The literary era since 1979

October 10, Renwenshe.

While the distribution of the latest issue of "People's Literature" was completed, the national seminar co-organized with "Harvest" was also ready.

Fang Yan flipped through the meeting's details while listening to Chen Xiaoman's report:

"The meeting place is at the sanatorium beside West Lake in Hangzhou."

"Zhu Wei, Wang Fu and others have already rushed there a day in advance to confirm with the comrades from West Lake and Harvest the details of accommodation, food, travel and activity arrangements..."

"Sister-in-law, have you printed all the copies of Farewell My Concubine?"

"Okay, but isn't 25 copies a little short? Should we ask the printer to print some more?"

"That's enough. This is just for internal circulation."

Fangyan closed the file and said, "Since everything is almost done, I think we can leave for Hangzhou in the next two days."

"Then I'll have someone book the train tickets."

Chen Xiaoman glanced at her watch and said, "Oh, by the way, Lu Haiyan, the guy you asked me to date last time, will be here in a while."

"Sister-in-law, just bring him here when the time comes." Fang Yan smiled.

"Row!"

Chen Xiaoman agreed, and after about seven or eight minutes, she invited Haiyan to her office.

"Director Fang, sorry to bother you."

"Just call me by my name. Please take a seat."

"How can that be possible? How about I call you 'teacher', just like Teacher Chen."

Haiyan was polite, and kept looking at the man in front of him, with a strange light flashing in his eyes.

Seeing him staring intently, Fang Yan shuddered when he thought of this man's orientation, "What are you doing?"

"Oh, sorry, Mr. Fang, I'm just a little surprised."

Hai Yan smiled modestly, "I didn't expect that you are so talented in literature at such a young age and have achieved such great success!"

"You're overpraising me. I just started writing novels a few years earlier than others. There are many people who are more talented and gifted than me."

Fangyan took out the manuscript of "Plain Clothes Policeman" from the drawer and said, "Comrade Haiyan, you wrote this novel very well."

"you flatter me."

"I'm not exaggerating. A while ago, Mr. Chen and I both read "Plain Clothes Policeman". It is excellent in terms of readability and story!"

“This is all thanks to Mr. Youfang’s inspiration.”

"I?"

"Yes, it was after I read Malice that I suddenly had the urge to write a police novel about criminal investigation and solving cases."

"Really? That's really a coincidence."

Fang Yan and Chen Xiaoman looked at each other.

"But compared to your "Malice", my "Plain Clothes Policeman" can only be regarded as an ugly imitation."

Hai Yan said: "To be honest, I showed it to a few of my colleagues and they all said it was vulgar and not as good as Malice."

"It's better to be vulgar. The good thing about your book is that it's vulgar."

"how to say?"

"When literature is presented in a single genre, it means it is not brilliant. A hundred flowers blooming is a good situation. Nowadays, there is too much serious literature and pure literature, so popular literature is needed to neutralize it. Isn't my "Malice" vulgar?"

Fang Yan said: "Many great writers have written vulgar literature all their lives, but who dares to say that they are not literary masters?"

These words penetrated into Haiyan's heart and touched the most itchy spot. He was so excited that his face turned red.

"I think you are quite talented. Would you like to continue to develop in the literary world and join a writers' association or something?"

"Teacher Fang is such a joke. How can I just get into the Writers Association?"

"No kidding, as long as you keep writing and keep this popular style, rather than being kitsch, vulgar or banal, you will have a chance."

Fangyan encouraged him a few more times and was almost shouting "You have the potential to be an emperor."

"With these words, I will definitely work hard!"

Haiyan's face was like a pool of water, but there was a gleam of light in her two little eyes.

Fangyan suddenly asked, "Have you ever thought of adapting this novel into a TV series?"

Haiyan's heart skipped a beat, "Is it okay?"

"This novel has the potential, but the most urgent task right now is to try to revise the novel and publish it."

Fangyan skillfully painted a big picture, since it didn't cost any money anyway.

Haiyan's psychology is understood thoroughly. After all, as long as the drama is popular, the original author will also be popular.

The path ahead, like joining the Writers Association, is no longer just a fantasy.

………………

The next day, the train from Yanjing to Hangzhou started running.

"Clang, clang."

The hard sleeper car of the train was constantly shaking. Fangyan slept on the upper bunk of Shi Tiesheng, and opposite him were Zhong Acheng and Wang Shuo.

"Teacher Fang, in just half a month, the sales of Mystery World have exceeded 33 copies."

"Editor-in-Chief Yang of Science Fiction World said that the publishing house receives dozens of letters every day. Some are subscription letters or letters from readers, and some are reminders of manuscripts. They urge us to quickly publish the second issue of Mystery World. Everyone is looking forward to the follow-up content of Song Ci, the Chief Inspector of the Song Dynasty."

