Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 121 Beauty is like a dream
Dato Mac looked around at the writers in the small hall and asked suspiciously, "Why don't you choose?"

Zhang Chao didn't want to establish such a deep friendship with his teacher Yu Hua and the writers in the field trip group, so he quickly interrupted and said, "Boss Mai, you said you wanted to write a biography of your grandfather. What kind of person was he?"

Speaking of this, Dato Mac was no longer sleepy. He pushed the beautiful woman in his arms away and began to narrate emotionally: "My grandfather was from Meicheng, Guangdong Province. When he was 12 years old, he followed his uncle to Southeast Asia and went to the Philippines..."

Zhang Chao hurriedly asked, "Do you have paper and pen? I'll take note of it."

The guy next to me immediately went to the front desk to get a pen and note paper.

Seeing Zhang Chao's serious expression, Dato' Mac started to talk about his grandfather's struggle for a full fifteen minutes, interspersed with some Cantonese charm.

Zhang Chao asked, "What about below? Nothing?"

Dato Mac said, "I have never actually met my grandfather. I heard all this from my father. But these are all big things. If I expand on them, it should be okay to write a book, right?"

Zhang Chao said firmly: "No problem!"

McDat asked in confusion, "You are...? Can you make the decision?"

Zhang Chao said: "I am just a tourist who is traveling with a group. I am still a college student!"

Everyone: "..."

Dato Mac nodded and said, "You look like a kid, and you don't look like a writer. Who is the most famous among you?"

Teacher Yu Hua tactically retreated, just wanting to hide behind others.

Zhang Chao immediately pointed at Xiao Jianguo and introduced him, "This is President Xiao. He is not only an experienced and highly respected writer, but also the president of Huacheng Publishing House, the largest publishing house in Guangdong Province, and the editor-in-chief of Huacheng, the most influential literary magazine in the country.

He can do everything from writing books, publishing books, printing and distributing them! We are all his...his lackeys!"

Xiao Jianguo was anxious and said hurriedly: "No...I...he...Zhang Chao...you..."

Zhang Chao said, "President Xiao, please stop being so modest. Please judge for yourself. Which of the things I just said is false?"

The writers sitting next to Xiao Jianguo immediately stepped aside and nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, yes, he is telling the truth. We were all called here by President Xiao."

Dato Mac sat down next to Xiao Jianguo very enthusiastically, shook his hand and said, "You writers are also divided into societies? Isn't this a coincidence! When I was in Hong Kong Island, I was also in a society... Have you heard of Xinhe Liansheng?"

Zhang Chao stuffed the notes he had just written into Xiao Jianguo's arms and said, "President Xiao, please have a good chat with the Dato about the family biography. We're leaving first."

Xiao Jianguo: "...I..."

Dato Mac asked everyone with concern: "Are you really not going to pick one? Don't worry, they have physical examinations every month. We attach great importance to the health of our customers."

Zhang Chao said, "Everyone is not used to such a warm reception and is shy. Regarding the biography, President Xiao alone is enough. Let's go back to the room and rest first."

Everyone nodded after hearing this.

Dato Mac could only say with regret: "In fact, I also want you to write some articles to help us promote our services after you experience them. After all, a golden or silver monument is not as good as word of mouth from customers. You cultured people just can't let go...Okay, you guys should go to bed early."

After saying that, he gave a look and the younger brother who was blocking the door moved aside.

Everyone pretended to be calm, waved goodbye to McDahlin, filed out of the small hall, and then jogged all the way to the lobby before they breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Hua said with lingering fear: "If it weren't for Zhang Chao, we would... would..."

But Yu Hua couldn't say it. Most middle-aged and elderly writers have spent most of their lives in schools, literary associations, writers' associations, publishing houses, or office spaces. Even if they know that the outside world is very fancy, they can never imagine how fancy it is.

Their knowledge of things like "瓢" is still basically at the stage of hair salons and small pink lamps in the 90s. Things like "Red Sleeves Add Fragrance" and "Modern Times" are things that serious people can figure out sitting in their study?
Even if there were a few people who had the urge, they definitely didn't have the guts to do it at that time. If the news got out, would they still be able to stay in the literary world?

So the situation just now was that he could neither leave nor stay, and sacrificing Xiao Jianguo, who was considered a local tyrant in Guangdong Province, was almost the best option.

At this time, the female writers had finished their bath and sauna and arrived at the hall one after another.

Seeing that almost all the male writers were there, except Xiao Jianguo, Zhu Yanling couldn't help but ask, "Where is our president?"

Zhang Chao smiled and replied, "President Xiao is currently negotiating a big deal with someone and can't come out for a while. He asked everyone to go to bed early because they have to catch a plane and a train tomorrow."

Everyone nodded in agreement and dispersed to go back to their rooms.

Zhang Chao deliberately followed Yu Hua until he reached the door of his room, then whispered to Yu Hua: "Teacher Yu, pack your luggage. I will call and book a plane ticket later. Let's go back to Yanjing directly."

Yu Hua nodded quickly and said, "I think so too."

The next morning, when others were still sleeping, Zhang Chao and Yu Hua had already set foot on the land of Yanjing.

As for what Xiao Jianguo and McDaniel agreed to that night, it is an eternal secret in the Guangdong literary world. All we know is that the biographies of the three generations of the McDaniel family were successfully published six months later, and McDaniel directly bought the first print run of 10 copies of each book.

