Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 264 I am a very principled person

For Chinese people, the Chinese New Year is not over until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

On the afternoon after Lin Chaoyang finished his phone call with Xie Jin, Li Tuo arranged a gathering for the next day. Among the people around him, Lin Chaoyang's family had the best living conditions, so the gathering place was naturally chosen as Lin Chaoyang's house.

But it’s not the Overseas Chinese Apartment, but in Mianhua Hutong.

The place is big and there are many rooms, so you can have fun however you want.

Xie Jin rushed to Mianhua Hutong, exhausted. When he knocked on the gate of the courtyard, he saw the noisy drinking in the courtyard and couldn't help complaining about Lin Chaoyang.

"You are such a cool guy!"

Lin Chaoyang ignored his complaints and pulled him to the table. After introducing them, he said to Xie Jin, "Isn't this a welcome party for you?"

Then Lin Chaoyang said to everyone, "Director Xie is famous for his ability to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. He is known as the immortal of wine. Weren't you guys quite good at drinking just now? Come on, come on, have a try with Director Xie."

Pushing Xie Jin onto the wine table, Lin Chaoyang successfully escaped and stood aside watching Li Tuo, Zhang Chengzhi and others surround Xie Jin like hyenas.

"Chaoyang, Director Xie has been traveling a long way, so please don't let them go too far." Tao Yushuo advised worriedly.

Lin Chaoyang sneered, "Don't worry. These bastards can't even defeat me. They are just here to deliver food."

As expected, less than half an hour after Lin Chaoyang finished speaking, except for Xie Jin who was still leisurely eating food, everyone else at the table had already passed out, and some even crawled under the table.

"Tsk tsk tsk, how shameful!" Lin Chaoyang said sarcastically and carried everyone to the kang to sober up.

Xie Jin was full and satisfied, "You are such a bad boy, you are bringing trouble to others."

"You're scolding the cook after you've had enough food, right?"

After a few jokes, the two got down to business.

"I have been telling you about "High Mountain" for more than half a year, but you actually broke your promise and wanted to give it to someone else." Xie Jin came up and accused Lin Chaoyang from the moral high ground.

"I didn't promise you anything. Let's just talk about the facts. If they pay more for their articles, I will definitely give it to them!"

"We are engaged in artistic work. If you always think about the royalties, it will limit your artistic creation."

"I create to earn royalties. Not getting royalties will limit my creation."

……

Seeing that brainwashing Lin Chaoyang failed, Xie Jin had to change direction and asked, "How much did they pay you for the article?"

"This... is not convenient to disclose."

Xie Jin narrowed his eyes, "I think you are trying to deceive me and find ways to get me to increase your royalties, right?"

Lin Chaoyang was calm and composed. "I didn't tell you because I was afraid that you would think too much and think that I was driving up the prices. You are familiar with the people at Yanying Studio, so you can ask them yourself. How could I lie to you about this?"

Although they are familiar with each other at ordinary times, they are competitors at this time. It would be strange if they tell me the truth if I ask them.

Xie Jin thought so in his heart, and said: "I don't think you dare to speak nonsense."

"That's right. How dare I say anything nonsense in front of you!"

Xie Jin advised: "High Mountain is a rare good work. There are many literary works in China that describe war themes, but this one is very special because it involves the grievances and grudges in relations with Vietnam and even the Soviet Union."

"It is different from other foreign wars in China's modern history. The nature of this war is full of strong patriotic sentiment.

More importantly, your novel breaks through an unwritten rule of military literature for decades and touches upon the real contradictions and even corruption in military life in a very sharp way.

This can be regarded as a milestone in our military literature creation.

Such a good work must be handed over to a suitable person..."

As Xie Jin was speaking, he changed his angle. This time he wanted to prove that the novel "High Mountains" would not be buried only if it was given to a famous director like him.

"After talking for so long, you still don't mention the fee. I think you are not sincere."

Lin Chaoyang couldn't help but say at last.

Seeing that talking was not working, Xie Jin had no choice but to give a number, "Three thousand yuan."

"I said you were not sincere. Forget it. I'll talk to Yanying Studio and Bayi Film Studio."

"Then how much did you say?"

"Ten thousand!"

Xie Jin was startled, and the eyes behind the lenses seemed to have seen a ghost, "Weigh me and sell me to see if I'm worth ten thousand!"

"I don't make this payment randomly. It's been almost a month since The Horse Herder was released. How much did you sell tickets for the movie? How much did you sell copies for?

