The literary era since 1979

Chapter 346 The People's Eyes Are Sharp (Two in One)

"The pile on the left is letters from readers of Stewardess."

"Here in the middle are the letters that readers wrote to The Chess King."

“The pile on the right is all for other writers in this issue.”

Listening to Zhu Wei's words, Wang Meng, Fang Yan and others looked at the piles of letters from readers on the table, piling up more and more from right to left.

Chen Xiaoman smiled and said, "Although the tragic ending of "Stewardess" made some readers very dissatisfied, but generally speaking, most people like "Stewardess" very much as a humorous and interesting love novel, especially readers from Yanjing, who think it has a strong Beijing flavor."

Wang Meng asked: "What about The Chess King?"

“Also received rave reviews!”

Wang Fu was all smiles, especially within the literary community. "The Chess King" was deeply loved by writers and editors. Even newspapers and magazines such as "Contemporary" and "Huaxia Youth" called and asked indirectly about Zhong Acheng's specific address, preparing to visit him to ask for manuscripts.

"Sure enough, the eyes of the masses are sharp."

Fangyan looked around and looked at Zhou Ming, Lu Shuyou and others for a few more seconds.

They all looked embarrassed and forced a smile reluctantly, but their smiles were uglier than crying.

"Now, our People's Literature has had a good start in the field of 'roots-seeking literature'."

Wang Meng smiled from ear to ear, "The editorial department should keep up the good work and dig out more root-seeking novels like The Chess King! If nothing unexpected happens, the 'root-seeking literature' proposed by Director Fang will be the newest and most mainstream trend in the literary world in the next few years!"

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa."

Fangyan took the lead in applauding, followed by Zhu Wei, Chen Xiaoman and others. The applause was like thunder, resounding throughout the house.

However, for Zhou Ming, Lu Shuyou and others, it was like being slapped in the face one after another.

Under the initial fire started by Fang Xiaojiang, the Western faction was clearly suppressed and at a disadvantage in the dispute over the route of People's Literature.

"Zhu Wei!"

Fangyan asked Zhu Wei to pack up all the letters from readers and then he would deliver them to the writers one by one.

Zhu Wei said: "Teacher Fang, I can go alone, you just..."

"This shows our sincerity and can help consolidate and deepen our relationship with the writer."

Fang Yan said: "By the way, let's see if we can arrange another manuscript."

Zhu Wei's eyes suddenly lit up. He quickly bundled the letters into piles, put them into a cloth bag, and then followed Teacher Fang on the long journey.

The first house we visited was Shi Tiesheng's on Lama Temple Street.

After delivering the letter, we talked about the creation of "The Intouchables" and the outline gradually took shape.

Then, the second, third, and fourth...

Zhu Wei sat in the car, "I didn't expect that Wang Shuo and A Cheng's homes were separated by Chang'an Street. Teacher Fang, which one should we send first?"

"Of course it's Ah Cheng." Fang Yan said, "Let him come to the editorial office to pick up Wang Shuo's letter himself."

"Ah?" Zhu Wei was shocked.

"Wang Shuo is a man who cannot be spoiled. He is a donkey. He needs a carrot in front and a whip behind him."

Fangyan smiled. Wang Shuo was no longer an ordinary writer. He must be dealt with severely and locked up in a small dark room and severely exploited.

Zhu Wei nodded, “You make sense.”

The two came to Zhong Acheng's home, a small east room with a total area of ​​less than 10 square meters, which was narrow and cramped.

At the door, there was a basket filled with noodles, and a sign next to it that read, "The keys and noodles are in the usual place."

Zhong Acheng came out of the house, surprised and happy, "Teacher Fang, why are you here!"

"To send you a letter, of course."

Fangyan gave Zhu Wei a look, and Zhu Wei understood and took out bundles of letters from readers from his cloth bag.

"Hey, there are so many!"

Zhong Acheng smiled and said, "I originally thought that no one would watch "The Chess King". I never expected it, never expected it..."

Fang Yan said: "I didn't expect that I was so beautiful."

Zhong Acheng said: "I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. I'm just like a stupid woman. Suddenly, men come to ask, 'Hey, you're so beautiful'. I can't help but wonder, 'Am I really that beautiful?'"

Zhu Wei said: "Beautiful, of course you are beautiful, many people praise you as beautiful as Shi Tiesheng."

"I don't deserve it. I don't deserve it. Compared with Shi Tiesheng, you really flatter me."

Zhong Acheng invited the two into the house. There were teacups on the table that had not been cleared away.

Fangyan was very surprised, "Has anyone been here?"

"Just left not long ago."

Zhong Acheng showed a helpless smile, "These past few days, editors from various publishing houses have been looking for me every day to ask for manuscripts. My door is almost broken down. When I got married, there were not so many people to send off my bride."

