1980 My literary era

For a week in a row, Lin Weimin was troubled by the issue of overseas royalties. Now that he has a foreign exchange account, he no longer needs to worry about this matter in the future.

Looking at the more than 700,000 yuan worth of money in his bank account, Lin Weimin felt happy.

Humming a little tune, I returned to the Chinese Literature Society. As soon as I entered the office, I saw an acquaintance.

"Xiao Sheng? Why are you here?" Lin Weimin asked with a smile.

Rong Shihui said: "Comrade Xiaosheng has been waiting for you for almost an hour."

"Is something wrong?"

"Well, a little bit." Liang Xiaosheng's expression was a bit shy, showing a simplicity that was inconsistent with his age.

Lin Weimin realized that the office might not be the place to talk, so he pulled Liang Xiaosheng to an empty room in the guest house upstairs.

"There's no one here, so it's convenient to talk."

Liang Xiaosheng smiled.

"Tell me, what do you want from me? Do you need my help?" Lin Weimin said.

Liang Xiaosheng shook his head and said: "There is something that I can't make up my mind about. I want you to help me refer to it."

Lin Weimin was a little surprised.

He and Liang Xiaosheng only met last year. Apart from work communication, they didn't have much daily communication, and they didn't even meet a few times. Judging from what he meant, he must have encountered something difficult to make a decision, but how could he find himself?

With this thought in his mind, Lin Weimin said: "Let's talk about it, I may not be able to help."

Liang Xiaosheng told his story.

It turned out that the leaders of Yanjing Film Studio had talked to him a few days ago, hoping to nominate him to be the director of the literary and art department of the factory.

"I'm very hesitant now!"

Lin Weimin was confused: "Hesitate? Why hesitate?"

Liang Xiaosheng is now a screenwriter at Yanying Studio. When he becomes the director of the literary and art department in their factory, it is considered a promotion, right?

"When I become a director, I have to take care of administrative matters. I don't know how much time I will waste every day. I am afraid that it will affect my creation. Without the income from royalties, it will be difficult to help my family financially."

After Liang Xiaosheng said these words, Lin Weimin understood something in his heart.

When the two communicated before, Liang Xiaosheng had told him about the situation at home.

The Zhou family in his popular work "Human World" was based on his own family.

Liang Xiaosheng's father was one of the first batch of construction workers in New China and supported the third frontline all year round. He was the second eldest of five children in the family.

In his childhood memories, his mother was responsible for running the family, and it was not easy for his father to support a family of seven with his own salary.

After graduating from high school, Liang Xiaosheng went to Longjiang Province to join the ranks and became a soldier in the Production and Construction Corps.

After that, because of his excellent performance, he was recommended to go to college.

But at that time, his family's conditions were difficult, and his eldest brother even suffered from mental problems due to the shocks in life. At this juncture, Liang Xiaosheng did not dare to ask her family to go to college.

Because going to college means that he not only cannot send money to his family, but also has to ask his parents for money.

In this way, Liang Xiaosheng gave up the opportunity of his company to recommend him to college.

God will always favor those who live seriously.

In the seventh year when Liang Xiaosheng went to the countryside, his company recommended him to go to college for the second time. This time he bravely wrote a letter to his father, hoping that his father could send him 200 yuan so that he could go to college.

After his father received Liang Xiaosheng's letter, he quickly collected 200 yuan and sent it. Liang Xiaosheng was also very confident and successfully admitted to Fudan University.

Liang Xiaosheng graduated from university in 1977 and was assigned to the Literary Department of BJ Film Studio. At the age of 28 that year, he was the youngest editor of the Literary Department of the studio.

Normally, someone like him who graduated from a prestigious school, had a job and was respectable would not have to worry about finding a partner.

But the fact is that Liang Xiaosheng's monthly salary is 49 yuan, half of which is sent to his family. The remaining salary is just enough to survive, and he has no savings at all.

Therefore, until 1981, Liang Xiaosheng was 32 years old and still a single man.

When Lin Weimin met Liang Xiaosheng last year, he and his wife Jiao Dan had just been married for a year. Jiao Dan was a virtuous woman and had never cared about Liang Xiaosheng's family.

Now that the two are married, Liang Xiaosheng still sends money home every month. It is because of the support from royalties that the life of their small family is better.

Now Yan Film Studio hopes that Liang Xiaosheng will be the director of the literary and art department. Of course, he will be promoted, and his salary will be a few yuan more per month, which is dozens of yuan a year.

But Liang Xiaosheng is more afraid that his promotion will affect his creation. He is now considered a well-known young writer. "There's a Blizzard Tonight" published in "Contemporary" last year is a novella. The total royalties are more than 730 yuan. It’s worth more than a year’s salary.

If his creation is affected by his promotion, it will be a loss outweighing the gain for Liang Xiaosheng.

After hearing what he said, Lin Weimin nodded, "I understand you!"

For people in the 1980s, work is a lifelong matter. There are no layoffs or layoffs in their dictionary. It is the creed of many people to go to work honestly.

Being promoted to a leader may be important to some people, but to a considerable number of people, it is not that important. They feel more secure in earning money through their own labor and work.

Liang Xiaosheng is a simple man. He doesn't care whether he is a leader or not, but he cares more about whether he can share the worries of his family.

Becoming a leader seemed glamorous and his salary was raised a bit, but if he really delayed his creation because of this, the loss of royalties alone would be enough to make him feel distressed.

Liang Xiaosheng looked at Lin Weimin expectantly, waiting for his opinion.

Lin Weimin didn't let him wait too long and said, "Xiaosheng, I don't think you are a suitable person to be an official."

"I know too."

