Chapter 43

"Could you please give me a receipt... and also, may I ask how to get to your Qingshui County No. 2 Middle School?"

Geng Zhi handed the money to the guesthouse cashier, took back his introduction letter, and then asked for directions by the way.

At noon today, he suddenly received "good news." After comprehensive research and decision-making by the house, it was still decided that he would be the one to contact "Seven-Inch Blade" to finalize the publication of "Lurking" as soon as possible.

Geng Zhi was filled with anger and almost erupted on the spot.

【Isn't this damn well asking me to clean up Feng Bo's mess? Whoever laid the poop should eat it back...】

But in the end, Geng Zhi still swallowed his anger.

Because he really thought highly of the book "Lurking" and was thinking about trying to fight for it again.

It's just that Feng Bo played a trick and didn't make it clear to Geng Zhi about calling Principal Chang.

So Geng Zhi didn't know that someone from a publishing house had already come to find Li Ye. After arriving in Qingshui County, he thought about staying first and earning some travel expenses before doing anything else.

In those days, when units went on business trips, there was no way to "buy invoices," so it was just about earning some travel expenses.

Geng Zhi setting off at noon today counted as one day, and tomorrow would be at least another day. Although the travel expenses for two days weren't much, it was enough for his family to eat meat twice or improve the grade of cigarettes he smoked this month.

However, just at this moment, Geng Zhi caught a glimpse of a middle-aged man wearing glasses exiting the guesthouse and then bolting away.

【What's wrong with this guy? Was he chased by a dog?】

"Take your invoice; turn left out of the County No. 2 Middle School, and you'll be there after walking a mile."

The guesthouse attendant handed Geng Zhi the invoice and reached out to point him in the direction.

Geng Zhi took a look; wasn't this exactly the direction the guy chased by the dog went?

His heart stirred, and a sudden, inexplicable panic washed over him.

【Anyway, there's still time; why not go to the County No. 2 Middle School first to take a look?】

Geng Zhi walked out the door and headed toward the County No. 2 Middle School.

Qingshui County was located in a plain area, and the main street was long and straight. Geng Zhi could see Dong Yuejin in the distance, panting with every step because he had run out of breath.

Geng Zhi looked left and right, very puzzled.

【There's no dog chasing him!】

But the next moment, Geng Zhi saw Dong Yuejin look back at him, and then he bolted again.

"Is he looking at me?"

Geng Zhi subconsciously guessed a possibility and unconsciously quickened his pace.

Geng Zhi was much younger than Dong Yuejin, and Dong Yuejin in front had run out of breath, so he never managed to shake Geng Zhi off.

Watching Dong Yuejin enter the County No. 2 Middle School, Geng Zhi still couldn't figure it out, but after the gatekeeper, Old Liu, stopped him, he shouted that it was bad.

"What are you doing? Who are you looking for?"

"I'm from Dahe Publishing House, looking for Li Ye."

"Another one from a publishing house? Are you with the person in front?"

"..."

"Damn it~~"

When Dong Yuejin arrived at the Repeat Class 1 with his mouth wide open and panting, Li Ye and the others were holding their respective enamel mugs, crowding and preparing to go to the cafeteria for food, filling the corridor outside the classroom to the brim.

Dong Yuejin struggled against the crowd, fought his way to Li Ye's side, swallowed his saliva, and said: "Li Ye, I've already asked the house for instructions; your remuneration can be increased to 8 yuan per thousand words."

Li Ye was slightly surprised; a few hours ago it was 5 yuan, and now it had suddenly become 8 yuan. Something must have happened during this time.

Otherwise, with the office efficiency and rigid thinking of the 80s, this situation would absolutely not have occurred.

Since you're in a hurry, then I'm not.

Li Ye smiled gently and said: "Editor Dong, let's not be in a hurry; let's eat first, and then talk slowly, okay?"

Okay my ass!

Dong Yuejin took a stamped contract directly out of his schoolbag, took out a fountain pen, and handed it to Li Ye, starting to persuade him like a devil seducing a lamb.

"Li Ye, believe me, no one will offer a higher price than me. Your book has nearly 300,000 words; as long as you sign this contract, you can get 2,400 yuan in remuneration in at most two days."

"Whoa~~"

"My god, 2,400 yuan~"

"What on earth did Li Ye write to get so much money? He... he won't make a mistake, will he?"

"If you can get 2,400 by making a mistake, you try making one for me to see..."

The students crowded in the corridor were stirred up; they all stood on tiptoe to look at Li Ye, who was surrounded in the middle, feeling like they were looking at a shining money tree.

2,400 yuan, in the early eighties, could build several sets of large tile-roofed houses, could buy more than a dozen bicycles, could marry several dozen wives...

Ordinary workers had a monthly salary of thirty or forty yuan; they didn't know how many years they would have to save to save up 2,400 yuan.

The reason Dong Yuejin said this number on the spot was to stir up the shock of the surrounding students and use the momentum to stun Li Ye with one blow.

For a young person in this day and age, hearing such a large sum of money, wouldn't they be dazzled and obediently submit?

