Siheyuan: After traveling through time, who can still be an honest person?

Ma Mingli asked directly: "How many copies of the newspaper were sold yesterday?"

Li Dongping bowed his head and replied in a low voice: "Fifty-six thousand copies."

Ma Mingli frowned. "There were 60,000 copies last month, and the average sales volume last year was 70,000 to 80,000. Why is it dropping so fast now?"

Declining sales means that advertising revenue will continue to decrease, employee salaries will decline accordingly, and talent will gradually be lost. This is a vicious cycle.

The group cannot allow the newspaper to continue to suffer losses.

If this continues, the newspaper will close sooner or later.

Li Donglai quickly explained: "Now the competitors..."

"Okay, that's not an excuse."

Ma Mingli interrupted Li Donglai and threw the manuscript on the desk.

"This is a new novel I collected. The subject matter is quite novel. Please see if it can be published in the supplement."

Ma Mingli originally didn't think much of Cao Yue's novel, so he asked Li Dong to come over to see if it could be revised and then published in the newspaper, which would be considered as completing his father's task.

After reading it now, I think the novel written by Cao Yue is still worth reading.

Li Donglai picked up the manuscript and almost lost his composure when he saw the author's pen name.

A few minutes later.

Li Donglai quickly read through it, raised his head and said, "Boss Ma, it is indeed creative to have modern people travel back to ancient times, but there are too many descriptions of love affairs in it. If it is published, I am afraid it will attract criticism."

"Do you think this novel has the potential to be a big hit?"

Ma Mingli is a typical businessman who only cares about profits and doesn't care about any infamy.

Besides, the ones who were scolded were the author and the editor-in-chief Li Donglai. He was so busy with his work that he had no idea about it at all. What did it have to do with him!

"Mr. Ma, martial arts novels have reached their end now. If the plot of this novel doesn't collapse later on, it should be a hit. It might even lead the trend of time-travel novels," said Li Donglai.

Ma Mingli believed in Li Donglai's eyesight and finally a smile appeared on his face.

……

At noon, Lou Xiao'e took Cao Yue to a more upscale Western restaurant for lunch, and then went shopping in another shopping mall.

In addition to buying clothes for Cao Yue, he also went on a shopping spree for himself.

Perhaps it was because she was in high spirits due to happy events, Lou Xiao'e was in high spirits the whole day.

The two returned to the Lou family villa in the evening, and Ma Mingli was already waiting at home.

The Lou family had never been optimistic about Cao Yue's novel writing, but now that Ma Mingli came to their house in person, they couldn't help but look at him with admiration.

"Boss Ma, I've heard a lot about you."

"Mr. Cao, nice to meet you. You are my father's savior. Just call me Mingli."

"Then I will call you Brother Ma."

"Brother Cao..."

Ma Mingli and Cao Yue hit it off right away and quickly became brothers. After some nonsense, the Lou family left, leaving the two of them to talk about business.

"Brother Cao, how many words do you plan to write for A Step into the Past?"

"One million and a half words."

"How about 50 yuan per thousand words?" Ma Mingli said generously.

The most expensive author in Hong Kong currently does not earn more than 100 yuan per thousand words. Ma Mingli thought that he was showing great sincerity when Cao Yue, a newcomer, received this unit price.

Cao Yue calculated that the entire novel only earned him 70,000 to 80,000 yuan in royalties.

Depend on!

Any treasure in my space is worth more than this number.

Lou Xiao'e spent more than 100,000 yuan on him while shopping today!

If it weren't for the fame, he wouldn't have earned this little money.

Cao Yue pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Brother Ma, how about this? Let's use the sales of the newspaper as the standard. If my novel is published, and the sales of the newspaper increase by 10,000 copies, the unit price of the manuscript fee will increase by 50 yuan."

Ma Mingli was stunned. He didn't expect that the other party was still not satisfied after he offered such generous conditions.

"Brother Cao seems to be very confident in himself." Ma Mingli said with a smile.

Cao Yue smiled and said, "I am not confident in myself, but in the novel."

If Ma Mingli does not agree to this condition, the worst that can happen is that he will go to another newspaper to publish his novel. There are dozens of newspapers in Hong Kong Island anyway.

Ma Mingli looked at Cao Yue's determined gaze and understood what he meant.

