Back to 80: My literary life

Chapter 9 Special Novel Issue for Young Writers of Qin Province
  Not long after, Dong Mo hurried back and handed a stack of manuscript paper to Stanley Ho. Zhang Pixiang also came over, and the two of them were quickly immersed in the text.

"Editor Zhang, Editor He, hurry up and eat, the food is already cold!" A man's voice from the side woke them up. It turned out that it was the chef wearing a white hat who came over to remind them that they hadn't eaten.

"How about I reheat it for you." The chef was very enthusiastic.

"no, I'm fine."

Zhang Pixiang finished the cold cabbage in several mouthfuls, then stuffed the remaining steamed bun into his mouth: "It's important to read the manuscript."

When I looked up, I saw Stanley Ho hurriedly walking towards the entrance of the cafeteria.

"What? You don't want to eat?"

"What are you going to eat? The manuscript is important!"

Seeing this scene, Dong Mo, who had finished his meal slowly, smiled and said nothing.

Soon, the novel titled "Into the Dust and Smoke" was reviewed and approved by the three chief editors. On the same day, it was decided to be published in the first special issue of "Yanhe" magazine next year, "Novel Special Issue for Young Writers of Qin Province", as one of the twelve One of the novels.

At this time, Fang Minghua was still sleeping at home.

The next morning, Fang Minghua wore a green army coat to go to work. He didn't write a novel today. Fang Minghua was very leisurely. Originally, he wanted to ask Dong Mo what he thought of his novel after reading it, but it felt a little abrupt. Maybe he was busy with work. Didn't care to look at it.

What's the hurry?

When it was time to go to work at noon, Fang Minghua saw Lu Yao hurriedly walked into the magazine door wearing a leather jacket, still smoking.

"Morning, Editor Lu." Fang Minghua greeted warmly from the door of the guard room.

Lu Yao stopped when he heard the sound, and habitually took out a pack of cigarettes and gave one to Fang Minghua.

Peony.

Premium smoke!
  There is a popular saying nowadays: salary is thirty-three dollars, cigarettes and peonies.

However, Fang Minghua smiled and refused to say that he did not smoke.

Lu Yao didn't say anything and added another one to himself: "Let's go, take one."

"What are you going up for? I still have to look at the gate." Fang Minghua was confused after hearing this.

"It's a meeting. Chief Editor Zhang has called a meeting for the authors published in our novel issue. Don't you know?" It was Lu Yao's turn to say in surprise.

"I really don't know. I took a vacation yesterday and went to work this morning. Besides, I only handed the manuscript to Editor Dong yesterday morning and asked him to check it for me. It's not so fast, is it?"

"You just submitted the manuscript yesterday? It was reviewed and approved on the same day? Awesome, Xiao Fang, editor He asked me to revise two drafts of my novel before it was approved."

"It's probably Editor He who is patronizing me." Fang Minghua said modestly.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yao burst out laughing: Are you asking Editor He to be so arrogant? Do you know what we call Editor He privately? "

"He Bapi, reviewing your manuscript, I wish I could peel off a layer of your skin."

Ah?
  Unexpectedly, Lu Yao, who looks quite serious on the outside, also has a cute side.

But think about it, he is only in his early thirties now. He is in his prime and is passionate about writing. How can he look like the vicissitudes of life in the photos he originally posted on the Internet?
  While the two were chatting, they saw Wang Juan hurriedly walking from the building, calling from afar: "Xiao Fang, Xiao Fang, congratulations, your novel will be published! Editor Zhang informed you to go to a meeting."

"How about it, am I right? After paying the royalties, you want to treat me." Lu Yao joked.

"No problem!" Fang Minghua agreed.

What should I do if I go to a meeting and the guard is on duty?
  Wang Juan said it doesn't matter, you have your meeting, I will go find Zhang Baofu to take over for a while.

In this case, Fang Minghua quickly put on his yellow satchel and entered the office building with Lu Yao, arriving at the editorial conference room on the third floor.

Not long after, twelve young and middle-aged writers including Chen Zhongshi, Jia Pingwa and Jingfu rushed to the conference room one after another, and the room suddenly became lively. Everyone was chatting and laughing, and the room suddenly filled with smoke.

Not long after, editor-in-chief Zhang Pixiang and deputy editor-in-chief Peter Ho came in and sat at the top, and the meeting began.

