At about three o'clock in the afternoon, in Causeway Bay, a famous tea restaurant on Lanfang Road, Xiao Tang waited here early after leaving the hospital early.

Because just yesterday, he hand-wrote an invitation, in the name of the chairman of "Dongxing Newspaper", invited the most famous martial arts novelist in Hong Kong, Ni Huan, to have afternoon tea since Jin Yong's pen.

"Dongxing Newspaper" is not well-known in Hong Kong's cultural circle, and it can't be written by famous celebrities, Xiao Tang is a guy who likes to pull tiger skins, the first thing that comes to mind is Ni Frame, not to talk about anything else, just the name of the four great talents of Xiangjiang in the future, you can know the popularity of these people in the cultural circle.

Compared with Jin Yong, who is impossible to invite, Ni Frame is the most suitable candidate for the newspaper today.

Famous, able to write, and connected, if such a person joins, it will be a great strengthening for the supplement section of the newspaper.

However, whether he can be invited, Xiao Tang actually didn't care too much, fortunately, before he invited Ni Frame, he made a good draft, coupled with his three-inch tongue, in fact, there are still some opportunities, after all, human nature has weaknesses, either for fame or profit, it is recognized that the manuscript fee of "Ming Pao" is stingy, and Ni Frame is famous for liking to make money, which may be a big breakthrough.

However, Xiao Tang was surprised that when the time had passed half past three, the person Xiao Tang was waiting for had not yet come, which made him frown a little, just when Xiao Tang guessed which link went wrong, whether Chang Zheng's invitation was not sent, or Ni Frame was too lazy to go to the appointment, but these days Xiao Tang's observation, Chang Zheng's execution of what he ordered was still very strong, so many times Xiao Tang was still very relieved about what he was doing, so there was only one result, Ni Frame was probably too lazy to go to the appointment, after all, "Dongxing Newspaper" , a newspaper company that has no fame, with Ni Frame's fame, there is really nothing worth paying attention to.

For Ni Frame's arrogance, Xiao Tang is also a little helpless, as the saying goes: "Reach out and don't hit the smiling person," according to the etiquette, Xiao Tang personally wrote the invitation, and the chairman of a newspaper personally invited him, even if he didn't come, he should call a servant to come and inform him!

Just when the time was approaching four o'clock, Xiao Tang changed the coffee on the table again and again, and finally when he was about to get up and leave, a slightly chubby middle-aged man came to the door of the tea restaurant.

Xiao Tang had seen the Ni frame in the newspaper, so he recognized the other party at a glance, and immediately dispelled the urge to leave, but he didn't get up immediately, but observed silently for a while.

......

In fact, yesterday afternoon, Ni Frame had already received an invitation from Xiao Tang, but the "East Star Daily" that was originally changed by "Star Daily" really has no popularity, and even a copy of the newspaper has not been issued, so Ni Frame didn't take Xiao Tang seriously at all, and today he was able to go to the appointment because Xiao Tang's invitation was really good in etiquette, and Ni Frame took time to come over in the afternoon to see who invited him.

Just when Ni Frame was patrolling around and his eyes just fell on Xiao Tang, Xiao Tang suddenly got up, walked over to Ni Frame with an enthusiastic face, and said with a smile: "Mr. Ni, look up for a long time, look up for a long time!" ”

Ni Frame was also stunned, not knowing whether he was confused by Xiao Tang's enthusiasm or by Xiao Tang, the young and excessive chairman. Just when Xiao Tang grabbed his hand enthusiastically and kept shaking, he didn't react.

The look of surprise disappeared in a flash, and Ni withdrew his right hand that was shaken by Xiao Tang without a trace, and then said with a rather indifferent expression: "You are the chairman of "Dongxing Newspaper", Mr. Xiao?" ”

"It's me! It's me! Xiao Tang nodded enthusiastically yes, and excitedly invited Ni Frame to his seat, just like a fan seeing an idol, it didn't seem to be fake at all

This made Ni Frame, who had always seen big scenes, a little flattered, and was invited by Xiao Tang all the way to the table where Xiao Tang was sitting before, and after Xiao Tang ordered two cups of coffee again, he sat down and chatted with Ni Frame opposite.

