Wang Lijian is obviously very optimistic about the market prospects of "Alive", and even Xiao Wang feels that his chief family has overestimated this book.

But since the order was given, Xiao Wang naturally wanted to complete the matter, and he hurriedly said: "Mr. Zhuang, I don't know if you can reveal which publishing houses you have contacted and what stage you have talked about?"

As soon as Zhuang Yan heard it, he knew that this Xiao Wang was not a person who often talked about business, whether it was that he was in such a hurry, or the two questions he asked, they were a little out of proportion.

It seems that this negotiation will be simpler than imagined, Zhuang Yan pretended to hesitate and said: "That's the case, I can't tell you the names of these publishing houses, I can only tell you that two of them are from Jinling, and the other is from your Yanjing." As for the degree, we are all still in the initial stage of contact. ”

Xiao Wang was happy in his heart, he asked these two questions just now, and he was also in a hurry to blurt out, but he didn't expect Zhuang Yan to really tell him, it seems that this Zhuang Yan is still very easy to speak. He said, "Mr. Zhuang Yan, since you haven't decided yet, you might as well listen to our sincerity first. ”

"Well, okay, you say, I'll listen. Zhuang Yan said with a smile.

Xiao Wang took a deep breath, sorted out his thoughts, and then began to say: "Our publishing house promises you to give you 12% of the royalties, the first printing of 20,000 copies, and the one-time settlement of 100% of the royalties for the first printing. ”

12 percent, Zhuang Yan put this data in his mind for a while, the royalties in this world are generally higher than in the previous life, but not to the point of being outrageous, the publishing house will evaluate the sales of books according to the sales of the author's previous books.

And a complete newcomer like Zhuang Yan, who has not published a book before, can only be evaluated based on the work itself.

But in any case, the royalty of the average newcomer is between 6% and 10%, and even if it is a famous writer, it can reach 15% or 16% at most.

From this point of view, the 12 percent given to Zhuang Yan by the literary and artistic circles is indeed very sincere.

Zhuang Yan asked again: "I don't know how many years the contract we signed, three years or five years?"

The other side paused for a moment, then said, "Five years." ”

"Isn't it a bit long, I think three years is good. Zhuang Yan actually felt that five years was acceptable, but he still habitually repaid the price, 12% of the royalty, he was really embarrassed to bargain again, so he could only compete on the contract period.

Three years? Xiao Wang was stunned for a moment, he couldn't be the master, and the conditions he said just now were already the maximum authority given to him by the chief.

Xiao Wang thought for a while and hesitated: "Mr. Zhuang Yan, this, I really can't be the master, why don't I go and ask my superiors first, and then talk to you?"

Zhuang Yan agreed: "Well, yes, then you can go and ask for instructions first." ”

After saying this, Zhuang Yan's stomach had been rumbling for a while, which was a protest against hunger, so Zhuang Yan just hung up the phone and ran downstairs to buy breakfast to eat. Having said that, this staff call was really early, it was only more than seven o'clock, could it be that the staff of the literary and art website worked so early?

Zhuang Yan didn't know, in fact, this call should have been made last night, but Xiao Wang forgot to contact him after changing the text on the homepage at that time.

It was only at night when Wang Lijian called him to ask him how things were going, and he remembered that Wang Lijian scolded him at that time, and as for the big boast of "Alive", he also said it last night.

At this time, Xiao Wang, who was in Yanjing, looked at the phone and hesitated, he needed to ask Wang Lijian about the contract period, but it was not yet time to go to work, Wang Lijian had not come to work yet, and he was afraid that the call would disturb Wang Lijian.

In the end, he still didn't dial the phone, but waited until Wang Lijian arrived at the company before he knocked on the door of Wang Lijian's office.

"Come in. Wang Lijian said inside, and when he saw that it was Xiao Wang, he asked, "You came here to talk about the contact with Zhuang Yan, how are you talking?"

Xiao Wang touched his nose and said: "He agrees with the conditions, but he has some opinions about the contract period and wants to shorten it to three years." ”

Wang Lijian frowned, it is said that five years is the normal contract period in the market, and the other party should not disagree, can it be said that the other party is a novice and does not understand these things?

However, he noticed Xiao Wang's expression and suddenly asked, "How did you talk to him?"

Xiao Wang told Wang Lijian about how he talked about it, and finally in order to highlight his credit, he also said: "Editor Wang, Zhuang Yan has already contacted several publishing houses at the beginning, and the conditions given are very good, so I directly told him the best conditions we can give." ”

Wang Lijian listened to Xiao Wang's words, and glanced at him with some annoyance, this Xiao Wang is also a solid eye, and he will support the bottom when he comes up, no wonder people still have to bargain on the number of years, and it can be regarded as the other party's heart is not too black, otherwise I am afraid that the "literary and artistic world" will be slaughtered in royalties.

Xiao Wang was looked at by Wang Lijian like this, and seemed to realize that he had done something wrong, and said with some weakness: "I also listened to Wang Editor tell you how good this book is, so I was anxious to take it, otherwise what would I do if it was snatched by other publishing houses." ”

"Then you want to blame me?" Wang Lijian said angrily.

Xiao Wang didn't dare to speak now, he knew that he was talking too much and making mistakes now.

Wang Lijian saw that Xiao Wang was silent, and said helplessly: "Okay, it's also to blame me for not thinking it through, you don't have any experience in this area, I should send someone else." ”

Xiao Wang breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and asked in a low voice, "Then what did he say?"

Wang Lijian shook his head, picked up the phone on the table, and said to Xiao Wang, "Phone number." ”

"Huh?" Xiao Wang was stunned.

"Zhuang Yan's phone number, I personally called him. Wang Lijian was a little speechless, this little Wang is usually very quick at work, why is he so confused this time.

Xiao Wang hurriedly took out his mobile phone and reported the phone number he had written down before to Wang Lijian. While he reported, Wang Lijian dialed, the phone rang twice, and it was finally connected.

"Hey, hello. Zhuang Yan's lazy voice sounded.

Wang Lijian had learned about Zhuang Yan and knew that he was a young man, so he was not much surprised by his voice, besides, he couldn't judge a person's personality from the voice, he smiled at the phone and said: "It's Zhuang Yan, hello, I am the person in charge of the website of the literary and art world, and the staff of our website has contacted you before." ”