The literary era since 1979

Chapter 52: The Storm of Commissioned Works
Early June, editorial office of October.

"Manuscripts like 'Dark War' are exactly what 'October' needs. We should also pay more attention to spy novels in the future."

At the pre-editing meeting, Su Yu, as the editor-in-chief, looked around at editors including Zhang Zhonge and Zhang Shouren and discussed the future direction of the journal.

Everyone present was enthusiastic and talking about it.

After waiting day and night, we finally got the news that "October" had obtained an official journal number. On October 10, National Day, the latest issue of the magazine could be delivered to the post office for distribution nationwide, and it would no longer be limited to the Yanjing area.

We discussed the manuscript compilation plan for the October issue.

"Shall we go to a literary workshop?"

Zhang Zhonge made the suggestion in a serious tone.

"To the literature workshop?"

Su Yu and others turned their eyes to him.

Zhang Zhonge nodded and said, "When I was working with Butterfly, I went to the editorial department of Yenching Literature and Art to look for Wang Meng. I accidentally heard that Fang Yan was now in the training institute."

"Teacher Zhang means that we should ask Fangyan to write an article?"

Su Yu cast an inquiring look.

“It’s not just dialect.”

Zhang Zhonge smiled and said, "This year, the institute has recruited a large number of outstanding writers. Wang Meng recently shared with me a novel called "Furong Town", which is definitely a top-notch work of reflective literature. The author of the novel is a student named 'Gu Hua'."

"Then what are we waiting for, let's go!"

"That's right. If you go too late, I'm afraid that the good manuscripts will be snatched up by other publishers."

"It's better to do it today than to wait for a better day. Tomorrow is Sunday. I will rush to the training institute while other publishing houses are closed and catch them by surprise."

"........."

The editors were more impatient than each other. After discussing it, they decided to send Zhang Zhonge and Zhang Shouren as pioneers to the Literature Institute to fight the first battle and try to get one or two manuscripts.

Just when they thought they had gained the upper hand, they discovered that other publishing houses had already taken the lead and editors came to them one after another to ask for manuscripts.

After all, with the sudden popularity of "Dark War", the dialect has given a good start to the resumed literature school!

Not only editors from outside the institute came here to write articles, but many students inside the institute, like Fang Yan, were also editors of local journals and they all asked Fang Yan, Jiang Zilong and others to write articles for them.

Good things should not be allowed to flow into other people’s fields!
When Zhang Zhongye arrived at the cafeteria, he realized he was late.

The whole room was bustling with noise, comparable to a vegetable market. Editors, known and unknown, kept pestering the students to communicate.

"Yanzi, tell me why you want to publish this article "Corner Without Sun"?"

Zhou Yanru put down the manuscript.

Fang Yan said: "Teacher Zhou, this is what I think. The times are advancing, but we cannot forget those who have been knocked down and neglected. We educated youth have scar literature and reflective literature, so shouldn't we also have works written for them?"

"It seems that you have made a lot of progress by following Mr. Mao."

Zhou Yanru showed a satisfied smile.

Fang Yan smiled and said, "I feel that I can benefit a lot from following the teacher even if I do nothing."

"You!"

Zhou Yanru smiled and rolled her eyes, "I'll accept this manuscript. I'll discuss it with Teacher Wang when I get back."

Fang Yan knew that the matter was basically settled, so he lowered his voice and said, "Teacher Zhou, I have something else to discuss with you."

"You say." Zhou Yanru said.

"It's about the royalties from the author of this novel."

The dialect gave a brief introduction to Shi Tiesheng's situation.

Zhou Yanru pondered for a moment, "I understand what you mean. I can consider it and set the manuscript fee at 4 yuan per thousand words."

"Teacher Zhou, I want to thank you on behalf of Shi Tiesheng."

After recommending Shi Tiesheng, Fang Yan immediately recommended Tie Ning and her "Oh, Xiangxue" to Zhou Yanru and Wang Jie.

"Teacher Zhou, I wrote this novel in the hope that readers can see not only the simple, pure and beautiful hearts of the rural girls from this ordinary story, but also their strong and sincere yearning and pursuit for a new life..."

Under Tiening's grateful gaze, Fangyan kept his achievements and fame to himself and left space for them to be alone together.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I showed my head in the crowd, I was immediately spotted by the editors who were as ferocious as wolves and tigers, and they swarmed over me.

Not to mention the novel Fangyan is currently writing, which has not been completed yet. Even if it is completed, he has no say in which journal it will be published.