Today, I took the liberty to invite Mr. Ni to come here for tea, "one is for official business, and the other is for private affairs."

When Ni Huan sat in his seat, he still didn't understand what Xiao Tang wanted to do, but after hearing Xiao Tang's words, he became interested and asked, "Why is Mr. Xiao on business and why is he private, you might as well talk about it!" ”

Xiao Tang was not ambiguous, and said directly: "First, on behalf of the newspaper, I want to ask Mr. Ni for a manuscript, and second, I ...... it", when he said second, Xiao Tang touched his nose shyly, paused and said a little embarrassed: "Second, I want to meet my idol Wesley." ”

"Haha!" Ni Frame laughed loudly, and glanced at Xiao Tang with a look that was really as I expected, and his fat face smiled directly into a chrysanthemum. It was seen that Xiao Tang's ears were hot, and he almost turned red to his neck, but what made Xiao Tang happy was that he was so thick-skinned that there was nothing unusual.

After Ni Frameda entered the tea restaurant to see Xiao Tang, he was enthusiastic and praised by the other party, and he was also in a good mood at this time, and when he saw the somewhat embarrassed appearance of the young man opposite, he felt that it was a true expression, and he couldn't help but shake his head and smile at the moment: "What is there to see about a middle-aged uncle, but Mr. Xiao surprised me, seeing that you are only eighteen years old, I don't want to be the chairman of a newspaper, it is really terrifying!" ”

"I think I'm eighteen years old and I don't know where to spend my time?"

Xiao Tang smiled implicitly, and then said: "Sir, it's false, your Wesley series of novels is hard to find in Xiangjiang, if it weren't for Jin Daxia Zhuyu in front, I'm afraid no one would be able to get out of Mr. Ni's right." "Anyway, bragging about not paying taxes, Xiao Tang has no psychological burden at all.

And when Ni Huan heard Xiao Tang mention his masterpiece "Wesley", he couldn't help but be interested, and immediately asked: "I don't know which of my novels Xiao Sheng has read!" Ni Frame is obviously going to talk about this topic.

"Huh!" Xiao Tang was stunned for three seconds, buckled his thumb on the ground, and then said with a smile: "I have read Mr.'s "Wesley" series, in fact, I really understand Mr. Jin Daxia's "Dragon Babu" from the beginning, since then I know that Mr. is talented, and now Jin Daxia has closed his pen, and it belongs to Mr. Ni when it comes to Xiangjiang martial arts novels."

As soon as it was mentioned that "Dragon Babu" successfully distracted Ni Frame's attention, the topic began to deviate, and Xiao Tang didn't expect that "Dragon Babu" was like Ni Frame's itchy flesh, and he was hit as soon as he scratched it. He had nothing to say before, and he was also sloppy in Xiao Tang, there were too many things yesterday, and today he came directly to the appointment after leaving the hospital, he didn't know what book Ni Frame had written, the only one he knew was called "Six Finger Qin Demon", and he didn't even know if it had been serialized in 1975, he didn't dare to talk nonsense, but fortunately he had learned some things about Ni Frame's ghostwriting of "Dragon Babu" in his previous life, but fortunately, the wind of words turned and it was ripped up.

However, looking at Ni Huan's proud face, Xiao Tang knew that this topic had been transferred very successfully.

Sure enough, Ni Frame began to talk to Xiao Tang about the interesting story of writing "Dragon Babu" by himself at that time, but Xiao Tang didn't come to chat with him today, and after Ni Frame talked for a while, he pulled the topic to the "Manuscript".

