Era: 1979 From mountain man to richest man

Chapter 135: Choose comic book style, tear up the contract, encounter obstacles along the way
After Sister Mei knew that things had changed, she began to think quickly.

Song Chaoyang caught her off guard with this move.

If this contract is shown to Kong Xiang, the old man will definitely find the problem.

Then if Song Chaoyang doesn't sign it or directly asks her to change the contract, her mission will be considered a failure.

So she thought for a moment and said quickly:

"Xiao Song, I think there's no need to trouble the old man about this, right?"

"Many of the benefits in this contract are higher than those of our peers. If the old man lets it slip and it gets spread to other contracted authors, then he will be dissatisfied with our publishing house."

After saying that, he also pulled Fang Yan:

"Chief Editor Fang, do you think so?"

When Fang Yan heard Sister Mei's words, his expression became serious and he said:
"The contract was all negotiated and drawn up by you, and I haven't seen the details in it."

"Just take care of Lao Li and Sister Mei, and don't worry about the rest."

He promised to take the note and pay the bill.

That is to say, the money is given to the publishing house.

Although Fang Yan did not let him participate in drafting the contract, after all, we all belong to the same publishing house.

"Editor Jin, please don't prepare dinner for me and Xiao Song tonight. We will go to Mr. Kong's house later."

"..." Sister Mei opened her mouth, and finally said only two words:
"No."

Fang Yan said to him:
"No, this is a private visit. When I was in the provincial capital, I asked Xiao Zhou to already buy it."

"Then it's decided. It's now four o'clock in the afternoon. I'll be back before nine o'clock in the evening."

Do you doubt Kong Xiang’s character?

Upon hearing this, Editor Jin didn’t say much more, nodded quickly and said:

Lao Jin, who is very good at this aspect, immediately said:
"Then I'll go buy something to make a gift. Our editor-in-chief of Oriental Publishing House will come to visit our old comrades. We still need to pick up some good things."

He pointed to Lao Li and Sister Mei who came with him and said:

"As for Mr. Kong, you can rest assured. He is a veteran cadre. He should say what he should and shouldn't say. You don't have to worry about this kind of thing."

After saying that, he immediately planned to do this, but was stopped by Fang Yan.

Song Chaoyang could see that Lao Jin just wanted to earn performance.

"..." Sister Mei was speechless. Did Fang Yan really not understand or pretend not to understand?

But I really didn’t know what to bring, so I said to Editor Jin:
"Thank you, Editor Jin. Keep a record of how much you buy and I'll give it to you when you get back."

"Sister Mei, do you have anything else to explain?"

"That's good, then I'll bother you again at night."

Song Chaoyang nodded and said:

"I have to go get him some."

After speaking, he looked at Song Chaoyang again:
"Xiao Song can't go there empty-handed!"

When he said this, Song Chaoyang immediately understood that Lao Jin definitely didn't pay for it himself.

Song Chaoyang looked at Sister Mei, smiled at her and asked:

"When the time comes, as long as there is no problem with the contract, I will sign it directly and give it to you."

Otherwise, it wouldn’t actually cost much.

"There is still time, Lao Li, please show Xiao Song the drawings you brought over."

Song Chaoyang happily watched Lao Jin finish the performance in front of him and bowed his hands to him.

Fang Yan didn't care about Editor Jin at all. He turned his head and said to the painter's art director Lao Li, who was drinking tea and still a little confused:

You can't just tell Song Chaoyang that there's something wrong with the contract. You'd better not take it.

Prices are not high now.

"Oh, then I understand."

Editor Jin glared and pretended to be angry and said:
"Hey, you are a great contributor to our publishing house, so what are you talking about?"

When Lao Li heard the call to him, he came back to his senses from the confused state just now.

"I..." Sister Mei stopped talking. She wanted to say something, but found that she seemed to be unable to say anything.

He slapped his forehead and said:
"Oh, yes, look at me, I'm sleepy."

At this time, Fang Yan also said to Lao Jin beside him:

"I'll go to the department store right away to pick something up."

I asked him to come together to persuade Song Chaoyang to stop!

Is there something wrong with your elbow turned outward?
But now, before she had time to remind Fang Yan again, Song Chaoyang had already taken the initiative and said:

Unless he gives away big items such as bicycles, radios, and televisions.

