A widower's entertainment

Chapter 326 [Life] (Please Subscribe)
Xinghua Hutong, Beijing.

It's undoubtedly quite astonishing that Lin Youcheng's science fiction romance novel was bought by a US film company for one million US dollars. However, such a thing is only known to people related to the literary circle, such as those in the film industry and the literary and art circles. Others would rarely hear about it, since Lin Youcheng wouldn't deliberately make a big fuss about it in the newspapers.

Lin Youcheng was very clear about the importance of keeping a low profile. In his opinion, the one million US dollars that Universal Pictures gave him was nothing at all. The real source of income for him from the novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" was the royalties, especially since those royalties came from overseas sales.

In Lin Youcheng's view, whether "The Time Traveler's Wife" is made into a movie or a TV series, it will further promote the original novel, which will naturally increase the sales of the novel and the subsequent royalties will be higher.

This is why Lin Youcheng wasn't particularly concerned about the one million US dollars in film and television rights fees offered by Universal Pictures.

Of course, Lin Youcheng was well aware that such a large copyright fee would undoubtedly shock the entire literary circle. These days, the question he was asked most often was about the copyright fee. Most of the questions were from acquaintances and friends, who were just subtly verifying whether the rumors in the circle were true or false, and then expressing their amazement.

There's no way to ignore such a number; it's simply astonishing and terrifying.

"You have no idea, the editorial department has been discussing your copyright fee for a while now. I hadn't planned to tell anyone, but I didn't expect the news to be circulating in the industry."

Looking at Lin Youcheng, Zhang Wei still felt a chill run down his spine when the topic of that large sum of foreign exchange came up.

You know, his wife heard about it later and asked him if it was true or not. She also lamented how anyone could possibly spend such a large sum of money, saying it would probably take several lifetimes to spend it all.

It's clear that Zhang Wei's wife, Zhang Hongfang, underestimated the cost of living in Beijing, especially the rising housing prices. Such a large copyright fee wouldn't even buy a decent house in the Second Ring Road area, let alone last several lifetimes. What's truly alarming is yet to come.

Hearing this, Lin Youcheng smiled and said, "They don't care at all. Not to mention that Bowers knows Zhou Jian from the film production company. This matter will be known to some extent. I'm just the first to try it and benefit from it."

"You can't say that. There are so many literary works in China, so why did the United States choose your novel? It's because your novel, 'The Time Traveler's Wife,' is so well written."

Zhang Wei said, "I may not have known much about the Hugo Award before, but now it seems that only works that can win the Hugo Award can get their attention."

This is also the thought of most people in the literary circle. Fame and fortune are what even writers yearn for. Seeing that Lin Youcheng earned such a sum of foreign exchange with a science fiction romance novel, it will naturally make many people tempted to study Lin Youcheng's novel more carefully, wanting to see what kind of charm it has that could make a film company in the United States spend so much money to buy the film rights.

Of course, it is precisely through understanding and re-examining Lin Youcheng's novel that we can gain a deeper understanding of science fiction literature and the Hugo Award, the Nobel Prize of science fiction literature.

Clearly, this is all because the film and television adaptation rights fees make Hugo Award winners more noteworthy.

"The Writers' Association is going to hold a seminar on the novel 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' What do you think?"

This is a success, and naturally more people will defend him. Although the novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" had a great impact after it was published in China, the reason for holding this seminar is because of the groundbreaking film and television adaptation by the American film company.

"Forget it, I don't think it's necessary."

Lin Youcheng waved his hands repeatedly, feeling that there was no need to hold a seminar on the works at this time.

Seeing that Lin Youcheng disagreed, Zhang Wei asked again, "By the way, there's one more thing. I've heard that you're definitely going to become the director of the novel section in the Beijing Writers Association's committee elections."

This statement is quite direct. Even without the foreign exchange earnings from "The Time Traveler's Wife" that made him the first person in the history of Chinese literature to achieve this, Lin Youcheng would have had no problem becoming the head of the novel group based on his previous achievements and influence. Now that "The Time Traveler's Wife" has even alarmed the Ministry of Culture, it is impossible for such a big shot as Lin Youcheng to become a member of the Beijing Writers Association.

