Literary Master 1978

It has been four or five days since the release of "Crossing Guandong". The sales of "Flower City" have been very good, but the response from the outside world will still take some time to ferment.

That evening, when Tao Yushu came home from get off work, she told Lin Chaoyang during dinner: "Our colleagues in the editorial department responded enthusiastically to your movie "Crossing the Guandong" and praised you for your work."

Lin Chaoyang asked with a smile: "Then they didn't put any pressure on you to compile the manuscript?"

Lin Chaoyang is now both an editorial board member of "People's Literature" and a family member of the editorial staff. When everyone talks about this matter, it is inevitable to put some pressure on Tao Yushu with half-truths.

She laughed and said, "I must be stressed. But don't bite me if you have too many lice, and don't worry if you have too many debts. A while ago, Dening asked me if you have written anything recently."

Although Tao Yushu would ask Lin Chaoyang to help write some comments and support the new writers she wanted to discover and cultivate, she was not so disinterested as to let Lin Chaoyang contribute to the magazine where she worked.

"Actually, it's not that I can't do it, as long as you are willing to put in some effort."

Lin Chaoyang's eyes were full of meaning, and his ambition was clearly revealed.

Tao Yushu raised his eyebrows slightly and gave him a big roll of his eyes, "It's not straight."

While the couple was enjoying themselves, Lin Erchun walked into the yard. He first picked up Xiao Dongdong who was running around on the ground and looked at it for a while. Then he said to Lin Chaoyang: "Do you want to repair the east courtyard? If so, do you want to repair it?" If so, I’ll find someone to do it for you later.”

Listening to Comrade Erchun's tone, I don't know why Lin Chaoyang can always think of later generations of contractors.

The chartering plan has been implemented for half a year. Comrade Erchun bought two sets of courtyard houses, plus the one in Mianmian Hutong. There are dozens of tenants under him, and he has to hire two odd jobs every two days.

As time passed, the production captain's demeanor came back.

Lin Chaoyang said lazily: "Okay, you can find someone to do it."

Lin Erchun didn't like seeing him like this, "Tell me, why do you, a man in his twenties, have no energy all day long?"

"Try it with your child for a day!"

Lin Chaoyang didn't work much in the past few months, and Tao Yushu and Tao Yumo both had to work, so he took care of the children during the day, while Zhang Guiqin only took care of them one or two days a week.

Before, Xiaodongdong was too young and had to be carefully taken care of, so she often helped.

Now that the child can trot, Lin Chaoyang gave her a holiday so that she could enjoy happiness.

"What's the point of looking after children? My grandson is so handsome. He can play with it all by himself."

The father and son stopped talking, so Lin Chaoyang decided to change the topic and asked how his rental business was going recently.

"Okay! The situation is not generally good, but great!"

Mentioning the things he was busy with, Lin Erchun became more energetic and had the passion of "an old man talking about being a teenager".

“After working on it for half a year, I finally understood that the housing conditions of the people in Yanjing City are indeed extremely poor.

There are many families with five or six people living in a house of about 20 square meters. Some young couples who get married cannot get a room in the unit and have to queue up to live in a dormitory. They have no choice but to rent a house.

There are many tenants in our courtyard, not to mention ordinary factory workers, but also well-educated people.

There are also people from outside Yanjing who come to work in Yanjing. If you have not been in contact with them before, you would not know that in the past two years, there are many people coming to Yanjing to work in the surrounding areas of Changping, Daxing and even Hebei.

After the land was divided into households, farm work was no longer as demanding as before. The land at home was given to the elderly and women, and the young and strong people came out to work, and there were even couples who came out together..."

Lin Erchun talked endlessly about the people and things he encountered during the past six months of renting houses.

Lin Chaoyang also liked hearing these things, and he was collecting writing materials. He asked: "Then what are these people doing here?"

"There are a lot of things you can do. Deliver coal to the coal factory, work as a waiter in a private restaurant, run a stall... you can do everything. Some of them are very good at it, and they earn no less than those who work in factories."

…

After chatting with Lin Chaoyang for more than an hour, Lin Erchun left in a hurry after dinner.