After saying that, he immediately returned to the room and took out his briefcase.

He opened the zipper, showed a thick pile of drawings inside, and said to Song Chaoyang:
"Xiao Song, in the past two days, I asked 27 painters to draw a total of versions of Calabash Doll. Take a look and choose which ones you like."

"Don't think about anything else, just consider the painting style that suits your eyes."

"Oh, okay." Song Chaoyang nodded and went to get the drawing.

At this time, Fang Yan suggested:
"How about we find an office and sit down and watch it slowly?"

"Select the manuscript on the balcony. Later, a gust of wind blows over and blows the manuscript away."

When Lao Li heard this, he also felt that this was the truth and hurriedly said:
"Makes sense, makes sense."

"Let's find an office and sit down and watch it slowly."

Song Chaoyang nodded, and now Editor Wu also arrived, just in time to invite them to the conference room.

However, Sister Mei said that she would not go. She drank too much at noon and planned to take a rest now.

It's not the section she's responsible for anyway, so it's useless to look at it.

Song Chaoyang and Fang Yan could both tell that she was depressed.

However, no one exposed it. Instead, they told her with concern that she must have a good rest.

Song Chaoyang also asked Sister Mei to drink less alcohol in the future.

As he gets older, he becomes different from young people like him.

Sister Mei, who kept drinking from him today, didn't know how to answer.

I could only nod and agree, then go back to the room to sulk.

Without Sister Mei, the remaining few people arrived in the conference room.

Lao Li took out a large pile of drawings from his briefcase and handed them all to Song Chaoyang.

Song Chaoyang read all the more than sixty drawings.

The contents are the same, including Calabash Baby, Grandpa, Pangolin, Golden Snake Spirit, Scorpion Spirit, Crocodile Leader, Bat Demon and Toad Monster.

Painting styles vary.

Some of them were more careful and even colored.

However, most of them are in a hurry, and it is easier to do without coloring the lines.

But it can be seen that these painters are very skilled.

Song Chaoyang sifted through a large pile of drawings six or seven times.

Finally, I got the five selected paintings.

After making the selection, he said to Lao Li:

"I think these versions are pretty good."

"The character designs are very festive, and each character has characteristics that can be seen at a glance."

Lao Li put on his glasses and looked at the painting selected by Song Chaoyang.

Confirm which painters they are.

There must be a painter among them who will be chosen.

He had to take it seriously.

Fang Yan on the side said at this time:
"Xiao Song is very discerning. The ones you selected are all outstanding painters in our publishing house."

After speaking, he pointed to what he was holding:
"The one you're holding in your hand was painted by Lao Li."

It was actually painted by Lao Li? Song Chaoyang looked at the painting in his hand in surprise.

The painting style of this painting is most similar to the original work in the previous life.

I subconsciously took it in my hand.

"Really? What a coincidence?" He looked at Lao Li and asked.

Lao Li smiled and scratched his head and said:
"Haha, I am the boss after all. It would be embarrassing if I were screened out."

"The leader is going to kill him personally?" Even Editor Wu was surprised.

If he were to reach the level of Lao Li, he would be a ghost.

Isn’t the management good?
Lao Li was not upset when the editor of a subordinate unit asked such a question, and replied with a smile:
"Hey, this "Calabash Brothers" is our publishing house's best-selling story."

“What painter wouldn’t want to be chosen?”

This is a good thing to say.

The comic book is bound to be a hit when sold.

Such a good opportunity is rare for painters.

The comic strips you draw may become memories for children of a certain era.

This sense alone is enough to make many painters excited.

Lao Li is also a painter. Although he is a high-ranking official, he still has human desires and wants to participate in the competition.

"But if you choose me, it's just a screening."

"The final selection will be voted on by the children."

"The person they selected with the highest number of votes can take on this task." Lao Li finally added.

This was not chosen by Song Chaoyang, Lao Li could have made the decision himself.

You have to give it to the children to choose from.

These are target customers. Only with a style of painting that they agree with can sell better.

After finalizing the five drawings, Lao Li took a turned document bag and packed all five drawings.