Whether considering his works or his seniority, Lin Youcheng should not be in such a simple position.

Lin Youcheng knew Zhang Wei was telling the truth. Lin Jinglan from the Writers' Association had also come to Xinghua Hutong to talk to him about this, implying that he should take on more responsibility. Actually, this was already a sign that Lin Youcheng wasn't particularly aiming for that position; otherwise, he would have already been cultivating relationships with the higher-ups in the China Writers' Association.

Of course, Lin Jinglan also told him that he knew he didn't want to be particularly involved in the affairs of the Beijing Writers Association, and that other comrades would be arranged to handle these matters. Writers like Lin Youcheng, who are constantly creating, naturally need to focus their energy on their writing, and the entire Writers Association committee is well aware of this.

Since Lin Jinglan had already said so, Lin Youcheng couldn't refuse, and he roughly knew that he might become the director of the novel group of the Beijing Writers Association.

Lin Youcheng waved his hand and said, "As you know, I don't have any particular thoughts, I just couldn't refuse. Beijing Normal University even invited me to work in their School of Literature and wanted me to teach those students, but I declined them all."

Hearing Lin Youcheng's words, Zhang Wei couldn't help but laugh. He knew that Lin Youcheng was also a full-time writer. When his work organization was transferred from Hunan Province to the Beijing Writers Association, he had thought about whether to arrange another position for Lin Youcheng. However, Lin Youcheng refused. As a full-time writer, he was not assigned a position. Otherwise, he would at least have been assigned to a magazine as an editor.

"You're definitely going to refuse; you don't need that little bit of salary from teaching."

"Please don't say that."

Lin Youcheng knew that Zhang Wei was just joking. People like Zheng Xiaolong were now joking that they would come to him, the God of Wealth, to treat him to a few good meals at restaurants, which would be considered as taking advantage of the wealthy. If it weren't for the fact that Lin Youcheng himself was a literary worker, he would probably really be mistaken for one of those nouveau riche from Beijing who made their fortune by reselling goods in Moscow.

The key point is that this literary upstart is even more powerful than some black marketeers. However, although Lin Youcheng earned a staggering amount of royalties, making him incredibly wealthy, his life didn't change much. Because their lives were already quite comfortable before; for example, in the courtyard house in Xinghua Hutong, Lin Youcheng's children had no idea that their father had earned them so much more wealth.

However, Lin Zhaoxi, as the eldest sister, vaguely knew some things, because she saw the comrades from the savings bank coming to her house and heard some conversations. However, she did not think of asking her father, because she knew very well that her family's conditions had been good for a long time, and she did not particularly care how much royalties her father had earned.

Lin Youcheng naturally wouldn't specifically tell his child about this; he didn't want his child to know these things and then unconsciously change his mindset.

Of course, he wouldn't deliberately make his children suffer like in the movie "Claw Machine." On the contrary, their lives are getting better and better, just like the national economy is developing rapidly and is getting better and better.

"So, big brother, if your factory really can't keep going, bring Zhaoping, Zhaoan, and your sister-in-law directly to Beijing."

Although Lin Youcheng didn't tell his children about the million-dollar royalties, he did tell his eldest brother, Lin Youcai, letting him know that he, as the younger brother, was doing well in Beijing and that he would support his brother's family even if they came to the city.

Of course, even without this royalties, Lin Youcheng was absolutely able to support his elder brother's family and invest in his brother, to see if his brother wanted to do any business in Beijing.

Lin Youcheng also knew that his elder brother's steel plant in Decheng was becoming less and less profitable, and more and more people in the plant were starting to go into business. Of course, many more had not yet taken that step and were still thinking about their secure jobs. They never thought that their secure jobs would be smashed one day.

