1980 My literary era

Early in the morning in September, Leng Jiefang was waiting at the door of the editorial department of "Contemporary". No one had come to work yet. He stood alone at the door of the office, his figure bleak.

After finally waiting for someone to arrive, I entered the office.

In fact, the office door is not locked, but the staff are not there, and it is inconvenient for outsiders to enter under such circumstances.

Lin Weimin walked into the office carrying his bag and saw Leng Jiefang sitting at his desk, holding a cup of tea in his hand, a bit like a well-behaved primary school student.

"Liberation is here, what can I do?"

"Teacher Lin!" Leng Jiefang stood up and called out. After Lin Weimin sat down, he said: "It's nothing serious. I just want to tell you that it's true. I have to go back."

This time Leng Jiefang was very knowledgeable and did not give Teacher Lin a chance to block him from speaking.

Lin Weimin looked calm and showed a relaxed smile, "So fast?"

"Yeah, it's really fast!"

"How's it going? Where's the manuscript?"

Leng Jiefang said: "There are still tens of thousands of words left. I should be able to write in another month or two when I go back."

"Oh, the progress is pretty good. How's it going? It's been so long since we've been out, so everyone in the family is anxious, right?"

Leng Jiefang nodded, "I'm a little anxious."

"It's time to go back. I've been out for so long. My family can't take care of me, and my work has been delayed."

Hearing Lin Weimin's words, Leng Jiefang was secretly happy that he could finally go home.

"You've been in Yanjing for more than twenty days. What are you going to buy for your family when you go back?"

Speaking of this, Leng Jiefang's face showed a bit of a smile, "They are all specialties of Yanjing, thanks to the subsidy issued by the editorial department."

He came to Yanjing this time entirely for personal reasons. He took more than 20 days of leave, and his salary would definitely be reduced. Without the two yuan per day subsidy from the editorial department, he would not only have no money to buy things for his family, but he would also have no money to buy things for his family when he goes back. It's hard to deal with my wife anymore.

Speaking of this, Lin Weimin's expression showed a bit of regret, "It's a pity to say it. In fact, if you can submit the manuscript in the past few days, you can return to your hometown with a large sum of royalties. It will really be a glorious return home!"

Leng Jiefang thought that was true, but unfortunately he didn't have enough time. He was moved in his heart and asked: "Teacher Lin, if my novel is published, how much royalties will I get?"

Lin Weimin thought for a while and said: "Your novel now has more than 300,000 words, right? Then it will be 400,000 words. I discussed it with Lao Qin before, and the manuscript fee is six yuan per 1,000 words. What do you think? "

In 1980, the government restored the standard of royalties to the levels of more than ten years ago. The royalties for book manuscripts were raised to 3 to 10 yuan per 1,000 words, and the royalties for translation manuscripts were 2 to 7 yuan per 1,000 words. At the same time, royalties for print runs were restored.

The remuneration standard of the Chinese Literature Society is also based on this standard, which is why there is a saying of "ten yuan for a thousand words".

Leng Jiefang had no publishing experience before the novel he is writing now. The price of six yuan per thousand words is very suitable for his current qualifications.

The fee for Lin Weimin's first manuscript was even lower than this.

Six yuan for one thousand words, four hundred thousand words, that is four hundred times six...

Leng Jiefang calculated silently in his mind and came up with a number that made him extremely excited.

Two thousand four hundred dollars!

It’s more than what he earned if he worked for three years without food or water!

Leng Jiefang's throat felt a little itchy, and he touched his pants line with his hand, "There are so many!"

Lin Weimin nodded slightly, "It's indeed a lot. I originally planned to give you the fee bill directly after you submit the manuscript, but I don't know when it will have to wait this time!"

Leng Jiefang was puzzled, "Teacher Lin, do we have to wait a long time?"

"Of course. Think about it, you were not distracted during this period in the guest house, and with the guidance of editors like us, you only wrote 60,000 to 70,000 words. If you go back home, you not only have to work, but also take care of your family and write efficiently. It's definitely not fast. I estimate that writing this content in three months would be considered fast.

At that time, you will still have to send it to our editorial department, and we will need to review the manuscript several times. This time will take at least half a month. If you have accumulated a lot of manuscripts and have to queue up, it may take a month.

Then you still have to wait for the publication. This is a long novel, and we can publish it in one issue..."

At this point, Lin Weimin shouted to Rong Shihui: "Teacher Rong, how many novels have we lined up now?"

Rong Shihui raised his head, raised an eyebrow through his reading glasses, and said with a smile: "I remember it was three movies, right?"

"Three, we are a bimonthly magazine, and three novels last for six months. This does not include the novels we received that may be published during the period when you have not finished writing them. They have been sent to the editorial department before you, so they must be sent to the editorial department first. Posted by you.

