Chapter 115: Volunteering One's Services

Zhang Chu had none of the self-awareness expected of a public figure. After sitting in the fast-food restaurant for a while, he was soon drawn in by the aroma. Though he had not intended to eat, he ended up buying a bucket of chicken wings.

That made him blend completely into the atmosphere of the restaurant. He looked so natural that even reporters carrying his photograph might not have been able to pick him out from the crowd.

The moment he took the bucket in his hands, Zhang Chu heard his phone ring. It was the Yanjing number he had changed to only yesterday, known only to his editor, Gu Xinxue, his family, and a few close friends.

His previous number had practically been public. Many reporters had managed to find it through his classmates or school databases, and the endless calls and messages had become unbearable. As it happened, the admission package from Yanjing University had included a phone card, so he had switched to it after arriving in the capital.

When he saw the words “Dad” on the caller ID, Zhang Chu knew someone had come to demand an explanation. Still, he could hardly refuse to answer.

“Hello, Dad. Have you had lunch yet? I’m still starving—I was just about to get something to eat. What’s up?”

Zhang Chu decided to strike first and show weakness.

Zhang Bowen was not falling for it. “You little rascal, when did you sneak off to America to file a lawsuit? And how did you manage to get in touch with such formidable lawyers? If the news hadn’t reported it, when were you planning to confess?”

“I was just taking a chance. The main reason is that those lawyers all have a strong sense of justice. Besides, I’m not doing this for myself alone. Look at all those Sherlock Holmes fans and fan-fiction writers online—they’re supporting me too! Even the Americans say I handled it beautifully.”

“Even if you handled it beautifully, you’re still a troublemaker. Can’t you settle down for once? Now you’ve stirred things up overseas.”

Zhang Bowen’s feelings were complicated. Having such an outstanding son was certainly a source of pride, but it also kept him perpetually worried.

“I’m only involved in name,” Zhang Chu said into the phone. “Those three top lawyers are the ones leading the charge. How are things at home, Dad?”

“Not good. Not good at all. We can’t even do business today.”

The mention of it immediately irritated Zhang Bowen. “The reporters have practically taken over our bookstore. People who want to buy books don’t even dare come inside. There are several news vans parked outside our house, too. I’ve already told them you went to Yanjing, but they’re still keeping watch and insisting on interviewing me.”

That was the price of fame. If they could not find Zhang Chu, they would look for his family instead. After all, the bookstore already had his connection to it exposed.

“Let’s not talk about that for now. An old classmate of mine suddenly called me. He works as a literary agent these days and wants to represent you. Talk with him later.”

What Zhang Chu needed most at the moment was an agent to deal with publishers, the media, and the various film and television companies. He knew perfectly well that he could not handle everything himself.

“Dad, is your classmate trustworthy? Don’t let him be some kind of con artist!”

“What kind of thing is that to say? Uncle Zhou returns to River City every year for the New Year. I hear he used to work as an editor at a publishing house, and only took up literary agency work last year or the year before. Still, you need to be careful. Don’t believe everything he says without question. Think for yourself.”

Zhang Bowen also wanted to find his son a literary agent whose background he knew, so that Zhang Chu would not be deceived.

“All right, then. I’ll get in touch with him later.”

“I’ve already given him your phone number. He’ll probably call you any minute.”

This was precisely the moment when Zhang Chu needed help, so he could only wait and see whether Zhou Kang truly had the ability he claimed.

Not long after the father and son ended their call, an unfamiliar Yanjing number came through.

“May I ask if this is Zhang Chu? This is Zhou Kang.”

“Yes, that’s me. Uncle Zhou, you’ve changed careers and become a literary agent?”

“These days, there are plenty of editors, but very few literary agents. After all, authors are better off concentrating on their writing. Once the work is finished, the product development and commercialization should be left to professionals. Whether they are bestselling authors or writers from the post-eighties, post-nineties, or post-two-thousands generations, they all need specialists like that.”

Zhou Kang felt somewhat emotional himself. Who could have imagined that the son of his high-school classmate would become the top scorer in the national college entrance examination—and gain fame throughout the world, even if not because of his writing?

A young writer who could write well and already attracted so much attention was certainly a promising investment. What was more, his works were ideally suited to rights management. Everyone else had their eyes on this particularly appetizing opportunity.

The truly bestselling authors were beyond the reach of literary agents like them. Those writers had all established companies of their own. The best choice was to discover promising newcomers.

No one had been able to contact Zhang Chu. Fortunately, Zhou Kang had his connection with Zhang Bowen and had managed to put himself forward ahead of everyone else. If he could genuinely sign Zhang Chu, he would not need to worry about his performance for decades to come.

Authors had long careers, and often became more valuable with age. The more works they produced, the more valuable they became. Unless they completely exhausted their talent, Zhou Kang believed that Zhang Chu would inevitably secure a place in the Chinese literary world.

Zhang Chu could not explain everything clearly over the phone. Since Zhou Kang had volunteered his services, they might as well meet.

“Uncle Zhou, are you free right now? I have an interview with Southern Weekly at two this afternoon. Why don’t we meet before then?”

“Of course. Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

Zhou Kang knew that words alone would not be enough to win Zhang Chu over. He had to show him his value.

“I’m at the Golden Arches restaurant beside Nanhai Publishing House, on the second floor near the windows.”

Zhou Kang asked in confusion, “What kind of restaurant is Golden Arches?”

“McDonald’s. Come as soon as you can, Uncle Zhou.”

It was obviously McDonald’s, so why had they chosen such an odd yet down-to-earth name? Zhou Kang could not make sense of the multinational company’s localization strategy.

In Europe and America, literary agents were an important link in the publishing chain.

To writers, they were career planners.

To publishers, they were unofficial talent scouts and intermediaries who dealt with temperamental authors.

In Zhang Chu’s view, a literary agent was simply a manager whose job was to maximize a writer’s intellectual wealth.

It was just that, over the years, the division of labor in China’s publishing industry had remained unclear. Literary agents were still no more than a spark waiting to catch fire, far from widespread and still regarded as something new.

Ordinary people had no idea what such agents did. Many writers themselves did not understand what role literary agents were supposed to play in the publishing world.

If writers were the agents of 007, then literary agents were Miss M. Or, if writers were superheroes, literary agents were the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

A literary agent represented an author by recommending manuscripts to publishers, negotiating royalties, and handling contracts.

Generally speaking, manuscripts submitted through literary agents received more serious attention from editors. Many literary agents had originally been editors themselves and possessed an innate, discerning eye for both the literary and commercial value of a work. Publishers trusted their recommendations immensely.

For that reason, in Europe and America, most writers—whether unknown newcomers or celebrated names—entrusted literary agents with negotiations concerning publication, royalties, and contracts. Even film and television adaptations were often negotiated first by the literary agent.

As representatives, literary agents tended to focus more on the long-term development of the authors they signed, rather than merely on the book in front of them.

Editors, by contrast, were often more concerned with the current book, because there was no guarantee that the author’s next work would remain with them. That was simply the reality of the profession.

Professional literary agents worked not only with the publishing industry, but also with the wider intellectual-property sector, including film and television, animation, and gaming companies.

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Another new week has begun, but this author still has not received a single recommendation from any website. I can only rely on all of you now.

At this rate, I probably won’t even be able to afford the signature meat-stuffed flatbread at the Golden Arches Grand Restaurant. Brothers and sisters, how about sending in a few recommendations and showing your support with a tip?