"I don't know, Mr. Ni has any ideas to serialize his novels in our "Dongxing Daily", I plan to open a column for Mr. Ni. Three hundred and fifty words. ”

In fact, the reason why Xiao Tang invited Ni Frame was completely to take advantage of the other party's fame and make a gimmick before the newspaper was released, so as to hype it up, and this was also conducive to the newspaper to recruit other celebrities in the later stage, it was completely to take the opportunity to improve the style of the newspaper As for really letting the other party write novels, in fact, Xiao Tang felt that his "Sword and Fairy Trilogy" was not inferior to his "Wesley" at all.

If it weren't for Xiao Tang not wanting to put effort into writing novels, he could have supported a newspaper by himself like Jin Daxia.

When he heard that Xiao Tang was willing to open a column for him with 350 words in 1,000 words, Ni Frame couldn't help but be shocked, you must know that Hong Kong dollars have been very valuable in recent years, and the average monthly salary of ordinary workers is only 500, and his Ni Frame's manuscript fee in "Ming Pao" is only 110 per thousand words at most. The young man in front of him directly gave him more than three times the manuscript fee of "Ming Pao", how could he not make Ni Frame frightened.

The previous kind of contempt for the younger generations of fans was put away by him, Ni looked at the young man in front of him fixedly for a while, and then asked with some surprise: "Really?" ”

"Of course!" Xiao Tang smiled and said, "I came here today to invite Mr. Ni to write for my newspaper with the greatest sincerity. ”

"However, I haven't heard of your "Dongxing Daily", I think it's a new newspaper, you really have the ability to pay my manuscript fee?" The huge manuscript fee of 350 words still moved Ni Frame after all, but he still had many concerns.

Xiao Tang smiled, "We're not bad for money," Xiao Tang's tone was indifferent, but he said something that was not even calm to Ni Frame, Ni Frame was a little pretended by the kid in front of him, squinted and looked at Xiao Tang who lowered his head and stirred coffee for a while, still feeling a little unreal, even if the kid in front of him was his die-hard fan, it was impossible to give money like this, right?

That's right, it's to send money, and three hundred and fifty words in a thousand words really make Ni Frame feel dreamy. In today's Xiangjiang market, even Jin Yong's novel can't get 350 words per 1,000 words.

Seeing that Ni Huan was silent, pondering over there, Xiao Tang thought that he was not satisfied, and directly burst out a number without being shocked, "Five hundred words in a thousand words!" ”

Ni Frame slapped the back of his head with his hand, gasped, and almost broke the defense. The heart said: "The bank can't give it like this!"

However, in the end, he was a person who had seen the world, and he was not defeated by Xiao Tang's sugar-coated cannon, but asked calmly: "Are there any conditions?" But the solemn responsibility on his fat face can tell how complicated his heart is.

Shrugging his shoulders, Xiao Tang didn't expect Ni Frame to be so calm, and immediately explained: "Of course, there are conditions, if Mr. signs a contract with my newspaper, it will be exclusive, which means that Mr. can only contribute to my newspaper in the future." ”

nodded, Ni Frame understood, "Dongxing Daily" wanted to buy him out, only for his family, for a while Ni Frame calculated in his heart, 500 words per thousand, 100,000 words is 50,000, with his hand speed, if he doesn't write 18,000 in an hour, then his daily remuneration will be tens of thousands casually, he is excited, Ni Frame can't wait to come down immediately, but out of the reserve of cultural people, he may not want to leave Xiao Tang with the impression of "I agreed for money".

Ni Frame hesitated for a moment before saying: "Mr. Xiao, I have a good relationship with Mr. Cha of "Ming Pao", and most of the manuscripts over the years have been supplied to "Ming Pao", if I leave rashly, I need to talk to him, three days!" I'll give you another answer in three days. ”

Ni Frame didn't know what Xiao Tang thought, but he could give him five hundred words for a thousand words, and it was conceivable how much the other party liked his article, so he didn't mind taking it a bit, although he was very excited about five hundred words, but looking at Xiao Tang's appearance that was not bad for money, Ni Frame couldn't help but feel that there might be room for upward movement in this manuscript fee.

