1980 My literary era

On the evening of May, Lin Weimin parked his motorcycle in front of Wanxingju.

Wanxingju is one of the eight restaurants in old Yanjing. There are eight halls, eight buildings and eight restaurants in old Yanjing. Wanxingju is the smallest restaurant.

Later, because the steamed buns were so good, Wanxingju simply switched to selling steamed buns, which became a national chain and became well-known throughout the country.

Lin Weimin came by invitation today, and the person who invited him was Ren Hao.

He is still watching the final episode of the "Cliff" TV series in Yanjing. Taking advantage of his free time today, he invited a few acquaintances in Yanjing to catch up on old times.

"Teacher Jin!"

"Teacher Deng!"

"Director Ren!"

After meeting, Lin Weimin greeted the few who had already arrived. It was Ren Hao, Jin Shan and Deng Zaijun.

"For the people, you are too late." Deng Zaijun said with a hearty smile.

Lin Weimin looked at the table and said, "That means there is no wine, otherwise I will have to punish myself by having three drinks."

Ren Hao immediately said: "Then I will give you two bottles!"

Jinshan said: "Okay, stop joking."

Lin Weimin sat down with a smile and asked: "The teachers came early, why did they think of eating steamed buns here?"

"Anyone chosen by the director must have a taste of Badaju." Jinshan explained.

After ordering the food, Ren Hao talked about the post-production situation of "Cliff". It will be completed in half a month, which is much faster than expected.

"Will it be broadcast on Qindao TV when it's over?" Lin Weimin asked.

Ren Hao glanced at Jinshan and said, "We in Qindao will definitely broadcast it. Teacher Jin is now contacting CCTV. If everything goes well, the two stations should broadcast it at the same time."

"What a good thing!" Lin Weimin said happily.

"We have to wait until the production is finished and people watch the film before we decide." Jinshan said.

His words are a bit modest. He is the director of the Television Arts Committee under China Radio and Television. He is a real ace in the domestic television circle. It is not difficult to get TV series on CCTV.

Moreover, the number of TV series produced in China each year is very small these days. Most TV stations are worried that there are no dramas to broadcast. As long as the quality of "Cliff" passes the standard, it will not be a problem to be on CCTV.

"With Teacher Jin here, this won't be a problem." Lin Weimin complimented.

None of the people present today are fair-weather friends, otherwise the party venue would not be Wanxingju, a steamed bun shop.

After tasting Wanxingju's steamed buns, Ren Hao was satisfied. Everyone chatted for a while and ended the party.

After leaving Wanxingju, Ren Hao and Deng Zaijun left. Teacher Jinshan suddenly asked Lin Weimin: "Does Teacher Lin have a girlfriend yet?"

"Ah, no." Lin Weimin was slightly surprised.

"Our teacher Deng's daughter seems to be about the same age as you. Did you two meet last time?"

Lin Weimin heard what Jinshan meant, "Yes, we have met before."

"What do you think of Xiao Zhou? You young people should have something in common, right?"

Lin Weimin was thinking about how to answer this question. When he hesitated, he heard Jin Shan say: "Don't be burdened. Teacher Deng is really very optimistic about you and wants me to help you match up with Zhou Meng."

Seeing that Jinshan had made his words clear, Lin Weimin said: "Teacher Jin, I haven't considered this aspect yet."

Teacher Jin looked at him with a deep meaning in his eyes, "Don't refuse in a hurry. Do you know who Teacher Deng's husband is?"

Lin Weimin shook her head, thinking who her husband is, what does it have to do with me?

Jinshan was a little surprised, "You haven't heard of it?"

Lin Weimin said: "Why am I asking about this kind of thing?"

Teacher Jinshan laughed, that’s even better, he still doesn’t like to cling to his temper.

"Teacher Deng's husband now works at the National Defense University and is the director."

"oh."

Lin Weimin responded, feeling normal, director? He is as great as a waiter, is he worthy of Teacher Jin’s attention?

Teacher Jin smiled and continued: "Let me remind you again, Zhou Meng's surname is Zhou."

"What's wrong with the surname Zhou? The surname is Zhou..."

Lin Weimin's words stopped there. He stared at Teacher Jin and stuttered: "Jin...Teacher Jin, the week you mentioned is not the week I thought, is it?"

Teacher Jin still had a smile on his face and stopped talking.

Lin Weimin asked curiously: "So, Zhou Meng is considered an old man..."

"Great-niece."

Lin Weimin nodded, and then said: "So, she is a noble girl from a famous family!"

"I don't care about this now. I'm telling you this because I'm afraid that you, the kid, don't know the family's background and will regret it later if you find out."

"Teacher Jin, who do you think I am?" Lin Weimin said dissatisfied.

"Aren't you excited at all?" Jinshan asked forcefully.

Lin Weimin chuckled. Zhou Meng's family background is indeed very good. When thinking of her cute appearance, it's hard not to be moved.

But when Lin Weimin thought that if he found such a wife, it would not be easy to have sex in the future.

That's really like hanging from a crooked tree.

"Teacher Jin, you have such a good family background, but you still worry about not finding a partner?"

"So, you didn't watch last week's cuteness?"

Lin Weimin waved his hand and said, "Teacher Jin, please don't say that. It's because I can't reach you."

