Chapter 82: Divergence

"Youthful and accomplished, my young friend. At your age, Han Jingming wasn’t nearly as capable. Your ‘Four Great Constables’ is well-written—full-blooded and vivid, a fine martial arts novel."

Inside a certain restaurant in Wuhan, Zhang Tan met Li Wei, the deputy director of Wuhan University Press—a refined, scholarly middle-aged man, pale and gentle in appearance, yet his speech brimmed with the mannerisms of the martial world, revealing he was no stranger to public dealings.

As for Han Jingming, Zhang Tan had heard much; many compared him to Han Jingming, calling him the second coming. Zhang Tan knew little of this Han Jingming—only Han Han and Guo Jingming were familiar to him.

Nor did he have any interest in being anyone’s second. Zhang Tan was simply himself, never aspiring to be a replica. Of course, when others praised him as Han Jingming’s successor, he wouldn’t argue, merely smiled and let the words pass.

“Thank you, Director Li, for your praise. I simply enjoy writing martial arts novels. To have caught your eye is a great honor.”

“My young friend, you are too modest. Creating such a work is beyond most people. Of all the martial arts writers in Old Wang’s magazine, yours is the only ‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital’ that stands out to me. Actually, your previous ‘Four Great Constables Shake the East’ was good too, though its plot was a bit thin.”

Wang Conglun chimed in with a smile, “Director Li, ‘Four Great Constables Shake the East’ was Zhang Tan’s practice piece. Its traditional edition in Taiwan has sold over thirty thousand copies. Honestly, for a debut to reach such numbers, there’s only one explanation—quality! Zhang Tan’s talent is undeniable, and this ‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital’ is even better. If your press publishes it, you won’t lose out.”

“‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital’ is excellent. We are indeed considering publication, but the details still need discussion. We must be responsible to each other,” Li Wei said, laughing off the question without committing.

Zhang Tan raised his glass, “Director Li is quite right—business is business, after all. Director Li, I toast you. It’s a pleasure to share a meal and discuss publication.”

Li Wei clinked glasses with Zhang Tan and took a sip, then turned to Wang Conglun, “This young fellow Zhang Tan is interesting—he speaks well and is very mature.”

“Zhang Tan is young, but his conduct is mature, unlike most impulsive youths,” Wang Conglun said with emotion. Zhang Tan was quite different from other young people Wang knew—calm and steady, never hurried.

If one didn’t see his face, they’d mistake him for a grown man.

In truth, since his rebirth, Zhang Tan had made himself somewhat more youthful, avoiding the overly mature tone. Of course, he didn’t deliberately act young—just allowed himself to be more passionate and less calculating, like a true youth, free in thought. As for others’ opinions, Zhang Tan didn’t care. The world is full of prodigies; his behavior was merely mature—how conspicuous could it be?

It’s not as if he’d be dissected by the state for precociousness.

Around the table, Zhang Tan conversed fluently with Li Wei and Wang Conglun, drinking and exchanging toasts. Half a kilo of liquor was quickly consumed among the three, and excitement filled the air.

Li Wei shrugged off his jacket, tossed it onto a nearby chair, and pointed with his hand, “I’ve heard much of the plot outline for ‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital’ from Old Wang. Zhang, tell me yourself, how many words do you plan to write?”

Zhang Tan held his liquor well and was still clear-headed, “There are five parts in ‘Enter the Capital’: The Murderer, The Bloody Hand, The Poison Hand, The Jade Hand, and Enter the Capital. The Murderer and The Bloody Hand have already been serialized in ‘Legends of Today and Antiquity—Martial Arts Edition’—about 130,000 words combined. The Poison Hand will be around 120,000 words, Jade Hand and Enter the Capital about 60,000 to 70,000 each, totaling approximately 400,000 words.”

Li Wei nodded, “Four hundred thousand words—this is a long novel. At one hundred thousand words per volume, that’s four books.”

Seeing Li Wei finally bring up publication, Wang Conglun encouraged, “The domestic martial arts market has huge potential. The copyrights for Hong Kong and Taiwanese masters are fiercely contested. What’s needed now are outstanding new works to open up the market. If you sign ‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital,’ Wuhan University Press will be the first to seize the opportunity.”

“That’s true, but the matter of signing and publishing needs careful consideration.”

Wang Conglun smiled, “Director Li, you’ll need to propose some terms, right?”

Zhang Tan added, “Editor Wang is right, Director Li. What’s Wuhan University’s plan for publishing ‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital’? Can you provide terms soon? I’m still a student and came here on leave—hoping to settle this quickly.”