Before long, the bosses of special service industries in Guangdong Province, Hong Kong Island, Malay, and the Philippines all had a set of the Mai Family Legend Trilogy. The day after returning to Yanjing, Zhang Chao received a call from Yizhe, asking him to attend the celebration banquet of "Young Like You" in the evening.

Zhang Chaoqi asked, "Can we know the final box office volume now?"

Yizhe said, "The holiday box office figures have come out. Guess how much it is? 3500 million! And the word of mouth is very good! So if we convert it down, the total box office should be around 8000 million! Do you think we should celebrate?"

In 8000, a box office of 2024 million is a very disappointing result for a mid-level movie.

But in 2005, it was certain to break into the annual box office top 10, or even top 5.

2004年的票房冠军是周星星的《功夫》，成绩是1.6亿，然后是张亿谋《十面埋伏》的1.5亿和冯晓刚《天下无盗》的1.2亿。其余就没有票房超过1个亿的。

With no significant increase in the number of screens nationwide this year, there will be no significant growth in box office revenue either.

Many film, television and entertainment media attributed this achievement to Zhang Chao's great influence. Because according to the results of a random survey of the audience, not only students accounted for a large proportion, but also most of them had read or heard of the novel "Youth Like You".

In the early 21st century when piracy was rampant, if a book could sell 200 million copies in a year, its pirated sales would be at least five times that of the genuine version.

In addition to pirated copies, there are also various fake books signed "Zhang Chao's New Works", "Zhang Chao's Works", and "Zhang Chao's Great Works". Zhang Chao himself has seen and even his classmates have brought them to him for autographs, including "A Boy Like Him", "A Boy Like Me", "A Girl Like You", "Boys and Girls"...

After seeing so much, Zhang Chao himself became numb.

When he first saw fake and pirated books, he discussed with the publishers: "Can we take any measures..."

The editor from Guangdong province could only helplessly say: "A Chao, stop it, there are pirates out there!"

Therefore, Huayi insisted on inviting Zhang Chao, the original author and screenwriter, to attend the celebration banquet, and specially chose Yanjing as the venue. Zhang Chao thought about it and agreed.

The evening celebration banquet started with a brief media conference to announce the good news that the movie box office had exceeded 3500 million. Those who came to the celebration banquet included not only the crew members, but also some celebrities, directors and other industry insiders who were on good terms with Huayi.

Zhang Chao really became the focus, and even big stars like Zhou Xun became visibly more enthusiastic about him.

A best-selling author and a writer whose work is adapted into a box office hit movie and the writer himself serves as the screenwriter, have completely different weights in the film and television industry.

At the celebration banquet, almost everyone came to clink glasses with Zhang Chao, but Zhang Chao still couldn't drink alcohol and ate juice instead of alcohol, which made some old hands quite dissatisfied. But soon, Song Jia, who was sitting at the table, came to his rescue, picked up a glass of wine and stood up and said, "Zhang Chao has classes tomorrow, so he really can't drink. I'll drink for him."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then started to make a fuss, and some even blew whistles.

Little Song Jia was very calm and composed. He didn't blush or feel reserved. He drank the wine in one gulp.

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "Thank you then!"

After drinking a glass of wine, Xiao Songjia glanced at Zhang Chao and said, "Who asked you to write such a good play for me? I should be the one thanking you."

What Xiao Song Jia said is right. After the release of "Better Days", in addition to the wonderful performance of the leading actor, many professional media also noticed Xiao Song Jia as a supporting role, and praised her, saying that her performance made the whole movie more convincing.

This can be considered a "dream start" for young Song Jia, who had just arrived at Yanjing.

After the celebration banquet, Xiao Song Jia was already unsteady on her feet when she walked. After the directors and leading actors were picked up by their special cars, Zhang Chao, the only one who knew where Xiao Song Jia lived, had to take on the responsibility of sending her home.

However, the drunk Song Jia did not lose his composure, nor did he vomit in Zhang Chao's car. He just leaned quietly on the seat, half asleep.

Arriving downstairs of the building where he had picked up Xiao Songjia in Tiantongyuan last time, Zhang Chao turned around and asked softly, "Which floor do you live on? Do you want me to take you upstairs?"

Little Song Jia said as if in a dream: "I can go up by myself." Then he opened the door, got out of the car, and staggered into the building.

Zhang Chao was worried, so he quickly turned off the engine, got out of the car, and followed.

After getting into the elevator, going upstairs and reaching the door, Xiao Songjia took out the key from her body and opened the door. Only then did Zhang Chao feel relieved.

Little Song Jia suddenly turned around and asked, "Why did you follow me?"

Zhang Chao said: "I am worried...Are you not drunk?"

Little Song Jia chuckled and said, "Never believe a Northeastern woman who says she is drunk..."

Zhang Chao looked at her. In the dark corridor, little Song Jia's bright eyes were like two faint flames.

The next day, Zhang Chao was almost late for class. As soon as he arrived in the classroom, a classmate put a newspaper in front of him and said to him enviously: "Zhang Chao, you are famous again!"

Zhang Chao was startled, thinking he was on the entertainment headlines, and he was relieved when he took a look. It turned out to be the People's Daily, an article on one of the pages, with the title:

"Using business thinking to lead the development of art, the new publication of the talented young man Zhang Chao shocked the literary world"

Zhang Chao's fame has reached a new peak!
(The next chapter will be posted in the evening)

(End of this chapter)