The literary era since 1979

Chapter 9: Workers' Paradise
"It's up to you if you want it. Mom supports you."

Yang Xia stood up and walked towards her room.

"mom?"

Fangyan looked at his mother's back in confusion, and suddenly heard the sound of the door being locked. He immediately realized that she was going to the place where she hid the money.

Yang Xia is always so careful every time she withdraws money.

"Take this money and buy two bottles of malted milk later."

Yang Xia walked out of the house with 10 yuan in her hand.

"Maltese? Mom, why did you buy this stuff? Didn't I just give my little sister a bottle yesterday?" Fangyan was even more puzzled.

"That bottle of yours is a gift for Yan Zi, how can you give it to someone else?" Yang Xia said, "Listen to mom, go buy two bottles, and then come with me to Jianjun's house at noon."

Fangyan suddenly realized, "Are you giving me a gift?"

"Jianjun's father works in the street office. He may not be able to help as a formal employee, but it should not be difficult for him to get a quota for temporary workers."

Yang Xia slapped the money on the table.

"Mom, we don't need to give this gift."

Fangyan waved his hand.

There are many large collective street-level enterprises these days. People in the street office will force some educated youth who have returned to the city and cannot find jobs into the collective enterprises within the street, but only a part of them.

And basically, they are all temporary workers.

"You are still young, you don't understand."

Yang Xia said softly, "Although you and Jianjun have been friends since childhood, you can't let your Uncle Liu do us a favor for nothing just because of this. You still have to give the gift you deserve."

"Mom, that's really not necessary. I've already found a job."

Fangyan smiled. The original plan was to ask Liu Jianjun's father for help and think of a solution in the Youth League Office and the Employment Department.

"Have you found it? How did you find it? Didn't you just come back yesterday?" Yang Xia asked in surprise.

"I just went to report to the editorial department of Yenching Literature and Art, and found out that they were short of people and were looking for contract workers."

Fangyan licked the bowl and said, "When I asked, I found out that this job is quite easy and there is not much work. I am also interested in literature and editing, so I thought I would give it a try."

"Hey, why didn't you say so earlier?"

Yang Xia smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum, "Will they want you? Is this settled?"

"I asked someone to ask for me, and I'm waiting for her letter."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "So, you don't have to worry about me. Your son is not yet at the point of sacrificing his sister. Mom, just let your sister fall in love freely and find someone she likes."

Yang Xia stared at him again and again, raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and sighed with relief: "Our Yanzi has grown up."

"Of course not. Otherwise, how can I be the backbone of the family?"

Fangyan ate pickles and finished his steamed buns, "As the saying goes, if you rely on the mountain, the mountain will fall; if you rely on people, they will run away. It is still the most reliable to rely on yourself."

"Good son! What do you want to eat for lunch?"

Yang Xia couldn't stop smiling.

"I won't eat at home at noon. Yenching Literature and Art will provide me with a lunch." Fang Yan said this not only to find out the situation, but also to save food for his family. Why not take advantage of a free meal?

"Then take this money with you."

Yang Xia stuffed a stack of money on the table into his hand.

"Mom, no need, I have my own money."

Fangyan evaded the question.

"Here! How much money do you have? You brought so many things home. It must have cost you a lot. Take it!"

Yang Xia pushed it in, "Go early and come back early."

…………

Take the bus and arrive at No. 7 West Chang'an Avenue.

It was still the same inconspicuous small building. Fangyan found the editorial office with ease and saw that only Wang Jie was sitting in the room.

"Why are you the only one?"

"No, Master is here too."

Wang Jie pointed to the small room and said, "Mr. Li and Mr. Wang went to attend the Writers' Congress. I heard it was quite lively."

Fangyan asked: "What about the others? Didn't they come to work?"

Wang Jie's eyes widened. "Of course I'm at work. Our editorial department has flexible hours. There's no hard requirement for you to stay in the office. As long as you can complete the publishing task, you can use the rest of your time as you like. It's okay to come once a week."

"what?"

The dialect, which is used to the 996 blessing, is inevitably surprised.

"This was specially approved by Mr. Li and Mr. Wang. They said that editing is not about how long you sit in the office, but how many good books you can edit and publish in the effective time."

