I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 236 The Call of Home

Liu Jin and the Iron Triangle would get together about once a week.

Everyone took turns treating each other.

They don't eat anything too luxurious or expensive; they mostly eat small tea snacks.

For example, you could order a few coffees and some snacks at a nice coffee shop; or gather at a small bar, have a couple of drinks, and order some nuts or fries to go with your drinks.

Of these, Ottilie has the least money.

So when it's her turn to treat, the other three will subconsciously look for some ordinary places to go.

Toulouse is not Paris!
There weren't as many paparazzi and reporters around.

In this city filled with rose-red hues, there is a predominantly relaxed and leisurely lifestyle.

Sometimes, people would recognize Liu Jin.

But not overly enthusiastic.

We'd say hello, chat about the plot of the book, or ask for an autograph—that's all.

The girls in the bar, however, seemed quite interested in him.

Unfortunately, since his rebirth, Liu Jin has had no interest in environments like bars.

I've been to too many places in my past life!

I feel a bit of aversion, both physically and psychologically.

Besides, he's been with countless women these days.

The girls in the bar didn't quite catch his eye.

Occasionally, when I go to a bar to relax, I'll call up my trio—the Iron Triangle—to keep me safe from the wind and rain.

……

The Iron Triangle is gone!
He left behind a check for three million euros.

The revenue from "Angel", "Father" and "Love Me If You Dare" in Europe last year.

Liu Jin was also somewhat numb!

Every time this woman comes over, she throws checks at him.

He was somewhat pleased by what he had done.

Several million in Industrial Bank and Citibank have not been touched yet, and this brings in new income.

Getting paid is ultimately a happy thing!

As for those pretentious jokes in the future, like how having a lot of money means you're all about numbers... Liu Jin didn't care.

Perhaps he still doesn't have enough money.

Anyway, he always felt happy whenever he received money!

A simple, pure joy of "I got money again".

This joy should last forever.

Otherwise, I'll soon lose all motivation...

Mela said his income this year will be astronomical.

Thinking about it, it seems to make sense.

The cost of "The Old Man and the Sea," "Pirates of the Caribbean," and various other changes seems to be an astronomical figure.

But just how big of a surprise will it be?
Liu Jin didn't calculate; he was waiting for the surprise to arrive.

No, it's March!
Liu Jin made a phone call to his accountant, Brown.

Brown is not in Toulouse; he apparently went there to handle some accounting matters and is currently in Provence.

Liu Jin spoke with Brown on the phone about the financial audit team.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what challenges my Hollywood colleagues will bring me."

This guy actually got excited!

"Brown, it's almost May!"

“I know, about tax filing… I’ll go back to Toulouse next month and I’ll help you with that then.”

However, there's something I must remind you of, Amos. You need a long-term and stable channel for tax relief.

"You must have an idea, right?"

"Of course, this is my specialty."

"How about this, when you come back next month, you can also connect with my agent and lawyer, and we can further our cooperation."

"As you wish, my esteemed Mr. Amos."

"Get out of here, stop using that theatrical tone."

Liu Jin chuckled and cursed, then hung up the phone.

"Louis, let's go!"

He stood up, slipped a twenty-euro note under his coffee cup, and greeted the café owner.

Liu Jin is a regular customer!
The bearded shop owner waved to him from inside the store, indicating that he understood.

He then hopped on his small scooter and sped away.

That evening, he rode his newly bought bicycle, tied up the two stray dogs, and secured them to the bicycle.

Eva changed into a sweatshirt and tucked into the hood.

Then I rode my bike and started walking the dog!
The dog has grown up and needs to be walked every day.

Run?

Liu Jin felt like he wasn't walking the dog, but the dog was walking him, so his nightly running routine turned into night riding.

In Toulouse, the night breeze is gentle in March.

Liu Jin pedaled his bicycle, and two stray dogs ran wildly after him.

A night breeze caressed her face as Eva emerged from her hood, perched on Liu Jin's shoulder, and stared with her golden eyes, curiously surveying her surroundings.

It's still small, so it can lie on Liu Jin's body.

Liu Jin wasn't sure if it would still be able to do this once it grew up.

But at this moment, he was in a very good mood!
Two dogs and a cat, a person and a horse.

I don't know when it started, but it has become a part of the night view in Toulouse.

If this happened twenty years from now, Liu Jin would definitely become an internet celebrity.

He rested for a while in front of the Saint-Cernan Cathedral and asked someone to take a few photos for him.

These will all be his most cherished memories in the future!
After riding for an hour and a half, the two stray dogs were exhausted.

Liu Jin was also exhausted and returned home.

A basin of clean water was added to the water bowl at the entrance of the kennel. The two mongrels circled the basin, desperately trying to get water in, and then crawled into the kennel.

Eva didn't follow Liu Jin into the house, but instead went into the dog kennel and stayed with the two puppies for a while.

The three boys grew up together since they were little.

In the eyes of the two little ones, Eva is like a little princess.

They have a good relationship and take good care of each other.

Liu Jin, unconcerned about Eva's safety, went inside to take a shower.

I had been riding for over an hour and was covered in sweat. Just then, the phone rang.

Around nine o'clock...

