Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 135 Zhang Chao, You Are Too Young

The talks between Zhang Chao and Huang Jiefu today were not smooth. From a business perspective, Simon & Schuster did have concerns about how much resources to invest in promoting Zhang Chao, the newcomer.

In terms of royalties, Simon & Schuster hopes that Zhang Chao will accept a 9% share, which is slightly higher than the 7.5% for new American writers, but much lower than the 15% Zhang Chao receives in China. Zhang Chao can accept a slightly lower share than in China, but not that much lower.

David Miller did not expect Zhang Chao to be so persistent in his own interests, because most writers from non-English speaking countries are often very excited to hear that they can be published in the United States. They are willing to buy out their works at a very low price, let alone royalties.

It can be said that there is no other person like Zhang Chao who is as meticulous as he is.

While waiting for Susan to drive over, Zhang Chao jokingly said to Huang Jiefu: "Why don't we buy an American book number and publish it ourselves."

Huang Jiefu said, "That's easy. We charge $50 for a book number. You can buy any number you want. Then find a small publishing house and they will print 1 or 200 copies for you."

Zhang Chao was surprised and asked, "Is it so easy to publish a book in the United States?"

Huang Jiefu said: "'Self-publishing' is easier in the United States than in China, but there is still little chance of success. The five major publishing houses represented by Simon & Schuster account for 87% of the best-selling book market. Most 'self-publishing' can only be piled up in the corner of the bookstore, and you can buy a bunch for $10."

Zhang Chao did not expect that the monopoly in the American publishing industry was so serious. It was absolutely impossible for a few publishing houses in China to divide up all the best-selling books.

Zhang Chao asked again: "Do you like that Susan?"

Huang Jiefu immediately changed his expression and said to Zhang Chao enthusiastically: "Boss, are you really not interested in her?"

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "It's because I don't dare to be interested."

Huang Jiefu obviously didn't get the pun that Li Ruichao would deduct money from him, and said happily: "Then you have no objection to me pursuing her, right? I have always liked this kind of 'American sweetheart'."

Zhang Chao thought about it and decided not to cheat her, so he told Huang Jiefu about his concerns and asked, "Do you still think she is America's sweetheart?"

Huang Jiefu was a little frustrated and said to Zhang Chao: "You might as well not tell me this."

At this time, Susan arrived at the door of the building, and Zhang Chao and Huang Jiefu got in the car. The atmosphere suddenly became a little strange. Susan felt that Zhang Chao and Huang Jiefu were both in a low mood; while Zhang Chao felt that Susan's expression inexplicably had a sense of tragedy.

Zhang Chao and Huang Jiefu stayed in the hotel for the next two days and didn't go out. Naturally, they didn't use the car. They planned the work for the next few months in detail and decided to have one last talk with David Miller. If it didn't work out, forget it.

You can make some concessions on money, but you can’t be fooled as a novice in the first print and publicity.

But this time Zhang Chao didn't go. After sending Huang Jiefu to the Simon & Schuster's office building, Zhang Chao asked Susan to take him around the city.

As a woman, Susan's perspective on New York is completely different from Huang Jiefu's. Huang Jiefu likes to take Zhang Chao to places that represent "elite New York" such as Fifth Avenue, Wall Street, and the Empire State Building.

Susan, on the other hand, likes to go to neighborhoods that belong to "Artist New York", such as Greenwich Village in the West Side of New York. This place was formed around 1910 and is a gathering place for down-and-out artists and idealists, and is also the base camp of counter-mainstream culture.

Zhang Chao looked at the Greenwich Village sign and asked, "The Greenwich Village in The Last Leaf?"

Susan said, "Yes. But since the 80s, the housing prices in the West Village have skyrocketed, and most people have left. Some have gone to the East Village, and some have simply moved away from New York. - Do you like O. Henry?"

Zhang Chao nodded and said, "Although O. Henry wrote too many works with 'O. Henry endings' due to his livelihood, he does have an unparalleled talent in language and technique."

Susan didn't expect Zhang Chao to say that. She became happy and said happily, "I like him too. Like Mark Twain, he is an 'English adventurer' who created many new grammars. The current 'American English' was, to some extent, shaped by 'adventurers' like them."

