The literary era since 1979

After the Spring Festival Gala, songs such as "Lady Shexiang" and "Loess Plateau" naturally became popular all over the country.

The "1985 Spring Festival Gala Special Edition" tapes released by the Recording and Video Publishing House were so popular that they were sold out in almost one day. Branches across the country called one after another to urge for delivery. The tape factory workers started work early, and one of the conditions was to get the Spring Festival Gala special edition music tapes for free. And not just one box per person, but three boxes per person...

The popularity spread to the streets and alleys. Wherever there were loudspeakers and tape recorders, the familiar melody would be played from time to time:
"The Wumeng Mountains are connected to other mountains, and the moonlight shines on the Xiangshui Beach."

"My home is on a loess plateau, and strong winds blow across the slope."

"I love China, I love China, I love China!"

It was so popular that newspapers, radio stations and television stations reported it extensively, and leaders of the propaganda, culture, radio, film and television departments praised it unanimously. A special commendation meeting was held on the central TV station to highly praise the creative team of the Spring Festival Gala with the theme of "National Unity".

Especially the chief director Huang Yihe and the chief planner Fang Yan!

The day after the commendation meeting, Fangyan got up early and prepared to visit relatives and friends one by one.

At this moment, Fang Yan rushed out of the house in a hurry: "Brother! Brother! Are you going out?"

Fang Yan nodded, "You little glutton, you're not going to want me to bring you something delicious when I come back, are you?"

"Really? I am such a greedy person in your eyes!"

Fang Yan handed over a letter, "I just want you to mail a letter for me."

"Send a letter? To whom? A man or a woman!"

Fangyan looked like he was determined to get to the bottom of the matter.

"Oh, this is a letter I wrote to Uncle Zhang Baifa!"

Fang Yan explained the situation truthfully.

"Zhang Baifa? Isn't he the head of the fund-raising department of the Asian Games Committee?"

Fang Yan was stunned. Ever since Yanjing won the right to host the 11th Asian Games, the pressure to raise funds has been increasing.

At this time, it is necessary to rely on social fundraising to fill the funding gap, so the Asian Games Organizing Committee established a special fundraising department.

"Yup!"

Fang Yan said: "It was broadcast during the Spring Festival Gala, calling on the audience across the country to donate enthusiastically to the Asian Games."

Then he glanced at the envelope in his hand and said, "This money is from my savings. Brother, please donate it for me!"

"Yo ho!"

Fang Yan's lips kept curling up, "I never knew our little Yanzi is so ambitious!"

"Hehe, it's all thanks to our mom, our sister, our sister-in-law, and you, my brother, who educated us well."

Fang Yan said: "I think if everyone contributes a little, we won't have to worry about running out of money for the Asian Games, don't you think?"

"You are a teachable kid." Fang Yan showed a gratified smile, "Okay, I'll run errands for you on this letter."

He took the letter and patted his little sister's head: "Since you have such a broad mind at such a young age, I will bring you some delicious food when I come back. Tell me, what do you want to eat?"

"This is what you said!"

Fang Yan swallowed her saliva, and her throat made a gurgling sound. "Then I want roast duck, braised pork elbow, donkey rolls, and donkey meat fire-baked bread..."

"Hey, hey, come on, name the dishes here. Can you eat so much by yourself? Be careful or you'll upset your stomach again."

"You asked me to say this, didn't you?"

"How about this, I'll see what's on the road and get you some."

Fang Yan tapped her nose and said, "Study hard at home. You will take the college entrance examination this year."

………………

After sending the letter to his younger sister, he visited Zhang Guangnian, Shen Shuang, Wan Jiabao, Wang Zengqi, Wang Meng and others in turn.

When Fangyan bought snacks and delicacies, he did not forget to buy an extra portion for Shi Tiesheng.

At this time, the Citroen had already stopped on Lama Temple Street, but it was not parked in front of the compound where Shi Tiesheng used to live, but in a courtyard house in Lama Temple, which was also the office of the editorial department of "Mystery World".

Fangyan arranged a temporary residence for Shi Tiesheng in the backyard on the grounds that the office was too far away, and gave it the euphemism of "the treatment of deputy editor-in-chief."

He also "cajoled" Shi Lan and Shi's father into moving to the spacious compound, claiming that they needed someone to look after them.

Right now, the jujube trees, persimmon trees, pomegranate trees and other trees in the yard are bare, but if you look closely, you can see tender green buds growing on the branches.