Fangyan asked: "Where are your wife and children? Aren't they at home?"

Zhong Acheng explained that the two had been living apart from each other from the time they got married to the time they had children.

Zhu Wei looked at the house that looked like it was about to collapse at any time and asked, "Why do you want a house that no one wants?"

"This is better than nothing. There was nothing I could do. Before I was 30, things were not going well for me. But since I met Teacher Fang, my luck has finally turned around." Zhong Acheng was beaming with joy, saying that as soon as "The Chess King" was published, his company immediately considered allocating him a new house.

Fang Yan said: "That's good, that's good."

"Teacher Fang, our family of three is able to be reunited thanks to you."

Zhong Acheng was so excited and grateful that he couldn't describe it in words. He held his hand tightly and shook it hard.

Fang Yan said: "Then please submit more articles to People's Literature in the future."

"This...this..."

Zhong Acheng said that literature is just an occasional means of survival, and he makes a living by his craft. People who make a living by their craft must never peg themselves to a fixed point, otherwise they will either be exhausted to death or bored to death.

"There are so many genres in literature. If you get tired of writing novels, you can write something else, such as a movie script."

Fangyan raised a playful smile.

He bought the titles of county magistrate of six counties. He couldn't handle it all by himself. No, he had to take on so many roles that he couldn't handle it all by himself.

He was planning to catch Zhong Acheng, Wang Shuo, Yu Hua and others in one fell swoop, and set up a studio similar to the "Seahorse Creation Center" in the future.

The proprietress is naturally Gong Xing.

As for the name, is "cow horse" better? Or is "mule horse" better?
…………

The next day, early in the morning.

Fang Yan did not go to work at Renwen Press, but took Gong Xian, Fang Yan and others to apply for ID cards.

Before sending Fang Yan back to school, I went to Wangfujing Street and bought her a new pair of Huili shoes.

At this moment, the streets are bustling with people, and foreign tourists can be seen everywhere, which is basically thanks to "A Bite of China".

There are a total of 130 shops on the one-kilometer-long street from the south entrance of Wangfujing to the west entrance of Dengshi, selling daily necessities, home appliances, clothing, shoes and hats, books and other commodities. Some shops do not sell things but provide repair and other services.

In the past, many state-owned stores closed at around 5 or 6 in the afternoon before the sun set.

At the latest, it will close before 7: p.m.

The three came to the first large department store since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Wangfujing Department Store, which was overwhelmed by the dazzling array of merchandise.

Because it was still a planned economy at that time, the cost price and retail price of the same product in different shopping malls were the same.

For example, a watch of the same brand and style can be sold for 180 yuan in a department store, but can only be sold for 180 yuan in a shopping mall in Xidan. While Fang Yan was trying on shoes, Fang Yan whispered to Gong Xing about the idea of ​​a "creative center".

"Who will take care of it then?" Gong Xing was surprised. "Are you willing to leave People's Literature and go into business?"

"It's not me, it's you!" Fang Yan said with a smile.

Gong Xing was stunned. "Me?"

Fangyan nodded and planned to expand the creative center into a cultural company when the policies and situation gradually relaxed in the future, involving publishing, film and television, entertainment, investment, etc. Before that, he had to establish good relations with CCTV, Yanjing TV and other TV stations.

Listening to his plan, Gong Xing fell into deep thought, "So what are you going to do next?"

"The first step is to find a publishing house that can be affiliated with and start a magazine."

Fang Yan said: "This creative center can be operated under the name of 'magazine editorial department'."

Gong Xing blinked, "Which publishing house? Is it reliable?"

"Of course it's Science Fiction World."

Fangyan is full of confidence, it's like he's opening the door for someone reliable, he's extremely reliable.

"Oh! Did you already think about doing this before you wrote the article for Science Fiction World?" Gong Xing suddenly realized.

Fangyan smiled without saying anything, their eyes met, and everything was said without words.

Then I went to the counter to pay the bill and heard two female sales clerks holding the Economic Daily and cursing at each other.

"Don't let me meet the reporter who wrote this article, or I'll give her a good scolding."

"That's right, what's the point of 'lighting up Wangfujing Street'? Just light it up, but why extend the business hours of the shops?"

"Reporters are like this. They only need to write and talk, but we salesmen have to consider many things."

“I really learned this from studying journalism!”

"........."

Listening to their complaints, Fangyan asked and found out that Wangfujing Department Store had become one of the first state-owned units to be responsible for its own profits and losses.

In the past, ownership and management rights belonged to the state, and the efficiency was borne by the higher authorities, but now, management rights are gradually transferred to shopping malls.

In order to ensure efficiency, the department store’s business hours can only be extended, which indirectly extends the salespersons’ working hours.

"We are not unreasonable people. We can extend the working hours, but we don't even get a penny of overtime pay!"