And Xiao Tang, who heard that Ni Frame still had to think about it, couldn't help but sigh, and his face was shocked, "That's really a pity"

Ni Quan also smiled and shook his head, the young man didn't have any city government at all, and he wrote all his unwillingness on his face, but he was quite complacent in his heart, when the average manuscript fee in Xiangjiang was only a dozen yuan, someone actually offered him a sky-high price of five hundred words per thousand, who would dare to think?

The two then talked for a long time as if they had been friends in previous years, but Ni Frame was obviously very indifferent at this time, while Xiao Tang showed some lack of interest, and it was not until five o'clock in the afternoon that Ni Frame got up to say goodbye and leave, and walked out of the tea restaurant with Xiao Tang reluctantly saying goodbye.

After Ni Frame walked away, Xiao Tang took out a thousand-yuan bill and two hundred-yuan bills from the pocket of his sweatpants, as well as seven ten-yuan and a few coins.

In fact, Xiao Tang didn't have so much money, but when he left the hospital, the hospital refunded him 1,200 for his medical expenses, which solved the problem of Xiao Tang's difficulty in consumption at once. This made Xiao Tang can't help but think of Zhao Yazhi who sent him to the hospital. My sister is not only beautiful and kind-hearted, but also generous.

After settling the account at the bar, Xiao Tang waved to a corner of the restaurant, and immediately a young man holding a camera ran over and shouted to Xiao Tang with a smile, "Boss!" ”

"Everything is filmed?" Xiao Tang asked.

"It's shot, it's all the front of the Ni frame, boss, you can only see a back." The young man was a little flattering.

"Hmm!" Xiao Tang nodded, walked out of the restaurant with the young man, and said: "Go back and find two pens, just write a thousand words and 500 drafts of "Dongxing Daily" Ni Frame was rejected, and then write the news and sell it to other newspapers with photos, I think in the current season, 500 words per thousand, this should become a breaking news, and also let other newspapers advertise for our "Dongxing Daily". ”

"Five hundred words?" The young man from the photography department of the "Dongxing Daily" who was next to Xiao Tang almost lost his voice and screamed out, attracting sideways glances from passers-by.

Xiao Tang suddenly rolled his eyes, and said a little speechlessly: "What the hell are you howling, weren't you rejected by Ni Frame?" ”

"Oh~Oh!" , the young man seems to understand something, but he doesn't seem to understand it. I can only deal with my boss twice.

"What's your name?" Xiao Tang asked.

"Zhao Zhongyuan" replied.

"Okay, hurry up and get something back to the club! Tell Chang Zheng to spread the news and create a wave for our newspaper launch on Monday. Whether it's free or for money, we have to put this news in the newspapers, especially the name "Dongxing Daily", if we can achieve the first heat, we will be half the success. ”

Although the time is very rushed, in Xiao Tang's opinion, this news of five hundred words will definitely not cool down for a while and a half, so let the "Dongxing Daily" and it and Ni Box bundle up and hype it up, and increase the popularity of their own newspaper, this is definitely a good and harmless thing. It is conceivable that there are more than 500 sensations in 1,000 words, how famous "Dongxing Daily" is, Xiao Tang is a person who likes to create opportunities, not wait for opportunities, he likes to take the initiative.

In fact, at the beginning, he didn't plan to sign a contract with Ni Frame, let alone five hundred words, after all, Jin Yong and Gu Long couldn't get this price, he just wanted to hype it, of course, it doesn't matter if Ni Frame agreed just now, but Xiao Tang will mention Chang Zheng, and be stricter when reviewing Ni Frame's draft, if Ni Frame wants to make up the number of words, he will directly call him back and rewrite. didn't give him the opportunity to make quick money at all, but in the end, he could end up with a strict reviewer.

From beginning to end, Ni Dacai is just a tool man, the object of Xiao Tang's hype.

Of course, if the other party can really write a popular work that is not weaker than Jin Gu and serialize it in his newspaper, then Xiao Tang will not be stingy, if not, then you can't even get by with the editor-in-chief, and the card won't kill you?

