As "The Legend of White Snake" gradually gained traction, Ding Yun wasted no time. Leveraging her film and television production company under the umbrella of the Myriad Worlds Literature Network, she immediately secured the adaptation rights.
Filming commenced with the recruitment of actors. The specifics of the production were meticulously planned. Within the Cultural Transmission System's internal bookstore, countless classics from various worlds were available. Ding Yun selectively fused elements from several, discarding the dross and retaining the essence, effortlessly crafting a detailed script complete with storyboard arrangements. All that remained was for the director to ensure strong performances from the actors, and the drama was guaranteed to be a success.
Everything proceeded remarkably smoothly. Ding Yun's "The Legend of White Snake" concluded at the end of her first year of university. Concurrently, the television series and film adaptations were not only completed but also largely edited. The series was slated for broadcast about half a month before the Lunar New Year, and the movie was positioned for the New Year's Day release window. Consequently, extensive promotional activities kicked off immediately after the novel's conclusion.
Furthermore, Ding Yun ingeniously secured broadcasting slots on several major television stations through a contract model where the stations would air the content for free initially, with payment contingent on viewership ratings. Two of these stations even offered prime-time slots.
Following this, Ding Yun returned home for the holidays, coinciding with the broadcast of "The Legend of White Snake" on multiple television channels. While computers were not yet universally adopted, television ownership had reached over ninety percent. Even illiterate individuals could generally understand television programs, allowing "The Legend of White Snake" to truly enter households across the nation. Although the novel had garnered considerable attention during its serialization on the Myriad Worlds Literature Network, it was primarily accessible to those with computers or large-screen smartphones. However, its transition to television meant that most families with a TV could now watch it. Crucially, with multiple channels broadcasting the series, and in an era with limited viewing options, the likelihood of viewers discovering and becoming engrossed in the drama was high, leading to significant viewership and binge-watching.
Upon her arrival home this time, Ding Yun was greeted by her entire family, who regarded her with the astonished eyes one reserves for rare specimens. Her father, Li Qinghua, stepped forward, placed a hand on her shoulder, and chuckled, "I never imagined our family could produce a literary giant. I thought it was a stroke of immense luck when you sisters got into university, but this is like striking oil! You've truly made us proud. You're such a quiet child, never mentioning such significant news beforehand. If your sister hadn't told us, we wouldn't have known you were the author of 'The Legend of White Snake'! This is correct, isn't it? I saw your name and photo on that novel website; surely no one would impersonate you!"
When she published "The Legend of White Snake," Ding Yun had used her real name and even her actual profile picture to maximize her influence. However, she had never informed her family, as her parents didn't habitually read novels. It was only after her sister returned and mentioned it that they became aware. Since Ding Yun hadn't personally confirmed it, Li Qinghua felt compelled to ask.
"I wrote it. I just wasn't sure if it would be popular, so I didn't want to boast prematurely. What if the novel hadn't performed well? That would have been embarrassing!" Ding Yun admitted frankly, seeing no reason to hide it now that her parents knew.
"Haha, I knew it was real! Sister, I heard online that the TV series based on your 'The Legend of White Snake' is airing soon. Did you visit the set? Can you tell us which celebrities are acting in it? Is it good? And how much money have you made?" Li Dedong, as if a monkey, leaped up after hearing Ding Yun's confession, exclaiming with joy and immediately posing two questions he was eager to know.
"I also heard you earn tens of thousands a day."
"Yes, is that true?" Xu Hui and others inquired with similar curiosity.
"It's alright. My main income comes from copyright transfer fees, selling it for around five million. After taxes, the official income is about four million. Adding that to subscriptions and the fifty percent advance royalties from the recently signed publishing contract, my total income today is less than ten million, roughly. I'll give you all big red envelopes for the New Year."
Some matters, when revealed, enhanced one's influence, while others yielded little benefit and invited more trouble. Therefore, Ding Yun couldn't disclose everything, only choosing to reveal select details about her situation. For instance, this time, she omitted any mention of her company, focusing solely on the revenue from "The Legend of White Snake."
Despite this, Li Qinghua, Xu Hui, Li Dedong, and Li Ran all gasped in disbelief, exchanging astonished glances. "Good heavens, you're truly incredible. I work myself to death with my business every day, and my annual income is only around a million. You've earned in a year what I earn in ten. This makes me feel a bit uneasy."
"It seems you truly have nothing to worry about."
"My goodness, ten million! That's like winning the lottery twice. Sister, your promised red envelope must be substantial, worthy of your net worth!"
"Impressive!"
"It's actually just average. I'm not even ranked in the top ten for author income. If you have nothing else to say, I'll go back to my room to rest." Ding Yun delivered a rare boast before attempting to retreat upstairs.
However, Li Qinghua quickly stopped her, "Wait, don't go yet. Isn't your 'Legend of White Snake' going to be published? Hurry and get a couple of printed copies back before the Lunar New Year. You absolutely must participate in the ancestral worship ceremony this year; it's such a significant achievement. We need to tell our ancestors about it then. Oh, and if you have extras, bring them back. We can give them to our relatives and friends, or tell me where to buy a few boxes. Let everyone share in the joy."
Hearing this, Ding Yun could already imagine the awkwardness she would face, even without experiencing it directly. But realizing she couldn't prevent it and that a forceful refusal would likely be more embarrassing, she reluctantly nodded, agreeing to try and get the sample copies back before the ancestral worship. With that, she hurried upstairs, intending to contact the publisher immediately and urge them to expedite the printing and delivery of the sample books.