Chapter 772 I'll Write a Novel

The later movie "If You Are the One" didn't win any major awards, but it did do well at the box office. 46 million was already rare in 1997 when it was released.

Now it has become Lin Weimin's novel and is about to be adapted by Zhang Yimou. The biggest difference between it and later versions lies in its readership base and popularity.

This novel has been published for more than ten years, and its sales have always been at the bottom among Lin Weimin's works. But even so, it has still sold nearly 3 million copies, far surpassing most so-called bestsellers.

In terms of popularity, this novel is also at the bottom among Lin Weimin's works, but with the name "Lin Weimin" attached to it, it is like hanging up a golden signboard, and naturally countless readers and viewers' attention is focused here.

With media reports, the news that Zhang Yimou was adapting "If You Are the One" spread more and more widely and became widely known in the country.

In June, the crew of "Season of Flowers and Rain" went to Shenzhen for filming.

Hai Yan gave full play to his subjective initiative and came up with a clever publicity trick. He cooperated with the romance literature magazine "Red Bean" under Tongwen Publishing House and planned to release a leading actor of "Season of Flowers and Rain" every month to attract public attention.

"Red Bean" has been published for more than two years, and its sales have gradually increased. Today, its sales are on par with "Kyushu Heroes", with an average monthly sales of more than 4 million copies.

The sales volume of "Nine Provinces Heroes" has been stuck at 4 million copies for more than two years, and has not made any progress so far, which proves that the audience market for martial arts literature is so large.

But the situation of "Red Bean" is slightly different. For more than two years, the sales of this publication have maintained a continuous and stable growth trend and have not stopped until now. According to the current momentum, it is very likely to dethrone "Story Club" from the throne of the sales king of popular literature magazines.

Lin Weimin positioned the TV series "Flower Season and Rainy Season" as the first youth idol drama in China. Haiyan firmly implemented Lin Weimin's ideas. "Red Bean" has the same attributes as "Flower Season and Rainy Season" and has a huge influence. Using it to promote the TV series is indeed a wonderful idea.

The leading actors of "Season of Flowers and Rain" are all handsome men and beautiful women selected from millions of people. As soon as they appeared on "Red Bean" magazine, they immediately attracted the fanatical pursuit of many young girls. Before the TV series was broadcast, the young actors in the TV series showed signs of becoming idols of thousands of girls.

Affected by this, the sales volume of "Red Bean" also achieved a huge leap within one period of time.

The sales of the fourth issue of "Red Bean" in April were only 4.2 million copies. When the fifth issue was released in May, which published the makeup photos, artistic photos and personal information of Huang Xiaoming, who played the male lead Zhang Chao, the sales suddenly jumped to 4.6 million copies.

Li Xin was so happy that he immediately sent two editors to Pengcheng to prepare a series of documentary articles for "Flower Season and Rainy Season".

Lin Weimin was somewhat surprised when he heard what Li Xin did. Why did it feel like the promotional methods of "Season of Flowers and Rain" were increasingly reminiscent of those of later generations?

He also realized that his full delegation of power was gradually stimulating the creativity of his subordinates.

Lin Weimin was naturally happy to see this happen.

In addition to the rapid increase in sales of "Red Bean", "Painter", which serializes the comic of the same name "Flower Season and Rainy Season", also saw a huge increase this month.

On June 5, the third issue of "The King of Painting" was released. In less than half a month, it achieved sales of 2 million copies and is still striving to reach new sales peaks.

From March to June, in just three months, although Guowen Press's full copyright operation plan was only born a short time ago, it has slowly shown its potential.

It’s only a few days until the end of the month, and the weather in Yanjing is gradually getting warmer.

After several months of creation, Lin Weimin's new novel is finally completed.

Compared with the previous efficiency, this time is indeed a lot slower, but after all, I am middle-aged and it is already very difficult to complete the work with quality and quantity, so I can no longer ask for more time.

Recently, He Qizhi has been hanging around Lin Weimin whenever he has time. He can be seen in the morning when he goes to work and in the evening when he gets off work. He is like a ghost that can't be left.

He didn't mention the novel in a single sentence, but every expression and every action was declaring to Lin Weimin: Finish the manuscript soon!

Even as the editor-in-chief, Lin Weimin still cannot escape the fate of being urged to submit manuscripts. The thought of this makes him feel depressed.

That morning, he called He Qizhi, and Comrade He came running over after answering the call.

Lin Weimin had long stopped worrying about the affairs of Contemporary Magazine. There was no other reason to contact him except for the new works. How could Comrade He not be happy?

When He Qizhi arrived at Lin Weimin's office, his face was full of anticipation.

Lin Weimin didn't waste any time, handed him the manuscript, and then kicked him out.

He Qizhi held the freshly-written manuscript in his hands as if he had found a treasure. He couldn't wait to lock himself in the office and read it carefully.

Two days later, He Qizhi finished reading Lin Weimin's new novel and felt deeply conflicted.

To be honest, is the novel well written?

That’s great!

Amidst laughter, anger and scolding, the film vividly displays the political intrigues, the ugliness and greed of human nature, and the social Darwinism of American society, and is full of black humor and bitter irony.

Apart from Lin Weimin, no other writer in China can write a novel like this.

This is not only a matter of writing style and ideas, but also lies in Lin Weimin's profound and incisive understanding of American society.

He Qizhi even felt that such a novel was more realistic than the American society presented in most American works, and that this novel was at least as good as many classic American literary works he had read.

But……

He Qizhi looked at the specially enlarged book title on the first page of the manuscript and felt melancholy.

God Bless America.