Jinshan looked at Lin Weimin and smiled meaningfully, "Young man, you are uncertain. Don't regret it in the future."

Lin Weimin was very stressed by being watched by Jinshan, "Teacher Jin, you are joking."

A few days later, Lin Weimin was riding a motorcycle to work, but was stopped at the entrance of the Chinese Literature Society.

"Zhou Meng?"

"teacher LIN!"

Zhou Meng looked a little blushing when she saw Lin Weimin.

"Are you here to find me?"

"Um."

Zhou Meng looked into Lin Weimin's eyes and plucked up the courage to say, "Did you meet my mother two days ago?"

Lin Weimin wanted to pretend to be dumbfounded, but looking at Zhou Meng's watery almond eyes, he said nothing.

This girl has a good family background and is not bad looking. It is normal for her to be arrogant. If she learned the news of rejection from her mother, she would definitely not accept it.

Seeing that Lin Weimin didn't respond to her words, Zhou Meng pouted and took out a letter from her bag.

"Don't get me wrong, I came here today to become a pen pal with you." She handed the letter to Lin Weimin.

"Remember to write me back!"

Zhou Meng warned and ran away without waiting for Lin Weimin's reply.

Lin Weimin stared at the letter in his hand, what does this girl mean?

Are you planning to play Plato with me?

After receiving the letter in the bag, Lin Weimin came to the office to work.

In the morning, Meng Weizai called him out of the office.

"Leader, what's the matter?"

With a hint of joy on his face, Meng Weizai said: "Random House, who visited the club last time for inspection, contacted the agency and said that they would publish your book Farewell My Concubine!"

Random House?

The first reaction in Lin Weimin's mind was Qiao Sen.

"When did this happen?"

"yesterday."

Lin Weimin muttered: "It's been more than half a year, and the efficiency is really slow."

Meng Weizai asked: "Have you known this news before?"

Lin Weimin explained: "The foreigner who came to the agency to inspect before was the uncle of a friend of mine. He told me before that his uncle had someone translate the manuscript of "Farewell My Concubine" after he returned to the United States. He probably wanted to read the novel. Quality. It’s been half a year, and I thought they had given up long ago.”

"So that's what happened." Meng Weizai suddenly realized, "Lao Yan and I were still wondering why Random House wanted to find your book."

Meng Weizai then took Lin Weimin to Yan Wenjing's office.

The country has just opened up these days, and anything involving foreign affairs is a big deal, not to mention that Random House is one of the major publishing houses in the United States.

Taking the initiative to seek to publish the works published by the Chinese Literature Society is not only a major event but also a happy event for the Chinese Literature Society.

Yan Wenjing called Lin Weimin here mainly because he wanted to understand the origin of Random House's plan to publish "Farewell My Concubine", which is an essential process in this era.

Lin Weimin did not hide it, and told each other how he met Qiao Sen, Lao Ma and other foreign student friends.

Yan Wenjing felt relieved after hearing this, but Lin Weimin asked at this time: "Leader | Leader, how much royalties does Random House plan to give? How many copies will be printed for the first time?"

Yan Wenjing glared at him, "Look at you, you are such a money-crazed person. If you tell me, you will bring shame to our Chinese Literature Society!"

Lin Weimin said aggrievedly: "I make a living by writing, so it's embarrassing to care about manuscript fees? You are somewhat out of touch with the world."

"Do you think I don't know how much royalties you receive per year?"

Lin Weimin whispered: "Whatever I charge is my hard-earned money."

Yan Wenjing snorted, "They gave me a price of 5,000 US dollars. The number of prints has not yet been determined, but I guess it won't be too many. After all, your novel is a foreign work."

"Then I don't agree."

$5,000?

I published a novella in "Ellery Quinn Mystery Magazine" for nearly 2,500 US dollars, 5,000 US dollars? How about playing beggar?

Lin Weimin deeply suspected that either there was a devil in a certain link in the country who planned to use him to sell goods to the old people and deliberately lowered the price, or Qiao Sen, an old man, felt that the Chinese had never seen the market and planned to do something. Low investment and high return.

Yan Wenjing's face was filled with surprise when he heard what he said.

"You don't agree?"

Lin Weimin looked matter-of-fact, "Of course. It's 5,000 meters, how about a beggar? I can publish a short novel in a magazine for more than 2,000 meters!"

Yan Wenjing was shocked again, "You paid more than 2,000 yuan for a medium-length article in a magazine? When did it happen? Was it in the United States?"

Lin Weimin did not disclose the matter of publishing novels in foreign magazines to the leaders and colleagues in the company. This would be a leak. He could only explain what happened.

Yan Wenjing and Meng Weizai were both a little confused after hearing this. They published a novel in the largest mystery magazine in the United States and received more than two thousand dollars in royalties? It’s incredible to think about it, like a fantasy.

But what Lin Weimin said was reasonable and well-founded, and it didn't look like he was making it up.

"Weimin, is this true?" Meng Weizai confirmed with Lin Weimin again.

"What's the point of lying? I still have the international wire transfer slip. How about I show it to you?"

Seeing Lin Weimin's determination, Yan Wenjing and Meng Weizai looked at each other, and there was no mistake.

From this point of view, the price given by Random House is indeed very low!

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