Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 69: Snail House
Li Shidong, Yan Baohua and Xia Da all looked at Zhang Chao.

Zhang Chao said: "You don't have to pay a penny for the copyright of the adaptation. I can authorize you to make a comic version of "Your Name"."

Xia Da couldn't believe it, and there were stars in his eyes. But Li Shidong and Yan Baohua were older after all, and they knew that Zhang Chao had more to say.

Sure enough, Zhang Chao continued, "Since you haven't paid the copyright fee for the adaptation, then the copyright is naturally still in my hands. The copyright of the "Your Name" comic that you adapted belongs to me. Can you accept that?"

Xia Da was stunned. Zhang Chao's plan was equivalent to turning himself into his free worker. Copyright ownership has always been the most sensitive issue in literary and artistic creation, and no creator would easily give up his rights.

If Zhang Chao's plan was implemented, Xia Dazhen would become a laborer on compulsory labor, which was almost unacceptable to her.

The light in Xia Da's eyes quickly faded, his face turned pale again, and he stood up and prepared to leave.

Zhang Chao said hurriedly: "Don't worry, I haven't finished yet!"

Li Shidong said, "Can you stop speaking in fragments, kid?"

Zhang Chao ignored Li Shidong and continued to say to Xia Da: "Of course I won't let you paint for nothing - if "Your Name" is serialized or reprinted in a magazine, all the royalties will belong to you, and I won't take a penny. But if it is published in the future and there are subsequent derivative products, the royalties will belong to me, but I will pay you a part of the fees extra."

Xia Da stopped and fell into deep thought.

Although Zhang Chao's plan still did not relax the copyright requirements, it would at least not leave Xia Da without income. As for the additional payment in the future, Xia Da thought it was just a lie Zhang Chao had drawn.

2004年国内漫画杂志的稿费大概是120-150元一页，连载漫画一期16-20页，也就是一期能赚两三千块……

Xia Da thought about it, and finally nodded and said, "Okay. I accept it."

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "So we have reached a preliminary agreement? I will find a lawyer to draft the agreement. Don't worry, I will definitely not let you suffer any loss."

Yan Baohua breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Xiao Xia, you must give our manuscript to Yanjing Cartoons this time. I will give you the highest royalty."

Xia Da nodded imperceptibly, as if the communication just now had exhausted all her energy.

Zhang Chao actually doesn’t have much hope for the market after “Your Name” is adapted into a comic book. Because at this time, the influence of domestic comics is really limited. Even he himself used to read Japanese and Hong Kong comics, and had almost no exposure to Chinese comics.

In his impression, the domestic animation market will take off in ten years.

However, it is also good to have someone help to make "Your Name" into a comic. It is worth an attempt. Anyway, the copyright is still in my hands, and the royalties are paid by "Yanjing Cartoons", so I can have some free time.

In the following week, Zhang Chao attended classes at Luyuan during the week and wandered around Beijing with his classmates on weekends, visiting the Forbidden City, Lama Temple, Tanzhe Temple, Taoranting, and basically everything else.

Zhang Chao felt that these older brothers and sisters, who were on average nearly 20 years older than him, were actually quite cute - it would be even better if the gentlemen in his dormitory didn't smoke, grind their teeth, talk in their sleep, or snore...

Thinking of this, Zhang Chao wanted to live alone more and more, so he sent a text message to ask Dongfang Xing if he had helped him find a house.

After a while, Dongfang Xing called back and said, "What a coincidence! I just found you a house."

Zhang Chao hurriedly asked about the details.

Dongfang Xing introduced: "The house is in Yanda. It was originally a welfare house of the unit and was not allowed to be sold. Later, the policy was relaxed and residents could get personal property certificates after paying additional money. The owner is a retired professor of Yanda. His children are doing business in Guangdong Province. He is old and wants to go to Guangdong Province for retirement. So he wants to sell the house."

Zhang Chao asked, "How is the house?"

Dongfang Xing said, "I haven't been there either. A friend from Yan University told me about it. He said it's a three-bedroom apartment, quite spacious. If you want to see it, I'll give you his phone number."