Then he said to Song Chaoyang:
"Then we'll wait for you, Xiao Song, to sign the contract, and then we'll start the follow-up work."

After hearing what Lao Li said, Song Chaoyang responded with a smile:
"Don't worry, as long as there is no problem with the contract, we can hand it over to Sister Mei tonight."

Lao Li nodded and installed his drawings.

He was looking forward to it at the moment, wondering if his one would be chosen? If he could be chosen, he would become famous.

Seeing that things were done here, Fang Yan glanced at his watch and found that the time was almost 5 o'clock.

So he clapped his hands and stood up and said to everyone:

"Okay, it's almost time. This is the end of today's work."

"thanks everyone."

Then he said to Song Chaoyang:

"Xiao Song, let's get ready, and then go to Mr. Kong's place."

"Okay." Song Chaoyang nodded and stood up from his seat.

Editor Jin, who had been waiting at the door, saw that things were finally done inside, so he immediately walked in from the outside.

Holding two bags in his hand, he greeted Song Chaoyang:

"Comrade Xiao Song, I have bought something."

Song Chaoyang saw that the two pockets he was holding were both heavy, and he was surprised:

"Oh, so many?"

Editor Jin shook his head repeatedly and said:
"No more, no more. You are going to have dinner tonight, so I went to our hotel to get two bottles of wine. Then I happened to meet them making stewed vegetables, so I asked them to cut them and put them in four food boxes."

"This wine is not Maotai. It is a loose wine we brewed ourselves, made from medicinal herbs such as old ginseng, venison, and seahorse."

"That's not much, is it?"

Song Chaoyang pointed to another pocket:
"What about here?"

"Tea, pastries, and candies are all standard for visiting old comrades. There is absolutely nothing valuable." Editor Jin opened his pocket and said to Song Chaoyang while showing it.

Song Chaoyang took a look and found that they were indeed available in department stores.

In total, the price is not much.

Lao Jin is indeed a man who knows how to get things done. No one can find fault with this gift.

Fang Yan spoke at this moment:

"Okay, that's it."

"It's almost time. Let's go there, just in time for lunch."

After saying that, he called his assistant and driver Xiao Zhou to drive.

Originally, Editor Jin wanted to drive them there himself, but he said Fang Yan couldn't find the way.

However, Fang Yan said that Song Chaoyang knew him and asked Editor Jin not to worry about it and just entertain the remaining people.

Editor Jin nodded repeatedly.

However, he still carried the gift he personally gave to Song Chaoyang to the car. Watching them get into the car, he smiled and waved goodbye to the two of them.

The car started and left the editorial office of the County Oriental Publishing House.

Fang Yan looked at Lao Jin standing at the door waving to them in the rearview mirror. He smiled and shook his head, sighing:
"This Lao Jin has become an editor because of his talent."

After Song Chaoyang heard what he said, he laughed.

This old Jin is so good at things, being an editor does seem to be a bit of an incompetence.

Next, Song Chaoyang was originally going to give directions to Xiao Zhou who was driving, but found that others didn't need him to give directions at all.

I found the right direction by being familiar with the road.

It seems that they have already inquired about the route and are familiar with how to drive there.

"Thank you, Editor-in-Chief Fang, for reminding me about what happened at noon today." At this time, Song Chaoyang spoke to Fang Yan nonchalantly.

Fang Yan didn't expect that Song Chaoyang would tell him this in the car.

He thought Song Chaoyang would wait until he saw Kong Xiang before telling him.

After being slightly stunned for a moment, Fang Yan regained his composure and said:
"Thanks are unnecessary."

"This is what the interior of Oriental Publishing House looks like now."

"Some people don't have their minds on the right path and just want to achieve political success from these places."

"I usually don't care about these things and let them do it, but this time it's of great significance and we can't let them mess around."

Hearing what he said, Song Chaoyang wanted to go to Sister Mei who was on an equal footing with Fang Yan, frowned slightly and asked:
"I wonder if today's incident will bring trouble to Editor-in-Chief Fang."

Fang Yan laughed when he heard that Song Chaoyang still cared about him:

"Don't worry about this. If you want to deal with me openly, they are not that capable."

"Besides, this matter is somewhat shady to begin with. If it were exposed, most of the authors signed by Oriental Publishing House would have to run away."

