Back to 80: My Literary Life

The email was sent by the World Science Fiction Association. In the email, Fang Minghua was congratulated on being nominated for the best novel of the decade, and he was earnestly hoped that he could attend the World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 15, where the final winning work would be announced.

Fang Minghua had certainly heard of the Hugo Award, officially known as the "Science Fiction Achievement Award," which was awarded in memory of Hugo Gernsback, the founder of modern science fiction in Luxembourg. The Hugo Award and the Nebula Award are the highest international awards in the field of science fiction literature and are known as the "Nobel Prize in science fiction literature."

When Fang Minghua received this email, he also received an email from Demi and Li Li, the presidents of Ashley Press.

Both of them congratulated Fang Minghua in their respective emails, and Demi was eager for Fang Minghua to come to the United States to attend the award ceremony.

"Mr. Minghua, this will greatly help the sales and promotion of the novels "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" - including the first "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and the third "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" published this year. For this purpose, the publisher has made a complete promotion plan around the novel's award."

Huh?

Are you sure the novel has won the award?

However, in history, this series of novels did win the Hugo Award, but it was not this one but the fourth "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

Li Li's letter was more subtle. In addition to congratulations, she talked more about her daughter Xinxin.

"Xinxin can walk a long time ago, and now her speech is getting clearer and clearer. Mom and Dad, Mom and Dad Minghua, do you want to hear the baby call you daddy?"

Of course I want to hear it!

Isn't this just asking me to come to the United States as soon as possible?

The little woman's thoughts are exposed.

When Song Tangtang returned home in the evening, Fang Minghua told her about this.

Song Tangtang was very supportive.

"Go, see Lili, and bring back a big prize. Also, Jianjun graduated with a doctorate this year, right?"

"Yes, but I haven't heard from my sister when he can return to China." Fang Minghua replied.

Liu Jianjun was sent to Stanford University in the United States in 1994 to study for a doctorate in electronics. He has studied for four years and is now facing graduation.

"Go and visit him, don't forget to come back." Song Tangtang joked.

"How is it possible?"

However, he had to go to where he should go, anyway, it was not far from San Francisco.

Since he had decided, Fang Minghua began to go through the procedures for going abroad. It is much more convenient to go abroad now than in the 1980s and early 1990s. With the help of Liao Yawei from the Yanjing office, the visa to the United States was quickly processed. On June 14, Fang Minghua carried his suitcase, said goodbye to his wife and children, and embarked on a journey to the United States.

First, he took a plane to Yanjing, stayed overnight, and flew to the United States in the afternoon. After a long 11-hour flight, he arrived in San Francisco at nine in the morning.

After getting off the plane and going through the customs procedures, Fang Minghua arrived at the terminal hall and saw a beautiful young woman in a white dress standing not far away, holding a little girl who was less than two years old.

She had a high braid and a pair of big black eyes that looked around, very cute.

It was Li Li holding her daughter.

"Lili!" Fang Minghua called.

Li Li also saw Fang Minghua walking towards her, smiled, and said to the little girl in her arms: "Xinxin, call daddy quickly."

The little girl was a little confused, blinking her big eyes at the strange uncle in front of her, but still crisply called "Daddy"

"Oh, good boy." Fang Minghua put down the suitcase, held his daughter, kissed her on the little face, and did not shave for a whole night on the plane, which made his daughter giggle.     Seeing that her daughter was not shy when seeing Fang Minghua, Li Li was very happy. She dragged the suitcase with one hand and held her arm with the other, and walked out happily.

Arriving at the parking lot and finding her Mercedes-Benz, Fang Minghua placed her daughter in the child seat in the back row and subconsciously wanted to sit in the main driving position, but was stopped by Li Li.

"You haven't applied for a temporary driver's license yet, how can you drive?"

"Oh, that's right, I almost forgot." Fang Minghua sat in the back seat with her daughter: "This time I'll just take a driver's license test, so I don't have to apply for it every time."

The car drove out of the airport and headed towards downtown San Francisco. After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, it soon arrived at the Seacliff community where Li Li lived.

Arriving at her villa, she met Li Li's mother Zhou Yunmei.

Zhou Yunmei has been living here since she came to the United States to take care of Li Li's childbirth. Now she is gradually getting used to life in the United States and is very happy to see Fang Minghua coming.

Although the relationship between her daughter and Fang Minghua is illegal, it is now a done deal. The child is so old, what's the point of talking about it?

She is also very relieved that her daughter is accompanied by her beloved man.

Of course, Fang Minghua is impeccable in terms of wealth and talent. If it were an ordinary person, he might not think so.

At noon, Zhou Yunmei asked the nanny to prepare a sumptuous lunch to welcome Fang Minghua. During the meal, Fang Minghua talked about what needed to be done in the United States.

"It's still a while before the World Science Fiction Convention. I'll get my driver's license first, and then go to Stanford University to see my brother-in-law. He's about to graduate with a doctorate."

Zhou Yunmei was also secretly surprised when she heard this. What happened to the Fang family?

She heard from her daughter Li Li that Fang Minghua's parents were very ordinary workers, one was in the security department of a magazine, and the other was a female worker in a textile factory, but they wanted children who were more promising than the other.

Fang Minghua is not to be mentioned. His sister is said to be a master's student at Xi'an Jiaotong University, which is already quite remarkable. Unexpectedly, the son-in-law she found was even more amazing, and was actually sent to Stanford, a top American university, to study for a doctorate!

Fang Minghua certainly didn't know Zhou Yunmei's thoughts. That afternoon, Li Li had to go to school, so Fang Minghua took the subway to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) in San Francisco to apply for a driver's license.

According to the requirements, he filled out the application form, submitted his passport, visa, and documents proving his address, and paid $38. Then he filled out the form, took photos, and prepared for the written test.

I have to sigh that the efficiency of the California DMV is surprisingly slow. The written test was actually scheduled for a month later!

Oh my God

As a last resort, Fang Minghua first applied for a temporary translation driver's license, so that he could drive freely in California a week later.

In addition to the driver's license, Fang Minghua also had to go to Ashley Press. Demi was very happy to see Fang Minghua.

"Mr. Fang, we have developed a detailed promotion plan around your award this time. Take a look." Demi handed him a document.

Oh my God

Another reader meeting and a book signing.

Fang Minghua was overwhelmed when he saw one of the items.

"Mr. Minghua, we decided to redesign the cover of the novel to reflect the honor of winning the "Hugo Award". Combined with your book signing, the sales will definitely be very hot!

Okay

From the perspective of the operator, Demi's approach is understandable.

I will do the hard work again.

Fortunately, that will be after the award.

Maybe I won't win the award.

Fang Minghua briefly asked about the situation of the publishing house, and then went home. In a few days, he planned to visit Liu Jianjun at Stanford University.