Of course, Ni Dacai didn't understand the psychology of Xiao Tang's little fan at all, he was still stuck in the joy of five hundred words, he didn't refuse Xiao Tang, he only said that he thought about it for three days, it was just hypocrisy, in his opinion, the newspaper boss personally invited, promised a lot of money, and claimed to be his fan book fan, which is simply compared to Uncle Liu Huang in the late Han Dynasty. It's just that how can he understand how dirty the heart of a practitioner from the later generations is, he is simple.

On his way home, his little book fans had already arranged for him, and Zhao Zhongyuan hurriedly returned to the newspaper office to let people write the manuscript.

"Mr. Ni, you're back!" After returning home humming a little song, Ni Huan sat on a wicker chair in the courtyard, and the maid at home also quickly made a cup of tea and brought it over to greet him. Ni Frame smiled slightly at the Filipino maid, and then shouted to Ni Zhen, the only son who was cowering and hiding behind the big tree, "What are you hiding, can you still eat your old beans?" ”

"Daddy!" Ni Zhen emerged from behind the big tree a little timidly, and at the age of eleven, he occasionally played with mud, so he still had some mud marks on his body at this time.

Ni Frame, who saw it, frowned, if he wasn't in a good mood today, he must know that his old bean was capable of literature and martial arts, but Ni Frame's brows didn't frown for a few seconds, and his face became pleasant again. He said to his son, who was about to be scolded by the corner of his clothes, "Go and bring the telephone at home." ”

Ni Zhen was stunned at first, glanced at his father in some surprise, and said that today's routine was not right, and he didn't dare to move a step for a long time.

"Why don't you go soon?"

"Ah, oh!" Ni Zhen reacted when Ni Zhen urged for the second time, and his father really didn't move him today, so he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and went home to hug the phone.

"Decrepit boy!" Ni Zhen was scolded by his son's reaction, and then lay down on the rattan chair with a comfortable face, and it didn't take long for Ni Zhen to pull the phone line to Ni Frame, and handed the telephone in his arms to Ni Frame.

"Daddy, call you!"

"Hmm!" After Ni Huan answered casually, he waved his hand and motioned for his son to leave.

After Ni Zhen ran away with a relieved Sahuan, he smiled a little helplessly, he was going farther and farther on the road of Yan's father! But then Ni Frame let go of some useless thoughts, took the phone that his son hugged him, and dialed a number.

"Hey! Hey, it's me in old Kim! After hearing Ni Frame's voice on the other end of the phone, he was silent for a few seconds before he said, "Call me at this point, what's the matter?" Ni Frame smiled before saying, "Guess? ”

"Do you want me to give you a manuscript fee? There's nothing to talk about! ”

"You!" Ni Frame shook his head and smiled: "This pattern is small! Lao Jin, the owner of a newspaper asked me to have tea in the afternoon, and we had a very pleasant chat! ”

"One hundred and two, it can't be more, and I can't explain it to anyone else." Jin Yong on the other end of the phone was still shocked. However, Ni Frame laughed out loud, and said with some ostentatious words in his voice: "Do you know what price the other party gave me?" Five hundred words in a thousand words. ”

The other end of the phone was even more silent, and after a while, he said, "You agreed?" ”

"No, I said to think about it first, I won't discuss it with you." Although it was over the phone, Ni Frame could still imagine the shocked look on his old friend's face. It's no less than what I looked like when I first heard it.

"What else is there to consider, why don't you just agree, anyway, "Ming Pao" can't give this price!" Jin Yong on the other end of the phone was indeed a little shocked, and the biggest writer in Hong Kong did not have a precedent of 200 words per 1,000 words, even if he wrote in "Ming Pao", he only received a symbolic 130 yuan.

"I'm not in a hurry, just give him an answer in three days, after all, your side of "Blue Bloods" is not finished yet, and I can't leave." After all, it is more than ten years of friendship there, and Ni Frame feels that he has done his best to be benevolent and righteous, and it can be regarded as a beginning and an end.

"Good!" After saying a word on the other end of the phone, he said, "Beep! Honk! Honk! There was a burst of silence.