Chapter 36

Liao Liao is very generous when it comes to doing things. After agreeing on the price, she signed the check right there.

After she and Qi Jie and others went downstairs, Li Qian lit a cigarette, holding the check in his hand, and kept looking at it while smoking. After finishing the cigarette, he carefully folded the check and put it in the guitar case.

He knew he would definitely succeed in the future, and he had even planned it step by step. However, he never expected that such an unexpected opportunity would allow him to step onto this path so quickly.

Surprised?

Of course, he was surprised.

Even in his previous life, he had spent months on a film set, and the most he had ever earned was about 600,000 yuan. That time, he was both an assistant director and the fourth lead actor, and the combined pay for two jobs was only 600,000 yuan, paid in three installments. By the time the production wrapped, he had only received 350,000 yuan.

But now, for five songs, it was a smooth 400,000 yuan, and it was a cash check!

Moreover, according to Li Qian's knowledge, the exchange rate between US dollars and Huayuan in this timeline was around 1:2. This meant that if the 400,000 Huayuan were converted to the other timeline, even at the 1:6 exchange rate of that lifetime, it would be 1.2 million yuan!

Of course, money was a small matter. Whether it was 400,000, 40,000, or even 4,000, the difference in amount was huge, but in essence, it didn't matter.

Because the more important significance of this was: he had an opportunity!

An opportunity for his work to appear before the public, before record companies, and before various producers and music critics!

And opportunities are priceless!

Despite trying to suppress his joy and spending some time adjusting his mood, Li Qian even broke his habit and smoked three cigarettes in half an hour. But he only played a few songs before putting the guitar down.

Even though he had lived two lives, he had never truly succeeded.

So, he couldn't control his inner joy.

He lit another cigarette, leaned against the guardrail, and slowly finished it, then packed up his things and went home directly.

It was the weekend, and both his parents were at home.

When Li Qian got home, he first put down the guitar case. Without waiting for his parents to ask, he took out the check, unfolded it, smoothed it out, and placed it on the coffee table, saying, "Dad, Mom, I just earned 400,000 yuan."

Li Qian's father was sitting on the sofa reading a book. Hearing this, he looked up, frowned, and looked puzzled.

Li Qian's mother was cleaning the house and only poked her head out when she heard the door. Hearing this, she also looked at him in confusion, "This child, what are you talking about?"

Then, Li Qian's father put down the book, glanced at Li Qian, and picked up the check.

...

As soon as they walked out of the teaching building, Huang Wenjuan couldn't help but say with a bitter face, "Sister Liao, you really signed the check right there! When we get back... Sister Zhao will kill you!"

Liao Liao, holding the few sheets of paper, looked very excited. She turned and glanced at Huang Wenjuan without saying a word.

Huang Wenjuan continued, "Sister, that's 400,000 yuan! 80,000 yuan per song, that's the price for a famous artist!"

Even Qi Jie, who was a bit nervous, said, "I also think it might be a bit too expensive."

In fact, she was still in shock. She loved listening to Li Qian sing and enjoyed his songs, but even after Liao Liao had praised him to the skies, she still found it hard to imagine that one of Li Qian's songs could buy her a car and more, or that one of his songs could equal three years of her salary.

And just now, she had facilitated a deal worth 400,000 yuan?

This was really... too unbelievable!

But at that moment, Liao Liao stopped, looked at Qi Jie, then at Huang Wenjuan, and her eyes seemed to be shining with something. Her eyes were so bright they were almost blinding.

She waved the thin stack of papers in her hand and said, "I know I'll be scolded when I get back, and I know that once this news gets out, many people will say I'm foolish. But I firmly believe that it won't be long before I can make them eat their words!"

Qi Jie and Huang Wenjuan were both stunned and looked at her in surprise.

The assistant swallowed and asked, "Sister, I know you're very confident, and I listened to two songs and think Li Qian's songs are really good... but, the market, Sister, do you really believe his songs will sell well?"

Liao Liao smiled and said, "You might think I trust him too much, but that's not it. I just trust my own abilities!" She paused and waved the thin stack of papers again, saying, "The company and the songs Sister Zhao has collected for me are not short of good songs. Some are even as good as these, but what I need is not just good songs. I need songs that can perfectly showcase my vocal characteristics. After hearing him sing two songs, I knew that his songs almost touched my heart!"

"So, I firmly believe that with his arrangement, I, Liao Liao, will definitely become famous!"

...

In the living room of the Li family, Li Qian's father was sitting, and his mother was standing, both staring at each other.

A brand new check was passed back and forth between them, almost worn out from handling.

Finally, after smoking a few puffs, Li Qian's father seemed to regain some spirit and looked at Li Qian, asking, "Are you sure this is real?"

Li Qian smiled and said, "It shouldn't be fake. If you don't believe me, you can go to the bank and cash it later."