"I know, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Listening to his older brother Lin Youcai on the other end of the phone still telling him to save his money and not to spend it recklessly, Lin Youcheng found it somewhat amusing. He continued to worry about him as always, afraid that something might go wrong on his end.

But he also knew that this was his older brother's intention. It was because his older brother had been supporting him that he was able to get by when he was in Decheng. Otherwise, he wouldn't know where to get the milk that Lin Zhaole drank. How could a bowl of rice porridge feed that little baby? Not to mention there were five other babies at home who were looking after him.

Lin Youcheng didn't particularly care about the one million US dollars in foreign exchange being converted into RMB by the bank savings office. Even without this copyright fee, he had already planned to buy a commercial house in the Asian Games Village after the Asian Games. He just hadn't initially thought about making sure everyone got their share of the money in one go. Now it seems he doesn't need to worry about whether it's one share or two. After all, with those house prices, he could easily prepare two shares for everyone.

Lin Zhaoxi entered the house and saw his father talking on the phone with his uncle in Decheng. After Lin Youcheng hung up, he asked, "Dad, are you asking Uncle and the others to come to Beijing?"

Lin Youcheng smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes, I've spoken to your uncle, but I don't know if he'll be willing to come."

Although Lin Youcai's factory is not doing well right now, he may not be laid off for a while. Unless absolutely necessary, Lin Youcai will not leave the factory, after all, it is a place he has been working for so many years.

Of course, Lin Youcheng felt that even if Lin Youcai was laid off, he might not necessarily come to Beijing. After all, as the eldest brother, he didn't intend to rely on his younger brother. He still thought that it was the eldest brother's duty to take care of his younger siblings, and he wouldn't ask his younger siblings for help unless absolutely necessary.

"If Zhaoping and Zhaoan wanted to come, Uncle might agree."

Hearing Lin Zhaoxi's words, Lin Youcheng smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes, your uncle still hopes that Zhaoping and Zhaoan will have a better future."

Lin Youcheng had mentioned this to Lin Youcai as well. When Lin Zhaoping and Lin Zhaoan spent their summer vacation in Beijing, they said that the education in Beijing was much better than that in Decheng. The educational resources here were hard to compare with those in small cities like Decheng.

"By the way, Zhaoxi, I've bought tickets for the Asian Games opening ceremony for you guys. I'll take you all to see the opening ceremony when the Asian Games begin."

Lin Zhaoxi was stunned when she heard Lin Youcheng's words. She hadn't expected her father to buy them tickets to the Asian Games opening ceremony. This was such a wonderful surprise! Even though she was very sensible, she couldn't believe it at this moment and asked excitedly, "Really? Dad?"

Seeing Lin Zhaoxi's happy expression, Lin Youcheng smiled and nodded.

Actually, buying tickets for the Asian Games is a luxury these days. Tickets for men's football are 10 yuan, while basketball and volleyball are 6 yuan each. Of course, some other events don't have exorbitant prices. Archery and similar events are the cheapest, mostly 1 yuan. However, tickets for the opening ceremony are extremely scarce. Some tickets are prioritized for overseas tourists, diplomatic missions, and business personnel. Only about 3 tickets are available for public sale, and the prices are quite high, with different tiers available.

Tickets are priced directly in US dollars, around $80, $60, and $50, corresponding to different tiers. There are also foreign exchange certificates priced in RMB, which are converted to the US dollar exchange rate and are the same as the foreign exchange certificate prices. The lowest tier is over 250 yuan, and the most expensive is 400 to 500 yuan. Even if you are willing to spend such a sum of money, you may not be able to buy a ticket, as the quantity is limited.

However, it is clear that Lin Youcheng is not short of money at all, let alone foreign exchange. He also found someone and spent a sum of money to buy several tickets to the Asian Games.

"Great! I'll tell Zhaoqing and the others to go."

As Lin Zhaoxi was about to share the good news with his younger siblings, a cheer and a sound of surprise soon followed from the courtyard.

Seeing the children's excited expressions, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but smile.

Life continues as always, but it's naturally getting better and better.

(End of this chapter)