1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 383
Arthur Miller was looking forward to Lin Weimin's arrival. Before Lin Weimin said that he would contact and set a specific time to go to Milan after April, Arthur Miller had already sent out the invitation letter at the beginning of the month.

It is estimated that he will arrive in a few days before Lin Weimin can apply for a visa to Mimi.

Before Lin Weimin communicated with Arthur Miller about the details of going to the United States, he thought he had to say hello to the unit in advance.

In the editorial department of "Contemporary", Qin Chaoyang is a retired salted fish, and Lin Weimin is the pillar. This is a recognized fact.

Lin Weimin has to leave his job for a long time, which will have a huge impact on the operation of "Contemporary".

When he heard that Lin Weimin was planning to take two months' leave, Comrade Lao Tan became furious.

"I'm a retired old comrade, you can't trick me like this!" Tan Chaoyang said with a bitter face.

"What do you mean cheating on you? Comrade Old Tan, I have to say a few words about you. How can you steal and play tricks when you are doing revolutionary work?
It is true that I am the editor-in-chief of the editorial department, but you are also the director of the editorial department!

It’s fine if I do too much, who makes me young?But at the critical moment, you can't lose the chain! "

Qin Chaoyang was left speechless by Lin Weimin's words, and made a silent protest. Lin Weimin went directly to the front building to ask Meng Weizai for leave.

After Meng Weizai heard about it, he was silent for a while, and asked: "Do you have to go?"

"The friends over there have been waiting for a long time, and it is not appropriate not to go."

Meng Weizai nodded, he had heard about the popularity of Lin Weimin's works in the United States.

"Then arrange the work and say hello in advance before leaving."

"it is good!"

Lin Weimin asked for leave and left the office happily.

Meng Weizai looked at his back with a melancholy expression.

In less than half a day, the news that Lin Weimin would take a two-month leave to go to the United States topped the No. 1 "Hot Search List" by the Chinese Literature Society, which ignited the lunch tea party in the cafeteria.

Colleagues asked Lin Weimin to confirm the news one after another, and Lin Weimin had no choice but to admit it.

Over the past few years, the Chinese Cultural Society has occasionally had the opportunity to go abroad, but it is basically the leaders who go to investigate and visit, and they are not next to most of the soldiers.

Lin Weimin's situation this time is different from that of the leaders. It is said that he was invited by a friend to the United States.

Everyone knows that Lin Weimin's works have been well received in the United States. This kind of utilitarian going abroad is more enviable than going abroad for purely political or cultural reasons.

They are a country based on strength!

Unlike last time when we went to Xiangjiang, everyone enthusiastically asked him to help bring things. This time, very few colleagues asked Lin Weimin to help with purchasing.

Xiangjiang has a close relationship with China. Even if you have never used many products, you have heard of them and say that Xiangjiang’s products are good. Naturally, you want to buy them if you can afford them.

The United States is different from Xiangjiang. It is too far away from China. People don't even know what they can bring from the United States. Anyway, Lin Weimin would not dare to bring back those things promoted by the media.

A few days later, Arthur Miller's invitation letter arrived, and Lin Weimin took the materials to the embassy to apply for a visa.

It was too late for Lao Mi to welcome Lin Weimin, a celebrity in the cultural circle, to the United States, and the visa application went smoothly.

After getting the visa, the time for Lin Weimin to go to Mimi was confirmed.

Before leaving, Lin Weimin prepared a meal.

In Yanjing in late April, spring is warm and flowers are blooming.

The leaves in the Shichahai small courtyard are green, the bonsai are more beautiful, and the goldfish in the fish tank are alive and kicking.

The child of Qu Xiaowei's family was standing on a small bench, grabbing the edge of the fish tank and reaching for the goldfish in the tank. Yao Shuzhi found the child and picked it up, "You can't catch goldfish, how dangerous it is!"

Liu Haiyan, who was busy in the kitchen, heard the voice, came out and slapped the child's buttocks, "I'm making you naughty! I'm making you naughty!"

"Wow wow wow!" The child cried heartbreakingly.

Lin Weimin gloated while nibbling sunflower seeds, right!Let you harm my fish!

The others didn't notice it at all and were still chatting.

The Shichahai Courtyard, which had been quiet for a long time, was extremely lively today. The nephew and his wife, Qu Xiaowei's family, Zheng Guo's family, Shi Tiesheng's family, Yu Hua, Mo Yan, Wang Shuo and his wife, Tong Zhonggui...

Almost all the friends from Yanjing were able to come. Everyone heard that Lin Weimin was going to the United States to stay for a while, and they happily came to see him off.

"Two months is not long or short, it is enough for the people to see the world of capitalism." Qu Xiaowei joked.

"For the people, please remember that Laomi's sugar coating can be eaten, but the shells must be sent back!" Zheng Guo echoed.

"Haha!" Everyone laughed.

Seven or eight gay men sat and chatted in the yard. Shi Tiesheng sat in a wheelchair, Lin Weimin held the handle of the wheelchair with one hand, the others sat or stood, and Mo Yan squatted next to Wang Shuo.

The topics of the chat were varied, and apart from teasing Lin Weimin, the most talked about topics were naturally literature and creation.

Shi Tiesheng has just finished writing the novella "The Story of Jumping the Line", and the manuscript has been handed over to Lin Weimin. The editorial department has passed the review and is expected to meet readers in July.

In the winter of the previous year, Lin Weimin took Shi Tiesheng to Shaanxi to pursue love, and by the way went back to Guanjiazhuang in northern Shaanxi where he jumped in the queue.

