Chapter 642: Are you using a rice knife to hit people?

I spent a week traveling to Italy to receive the award, but the Chinese Literature Society remained the same, with no changes at all.

The only change is that there is a young man in Mr. Zhai's message room.

"Hey! Uncle Zhai, there's a new person?" Lin Weimin joked.

"The new guy, Xiao Zhou, I'm going to retire in two months. I'll hand over my job to him as a new recruit." Uncle Zhai introduced him and said to Xiao Zhou, "Xiao Zhou, this is Mr. Lin Weimin, the editor-in-chief of our Guowen Press."

Xiao Zhou naturally knew Lin Weimin. A few days ago, CCTV even broadcast a special program about Lin Weimin winning awards overseas.

When I watch them on TV, I feel that they are young. When I see them in person, I feel that they are even younger. They look like college students.

Just think about it, a person who looks like a college student has won literary awards in many developed Western countries such as the United States, France, and Italy. It really proves the saying that you can't judge a book by its cover.

On the other hand, because of my military service, I have been exposed to the wind and sun for many years, so my skin is dark and rough. From a distance, I look like I am in my forties.

It’s great to be a cultured person!

"Okay. Where is Xiao Zhou from?"

"Editor-in-Chief Lin, my family is from Yanjing, and I live in South City..."

When Xiao Zhou saw Lin Weimin asking questions, he did not dare to be vague. This was the big leader of the Guowen Society, so he immediately disclosed all his personal information.

He is a retired soldier, and this time he was assigned to the Guowen Society as a security officer.

Well, Uncle Zhai had the same name back then.

What a pity, as time goes by, the "security officer" has become a "night watchman".

What a fucking life!

Lin Weimin seemed to see Xiao Zhou's life ten years later. No, not as if, but really. Uncle Zhai took a sip of tea leisurely.

"Okay, then Uncle Zhai, you just take good care of Xiao Zhou. I'll go upstairs first."

"Okay, you're busy."

Lin Weimin went upstairs, and Xiao Zhou's tone was a little admiring, "Uncle Zhai, you are really familiar with the leader!"

"That's it!" Uncle Zhai put the big teapot on the table.

"When our Chief Editor Lin joined the company, he was much younger than you, just 20 years old. Now he is in his early 30s and has become the chief editor. Just think about it, it's really enviable!

There are so many famous writers in the Guowen Society, and young people were suppressed one after another and couldn't stand out, but he managed to stand out.

In fact, he is a young man who I watched grow up! "

Facing the young man's innocent yet somewhat admiring eyes, Uncle Zhai's "teacher's spirit" was ready to tell Xiao Zhou about the days when he fought side by side with Director Lin.

When he arrived at the office, Lin Weimin first greeted Cheng Zaochun, and then went into work mode.

There are several manuscripts piled up in the office, including two manuscripts of "World Literature Classics Collection".

Lin Weimin called Chen Jiangen, director of the Foreign Language Department, to his office and asked about the progress of the first volume, "French Literature."

French literature plays an important role in the world literary scene. The World Literature Classics Library plans to include a total of 28 classic masterpieces of various types.

Among them are classics such as "Les Miserables", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "The Red and the Black", "The Count of Monte Cristo", "Eugénie Grandet and Père Goriot", etc. which have been circulated in China for decades, as well as masterpieces such as "Ninety-Three", "Selected Poems of Victor Hugo", "The Pastoral Trilogy", "Selected Comedies of Moliere", etc. which are less circulated or have not even been introduced into China.

For many classic works that were circulated earlier, the Guowen Press uses classic translations by everyone, such as "Eugenie Grandet and Le Père Goriot" translated by Mr. Fu Lei and "The Count of Monte Cristo" translated by Mr. Jiang Xuemo.

These translations have stood the test of time and have proven their fidelity, elegance and fluency. It would be a thankless task to translate them again. You just need to put some effort into the review and proofreading processes to save yourself a lot of time and effort.

What really worries the Foreign Languages ​​Department are those less circulated masterpieces. Some of these masterpieces have no translated versions at all, or the quality of the translated versions is not up to standard.

After this busy period, only 4 works are still in the translation and editing stage, and the remaining 24 works have entered the review and proofreading stage.

"We have been keeping an eye on the translations of the last four works. They will be ready for delivery by the end of this month at the latest, and we will strive to have them ready for printing in mid-September."

It took exactly half a year from March to September to complete the "French Literature Volume", which is not a slow pace. After all, it contains 28 classic works. Normally, this would be almost a year's workload for the Foreign Languages ​​Department.

Lin Weimin usually urges people to return home, but he also understands everyone's hard work.

"Everyone has worked hard during this period. There are less than 20 days left until the end of the month. If you keep working hard and submit the manuscript by the end of the month, I will treat everyone to a meal."

Chen Jiangen showed his delight. Although Chief Editor Lin was strict at work, he was very easy to talk to in private and generous, which was well-known among the people in the company.

When he was in charge of "Contemporary" magazine, the editors of "Contemporary" ate at almost all major restaurants in Yanjing.

"With your words, everyone will definitely be motivated!"

After seeing off Chen Jiangen, the director of the Foreign Language Department, Lin Weimin called the director of the Classical Chinese Language Department.

The "World Literature Classics Collection" brings together famous works from the East and the West, of which ancient Chinese literature accounts for nearly one-fifth of the content. However, because they are all ready-made public domain books, editing and reviewing is not difficult.

The director of the Ancient Chinese Literature Department reported that the book could be printed after October. Lin Weimin was in a good mood. With the two volumes of Chinese and French as the foundation, the foundation of the "World Literature Classics Collection" would be laid, and the money and energy invested by the Guowen Publishing House in the past six months would not be in vain.

