“No need, no need. Friends are friends, business is business. If Peng Guoqing wants you to give a discount on the adaptation rights, he can come and ask you himself.”
Wen Ying chose Peng Guoqing as the scapegoat and absolutely refused to let the blame slide off him. She described these details perfectly, leaving Shui Mingyue with not the slightest doubt.
Jiang Youjia had swooped in out of nowhere to buy the film and television adaptation rights to eleven of Shui Mingyue’s novels. Although Shui Mingyue had already signed the contract, she still felt the whole thing somewhat unreal.
After hearing Wen Ying’s analysis, Shui Mingyue finally felt at ease. With Peng Guoqing’s recommendation, Jiang Youjia had come to purchase the adaptation rights. This gave the matter a proper cause!
Shui Mingyue said she wanted to thank Peng Guoqing. Wen Ying felt not the least bit guilty. “Just treat him to a meal. Being able to buy your rights shows he has good judgement. In the future, when your books are adapted and become huge hits, Peng Guoqing as a shareholder in Jiaxin will profit enormously.”
Shui Mingyue was amused by Wen Ying. “You’re exaggerating too much. If the adaptations succeed, it won’t be my merit alone.”
A good original story is only the most basic factor in adaptation. The process of turning a novel into film or television involves the efforts of too many people. Any single link going wrong could lead to failure.
Shui Mingyue still insisted on treating Peng Guoqing to dinner. She had to thank him in person for the recommendation. To accommodate the schedules of Wen Ying, Peng Guoqing, and others, Shui Mingyue set the dinner for Saturday.
“Fine then. Anyway, you’ve just sold the rights, so you’re not short of money for one meal. Speaking of which, with such a large sum coming in, how do you plan to spend it? Buy more commercial properties? Better not let thieves covet it. Find a proper place for the money soon.”
Wen Ying subtly steered the topic to the copyright transfer fee.
Wen Ying had not been at the signing, so she pretended not to know the exact amount and simply referred to it as “a large sum”.
Shui Mingyue gave a soft hum. “Buying commercial properties is fine, or buying houses too. I know what you’re worried about. Mu Fan reminded me after signing as well. People like us don’t do business. If others know we have so much cash on hand, they’ll scheme against us.”
On such matters, Shui Mingyue had plenty of experience.
In the past, when Shui Mingyue earned money from publishing her first novel, during a family gathering, her relatives couldn’t hold back and mentioned it. As soon as the gathering ended, someone immediately asked to borrow money.
Borrowing a few thousand or ten thousand would have been acceptable, but they opened with a request for 200,000.
At that time, Shui Mingyue’s first book had an initial print run of 100,000 copies, priced at 25 yuan each. She wasn’t yet the romance genre queen she is now, and the publisher gave her a 10% royalty… meaning Shui Mingyue took home roughly 200,000.
200,000 in 2002, with astonishing purchasing power, and the relative actually wanted to borrow the entire amount.
Shui Mingyue and her family couldn’t understand it. They asked what the relative needed so much money for, and the relative said the money was just sitting unused in Shui Mingyue’s hands, so better to lend it to him for business.
Of course, Shui Mingyue and her family were unwilling.
Whether to spend the money or not, it was earned by Shui Mingyue. Why couldn’t she keep it?
After refusing several times, the relative wouldn’t give up and insisted on borrowing the 200,000. Seeing Shui Mingyue disagree, he even brought in elders to morally blackmail her.
Shui Mingyue had a gentle personality, and her family weren’t good at arguing. They were almost unable to withstand the pressure to lend money. Then, Shui Mingyue’s mother saw while shopping that a mall was being built in the city.
Where there are malls, there are shops for rent or sale. Her mother inquired about the details and came home to ask Shui Mingyue if she wanted to buy a shopfront.
Wen Ying listened with great interest.
“So that’s how you started buying commercial properties?”
“Yes, that’s how it began. You know as well, after the first book was published and received a good market response, the publisher soon planned the second. The better the books sold, the more royalties, and with so much money on hand, more people coveted it and wanted to borrow…”
When only the first book was published, only relatives knew. As Shui Mingyue published more books and her fame grew, naturally more people knew she was earning money from writing novels.
Some wanted to borrow money, others wanted to pull her into investments. All sorts of unreliable business projects that an outsider like Shui Mingyue could tell were dodgy.
Too many people wanted to help Shui Mingyue plan how to spend her money, annoying her and her family greatly.
So, whenever there was money, they simply bought shops.
Shops not only generated rent but were fixed assets not easily sold. If anyone wanted to borrow money again, Shui Mingyue’s family had an excuse to refuse.
They couldn’t possibly expect the family to sell a shop to fund someone else’s business, right?
If someone was truly that thick-skinned, Shui Mingyue’s parents wouldn’t need to save face for them.
Of course, Shui Mingyue and her family weren’t completely heartless. With all the money she earned, when people around her truly needed help, Shui Mingyue would lend a hand.