Lin Weimin continued: "In my eyes, you are an excellent writer and can do great things in the future. For others, being an official may be a good thing. But I think, for you, it is a waste."

Lin Weimin's praise made Liang Xiaosheng's eyes light up, but he said a little embarrassedly: "What great achievements can I make? I will be satisfied if I can write a few more novels."

Lin Weimin smiled and said: "You have to believe in my vision. I am a very good judge of people!"

Liang Xiaosheng didn't think Lin Weimin was bragging. Even though he was nearly ten years younger than him, his achievements in writing and work were beyond his reach.

Especially at work, as the editor of "Contemporary", Lin Weimin has discovered a large number of young writers, all of whom have now emerged in the domestic literary world.

Lu Yao, Yu Hua, Ma Yuan, Wang Shuo, Shi Tiesheng...

These names flashed alternately in Liang Xiaosheng's heart, making him admire Lin Weimin endlessly.

Facing Lin Weimin's affirmation, he felt a little stirred in his heart.

At this time, Lin Weimin said again: "And..."

Lin Weimin looked into Liang Xiaosheng's eyes and said sincerely: "Once you become an official, you may not be as happy as you are now."

Liang Xiaosheng looked at Lin Weimin, his eyes flashed with emotion.

He didn't expect Lin Weimin to even consider this.

“If you didn’t have the gift of writing, I probably wouldn’t say these things to you because it might delay your future.

But in my eyes, you are a writer with talent and potential.

I believe that writing is not only something you enjoy doing, but also a means to win the battle for you in life.

Sticking to this path will not only solve your problems in life, but also make you live a happier life.

Why not do it? "

After Lin Weimin said these words, he looked at Liang Xiaosheng quietly.

After a moment, Liang Xiaosheng's face showed a smile, "Weimin, you are right."

Putting aside the pressure in his heart, the smile on Liang Xiaosheng's face became happier.

Lin Weimin then asked: "Why did you think of asking me to give you this opinion?"

Liang Xiaosheng explained: "I just thought you might have the same troubles as me."

Lin Weimin is the editor of "Contemporary", writes part-time, and is now the deputy editor-in-chief of the editorial department.

Liang Xiaosheng is a screenwriter at Yan Film Studio. He writes part-time and is about to be promoted to director of the literary and art department by his boss.

The experiences of the two men do coincide somewhat, but the difference lies in their personalities.

"Haha, we are not the same. I am eager for the boss to promote me. How can I be like you and be so reluctant!"

Liang Xiaosheng smiled and said: "With your comparison, I understand that I am indeed not the material to be an official."

There was something in Lin Weimin's heart that he didn't say: More importantly, you didn't die.

After talking about the big issues that will determine the future direction of life, Liang Xiaosheng felt a lot more enlightened. He pulled Lin Weimin to invite him to dinner, but Lin Weimin refused.

"You'd better go back and explain everything to your family first."

"It doesn't matter, Jiao Dan supports any decision I make."

After eating a mouthful of dog food in one sentence, Teacher Lin was very depressed.

Just like someone who doesn't have a partner, what's the point of showing off?

After seeing off Liang Xiaosheng, Lin Weimin returned to the office and found that several people were missing from the office.

"Where have everyone gone?"

Yao Shuzhi, who had just given birth, said: "Teacher Rong suddenly felt unwell, so Lao Zhu and Lao He took him to the hospital."

Lin Weimin asked anxiously: "Is it serious? Why didn't you call me?"

"It looks like it's nothing serious. Lao Meng said that two people are enough, so don't delay your work. We just said we would go to the hospital after work to see how Teacher Rong is doing."

Lin Weimin nodded, "Sure, I'll go there later."

After work, the editorial team came to the hospital.

Rong Shihui and Zhu Changsheng were talking and laughing. Lin Weimin joked: "Comrade Rong, you scared us. I thought I was going to send you a wreath!"

"Haha, don't look at the old man who is sick, but usually we don't have serious diseases and live longer. But you young people, you look strong..."

The old comrade's eyes turned around Lin Weimin and did not continue to speak, but made everyone laugh.

Lin Weimin didn't mind it and laughed instead.

"You can still quarrel, it's not a big problem!"

Everyone was talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Rong Shihui's test results have come out. It is mild bronchitis. He coughed so hard while smoking in the office that he couldn't breathe at the time, which frightened everyone.

Liu Yin complained: "I am the culprit for the people. I will hand you cigarettes when there is nothing wrong. It will cause us to smoke second-hand smoke."

Lin Weimin smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, yes, it's all my fault."

"Haha, what does it have to do with Weimin? I'm a long-time smoker. It should be said that thanks to him, I smoke a lot of good cigarettes, otherwise the situation would be more serious now."

Seeing that Rong Shihui was fine, his colleagues were relieved and prepared to leave, but Rong Shihui stopped Lin Weimin.

"What instructions does Comrade Lao Rong have? Let's agree first and forget about cigarettes. I won't dare to hand you cigarettes in the future."

Rong Shihui smiled and said, "It's business. I received an invitation from your alma mater two months ago, inviting me to give lectures to the students."

alma mater?

Lin Weimin immediately realized that Rong Shihui should be talking about the Institute of Literature.

"Okay, Comrade Lao Rong, I never heard you say that now you are in the master group!" Lin Weimin joked.

At that time, the lecturers in the Institute of Literary Studies were all at the top level in the industry. Of course, there were also some with junior qualifications. For example, the teachers who explained foreign literature and comparative literature were not very old, but they basically had a background of studying abroad and were very academically strong. deep.

"Don't interrupt me. The doctor said I need to rest for a while because of my illness. I probably won't be able to teach this lesson. How about you go for me?" Rong Shihui said.