The literary era since 1979

Chapter 98 The Youngest Professional Writer in the Country

Under the sunlight, a five-story old gray building is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Chaonei Street and Nanxiao Street.

Fangyan stood downstairs, looking up and down.

It was my first time at Renwenshe, and I was unfamiliar with the place. Fortunately, Zhang Guangnian had made arrangements in advance and sent his secretary to greet me at the door.

Soon, we arrived at the editor-in-chief's office.

After the two exchanged a few pleasantries, Fang Yan took out "The Hidden" from his canvas bag. Zhang Guangnian took it but was not in a hurry to read it:
"Please take this manuscript to the editorial department for a look first. Comrade Xiao Fang and I have more important things to discuss."

As he spoke, he handed the manuscript to his secretary and asked him to deliver it.

There were only two brothers left in the entire office.

Fangyan took a sip of tea, sat quietly and listened attentively.

Zhang Guangnian said admiringly, "I thought you would ask me about professional writers right away, but I didn't expect you to be so calm. Just like what the teacher said, your face is as calm as a lake and as steady as a rock."

"Brother, please stop teasing me."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "In fact, I have been anxious for a long time."

"Haha, Junior Brother, don't be anxious."

Zhang Guangnian began to explain patiently.

Fangyan gradually understood what a professional writer is.

This is a system we learned from the Russians in the 1950s and 1960s.

Writers are divided into professional and amateur types. Professional writers are nominated and appointed by the Writers Association, Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and other cultural units in municipalities and provinces. Once selected, they are considered to have a cadre position.

They will then have corresponding levels, salaries and housing, and their living conditions will be fundamentally guaranteed, so they can concentrate on creation.

It can be either part-time or full-time.

For example, Wang Meng is a professional writer of the Yenching Federation of Literary and Art Circles, but he also serves as the editor-in-chief of "Yenching Literature" under the federation, as well as the vice-chairman of the Yenching Writers Association.

(ps: At the end of the 20th century, you can only leave, not enter)
"Of course, the benefits of part-time workers are not as good as those of full-time workers."

Zhang Guangnian talked about the differences in detail. For example, in terms of salary, it is impossible for a part-time worker to get double salary, but there will be additional allowances and subsidies.

"No wonder my senior brother asked me to apply to join the Yanjing Writers Association."

Fangyan's eyes suddenly lit up.

"This is also the result of what the teacher discussed with me at the beginning."

There was a hint of nostalgia in Zhang Guangnian's tone.

"teacher?!"

Fang Yan was shocked. Was this also Shen Yanbing's arrangement?
"Yes."

Zhang Guangnian told him everything.

When the two of them were discussing it, the public opinion situation of "The Great Qin Splitting" was very bad. Shen Yanbing was worried that if the editorial department of "October" could not withstand the pressure, he would be transferred to the Writers Association for protection as a professional writer.

"In the Yanjing Writers Association, Wang Meng will take care of you."

Then he paused and said, "Although I am of low rank and my words have little weight, I am still a writer after all. Besides, if nothing unexpected happens, the next chairman of the Writers Association will be Mr. Ba. He can be considered half of your teacher, right?"

"Ah."

Fang Yan was moved when he thought that all of this was arranged by Shen Yanbing. His eyes turned red and he murmured, "Teacher..."

Zhang Guangnian patted his shoulder and remained silent.

After a while, Fangyan gently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes:
"Thank you, teacher and senior brother."

"Don't thank me, that's what we were planning."

Zhang Guangnian waved his hand and said, "But I didn't expect the situation to develop beyond my previous expectations. After the release of the two parts of "The Great Qin: Fission", you turned out to be a blessing in disguise and got a great opportunity."

"A great opportunity?"

Fangyan blinked curiously.

Zhang Guangnian said bluntly that given his age, qualifications, and works such as "Dark War", "Listening to the Wind", and "The Shepherd", if he followed the normal process to be included in this long list of professional writers, he would probably have to wait for a few years.

But because of the success of "The Great Qin Splitting", dialects, as a banner of literary reform, squeezed into this year's list.

Of course, the content of the speech in dialect also added a lot of points.

"Comrades such as Hu Muqiao and Zhou Yang also said that your becoming a professional writer is in line with the trend of younger, more knowledgeable and more professional cadres, and is a signal for the reform of the Writers Association."

