1980 My literary era

"Farewell My Concubine", which has been published for more than a year, has been published in foreign markets continuously, which makes Lin Weimin feel good.

Compared with honor, it still smells like a real foreign exchange coupon.

This year's National Day falls on the Mid-Autumn Festival. Lin Weimin planned to visit Mr. Wan's house to give the teacher some gifts, but it happened that Mr. Wan had not returned from a trip abroad.

On the day after National Day, Lin Weimin came to Muxidi carrying his things.

"Teacher, Master Mother, Senior Sister!"

"This festival is over, why are you still carrying things?" Wan Fang asked, pointing to the things.

"The teacher wasn't here when I came a few days ago. Isn't this just to make up for it?"

Wan Fang joked: "Is there such a way to make up for it?"

After the joke, Wan Fang said to Mr. Wan: "Dad, weren't you just talking about Weimin's "Farewell My Concubine" being published in the United States?"

Mr. Wan went to the study with a smile and came back with two things in his hand.

"Look what this is?" Mr. Wan handed a book to Lin Weimin.

"'Farewell My Concubine', the English version of 'Farewell My Concubine'." Lin Weimin said with a smile.

Wan Fang was not surprised at all when he saw his expression, and asked in surprise: "Do you have this book?"

"No." Transoceanic mail is too troublesome these days. When Random House wanted to mail him a sample book, he rejected it. Except for the text written in Chinese and the works translated into other languages, Lin Weimin felt like he was raised by his stepmother. child.

Lin Weimin told Mr. Wan and his daughter about his last business trip to Hangzhou and his experience of meeting local and Australian book fans by the West Lake.

"Isn't this too fateful?" Wan Fang smiled and said to Mr. Wan: "Dad, I really don't need you to think about his luck for the people."

She said to Lin Weimin: "My dad went to several bookstores in the United States and found your English version of Farewell My Concubine."

The teacher, who was in his seventies, wanted to find his books published abroad even during his busy schedule of visiting abroad. Lin Weimin was moved in his heart.

"Teacher, why are you doing this? It's not something you must buy."

Mr. Wan showed a kind smile and said, "It's just idle time anyway. Just think of it as shopping. Do you think I just bought this book of yours?"

Lin Weimin knew that Mr. Wan did not want to be pretentious, so he joked: "Can you buy so many books and carry them?"

"If I can't carry it, won't I find someone?"

Mr. Wan handed another box in his hand to Lin Weimin. Wanfang said jealously: "Montblanc's Meisterstück 149, the gifts my dad bought me are not so expensive!"

Lin Weimin certainly knows the name Montblanc. Although this company has developed into a diversified high-end brand covering high-end stationery supplies, watches, high-quality leather goods, men's high-end linings and other products, it is most famous for its fountain pens.

The Meisterstück 149 is the most classic of all Montblanc fountain pen series, and the price is definitely not cheap.

When Lin Weimin asked about the price, Mr. Wan laughed and said, "There are subsidies for going abroad, so it doesn't cost much."

"This is for you to write, so don't relax." Mr. Wan warned.

Lin Weimin nodded and put the gift away solemnly.

Wan Fang said: "Weimin is making a lot of money now. I heard that "Farewell My Concubine" is going to be reprinted in the United States again."

Lin Weimin was a little surprised, "Sister, are you well-informed?"

Wan Fang had a bit of pride on her face, "That's right."

"But you need to correct this news. Not only will it be printed in the United States, Ni Bang will also be published soon."

Mr. Wan looked surprised, and Wan Fang's eyes widened, filled with surprise.

"Still publishing in Nihong? What's going on? Tell me in detail." Wan Fang asked curiously.

Lin Weimin said: "The publisher over at Nihong saw that this novel was selling well in the United States and wanted to give it a try in the Nihong market."

He didn't mention the matter of Xiao Hei Yoko. The more he talked about it, the more explanations he had to explain, so he simply didn't mention it.

Mr. Wan said: "It seems that the work "Farewell My Concubine" is still very universal."

"It should be said that it has touched Lao Mi's interest points. All the elements in it are of Lao Mi's interest."

After receiving the news that "Farewell My Concubine" was about to be released in Nibang, Mr. Wan was naturally happy for Lin Weimin, but Wan Fang was most interested in his royalties.

In front of Mr. Wan, Lin Weimin told the truth, "60,000 meters of knife."

"Sixty thousand!" Wan Fang exclaimed, and she immediately thought of what Lin Weimin said, "Is this the fee for one additional printing?"

Lin Weimin nodded.

Wan Fang watched Lin Weimin pause for a while, then said to Mr. Wan: "Dad, one publication of Weimin's book will make more than you will earn in your entire life."

Mr. Wan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Lin Weimin's huge royalties really irritated Wan Fang.

Of course, her behavior was more due to her familiarity with Lin Weimin.

After joking for a while, several people chatted about Mr. Wan's trip to the United States.

Since Mr. Wan regained his identity, he has held a lot of titles, both real and false, but regardless of whether they are real or not, he always has to deal with some affairs, leaving him little time for himself.

Especially after 1980, the old man successively visited the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France and other countries, and this time he went to the United States.