Of course, in all conscience, with Li Ye's status as a new author, the price of 8 yuan per thousand words was indeed not low; it was only because of the insertion of Dahe Publishing House that Dong Yuejin was forced to play this little trick.

But Li Ye was a person who had seen "big money"; how could he be easily moved?

He shook his head, pointed to the surrounding students, and said: "Editor Dong, look here; this isn't an environment for a conversation, is it?"

"I..."

Dong Yuejin wished he could pin Li Ye down right now, drag his finger over, and just like pinning Yang Bailao to sign a deed of sale, get the contract signed.

But looking at Li Ye's harmless smile, Dong Yuejin felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

【This kid is a slippery guy... no, he's a cunning businessman.】

"Excuse me, which one... is student Li Ye?"

Geng Zhi appeared at the end of the corridor, his gaze crossing the crowded students and accurately fixing on the contract in Dong Yuejin's hand.

A dozen arms pointed at Li Ye in unison, and the enthusiastic students identified him in unison: "He is Li Ye!"

Geng Zhi squeezed over, glanced at Dong Yuejin, stretched out his palm, and said: "Hello student Li Ye, I am Geng Zhi from Dahe Publishing House, now responsible for the publication of your novel..."

"Another one from a publishing house? That's really strange."

The surrounding students didn't go to get food anymore; they all crowded outside the classroom to watch the spectacle.

They hadn't even heard of a scene where two publishing houses were fighting over one student, let alone seen it.

Li Ye asked Geng Zhi strangely: "Your publishing house, wasn't it that Feng Bo who was connecting with me?"

Geng Zhi felt disgusted, but still explained: "Feng Bo just happened to answer a call; actually, I've been responsible for it from beginning to end."

"Oh, oh, oh," Li Ye was in a great mood, smiling and saying: "Then let's eat first; I'll treat, and we'll talk slowly, okay!"

Half an hour later, in a mutton soup restaurant outside the school, the three of them were silent, and no one spoke.

The scene of fighting that Li Ye had envisioned didn't appear. Dong Yuejin and Geng Zhi, not knowing if they had a tacit understanding, suddenly formed a tacit agreement and launched a "cold standoff" with Li Ye.

But how could Li Ye, who had lived two lifetimes, not see through their little tricks?

He slurped up his mutton soup, greeted the two of them, and was about to leave.

"You guys eat slowly; I'm going to class first. If you have anything, you can talk to me separately, or talk together."

Geng Zhi immediately couldn't hold his breath. Judging from the way Dong Yuejin bolted earlier, he was absolutely certain that Dong Yuejin would talk to Li Ye alone.

Anyway, empty promises didn't cost money, so Geng Zhi said openly: "Student Li Ye, can you let me see the manuscript first? Please rest assured, our Dahe Publishing House's strength is first-class, and we can offer the most generous conditions."

Li Ye scratched his head and said very humbly: "My manuscript has just been finished, and I always feel there are still some shortcomings. It's better to find a few senior people to take a look, and then ask you to correct it after confirming the final version!"

"..."

【Are you looking for someone to take a look? You're going to submit to other publishing houses, right?】

Geng Zhi's teeth itched with hatred, and Dong Yuejin shook his head helplessly.

There were many publishing houses in the country; although they might not be able to offer higher conditions, they would definitely make things complicated.

【Give up? Wouldn't that be handing over the bargain to others?】

Dong Yuejin exhaled a breath of depression and said firmly: "10 yuan, 10 yuan per thousand words; this is the sincerity of our Lanhai Publishing House."

Geng Zhi looked at Dong Yuejin in surprise; in a flash, it was as if he saw a tragic hero.

Li Ye blinked and asked: "Then what about the print-run royalty?"

【You still want print-run royalty?】

Geng Zhi stared at Li Ye with wide eyes, suddenly feeling that letting Feng Bo connect with Li Ye was a perfect match of a turtle and a green bean.

Dong Yuejin smiled and said: "Regarding the print-run royalty, I cannot answer you immediately,

But we have recently established contact with several literary media in Hong Kong, and we can recommend your novel to them.

The royalties there are very high; if you are favored by them, let alone thousands of yuan, tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of yuan are possible."

"Pfft~, do you believe this yourself?"

Geng Zhi sneered and turned his face to the side.

Because Island City occupied 80% of the province's export share, it was indeed easier to establish contact with the outside world, but how much integrity did that kind of contact have?

What's more, how could a novel like "Lurking" with obvious colors be favored by the media in Hong Kong?

Not only did Geng Zhi not believe this, even Dong Yuejin himself didn't believe it.

But the two of them were surprised to find that the cunning little thief actually... seemed to... believe it.

Li Ye's eyes became bright in an instant.

Damn, there's still this kind of awesome connection; you should have said so earlier!

A novel like "Lurking" definitely won't work.

But I have "A Step into the Past"!

What "Grave Robbers' Chronicles," "Ghost Blows Out the Light," what type do you want?

If that doesn't work, there are various abusive romance novels for the female channel; Aunt Qiong Yao, let's have a friendly exchange, shall we?

Every 10,000 copies, 5%, increased to 8 in '90,