Zhang Chao said, "Give it to me." Dongfang Xing gave him the number, and Zhang Chao wrote it down. After hanging up, he called back. The person on the other end was a teacher in the Computer Department of Yanda University, who happened to be a graduate student of the old professor, and helped him arrange a viewing of the house on Sunday.

On Sunday, Zhang Chao arrived at Yanyuan early. His house was at the east gate of Yanyuan, separated from the main teaching area of ​​Yanda by Zhongguancun North Street, but adjacent to the residential area of ​​Qinghua University, and behind it was the famous Yandong Garden.

Zhang Chao was at the gate of the community. From a distance, he saw a man wearing thick bottle-bottom glasses, about 30 years old. He walked up to him and greeted him: "Excuse me, are you Teacher Li?" - The teacher's surname was Li, Li Wandong.

Li Wandong looked at Zhang Chao in confusion and asked, "Who are you...?"

Zhang Chao replied: "I am Zhang Chao, I am here to look at the house, you can just call me Xiao Zhang."

Li Wandong was extremely surprised. The young man in front of him was only about 20 years old. He was the one who wanted to buy it? The world was really different... But he was mainly taking people to the teacher's house today, so he didn't want to say anything more, so he took Zhang Chao into the community.

The community is not big, with only 6 buildings, each with 19 floors, 6 households on each floor, and 2 elevators.

The house he wanted to see was on the 3th floor of Building 16 in the community. Li Wandong rang the doorbell, and soon a kind old man with silver hair came out and opened the door.

Li Wandong introduced: "This is my teacher, Professor Zhao Tong. Teacher, this is Zhang Chao, the one who is here to see the house today. He started studying at Yanda in September this year."

Zhang Chao hurriedly greeted: "Hello, Professor Zhao."

Zhao Tong was a little surprised to see Zhang Chao was so young, and asked, "Did you really want to buy it yourself?"

Zhang Chao smiled sweetly and said, "Yes. I'm going to study at Yanda University this year, so I want to live closer to the school."

Zhao Tong nodded and said, "Young people nowadays... well, our community is basically not sold to the outside world, it is all consumed internally. Although it is usually bought by faculty and staff, and never by students - but it is not forbidden. Come in and take a look."

Zhang Chao took off his shoes and entered the house. Zhao Tong began to introduce the house: "This community was built in 96. It is one of the earliest modern communities in Yanda. Because it was welfare housing at the beginning, it did not have a formal name. We usually call it North Street East Courtyard. The property we use now is also Yanda's own..."

Zhang Chao listened while looking at the house. The house has 3 bedrooms and 1 living room, and also has a small storage room, about 1 square meters. Because it was not originally built as a commercial house, the 100 square meters is the actual building area, and the interior space is quite spacious.

The house is very clean, and the decoration and furniture look old, but not shabby. Especially the furniture, which is simple and practical, with a bit of retro style.

Zhang Chao was quite satisfied, so he asked the price directly.

Zhao Tong didn't waste any words and said, "Let's just follow the market price in Haidian. The house is 103 square meters according to the property deeds, so it's 70 yuan. You will also pay for the transfer fee."

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "Professor, look, this house is inside the school, so the trading area is limited..."

After bargaining, Zhao Tong finally agreed to a deal of 67 yuan, but Zhang Chao wanted to pay the full amount in one lump sum. Zhang Chao readily agreed and directly took out a deposit of 2 yuan and a purchase intention contract.

Zhao Tong was surprised and said, "You came prepared!"

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "A good house doesn't wait for anyone."

After leaving Professor Zhao Tong’s house, Li Wandong was still a little confused—was this “business” worth hundreds of thousands of dollars done?
Zhang Chao stretched his body lazily and said, "I finally have a place to stay in Yanjing. Teacher Li, I'll treat you to a meal. You've worked hard today."

Li Wandong smiled bitterly and said, "If this is a small house, then what is the 12 square meters Youth Education Dormitory where I live now?"

After dinner, Zhang Chao took a taxi back to his dormitory at Luyuan. His roommates had all gone out to play, leaving no one behind. Zhang Chao took out his computer, created a new document, and typed in the title of his new book:
Dwelling

(End of this chapter)