Crossing the ocean at the age of seventy is indeed a hard job. But because it involves the diplomatic relations between the two countries and the exchanges with overseas Chinese, some foreign countries have warm and friendly invitations, which he cannot refuse.

This visit to the United States was a lecture visit at the invitation of the Inter-American Academic Exchange Committee and the American-Chinese Art Exchange Center. It is worth mentioning that Fairbank and Yang Zhenning are both members of the Academic Exchange Committee of the American Middle School.

The first stop of Mr. Wan's visit was Xincun. This time it was a real people-to-people exchange. Most of the receptionists were Chinese, so the reception atmosphere was very warm.

The most important arrangement in Xincun is to watch the performances of "Yenjing People" and "Sunrise". The English version of the script was translated by a Hong Kong student studying in the United States. The plot has been modified to some extent, but under Mr. Wan's Within the acceptable range, this drama was also widely praised when it was staged in the United States.

American playwright Arthur Miller is an old friend of Mr. Wan. He specially came to watch the play with Mr. Wan this time. He spoke highly of the play and called it a "heartfelt and fascinating tragedy."

It was also after watching the play that Mr. Wan sent an invitation to Arthur Miller, hoping that he could visit China for exchanges during his spare time. Mr. Wan’s main purpose was to introduce plays to Yanjing People’s Art Theatre, and Exchange of experience.

Although in the past two years, Yanjing People's Art has had a stable and high-quality source of scripts from Lin Weimin, Yanjing People's Art is after all a leader in the domestic drama industry. The creation and collection requirements for scripts are more than a little higher than those of ordinary provincial drama theaters. Scripts are still one of the problems faced by the arts.

Mr. Arthur Miller is a famous playwright in the United States. Introducing a number of high-quality foreign plays is one of the purposes of Mr. Wan's visit to America at this time, and the goal of this purpose lies in Arthur Miller.

"Did Mr. Arthur Miller agree?" Lin Weimin asked.

Mr. Wan said: "It's not that easy. He is also a busy man. But he promised me that he would deal with the work at hand first and then communicate with me when the visit time can be determined."

He said to Lin Weimin: "When Mr. Miller comes, you can translate for him."

Lin Weimin immediately understood what Mr. Wan meant and worked as a translator with Mr. Arthur Miller. This was also a rare learning opportunity.

The teacher's eager expectations made him feel pressured, but at the same time, he also gathered some fighting spirit.

Mr. Wan was old and lacked energy. Lin Weimin stayed at the top of Muxidi until about eight o'clock and then left.

Go to work the next day.

The news about "Farewell My Concubine" being reprinted in the United States and about to be published in Nihong has spread throughout the Chinese Literature Society. Lin Weimin laughed when he heard it. Even Wan Fang, who works at the Opera House, knew about it. It was not surprising that it spread throughout the society. .

Lin Weimin received a call from Yu Zhaohuai of "Zhongshan" magazine in the morning, sincerely inviting him to participate in this year's "Taihu PEN Conference".

The Taihu PEN Club was organized by "Zhongshan" magazine after the Fourth Literary Congress at the end of 1979, which was jointly organized by "Zhongshan" and "Yilin".

The Taihu PEN Conference, held for the first time, invited more than 60 famous writers and translators from all over the country. It can be said that it set a precedent for a domestic PEN conference with a large momentum and a complete lineup.

This move can be said to have attracted the attention of the national literary and art circles and gained an opportunity for the survival and development of "Zhongshan" and "Yilin".

Of course, with the influence of the two publications alone, it was not possible to hold such a large-scale PEN meeting. Thanks to the help of Suzhou Publishing House, the superior unit at that time.

Benefiting from the great scene when it was first held, the Taihu PEN Club has naturally become one of the most influential pen clubs among domestic literary journals.

"Zhongshan" is now one of the four famous writers in the field of pure literature in China. This year's Taihu PEN Club is equally large in scale, and has invited a number of famous young writers such as Cheng Cun, Xue Haixiang, Huang Anyi, Cheng Naishan, and Jiang Pu.

"Thank you for your kindness. But I am really busy with work and don't have time."

Lin Weimin declined Yu Zhaohuai's invitation on the phone. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, but that his goal was too big now.

Yu Zhaohuai called just to give it a try. He knew that Lin Weimin was in such a state that it would be impossible for him to come out and participate in such activities.

After chatting for a while, the two hung up the phone.

Qin Chaoyang said with a smile: "You don't know yet, right? The club is also planning to hold a large-scale pen meeting?"

Lin Weimin realized that this must be the result of his advice in Laomengna. Unfortunately, it was held in a club.

"are you sure?"

"It's almost the same. It's a bit late this year. During this period, there are many PEN clubs popping up in various places. The club is planning to schedule it for next year."

Lin Weimin smiled and said: "Then you have to choose a good place!"

"It should be Yantai, Ludong."

"Yantai! What a great place."

It is better to have a PEN club than not to have one, and it is better to run it in a society than not to have it at all.

Lin Weimin could only comfort himself in this way.

I have a severe headache. I will guarantee a minimum of 6,000 words today and a daily recovery of 10,000 words tomorrow.