After Shi Tiesheng returned to Yanjing, he always wanted to write a story about his time when he jumped in the queue. In fact, in recent years, his works have mentioned the time when he was an educated youth, but the writing was not detailed enough to make Shi Tiesheng Consolation.

After more than a year of brewing, he finally wrote "The Story of Jumping the Line".

"The Story of Jumping the Line" can be attributed to the educated youth literature just by its name, and it can also be called scar literature if it is bigger.

Much of the educated youth literature these days is filled with strong negative emotions and accusations, and in a few years, it will be degraded into little pornography.

Those who praise the experience of educated youths like Liang Xiaosheng are not particularly widespread.

Shi Tiesheng’s description of the experience of the educated youth is somewhat different from these two. In his novels, you can’t see those great joys and sorrows, passion or indifference. If you have to compare, Lin Weimin thinks his style is like Guan Jiazhuang The Qingping River in front of me is quiet, warm and indifferent.

When talking about the manuscript, Yu Hua asked Shi Tiesheng about the manuscript fee.

"Eighteen yuan for a thousand characters." Shi Tiesheng told the truth.

Yu Hua's eyes widened at the time, "So tall?"

Mo Yan looked at Yu Hua in surprise, "You often go to the editorial department, don't you know? Now the remuneration standard has been raised!"

"I know, but it's 18 yuan for a thousand words..."

Yu Hua didn't finish his sentence because he offended someone a bit.

18 yuan for a thousand characters is too high!
Yu Hua didn't think that Shi Tiesheng shouldn't take this figure, it's just that the price has changed so much from before that he was caught off guard.

Wang Shuo grinned, "What's the matter, the novella I gave to the editorial department was only fifteen thousand words!"

Speaking of this, he complained to Lin Weimin: "Everyone is a novella, why is Tiesheng more expensive than me by three yuan?"

Yu Hua watched Wang Shuo shoot at Lin Weimin, thinking that 15 yuan for a thousand characters is too little?

"Just be content with it! It's good if you can publish it. Let me tell you first, the editorial department will definitely scold you after your manuscript is published, and you will never get better. No one will take care of you."

It is impossible to be rated as ruffian literature without being scolded.

Lin Weimin agreed to publish Wang Shuo's "Stubborn Lord", and he was ready to be scolded.

Fortunately, he is going to the United States soon, so let Lao Tan bear the artillery fire alone.

Wang Shuo curled his lips. He knew Lin Weimin was telling the truth, but he was not angry, "What's the matter if you don't write novels anymore after listening to those gangsters calling for nothing?"

Master Shuo has never convinced anyone when it comes to talking guns.

Even if someone pushes him to the ground and beats him and calls him dad, as long as you dare to let go of him, he can immediately become a grandfather.

Everyone was talking and laughing, and Yu Hua secretly asked Mo Yan, "Is the manuscript fee for your "Red Sorghum Family" low?"

Mo Yan said: "Yes, I published it last year, and it didn't catch up with the increase in the manuscript fee."

"That's a big loss!"

As Yu Hua said this, he was thinking about it in his heart.

Moyan's "Red Sorghum Family" has 30 words, and three yuan for a thousand words is 900 yuan, which is more than the cost of publishing a novella.

Just now Tiesheng said that his "Story of Jumping the Line" had more than 7 words, and 18 words cost 400 yuan, which is [-] yuan.

A novella of more than 7 words is almost catching up with the previous price of a full-length novel.

If you wait another year or two and the manuscript fee increases again, it will be a net profit!

Yu Hua found another fair reason for his procrastination.

There was chatter in the yard, and when it was almost noon, the table was placed in the middle of the yard.

The wind is warm and the sun is warm, and eating in the yard is a very pleasant thing.

There were so many people today that a dozen or so people could not sit at one table, so two tables were set up.

During the meal, everyone chatted with Lin Weimin about the United States.

It has been two months since he left, and his friends are still very concerned.

However, Lin Weimin's visit to the United States this time is different from those who were invited to visit. To put it bluntly, he and Arthur Miller are partners, just like the bosses of future companies who go abroad for inspections. Shouldn't the partners treat them with delicious food? ?
Hearing from Lin Weimin that the houses in the United States have been rented out, everyone is relieved.

After lunch, they packed up their things and left.

When the house was empty, Lin Weimin also started to pack his luggage.

Early the next morning, Lin Weimin took a taxi instead of driving.

In the past two years, Yanjing City imported a batch of Crown taxis. These taxis usually only "work" at the airport and major hotels. Lin Weimin called yesterday to make an appointment.

The taxi arrived at the door early in the morning, and Lin Weimin got into the car with his luggage.

Along the way, the driver talked to Lin Weimin. These drivers usually solicit foreigners a lot. They claim to be well-informed and talk arrogantly.

There are very few taxis in this era, and the starting price of a taxi is five yuan. For example, Lin Weimin went to the airport today, and a trip to the airport is enough for half a month's wages of ordinary workers.

So it also made the profession of taxi driver popular, not to mention driving a crown?
These drivers have to wear a suit and tie to work, and many of them are married to stewardesses in today's golden collar.

After getting out of the car, Lin Weimin looked at the back of the Crown taxi.

Next time I come back, I have to change to another car. I didn’t pay attention to taking a taxi before. Driving a car is like taking a taxi. Teacher Lin can’t afford to lose this person!

(End of this chapter)