“Well,” Li Wei stroked his chin, “I’m in charge of martial arts publications at the press. Whether to publish or not is my decision. I definitely want to publish—‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital’ suits my taste. But how to set the manuscript fee, how to handle copyright, how many volumes to publish—these all need discussion.”

Wang Conglun coughed, “Let’s discuss point by point. Director Li, how do you propose the manuscript fee?”

“We’re testing the waters with our first martial arts book—lots of risk. I think, why not buy out the simplified Chinese copyright with a one-time payment?” Li Wei ventured.

Zhang Tan asked calmly, “How much does Director Li plan to offer for the buyout?”

Manuscript fees are usually paid in two ways: as with Zhang Tan’s traditional edition of ‘Four Great Constables Shake the East’—a share based on sales, or as Li Wei suggested—a buyout, paying once based on word count.

Zhang Tan wouldn’t refuse either method, so long as the price was fair. He wrote books to sell, after all.

But Li Wei’s offer made Zhang Tan frown.

“Ten thousand—how about that?”

“Ten thousand? Director Li, you must be joking.” Zhang Tan squinted and chuckled, “My previous ‘Four Great Constables Shake the East’ was 160,000 words, traditional edition, sold over thirty thousand copies, and I received thirteen or fourteen thousand in manuscript fees. This ‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital’ is planned for 400,000 words—ten thousand is far too little.”

Wang Conglun shook his head, “Director Li, Zhang Tan’s serial in our magazine pays two hundred per thousand words. When finished, he’ll earn over eighty thousand. If published as a book, ten thousand as a manuscript fee is indeed too low.”

Li Wei’s expression didn’t change, and he laughed, “Just a joke, just a joke. How about this—fifteen thousand, one-time buyout of the simplified Chinese copyright. Fifteen thousand isn’t a small sum. Publishing in simplified Chinese carries big risks—you know how rampant piracy is now, it’s hard for official books to break through.”

From ten thousand to fifteen thousand, Zhang Tan felt a surge of anger. The increase was meaningless.

‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital’ wasn’t a mere 160,000-word ‘Shake the East’—this was a planned 400,000-word work, yet the price was almost the same as the traditional edition, a clear lack of sincerity.

Though Zhang Tan wasn’t overly concerned about money, he had flown all the way from Hefei to Wuhan just to publish the simplified edition, and only by doing so would he feel he had truly become a writer.

But no matter how accommodating, he couldn’t accept a mere fifteen thousand as his manuscript fee.

Moreover, that price lacked even basic negotiating sincerity. ‘Four Great Constables Enter the Capital’ wasn’t some run-of-the-mill novel—it was a polished classic.

“Director Li, let’s keep drinking. We can discuss publication later.” Zhang Tan felt haggling over “fifteen thousand” would be an insult to the classic—better not to negotiate at all.

Wuhan University Press wasn’t the only publisher; surely some would recognize the value, even if it meant waiting longer.

Seeing Zhang Tan unwilling to talk further, Li Wei’s face stiffened a bit, “Now, my young friend, you can’t be too greedy. I came with genuine intent to discuss publication—fifteen thousand is a great price for a newcomer. Where else will you find that?”

“I’ve already published books, Director Li.”

Li Wei’s tone grew perfunctory, “You published in traditional Chinese. Is that comparable to simplified? Taiwan’s market has been open for years, Mainland only a few. Young people just don’t understand.”

Zhang Tan replied irritably, “Then I’d rather wait a few years, wait for the market!”

Seeing the negotiations on the verge of breaking down, Wang Conglun hurried to smooth things over, “Director Li, Zhang Tan, come on, let’s have another toast... If the buyout won’t work, let’s drop it. Director Li fears risk, Zhang Tan feels shortchanged—let’s switch to royalty sharing.”

_______

Thanks to ‘Regretless Years’ for the 10,000 Starting Point coins reward.

Thanks to ‘Emperor Shi Ye’ and ‘Book Friend 150330083544078’ for the 1,888 Starting Point coins reward.

Thanks to ‘Go to Hell,’ ‘Youth Li Dabai,’ ‘The Persevering Mayfly,’ ‘Six-Prison Demon’ for their support, and thanks to Rule, Not a Great God, Greater China Federation, z~Online, Verdant Mountain Remains, Empty Tumbler Singing to the Sky, Piercing Throat, Rising Price Without Trace, Bookworm ZJ, Zhang Chaoyang, zeroo707, Please Call Me Book Friend 001, Nine-Cornered Play, Pind, Little Ghost Knocking, Lost Peter Pan, Ningge/––, Passing Boy, Fat Little Fairy, Bingqing, Book Friend 15070708753665 for their rewards.