This is the name of Lin Weimin’s new novel. It is simple and unpretentious. Anyone who reads it will have to say that the title fits the story very well.

In the public opinion environment of this era, the United States is the representative of democracy and freedom, and its political clarity is so clear that countries around the world need to learn from it.

But in the novel "God Bless America", Lin Weimin thoroughly exposes the presidential election, party struggles, conspiracies and intrigues...all kinds of operations at the American political level.

In order to rise to a high position, they can wantonly frame competitors and other countries, create plagues, and start wars...

One of the scenes in the novel that impressed He Qizhi the most was a passage describing how a US representative held up a bottle of laundry detergent at a UN meeting and lied in front of countries around the world that it was a biological weapon, slandering the enemy country and launching an aggressive war.

After reading this text, He Qizhi felt that his three views were almost overturned.

Is this still the democratic country and beacon of freedom?

This is even more brutal than the Japanese and the Nazis!

There are many plots like this in the novel "God Bless America". He Qizhi believes that even Americans may be shocked after reading it.

Although He Qizhi didn't know much about the American political circles, he knew that the novel must contain fictional and exaggerated elements. But even if only one tenth of the content in the novel was true, it was horrifying enough.

If a novel like this were published in the United States, it would probably be banned, right?

Even in China, it may be difficult to publish, after all, it involves WJ.

Nothing is trivial in WJ!

He Qizhi felt a headache because the editor-in-chief's creative works were becoming more and more outrageous!

Compared with the editor-in-chief's masterpiece, Mo Yan's "Fat*" is nothing.

He is also a veteran athlete. In China, if you don't understand politics, you absolutely cannot engage in literature.

He Qizhi stroked the manuscript, feeling extremely conflicted.

After thinking for a long time, he finally sighed, picked up the novel and ran to the front building.

When Lin Weimin saw He Qizhi, he smiled and asked, "Have you finished reading the novel?"

He Qizhi looked worried, "I've finished reading it."

Looking at the smirk on Lin Weimin's face, he remembered the subtle expression on the other's face when he asked Lin Weimin for the manuscript.

"You did it on purpose." He Qizhi said hatefully.

"Look at what you're saying. I didn't force you to give it to me. You asked for the manuscript on your own initiative. Can you blame me?"

He Qizhi was upset that such a good novel could not be published. How could he not be angry?

"What are you going to do with this novel?"

"Just take it to the United States for publication. It's already been published abroad, so why shouldn't China let it be published?"

Teacher Lin vividly illustrates what it means to defeat ten skills with one force. I have published it in the United States, so how can I not let it be published in China?

"Can this novel be published in the United States?" He Qizhi looked a little surprised.

Lin Weimin smiled mysteriously, "You still don't understand the social ecology of the United States. In the United States, scolding officials has never been a problem."

"It seems that the United States is indeed democratic!" He Qizhi exclaimed.

Lin Weimin shook his head. "It's okay to curse the president, but why don't you try cursing a veteran or a Jew? The national conditions are different."

He Qizhi understood what Lin Weimin meant, and without saying anything else, he asked Lin Weimin, "Do you want to show this novel to Lao Cheng first?"

"This matter is not his responsibility, why should I show it to him? Besides, I don't publish in the country."

"Just to say hello! Don't let anything happen after the book is published in the U.S., or else the higher-ups will come after him and catch him off guard."

He Qizhi's words of advice were mature and prudent. Lin Weimin thought about it and said, "Okay, then tell him."

After He Qizhi left, Lin Weimin went to Cheng Zaochun's office and briefly told him the content of "God Bless America". The more Cheng Zaochun listened, the more serious his expression became. Finally, he stretched out his hand to Lin Weimin and asked, "Where is the manuscript?"

"What? I just informed you, you still want to review my manuscript?"

"Is it okay for me to take a look?"

“You’re the editor-in-chief, and I’m the chief editor?”

"At least I was once the editor-in-chief!"

Cheng Zaochun insisted, and Lin Weimin had no choice but to hand the manuscript to him. Before leaving, he added: "Don't worry, I will take this book to the United States to publish first."

After he left, Cheng Zaochun picked up the manuscript and started reading.

As I read on, sweat broke out on my face. This brat dares to write anything!

After spending two days to finish reading the novel, he took Lin Weimin to visit the Publishing House.

"I say, is it necessary for you to do this? It's just a novel. And you handed it over to the office!" Lin Weimin complained.

"No matter how trivial a matter is, even if you want to publish in the United States, you have to consider the impact."

"What if they don't allow me to publish in the United States?"

Cheng Zaochun sneered, "What did I say? You yourself are worried that you won't be able to publish in the United States."

"Don't misunderstand me. I mean that the higher-ups are concerned about the impact and won't let me publish in the United States."

"In your mind, are the higher-ups so afraid of trouble?"

Lin Weimin curled his lips and said nothing.

A few days later, the office had not finished reviewing the manuscript, so Lin Weimin called to urge them to do so.

As a result, I was told that the manuscript had already been submitted to the Ministry of Rites.

Lin Weimin was speechless. As for what happened, he had no choice but to call the leader of the Ministry of Rites again.

"Leader, please read my novel..."

The phone call lasted for three minutes, and when he hung up, Lin Weimin's face turned black.

His novel stayed at the Ministry of Rites for a few days and then went to the Ministry of Culture. The reason given by the leaders of the Ministry of Rites was that the novel was related to the culture of the two countries and had to be reviewed by the leaders of the Ministry of Culture.

He was familiar with the leaders of the Ministry of Rites, but he had no say in the Ministry of WJ, mainly because their leaders were of high rank, so he had to wait patiently.

I'm just writing a novel, what's the big deal?

(End of this chapter)