According to him, the three courtyards in his hand are almost rented now, and the net income is about 3,000 yuan a year. The house payment plus the repair costs for the three courtyards is only 24,500 yuan. Lin Erchun does not know how to calculate it. What a rental return, but he is quite satisfied with the figure.

In his words, this business can be done!

Next, he will buy a few more courtyard houses to rent out. The old man is proud of his little rent, but he doesn't know that what his son is after is the housing price.

In the future, these courtyards will skyrocket to such an extent that even if Lin Chaoyang experienced it again, he would find it so terrifying.

In the evening, Xiao Dongdong had gone to bed. Tao Yushu was leaning on the bedside and reading the manuscript. Lin Chaoyang advised: "Have a rest. You can work even when you go home. Aren't you tired?"

"It's just reading the manuscript, what's the point of being tired?"

For a person like Tao Yushu who has extremely high self-esteem, internal scrolling has become the norm for her, so there is nothing tiring about it.

She pulled Lin Chaoyang and said, "Hey, look at this manuscript. It's quite good. The author is my junior brother."

"Junior brother? Are you from Yan Normal University too?"

"Yeah, I'm a senior. I think he has a lot of potential."

As she spoke, she handed the novel to Lin Chaoyang. He looked at it carefully and then said: "The writing is okay, and it has some ideas. But if it is published in "People's Literature", I'm afraid it won't be interesting."

"There is potential. Every magazine talks about cultivating and exploring young writers, but how many are really willing to give young people a chance?

I heard others say that the editors of some provincial literary publications no longer read freelance submissions.

Our "People's Literature" is even worse in this regard. It has a big brand and a good reputation, and the editors also have burdens. They are afraid that the works they publish are not of sufficient quality and will be criticized.

In fact, I think this is not necessary. If we want the magazine to maintain long-term vitality, it is reasonable to provide some appropriate conditions for young people to create. "

Lin Chaoyang said: "That's why Lao Wang entrusted the work of "Friends of People's Literature" to you!"

During the Chinese New Year, Lin Chaoyang went to Chen Rong's house for a gathering. Wang Meng talked to him about setting up a creative correspondence center, which included the creation of a supplement to "People's Literature" called "Friends of People's Literature". And handed the matter over to Tao Yushu.

Last month, this matter was discussed within the Literary and Art Association, and Tao Yushu became the deputy editor of "Friends of People's Literature". The editor-in-chief is still Wang Meng.

Letting a young editor like Tao Yushu become the deputy editor, even if it is a supplement, it is enough to show that Wang Meng attaches great importance to her, but this matter did not arouse much discussion within "People's Literature".

The main reason is that "Friends of People's Literature" is temporarily positioned as a supplement created to cooperate with the Creation Correspondence Center, and it may not be canceled at any time. Tao Yu Shukong has the title of "Associate Editor", and his salary has not changed.

Furthermore, since Tao Yushu came to the editorial department, his work attitude and results have indeed been recognized by his colleagues.

Not to mention anything else, she beat everyone in the editorial department just by the number of reviews.

After all, working overtime is not popular these days, so only people like her who are accustomed to independent involution would happily work overtime.

“Of course it would be better to have the Friends of People’s Literature, but the strength of the supplement is far from enough.

The sales volume of each issue of our "People's Literature" is 14.5 million copies, and the sales volume of 50,000 copies of the supplement is probably a big hurdle. Its influence is not the same as that of the main magazine.

Although it gives young writers some room to practice, the intensity is still too low.

If people really want to practice, wouldn't it be easier to publish small local publications? "

After taking over the work of "Friends of People's Literature", Tao Yushu was under great pressure, and at the same time he did not fully agree with the leadership's philosophy.

"Governing a big country is like cooking small dishes. You and Lao Wang are in different positions and look at problems from different angles.

From Lao Wang's position, everything is focused on stability, and the role of "Friends of People's Literature" is more like a backup hematopoietic machine.

If we try to dig out a large number of new writers and new works from the very beginning, problems will easily arise. "

Tao Yushu thought about his words and nodded, "Yes, I just want to praise two young writers who are famous all over the country. Maybe when I become a leader, I may be more conservative than him."