"..."

After hearing the good news from Wang Shuo and the other part-time editors of Mystery World, Fang Yan turned to Shi Tiesheng:
"Besides these, are there any other things? For example, some manuscripts of mystery novels?"

"Yes! But there are not many, only four, one novella and three short stories. The quality is not that good."

Shi Tiesheng reported the submission situation truthfully.

"After all, China has never provided a stable window for writers of mystery novels to publish and showcase their works."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "Talent is something that cannot emerge all of a sudden. It has to be cultivated slowly."

"you do not say!"

Wang Shuo said, "It's reported in the newspapers that we are the first in the field of mystery literature in China." He peeled off the peanuts and said, "Editor-in-Chief Yang told me that many publishing houses are eyeing the fat piece of meat of mystery novels and are eager to start a magazine like "Mystery World"."

"Now that the soil for mystery novels is there, we are just waiting for the potential mystery writers to grow."

Fangyan repeatedly emphasized that if he met someone with good talent, he could relax the payment appropriately, but he must keep the copyright in mind.

"Okay, but Mr. Fang, buying their copyright... isn't it too much of a loss? Is their copyright worth buying?"

Wang Shuo, Zhong Acheng and others nodded.

Fang Yan said: "It's really not worth it. Just think of it as buying horse bones with gold. Only when there is enough profit can more people write mystery novels."

"Teacher Fang really cares about Chinese literature!"

Wang Shuo couldn't help but sigh that although this high manuscript fee came with conditions attached.

That is a contract with a priority signing clause. The copyright of the novel must be given to "Mystery World" for agency first. If the contract is violated, the copyright will automatically be transferred to "Mystery World". For example, private transactions and sales of copyrights are considered violations of the contract.

In return, the editorial department of "Mystery World" will act as an intermediary and actively promote the copyright to major TV stations and film studios.

"Okay, remember to show me every mystery novel you want to publish and any outstanding submissions in advance."

Fang Yan said, "I want to review it myself." "No problem."

As one of the first cultural self-employed people in his previous life, Wang Shuo has an extraordinary business sense.

In just a few words from Teacher Fang, I realized that "novel copyright" might be something that hides huge profits.

Not to mention other miscellaneous adaptation rights, the royalties from TV series and movies alone are a considerable income!

However, he is only on the second level, while Dialect is on the fifth level.

In this age of entertainment scarcity, we can cultivate a huge group of novel readers. When movies and TV series enter thousands of Chinese households, the group of people who read novels at that time will give great value to the copyright of the novels.

At that time, whoever can create the first batch of works and whoever can firmly grasp the first batch of user groups will be the future generation of literary masters; whoever can seize the copyrights of the first batch of works will be the future entertainment giant. And now is a great opportunity.

"Iwako, there is one more thing."

Shi Tiesheng reminded that the editorial department had also received many reprint application letters from other newspapers, hoping to serialize "Song Ci, the Chief Justice of the Great Song Dynasty" in their own newspapers. The prices of royalties offered were also varied. Major newspapers gave the highest stipulated standard, while tabloids mostly paid around 10 yuan.

"There's no rush. We'll decide after we get back from Hangzhou."

Fangyan gave a meaningful smile.

"So what do you plan to do with the letters from readers?"

Shi Tiesheng said, let alone replying, there was no time to even read it.

"For these letters, I'll handle them according to my old rules."

Fangyan packed up all the letters and stored them in his vacant courtyard.

Wang Shuo's eyes revealed envy. He wondered when he could be as wealthy as Teacher Fang!
The mansion is so luxurious that it can be used as a warehouse for readers' letters. A great writer should be like this!

………………

When we arrived in Hangzhou, the writers who were invited to attend the conference arrived one after another.

Northern Hebei, northern Shaanxi, southern Hunan, southern Henan, eastern Guangdong, Sichuan, Shanghai, Gansu and Long...

People from all over the world gathered together.

Although it was co-organized by People's Literature and Harvest, the budget was still limited. Not only were the meals for the conference quite simple, but the accommodation conditions in this sanatorium called the "General's Building" were also quite simple, with some rooms accommodating two people and some three people.

Fortunately, the writers, editors and critics attending the conference did not mind or complain, and they stayed in one room in groups of three or four.

"These two are the leaders of the Hunan Army, Han Shaogong and Gu Hua."

"Gu Hua, Shao Gong, let me introduce him to you. He is Zhong Acheng, the man you have always wanted to meet, the author of The Chess King."

