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Chapter 404: Chapter 394: Collaborating with Joseph Again
That day was a Wednesday, and Shen Yunfang had an English class during the evening self-study session. Li Hongjun didn’t want to be apart from his wife and also wanted to check out the environment where his wife studied.
How could he completely trust his delicate little wife to study among a bunch of hormone-raging boys? Before, there was no choice, but now that he had the opportunity, he felt he must declare his sovereignty.
Of course, he couldn’t say that to his wife. He claimed he wanted to learn some foreign languages with her, having heard that the Party School offered such courses. Plus, it was about picking up his wife and taking her home; he didn’t feel comfortable letting her go home alone after dark.
Shen Yunfang was well aware of her husband’s little thoughts. But for her, it didn’t matter. Having Li Hongjun show up was a good thing; it let certain people see clearly that she, a married woman, didn’t need anyone else’s care.
Besides, Li Xianglian and her daughter had been sent away by Li Hongjun the day before. Now that he was alone at home, he indeed found it somewhat boring. So why not go along with her? He could just hold Pangpang during the class.
The classmates from Class 2 were quite surprised to see Li Hongjun’s arrival. After learning of his identity, they were very enthusiastic toward him in his crisp military uniform. They took the initiative to chat with Li Hongjun, almost overshadowing Shen Yunfang.
During the one-hour class, Li Hongjun truly held Pangpang and listened attentively to his wife’s lecture. On the way home, Shen Yunfang asked him, "I saw that you really listened in class today. Why are you interested in learning English all of a sudden?"
"Mhm, I’ve gotten interested. I think that in the future, being a soldier isn’t just about relying on physical strength; one also has to depend on this." Li Hongjun pointed to his head. "To keep moving forward, not only do I have to have stronger professional skills than others, but I also need more knowledge in my head."
Shen Yunfang nodded in agreement. "In the future, as our country develops, we’ll need soldiers who are not just war machines. Soldiers need to have thoughts too. We have to arm ourselves with knowledge so that we can win battles and keep on winning."
"So, I’ll also study hard and won’t let you outdo me," Li Hongjun said at the front.
Shen Yunfang snorted from behind, mumbling about this and that. In the end, it all came down to his male pride.
With Li Hongjun’s return and since it wasn’t yet time for him to report to the Party School, he took over the task of picking up and dropping off the kids at home.
Of course, he also took on the daily task of escorting his wife.
In the morning, one of them cooked while the other dressed the children. They worked together seamlessly. The family got ready and had breakfast, and then they all set off together. Li Hongjun rode the bicycle, with Pangpang in front, his wife and daughter in back, and Taxue running behind them.
After safely dropping off the kids at the daycare, Li Hongjun would carry his wife to the Agricultural University, with Taxue following behind them.
Once Shen Yunfang went to her classes, Li Hongjun would walk around with Taxue, then pick up his wife and head home to get the kids.
Their days were plain yet filled with flavor for the family.
Today, when Shen Yunfang finished her class and left the teaching building, she saw Li Hongjun waiting for her at the gate.
"Your man is really punctual, come rain or shine," joked a classmate with Shen Yunfang.
Shen Yunfang smiled, said goodbye to everyone, and ran over to him.
"Let’s go, we’re not going home for dinner today. We’re going to eat out," Li Hongjun said confidently as he pedaled forward with his wife in tow.
"Why? Is there a special occasion?" Shen Yunfang asked. Both were not ones to show off; although they had money, they preferred the warmth of eating together with their family, so eating out was indeed rare for them.
"Just now, that Joseph came looking for you at the school. I happened to run into him. I thought it wouldn’t be right to have a blue-eyed, blonde-haired foreigner standing there waiting for you, so I sent him to wait at the restaurant. After you finished class, we’d go there to meet him," Li Hongjun explained what had just happened.
"What? You mean Joseph understood what you said?" The first thing Shen Yunfang was concerned about was this.
"Humph, looking down on me, are you? These past few days, my English lessons weren’t for nothing," Li Hongjun said with bravado, yet he had actually had to gesticulate quite a bit to make Joseph understand him. This encounter firmed up his determination to learn English properly. Being looked down upon by foreigners was not something a Chinese soldier could tolerate.