Lin Chaoyang asked with a smile: "What about praising this junior brother this time?"

Tao Yushu took the manuscript back and said, "Forget it. You said you're a little behind on my skills. I can't always fight with the leader. I need to keep in touch with him first and guide him."

Time flies to May Day. Since the publication of "Crossing Guandong", the response from the outside world has gradually become enthusiastic. Lin Chaoyang went to Tao's house for dinner and met Xie Mian downstairs in Langrun Lake Apartment. Xie Mian even took him to discuss the novel for a while. .

Wu Zuxiang, who lived upstairs, heard that Lin Chaoyang was coming and ran to Tao's house.

When he saw Lin Chaoyang, he praised with a smile on his face: "You guys can do it! This novel is really extraordinary."

When Wu Zuxiang dominated the literary world nearly half a century ago, he couldn't help but come to chat with Lin Chaoyang, which shows the importance of "Crossing Guandong" in his mind.

At least this is the first time that Lin Chaoyang has written a novel for so many years.

"To be able to receive your constant compliment, my novel was not in vain." Lin Chaoyang said with a smile.

Wu Zuxiang asked him to talk about some details in the novel with great interest. Listening to his explanation, Wu Zuxiang couldn't help but nod.

"Yeah. You are really mature in your creation. There are some things I didn't even think of."

"I learned this from you!"

Lin Chaoyang complimented the old man a few words, making him feel proud and beaming.

In fact, his compliment was true. When Lin Chaoyang lived in Tao's house two years ago, he would go upstairs to communicate with Wu Zuxiang from time to time, which can be regarded as being cultivated by Wu Zuxiang.

Not to mention the current students, even the students in level 77 have never enjoyed this kind of treatment. It is almost at the level of a direct disciple.

After chatting for a while, Wu Zuxiang couldn't help but ask about the second half of Lin Chaoyang's story. This issue of "Flower City" only published half of the novel "Crossing Guandong". Not only Wu Zuxiang, but all readers are the same. Half of the story is full of curiosity and anticipation.

Lin Chaoyang briefly told Wu Zuxiang the general direction of the plot. Wu Zuxiang listened and waved his hand: "Okay. I feel relieved when I know the general idea. I was worried that it would start but end at the end. Now it seems that the story is still complete. Keep it up." High standard in the first half.”

The two chatted for a while, and the Tao family was ready to have lunch. Tao's father left the meal, and Wu Zuxiang happily agreed.

While eating, he said to Tao's father: "Old Tao, your son-in-law is not in vain, he has given you a good reputation! No, people used to say that Chaoyang is your son-in-law, but now they have to say that you are Chaoyang's father-in-law."

Wu Zuxiang and Tao's father have been neighbors for twenty years. They live upstairs and downstairs, and they have a good relationship. Listening to his jokes, Tao's father's face showed a restrained smile.

"Chaoyang has talent and is willing to work hard. He has reached this point all by himself."

"Sure enough, it is my son-in-law who praises himself!"

After finishing the meal, Wu Zuxiang was about to say goodbye when there was a knock at the door.

Tao Yumo went to open the door and found that it was Xie Mian, Hong Zicheng and other middle-aged lecturers from the Chinese Department.

It turned out that Hong Zicheng and others had just heard from Xie Mian that Lin Chaoyang appeared in Yanyuan, and immediately gathered a large group to come to Tao's house.

Since becoming the mascot of the library, Lin Chaoyang has appeared in Yanyuan much less frequently than before, and basically only appears when he comes to Tao's house for dinner.

Originally, Xie Mian, Hong Zicheng and others had no need to see him, but recently "Crossing Guandong" was published, and a trend of chasing it immediately arose on the university campus.

This novel has aroused a particularly enthusiastic response among students, and the evaluation is extremely high. Hong Zicheng and others are all teachers in the Chinese Department. They have also read the novel and it is indeed worthy of its name.

Today, they happened to catch Lin Chaoyang appearing, so they naturally wanted to have a good chat with Lin Chaoyang about this novel.

After understanding the situation, Wu Zuxiang laughed and said, "This has become a relay race! You guys go talk to him, I'm leaving first."