Chapter 00177: Letting Go and Moving On
# Letting Go and Moving On
Chapter 177
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 177: Letting Go and Moving On
"Comrade Chen Qi!"
"Comrade Zhan Ying!"
"Oh my, Auntie Wang, what brings you here in person?"
In Room 302, Chen Qi was surprised to see Auntie Wang, as it was her first time visiting the North Film Studio.
As soon as she entered, she grabbed him, checking his arms and legs, and said:
"Are you alright, kid? I heard you got sent in. You must have suffered. Tell Auntie, and I'll stand up for you. If I can't handle it, there's the district, and if the district can't, there's the city..."
"Hold on, hold on! It's just a minor conflict among the people. How serious could it be? It's already resolved. But why are you here?"
"With all the commotion you caused, how could I not come?"
Auntie Wang plopped down on a round-backed rosewood chair and said, "Don't think I'm being nosy, but ever since you joined the cooperative, you only sold tea for one day before running off to the North Film Studio. I couldn't even scold you properly. Today, I'm here on behalf of the Party and the masses. First, we want you to give a speech to the youth of the city. Second, the government wants to arrange an interview and write a report about you. I heard they might even nominate you for an award."
"Uh..."
Seeing his expression, Auntie Wang asked, "Kid, you're not thinking of refusing, are you? This is a good thing!"
"It is a good thing! When the tea stall was just starting, the leaders at all levels showed us great care. Of course, I'm willing."
Chen Qi smiled.
There was no need to hide anything now.
"But I'm afraid if I agree, there will be a whole series of follow-up tasks, and it'll never end. You know my heart isn't in this. I've been stationed at the North Film Studio for a long time, and my work relationship has always been with the cooperative without any transfer. This time, I'm afraid it won't work."
"Are you sure you're going to the North Film Studio?"
"Not entirely sure, but I'm definitely leaving."
"Sigh..."
Auntie Wang sighed.
The cooperative wasn't a formal unit, and only Huang Zhan Ying had performed well enough to earn the title of director, with hopes of being transferred to a government office in the future.
A golden phoenix flying out of a remote mountain valley—even they themselves found it hard to believe.
Above the cooperative was the street committee, above that was the district, and above that was the city.
All had sent word down, wanting to keep this talent.
But Chen Qi came and went freely, with no binding force.
"I know I can't keep you, but at least do the speech and cooperate with the related activities, alright? Otherwise, we'll lose face too," Auntie Wang said frankly.
"Since you've come in person, of course, I'll agree."
"Good. No matter where you end up, remember that Dashilan will always be your home."
Of course!
Your cooperative is also part of my plans.
After settling some matters, Chen Qi stood up and shook hands with his dear friend Huang Zhan Ying, saying sincerely, "Comrade Zhan Ying, we grew up together, fought together, shared the same pants, and played with the same grasshopper. But as the heavens send rain and mothers marry off, we must each go our own ways. You must strive to improve yourself too. Don't let it be that when we meet again, I call you 'Runtu' and you call me 'Master'..."
"Don't forget our revolutionary friendship. Who will rule the vast earth? We will all have bright futures!"
"With confidence, we live two hundred years, and we will swim three thousand miles! Let's encourage each other!"
Huang Zhan Ying gripped his hand tightly.
…………
"This is Wang Lingu, the deputy director of the Shanghai Film Studio."
"Hello, hello!"
Still in Room 302, Chen Qi met He Chengwei and Wang Lingu.
After some pleasantries, He Chengwei couldn't wait to speak first: "We saw the news about 'Tai Chi' in the newspaper, and the entire magazine is thrilled for you. You've brought great honor to our country! The editor-in-chief sent me here immediately to ask if you could adapt 'Tai Chi' into a novel and publish it in 'Story Magazine'? To show our sincerity, we're willing to pay 10 yuan per thousand words, plus additional royalties based on print runs. And for every piece you write after this, we'll pay at the same rate. What do you think?"
The state had recently issued a new regulation: the rate for written works had increased to 3-10 yuan per thousand words, and royalties based on print runs had been reinstated, calculated per ten thousand copies.
This split was particularly small.
For example, if Chen Qi's basic royalty was 350 yuan, and 500,000 copies were printed, he would only get an additional 50% of 350 yuan.
'Story Magazine' was within the regulations, offering the highest rate possible.
After He Chengwei finished speaking, he looked at Chen Qi anxiously.
Chen Qi felt a strange sensation, as if he was cutting ties with various aspects of his past, letting go of some things to move forward lightly.
"How many pieces have I published in 'Story Magazine'?" he asked.
"Starting from September 1979, we published half a piece every two months. By January this year, we've published 'The Cotton Cassock,' 'Invincible Love Legs,' 'Wudang,' 'Shanghai 1937,' and the first half of 'The Black Box Blood Record.'"
"Two years have passed so quickly!"
Chen Qi sighed, remembering when he was teaching Sister Xue how to act on Mount Lu.
"We're friends, and I don't want to deceive you. I have many things to do next and won't have time for 'Story Magazine.' Our cooperation ends here."
"This, this..."
"I'll give you one last piece, 'The Kyoto Ball Hero,' as a farewell work. If there's a chance in the future, I might write a short story for 'Story Magazine.' Our friendship remains, and I thank you for the platform you've given me."
"..."
He Chengwei had much to say but ultimately sighed silently.
"Alright, I'll convey this to the editor-in-chief. We're all quite regretful that you never visited 'Story Magazine.' I won't disturb you further."
He left dejectedly.
Wang Lingu also sighed. "'Story Magazine' is right under the nose of the Shanghai Film Studio. It's a pity we didn't have plans to make martial arts films before, sitting on a treasure trove without realizing it. I hope you don't mind us coming late."
"Oh? Are you here for the adaptation rights?"
"Exactly!"
"Which story are you interested in?"
"All except 'The Cotton Cassock,' including the 'The Kyoto Ball Hero' you just mentioned—five stories in total. The Shanghai Film Studio wants them all!"
Hmm?
Chen Qi was a bit surprised.
With 'Tai Chi' leading the way, he knew the martial arts film trend was coming.
He thought 'Story Magazine' would do a bulk purchase of scripts, but the Shanghai Film Studio was bold enough to take them all.
"You're generous, and I won't beat around the bush. The stories in 'Story Magazine' were written as literary scripts, just more conversational. There's little difficulty in adapting them. So I won't sell them as adaptation rights but as original script rights. Are you okay with that?"
"Name your price!"
"2000 yuan per piece! It's not good to sell them all to you. I'll keep one, and you can have four."
When he wrote 'Romance on Lushan Mountain,' he was a newcomer and sold it for 800 yuan.
Now that he's famous, it's natural to raise the price, but not too outrageously.
He knew he was about to move beyond making money by selling scripts...
"Deal!"
Wang Lingu agreed immediately, unaware of how much of a bargain the Shanghai Film Studio was getting.
These films would be blockbusters of the 1980s.
Chen Qi had a good relationship with the North Film Studio but wouldn't deliberately avoid other studios.
The Shanghai Film Studio was wealthy, well-established, and resourceful.
It wouldn't hurt to build connections.
Wang Lingu agreed and chose 'Invincible Love Legs,' 'Wudang,' 'Shanghai 1937,' and 'The Black Box Blood Record,' leaving the unfinished 'The Kyoto Ball Hero' behind.
Then, he suddenly looked around cautiously and asked:
"Comrade Chen Qi, besides discussing the scripts, there's one more thing. I'm here on behalf of Director Xu Sangchu to sincerely invite you to join the Shanghai Film Studio!"
(End of Chapter)