“Rod, these are the sequels, Interstellar War 2, The Game Under the Famine Years 2, Back to the Future 2, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 2. I believe you’ll give me a good royalty split.” Zheng Bai Cheng looked at Rod seriously. If this guy didn't give him a satisfactory royalty, then, this guy wouldn't be able to publish these novels.
Rod also knew that his publishing house was completely supported by Zheng Bai Cheng's novels. Recently, they were thinking about expanding. If they really couldn't meet Zheng Bai Cheng's requirements, then, they would be finished.
“Jason, don't worry, I'll take a look at your new work. Now my publishing house is at your service. Trust me, no publishing house is like ours.”
He opened the novel and began to read. The quality was stable, the content... The original 200,000 words, now it’s thicker, an estimated 300,000 words. Hmm, the interstellar weapons described inside are really explosive, giving him a sense of freshness. These extra words should be the description of the weapons, which are very sharp.
“Hey, Rod, you can read the contents after signing the contract, alright?”
Zheng Bai Cheng was a little impatient waiting. This guy Rod had been reading for half an hour, so engrossed. Auntie could bear it, but daddy couldn’t. My time is precious, alright?
“Oh oh~ Sorry, Jason, I'm too engrossed. 15%, just 15%. That's the treatment for bestselling novel authors.”
“16%, OK?”
Rod felt that this price was not bad, but he still felt a bit heartbroken. Moreover, if this continued, would the other party ask for 17% and 18% next time? He dared not think about it, he couldn't give in. But his eyes flickered and said, "Jason, you're a prolific writer. I have a suggestion, you can invest in my publishing house.”
Zheng Bai Cheng was a little disgusted. If it was a big-eyed cute girl looking at him like this, he might be smitten. You, a North American cowboy, you're looking at me with anticipation, if you don’t know, you'd think we were doing something gay, so disgusting.
He really wanted to say, “You’re a flop, why don’t you just disappear!”
Zheng Bai Cheng endured the psychological discomfort, leaned back, and rested against the back of the sofa, then said as if he was thinking, “Rod, you're not trying to cheat me, are you? You’ve been scheming against me.”
“Impossible, Jason, you're my friend, I wouldn't cheat you.” Rod looked innocent. He said, “I'm going to buy some bookstores, and then set up a publishing group, my business will expand, I want you to share the fruits of my labor with me.”
“Hehe... You want to drag someone to share the risk, right? Rod, you're a bad guy.”
“No, no, no, Jason, it's true. Now Rod Publishing is developing rapidly, it needs someone to invest. Of course, after you invest, you'll be a shareholder, I'll leave a seat for you on the board.”
“Hehe... Then… How much is Rod Publishing worth now?”
“Five million dollars...” Rod said the price, then suddenly his voice became smaller. He also knew that the price was too inflated. They only had one author, nothing else. If Zheng Bai Cheng left, then they could only live off their capital. But he immediately added, "Of course, we can discuss this, I can give you a discount, a 50% discount, oh, no, a 30% discount.”
“One percent discount. I’ll invest $200,000 for 20% of the shares.”
“10%.”
“20%.”
“15%.”
“20%.”
…
“OK, Jason, you're a stubborn guy, 20% is 20%, then, now, let's start drafting the contract.” Rod sighed like a defeated rooster, but his heart was actually blossoming. Finally, I’ve got you, Jason, my little darling~
With Zheng Bai Cheng as a golden signboard, then, his publishing house would soon become a medium-sized publishing house.
“No hurry, let's discuss the terms.” Zheng Bai Cheng started talking about his terms unhurriedly, “Rod, if Rod Publishing brings in other shareholders or invests in the future, you must get my consent. In this aspect, I have a veto right; If you bring in other shareholders or invest, I can also join, to ensure that my shares are not diluted; I also need to know about the investment, I will send a financial officer to the publishing house. If I think it's not right, I must stop it; In the future…”
After he finished speaking, Rod felt a little headache. This TM is like inviting an ancestor home. However, these conditions were acceptable because he could accept Zheng Bai Cheng's requirements.
Rod Publishing, as the name suggests, is owned by Rod, he's the only shareholder.
“Let's talk about the investment later, now, let's sign the contract, and settle the royalty from this period.”
“Oh, of course!”
The accounts were very clear. The last settlement was a few months ago. Zheng Bai Cheng started to check. These six novels have been on the New York Bestseller list for the past few months. The sales were very high. With the initial word-of-mouth spread, plus publicity, the novels have been reprinted twice, the fifth edition was 300,000 copies, and the sixth edition was 400,000 copies; The latest reprint is the seventh edition, also 400,000 copies, but it has not been sold out, so it cannot be settled.
This time, only the fifth and sixth editions can be settled, a total of 700,000 copies, a total of $1.89 million.
Amanda was also shocked by the money. She felt that this was money that ordinary people wouldn’t earn in a lifetime without eating or drinking; Lin Xiaohua was also shocked by so much money, but soon, she wasn't shocked anymore. She couldn’t let Cheng Ge lose face. She couldn’t make herself look like someone who had never seen money before, in front of others.
Out of that money, $200,000 was invested in Rod Publishing, but this investment was made through Jason Entertainment.
“Jason, when did you have an entertainment company? Jason Entertainment? Is that movie Persistence filmed by you?”
When Rod got Zheng Bai Cheng’s confirmation, he shouted, “Wow, that movie is so cool, only you could imagine that kind of movie, amazing. I'm a fan of yours, I contributed a ticket to the movie.”
“Thank you, Rod, I hope you can run the publishing house well, don’t let it go bankrupt.”
“Of course, Jason.” Rod was serious, he also wanted to expand the publishing house.