Li Qian's father nodded, took a puff of his cigarette, and asked, "Five songs... they gave you that much money?"

Li Qian smiled again, nodded, and said, "Yes, five songs. Normally, for a newcomer like me, even if the songs are good, it would only be a few thousand yuan per song. But... it's clear that the singer is very optimistic about my songwriting ability, so she wants to establish a long-term relationship with me. That's why she offered this sky-high price to support me! Oh, right, I also have to arrange the music for these five songs, which is not a small task."

Li Qian's father glanced at him and didn't say anything, continuing to sit on the sofa and smoke.

At this point, Li Qian's mother finally found her joy, "400,000 yuan! Old Li, that's 400,000 yuan! Son, come here, let Mom kiss you!"

As she spoke, she ignored Li Qian's protests, grabbed his neck, and kissed him hard on the forehead.

Li Qian's father looked at her disapprovingly.

At this moment, Old Li was relatively more calm.

After Li Qian's mother finished kissing him, he hesitated and said, "What if... they think your songs are not good after they get back, or... for example, if they record the songs and find that the sales are not good, will it ruin your reputation? How about this? Xiao Qian, making money shouldn't be too hasty. Why don't you contact them again and ask for less? This is your first time selling songs, and they are friends of Teacher Qi. It's better to sell them at a lower price! Even if their tapes don't sell well, no one will mention our deal, and Teacher Qi's friends won't blame you, right?"

Li Qian smiled, thought for a moment, and suddenly said, "Dad, you've had your driver's license for several years, right? What car do you want to buy? How about I buy you one?"

"Uh..."

That's how it is!

Everyone understands the principle, but when the money is in hand, giving it back is not an easy thing.

Li Qian didn't need to say anything else or explain. He believed that just the promise of a car would make his father hesitate.

As for Liao Liao's album flopping?

Based on his understanding of Liao Liao's voice and his confidence in those songs, he believed that such a situation would not happen. At most, it would be a matter of selling well or not due to the differences in market conditions and popular styles between the two lifetimes.

After all, in the 1996 of the timeline he experienced, it was known as the "Tian Zhen Year" in the music industry.

Why?

Because of "Persistence" and "Wildflowers."

...

At this point, Li Qian's father indeed hesitated.

But soon, after deeply inhaling a few puffs of his cigarette, under the watchful eyes of Li Qian and his mother, he slowly shook his head and said firmly and patiently, "Xiao Qian, no matter what you do, whether it's writing, studying, or writing and singing songs, remember one thing: don't be hasty! Money can be earned slowly, but reputation cannot be ruined! So, Dad's suggestion is still the same: this price is too high, we can't accept it! Call them and negotiate... you said that for a newcomer like you, it's a few thousand yuan per song, right? Then let's ask for 10,000 yuan per song, okay?"

Hearing this, the smile on Li Qian's face gradually faded, and his face was full of seriousness and guilt.

So, he said seriously, "Dad, I have great confidence in my songs. The fact that they offered this price shows that they also have great confidence in my songs. However... since you said this, how about we do this? Out of the 400,000 yuan, we take out 50,000 yuan to buy you a car, and the remaining 350,000 yuan, we save. When Liao Liao's album is released, if it sells well and becomes popular, then we can spend the money without worry. If the sales are not good, we can return the remaining money... how about that?"

Li Qian's father thought about it, took a puff of his cigarette, and slowly nodded, saying, "That... is also fine! But Xiao Qian, Dad understands your filial piety, but let's not buy the car for now. Find out what the industry norms are, and take part of the 50,000 yuan to give to Teacher Qi."

Li Qian was taken aback.

Li Qian's father, fearing that his son didn't understand the ways of the world, explained, "This isn't just a commission or a thank-you fee. The key is that you need to understand that it's rare for a celebrity like Liao Liao to like your songs and be willing to pay a high price. We need to maintain this relationship, right? So... just listen to Dad, okay?"

After a moment, Li Qian smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, I'll listen to you! Out of the 400,000 yuan... I'll give Teacher Qi a 5% commission!"

Hearing this, Li Qian's father finally became happy, "Ah! That's right!"

After the father and son settled the matter, Li Qian's mother calculated that out of the 400,000 yuan, they could only take 50,000 yuan, and then give 20,000 yuan to Teacher Qi, leaving only 30,000 yuan... although 30,000 yuan was equivalent to her annual salary and was still a considerable sum, it was undoubtedly a far cry from 400,000 yuan.

So, she thought for a moment and looked at Li Qian with dissatisfaction, asking, "Xiao Qian, how likely do you think it is that your songs will become popular?" The underlying meaning was whether they would eventually get the remaining 350,000 yuan.

Li Qian smiled and said, "Mom, don't worry! Liao Liao will definitely become famous!"