likes to read what we write and doesn't like to listen to them recite poetry. I don't look down on poets, but their poetry... Pfft."

Li Ye nodded, not intending to enter the door, and turned to leave.

The gossip storm of the juniors had nothing to do with him, a freshman little brother.

But Li Huaisheng grabbed Li Ye and said anxiously: "It's been several days. Everyone is arguing back and forth, and they can't even decide on a book title. You have many ideas; give us some advice."

The reason why Li Huaisheng and the others' new book hadn't had a name was that this group of guys had a professional disease.

They were either from ancient literature or history departments. Damn, one ancient-style name after another, like *Return*.

Li Ye thought for a while and said: "I'm studying economics. From an economics perspective, this kind of popular name must be popular and easy to understand.

For example, *Looking at the Hometown Wangxiang Wangxiang Gujun*. You know what it means as soon as you hear it. Put a Tang-character banner on the cover, a few broken armors, and that's about it."

"*Looking at the Hometown Wangxiang Wangxiang Gujun*? This is too popular; it lacks historical charm."

"Fine, I, the little brother, have no culture. I'm leaving first. My girlfriend is waiting for me to eat!"

"..."

Li Huaisheng watched Li Ye go away, his head full of resentment and jealousy!

A freshman already has a girlfriend who is both beautiful and has temperament, while he is already a junior and is still arguing endlessly with a few poets like a peacock spreading its tail.

Pfft, who is spreading their tail?

Li Huaisheng pushed the door and entered the room, saying coldly: "I asked Li Ye, and he said the new book title should be *Looking at the Hometown Wangxiang Wangxiang Gujun*. Do you have any opinions?"

"..."

After a long time, a classmate said: "It's meaningless to argue back and forth. Whatever! Anyway, don't use your *Soul Calling* name."

"What's wrong with the name I took? Is *Return* soul calling?"

A round of arguing started again. In the end, even that tall girl joined in.

It's not unreasonable that scholars can't succeed in rebellion for three years.

(End of chapter)