"Brother Fang, you're here!" Shi Lan turned around and shouted into the house with a broom in his hand, "Brother, Brother Fang is here!"

With a click, the window opened, and Shi Tiesheng immediately stuck his head out from inside, his eyes narrowed into slits with a smile:

"What a coincidence! I was just wondering when you would come, and here you are."

“This is called tacit understanding.”

Fangyan handed the braised pork elbow to Shi Lan, then walked in with big strides.

Shi Tiesheng pushed his wheelchair to the lobby and handed over a thick envelope on his knees: "This is for you."

Fangyan didn't answer it immediately, but instead cast a questioning look.

"Didn't we agree that the rent here is paid every six months?" Shi Tiesheng said, "This is for the first half of this year."

Fangyan waved his hand and said, "Look at you, you forgot again. There is another sentence behind it. Just deduct it directly from your salary and bonus."

"Is there such a sentence?" Shi Tiesheng was stunned and reviewed it carefully.

"Of course I have!" Fang Yan poured a cup of hot water for them. "So you should put the money away quickly."

Shi Tiesheng said no more and turned to talk about his salary and bonus, the amount of which was already higher than that of the editors-in-chief of most publishing houses.

Fang Yan said: "Isn't it normal to have more? You are the deputy editor-in-chief of "Mystery World"!"

Shi Tiesheng scratched his head: "But isn't it a bit too much..."

"This is called distribution according to work. The more capable you are, the more you work, the more you get."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "You know, although I am the editor-in-chief of Mystery World, I am actually a hands-off manager. The tedious work of collecting manuscripts and publishing the magazine is mainly carried out by you, Wang Shuo, and Acheng. It is reasonable for you to take this money, so don't worry about it."

Shi Tiesheng said: "I'm being modest. At most, we are responsible for execution. It's up to you to grasp the strategy and direction of the magazine."

The two chatted about the development plan of "Mystery World" this year, and they talked about the issue of manuscript supply.

"I brought back a lot of orthodox and neo-orthodox novels from Japan this time."

Fangyan took a sip of water and grinned.

"Before reposting, you have to translate it first, right?"

Shi Tiesheng said in embarrassment: "We don't have any literary translators who understand Japanese in our editorial department."

"Don't worry about that, I've taken care of it."

I was very familiar with the dialect, and as early as when I was in Kyoto, I asked Yui Hashimoto, Yoko Suzuki and others to help translate.

As for future translation work, I have hired Yoko Suzuki as a part-time editor of "Mystery World" to take on the responsibility of foreign mystery literature. I will select talents from Yan University, Renmin University, China Foreign Languages ​​University and other universities to form a translation literature team belonging to "Mystery World".

"This is really great!"

Shi Tiesheng suggested: "Should the editorial department recruit one or two people at the beginning of the year?"

Fangyan deeply agreed with this. After all, today's "Mystery World" has a monthly sales volume of nearly 50 copies, making it the number one mystery magazine in the country. Even though people like Yang Xiao and Yao Haijun from the Science Fiction Literature Publishing House share the task of publishing and distribution, the editorial department is still a little short of staff.

If the sales of "Mystery World" increase to 600,000 or 700,000 copies in the future, the editorial department with such a small number of people will indeed be stretched to the limit.

So he agreed to Shi Tiesheng's recruitment plan, and took the opportunity to tease his old friend:

"I remember Ximi is also an editor at a publishing house, right? Should we ask her if she's willing to come to our Mystery World?"

"Simi?!"

Shi Tiesheng's heart was pounding.

Fang Yan half-jokingly said, "If it's inconvenient for you to make this call, I'll just make it!"

Shi Tiesheng pretended to cough, "Ahem, let me do it. I can also introduce her to the current situation of "Mystery World"."

"That's settled then!" Fang Yan gave a wicked smile as if he had succeeded in his evil plan.

"The supply of manuscripts and the staffing have been arranged, but there is something more urgent at the moment."

Shi Tiesheng adjusted his glasses and said, "Your novel 'Song Ci, the Chief Justice of the Song Dynasty' has come to an end. We need to find a new novel for 'Mystery World' as soon as possible. Otherwise, many readers who came for you and your works will cancel their subscriptions, and sales will definitely decline."

"Well, leave this to me!"

Facing his urging for manuscripts, Fang Yan patted his chest. (End of this chapter)