Wu Ming should also be glad that there is really such a small publishing house in Xiangjiang at this time, otherwise he would have to make a big mess in front of Zhang Dexin if he said a non-existent publishing house.

"Heaven and Earth Book Publishing House?" Zhang Dexin thought for a while, and had the impression that there was only one publishing house with this name, so he looked at Wu Ming and asked, "Is it the one that was established just five years ago, the one that started with works on current affairs commentary?"

Wu Ming nodded, affirming Zhang Dexin's guess.

Heaven and Earth Book Publishing House was officially established in 1976. At first, he published some works on current affairs commentary, and some popular readings of contemporary Western thought, which played a role in introducing new trends of thought.

He also published a number of translated literary works, such as Matsumoto Kiyohari's reasoning, memoirs of political dignitaries, and later Yu Lihua's literature for international students, Yishu, Liang Yusheng, Gu Long's love and martial arts, and Ba Jin's "Home", "Spring", "Autumn", and "The Complete Works of Ba Jin".

Later, the publishing house also made a lot of contributions to the promotion of mainland literature. In the mid-80s, when the Chinese literary scene was in a new mood, Tiandi Books published a series of works by mainland writers, including the works of many famous writers such as Liu Zaifu, Wang Meng, Zhang Jie, Liu Xinwu, and Cong Weixi. The works of these famous writers have opened the reading horizons of overseas readers.

In the new century, Tiandi Books not only publishes popular books, but also works on the humanities, including ideology, politics, economy, history, society, psychology, literature, etc., and can be ranked in the forefront of all publishing houses in Hong Kong.

At this time, of course, Tiandi Books was not as brilliant as it would have been in the future, but it was far stronger than Tianma Publishing House.

"The acquisition of Tiandi Books probably only costs more than 10 million Hong Kong dollars, and it doesn't cost 100 million US dollars!" Zhang Dexin scratched his head and said confusedly.

"Doesn't Xinghuo Group need development funds?" Wu Ming glanced at Zhang Dexin and said, "After the publishing house buys it back, it takes money to expand its scale. The development of "Entertainment World" and "Fashion Life" also needs money. The addition of new chains to Spark Bookstore requires even more money. This 100 million US dollars is all the development funds of Xinghuo Group this year. ”

Hearing this, Zhang Dexin smiled bitterly and said: "Xiao Ming, isn't this 100 million US dollars a bit insufficient? In other aspects, it is nothing, about 20 million US dollars is enough." But that Spark bookstore was too expensive.

I learned about the situation of Xinghuo Bookstore, and now there are more than 100 chain stores in Xiangjiang, which are already saturated and do not need to be added. But there are only more than 200 stores in the island country, which is still far from the target of 1,000 stores you set! Based on the $500,000 of a chain store, at least $400 million is needed. And the Spark bookstore in Europe and the United States will also develop, and 100 million US dollars is really a bit less. ”

If you just rent a house to open a bookstore, you naturally don't need to average an average of $500,000, but what Wu Ming asked was to buy the land to build the bookstore, and the money spent would rise gradually.

After finishing speaking, Zhang Dexin suddenly had an unreal feeling in his heart. I think that at the beginning, 100,000 dollars in my eyes was already a lot, but now even 100 million dollars feels a little little. Sure enough, if you are at different levels, you will see different scenery.

Wu Ming spread his hands and said helplessly: "I can't do anything about this! Star TV, DreamWorks, Starlight Records, and Galaxy Brokerage took $200 million from me, and spent another $200 million to acquire those newspapers, and the $400 million I brought back from the United States is no longer left. ”

When Zhang Dexin heard this, he couldn't help but have a headache. His little boss made money really fast, billions of dollars in a year. But the money is also very fast, and in less than half a year, it has been all spent.

"Can't we withdraw some more funds from Xingchen Entertainment?" Xingchen Entertainment should still have a lot of liquidity!" Zhang Dexin asked.

"Star Entertainment doesn't have much money left. Wu Ming shook his head and explained, "Some time ago, Galaxy Century Video Game City, a subsidiary of Xingchen Entertainment, also developed overseas. Now more than 200 chain stores have been established in island countries, Europe and the United States, plus helping Star Computer Company to build a production factory, and the $100 million just given to me, now Star Entertainment only has about $100 million in working capital. ”

"Okay!" Zhang Dexin could only sigh helplessly, "Then the Spark Bookstore can't spread all over the island country this year." ”

Originally, Zhang Dexin thought that Wu Ming had a lot of funds in his hands, so he ambitiously prepared a lot of plans, thinking that he could increase the number of island chain stores of Xinghuo Bookstore to 1,000 this year. Unexpectedly, now not only Wu Ming has no money, but even Xingchen Entertainment has no money, so he can only give up his original plan.

Wu Ming held the teacup in his hand, shook his head and said with a smile: "Uncle Zhang, you don't have to rush to open the Xinghuo Bookstore all over the island country. I said that I want to open a thousand Spark chain bookstores in the island country, that is a long-term plan, and I am not in a hurry!"

Zhang Dexin nodded and said, "It's me who is a little stunned!"

The main reason is that Zhang Dexin is in charge of such a large company as Xinghuo Group for the first time, and he is bent on making great achievements, so he is a little urgent.

Wu Ming suddenly sat upright, looked at Zhang Dexin seriously, and said with a straight face: "By the way, there is one more thing I want to remind Uncle Zhang." ”

Zhang Dexin saw that Wu Ming, who had always been a hanger, suddenly became serious, and he was still a little uncomfortable.

"What's the matter?" asked Zhang Dexin suspiciously.

"The political stance of several newspapers under the Spark Press Company. Wu Ming said unhurriedly.

When it came to political issues, Zhang Dexin immediately became serious.

"I know that Xiao Ming and your family are all from the mainland, and you are more optimistic about the mainland, so our political stance in the future is pro-mainland?!"

"That's right. Wu Ming affirmed, "In the future, our position is to be neutral and biased towards the mainland, as the old saying goes, if you are not of our race, your heart will be different, and the British are just thinking about squeezing benefits from Xiangjiang." But the mainland and we are a family, do you need to talk about standing there?"

"And Uncle Zhang, don't forget, Xiangjiang will return sooner or later. Wu Ming said in a quiet tone.

When Zhang Dexin heard Wu Ming's words, he was stunned for a moment, and then pondered.

Indeed, the lease of Hong Kong only lasted until 1997, and it is only 16 years from now. It's not short, it's not long. At least he was still middle-aged by then. He didn't want to emigrate, so in order to be more comfortable in the future, he naturally couldn't speak ill of the mainland.

"Xiao Ming, don't worry, I will definitely take care of my newspapers and periodicals!" Zhang Dexin said categorically.