Back to 80: My Literary Life

He calmly opened the two letters, and it was indeed the news that they had been adopted.

The editor of "People's Liberation Army Literature and Art" still wrote back to Fang Minghua and spoke highly of it: "The cutest people of this generation need to be publicized by writers like you."

Finally, I gave a very considerate reminder that the single volume of "Youth" released by their publishing house will be delayed. The specific release number will be based on the readers' feedback from "October".

In fact, the number of publications has little to do with Fang Minghua from an economic perspective. According to the 1980 national version of the "Interim Provisions on Book Remuneration", manuscripts are worth three to ten yuan per thousand words (taxes will be added if the amount exceeds 800 yuan.)

In addition, the remuneration for the number of copies is also stipulated: if you print 500,000 copies, you will receive 50% of the relative basic remuneration!

500,000 copies!

It’s only half of the basic royalties!

Of course, from the perspective of the influence of the work and the reputation of the writer, more is certainly better.

"Brother Minghua, what else did you say in the letter? Has it been used in the novel?" Zhang Baofu asked next to him. He looked even more anxious than Fang Minghua.

"Yeah" Fang Minghua nodded.

"Brother Minghua, you've got it, you want to treat me!" Zhang Baofu shouted excitedly.

"No problem, let's go eat mutton dip at noon today!" Fang Minghua said with a smile.

It was indeed a small fortune.

Both magazines gave a standard of 9 yuan per thousand words, which is 126,875 words. The manuscript fee is 1,141.87 yuan. After deducting the 5% personal income tax, the final amount is 1,084.77 yuan. The total of the two magazines is 2,169.54 yuan.

Not bad!

After paying the manuscript fee, they wanted to treat Lu Yao to Chen Zhongshi. Naturally, they couldn't just throw away a bowl of mutton dip. Lu Yao set up a table at the May Day Hotel, which was like a start, so Fang Minghua had no choice but to follow.

In addition to several well-connected writers, he also invited President Huang and three editors-in-chief of the magazine. He originally wanted to invite Du Pengcheng, but Lu Yao quietly stopped him, saying that Chairman Du was annoyed by this the most.

Not only can you not please him, but you also don't give him a good look.

Hey. Okay.

Then we have to wait until the Chinese New Year to bring something to celebrate the new year.

In addition to treating guests, Fang Minghua started shopping with the remaining money.

First I bought myself a butterfly watch worth 168 yuan. Now you are considered a person of status, how can you do without a watch?

These days, the feeling of often rolling up your sleeves and pretending to look at the watch in crowded places is as good as holding a mobile phone in the early 1990s or holding a mobile phone after the millennium and making calls in crowded places as if no one is around.

Of course, Fang Minghua is a very reserved person and will not show off.

I just really need a watch, it’s really painful not knowing the time when walking on the road.

Fang Minghua originally bought a women's butterfly watch for his sister, but her sister was determined not to want it. How could she wear such a luxury item as a student?

In the end, Fang Minghua bought his sister a digital watch that was worth a lot of money - 15 yuan, and it was a parallel import from Xiangjiang.

I bought a Feiyue brand sewing machine for my mother. After taking it home, my mother scolded him as a prodigal and insisted on not buying it. As a result, the next day I went to Aunt Zhang's house next door to show off and said, if you have any repairs, feel free to come over and use them.

"My Xiaohua bought it with royalties, 148 yuan!" I can't express my pride.

Of course, Dad could not be left behind. Fang Minghua felt that he would be too lonely to stay by the waterside for a day of fishing, so he bought him a Red Light brand three-band semiconductor radio worth 80 yuan.

However, my father only used it for a few days before throwing it to Fang Minghua. He also complained that he had the thing he bought and just listened to the radio. Several big fish made mistakes!

Fang Minghua had no choice but to give it to his sister so that he could learn English from her.

"You must not listen to anything from the BBC or Voice of America." Fang Minghua vaccinated his sister in advance so she wouldn't be brainwashed.

Ha ha

Our family has all three turns and one ring!

The next step is the four major items of the 1980s: television, refrigerator, washing machine, and tape recorder!

Try to buy a black and white TV, but there is no place to put anything else - the Tongzilou is too small.

In fact, what Fang Minghua wants to solve most now is the house. He has had enough of that kind of tube house!

But now even if you have money, the first batch of commercial housing in Anxi has not yet appeared, and workers’ housing is entirely dependent on their work units.

The magazine is not a wealthy organization to begin with, so how can it have the money to build a building?

take it easy

"Youth" was published in full in "October" magazine, which immediately aroused a great response. Letters from readers suddenly increased, and many of them were letters from soldiers, and a considerable number of them came from southern Xinjiang.

Fang Minghua decided to reply one by one, regardless of length, but he must reply.

People are risking their lives to fight, so you can't even bother to reply to a letter, right?

At the very least, respect.

This morning, when Fang Minghua returned to his office, Zhang Baofu came over with a large pile of envelopes.

"Brother Minghua, this is all sent to you!"

"Okay, put it on the table." Fang Minghua said while he was making tea.

"Brother Minghua, your tea is pretty good. Newly bought? It smells so good." Zhang Baofu looked at it and asked.

Fang Minghua laughed after hearing this: "Yes, I bought it at Minsheng, can I pour some for you?"

"I'm so sorry, I always drink your tea." Zhang Baofu said, but he took out the empty envelope that he had already prepared from his pocket.

Fang Minghua poured some for him, and Zhang Baofu took the envelope and left happily.

Looking at the other person's back disappearing at the edge of the yard, Fang Minghua smiled slightly.

This guy looks honest and honest on the surface, but he actually has a pretty good mind.

After making tea, Fang Minghua started reading letters one by one.

If ordinary people don't reply, they should reply to anything written by soldiers, especially those from southern Xinjiang. The replies should be longer.

In fact, those words are repeated over and over again, and the most important thing is to provide psychological counseling.

But a letter that aroused Fang Minghua's interest turned out to be from the Jinan Military Region!

This font looks like Li Cunbao.

When I opened the envelope and looked at the signature, it turned out to be written by Li Cunbao.

In the letter, Li Cunbao congratulated Fang Minghua and said that he was deeply moved after reading the novel.

"The youth of a generation, the story of each generation. I wonder how someone will feel when they read this story again a few years later?" Li Cunbao said in the letter.

Finally, he also revealed the status of his creation, saying that the first draft of the novel, titled "Garland Under the Mountain," has been completed and is in the revision stage. "

It's finally coming out.

A phenomenal work among the military novels of the 1980s.

Of course, Xie Jin needs to be made into a movie.

Fang Minghua opened the letter and replied. He was modest at first, saying that this was his first time writing a military novel, and that he was not a soldier and had only been in the army for a short time.

"But those more than sixty days and nights in southern Xinjiang left an unforgettable impression on me. They are the loveliest people in the new era, and their blood-stained style is on the flag."

Finally, he said that once your masterpiece is published, I will read it as soon as possible.

actually

Look no further.

I have read movies and novels.

Fang Minghua smiled and put the written letter into the envelope.

"I wonder, has Song Tangtang seen this novel?" Fang Minghua looked at the blooming chrysanthemums outside and suddenly thought of this.

Thanks to JJMJ, Shuyou 2023051470_de, Tian Xianzi, and Shuyou 202010132127586 for their monthly votes