Fangyan introduced the two parties to each other, "That person is Wang Shuo, who has recently become famous with the 'New Beijing-style novels'."

"Hello!"

"Nice to meet you!"

The two groups of people greeted each other in the corridor of the sanatorium, their faces filled with enthusiasm.

Han Shaogong said to Zhong Acheng: "I have known you for a long time and have read your "Chess King". This is the first time I have seen you in person."

Zhong Acheng was a little shy and didn't want to talk about himself: "You and Gu Hua's writings are also very good. I have read them all."

Han Shao was overjoyed and congratulated, "It seems like I haven't seen any new works from you for a while."

Zhong Acheng suddenly smiled slyly: "It's not easy to write."

Han Shaogong, Gu Hua and others looked at each other in bewilderment: "How could that be?"

Zhong Acheng became serious and confident: "This is like high jump. In front of me is your 'Xiangchu Literature' standard. I have to jump over it!"

"I dare not, but I dare not be a benchmark."

Han Shaogong said: "In this building, there are many people who are more worthy of being a benchmark than us."

"That's right, let's not talk about Brother Acheng's "Chess King"."

Gu Hua waved his hand. "Look at Feng Jicai. His series on extraordinary people in Tianjin is amazing. And Zheng Wanlong next to him. His series on 'Strange Stories from Foreign Lands' is equally impressive. These two are both from the north. As for the one from the south, look at that guy, Li Hangyu."

"hiss!"

Zhong Acheng took a deep breath, "I've heard Teacher Fang talk about this guy. His 'Ge Chuanjiang' series is the forerunner of root-seeking literature."

"Take a look at those people in eastern Guangdong..."

Han Shaogong looked around and pointed, "And there's Jia Pingwa who's chatting with Yan Zi. His Shangzhou story is full of meaning."

“But then again, although there are so many branches of root-seeking literature, and all of them have the potential to become benchmarks of root-seeking literature, I’m afraid that the people present here, including you and me, are not qualified to be called benchmarks. Only Yanzi, who organized this meeting, is worthy of the title.”

Gu Hua said firmly: "I wonder if you agree with me?"

Zhong Acheng didn't even think twice and blurted out, "Of course! No one can be called a benchmark for root-seeking literature better than Teacher Fang!"

As they were talking, they, like everyone else in the corridor, cast their eyes towards Fangyan who was busy entertaining guests.

Most of the delegates will arrive this afternoon, just in time to attend the grand welcome banquet in the evening.

It was held at Zhiwei Temple, hosted by West Lake magazine, which played its part as host.

Wang Shuo and Zhong Acheng were full of excitement and were reluctant to move freely at first, but after drinking a few cups of wine, they began to let themselves go.

Seeing them toasting each other frequently, Fangyan reminded them, "You shouldn't drink rice wine like this. It's easy to get drunk."

"No way, Mr. Fang?"

Wang Shuo didn't care. "This wine tastes like a flat bottle of Arctic Ocean soda. It doesn't have any alcoholic effect at all."

"Yes, it's very delicious." Zhong Acheng drank quickly, one cup after another.

"Yellow wine is slow in nature. You will know how powerful it is in a moment."

Fang Yan smiled, and then he heard Li Xiaolin calling him over to give a toast to the huge welcome banquet.

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa."

Tie Ning, Wang Anyi and other long-time friends were the first to applaud, followed by other guests, and the applause was like a tide that lasted for a long time.

"Everyone!"

"Please allow me to express my warm welcome to the writers, critics and editors who have come from afar on behalf of the organizers of this event, People's Literature, Harvest and West Lake, and in my own name."

"..."

"Among the guests present today, many are our old friends, and many will be new friends in the future. But whether they are old friends or new friends, they all have one thing in common, that is, they are all closely related to root-seeking literature!"

"It is precisely because the roots of our literature are the same, that writers from all over the world can gather here."

"Let's drink and talk happily, let's drink and sing."

“It is precisely because our literary roots have grown into various roots that we can gather here to brainstorm and conduct research and discussion.”

Fangyan looked left and right and said, "Here, I sincerely hope that this West Lake Conference will be successfully held."

"cheers!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone stood up and responded. For a moment, they toasted each other and chatted.

Zhong Acheng and Wang Shuo frequently looked for people to drink with. Once the wine started to take effect, they became more and more dizzy as they drank. Finally, they were carried upstairs by everyone and thrown on the bed.

After the meal, a dance was organized, but no one danced.

Almost everyone found someone they wanted to chat with and discuss issues, except for Wang Shuo and Zhong Acheng who were sleeping soundly in the room.

Thus, with the song "Love in Late Autumn", the West Lake Conference officially kicked off. (End of this chapter)