Full-time cartoonist - #35 - Chapter 35 Signing a Contract

“Congratulations, Mr. Higashino.”

When Sasaki said these words, Hibiki Higashi felt dizzy. How much effort he had put in to serialize…

Oh, not much.

But it’s also really exciting.

Higashikata was overjoyed and hugged Akimiya Akemi who was happy for him.

Akimiya Minmei was stunned and her body stiffened. After a while, she gently patted his back.

“I will go to you to sign the contract tomorrow. Please tell me your free time.”

When Sasaki Nao’s voice came, Hibiki still didn’t move. Akimiya Akemi pushed him, and Hibiki left in displeasure.

“Because I’m already on holiday, I’ll be free all day tomorrow.”

It was then agreed to meet at Higashino Hibiki’s home around ten o’clock tomorrow, Higashino Hibiki told him the specific address.

After that, Higashino Hibiki looked at Akimiya Akemi, who was about to make a move, but she was forced to retreat with a dangerous look in her eyes.

The next day, Higashino got up early and hurried back home.

“Have you gained some weight?” Dong Yexi touched Dong Yexiang’s face and felt that it was a little fleshy.

“I’ve been having late-night snacks lately,” Hibiki replied. When drawing comics, Akimiya Akemi would always make some desserts to cheer her up, and Hibiki couldn’t hold back her greed.

So there were some changes in body shape.

“Well, it’s much more pleasing to the eye than before.” Ichiro Higashino nodded. He had just returned home from the night shift and usually went to bed immediately. Today, he saw Hibiki Higashikata and didn’t leave. He just sat in the living room and closed his eyes to relax.

Hibiki glanced at the tired Ichiro Higashino and said, “Dad, don’t drive night buses anymore.”

Driving at night is inherently risky, so you need to be vigilant at all times, and for middle-aged and elderly people, turning night and day upside down can be very harmful to the body.

He didn’t have much status before, let alone the qualifications to dissuade Higashino Ichiro from making money.

Today is different from the past. Higashino Hibiki has become the most profitable person in the family and has a greater say.

Yes, he was ready to be honest.

Ichiro Higashino felt warm in his heart, but he pretended to be calm, “I’m used to driving at night, so there’s actually no problem.”

Dong Yexi opened his mouth and fell silent.

She didn’t want Higashino Ichiro to suffer from bad health, but her family situation was just like that.

Ordinary people are not qualified to think too much, especially the current situation, which is extremely difficult.

I heard that Mr. Sakata from the next street was fired from the company, and Mrs. Sakata was divorcing him recently.

Without money, nothing can be done well.

“Dad, Mom,” Higashino Hibiki was sitting on his knees, looking at the two old people, leaning forward, “I’m actually a cartoonist!”

“Cartoonist?” Higashino Ichiro was surprised, “What does this do?”

“It’s the author who creates literary and artistic works.” Hibiki Higashino said: “‘Astro Boy’ and ‘Tokyo Love Story’ are both adapted from the works of cartoonists.”

Higashino Ichiro’s eyes widened, he didn’t expect such a powerful job.

He didn’t know what to say, it was beyond his comprehension.

As an elder, I was relieved but also a little powerless, so I could only ask: “What about your paintings? Aren’t you going to study as an art student?”

Hibiya Hibiki waved his hand, “Cartoonists use paintings to tell stories. I can succeed because my father asked me to study art since I was a child.”

“That’s right,” Higashino Ichiro pursed his lips and nodded repeatedly.

“Is it going to be very hard?” Dong Yexi asked with concern.

“You can see that I’m much stronger,” Hibiki Higashino patted his chest, “Drawing comics is very easy. After all, cultural workers use their brains, not their physical strength.”

“That’s right.” Higashino Ichiro nodded pretending to understand.

It seemed that he had been fooled, so Hibiki took out his final report card.

With the blessing of talent, this time his performance improved to the twentieth place in his grade.

It’s a huge improvement compared to the last time.

The last doubts of Mr. and Mrs. Higashino were put aside.

If children can progress academically, why do they need bicycles? Just do whatever you want to do.

So Hibiki Higashino told them that in another hour, an editor would come to sign the contract.

Ichiro Higashino went to wash his face, put on formal clothes, and sat in the living room waiting.

When Sasaki arrived, his serious and reliable look made the Higashino couple relax a little.

“Excuse me, it’s really presumptuous of me to bother you.”

After entering the door, he put down the gift and bowed.

“No, no, no, Mr. Editor, you are too polite.”

Higashikata boiled tea and brought it over, then left the living room, leaving the space to the men.

“Mr. Higashino Ichiro, you have taught Mr. Higashino very well. He is a capable person in our company. Thank you very much for your hard work over the years.”

Sasaki’s words made Ichiro Higashino laugh uncontrollably. This was the first time Hibiki saw his face turn into a chrysanthemum smile.

Sure enough, Sasaki still has a way.

“In the past, a short story cost 8,000 yen per manuscript, but when it comes to serialization, it’s different.” Sasaki took out the contract and pointed it out to Hibiki Hibiki: “New writer’s fee is 10,000 yen. Mr. Higashino because of his excellent grades, editor-in-chief Nobuhiko Horie, specially The price has been increased, and one piece is 1.20,000 yen. As for the color manuscript, it is 1.5 times that of the black and white original, which is 1.80,000 yen.”

“Hiss,” Higashino Ichiro took a breath. He was busy all night and could only earn 20,000 yen at most.

In Sasaki’s words, it can’t even compare to two drawings.

He hurriedly pulled Hibiki Hibiki’s sleeves and smiled apologetically at Sasaki.

Sasaki’s eyes look at his nose, and his nose looks at his heart.

“How many pictures can you draw in a day?” Ichiro Higashino asked in a low voice.

Hibiki Higashino, “If everything goes well, it will be six.”

“Hey! Isn’t this just…” He calculated in his mind, “7.20,000 yen!”

“Yes.”

Sasaki curled up his lips and continued to toss his chips, “There is also an annual contract fee, although it is not high…”

Hearing this, Higashino Ichiro was disappointed.

“But it’s about the same as a baseball player’s annual salary,” Sasaki continued.

Higashino Ichiro’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Japanese baseball players are very popular. The annual salary of second-rate players is tens of millions of yen, and the annual salary of the most popular players is measured in hundreds of millions.

This is a very high-paying job.

“Yes… how many are there?” Today, the taxi driver was so shocked that he couldn’t speak clearly.

“2500w yen.” Sasaki said calmly.

Such a big number made Ichiro Higashino worry. Could he be a liar?

“Of course there are conditions,” Sasaki said.

Higashino Ichiro was relieved, “Please tell me.”

Sasaki, “If it cannot be serialized in the future and continues for a few years, the annual contract payment will be cut off.”

“What is this…” Higashino Ichiro was speechless.

Judging from his tone, even if the series cannot be continued next year, there will still be an annual contract fee.

Isn’t this a company for charity? Higashino Ichiro hesitated.

Finally, we went to a law firm together and successfully completed the contract.

Thanks to Bartholomew for the 1500 point reward.