The salesperson was furious. "Please be fair. How can you not pay overtime for overtime work?"

Fangyan glanced at the sign on the wall that read "No beating or scolding of customers without reason"; being a salesperson in a state-owned enterprise was a lucrative job in those days.

However, his mind was not on this, and his eyes unconsciously fell on the shop and the counter.

…………

After sending Gong Xing and Fang Yan back to school respectively, Fang Yan went straight to Han Yuemin's clothing store.

Nowadays, the scale is getting bigger and bigger, with electronic jacquard machines, electronic sewing machines and various equipment.

Han Yuemin was surprised to see Fang Yan coming to visit him unexpectedly, but when he explained his purpose, he was even more shocked:
"What? Rent the counter and store in Wangfujing Department Store?"

"Correct!"

"Will Wangfujing Department Store agree to this?"

"Why would you not agree? The department store is now responsible for its own profits and losses and is losing money every day."

Fangyan introduced him to the business model of "bringing factories into stores", that is, the shopping mall rents out counters directly to manufacturers, and then the manufacturers supply the goods and sell them directly in the shopping mall, and the manufacturers then pay the salesmen wages.

"This is indeed a good idea, but will the department store agree?"

Han Yuemin said: "We are not a state-owned unit, not even a rural collective enterprise, we are just an individual business."

Fang Yan said, "Brother-in-law, don't underestimate yourself. You are not an ordinary self-employed person. You are a self-employed person with merit. You have been a typical self-employed person. Moreover, you have been in the newspaper and sponsored the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. Many state-owned enterprises may not be inferior to you."

When Han Yuemin heard this, he straightened his back involuntarily.

"Moreover, a red-headed document was issued at the beginning of the year to encourage the production and circulation of goods."

Fang Yan said meaningfully: "I think as long as we can convince the department store's leaders, they will not reject this win-win plan. Who knows, this 'bringing factories into stores' model may be established as a model and promoted nationwide in the future!

Han Yuemin couldn't help but understand, "Leave the persuasion to me."

Fang Yan said: "If it is done, the next thing to consider is the trademark and brand..."

"What about the shops and counters?"

Han Yuemin had visited counters countless times, but this was the first time he rented a counter to do business.

"Isn't this simple?"

Fangyan cleared his throat.

The counter should be decorated in a grand manner, with various celebrity posters on the side, and a few sales ladies standing at the counter. They should be very pretty and modern, preferably with a beautiful face, a sweet voice and long legs. When a customer comes in, no matter if they have something to do or not, they should say "may I help you?"

Do you know what a successful person is? A successful person buys the most expensive things instead of the best ones!

Therefore, the slogan of our clothing counter is: not the best, but the most expensive.

"I see. That's the style we want!"

Han Yuemin suddenly understood.

"That's right. We Yanjing people value our reputation. We can't lose this person!"

Fang Yan said: "This counter is doing this, and the other counters can take the route of people-friendly evaluation..."

After a long chatter, Han Yuemin's eyes sparkled. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the counter was definitely a treasure trove.

"But Yanzi, when it comes to hiring people, my number must not exceed 8."

"That's another thing I want to tell you. If we want to become bigger and stronger, we have to expand production."

"That's right, I was just planning to discuss this with you."

Han Yuemin said: "Many self-employed people are looking for state-owned enterprises or even village collective enterprises to rely on. Yanzi, should we wear this red hat or not?"

"You definitely have to wear it, but you have to put it on so you can take it off later."

Fangyan reminded.

These days, if self-employed individuals want to expand production, they must recruit a maximum of seven workers.

However, it is legal for state-owned or collective enterprises to expand their operations and recruit employees. In order to produce and operate legally and in compliance with regulations, they must be held accountable later. Most self-employed individuals will register their businesses under the names of these units, calling it "wearing a hat."

"That's right. If you find the wrong one, it's like finding yourself a father and giving away your belongings to him."

Han Yuemin was confused. "What do you think of the noodle factory where your sister and I worked before?"

Fangyan touched his chin and said, "No, it's not reliable."

Han Yuemin clapped his hands, at a loss, "What should I do?"

"It's not like there's no other solution. If this hat doesn't fit, the worst that can happen is I can just change it."

Fang Yan had thought about it a long time ago. He planned to register a company in the Cayman Islands and then set up a subsidiary in Hong Kong. He would invest in the mainland in the name of foreign capital. At that time, he would give Han Yuemin's clothing company a foreign hat and maybe even enjoy the policy benefits of "three subsidies and one entry".

Han Yuemin was very excited, "That would be great!"

"But this is a last resort. There are still a lot of restrictions on foreign hats in China."

Fangyan took a sip of Arctic Ocean soda, seeming to be lost in thought.

(End of this chapter)