Liu Jin frowned and picked up his phone.

This is his new phone, still a Motorola V70, which was just launched in Europe in February. It's a flip phone.

"Xiao Jin, are you asleep yet?"

"It's only a little past nine, Mom! What time is it back home? Why are you calling at this hour?"

"It's past three o'clock, I've already taken a nap... I was planning to call you tonight, but I forgot. I'm getting old, my memory isn't what it used to be."

"Mom, you're not old at all."

Liu Jin definitely couldn't go along with what the old lady said, otherwise there would definitely be trouble.

The mother and son chatted for a few minutes about everyday things.

The old lady suddenly asked, "The newspaper reported on you a couple of days ago."

"what?"

"It's Zhang Yimou. When he was interviewed, he praised you a lot, saying that your works caused a huge sensation in Europe and America, but were not published or distributed in China. He felt that this was a regret for domestic readers."

By the way, what's your book "What Sea" about? It supposedly sold millions of copies in America?

"The Old Man and the Sea!"

Liu Jin laughed and said, "It's already over ten million!"

"what?"

The old lady was startled.

"No wonder, no wonder."

"What do you mean, 'no wonder'?"

"Well, today... no, yesterday, I received a call from the city, from the XX department, asking if you were my son. Of course I said yes! Then he praised me for a long time on the phone."

"Let's get down to business!"

The old man's voice came from the side.

It turns out he hadn't slept; he'd been eavesdropping the whole time.

"I'm talking to my son, why are you interrupting?"

"No, it's an international call! It's for the phone bill!"

"My son can earn money, and I can use the money he earns to make phone calls to him. It's none of your business."

"No, why are you being unreasonable..."

The two elderly people started arguing on the other end of the phone.

Liu Jin was overjoyed to hear this!
The old lady has finally straightened her back!

Previously, her retirement pension was not as high as the old man's, so she was always managed by him.

Since Liu Jin started making money, he has been sending money to the old lady's account every time, which has given her a sense of security.

With millions sitting in her bank account, her tone of voice is completely different now.

The old man had complained about it when he called before.

They say the old lady is now extravagant and has lost all her former thrifty and hardworking ways.

Although it was described as a complaint, Liu Jin could tell it was.

The old man meant that the next remittance should be made to my account, otherwise I would have no standing in the family...

Except for the first remittance which was sent to the old man, all the subsequent money was sent to the old woman.

The main issue was that the old man had complained that after receiving the remittance, he had to report it to his superiors.

To reduce trouble later...

The result is that the old man's status in the family is -1-1-1-1!

After arguing for a while, the old lady finally remembered that she was making an international call.

He scolded the old man a couple more times before saying to Liu Jin, "Secretary-General Shen from the Municipal Federation of Literary and Art Circles made a phone call this afternoon."

Um, her mother is Li Jianhong, do you remember her? She used to work at the same company as me, and you always called her Aunt Li, Aunt Li…”

I really don't remember!
My mom has been retired for many years now.

Apart from a few familiar people, Liu Jinzhen couldn't remember anyone else.

But he said, "I remember!"

“Shen Jie took office as the secretary-general of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles last year. She wants to invite you to join our city’s Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the city’s Writers Association.”

"what?"

Liu Jin was stunned for a moment.

He knew Shen Jie.

In his past life, it was Shen Jie who helped him become a member of the city's Writers Association, and then helped him submit one of his works to a city-level competition, where he won an award.

Later, he joined the provincial writers' association and the national writers' association.

I lost touch with Shen Jie...

Looking back now, I feel really bad for them.

"The Municipal Writers Association is no problem, but I'm in France and don't plan to go back this summer. How can I join?"

"Don't worry about that. If you agree, Shen Jie will handle it for you."

"My son is a renowned author in Europe and America, his books have sold tens of millions of copies, he should join the Writers' Association. By the way, would you like to join the provincial Writers' Association?" Shen Jie said, "If you're interested, she can help you apply."

"Let's wait and see, let's join the Municipal Writers Association first."

Liu Jin hesitated for a moment, then refused!
He wasn't interested in joining any associations or anything like that.

Joining the Municipal Writers Association is more about repaying a favor from a past life.

He doesn't operate in China, so why would he need a membership?
Isn't it good to be free and unrestrained?
I can write whatever I want, unlike in my past life when I wrote a very positive work, only to be told that I wasn't qualified.

Tell me again in this lifetime?
I invested in it myself and found the filmmakers myself!

What can you do to me?

……

After hanging up the phone, Liu Jin put the matter out of his mind.

He turned on his computer and searched on Sina.com.

It really is!
The director mentioned Liu Jin in a casual conversation about the Berlin Film Festival during a reporter's interview.

He didn't say anything else, only that Liu Jin had written many books in France, all of which had achieved great success, and that two of his works had already been adapted into films and television series.

"I had someone translate his work for me, and it was excellent."

So many excellent works, why haven't they been published in China? Those are works by Chinese people who have made a name for themselves in Europe and America, yet remain unknown in China. I find it a real pity… especially his new book, which is outstanding.”

"How does it compare to Mo?"

"The two styles are not easy to compare."

Then, the reporter published this interview.

This also caused quite a stir in China...

(End of this chapter)