1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 198 Good news from the other side of the ocean
Two days later, it was the weekend. Lin Weimin went to the market to buy some mutton rolls, and came to No. 26 Lama Temple Street, followed by his tail.

"Tiesheng! Tiesheng!"

Lin Weimin entered the courtyard and called Shi Tiesheng's name, Xiaojian pushed him out.

"Xiaojian is here?"

"For the people!"

The two said hello.

Lin Weimin brought the mutton into the house again, and said to Father Shi: "Uncle, don't cook for lunch today, let's eat boiled mutton."

"Okay." Father Shi replied with a smile.

In the morning of early autumn, the sun was just right.

Shi Tiesheng's wheelchair was pushed to the side of the jujube tree in the courtyard, Xiao Jian casually leaned against the jujube tree, Han Zhuangzhuang brought a stool, but he didn't want it, saying he had been sitting in the house for a long time.

Several people sat or stood around the jujube tree in the yard.

Lin Weimin asked Shi Tiesheng jokingly, "How is it? How does it feel to be famous?"

At this time, more than four months have passed since the publication of Shi Tiesheng's "My Distant Qingping Bay". The novel has aroused considerable repercussions across the country. Shi Tiesheng, a disabled and determined writer.

"That's it." Shi Tiesheng's tone was casual, and he added, "The only advantage is that the manuscript fee may increase a bit in the future."

He asked again: "How is the novel you mentioned last time?"

"It's finished, and it will be published early next year."

Xiaojian asked: "Why wait for the publication at the beginning of the year? Is the layout so tight?"

"I can't help it. The agency said that I took up too many pages of "People's Literature" in a year, and they didn't give young writers a chance, so I waited to publish a supplement."

Lin Weimin said pretending to be aggressive in a helpless tone, which made Shi Tiesheng want to hit someone.

"Aren't you also a young writer?" Xiao Jian asked innocently and innocently.

Shi Tiesheng said quietly: "You didn't understand what he meant. He meant that now he is a generation taller than us."

Only then did Xiaojian react, "You are really shameless!"

Lin Weimin said aggrievedly: "What does this have to do with me? It's not what I said."

After joking a few words, Shi Tiesheng said seriously: "This time we publish a supplement, what should we do in the future? Also issue a supplement?"

Lin Weimin spread his hands, "Who knows. Anyway, I want to earn this manuscript fee. If the agency really doesn't want to accept my work, then I will post it elsewhere. "Harvest", "October", "Zhongshan", "Flower City" is pretty good."

Shi Tiesheng joked: "You kid is going to betray G's life, your leader's blood pressure should probably go up."

"That can't be helped."

Shi Tiesheng said again: "By the way, when you mentioned "Harvest", Xiao Jian wrote a novella and submitted it to "Harvest"."

It is true that Xiao Jian is Yan Ying's student, but he has been engaged in literary creation for a longer time, dating back to the early 70s.

Lin Weimin has read the things he wrote, and if he has to comment, he can sum it up in four words—the talent is limited.

Lin Weimin pretended to be unhappy, "What's the matter? You didn't vote for me, you voted for "Harvest", you kid, this is also a betrayal of G's fate!"

Xiao Jian quickly waved his hand, "It's not that I didn't vote for you, but I voted for "Contemporary". You didn't want it, and you were still on a business trip at that time."

"We didn't ask for it, so you voted for "Harvest"? When did our "Contemporary" have such a high standard? It's the turn of "Harvest" to write down the works?"

Shi Tiesheng and Xiaojian were amused by him and laughed.

Xiao Jian said: "I'm purely casting a wide net."

"It's okay. The style of each editorial department is different. It may not work in our "Contemporary", or in other publications." Lin Weimin reassured.

"I have been used to submitting manuscripts for so many years, and it is normal to be rejected."

After chatting for a while, Xiaojian talked about graduation again.He actually graduated this year and was assigned to Hainan.But because he wanted to help his teacher Xie Fei with the script, he stayed in Yanjing for the time being.

Lin Weimin became interested when he heard that Xie Fei had come, and he had several contacts with Xie Fei before.

"It's called Our Fields, and it's a reaction to..."

Xiao Jian gave Lin Weimin a brief introduction to the situation of the movie. Now that the script is almost ready, the filming can start next month.

Lin Weimin thought about it for a while, but he didn't remember this film, so it seems that the quality should be average.

Following the topic of the movie, Lin Weimin asked Xiaojian about the whereabouts of this year's graduates. Xiaojian, Tian Zhuangzhuang, and Zhang Yimou were all classmates of the same year.

"Everyone is basically assigned to film studios in various places. For example, many of our editorial and director classes are locals in Yanjing, and they stayed directly in Yanjing, such as Cheng Kaige and Tian Zhuangzhuang."

These years, the principle of distribution is based on the nearest distribution, and those who can go back to their hometowns will go back to their hometowns.

"Where's Zhang Yimou?"

"Zhang Yimou?" Xiao Jian thought for a long time before a vicissitudes of face appeared in his mind.

Zhang Yimou is a good professional in school, but he is low-key. He can't compare with Cheng Kaige, a man of power. Xiaojian's impression of him is only that he has good photography skills.

"He seems to be in a photography class, right? I remember he went to Xiying Studio."

Everything is the same as history.

Several people were chatting, and Father Shi also prepared lunch over there.

Instant-boiled mutton is Shi Tiesheng's favorite. Lin Weimin has been in Yanjing for two or three years, and now he likes it.