"It's more likely that not even an author can be found later."

"They can't afford this loss."

When Song Chaoyang heard this, he felt that what this person said was reasonable.

If Fang Yan hadn't reminded him that Sister Mei was going to trick him, he might have had to expose the matter later.

The result then will be the same as what Fang Yan said.

Oriental Publishing House must be the one that suffered the most.

"Overall, Oriental Publishing House is a very good unit,"

"I hope you won't have any prejudice against Oriental Publishing House because of this matter." Fang Yan continued to say to Song Chaoyang.

Song Chaoyang smiled but did not express his position clearly.

Fang Yan adjusted his sitting posture, then turned his head and looked at Song Chaoyang seriously and said:

"Some people still hope to cooperate fairly and equitably and work hard to run this work well."

"Let's achieve a win-win situation for both of us."

Song Chaoyang smiled, and then took out the contract given by Sister Mei from his pocket.

He asked Fang Yan:

"So, does Editor-in-Chief Fang have anything to offer you about this contract?"

After Fang Yan saw the contract, he knew that this person had never seen the rabbit before it.

He has to explain the specific interests before he will take a stand.

"It's not really a point of reference, it's just some personal opinions." Fang Yan said as he took the contract handed over by Song Chaoyang.

Song Chaoyang looked at Fang Yan and said seriously:
"Appreciate further details."

As a result, in the next second, Fang Yan tore the contract into pieces with a loud bang.

Even Song Chaoyang was stunned.

"Why did you tear it up?" Song Chaoyang was originally waiting for him to revise it.

At this time, Fang Yan put the shredded contract into his pocket, then took out a drafted new contract from another pocket and handed it to Song Chaoyang:

"This is the new contract I have drawn up for you, take a look at it."

Song Chaoyang was startled.

This Editor-in-Chief Fang is a bit interesting!

He reached out and took it from the other person's hand.

Then he unfolded and read the above content carefully.

Song Chaoyang's memory is very good now. He still remembers what was on the contract that was torn up just now, and comparing it to this one, he also knows the changes on it.

Those things that I noticed before have been changed.

There were also some things that he hadn't noticed before. When he saw Fang Yan's version of the contract, he belatedly discovered the word play on the previous contract.

Song Chaoyang read the contract from beginning to end and confirmed that it was the version he wanted.

This is called sincerity!
"Were you ready before coming?" Song Chaoyang asked him.

Fang Yan nodded:

"Well, since it's cooperation, of course we have to show some sincerity."

"Besides, you know Mr. Kong. We are half acquaintances. I can't watch you sign the contract they made."

Listening to his words, Song Chaoyang nodded, then frowned and asked:
"If I show this version of the contract to Sister Mei, can she sign it?"

There are a lot of changes in Fang Yan's contract.

"Can't sign." Fang Yan said directly.

"..." Song Chaoyang was speechless.

Can't sign? Then you say a hammer!

Fang Yan added at this time:

"There are indeed too many changes. She can't make up her mind on her own. She definitely won't be able to sign it tonight, but she will report the news immediately."

"By tomorrow morning, if nothing else happens, we should receive the news of approval."

"If you don't sign, other publishing houses will come later."

Song Chaoyang immediately understood this meaning.

At this moment, the car suddenly stopped suddenly.

The screech of brakes sounded.

An inertia pushed Song Chaoyang and Fang Yan forward.

Both of them reacted very quickly, raising their hands almost at the same time and pressing them against the seat in front of them.

Press hard to stop the inertia.

"What's wrong with Xiao Zhou?" Fang Yan immediately asked Xiao Zhou who was driving in front.

Before Xiao Zhou could answer, someone was yelling outside the car:

"Oh, my wine!"

"You spilled my wine!"

Song Chaoyang looked towards the front of the car in search of the sound, and saw a young man in his twenties shouting exaggeratedly from the front.

After a while, several young people, both men and women, gathered over.

Immediately someone shouted into the car:

"Which unit are you from?"

"The comrade in the car pretended to be drunk, so why don't you come down and take a look?"

At this time, people around him also gathered around and pointed at the car.

Song Chaoyang in the car saw this scene and immediately made a judgment:
"It's a porcelain thing."

(End of this chapter)