Back to 80: My literary life

Chapter 242 Chapter 241 Winning the award is bringing glory to the country

Office of the Editor-in-Chief of "Science and Literature" in Chengdu.

After Yang Xiao went to work today, she kept looking at her watch.

She knew that a science fiction event was being held thousands of miles away in Chicago, USA.

Fang Minghua's "Rural Teacher" has been nominated. If it wins, it will undoubtedly be exciting news for the domestic science fiction community.

The "Nebula Award" and "Hugo Award" can be called the "Nobel Prize" in the science fiction world.

She has asked a friend who is visiting New York to pay close attention to the news in Chicago and call her as soon as the results come out.

Not long after, the phone in the office rang rapidly. He quickly grabbed the phone and heard his friend's voice: "Yang Xiao, there are results over there in Chicago. Minghua's novel won the Best Short Story Award! "

"Really?"

"How can I lie to you about this? Now in the United States, it's been reported on TV and newspapers!"

"thanks, thanks."

But for Yang Xiao, this result is already very satisfying.

Tan Kai heard this and smiled bitterly:

"Editor Yang, the next issue of our magazine will not be available to readers until 20 days from now. The news has become old news."

Tan Kai was naturally very happy.

"Tabloids are meaningless. Which authoritative newspaper will publish science fiction?" Yang Xiao replied.

Nowadays, domestic science fiction has begun to recover and is showing a vigorous development trend. However, the major mainstream media are still silent on science fiction and rarely mention it.

"What's wrong with Lao Xue? Is there any news?"

Li Wei put down the pen in his hand, leaned on the wicker chair, and asked with a smile:

"Yes, as you wished, Fang Minghua's novel won the award!"

"Guangming Daily Li Wei, who are you?"

Yang Xiao hung up the phone and immediately called the editor next door, Tan Kai, over and told him about it.

"Guangming Daily" reporter station in Qin Province.

"Tan Kai, publish this news on the front page of the next issue of the magazine!" Yang Xiao said.

"Lao Li, is this appropriate or not?"

"It would be great if a newspaper could publish this news!" Tan Kai sighed.

"Thank you, Lao Xue, please continue to help. Send a message to the domestic headquarters requesting to report this news." Li Wei said.

International long distance!

Xue Fukang is the reporter of "Guangming Daily" in the United States. In 1980, "Guangming Daily" established its first reporter station in Washington, USA. Xue Fukang was the first reporter.

At least these mainstream newspapers didn't openly oppose it, right?

This is already the best result.

But what she didn't expect was that besides him, there was also a media person who was also paying attention to the news.

"Old Li, I am Xue Fukang."

Li Wei was sorting out yesterday's interview news in his office. When he heard the phone ringing on his desk, he casually picked up the phone and asked without raising his head.

"Old news is better than no one knowing about it, right?" Yang Xiao was also a little helpless.

"What's inappropriate? After all, they are also winning awards, bringing glory to the country, right? Besides, our "Guangming Daily" insists on its unique positioning for intellectuals and embodies the distinctive characteristics of focusing on education, science and technology, culture, and theory, and the novel won the award , isn’t this exactly what we are promoting and reporting on?”

"Okay, okay, I can't convince you, so I will report it to the headquarters as you said. Whether it can be published or not is not up to me."

"I know, I will also tell the headquarters newspaper what I think."

The two said a few words, and Li Wei hung up the phone.

Two days later, the news was reported on an inconspicuous page of Guangming Daily with only a few words.

But despite this, it still caused waves among domestic readers.

A Chinese novel actually won an award in the United States!

To be able to win an award in a foreign country these days is a great joy and brings glory to the country!

Newspapers soon forwarded the news, and some even reported in detail on the grand ceremony.

This is the first time for Chinese people to hear about the "Nebula Award".

Naturally, Fang Minghua didn't know what was happening in China, so he slept in the hotel all night. The next morning, Fang Minghua got up and said goodbye to the three college students.

Fang Minghua is going to Northwest University to find Sun Lizhe, and the three college students are going back to Davenport.

"Fang Minghua, you said you were participating in the "International Writing Program" at the University of Iowa? Emily asked.

"Yes."

Fang Minghua did not hide anything from them and told them the purpose of his trip abroad last night.

"OK." Emily nodded: "When I have a holiday, can I come find you?"

Fang Minghua was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "Welcome, welcome everyone."

"Bye-Bye!"

"Bye-Bye!"

Fang Minghua took the subway to Northwest University with his bag on his back. Of course, he didn't need to wear a suit, short-sleeved T-shirt, and jeans today, so he looked relaxed and comfortable.

At Northwestern University Medical School, Fang Minghua finally found Sun Lizhe according to the address in the letter. He was not in class today but was in his rental house, which was easy to find.

The room was small and a bit messy. When the two met, Sun Lizhe first gave him a warm hug and then punched him.

"You kid! You came to Chicago yesterday and you didn't even come to see me. You secretly went to receive the award."

"You know it all?"

"Look, this newspaper and TV news have reported it." Sun Lizhe said, taking out a newspaper from the dining table and handing it to the other party.

Chicago Sun-Times!

The front page above published the list of winners of this year's Nebula Awards, which was released just last night, and Fang Minghua's "Rural Teacher" was suddenly on the list.

There is a synopsis of the story, as well as a brief review: "All texts that claim to "praise teachers" are just rhetoric in the face of this novel."

"Sun-Times, New York Times. In a few days, Minghua, your name will spread throughout the United States. You are famous. You want a treat!"

"No problem. This time I won the prize, and the jury gave me a bonus of US$1." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"1 US dollars? Are you kidding? It's more than that?" Sun Lizhe said: "Just because you won the Nebula Award, the sales of your science fiction novel collection will definitely increase greatly. Are you just waiting to count the money?"

This is true.

Before this era in the future, Fang Minghua saw on the Internet that Liu won the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel for the first part of "The Three-Body Problem".

There is no prize money for the Hugo Awards.

But within two hours of the announcement of the award, the Chinese version of "The Three-Body Problem" topped the Amazon book list!

The English version of "The Three-Body Problem" has also risen from ranking 2000 to 500 on Amazon in the United States.

Even though this time it is not as influential as "The Three-Body Problem", it can still make some money.

By the way, hasn't Liu already written the article "The Wandering Earth" in this era?

Can it be translated into English and published in the United States?

Become famous early, so as not to hide in Niangziguan Power Plant and eat ashes.

Thinking of this, Fang Minghua said: "Li Zhe, there is a college student in China who has written a very powerful science fiction novel and it has been published in the domestic "Science and Literature". When I return to China, I will contact the author and translate it into an English version. How about entrusting you to help him publish it in the United States?"

"No problem!" Sun Lizhe agreed.

"To be honest, our country's pure literature may not be very popular among readers in the United States, but science fiction novels are very popular! As long as they are excellent, you can send them!"

"Then I'd like to thank you. Why don't you just open a book publishing company? It's better to let outsiders make money than to make it yourself." Fang Minghua said half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"Ouch. I haven't thought about this yet. Let's finish our studies first."

"Yeah, which restaurant nearby is good? I told you I would treat you tonight." Fang Minghua remembered what he had just said.

"I'm kidding you. You've traveled thousands of miles to come to the United States. How dare I invite you? When Beiling comes back from school, I'll host you tonight!"

After spending another night in Chicago, Fang Minghao boarded the train back to Iowa early the next morning.

Continue to slowly enjoy the scenery on the train.

What he didn't expect was that someone was already waiting for him at the Iowa House Hotel.

(End of this chapter)