The influence of "High Mountain" is greater than that of "The Shepherd". Your film industry adapted my novel and made a lot of money, so it's okay for me to have a share of the profits, right? "

Xie Jin said earnestly, "You don't calculate it that way. Our studio didn't get any box office revenue, and the copies were sold by the distribution company. Our studio only made the buyout money, so it's good enough if we don't lose money."

"If you ask me, the problems in your film industry right now are too big. Those who invest don't make money, and those who make money don't invest. If this continues, big problems will arise sooner or later."

"Don't be so grandiose, let's talk about this movie first. Ten thousand is too high. Not to mention our Shanghai Film Studio, even the studios in China don't offer this price!"

"Just because there wasn't one before doesn't mean there won't be one in the future. Old Xie, we have to look at the problem from a development perspective."

The two cunning artists tried to brainwash each other, but unfortunately they were both thousand-year-old foxes and neither could do anything to the other.

After negotiating for a long time, the final fee was fixed at 4,500 yuan.

"Forget it, forget it. I'm not short of money anyway."

After talking for a long time, Lin Chaoyang finally said impatiently.

Xie Jin knew that he was playing hard to get and felt that now was not the time to rush, so he chatted about "The Shepherd" for a while and then said goodbye and left.

After coming out of Mianhua Hutong, Xie Jin ran to the Yanying Studio Guesthouse. He stayed here most of the time when he came to Yanjing.

When they arrived at the guesthouse, Xie Jin gathered his old friends together.

At the dinner table, Chen Huaikai asked, "Old Xie, it's just the end of the Chinese New Year, what kind of job did you have?"

"Aren't we preparing to film Qiu Jin? Come and see the actors."

Xie Jin's nonsense came out of his mouth. Hearing him say that, Jiang Huaiyan didn't raise any vigilance in his heart. "You really deserve to be a model worker. The Shepherd has only been released for a few days, and you are already working on a new work."

"I can't sit still. I'm almost 60, so I'll shoot as many movies as I can."

Xie Jin's words made several old friends sigh. Jiang Huaiyan was fine, as he was in his forties and in the prime of his life. Moreover, he was a drama maker, so it didn't matter that he was a little older.

Chen Huaikai and Cheng Yin are 62 and 65 respectively. They have been getting older and older in recent years and feel that they are not as energetic as before. Cheng Yin finished shooting "Xi'an Incident" last year. If nothing unexpected happens, this should be his last work as a director, because he will soon become the dean of the Yenching Film Academy and will focus on teaching and management positions in the future.

After chatting for a while about Cheng Yin's work, Xie Jin lamented for his old friend, saying that without him, Yan Film Studio had lost another great figure, and then the topic naturally switched to the film project that Yan Film Studio had recently launched.

Jiang Huaiyan had no doubt about it and casually mentioned several movies that were being planned and prepared, including "The Garland under the Mountain".

"Are you going to shoot "The Garland under the Mountain"? Have you finished writing the script?" Xie Jin asked.

"No. We haven't got the adaptation rights yet. Last time, "A Game of Chess That Has Not Been Finished" offended Chaoyang. Now we go to them and ask for the adaptation rights. How can it be so easy to get them?"

Jiang Huaiyan's face was filled with sorrow when he talked about this. Xie Jin asked again: "We are all old friends, it shouldn't be that serious, right?"

"Well, he didn't say he wouldn't give us the money, but he asked for a sky-high price. Who can't see that he just doesn't want to give it to us?"

"So what are you going to do?"

"What can we do? He is the one who holds the initiative now, so we can only increase his royalties. Anyway, as Old Wang said, we should do our best and leave the rest to fate."

After leading the conversation for a long time, it was finally time to get to the meat of the show. Xie Jin was just about to find out what price Yanying Studio had offered when Chen Huaikai suddenly asked, "Old Xie, this year's Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards are in your pocket again, right?"

"I wouldn't dare say that. It all depends on the judges and the audience."

He replied to Chen Huaikai, and was anxious to find out about the royalties. He was about to ask Jiang Huaiyan, but Chen Huaikai started talking about the awards again, and Xie Jin had to distract himself to deal with it.

Once the topic has been diverted, it is not easy to get back on track.

Until the end of the drinking party, Xie Jin didn't find a suitable opportunity to ask again.

Chen Huaikai and a few others came out of Xie Jin's room reeking of alcohol. His eyes, which were originally a little cloudy, became clear after he left the room.