Fang Yan declined one writing commission after another, but finally couldn't stand the surging enthusiasm and secretly hid in a corner to seek quietness.

"An Yi, why are you hiding here?" "I, I..."

Wang Anyi hesitated for a long time before saying embarrassedly that no one had asked her to write an article and no one had shown any interest in it until now.

"Please show me the novel you have in your hand."

Fangyan stretched out his hand.

"I don't have much capital and my writing is not good. Please don't laugh at me after you read it." Wang Anyi handed it over hesitantly.

"No way. Jia Dashan told me earlier that he had read your novel in Jibei Literature and Art and it was well written."

Fangyan looked carefully and saw the title "Miscellaneous Notes from the Small Courtyard" written prominently on the first page.

"Don't comfort me. That manuscript has about 3,000 words and is at the very end. Who can see it?"

Wang Anyi shook his head in disbelief.

"Don't believe it? If you don't believe it, let's go ask Jia Dashan."

Fangyan found the tall and strong Jia Dashan in the surging crowd, and took Wang Anyi to confront him face to face.

"I was right. On the Plain is indeed well written. I even told Zhang Qingtian, the editor-in-chief of Jibei Literature and Art, that this child will have a bright future."

Hearing what Jia Dashan said, Wang Anyi smiled.

"You see!"

Fangyan was flipping through the manuscript.

Wang Anyi's cheeks turned red. "But, but many editors read my manuscript and didn't want to publish it."

The novel was not long. Fang Yan read it carefully and said, "It's normal. The primary criterion for evaluating literary works nowadays is the ideological content. This is a judgment concept that has been formed over the years and it cannot be changed in a short time. Look at Tie Ning's "Oh, Xiangxue", which was just rejected for this reason."

"Is that so..."

As Wang Anyi opened his mouth, Zhang Zhonge's voice came from behind him.

"Hello, can you lend us this manuscript?"

"You are?"

Fangyan looked at Zhang Zhonge on the left and Zhang Shouren on the right, both of whom looked to be in their forties or fifties.

Fangyan was greatly surprised when he heard Zhang Zhonge and the other man introduce themselves. He was just thinking about finding a way for Wang Anyi, but he didn't expect that the way would come to him.

Wang Anyi clenched his fists and saw Zhang Shouren reading his novel, while Zhang Zhonge took the initiative to chat in dialect.

"Just now I heard you talk about the criteria for evaluating publications. I think it makes sense. I didn't expect Comrade Fangyan to not only write good novels, but also have such outstanding editing skills."

"You're too kind. I'm just an assistant editor at the moment."

"Assistant Editor?!"

Zhang Zhongye couldn't help but be surprised. Whether it was to Zhou Yanru or Wang Anyi, Fangyan didn't behave like a newcomer in the industry!

Fangyan does not hide his background, and anyone can find out his details by asking.

Zhang Zhonge looked at him meaningfully for a few more times, then turned to look at Zhang Shouren: "Teacher Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Shouren smiled faintly and tactfully said that he could not appear in October, but suddenly changed the subject:
"How about this, I'll forward it to the China Youth Publishing House's Novel Quarterly for you."

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang! Thank you, Teacher Zhang!"

Wang Anyi was overjoyed and bowed to them excitedly. Then he glanced at Fangyan, who came to his rescue, with watery eyes.

"Ugh."

Watching the young couple leave, Zhang Shouren sighed softly, "It's a pity that I couldn't get an appointment with Fang Yan for the manuscript."

Zhang Zhonge couldn't help but sigh, "Yes, this young comrade Fangyan is really an eye-opener. Let alone his previous comments, just the novels he picked, "Corner Without Sun", "Ah, Xiangxue", "Miscellaneous Notes of the Small Courtyard", we have all read them, which is enough to show that he has the potential to be an excellent editor. In time, he may surpass you and me."

"That's right. It is said that Gu Hua's article "Furong Town" was also commissioned by Fang Yan for "Yanjing Literature and Art"."

Zhang Shouren looked at Fang Yan's back with admiration.

"It would be great if such young people could come to October. We need such capable young players."

Zhang Zhonge was very surprised.

"I don't think it's possible unless we can convince Wang Meng to release him."

Zhang Shouren shook his head, "There is another possibility. We can get ahead of Yanjing Literature and Art and turn the dialect into a formal job of October."

　Thanks to the 100 Qidian coins that make life a little calmer.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)