Chapter 682 Christmas

Fang Minghua's family, as well as Li Li who comes back every year for Christmas, and Zhao Hongjun's family of three also came to join in the fun.

The babysitter was busy cooking in the kitchen, and the children were decorating the potted cypress tree in the yard as a Christmas tree.

Fang Minghua and Zhao Hongjun, the two couples, were drinking tea and chatting in the living room. In fact, the four of them did not chat, but talked about the affairs of Shengshi Group.

In the past year, Shengshi Group has generally developed well.

The group now has four companies, namely Shengshi Books, Shengshi Film and Television, Shengshi Property, which was just established, and Western Film and Television Group, a joint venture with Zhang Xianliang.

Shengshi Books has a good performance. This year, it has published nearly 30 books (sets), covering serious literature, popular literature (animation), Chinese studies, and popular science bestsellers.

"In the Name of the People", "Records of the Gulf War", and "Sailor Moon" (animation) have all been issued in the millions, and the overall operating profit is estimated to be around 20 million.

Shengshi Property was established not long ago, mainly operating the office leasing business of Shengshi Building. After the initial losses, Western Film and Television Group began to make profits in the first two years, and this year's operating profit is expected to reach about 10 million.

Relatively speaking, Shengshi Film and Television seems a little eclipsed.

The movie "Face Changing" suffered a huge loss, and the other three movies: "Extreme Cold" did not obtain the Dragon Mark as expected and could not be released in the mainland, but was approved by the Film Bureau to be exhibited overseas, and the loss has become a fact.

Zhang Yimou's "Shake It, Shake It to Grandma Bridge" and Wang Quanan's "The Piano in a Factory" have not been released yet, but according to past practice, Zhang Yimou's movies have not performed well at the box office in the mainland, and it depends on overseas.

Wang Quanan is full of confidence in "The Piano in a Factory". With the blessing of the published novel and his own ability, profitability should not be a problem.

The last TV series "In the Name of the People" has been completed and is undergoing intense post-production. It is expected to meet the audience during the Spring Festival.

In this regard, Song Tangtang, the helmsman of Shengshi Film and Television, felt quite stressed: the investment in the new film and television base was as high as 60 million yuan. In addition to the fixed asset investment, the company's account has a floating loss of 40 million yuan so far! Although the two movies and one TV series have not been released and there is no income for the time being.

But Fang Minghua and Zhao Hongjun, the two big bosses of Shengshi Group, are very open-minded.

Especially Zhao Hongjun, he advised: "Tangtang, it doesn't matter. The film and television industry has a large investment and high risk. It's okay to lose tens of millions. Besides, "In the Name of the People" has not been broadcast yet, and the losses will definitely be made back."

Now Shengshi Film and Television regards "In the Name of the People" as a turning point in performance.

Fang Minghua also said in a joking tone: "It's better to lose a little. You see that other film studios are losing money. If you make a profit, it will make others jealous. It's better to lose a little and follow the crowd."

"What are you talking about." Song Tangtang rolled her eyes at her husband, but she felt a little better.

"Where's Lili? Where did Lili go?" Song Tangtang looked at the living room and suddenly found that an adult was missing.

"She's there." Wang Xia pointed outside.

Through the glass door, Song Tangtang saw Lili decorating the Christmas tree with three children, laughing and jumping happily.

"Tangtang, I found that your cousin likes to play with children very much." Wang Xia said.

"Yes, Lili likes children very much."

"Then hurry up and have one." Wang Xia blurted out, but saw her husband glaring at her and quickly shut up.

Song Tangtang didn't pay attention to the expressions of the couple. Looking at Li Li who was having fun, she echoed: "Yes, we should have one. If we don't have one, we will be too old to have one. Okay, you guys chat, I'll go to help Xiaoqin cook, she can't handle it alone."

"I'll go too." Wang Xia stood up.

The two wives left, and there were only two men left in the living room, and it became quiet all of a sudden.

Both of them looked at Li Li who was playing with the children outside.

At this time, Li Li was wearing a white down jacket and a red scarf, laughing and jumping, happy like a child.

"Hey, Minghua, your sister-in-law is pretty good. She is in her early thirties, but she looks like a girl in her twenties. She is not only beautiful but also very elegant!"

"Nonsense, she is a doctor of literature. The ancients said: "The belly is full of poetry and books, and the spirit is naturally elegant. Hey, Hongjun, you can't?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? It should be you who has the idea! As the saying goes, "The sister-in-law has half of her ass belonging to her brother-in-law." Zhao Hongjun said in a low voice.

"Get out! A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory!"

After dinner, everyone sang Christmas songs and gave gifts to the children. It was almost ten o'clock in the evening before Zhao Hongjun and his wife left with their daughter.

Li Li was going to leave too, but Ruirui strongly requested to sleep with her tonight, and Li Li agreed.

"Brother-in-law, I have something to tell you." Li Li said.

"Hmm? "

"I have a colleague at San Francisco State University named Suzuko Sora, a Japanese professor. She and I have a good relationship. She knows that I am translating your book "The Convenience Store of Sorrow". She is also proficient in Chinese. After reading it, she felt it was very good and suggested translating it into Japanese and publishing it in Japan. What do you think?" Li Li said.

"Sure, if it is published in Japan, you can contact Kodansha. Many of my books were published there."

Fang Minghua is right.

That was ten years ago in 1984. Ichiro Sanben, deputy editor-in-chief of Kodansha, and Osamu Iwagami, president of the Japanese "Chinese Science Fiction Research Association", went to Yenching to find Fang Minghua, who was participating in the selection of the second "National Literature Award" at the time, and wanted to publish his three science fiction novels published in "Science and Literature" in Japan.

Later, Fang Minghua's "Our Journey is the Sea of ​​Stars" and "The Legend of Wukong" were published one after another, which were warmly welcomed by readers. Kodansha also purchased the comics and film and television adaptation rights of the novels.

After publishing animated novels and animated TV series, Fang Minghua became a household name in Japan, and he and Kodansha also made a lot of money.

In addition to these bestsellers, some serious literature written by Fang Minghua, such as the early "Selected Avant-garde Short Stories of Minghua", "Selected Realistic Short Stories of Minghua", the later "Selected New Realistic Short Stories of Minghua", "The Piano in a Factory", and the prose collection "Fragments of Civilization", etc., have also met readers in Japan one after another, but they are mainly published by Kadokawa Bookstore.

Now that Li Li proposed to publish "The Convenience Store of Worries" in Japan, Fang Minghua naturally thought of Kodansha.

"Well, I will give the Japanese translation of this book to my colleague, and she will ensure that it can be translated well." Li Li said.

"Okay, I will entrust you with full authority on this matter." Fang Minghua agreed immediately.

With Li Li as the overseas full-power representative, Fang Minghua is happy to be free.

Song Tangtang was a little unhappy when she heard it.

"Minghua, don't you think Lili is tired? You let her be responsible for the publication of the work in Europe and the United States, and now you give her the matter of publishing in Japan.

"It doesn't matter, cousin." Li Li hurriedly said: "I am happy to do these things."

Oh.

Really.

Song Tangtang didn't know what to say.