Let’s put it this way…”

Lin Weimin pinched his fingers, frowned, and then sighed, "It will take a year to stop talking!"

Leng Jiefang felt horrified as he listened to Lin Weimin finish his sentence, "You have to wait so long?"

"Yes. There's nothing we can do about it. You revised the manuscript in the editorial department and handed it over to us in person. You've been busy for such a long time. The leader certainly can't let you go home empty-handed.

But if you go home and finish writing it before handing it over, then it will only be a matter of business. but……"

Lin Weimin patted Leng Jiefang on the shoulder, "It doesn't matter. As long as the novel is finished, the manuscript fee will definitely not be bad. Don't worry, it's just earlier or later!"

What's earlier or later? That’s a whole year! Leng Jiefang screamed in his heart.

And listening to what Teacher Lin just said, one year is a conservative estimate.

Leng Jiefang was anxious. No, why should we wait another year when we can get the money right away?

Once I get this money, if I put it in the bank for a year, the interest alone will be 132 yuan, which is enough to cover my two months' salary.

Leng Jiefang did a quick calculation in his mind. A fool would only have to wait a year.

"Teacher Lin, actually I..."

Lin Weimin looked at Leng Jiefang, waiting for his words.

"I think writing in the guest house is really efficient. If I stay in the guest house for another half a month, I should be able to finish the novel."

Lin Weimin's expression was surprised, "Really? Does our guest house still have such a function? Usually these gangsters say they don't feel at ease revising drafts on the third floor, so they just run out to play when they have nothing to do."

Leng Jiefang smiled a little awkwardly, Teacher Lin, why didn't you answer the call?

After stretching Leng Jiefang for a while, Lin Weimin said, "How about you stay upstairs for a few more days to finish the manuscript?"

Leng Jiefang nodded hurriedly, "This is a good arrangement. I listen to you!"

"Wouldn't it delay work?" Lin Weimin asked with concern.

Leng Jiefang shook his head, "No delay!"

"Can't the family have any complaints?" Lin Weimin asked again with concern.

Leng Jiefang shook his head again and said firmly, "No, I definitely understand."

Lin Weimin seemed relieved now, "That's good, I'm really afraid that you will delay your work and family because of your creation!"

"No, no."

Lin Weimin patted Leng Jiefang's shoulder with a pleased expression, "Just don't delay. Write hard in the guest house, try to complete the novel as soon as possible, and reunite with your family with the royalties!"

Feeling Teacher Lin's high expectations, Leng Jiefang nodded heavily, "Thank you, Teacher Lin, for your concern!"

"Don't be so polite. I am your editor and you are my author. If I don't take care of you, who will take care of you?"

Leng Jiefang was filled with emotion.

"Teacher Lin, I'll go back upstairs first."

"Do you need me to ask for leave from the unit for you?"

"No, I'll ask for leave myself."

"good."

Watching Leng Jiefang leave the office, his colleagues shook their heads.

Another victim!

Lin Weimin put a box of large front doors on Rong Shihui's table.

"Teacher Rong, you are improving!"

Rong Shihui wiped his hand on the table, smiling like an old fox who stole a chicken, "Let's make progress together, make progress together!"

Several other colleagues looked at each other and felt that Lao Rong and Lin Weimin were getting worse as they stayed together!

At this time Tong Zhonggui happened to walk into the office.

"Xiao Tong is here!" Lin Weimin was in a good mood and asked with a smile.

"Teacher Lin!" Tong Zhonggui greeted Lin Weimin and politely asked the editors.

"Xiao Tong is so polite!" Liu Yin sighed.

When Tong Zhonggui came to the office, the first thing he did was work, and he was very diligent.

After working all morning, everyone chatted in the office after lunch.

Liu Yin and Yao Shuzhi were chatting. They couldn't help but compare him with Lin Weimin, who had just joined the editorial department a few years ago. Finally, he came to a conclusion and made a few tuts with subtle expressions.

Yao Shuzhi's style has become more and more similar to Liu Yin's recently, I don't know if it is because of her pregnancy, especially in organizing and leading this business behind the scenes, she has become more and more skilled.

Tong Zhonggui took out the manuscript from his schoolbag and handed it to Lin Weimin, "Teacher Lin, this is a manuscript that has been revised according to your opinions. Can you please help me take a look at it again?"

Lin Weimin chuckled and took the manuscript, "Why are you so polite?"

After quickly reading the manuscript, Lin Weimin nodded and affirmed: "Xiao Tong, you have a really good understanding. You only revised it twice."

Tong Zhonggui was overjoyed when he heard Lin Weimin's words, "Teacher Lin, can my novel...be published?"

