Chapter 297 You Didn’t Hang Up

For a week, Lin Weimin was troubled by the issue of overseas royalties. Now that he has a foreign exchange account, he no longer needs to worry about this issue.

Looking at the peaceful life of more than 700,000 US dollars in his bank account, Lin Weimin felt very happy.

I returned to the Chinese Literature Society humming a little tune, and saw an acquaintance as soon as I entered the office.

"Xiaosheng? Why are you here?" Lin Weimin asked with a smile.

Rong Shihui said: "Comrade Xiaosheng has been waiting for you for almost an hour."

"What's up?"

"Well, a little." Liang Xiaosheng's expression was a little shy, revealing a simplicity that was inconsistent with his age.

Lin Weimin realized that the office might not be the place to talk, so he pulled Liang Xiaosheng to an empty room in the guesthouse upstairs.

"There's no one here, so it's convenient to talk."

Liang Xiaosheng smiled.

"Tell me, what do you want from me? Do you need my help?" Lin Weimin said.

Liang Xiaosheng shook his head and said, "There is something I am unsure about, so I want you to give me some advice."

Lin Weimin was a little surprised.

He and Liang Xiaosheng only met last year. Apart from work communication, they didn't have much daily interaction and had even met a few times. Judging from his expression, he must have encountered something difficult to decide, so how could he find himself?

Thinking this in his heart, Lin Weimin said: "Tell me about it, I may not be able to help."

Liang Xiaosheng then told him his story.

It turned out that the leaders of Yanjing Film Studio had talked to him a few days ago, hoping to nominate him to be the director of the studio's art and literature department.

“I’m so hesitant now!”

Lin Weimin was puzzled: "Hesitation? Why hesitate?"

Liang Xiaosheng is now a screenwriter at Yanying Studio. Becoming the director of the art department of their studio is considered a promotion, right?

"As a director, I have to take care of administrative matters, which takes up a lot of time every day. I am afraid that it will affect my creative work, and without the income from royalties, it will be difficult to help my family financially."

After Liang Xiaosheng said these words, Lin Weimin understood a little.

When the two of them had communicated before, Liang Xiaosheng had told him about the situation at home.

The Zhou family in his later popular work "The World" was based on his own family.

Liang Xiaosheng's father was one of the first construction workers in New China. He supported the Third Front all year round. There were five children in the family, and Liang Xiaosheng was the second oldest.

In his childhood memories, it was his mother who managed the household, and it was not easy for his father to support a family of seven with just his salary.

After graduating from high school, Liang Xiaosheng went to Longjiang Province to work in the countryside and became a soldier in the Production and Construction Corps.

After that, because of his excellent performance, he was recommended to go to university.

But his family was in financial difficulty at the time, and his eldest brother had mental problems due to the blows in life. At this juncture, Liang Xiaosheng did not dare to ask his family to go to college.

Because going to college means that not only can he not send money home, but he also has to ask his parents for money.

In this way, Liang Xiaosheng gave up the opportunity of being recommended by the company to go to college.

God always favors those who live seriously.

In the seventh year after Liang Xiaosheng went to the countryside, the company recommended him to go to college for the second time. This time, he bravely wrote a letter to his father, hoping that his father could send him 200 yuan so that he could go to college.

After receiving Liang Xiaosheng's letter, his father quickly collected 200 yuan and sent it to him. Liang Xiaosheng also worked hard and was successfully admitted to Fudan University.

In 1977, Liang Xiaosheng graduated from university and was assigned to the Literature Department of BJ Film Studio. He was 28 years old that year and was the youngest editor in the department.

It stands to reason that for someone like him who graduated from a prestigious university and has a respectable job, he should have no trouble finding a partner.

But the fact is, Liang Xiaosheng earns 49 yuan a month, and he has to send half of it back home. The rest of the salary is just enough to support his life, and he has no savings at all.

Therefore, until 1981, Liang Xiaosheng was 32 years old and still a bachelor.

When Lin Weimin met Liang Xiaosheng last year, he had just been married to his wife Jiao Dan for a year. Jiao Dan was a virtuous woman and never minded Liang Xiaosheng's family.

Now that the two are married, Liang Xiaosheng still sends money home every month. It is because of the support of his royalties that their small family's life has become more comfortable.

Now Yanying Studio hopes that Liang Xiaosheng will be the director of the Art and Literature Department. Of course, it will be a promotion, and the salary will also increase by a few yuan per month, which is dozens of yuan a year.

But Liang Xiaosheng was more afraid that the promotion would affect his creative work. He is now a well-known young writer. Last year, he published "There Will Be a Blizzard Tonight", a novella, in "Contemporary". The total royalties were more than 730 yuan, which was equivalent to more than a year's salary for him.

If promotion affects his creative work, it would be a loss for Liang Xiaosheng.

After listening to his words, Lin Weimin nodded and said, "I understand you!"

For people born in the 1980s, work is a lifelong thing. There is no layoff or layoff in their dictionary. Working honestly is the creed of many people.

Getting promoted and becoming a leader may be important to some people, but for quite a few people, it is not that important. They feel more secure by earning money through their own labor and work.

Liang Xiaosheng is a simple person. He doesn't care whether he is a leader or not, but cares more about whether he can share the worries of his family.

Being a leader seems glamorous and his salary has been raised, but if it really delays his creative work, the loss of royalties alone will be enough to make him sad.

Liang Xiaosheng looked at Lin Weimin expectantly, waiting for his opinion.

Lin Weimin didn't let him wait too long and said, "Xiaosheng, I don't think you are suitable to be an official."

"I know that, too."

Lin Weimin went on to say: "In my eyes, you are an outstanding writer and you can achieve great things in the future. For others, being an official may be a good thing. But I think it is a waste for you."

