1980 My literary era

The Naoki Award that Lin Weimin did not go to receive was received by Shinchaosha on his behalf. The trophy was not mailed until September. There was also a bonus of 1.2 million yen, which was better than nothing.

However, Shinchaosha did bring up the issue of reprinting "Farewell My Concubine". The influence of the Naoki Award is by no means as small as Lin Weimin thought. On the contrary, it is a big one in China.

Previously, "Farewell My Concubine" was a foreign translated work with little publicity. The two printings totaled 110,000 copies. It still has 20,000 to 30,000 copies in stock. It sold less than 100,000 copies due to word-of-mouth. sales have peaked.

But after the Naoki Award ceremony, the old trees bloomed again in spring, and "Farewell My Concubine" was once again placed in the best-seller position in major bookstores.

In just a few days, the inventory has bottomed out.

This time, Shinchaosha was very bold in printing more copies, reaching 100,000 copies. It was true that they were a bit blindly confident in the publicity effect of the Naoki Award, but Teacher Lin did not mind charging more for the manuscript.

The royalty share was mentioned at 12%, and this fee is 42,000 US dollars.

Looking at it this way, Lao Mi still makes more money!

Lin Weimin sighed inwardly at the rich man's style, and did not forget to answer the phone calls from Xinchao Club.

"Other works?"

Shinchaosha mentioned over the phone that they wanted to publish Lin Weimin's other works. They didn't mention it before winning the award, but now they are rushing to talk about it. It is probably because they saw that the effect of winning the Naoki Award was too significant.

"Okay, then you can send someone over. If there are any suitable ones, you can pick them out."

Teacher Lin warmly welcomed the gift of money.

After hanging up the phone, Yan Wenjing couldn't help but sigh: "It's going to be published again!"

"Yes, after winning the award, the reputation has increased, and the publisher is also very happy to see it."

Yan Wen nodded and said, "That's true!"

After coming out of the front building, Lin Weimin returned to the editorial office, pushed the door open, and felt a lazy and decadent atmosphere.

Rubbing their eyes, the group of people were still reading the manuscript, but they were observing it carefully.

Yao Shuzhi was holding melon seeds in her hands when reading the manuscript, and Zhu Changsheng was reviewing the manuscript with his chin in his hand.

Lao He was the most serious, but there was still a copy of "Zhongshan" on the table, which he had obviously just put down for a while.

The most extreme one was Liu Yin, who was knitting a sweater in her hands and turning a page from time to time.

Lin Weimin thought for a while, but ran to Lao Qin's office without entering the house. The old man was watering the flowers, but Lin Weimin forcefully dragged him to Meng Weizai's office.

"We can't go on like this!" Lin Weimin looked sad.

Lao Qin looked puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"The fifth issue has just been released, and the manuscripts for the sixth issue have been assembled. When everyone sees that this year's tasks have been completed, they feel a little decadent. If you go to the office and take a look, they will all be put into storage and put away immediately. Nanshan!”

When Lin Weimin said this, his eyes were fixed on Comrade Lao Qin. He suspected that the comrades were led astray by this old man. The pots of flowers in his office have been blooming beautifully recently, and there is no shortage of thought at first sight.

Comrade Lao Qin avoided Lin Weimin's eyes, "There is nothing we can do about it, the number of manuscripts that can be published is limited!"

Lao Meng also nodded and said: "Indeed."

"Two leaders, why don't you apply to the club and we can change the version?" Lin Weimin suggested.

Lao Meng and Lao Qin looked at each other, and their hearts twitched, "Revised version? What content should be changed?"

"I see that the bimonthly publication is clearly unable to meet the volume of submissions. Can we change it to a monthly publication?"

After hearing this, Meng Weizai and Tan Chaoyang couldn't help but twitch their faces.

Change to a monthly magazine? You want us two old men to die from exhaustion!

It's understandable that young people want to make progress, but you can't torment old comrades like this!

With eye contact and a clear understanding, Lao Qin said: "For the people, I fully understand your feelings, but have you ever considered the feelings of your comrades?"