You know, in the past six months, Guowen Publishing House has spent nearly 100,000 yuan just on purchasing funds from various countries' libraries.

Now that the library project has taken shape, Lin Weimin can at least get along well with his colleagues in the company.

Earlier remarks such as "ambitious" and "greedy for success and reckless advance" will also be refuted.

The next day, Lin Weimin was working in the office when Cheng Zaochun suddenly called him and asked him to go to the office.

As soon as Lin Weimin entered the room, he saw three unfamiliar faces sitting in Cheng Zaochun's office, while Cheng Zaochun had a happy look on his face.

"Come on, Mr. Lin, let me introduce you. This is the editor-in-chief of our Guowen Press, and our famous domestic writer, Comrade Lin Weimin."

Cheng Zaochun enthusiastically took Lin Weimin and introduced him to the three people, and then said to Lin Weimin: "Weimin, this is Mr. Lin Chunhui from Wandao Guangfu Bookstore, and these two are his assistants."

"Mr. Lin, I've heard a lot about you! A few days ago, I was following the news that you won the Italian Strega Literature Prize. I didn't expect to meet you in person today. Many people on our island are proud of you. You are the pride of all Chinese people!" Lin Chunhui shook Lin Weimin's hand and complimented him warmly.

"Mr. Lin, you are too polite. You can't write two "Lin" characters with one stroke. Not only are we both Chinese, but we were also one family five hundred years ago!" Lin Weimin responded with a laugh.

After some greetings, Lin Chunhui explained his purpose to Lin Weimin without asking Cheng Zaochun to speak.

"Last month, I had dinner with Mr. Guo from Xindi Literature, and he told me that your company is planning to publish a book that aims to reflect the essence of literature from all over the world.

Guowen Press is truly worthy of being a top-notch publishing house in China. Every move they make is big-ticket. Even I, who has been in the industry for many years, can't help but be envious.

I came to Yenching this time just to communicate with your publishing house and see if this set of "World Literature Masterpieces Collection" can be introduced to our Taiwan Island."

The "Boss Guo" Lin Chunhui mentioned refers to Guo Feng. Both of them run publishing houses, so it is reasonable for them to communicate information with each other.

The last time Guo Feng accompanied Xu Feng to talk to Lin Weimin about "Farewell My Concubine", it happened that Lin Weimin was busy with the preparations for the "World Literature Classics Library" at that time, and he mentioned this topic many times during the conversation.

Guo Feng is a shrewd businessman. He is well aware of the huge investment of the World Literature Classics Collection, but he is also aware that the profit from such a large investment is far less than that from producing a few more best-selling books.

Even though I knew the news, I didn't care much about it.

Lin Chunhui, a traditional publisher, immediately showed great interest when he heard about the series of World Literature Classics.

Guo Feng was also happy to do a favor and help connect the dots.

After talking about the whole story, Lin Weimin laughed happily.

This is a financial sponsor who has come to our doorstep, we can’t let him get away.

"Boss Lin, your approval proves that we are right in launching this project. To be honest, after nearly half a year of editing and reviewing, the French Literature Volume and the Chinese Literature Volume of the World Literature Masterpieces Collection will be printed within the next two months."

Lin Chunhui was overjoyed when he heard this, "This is really great!"

He winked at the assistant next to him, and the assistant put the black briefcase he had been holding on the coffee table without hesitation and gently opened the briefcase.

Several stacks of green rice knives lay quietly in the suitcase. Cheng Zaochun's eyes suddenly widened, and even Lin Weimin was a little surprised.

You're using a rice knife to hit people, right?

I like!

"Here is 80,000 US dollars, which is my deposit. In the future, I will pay another 80,000 US dollars in two installments, a total of 160,000 US dollars, to buy out your company's exclusive publishing rights to the World Literature Masterpieces Collection in Taiwan. What do you think, President Cheng and Editor-in-Chief Lin?"

Old Cheng had been used to a hard life, and when he suddenly saw the half box of rice neatly lying there, his heart almost skipped a beat.

The collection has not even been published yet, but a Taiwanese publisher has already spent such a high price to import it. This is export earnings!

Guowenshe is really going to launch a big satellite!

160,000 rice dollars, according to this year's rice-to-RMB exchange rate of 1:8.7, this is nearly 1.4 million.

The key point is that this is just the introduction cost. Doesn’t it mean that publishers in Taiwan are making money?

Cheng Zaochun's head was full of random thoughts, and he didn't even bother to answer Lin Chunhui's question.

Seeing that he had no reaction, Lin Weimin calmly said, "Boss Lin is so kind, our Guowen Society naturally welcomes it. It is also an honor for our Guowen Society to cooperate with Guangfu Bookstore."

Cheng Zaochun only reacted at this time, and quickly threw aside the messy thoughts in his mind, with a worthless smile on his face.

"Boss Lin is an extraordinary person with excellent taste. Our World Literature Collection is a first in the Chinese publishing industry. I think it will become a popular book among readers on the island after it is introduced to Taiwan."

"Haha! Thank you for the good words, President Cheng." Lin Chunhui said generously.

"For the people's sake, quickly have someone book a restaurant. I'll host you tonight and invite Boss Lin to taste our Yanjing specialties."

Lin Weimin looked at Cheng Zaochun in surprise, what a stingy person!

But it's normal to think about it. Lin Chunhui gave more than 100,000 rice knives as soon as he arrived. Even with Lao Cheng's miserly personality, he had to spend some money.

(End of this chapter)