The literary era since 1979

After four or five days of hard work, the foundation's affairs were finally dealt with.

Pan Yaoming knocked on the door of Fangyan's office and brought in the booked plane ticket.

"You really don't want us to give you a ride?"

"No, you have your own things to do."

Fang Yan waved his hand, "Lizhi and Ruoxue are busy with classes, and you also have to take care of your studies."

Pan Yaoming said: "My further studies are almost over. Once I finish writing and submit my thesis, I will probably return to China as soon as I graduate."

"Have you decided what to do when you return to Hong Kong?" Fang Yan asked, "Will you continue to be an editor at Ocean Literature and Art? If you really haven't decided, you can continue to be my copyright agent in Asia."

Pan Yaoming said: "Not long ago I received a letter from Mr. Xiao, who invited me to serve as deputy editor-in-chief and vice president of Sanlian Bookstore."

"Good thing!"

Fangyan was greatly surprised and congratulated him repeatedly.

“It’s a good thing, but it’s a heavy burden.”

Pan Yaoming said: "Mr. Xiao said in the letter that Sanlian Bookstore is not in a good situation now, with continuous losses and increasing debts."

There was disbelief in the dialect tone, "No way?"

"I couldn't believe it at first. Let's not talk about whether Sanlian Bookstore's other businesses are profitable or not. Just the series of novels I signed with Sanlian Bookstore on your behalf can't possibly lose money." Pan Yaoming counted on his fingers, "Once Upon a Time in China trilogy, Farewell My Concubine, That Mountain, That Man, That Dog, and especially Saving Private Ryan, which were so popular at the Oscars, your novel is now No. 8 on the New York Times bestseller list. I don't believe the sales in Hong Kong and throughout Southeast Asia will be much lower."

Fang Yan frowned and said, "Did Mr. Xiao tell you clearly why Sanlian Bookstore is losing money? And what are the difficulties?"

Pan Yaoming shook his head. "I haven't really thought about this in detail, so I think being the deputy editor-in-chief and deputy president of Sanlian Bookstore is probably not as easy as I imagined."

"I guess Mr. Xiao is impressed by your talent and wants you to take good care of Sanlian Bookstore and save the company from collapse."

Dialect is spoken in a joking tone.

"Don't make fun of me, I'm talking to you seriously!"

Pan Yaoming said unhappily: "If you really want to 'rescue a collapsing building and turn the tide', you shouldn't look for me, you should look for you!"

"This kind of transfer from the mainland to Hong Kong, let alone me, I'm afraid even Mr. Xiao may not be able to approve it."

Fang Yan patted his shoulder and said, "Work hard and don't let Mr. Xiao down."

Pan Yaoming said, "I think so too. So I will focus my energy and time on Sanlian Bookstore. I can continue to be your copyright agent in Asia, but I'm afraid I can't handle the foundation's affairs at the same time."

"It doesn't matter. We have Ruoxue now."

Fang Yan said: "Under your guidance, Ruoxue has already mastered the management and operation of the foundation. With the assistance of Ms. Nie, Luo Dai'an, and Li Zhi in the future, I believe she can be a good head of the entire foundation."

Pan Yaoming smiled and said, "I feel much more relieved when you say that."

"Don't be in a hurry to withdraw from the foundation. You can continue to serve as a director. I may set up a branch in Hong Kong in the future."

"You're still going to run a foundation in Hong Kong?"

"Yes, with Hong Kong as the center, we will expand our business to East Asia and Southeast Asia."

Fang Yan said: "Let's talk about the 'International Writing Project Funding List'. Aren't Li Bihua and Guo Chongyuan suitable candidates?"

Pan Yaoming readily agreed, "There must be writers from the mainland, writers from Taiwan, and writers from Hong Kong."

Fang Yan snapped his fingers. The foundation in Hong Kong is chaired by Pan Yaoming, and the mainland is controlled by Shen Shuang, Zhang Guangnian and others. In Japan, they cooperate with Yuhikaku and Kyoto Friendship Association. In addition, there are Bai Ruoxue and Nie Hualing in the United States. His sphere of influence is getting bigger and bigger. The number of domestic and foreign writers funded by him will also increase, and the name of "Teacher Fang" in the world literary world will become more and more famous.

In the future, perhaps we can set up a "literature award" named after ourselves, just like the Rockefeller family established the "Mobil Pegasus Literary Award."

Or we could simply internationalize the Mao Dun Literature Prize and set up a special award for foreign literature, like the Pulitzer History Prize.

This kind of daydreaming continued until the flight to Hong Kong landed.

Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng had been waiting at the airport for a long time. As soon as they saw Fang Yan, they went to greet him.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Fang Yan thanked them and said, "Thank you both for your help."

"No trouble, no trouble at all."

Xu Ke reminded him, "Fang Sheng, when you come to Hong Kong next time, it would be best if you could bring some bodyguards or followers with you."

"Why is this? To protect against reporters?"

Fang Yan was stunned. "The rumors about Miss Lin Qingxia and I are pure nonsense. I think it's time to let it go after such a long time."

"No, it's not about Qingxia." Shi Nansheng lowered his voice and said, "It's about preventing gangsters."

Xu Ke said in a serious tone: "Mr. Fang, Hong Kong is different from the mainland. The forces here are intertwined and complicated. Now many gangs have extended their hands into the film industry. It is common to force actors to act and directors to make films."

Shi Nansheng continued, "Yes, especially an Oscar-level screenwriter like you, who is the one they most want to work with."

“It’s such a mess.”

Fang Yan said seriously, "It seems that when I visit Mr. Huo, I need to ask him to recommend a better security company."

"Mr. Huo?!"

Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng were startled and looked at each other.

"During the National Day last year, we had the honor of meeting on the city wall. It really is a pity that we met too late."

Fangyan smiled and said that he and Mr. Huo were playing bridge together on Yangfeng Alley that day.

Xu Ke couldn't help but sigh: "Fang Sheng's extensive network of contacts is really eye-opening for us."

"No wonder Aunt Six suddenly called me the day before yesterday and told me that I must notify her as soon as Mr. Fang arrives in Hong Kong."

Shi Nansheng suddenly realized, "I guess Fang Sheng and Sixth Aunt are quite close, right?"

Fangyan was confused, who is Aunt Six?

Shi Nansheng and Xu Ke looked at each other in surprise, "Mr. Fang doesn't know Aunt Six?"

Fang Yan shook her head to deny it. Upon asking, she found out that Aunt Six was a respectful title given to Fang Yihua by people in the circle, corresponding to Run Run Shaw's title of "Sixth Uncle".

Xu Ke was full of doubts. "That's strange. Since Fang Sheng doesn't know Aunt Liu, why would Aunt Liu want to see you?"

Shi Nansheng secretly touched him with his elbow, his eyes seemed to suggest "don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask", and then smiled and said:
"No matter what, it's not a bad thing for Sixth Aunt to meet Fang Sheng. Maybe she just wants to make friends with a great talent like you."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Fangyan couldn't help but laugh. It turns out that sometimes being too famous is not a good thing. When you are famous, you will have more gossip. (End of this chapter)