Shen Yunfang didn’t call him out on it—after all, if English were so easy to learn that just a few days of study enabled free conversation with foreigners, then the streets would be full of people speaking English fluently.
She shared her idea of cooperating with Joseph with Li Hongjun, seeking his opinion on whether the proposal was feasible and whether she, as a military spouse, could collaborate with a foreigner.
Li Hongjun felt there was nothing wrong with that. Had it been a few years ago, it might have been a different story—perhaps he would have been charged with something and then ordered to leave the military, but things were better now. With the momentum of reform and opening-up, local governments were openly and secretly seeking foreign business partners.
Shen Yunfang outlined her conditions for working with Joseph and Li Hongjun pointed out several shortcomings, which they discussed thoroughly on the way there.
The two went directly to the large hotel they visited last time. The gatekeeper’s inspection was not as strict, probably because Joseph had made arrangements.
When they reached the second-floor café, Joseph was waiting for them in the same spot.
After the initial pleasantries, they got down to business.
"Shen, I thoroughly reviewed the picture albums you mailed, and I find them very imaginative. I also received your letter, and our publishing house takes your proposal very seriously. That is why I have come to your country again, ready to discuss this cooperation with you in person," Joseph explained why he had come to China again.
Indeed, after receiving Shen’s picture albums, Joseph felt that the story was very imaginative, even more suited to the taste of Europeans and Americans than the previous proposal of "The Thirty-Six Stratagems." He believed that if handled well, this series could sell very well.
Upon seeing Shen’s letter expressing a wish to collaborate, he felt he had to come in person to discuss the matter with her.
Shen Yunfang hadn’t expected Joseph to take her so seriously. She thought he might be in China on business and wanted to meet her by chance and then discuss cooperation, not that he would come especially for it.
"I am very pleased that ’Transformers’ has captured the attention of your publishing house. This is not our first collaboration, and the previous ones have been enjoyable, so I am very much looking forward to this one," said Shen Yunfang, also extending some polite remarks.
After that, the two engaged in an in-depth discussion on publishing and the cost issues for "Transformers."
Shen Yunfang anticipated that "Transformers" would run for a hundred episodes, each with its own picture album. They would evaluate the results after publishing, and if the public accepted the series and it sold well, she would continue with "Transformers 2," "Transformers 3," and so on. She didn’t want royalties but instead half of the profits after "Transformers" was published.
Joseph had some objections to the fifty percent, as the publishing house was responsible for printing and subsequent marketing, among other investments. If Shen Yunfang took half right away, it would be too much of a loss for his publishing house.
In fact, Shen Yunfang’s fifty percent was just a starting point for the negotiation—it’s all part of doing business, starting high to leave room for bargaining, isn’t it?
After back-and-forth negotiations, and with both sides keen on cooperation, they eventually met in the middle. Shen Yunfang would receive twenty-five percent of the profits from "Transformers" sales, while retaining all intellectual property rights.
Shen Yunfang was satisfied with this outcome. She anticipated that even if "Transformers" didn’t sell as well as she hoped, the twenty-five percent of the profits would still exceed a standard royalty.
With both parties satisfied with the outcome, they began a pleasant lunch. Right after lunch, Joseph efficiently presented the agreement they had just discussed.
Shen Yunfang carefully examined it, and having no objections, she signed her name. Thus, the cooperation was officially in effect.
All those present—well, except for Shen Yunfang—didn’t expect this collaboration to bring unexpected wealth to both parties.
And Joseph would soon regret his "generosity" today. Although he figured "Transformers" had good potential, he hadn’t anticipated the massive sales that greatly profited his publishing house, and the substantial amount he now had to share.
As Joseph was eager to return and start working on "Transformers," he wanted to leave for home immediately after signing the contract with Shen Yunfang.
He also took with him the ten "Transformers" picture albums that Shen Yunfang had already completed.
In fact, Shen Yunfang’s home was now stocked with dozens of these albums, but she didn’t want to hand them all over to Joseph at once—better to keep him waiting a bit.
