1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 656
"By the way, Lin, do you know something?"

After talking about the publication of the novel, Roger Strauss suddenly asked.

"what's up?"

"Richard Yates is dead!"

In the last year of his life, Richard Yates' health deteriorated extremely. Due to tuberculosis, he had difficulty breathing, coughing and wheezing constantly, and could only breathe with the help of an oxygen mask.

Finally, on November 1992, 11, he died of emphysema and complications at the age of 7.

The friend went to his home, where there was only a desk, an old printer, and pictures of his three daughters hanging on the wall, but they had been separated from him for many years and had been living with his ex-wife.

Lin Weimin was a little surprised to hear the news, but he didn't feel that surprised. After all, he already knew that Richard Yates was in poor health when he corresponded with him.

It's just that he suddenly heard that his old friend left, and the evening scene was quite bleak, he couldn't help but feel a little sad.

Lin Weimin and Richard Yates have never met, but they have been in correspondence for many years, so it is not an exaggeration to call them "friends".

Now that Richard Yates is gone, Lin Weimin can't help but think of his request for his help to publish a collection of essays a few months ago.

The Foreign Languages ​​Office has a heavy workload this year, and the editing and review efficiency of Richard Yates' anthology is not high. According to the current progress, it will not be published until at least the middle of next year.

The publication of a collection of essays in the future can be regarded as worthy of his commitment to Richard Yates.

The only regret is that this edition of the anthology is not in English.

"Roger, Richard passed away, and your publishing house isn't going to take advantage of his popularity?"

"What do you mean?"

Lin Weimin told the story of Richard Yates asking him to help publish the anthology, "I think, if the anthology is published in the United States, there should be a certain market, right?"

Roger Strauss couldn't help being moved, "Lin, it's a great honor for Richard to have a good friend like you."

"It's nothing. It's just a pity. Richard is a great writer, and he shouldn't be treated like this." Lin Weimin said regretfully.

Roger Strauss was moved but moved, but in the face of Lin Weimin's request, he still pondered.

"If you are worried about losing money, I can pay a sum of money to publish this collection of essays for him at my own expense, how about it?" Lin Weimin said.

Roger Strauss said: "Lin, I'm not worried about this. It's mainly because Richard Yates passed away. I don't have his authorization and I am not qualified to publish this collection of essays."

Lin Weimin hesitated, this is a problem.

He thought for a while and said, "Then can you contact his daughters? They are the heirs of Richard Yates and own the copyright and authorship of his works. Talk to them and see if you can obtain their authorization." ?”

"That's the only way to go. I'll be responsible for contacting you."

Lin Weimin said again: "Roger, I don't want you to be in trouble. It's definitely not profitable to help Richard publish his anthology, but I will definitely not let you lose money."

Roger Strauss said hastily: "Lin, you misunderstood. If I decide to publish his anthology, it must be in business. How about it..."

Richard Yates' works are notoriously hard to sell in the United States, and publishers basically pay for each book. Therefore, although Richard Yates' works have been published from time to time in these years, they are basically Relying on the help of friends.

Moreover, the printing volume is very low, most of them are only a few thousand copies, and the sales are not good. Many books cannot be sold in the end and can only be sent to second-hand bookstores for those literary lovers who like to search for books.

If he really wanted to publish a collection of essays for Richard Yates, the first thought that came to Roger Strauss' mind was that there must be a wonderful marketing plan.

Holding the phone in his hand, he instantly thought of Lin Weimin on the other end of the phone.

"Century Friendship between Great Writers of China and America".

Roger Strauss is worthy of being a marketing wizard, and he thought of a creative publicity point in an instant.

He intends to use Lin Weimin's relationship experience with Richard Yates and the fact that Richard Yates "took an orphan" to Lin Weimin at the end of his life as selling points to promote the sales of Richard Yates' anthology.

After listening to Roger Strauss' thoughts, Lin Weimin thought for a long time, and finally said: "With such a publicity point, can the anthology sell well?"

"It may not be a bestseller, but based on my experience, it will definitely be a hit for a period of time, and it will definitely exceed the sales of Richard Yates' previous works."

"Okay, then do as you say."

After all, Roger Strauss took the risk. Now that he has figured out a way and is sincerely helping, it would be inappropriate for him to be hypocritical.

One day in mid-November, Lin Weimin received a call from Renyi, saying that Yuzhi was retiring and planned to hold a farewell party for him.

Lin Weimin was a little stunned, and he was about to retire in a flash.

The next evening, Lin Weimin came to Renyi.

The farewell banquet was held in Renyi Canteen, which was Yu Zhi's request.

After 85, the drama market, which was originally in full swing, began to decline, and it did not recover within a few years.

In the past few years, drama troupes across the country have had a hard time, and Yanjing People's Art, as the face of the domestic drama industry, is not bad.

After all, there are so many classic plays that can always attract a group of diehard audiences.

But this kind of benefit is insignificant in the face of the growing market economy.

It turns out that the actors of Renyi get their monthly salaries and performance subsidies. From time to time, they have to go to other places or even foreign countries for exchanges and performances.