Wang Jie shook her head and repeated the original words. "Then why did you..."

Dialect is spoken in a joking tone.

"There can't be no one in the editorial department. Someone has to handle readers' letters and authors' submissions." Wang Jie noticed the smile on his face and pouted, "What are you laughing at? If you come here as a temporary worker, all these jobs will be yours."

"Oh, won't you be free soon?"

Fangyan raised his eyebrows.

"Don't worry, I won't leave everything to you."

Wang Jie put her hands on her hips and said, "I'll share the burden for you."

"You are such a living LF."

Fangyan finally understood why Yu Hua was transferred to the cultural center. It turned out that he came to the right place. It was simply heaven.

"Don't praise me enough, I'll become proud."

Wang Jie raised her hand. "I've already told my master about the contract workers. She said she wants to talk to you first. Come in."

Fangyan said playfully: "Thank you."

"No need to thank me, don't forget, 5 novels."

Wang Jie stretched out her hand and spread out her five fingers.

"Isn't it three articles?"

Bargaining in dialect.

"Okay, that's what you said, 3 articles!"

Wang Jie looked triumphant, with a smile on her face.

Fang Yan shook his head helplessly and laughed, and followed her to the small room. He saw her knock on the door and shout "Master, someone is coming", and then Zhou Yanru's voice came from inside.

"come in."

"Teacher Zhou."

The dialect greeted each other politely.

"Xiao Fang, sit down."

Zhou Yanru was as kind as ever, "Xiao Wang, pour him a glass of water." Then she took out a stack of papers and a journal from the drawer, "You made a good revision to the ending of The Shepherd. It passed our final review. The editorial department unanimously decided to put this article on the front page of the latest issue. Take a look."

Fangyan took it and took a look, and it turned out to be a sample book.

Looking through the catalog, "The Shepherd" appeared on the front page of the novel section as expected, but surprisingly, "Loess Plateau" was not there. Was it rejected in the final review?
"We plan to publish your two novels separately."

Zhou Yanru explained: "The Shepherd will be published in this issue, and will appear in the January issue at the end of the year, and then in the Loess Plateau."

"I have no opinion."

Fangyan felt relieved that his royalties were saved.

"The sample books will be sent to your home in a few days. Tell Xiao Wang how many copies you want." Zhou Yanru said with a smile, "The official publication will not be available until the 7th..."

"Hey, Master, wasn't it always number 10 before?"

Wang Jie couldn't help but be surprised.

"The National Congress of Writers is not in session right now. Mr. Li, Mr. Wang and I have discussed bringing the latest issue to the conference and showing it to writers, editors and critics across the country. We invite them to comment and we can set up a commentary column in the next issue."

Zhou Yanru advised: "So you need to give critics and editors a few days in advance to prepare their reviews."

"So that's it."

Seeing Wang Jie's sudden enlightenment, Fang Yan's heart sank. Wouldn't "The Horse Shepherd" also be circulated at the Writers' Congress?
It will also be reviewed by editors, writers, and critics from all over the country, including Shen Yanbing, Ba Jin, Wan Jiabao and other greats.

"Don't talk about this."

Zhou Yanru took a sip of water and said, "Xiao Wang told me this morning that you wanted to be a contract worker in our editorial department, right?"

"Yes, Mr. Zhou, can I?"

Fangyan nodded in acknowledgement.

Zhou Yanru did not answer but asked: "At your age and with your knowledge, shouldn't you consider taking the college entrance examination? Why did you think of becoming a contract worker?"

"Isn't there still half a year left before the college entrance examination?"

Fang Yan said: "My family depends entirely on my sister's salary, and as a younger brother, I cannot stay at home."

Zhou Yanru stared at him without saying a word.

"More importantly, I benefited a lot from chatting with Teacher Li and others in the editorial department yesterday. It gave me a better understanding of literature and made me more interested in the work of editing..."

The dialect speaks half truth and half falsehood.

Really, I am indeed interested in literature and editing.

What’s fake is that the job is low-maintenance, high-paying, and close to home, and you don’t even have to go to the office and can just wander around the streets.

(End of this chapter)