How much does a novel cost?
According to records, a novel cost about two dollars in 1967. This year, Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" was published in Buenos Aires, priced at about two dollars. This was due to the strong recommendations of celebrities at the time.
However, under Zheng Baicheng's strong insistence, Rhode set the price at $3. Zheng Baicheng said to Rhode at the time: "If this price can't sell, I can lower my royalties." That's how his novel was priced at $3, which was already a very high price.
Now, the lowest income in North America is about $300 to $500 a month, which translates to 8.6 ounces to 14.29 ounces in gold. If converted to 57 years later, that's $21,500 to $35,700 a month, so it can be said that the income is very high.
Holding a check for $778,320, Zheng Baicheng was still a little unhappy, but there was nothing he could do. The consumption level at this time was just like that. If it were put into 40 years later, those novels would probably be $35 each, and his royalties could have reached tens of millions of dollars. Of course, this money would be taxed.
"Should we go and pay the tax?"
Zheng Baicheng consulted Amanda. This was normal. In North America, you always have to deal with taxes. This country was established because of tax evasion, but it deeply loathes others' tax evasion.
Tax agencies in other countries collect taxes peacefully, but the IRS has armed personnel, they really have armed personnel. They don't care what you do in North America, but you still can't evade taxes, otherwise...
He once saw a true story online about this, a bigwig in North America who wasn't dealt with by the judicial system, but was taken down by the IRS. The reason was simple and very sufficient: you haven't paid taxes!!! You haven't paid taxes!!!
In America, whether you are a native or a foreigner, a domestic company or a foreign company, doing business here…well, simply put, you have to pay taxes.
"You don't look like a Chinese at all. Taxes should be filed next April, but you are a foreigner, so you can go and file taxes too."
…
"Amanda, you know how much tax I just paid? $38,698, almost $40,000. Do you know how sad my heart is?"
Zheng Baicheng complained there. This income wasn't actually that much. Over $600 and under $10,000 was 3%, and over $10,000 was 5%. He paid $38,698 in taxes.
"Hehe… You, alone, have earned what others would earn in a lifetime, and you still say your heart is sad. Am I not supposed to die? Damn!" Amanda became a little angry, roaring there.
"Oh, sorry, I'll treat you to dinner today!"
Amanda was a little scary at this moment, Zheng Baicheng could only smooth things over, weakly indicating that he would treat her to dinner.
"OK, we're going to have a big meal."
You got me…
On the way back from outside, Zheng Baicheng realized that if you want to be famous, you have to be really famous. After he became famous, he became a real celebrity, well, the kind with fame that spreads overseas. At that time…
"And who else?"
That evening, in the living room, Lin Xiaohua came down from upstairs. She saw Zheng Baicheng still sitting in the living room, drawing and sketching, and she was a little curious.
"Cheng Ge, haven't you gone to sleep yet?"
"Hmm, you sleep first, I still have some things to do. I need to contact Li Chenglong tonight, I have something to discuss with him." Zheng Baicheng didn't look up, still busy, casually replying.
"Cheng Ge, then you should go to sleep early."
"Okay, I know."
Hong Kong is about 12 hours ahead of Los Angeles. It was night here, and day there.
Li Chenglong received the call at about ten in the morning. When he learned it was Zheng Baicheng, he was also a little surprised.
"A Cheng, is there something urgent?"
He asked this question naturally, because it was daytime there, and naturally nighttime here.
"Long Ge, I have something to tell you, there's big news. Do you want to report it?"
This year, the plastic flower factory salary incident triggered the 67 incident, many people died, and Hong Kong is still in turmoil now. Is there any news more eye-catching than this?
"A Cheng, big news? Then tell me."
"My few short stories, translated into English, have been well received in North America. Each one has sold 313,000 copies, a total of 1.878 million copies. Is this not big news?"
Li Chenglong thought for a moment and said: "It's good news, but we can't publish it now. You might not know the situation in Hong Kong now…" On the phone, Li Chenglong talked about the recent events in Hong Kong. Zheng Baicheng was horrified, it was too dangerous.
"Then let's wait until after New Year's Day. But I want to ask you something, Long Ge, are there any people selling off properties? I have dollars now and want to exchange them for property."
Hearing that Zheng Baicheng had dollars, Li Chenglong said: "Oh, you have dollars? Then it's easy. I know some people who are selling off properties. Hong Kong property is so cheap now, you can buy a 300-square-foot house for less than 20,000. You want to buy a factory building? There are some, some."
Zheng Baicheng knew that Li Boss had made his fortune by buying factory buildings. He bought a lot of industrial buildings. Hong Kong's industrial buildings, during several crises, had plummeted tenfold, and then when the economy was good and society was stable, they had soared tenfold. He wanted to learn from Li Boss and do it this way.
With a 'master' before you, you can naturally learn from him.
"…A Cheng, this is in my hands…"
After hearing about Zheng Baicheng's glorious achievements in North America, Li Chenglong's attitude changed drastically. This was evident from his later enthusiastic tone. Recently, the press in Hong Kong had only Ming Pao standing out. How could they not be envious and jealous of Ming Pao?
Haven't you heard the saying: "Professionals are enemies"? And as long as they're in the same field, they'll always be enemies. Unless they merge or intermarry, don't think about peaceful coexistence.
Zheng Baicheng hung up the phone. After hearing about the harsh social environment there, he could only say: "Sure enough, where there is danger, there is opportunity." He didn't dare go back now, he could only wait until December to return.
The situation in Hong Kong now is that many people want to emigrate, and property is very cheap. At 50 Hong Kong dollars, you can buy one square foot of housing. This is verifiable, Hong Kong stock market guru Cao Renchao once said: Hong Kong house prices rose from HK$50 per square foot in mid-1967 to HK$12,000 per square foot in mid-1997, a 239-fold increase, and then fell back to HK$4,000 per square foot, a 67% decline.