But it has failed in the past two years, prices have skyrocketed, many people have gone to sea to do business and made a fortune, and the wages of many units have also seen leapfrog growth.

The disadvantages of units like Renyi have been revealed in this regard. The salary can barely keep up with social development, but the performance subsidy is better than nothing. Comparing the two, it is equivalent to a sharp drop in income.

As a result, many actors in Renyi couldn't stand poverty, or stayed without pay or took long vacations, left the theater, and completely devoted themselves to the embrace of TV dramas.

In the past few years, the domestic TV drama industry has made great progress. For many actors, it is much better to earn money and become famous sooner than to act in a drama.

Today's farewell banquet is very simple.

When Lin Weimin arrived here, he was invited to Yu Zhi's table.

Although Lin Weimin does not have a staff of Renyi, he has created many classic dramas for Renyi over the years. He has already been a "meritorious" screenwriter. Respecting them is a group of people.

So Zhi has been the first vice president of Renyi for many years, and now he has finally retired. Although he has resigned from his administrative duties, he has not let go of his role as an actor, and he can still use his spare time in Renyi in the future.

The new first vice president of Renyi is Liu Jinyun, who often assists Mr. Wan in writing scripts. Lin Weimin is naturally familiar with him and needs no introduction.

"More than a month ago, I took Jin Yun to Yanjing Hospital to meet Mr. Wan, and with his old man's consent, Jin Yun became the first vice president of Human Arts."

Since the establishment of Renyi, there has only been one president, Mr. Wan.

Even though Mr. Wan has ignored common affairs in recent years, out of respect, the title of dean is still hung on Mr. Wan.

There is only the first vice president of Renyi. Of course, the first vice president has the same authority as the president.

So he retired and pushed Liu Jinyun to take over, and Mr. Wan readily agreed.

This is not only because he is optimistic about Liu Jinyun, but also because of his contribution to human art over the years.

So Zhi was the leader of the creative team of Renyi in his early years, and now a large number of backbone directors and screenwriters of Renyi were discovered when he was the leader of the creative team.

At that time, Renyi vigorously recruited troops, and talents came out in large numbers, and the creative team of Renyi was called "Little Literature Association".

During the years he served as the first vice president, he also devoted himself to his work and produced a large number of excellent plays for Renyi.

"Mr. Wan's health has been getting worse and worse over the past few years." Yu Zhi sighed.

"Yeah, after all, I'm so old. Now I also occasionally go to sit with him and chat." Lin Weimin said.

I haven't been to Renyi for a long time, but when I came today, I met many old acquaintances and said hello to each of them. Lin Weimin was in a very happy mood.

However, he also found that many familiar faces were missing, and after inquiring, he realized that all of them had gone to the outside world.

Lin Weimin joked with Yu Zhi: "You used to blame me for abducting Guangfu, how about this time? Guangfu is called foresight."

Li Guangfu was sitting at the next table, and now he is a well-known "Three Lees" in Yanjing City, with a net worth of tens of millions. He got the news today and took the initiative to attend Shi Zhi's farewell banquet, which moved the old man very much.

Hearing Lin Weimin's words, Li Guangfu turned his head.

"I haven't acted for so many years. Speaking of it, I really miss the stage. Maybe I will come back in two years."

So Zhi was delighted by his words, "If you come back, you have to ask Lin Weimin to write a notebook, or you won't be worthy of your worth."

Everyone around laughed loudly, and the cafeteria was full of joy.

Among the talents who have gone out of Renyi, Li Guangfu can be regarded as an accomplished person.

In a few years, he has spent tens of millions of dollars. When he sees his old colleagues again, he will inevitably bear compliments, jokes, or sarcasm from everyone.

Compared with the complicated impression caused by Li Guangfu, everyone's emotions are more unified when Han Zhuangzhuang is mentioned, only envy.

In the past few years, Han Zhuangzhuang has successively acted in films such as "Red Sorghum", "Benming Year", "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit", and now he has become an internationally renowned movie star.

Everyone is an actor. Although Han Zhuangzhuang is talented, he is still doing his old job.

When old colleagues get together, it is essential to mention those who were not there.

Halfway through the farewell banquet, everyone gradually let loose, and some people started to scurry around the table.

Feng Yuanzheng, who hadn't seen him for several years, came to toast Yu Yu and Lin Weimin. Lin Weimin saw him and asked with a smile, "Xiao Feng, when did you return to China?"

"Ms. Lin, I returned to China last year. Dean Yu kindly asked me to come back to act again."

So Zhi said: "Xiao Feng is a good actor, studying abroad in West Germany was not for nothing, it would be a pity not to return to Renyi to act."

It can be said that there are only one in a hundred people who go abroad and return to China these days. If there is such a person around, everyone will inevitably spread some gossip, most of which are "he must have come back because he couldn't get along abroad". .

However, Lin Weimin encouraged: "It's good to come back. Going out for a trip can be regarded as seeing the world and gaining skills. Of course, you must come back to serve the people."

Feng Yuanzheng thanked Lin Weimin with a glass of wine.

(End of this chapter)