"Okay, let's do it." Ma Mingli gritted his teeth.

Anyway, newspaper sales are declining and advertisers are almost running away, so let's take a gamble.

If the novel can really bring the newspaper back to life, the increased royalties will be just a drop in the bucket compared to the profits the newspaper will make.

Afterwards, Ma Mingli started chatting with Cao Yue.

He found that Cao Yue's conversation and knowledge did not seem like he was from the mainland at all.

Moreover, Cao Yue did not feel uncomfortable at all when facing this wealthy man. On the contrary, he felt a sense of pressure when talking to Cao Yue.

This made Ma Mingli treat Cao Yue more enthusiastically.

After Lou Zhichao returned home, he looked at the two people chatting enthusiastically with a look of surprise on his face.

……

three days later.

Cao Yue's novel A Step into the Past was officially serialized and published in a newspaper.

It didn't cause much stir that day.

Two days later.

Newspaper sales began to increase slowly.

Five days later.

As word of mouth spread, sales began to soar.

"A Step into the Past" is generally a refreshing novel. Modern people travel through ancient times to participate in major historical events. Historical figures become good friends with the protagonist, and even Zulong becomes his apprentice. The protagonist also seduces Zulong's biological mother. Beauties from all over the world throw themselves into his arms, making readers feel very happy.

Especially the many perverts, who were all furious when they saw it.

Of course, there will be criticism from both upright people and competitors.

There is no concept of black and red now.

With so many celebrities involved, the scope of influence has expanded.

These people indirectly helped a lot.

Everyone in Hong Kong knows that there is a novel called "A Step into the Past".

After being serialized for half a month, a TV station leaked that it wanted to put "A Step into the Past" on the screen.

Ma Mingli's newspaper naturally made a lot of money, and sales soared, reaching more than 100,000 copies after a week.

……

living room.

Cao Yue put down the newspaper and shook his head.

Lou Xiao'e peeled an apple for Cao Yue and said with a smile, "Xiao Yue, you have become famous overnight, why are you not happy?"

Cao Yue pointed at the newspaper and said, "How can I be happy when all the money goes to the capitalists?"

"Sister Xiao'e, when you come back from California, I want to open a jewelry company."

"Jewelry company? Didn't you plan to open a restaurant two days ago?" Lou Xiao'e asked in surprise.

Cao Yue explained: "The money from the restaurant is too slow, it is faster to sell gold and silver jewelry. I heard from my eldest brother that his friend has a jewelry store that he wants to transfer, and it is just right for us to take it over."

"Okay, I'll do whatever you say." Lou Xiao'e cut the apple into small pieces and stuffed them into Cao Yue's mouth.

"Xiao Yue, I don't want to go to California. How about I stay and accompany you?" Lou Xiao'e hugged Cao Yue's neck and acted coquettishly.

"How can this be possible? If you don't attend your second uncle's daughter's wedding, people will blame you."

Lou Xiao'e sighed: "Second Uncle loves me very much, he really can't be absent! It's just that he can't bear to leave you!"

"Ahem! I won't bother you two."

Lou Mingyuan's sly voice was heard nearby.

"Boy, why are you running out here instead of recuperating in your room?" Lou Xiao'e said fiercely.

"Aunt, I have something to talk to uncle about." Lou Mingyuan gave Cao Yue a wink.

Cao Yue patted Lou Xiao'e on the shoulder, stood up, walked to Lou Mingyuan and asked, "Is your foot okay?"

"It's okay, I just sprained it. The doctor said I just need to rest for half a month to be fine." Lou Mingyuan didn't care at all, instead he was a little happy.

Finally, I can skip school with a clear conscience.

Speaking of which, Cao Yue was also responsible for Lou Mingyuan's injury.

Ever since the publication of A Step into the Past, someone has been spreading the news that the author is a hidden master.

Especially after the information that Cao Yue had just come from the mainland was exposed, more people believed it.

Lou Mingyuan therefore pestered Cao Yue to teach him kung fu.

Cao Yue was so annoyed that he taught Lou Mingyuan the parkour method of later generations.

As a result, when Lou Mingyuan was showing off at school, he accidentally fell down the stairs and sprained his ankle.

"Uncle, come with me, I have something good to show you, I guarantee you'll like it!"

Lou Mingyuan's mysterious look aroused Cao Yue's curiosity.