"Don't forget that everyone is free now, but it's only for a month or two. If you want to change the bimonthly publication to a monthly publication, the workload of the editorial department will be equivalent to doubling! How busy will everyone be? What does it look like?”

After he finished speaking, Comrade Lao Meng also said: "The most important thing is that readers are already accustomed to the rhythm of bi-monthly publications. If you rashly change it to a monthly publication, everyone may not be able to accept it."

Lao Qin continued: "There is also a problem at the printing factory. The amount of tasks in the company is very different every year. Now there is a sudden change. There are so many more tasks at the printing factory, and people will have opinions."

Lao Meng said: "Are there any manuscripts left? Don't look at it. We seem to have a lot of manuscripts now, but monthly and bimonthly magazines are different after all. How can you guarantee that the quality and quantity of manuscripts will definitely satisfy the revised monthly magazine? What if it cannot be satisfied? what to do?"

Lin Weimin looked at the two old... comrades, nodded and said: "The two leaders are right. I did not think carefully about the revision..."

Meng Weizai and Tan Chaoyang both breathed a sigh of relief, having finally stabilized this kid.

"but……"

Meng and Tan's hearts trembled again, and they heard Lin Weimin say: "But there are indeed a lot of manuscripts now, so we have to think of a way!"

"Yes, yes, it is indeed a bit much. Weimin, do you have any good ideas?" Lao Meng asked proactively.

As long as the edition is not revised or upgraded to a monthly magazine, everything is easy to discuss!

This is Meng Weizai's attitude.

"Our book series has been suspended for more than a year, right?"

Lao Meng clapped his hands and said, "Oh, look, you are so busy nagging that you have forgotten such an important thing."

Lao Qin also followed up and said: "Isn't it right? This series of books is also one of the lifeblood of our "Contemporary" after all. It shouldn't be, it's so inappropriate."

The two said to Lin Weimin: "Let's do this. Weimin, if you are a little tired, pick up the book series work. It just so happens that everyone is quite free during this time."

"That's it. Since the two leaders trust me so much, I promise to complete the task. Then this topic..."

"You decide, you just decide."

"That's so inappropriate."

"There's nothing inappropriate. You were the one who started this series of books."

"Why don't we start with a "Contemporary" novel selection series? Not only those we have published before, but also those that were rejected and published in other publications and caused repercussions. There are also some that are of good quality but took too long to finalize. Anything long can be put into this series of books. What do you two think?"

"Okay! This topic is good. It not only digests the squeezed manuscripts, but also enriches the content of the book series. Some authors' works have been changed from "Contemporary" to "Contemporary Series". You have to communicate with them. Okay, don't get into trouble."

Lao Meng and Lao Qin were completely ruined, leaving Lin Weimin helpless.

However, his goal was achieved.

Come up first, the lion opens its mouth, and then push forward. Look, are Lao Meng and Lao Tan so ungrateful?

Brother Xun is truly a god!

"knew."

After sending Lin Weimin away, Meng and Qin looked at each other with lingering fear.

Returning to the editorial office, Lin Weimin announced the book series in public, and there was a cry in the office.

"You can't let everyone take a breather!" Yao Shuzhi complained.

"In the old society, we still had time to rest when we worked for landlords. You are treating us like livestock!" Liu Yin waved her knitting needle, filled with indignation.

The male compatriots were relatively calm, but they looked at Lin Weimin with equally unkind eyes.

Lin Weimin pressed his hand and said, "Don't make any noise, don't make any noise, just listen to what I have to say."

His shouting caused a moment of silence in the office, and then Lin Weimin said: "The manuscripts are all ready-made, and the workload of proofreading is relatively small. It is mainly a communication problem. Everyone has worked hard these two months, and the monthly reward has been doubled."

The most critical factor why Lin Weimin first chose novels as the subject of the series is that novels are long enough, relatively small in number, and involve much less work coordination.

For the editorial department, which has some time but not much time, it’s just right.

The selection of novels cannot only be those works that have been published before. If old wine is put in new bottles, readers will not have a sense of freshness.