"Don't worry, I'm not the only one reviewing the manuscript!"

Lin Weimin said and handed the manuscript to his colleague.

Even though Lin Weimin said so, Tong Zhonggui knew that the publication of his novel was definitely a certainty.

He has been in the editorial department for more than a month, and he has never seen a manuscript that Mr. Lin passed that was rejected.

This is "Contemporary"!

Tong Zhonggui was trembling with excitement at the thought that his novel would be published soon.

Zhu Changsheng smiled and said: "Our magazine has another young author. Xiao Tong is only twenty this year, right?"

Tong Zhonggui nodded and said, "Yes, I was born in 1963."

Everyone sighed, and Liu Yin even said: "Another Lin Weimin!"

This sentence made Tong Zhonggui blush, "Teacher Liu, please stop being rude to me. How can I compare with Teacher Lin!"

"Why can't we compare? He doesn't have more arms or legs than you? Xiao Tong, you are the future star of our editorial department, so you can't let your momentum weaken!"

Under Liu Yin's sugar-coated bullets, Tong Zhonggui completely lost his resistance and could only keep grinning silly.

"For the people, come here!" While everyone was chatting happily, Meng Weizai popped up at the door.

Everyone was gloating over the misfortune. Generally speaking, Lao Meng called him Lin Weimin, so he must be arranging some work.

Lin Weimin stood up helplessly and came to Meng Weizai's office, "Leader, what are your instructions?"

Meng Weizai said: "There is no instruction, there is an invitation to write a manuscript..."

Lin Weimin knew that if this invitation to write a manuscript came to Meng Weizai and asked him to speak out, there would be no way to refuse.

Lin Weimin looked embarrassed, "Leader, you know that I just finished writing "Lover"..."

Writers are a bit like old hens, they have to wait for a while after hatching the eggs.

"Don't be too busy refusing." Meng Weizai waved his hand, and then explained to Lin Weimin in detail.

It turned out that the invitation to write a manuscript was sent by a literary magazine called "Bafang" in Xiangjiang.

To be precise, "Bafang" is not actually a literary magazine, and it is clearly written on the publication. Its full name is "Bafang Literature and Art Series".

The first people to organize this publication were Xiangjiang scholar Zheng Shusen and poet Dai Tian. They hoped to use "Eight Directions" to build a platform and bridge for writers and literary circles on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to interact. Therefore, "Eight Directions" was favored by many people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait in the early stages of preparation. support, including many pro-Mainland people in Xiangjiang, who will help solicit manuscripts from the Mainland.

The person who invited Lin Weimin this time was Mr. Luofu, a heavyweight in the cultural circles of Hong Kong.

Mr. Luofu's official status in Xiangjiang is deputy editor-in-chief of Ta Kung Pao and editor-in-chief of New Evening News. He is a very important figure in the media industry in Xiangjiang. He also has an identity as a barrel station worker in Xiangjiang.

Last year, due to unspeakable events, I returned to Yanjing and have been living in seclusion.

This time, I was commissioned by "Bafang" to request a manuscript from Lin Weimin.

It is much more difficult to run a literary magazine in Hong Kong than in the mainland today, and funds are not abundant.

After several years of development, the literary scene in the Mainland is now booming. "Bafang" has also noticed this momentum, so it pays attention to it, hoping to publish the works of some Mainland writers. Lin Weimin, who has risen rapidly in recent years, has become one of them. focus.

"The call was made to Lao Yan!"

Meng Weizai said something at the end, which translated into: It’s hard for a big leader to say no, so just accept it.

Lin Weimin said helplessly: "I have no inspiration!"

He thought for a while and suggested: "How about giving "Lover" to them?"

Meng Weizai said thoughtfully: "It's not too bad, isn't it?"

"What's wrong? Actually, you don't really want to release "Lover", do you?"

"No, I didn't say that, don't talk nonsense!"

After denying it for three consecutive times, Lin Weimin was just guessing at first, but looking at Meng Weizai's guilty conscience, he couldn't figure it out.

Lin Weimin pretended to be sad and said: "Alas! I originally set my heart on the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch!"

Meng Weizai begged, "You also have to understand us."

"What do you understand? We have also become a 'national magazine'?" Lin Weimin teased.

"We are still a family after all!"

Meng Weizai felt that he could not let Lin Weimin mess around, so he made up his mind and said, "Then let's do it together."

"Send them together?"

"That's right, publish it together!" Meng Weizai emphasized, "Your novel hasn't been published yet, so publishing it with them is a way of giving face. Our magazine will publish it as usual. Is there nothing to say this time?"

One manuscript earns two royalties. What can Lin Weimin say?

He couldn't wait to do it!