Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 19: Mr. Li, I’ve Learned a Lesson (Part 2)

"This should be what Mr. Liu should say, and there is more than one newspaper in Hong Kong. It's just that I personally like the stance of the New Evening News, so I found the New Evening News first. But as a person, you can't live without money. If the offer from the New Evening News disappoints me, then I can only choose someone else." When it comes to the issue of money, Li Song had already thought about what to say.

"How about... 80 words?"

"In addition, the publishing royalties are 9%, which is much higher than the 6%-8% for newcomers." Liu Jiale said.

"Mr. Liu, what do you think of the beginning I wrote? Am I still a novice? Do I have an outline?" Li Song asked directly.

"Mr. Li, if I say more, I personally don't have the right to do so. I have a small suggestion here. I wonder if Mr. Li can make an annotation for some of the nouns in it..." Liu Jiale said quickly.

"Stop!"

"Mr. Liu, I seriously doubt your basic ethics as an editor, or your level as a newspaper editor." Li Song interrupted quickly.

"I know that many people don't understand some of what I wrote, but don't you think this is an opportunity, Mr. Liu?"

"After the novel is published, there will definitely be opponents who will come out to criticize and question it. Then can't you refute it?"

"And then if we argue with each other in the newspaper, wouldn't that generate buzz? That would definitely be good for newspaper sales, right?"

"Then you can invite some relevant professionals to come out and do popular science..." Li Song stopped here and spread his hands in front of Liu Jiale. His meaning was very clear. I don't need to teach him the rest.

Liu Jiale's face flushed instantly, and he wiped the sweat off his face with a handkerchief. "Mr. Li, I'm grateful for your advice."

Really, Liu Jiale felt like a primary school student. According to Li Song, it would definitely be of great help to the newspaper sales.

Of course, there are many other operations. For example, the editor-in-chief can recommend the best science fiction novel when the novel is serialized, and there will definitely be people who jump out to question it.

Then they would have a verbal battle with each other, and finally let professionals come out to popularize the knowledge. This would greatly help the sales of the New Evening News.

"Mr. Li, I'll take my leave now. I will work hard to get a higher remuneration." Liu Jiale felt ashamed to stay.

"Mr. Liu, I'm sorry. Maybe you just want to do your own thing. From the reader's perspective, your idea is correct, but you should stand more from the perspective of the newspaper." Li Song said with a fist salute again.

"Yeah." Liu Jiale nodded. He felt even more uncomfortable when he heard what Li Song said, because the other party was comforting him. He was in his forties... Alas.

Liu Jiale walked out of Li Song's apartment and came to the street. Looking at the people and cars coming and going on the road, he felt very melancholy. How should he describe Li Song? He must be a genius.

"Oh, I forgot about the tomb raiding series. The cultural environment of Hong Kong Island is most suitable for this kind of theme."

"And this method of cashing out is the fastest." Li Song only remembered this after Liu Jiale left.

Because this kind of subject matter is bound to become a hit, and by then I might be serializing novels, publishing them, and filming TV series and movies at the same time. I can forget about making movies based on science fiction novels.

So Li Song hurried downstairs. He thought Liu Jiale had left, but he saw Liu Jiale still there from a distance.

"Mr. Liu!" Li Song ran over quickly.

"Mr. Li, what are you doing?" Liu Jiale used the word "you".

"I have some ideas here. How about we go upstairs to discuss it?" Li Song asked. "Okay!" Liu Jiale didn't know what Li Song wanted to talk about, so he followed Li Song back upstairs.

It was still the same cup. Although the tea in it was a little cold, Liu Jiale thought it was just right.

"Mr. Liu, I have an idea for a novel here. Let me tell you about it in general. To be honest, Mr. Liu, I am short of money right now, and the sales of science fiction novels are a bit slow." Li Song said.

"What type?" Liu Jiale felt that when he talked to Li Song, it was just like talking to his boss. He had to think before speaking to avoid being lectured.

"It's about tomb robbing and feng shui."

"Let me give you a brief introduction first. The background is set in the Republic of China. There are three main characters. The plot includes feng shui, tomb robbing, gunfights, martial arts, and a little bit of ghosts and gods." Li Song said.

"Yeah." If it were someone else, Liu Jiale would have directly asked if you knew all this, but now it was Li Song. Although the other party didn't look very old, but... forget it.

"I have an idea in my mind, let me tell you about it first, it's in the late Qing Dynasty..." Li Song was talking about Ghost Blows Out the Light, but he changed the background from the beginning to the late Qing Dynasty and then to the Republic of China.

Li Song talked incessantly for more than an hour, because this was one of the few novels that Li Song paid to read. He also played free games, watched free movies, and changed movies.

Liu Jiale felt that Li Song was becoming more and more strange. Could it be that the Li Song in front of him was really an alien?

No, aliens also know Feng Shui?

"Mr. Li, this idea is very good. It may be more popular than your Star Soldiers. What do you think?" After listening to it, Liu Jiale knew that if this novel was written, it would be even more popular.

"I was very short of money and had a large sum saved, so I thought this tomb-raiding novel could be serialized and published at the same time, and maybe even turned into a TV series or something."

"I want to write two books at the same time. How about using two pen names?" Li Song said.

Liu Jiale really wanted to ask, Mr. Li, isn’t your mind confused?
"Of course, but could you please ask Mr. Li to write something for this tomb-robbing novel? After all, I'm just a small editor and the editor-in-chief still has to make the final decision." Liu Jiale said.

"No problem!" Li Song nodded quickly.

"I'll work overtime today and mail it to the newspaper tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest." Li Song is short of money in real life, and writing a book can also make him famous.

"Don't bother, this is my pager number. I forgot to give Mr. Li my business card just now. Sorry! Mr. Li, just leave me a message and I will come to pick it up in person when the time comes." Liu Jiale said quickly. If it was mailed to the newspaper, it might not be assigned to him, not to mention that Li Song had to change his name. Of course, Liu Jiale would not report this novel first.

"Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Liu." Li Song nodded after receiving the business card.

"No trouble, no trouble. I'll go back and convey Mr. Li's request. But I personally think it would be better to change the title of this book to Interstellar Mercenary?" Liu Jiale asked.

"Of course, of course, thank you Mr. Liu."

"It's not a bother, Mr. Li." Liu Jiale was ecstatic, because the editors of the newspaper also look at the performance. If the performance is good, the boss will give promotions and raises, and the boss will look at you with respect. If there is no performance, he will be scolded by the boss all day long.

"What a genius! Mr. Li knows so much at such a young age?" Liu Jiale muttered to himself on the way back.

(End of this chapter)