Only with the new and the old can there be expectations and surprises.

Double the monthly reward?

This can be done.

In the office, which had been full of complaints just now, the atmosphere suddenly became peaceful after Lin Weimin announced the decision.

"For the people, I think this book series is doing well, I can do more of it!" Liu Yin's attitude made a 180-degree turn.

The monthly bonus is doubled, which is ten or eight yuan a month, or hundreds of yuan a year. It is a considerable income for editors who mainly rely on salary and occasionally receive manuscript fees.

Lin Weimin glanced at her helplessly, "Sister Liu, no one in Sichuan Opera can change her face like you!"

Liu Yin glanced at him, "I can't help but praise you!"

The fifth issue in September has been completed, and the manuscripts for the sixth issue in November have also been finalized. Everyone has been really busy recently, and has been secretly reviewing manuscripts every day. Don't live a happy life.

If it weren't for the sake of the monthly bonus, everyone would resolutely resist this kind of exploitation of working people.

Lin Weimin divided the work for everyone in an orderly manner, and the editorial department finally returned to its usual busy scene.

Looking at such a scene, he finally felt relieved. This is the right thing!

After work, Lin Weimin drove to Xi'anmen Street.

The car stopped at the entrance of Shizhu Courtyard. Li Guangfu was already waiting here. Seeing Lin Weimin getting out of the car, he said with envy: "Teacher Lin, your car is covered!"

"It's just a transportation tool."

The two exchanged pleasantries and entered the courtyard.

Compared with the first time I came here, the courtyard has a completely new look, which makes people feel bright as soon as they enter the courtyard.

The layout and appearance of the courtyard have not changed much, it is just some repairs, but this repair alone has brought some of the grandeur of the year.

Coupled with the various potted plants and landscape sketches that Li Guangfu put so much thought into, as well as the pomegranate tree in the ceiling fish tank that is indispensable in the old Yanjing courtyard house, the whole yard is full of vitality but also reveals a sense of harmony between nature and man.

"Good! Guangfu, your taste is incredible. This courtyard is well built and makes people feel comfortable." Lin Weimin praised him after walking around in the courtyard for a while before entering the house.

Li Guangfu's face was full of glory, and he said humbly: "Hey, I just met a customer like you who is willing to spend money. Otherwise, it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice, and no matter how good the idea is, it will be in vain."

While the two were talking, Li Guangfu took Lin Weimin into the house for a walk.

The overall decoration style of the house retains the original appearance, but has been renovated. The living facilities are based on Lin Weimin's habits, and some modern facilities have been added.

Finally, the two of them went to the basement in the backyard. The side walls of the reinforced concrete basement alone were 30 centimeters thick. There was no waterproofing material at this time. The basement was waterproofed with white cement. The waterproofing materials used in ancient times were then backfilled. There is white ash in the soil, and the drainage work on the ground is done well. A multi-pronged approach is adopted, which uses the waterproofing ideas of the ancients.

The interior decoration of the basement is plain and simple. It is used to store collections and does not require any decoration. The main thing is that the space is large enough.

The total height of the over 100-square-meter basement is more than five meters. It is divided into upper and lower floors and has a space of more than 200 square meters. If properly arranged, it is enough to digest Lin Weimin's current collection.

If there are more collections in the future, we will have to find another way.

Li Guangfu pointed to the charcoal and plant ash everywhere on the ground, "This thing is used to prevent moisture. Your basement is full of antiques, especially calligraphy and paintings. What you are most afraid of is moisture. In a month or two, the basement will be wet." When the moisture is almost released, things can come in. When the time comes, just change these things frequently."

Lin Weimin nodded with satisfaction and said, "Thank you for your trouble!"

"You are too polite, this is what it should be!" Li Guangfu said with a smile on his face.

After receiving money from others, you naturally have to do things well. Working for Teacher Lin is a bit tiring, but the rewards are equally valuable.

The commissions from Teacher Lin's yard, plus his nephew Han Zhuangzhuang's yard, were worth Li Guangfu's first half of the Renyi plus the performance fees.

It's a job well worth it.