Stanley Ho looked at the foggy room and couldn't help but frown and said: "Comrades, can you smoke less? Every meeting is filled with smoke. I, an old woman, am used to it. Tianfang is also a lesbian!"

Tianfang's full name is Li Tianfang. He is also a writer in Qin Province. He is 40 years old and is currently the editor of "Yanhe". He also writes his own works while reviewing manuscripts.

She looked like a very peaceful middle-aged woman. She smiled after hearing what Ho Hongjun said and said, "I'm used to it. It's just Comrade Xiao Fang. This is the first time she comes to a meeting and she doesn't smoke."

Are there really men who don’t smoke?

Everyone's eyes immediately looked at Fang Minghua, who was sitting quietly at the bottom.

Sure enough, all the twelve men in the room, including Zhang Pixiang, were chain smokers, but Fang Minghua was the only one who didn't smoke.

"I prove that Xiao Fang does not smoke. I just offered him a cigarette at the door and he didn't even accept it." Lu Yao, who was sitting next to Fang Minghua, explained.

As soon as he finished speaking, sitting opposite Lu Yao, another man who looked dark and thin took over the conversation:

"Don't smoke? Comrade Xiaofang, this is not good. In our line of work, how can we not smoke? This is called red when you are close to red, and black when you are close to ink, don't you think so?"

His name is Jia Pingwa.

Jia Pingwa is less than thirty now and is currently the literary and art editor of Qin Provincial People's Publishing House. She got married the year before last and married a lovely wife. I heard she is a great beauty. She also had a daughter last year. It can be said that she has a good harvest in love and career, and she looks very high-spirited.

However, Brother Jia,
  Even if you kill me, I won’t smoke!
  I remember that my brother was also a big smoker back then, and he vowed not to smoke in this life.

Of course, you can't say that. Fang Minghua smiled and replied: "Editor Jia, I am smoking everyone's second-hand smoke. Is this considered smoking?"

Fang Minghua's humorous words immediately made everyone laugh.

"Okay, let's have a meeting." Editor-in-Chief Zhang Pixiang began to speak, and everyone suddenly became quiet.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate all the comrades present. Your works have been selected into the "Shaanxi Young Writers Novel Issue" and will be published in full text in the first issue of "Yanhe" next year! This is your honor and also our "Yanhe" "The honor of the magazine!"

"clap clap"

There was warm applause in the conference room.

Everyone is very excited. This is the first time that "Yanhe" magazine has published works in the form of a special account since its establishment!

"But at the same time, I hope that everyone will guard against arrogance and impatience, continue to work hard, and write better works. Let me make it clear that poetry, novels, especially short stories, try to vote for our "Yanhe", this is your natal home !”

Zhang Pixiang's words made everyone laugh.

Indeed, including Lu Yao, Chen Zhongshi, Jia Pingwa, etc., their first novels were basically published in "Yanhe", and from here they went to the whole country and became familiar to everyone.

Next was Stanley Ho who spoke. She spoke urgently and quickly, "Comrades, Editor-in-Chief He has just congratulated you. I won't say any more nice things. I will just talk about the shortcomings. All of you here are from Qin Province. Among the slightly famous authors, apart from Comrade Xiao Fang's "Into the Dust" which can barely be considered a novella, the rest are all short stories, right?"

"This is not enough, far from enough! Look at Beijing and Tianjin. I won't talk about Wang Meng. In the 1950s, when he was only in his early twenties, he created "Long Live Youth" and inspired an entire generation!"

"Liu Xinwu, after writing "Head Teacher", this year released a novella "I am your friend", and Feng Jicai, this year's novella "Ah!". Wait, etc., so, comrades, we still need to Keep up the hard work.”

The conference room was silent.

Fang Minghua secretly looked at everyone, his expressions were no longer as relaxed and happy as before, and everyone was deep in thought.

Seeing some silence in the conference room, Zhang Pixiang said:
  "Sister He, I know you are eager to let the writers of our Qin Province shine, and it is best to surpass those of Beijing and Tianjin, but after all, they are still young. The oldest ones are Director Chen (Chen Zhongshi) and the others, and they are just now 40, the golden age of creation.”

"Not to mention Lu Yao and Ping Wa. Oh, the youngest one now is Xiao Fang. He is 20 years old this year and has a bright future."

(End of this chapter)