Wen Ying thought about herself. “I’m quite lucky. So far, I haven’t encountered anyone brazenly asking to borrow money.”
“Impossible.”
Shui Mingyue rarely refuted Wen Ying. “I believe people are mostly the same. If someone asks me to borrow money, surely someone has asked you too, especially since you’re so famous now! If you say no, I guess it’s your parents who blocked those borrowers and kept it from reaching you.”
Wen Ying thought about it and realised it was true.
Old Wen had long lost his “family emperor” status. A middle-aged man who handed over his entire salary to his wife wouldn’t dare promise to lend money to others.
Chen Ru was even more unnecessary to mention. With her strong personality, if any of Wen Dongrong’s friends dared ask to borrow money, Chen Ru would refuse without mercy.
The most unreliable relatives were Aunt Wen Hongyan’s family. By coincidence, just as Wen Ying started earning from novels, they had cut ties with that side!
Wen Ying noticed her thoughts were drifting and quickly returned to the topic. “You have rich experience yourself, so no need for me to advise much. Property in Modu still has great appreciation potential. Both Mu Fan and I have bought houses in Modu. Do you want to consider it? How about this: I know a property agent in Modu. I’ll give you her contact details. Get in touch with her first, let her recommend some listings. Once you receive payment from Jiaxin, you can make a move directly.”
“So urgent?”
Shui Mingyue was a bit surprised.
Wen Ying laughed. “Mainly to guard against your relatives and friends. You sold the adaptation rights to eleven books at once. If they find out, they’ll probably want to swallow you whole immediately!”
Wen Ying’s description was too vivid. Shui Mingyue couldn’t help shivering at the image.
16 million really was a huge sum.
“You’re right. That would be too terrifying.”
Shui Mingyue shuddered.
Wen Ying gave Shui Mingyue the contact details of the property agent Yao Xiaojia.
Fearing Shui Mingyue might not act quickly on buying a house, she also gave Shui Mingyue’s contact to Yao Xiaojia.
When Wen Ying helped Xie Qian buy a house, she used Yao Xiaojia. When Dong Runfang bought a house for her son Wang Shuang, she also used Yao Xiaojia. Later, when Chen Ru bought two houses in Modu, it was still Yao Xiaojia.
In professions like agents or sales, a common trait is that it’s hard for newcomers to close deals. Once they succeed, they gain confidence to continue.
Yao Xiaojia’s first deal as a property agent was thanks to Wen Ying.
Yao Xiaojia always felt Wen Ying was her benefactor.
Facts proved Yao Xiaojia’s feeling correct. Wen Ying indeed brought her a steady stream of clients.
Wen Ying directly told Yao Xiaojia that Shui Mingyue was a big client with cash ready to buy, hoping Yao Xiaojia would show extra enthusiasm.
“There are so many agents in Modu. I’m recommending you to her. Out of respect for me, she’ll prioritise you. But if she can’t find a suitable property for a long time, she’ll definitely switch to another agent.”
“I understand. Thank you!”
Yao Xiaojia wished she could enshrine Wen Ying on an altar. With the God of Wealth personally descending to give guidance, how could Yao Xiaojia not listen?
Shui Mingyue went to Jiaxin to sign. By the time the contract was done, it was quite late. Jiang Youjia arranged a business dinner.
After the meal, Jiang Youjia said it was too late and had someone book a hotel for Shui Mingyue.
Just as she checked in, Wen Ying called.
The chat with Wen Ying lasted half an hour. Minutes after hanging up, Yao Xiaojia’s call came in.
Yao Xiaojia introduced herself, confirmed she wasn’t disturbing Shui Mingyue’s rest, then explained in detail the current property market situation in Modu.
That night, Shui Mingyue truly had no time to contact Luo Hao.
The next day, Jiang Youjia personally drove Shui Mingyue back to the crew. Luo Hao had been waiting anxiously.
Once Jiang Youjia left, Luo Hao asked with concern, “I’ve heard these film companies sweet-talk but treat people harshly. This Mr Jiang being so enthusiastic, could he have ulterior motives? I worried all last night, wanting to call you several times, but felt I had no standing to interfere with your decisions.”
“Mr Jiang is a good person. I’ve already sold the adaptation rights.”
Shui Mingyue had wanted to tell Luo Hao this news yesterday, but firstly she was busy after signing, and secondly she felt saying it in person would be more meaningful.
“Jiaxin is a strong company. Mr Jiang showed great sincerity. Selling the rights to Jiaxin puts me at ease. When Jiaxin starts adapting, I’ll recommend you for the male lead in that drama.”
Shui Mingyue’s ears burned as she said this. She kept her head down, not daring to meet Luo Hao’s gaze, missing the astonished look in his eyes.
“Already sold?”
Such signing speed was simply unheard of to Luo Hao.
Shui Mingyue nodded. “Yes, all eleven books in total, including my upcoming new release. I sold them all.”