Lin Weimin's praise lit up Liang Xiaosheng's eyes, but he said a little embarrassedly: "What great things can I achieve? I will be satisfied if I can write a few more novels."

Lin Weimin smiled and said, "You have to trust my judgment. I am very good at judging people!"

Liang Xiaosheng did not think that Lin Weimin was bragging. Although he was nearly ten years younger than him, his achievements in writing and work were far beyond his reach.

Especially at work, as the editor of "Contemporary", Lin Weimin has discovered a large number of young writers, who have now emerged in the domestic literary world.

Lu Yao, Yu Hua, Ma Yuan, Wang Shuo, Shi Tiesheng...

These names flashed alternately in Liang Xiaosheng's mind, making him admire Lin Weimin very much.

Faced with Lin Weimin's affirmation, he felt a little excited.

At this time, Lin Weimin said: "And..."

Lin Weimin looked into Liang Xiaosheng's eyes and said sincerely, "Once you become an official, you may not be as happy as you are now."

Liang Xiaosheng looked at Lin Weimin, with a hint of emotion in his eyes.

He didn't expect that Lin Weimin had even considered this.

“If you didn’t have a talent for writing, I probably wouldn’t be saying these things to you because it might have delayed your career.

But in my eyes, you are a writer with talent and potential.

I believe that writing is not only something you enjoy doing, but it is also a means for you to win the battle against life.

Sticking to this path will not only solve your problems in life, but also make you live happier.

Why not? "

After saying these words, Lin Weimin looked at Liang Xiaosheng quietly.

After a moment, a smile appeared on Liang Xiaosheng's face. "Weimin, you are right."

Putting aside the pressure in his heart, Liang Xiaosheng's smile became even more cheerful.

Lin Weimin then asked, "Why did you think of asking me to give you this advice?"

Liang Xiaosheng explained: "I just thought you might have the same problem as me."

Lin Weimin is an editor of Contemporary Magazine, a part-time writer, and currently the deputy editor-in-chief of the editorial department.

Liang Xiaosheng is a screenwriter at Yanying Studio and a part-time writer. He is about to be promoted by his superiors to become the director of the Art and Literature Department.

The two people's experiences do have some coincidences, but the difference lies in their personalities.

"Haha, we are quite different. If my boss gave me a promotion, I would love it. I'm not like you who is so reluctant!"

Liang Xiaosheng smiled and said, "With your comparison, I understand that I am indeed not cut out to be an official."

Lin Weimin had something in his mind that he didn’t say: The more important thing is that you didn’t hang up.

After talking about the big issues that would determine the future direction of life, Liang Xiaosheng became much more clear-headed. He pulled Lin Weimin to treat him to a meal, but was rejected by Lin Weimin.

"You should go back and explain it to your family first."

"It doesn't matter. Jiao Dan supports any decision I make."

Teacher Lin was very depressed after eating a mouthful of dog food in one sentence.

It's just like who doesn't have a partner, why show off?

After seeing Liang Xiaosheng off, Lin Weimin returned to the office and found that several people were missing.

"Where has everyone gone?"

Yao Shuzhi, who had just finished her confinement, said: "Teacher Rong suddenly felt unwell, and Lao Zhu and Lao He took him to the hospital."

Lin Weimin asked anxiously, "Is it serious? Why didn't you call me?"

"It looks like nothing serious. Lao Meng said two people are enough so as not to delay work. We just said that after work, we would go to the hospital to see what's going on with Teacher Rong."

Lin Weimin nodded, "Okay, I'll go there later."

After work, the editorial staff came to the hospital.

Rong Shihui was chatting and laughing with Zhu Changsheng, and Lin Weimin said jokingly, "Comrade Rong, you scared us. I thought we were going to send you a wreath!"

"Haha, even though the old man looks sick, people like us usually don't have serious illnesses and live longer. But you young people look strong and healthy..."

The old comrade's eyes swept over Lin Weimin, and he didn't say anything else, but he made everyone laugh.

Lin Weimin didn't mind at all, instead he laughed.

"We can still bicker, no big deal!"

Everyone was chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

The results of Rong Shihui's examination have come out. It is a mild bronchitis. He coughed so violently when he was smoking in the office that he couldn't breathe, which scared everyone.

Liu Yin complained: "Weimin is the culprit. He gave you cigarettes when he had nothing to do, and we have to be exposed to second-hand smoke."

Lin Weimin smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, yes, it's all my fault."

"Haha, what does it have to do with Weimin? I'm an old smoker. I should say that thanks to him, I smoked a lot of good cigarettes, otherwise the situation would be even worse now."

Seeing that Rong Shihui was not seriously injured, his colleagues were relieved and prepared to leave, but Rong Shihui stopped Lin Weimin.

"Comrade Lao Rong, what instructions do you have? Let me make it clear first, don't mention cigarettes. I won't dare to offer you cigarettes in the future."

Rong Shihui smiled and said, "It's business. Two months ago, I received an invitation from your alma mater, inviting me to give lectures to the students."

alma mater?

Lin Weimin immediately realized that Rong Shihui must be talking about the Institute of Literature.

"Of course, Comrade Lao Rong, I haven't heard you say that you have become one of the masters now!" Lin Weimin joked.

The lecturers in the Institute of Literature at that time were all top-notch in the industry. Of course, there were also those with less experience. For example, the teachers who explained foreign literature and comparative literature were not very old, but most of them had a background of studying abroad and had very strong academic abilities.

"Stop interrupting me. The doctor said that I need to rest for a while due to my illness. I probably won't be able to teach this class. How about you take my place?" Rong Shihui said.

(End of this chapter)