Zhang Chao was fascinated by the novels and said with emotion: "I am not good at English and can only read the Chinese translation, so I can only get a general idea of ​​the advantages of his language. It is said that Maupassant is also such a writer. Every sentence in his novels in French can be regarded as the most exquisite grammar examples."

The two chatted in this way. Susan's Chinese was not very fluent, and Zhang Chao's English was also half-baked, but after each of them expressed themselves, they reached a lot of consensus on literature.

Susan gradually slowed down the car and stopped at a street corner with few pedestrians. She took a deep breath and recalled the descriptions of the heroines in all the romantic literature she had read. Then she turned to look at Zhang Chao, showing her most charming smile and said, "Zhang Chao, I think you are very..."

But she saw Zhang Chao with a weird expression on his face, as if he was holding back a laugh. Susan let out the breath she had managed to hold, and the corners of her mouth drooped. She asked in confusion, "What are you doing..." Zhang Chao couldn't help laughing, and said, "I've been waiting for a long time, just to see when you'll come and seduce me."

Susan's face turned pale and she said, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Chao asked, "IWP asked you to come here not just to be a driver and tour guide, right?"

Susan looked into Zhang Chao's eyes and found that there was no hint of teasing or mockery in his eyes, so she leaned back in her seat and asked, "How did you know?"

Zhang Chao said, "Excuse me, you are too amateurish... From the first time we met, I could sense your awkwardness and entanglement from your body language. When we talked again today, I found that you are quite professional in literature, but as for other things... You are like a cashier on his first day on the job, who even has to bow his head to confirm the password of the cash register."

Susan suddenly yelled angrily, "Okay, stop talking... I'll take you to Simon & Schuster later, and then I'll return the car to that bastard! We don't have to be so embarrassed anymore!"

Zhang Chao hurriedly stopped him, saying, "No, I really want to play in the United States for a while. How much money did they give you?"

Susan hesitated for a moment, but still said, "2000 dollars a week."

Zhang Chao asked: "Did they ask you to have something happen with me?"

Susan said: "I didn't say it directly, but I repeatedly hinted that if I slept with you, I would get extra compensation and rewards..."

Zhang Chao said, "That's all. You continue with your work, and I'll go sightseeing. Someone will reimburse me for my expenses along the way. You'd be a fool not to take advantage of a bargain!"

Susan asked: "Then...then..."

Zhang Chao said, "Well, let's drive. Jeff should have finished the discussion. But I don't think there will be any results. It's really hard to publish a book in the United States. Regardless of whether there is any result, we will set off tomorrow."

On the way, Zhang Chao asked Susan with great interest, "If it weren't for this 'mission', would anything happen if the two of us were on the road together and alone for two weeks?"

Susan shook her head firmly and said, "No. Zhang Chao, you are too young! I never date young boys!"

Zhang Chao: "...When you say 'young', please include 'age'."

Susan asked in confusion, “Is that a problem?”

Zhang Chao nodded, saying that it was a good thing that I was not Korean...

Huang Jiefu still didn't come to a conclusion. Zhang Chao nodded and said, "It's okay. It was within our expectations."

Huang Jiefu said: "Then I will buy a ticket to go back tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

Zhang Chao looked at him and then at Susan and said, "Don't worry. Anyway, there is nothing important in China that requires you to go back and deal with it in person. Let's play together in the United States for a while. Anyway, someone will pay for it, don't you think, Susan?"

Susan rolled her eyes at him and ignored him. Huang Jiefu was overjoyed and said that he would work hard and finish his work online.

Susan looked at the two of them and felt deeply that there was something wrong with their friendship. This was probably the reason why Zhang Chao did not take the bait.

The next day, Susan arrived at their hotel on time, ready to start a two-week, 2-kilometer journey across the Great Lakes.

Zhang Chao and Huang Jiefu had already packed their luggage and were waiting at the hotel entrance, but Susan saw an oriental woman with a better appearance and figure than herself, standing next to Zhang Chao with her arm around his.

Zhang Chao and the woman sat in the back seat and gave the front passenger seat to Huang Jiefu. Zhang Chao introduced Susan:
"This is my girlfriend, Song Jia. I was planning to travel with her in the United States for a while after discussing publishing. IWP is really sending pillows when I'm sleepy. Please thank them for me later."

(End of this chapter)