Zhang Guangnian hinted at something in his words.

You have entered the sight of certain leaders.

"That's great. I didn't embarrass my teacher and senior brothers."

Fangyan breathed a sigh of relief and straightened his back.

"Now it depends on whether you plan to work part-time or full-time." Zhang Guangnian said meaningfully: "My suggestion is to choose full-time and transfer you out of the editorial department of October."

"Is October causing any trouble?"

Fangyan's heart skipped a beat, it seemed like there was going to be quite a bit of trouble.

"Little Junior Brother, what do you know?"

Zhang Guangnian couldn't help but be surprised.

The dialect could not be said to be revealed by Wan Jiabao, so he just said it was his own speculation, "Brother, is October really in big trouble?"

"That's right. Comrade Hu Muqiao will take the lead in investigating and handling the matter."

Zhang Guangnian looked serious.

"so serious!"

Fangyan frowned and asked anxiously what it was related to.

"Bitter Love."

Zhang Guangnian said in a serious tone.

Fang Yan had a deep impression of "Bitter Love". When the first part of "The Qin Empire: Splitting" was just published, Lu Yuanchi and Su Yu found him, used "Bitter Love" as an example, and expressed their willingness to support and protect themselves.

When I thought of this, I couldn't help but ask:

"But when the script of the movie Bitter Love was sent to the Film Bureau for review, if there were any problems, it would not have been approved and made into a movie. Is there something wrong with it..."

“That’s exactly the movie.”

Zhang Guangnian said that something went wrong at the preview.

Fangyan's face changed, especially when he heard that the sky was poked a hole, he was even more shocked. This was more than just a big trouble!

It's such a huge trouble!
"Editing is like this. Any mistake in a word or sentence can lead to a major accident."

Zhang Guangnian said: "So we must be rigorous, rigorous, and rigorous again."

"So now, what are you going to do with October?"

Dialects are inevitably anxious.

"The outcome of the handling has not been determined yet, but it will definitely not be light. After all, the whole country is now promoting the 'Five Stress, Four Beauties and Three Pursuits', and what you said about 'Chinese Renaissance' and 'Positive Energy'. 'Bitter Love' just happened to touch the bottom line at this time." Zhang Guangnian's words were helpless.

"This……"

Fangyan was speechless for a moment.

"When Bitter Love was published, you were not in October. This time, you have suffered an unexpected disaster."

Zhang Guangnian sighed.

Fangyan understood what he meant, and hoped to use this opportunity as a professional writer to extricate himself from the troubled "October".

But when I think about the time when "The Great Qin Splitting" was questioned, denied, and criticized, and when I thought about the time when I was discredited, criticized, and blamed, the entire editorial department and publishing house stood up to protect myself, and finally made up my mind and made a decision.

Stay in October and share the hardships together!

"I knew you would do this. I asked you to come to People's Literature, but you chose to stay at Yanjing Literature."

Zhang Guangnian was not surprised at all, but rather appreciated it: "Don't panic, the situation is not so serious that it cannot be reversed."

Fang Yan nodded solemnly, and then continued to inquire about the situation of "October". He could obviously feel that Zhang Guangnian intended to use him to warn "October" and Yenching Publishing House.

Everything that needs to be said has been said, and everything that needs to be revealed has been revealed.

"Brother, it's getting late. I think I should go now."

"Look at you, you're anxious again. Your manuscript is still in the editorial department."

"I almost forgot."

Fang Yan followed Zhang Guangnian and walked out of the office.

As expected, "The Disguiser", the pinnacle of spy literature, naturally conquered the entire editorial department of "People's Literature".

Because the editing plan for the third issue has been finalized, it is planned to be placed on the front page of the fourth issue, which is August.

The original version of "Lost" has only more than 1 words, but after being processed in dialect, it becomes a long novel with a total of 31.2 words.

The pre-tax royalties alone are 3120 yuan.

Adding in the basic royalties from the film script and the monograph of The Great Qin Splitting, his current net worth is nearly 2 yuan.

But now, Fangyan doesn't think too much about how to spend money.

At this moment, I just wanted to get back to the editorial office to deliver the message.

(End of this chapter)