"Huai Yan, I'm afraid Old Xie has come with bad intentions this time!"

Jiang Huaiyan nodded in understanding, "I didn't notice it before, but then you kept changing the subject, and I realized what was going on. I'm afraid he's here for 'High Mountain' this time, this old fox!"

Jiang Huaiyan's tone was a little angry. Chen Huaikai said, "He collaborated with Chaoyang on "The Shepherd", and the effect was so good. He has an advantage over us."

Hearing this, Jiang Huaiyan looked melancholy, "That's right!"

He thought for a moment, and seemed to have made up his mind, "Old Wang is not courageous in doing this. It is certain that "High Mountain" will win an award after filming. At most, I can just give him more bonus!"

He talked to himself for a few words and then raised his foot to leave.

"Where are you going?" Chen Huaikai asked.

"I'll go talk to Chaoyang again."

"What time is it?"

"We have to go at some point. Old Xie has already called us, so this matter cannot be delayed any longer."

As Jiang Huaiyan was talking, he had already walked a long way away.

It was almost ten o'clock in the evening when he arrived at Lin Chaoyang's house. There were few entertainment activities at this time, and Lin Chaoyang and his wife had both gone to bed.

"Lao Jiang, what's going on with you?"

"Chaoyang, tell me the truth, what is Old Xie doing here?"

Lin Chaoyang had a subtle expression, "Did Old Xie go to your factory?"

"Don't interrupt. What is he doing here?" Jiang Huaiyan asked.

"Aren't you asking this knowingly?"

Lin Chaoyang's words made Jiang Huaiyan's heart sink. He looked serious, and had already made up his mind, "How about giving the adaptation rights of "High Mountain" to our studio for 7,000 yuan?"

Wang Yang told him that the maximum amount he could pay for the article was 5,000 yuan. Jiang Huaiyan also took into account the possible prize money from the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards, so 7,000 yuan was the limit he could decide.

"I want 10,000 yuan."

Jiang Huaiyan said anxiously: "How can you be like this? Didn't you say before that you could bargain? Don't think that just because Old Xie comes, he can give you a high price. Maybe he is even worse than us."

Lin Chaoyang said leisurely: "It's okay if it's a little less than yours."

Jiang Huaiyan pointed at him, "You still say you don't bear grudges?"

The two of them were in a stalemate for a few seconds, and finally Jiang Huaiyan put his hand down dejectedly, "Okay, anyway, I have already offered my price, and it has nothing to do with me if I can't get it."

"That's right. I'm not targeting you. This is called tit-for-tat." Lin Chaoyang said in a cheerful tone.

Jiang Huaiyan asked unwillingly: "If Old Xie offers too little, you can't agree to it. You said it yourself, you can't give up making money just to be angry."

"That's for sure. I'm a very principled person."

Jiang Huaiyan came with the determination to win, and was hesitant when he left.

I missed out on "The Garland under the Mountain" for the sake of "A Game of Chess That Is Not Finished". No matter how you look at it, this deal was a loss.

Ugh!
The next morning, the statue of workers, peasants and soldiers at the entrance of Yanying Studio stood there as usual. People were coming and going in the building during work hours. A little after nine o'clock, Xie Jin strolled to the Literature Department on the east side of the third floor.

"Old Su, where is Huaiyan?" Xie Jin didn't see Jiang Huaiyan when he entered the room, so he asked an acquaintance.

"I went to report my work to the leader."

Not finding the person, Xie Jin was about to leave when Jiang Huaiyan came back with a depressed look on his face.

"What's going on?" Xie Jin asked.

"It's okay. What brought you here?"

"I have nothing to do today, so I came to chat with you." Xie Jin said hypocritically.

Jiang Huaiyan sneered in his heart, I don’t believe you at all!
Just now he went to the factory office on the second floor to report Lin Chaoyang's attitude and demands to Wang Yang, and persuaded Wang Yang to increase Lin Chaoyang's royalties, but Wang Yang did not agree.

Jiang Huaiyan secretly guessed that this was somewhat a matter of face.

Anyway, no matter what, he estimated that Yanying Studio would not be able to obtain the adaptation rights of "High Mountains".

Old Xie tried to trick him last night and he came again today. He is still intent on stealing things. Jiang Huaiyan had an idea in his mind.

Xie Jin kept talking to him, and the topic finally returned to "The Garland under the Mountain".

This time Jiang Huaiyan did not avoid the question, but instead took the initiative to bring it up.

(End of this chapter)