Coupled with Han Zhuangzhuang's big appetite, the meal was in full swing, and the eight catties of mutton rolls was not enough.

Before the [-]th National Day, Lin Weimin received a letter from Tao Huimin.

Seriously, Lin Weimin and her only met once. Although they didn't say it clearly, they both confirmed each other's position in their hearts.

Tao Huimin's reply was not as bold as Lin Weimin's, but the shyness and liking of a girl between the lines was really irresistible.

Especially when she mentioned the love poems written by Lin Weimin specially for her, there was a kind of joyful joy on the paper.

Tao Huimin also mentioned in the letter that Xiangjiang's performance has been successfully completed, and they are now back in Hangzhou and are rehearsing a new play.

The response to the performance in Xiangjiang was very good. The troupe is going to perform in several cities in Zhijiang Province starting next month. Next year, it may perform in other cities in China, and may even go to Yanjing.

When she said this, Tao Huimin's tone was both excited and disappointed.

What is exciting is that the troupe's performances are becoming more and more influential, and it is very likely that they will come to Yanjing to meet Lin Weimin next year.

What is disappointing is that there is little hope of meeting Lin Weimin this year. She now spends most of her day practicing and rehearsing, followed by performances, unless she quits.

Tao Huimin's family education is strict and her style is very conservative. She is determined not to do such a rebellious thing.

Lin Weimin thought of the girl's frowning brows full of worry, and a knowing smile appeared on her face.

Spreading out the letter paper and writing back to her, the general idea was to let her perform at ease, and he wrote a very nasty love poem to Tao Huimin in his heart.

The girl is fine with this, Teacher Lin must arrange it.

After answering the letter, Lin Weimin sighed.

This is the 80s. If it was left to future generations, the couple would not see each other for a few months or a year, and it would take ten months to receive a letter to maintain their relationship. I am afraid they would have broken up long ago.

It's not that Lin Weimin didn't think about calling Tao Huimin.

But the problem is that neither of them has the conditions to call.

Lin Weimin's work unit does have a phone, can he go to Lao Meng's or Lao Qin's office to talk on the phone with his girlfriend?The dog's head has to be hammered.

As for installing a phone at home, it is even more unrealistic.These days, the phone is not something that ordinary people can handle. It takes a certain level of seriousness to qualify.

Tao Huimin lives in an art school, and the school also has a phone, so she definitely won't be able to use it.It's okay to make public calls on the street once or twice, but the financial strength of more girls does not allow it.

Lin Weimin also had no way to give her money directly. He knew very well that with Tao Huimin's character, giving money would be counterproductive.

Alas, it's not easy to fall in love in the 80s!

On the last day before the National Day holiday, Meng Weizai found Lin Weimin in his office.

Lin Weimin thought that Meng Weizai was going to talk to him about the Yanbing Literature Award, but Lao Meng stunned him when he opened his mouth.

"There is news from the United States, saying that "Farewell My Concubine" will be reprinted."

"Add printing? Is this for sale?"

Random House is the Guowen Society that I contacted in June. Because the manuscript was translated in advance, the typesetting and printing became very fast. It appeared in bookstores in the United States in late July. The Morleys that Lin Weimin met in West Lake were I bought the English version of "Farewell My Concubine" when I was traveling in the United States in early August.

Calculating the time, from the end of July to the current end of September, in two months, the first printing of [-] copies of "Farewell My Concubine" will be reprinted. Lin Weimin has no idea about the sales volume.

"Leader, is this sales volume considered good?"

Meng Weizai said: "Looking at the meaning of Random House, it should be quite good. If it is reprinted and sold, there may be a chance to be on the bestseller list of their "Xincun Times"."

Hearing what Meng Weizai said, Lin Weimin had an idea.

The "New Village Times" bestseller list has a history of several decades, and it belongs to the vane of the American book industry.

All of the top-ranked works are popular works in the United States, and some of the heavyweight works have even formed a great influence all over the world.

And being able to rank in the bestseller list, even if it is at the bottom, also proves that "Farewell My Concubine" has a group of loyal readers in the United States, which can be regarded as a small influence.

It is right to think about it, the decadent and charming mysterious East, the chaotic political background, the darkness and betrayal of human nature, the distorted same-sex relationship under depression, the poignant and beautiful love...

Putting together so many elements that Lao Mi is interested in, it is not surprising to achieve such results.

After the event analysis, naturally any analysis is correct.

Lin Weimin asked, "How many copies are going to be printed at Random House?"

"One hundred thousand volumes."

Lin Weimin was taken aback, "This step is big enough."

Meng Weizai laughed and said: "This proves that your book is popular!"

"This amount of printing has nothing to do with the popularity, at most it helps the publishing house to make a little money."

Immediately, he asked happily again: "The standard of the manuscript fee is as agreed last time, right?"

Meng Weizai joked with a smile: "I know you won't forget this incident."

"That's right. After our reply, they will wire the transfer immediately."

"Old rules, exchange for foreign exchange certificates."

"You kid really won't suffer any time."

"Leader, I'm not at a disadvantage. If you don't go outside to inquire, what is the price of rice knives among the people?"

Meng Weizai didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Okay, I see, I'll exchange them into foreign exchange certificates for you, and I'll report to the president later."

Only then did Lin Weimin say with a playful smile, "Thank you leader|leader."

(End of this chapter)