stonecrandall Chapter 4 of the novel
Chapter 4 of the novel
"What are you planning to do? That's a behemoth."
For Ernst and his fellow small-time tycoons, both MGM and Cochrane were behemoths. Being targeted by such an entity made Craig somewhat apprehensive.
He hoped Ernst would sell his MGM shares and settle down to writing books and becoming a bestselling author, but Ernst clearly didn't think so.
"You don't need to worry about this. Your priority now is to find me a nanny who can cook Chinese food."
Although he had only been in this world for less than two days, Ernst had already had enough of American food.
He ordered Chinese food last night, but he hasn't finished it yet; most of it has already been thrown into the trash.
"I want someone Chinese who can cook authentic Chinese food."
"You'd like to eat General Tso's Chicken?"
Ernst was speechless. Damn General Tso's Chicken.
"I'm talking about the authentic one."
Craig declared righteously, "This is the most authentic one."
Well, Ernst felt his intelligence was questionable when talking to an old white man who had never been to the East.
I found a pen and paper and casually wrote down the names of a few common Chinese home-style dishes.
"Take this piece of paper and find someone who knows how to cook these dishes."
Craig took it, but he couldn't understand a single word on it. He gave Ernst a strange look.
"When did you learn to write in Chinese?"
Ernst didn't want to waste words with the other party, so he had them carry out the order and then kicked Craig out.
After Craig left, Ernst remembered the publishing contract the other party had mentioned and decided that he should still fulfill it.
Even starting a business online requires a lot of money.
He wasn't trying to make a quick buck by riding the wave of the internet; he was treating it as his own business. The more funding he raised in the early stages, the more influence he would lose.
This is not the outcome he wants to see, so he will definitely have to invest his own money in the early stages, at least in the angel round, seed round, or even the Series A round. Ideally, he will raise funds after making a profit.
The purpose of fundraising is not for money, but for networking and resources for the company's future expansion.
If you want to expand your company and seek further financing, you'll need to invest a significant amount in both personnel and equipment.
Especially in terms of human resources, can you believe that the salary of an internet programmer in 1996 was twice that in 2016?
There is a severe shortage of internet talent in this era, and after Yahoo went public, various internet companies sprang up like mushrooms after rain, creating a situation where there are far more applicants than available talent.
"What should I write about? I've seen Friends, but that show should have already been released by now."
"Now You See Me hasn't been published yet, but at this point in time, the original author, Dan Brown, might already be writing it. Besides, this novel is said to be inspired by Tony & Susan, so to avoid trouble later, let's just forget about it."
"Harry Potter won't work either. I remember Rowling saying in an interview that the first book was written between 1990 and 1995, taking about six years to complete, and it's finished now. However, this book won't be published for the first time until next year, so we can secure the film and television rights, and it can become a flagship project for her film and television company in the future."
"A Song of Ice and Fire won't do either, this is so annoying. Am I supposed to write Fifty Shades of Grey? Won't that become a stain on my life?"
Ernst was getting a little frustrated, so he crumpled up the papers in front of him. He went to the kitchen, took a bottle of beer from the refrigerator, and drank several mouthfuls.
It wasn't that he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol, but rather that he simply couldn't find a single bottle of water in the house, making a trip to the supermarket a crucial decision.
Leaning against the bar, Ernst's eyes lit up when he caught sight of a bow and arrow-shaped ornament not far away.
"Yes, The Hunger Games hasn't been published yet, and we haven't even started writing it."
Ernst finally knew what he wanted to write. The Hunger Games, with over 100 million copies sold worldwide and translated into more than 50 languages, is undoubtedly the most fitting work for him.
High sales volume and significant influence can help him solve his short-term funding problems.
Instead, it is more in line with his age, unlike those epic masterpieces that seem out of place for someone his age.
Finally, there's the issue of length. Ernst didn't have time to think of so many novels, while The Hunger Games would have given him at least four to write.
"You're the one."
Ernst shouted excitedly, "Yes! Jennifer Lawrence, I can already see you jumping for joy on my big bed in the future!"
Unfortunately, even the best fantasies cannot withstand reality.
"I should go out and find a restaurant to fill my stomach first. The late emperor has only just gone to bed; he can't starve to death halfway through, can he?"
Dressed and ready to go, Ernst arrived at the garage, whereupon he became breathless and flushed once again.
"Ferrari, now I'm a man who can drive a Ferrari with one hand!"
For women, a handbag can cure all ills.
For men, there are only two things they can never share in this life: women and cars.
The bright red Ferrari F40 was created to celebrate Ferrari's 40th anniversary and was also the last model that Enzo Ferrari personally participated in developing.
Although it may not be as flashy as models like the Enzo or 488 in the eyes of Ernst's descendants, it is still one of the most eye-catching sports cars on the street today.
The 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine delivers a maximum power of 478 hp at 7000 rpm, a maximum torque of 577 Nm, a top speed of 324 km/h, and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 4.1 seconds.
I excitedly sat in the driver's seat and started the engine. Although I've been driving for several years and am considered an experienced driver, it was my first time driving a sports car, so I inevitably needed some time to get used to it.
The garage door slowly rose, and as the roar sounded, Ernst yelled and rushed out.
"So this is what the feeling of being pushed back feels like, it's so damn awesome."
As someone who's somewhat of a loser, Ernst knows what it feels like to be pushed back by a woman. Today, he experienced the feeling of being pushed back by a car, which can be considered an achievement in his life.
Unfortunately, once the car entered the main road and traffic increased, it had to slow down, at which point the comfort of the sports car became a point of criticism.
Arriving at a high-end restaurant was Ernst's forced choice.
If possible, he would still like to eat authentic Chinese food, but obviously there is no such place in Santa Barbara.
At the restaurant entrance, after getting out of the car, I imitated the wealthy people in movies and TV shows by tossing my car keys to the doorman, and then being led to a corner of the restaurant by a waiter.
"Sir, here is the menu."
Ernst felt a great sense of satisfaction looking at the other party's obsequious manner; no wonder everyone wants to be rich.
After a quick glance, Ernst once again complained, "No wonder everyone says America is a food wasteland."
Europeans complain that America doesn't have coffee, while Italians say Americans don't even know how to make pizza.
The Chinese restaurant has been drastically altered, and now this upscale restaurant incorporates local French cuisine.
The five appetizers to choose from surprisingly include fried chicken and French fries.
Ernst knew that French cuisine included French fries, but they were always served as a side dish to main courses, purely as an appetizer. Even if Ernst had never eaten them, he knew that France didn't have them.
There were five appetizers in total. I ruled out those two options, and the remaining three were all raw.
Oysters, raw beef, sashimi.
Moreover, there aren't many rules here. It's not a traditional 13-course French meal; you can order whatever you want.
The fact that you can even order two main courses made Ernst feel that this French restaurant was not authentic.
Surprisingly, even though it's already past 1 a.m., the restaurant is still packed with people, it's incredibly popular.
Either the restaurant's food is really good, or it just means that Americans can't stomach fine food.
After quickly glancing at the menu, Ernst ordered a few dishes, closed the menu, and handed it to the waiter.
Looking at the sea outside, Ernst suddenly felt calm.
"The old Ernst is dead. Let me live a more wonderful life for the two of us."