Chapter 231 Are you the only one who wants to play Cheng Dieyi?
Every hot topic will eventually die down. The discussion and sensation sparked by the first issue of Contemporary in 1983 and Lin Weimin's article "Our Literary Creation Needs a Hundred Flowers to Bloom" gradually subsided after the initial excitement, but the impact and effect they brought were lasting.
It took two months for the sales of the first issue to exceed 1.8 million copies, and this number is still increasing at a steady pace. It is estimated that it is only a matter of time before it exceeds 2 million copies.
Zhu Changsheng from the editorial department was bored on the weekend, so he squatted beside a newsstand out of curiosity, wanting to see how many copies of "Contemporary" could be sold in a day.
He squatted for a day and got a number, 14 books.
There are nearly a hundred newsstands like this in Yanjing City, which means that the newsstands in Yanjing City alone can sell one or two thousand copies of "Contemporary" every day, not to mention places like bookstores and post offices.
Zhu Changsheng knew that as the capital, Yanjing’s cultural audience must be larger than other places, but even so, it was terrifying. It was just a city.
Zhu Changsheng also observed a phenomenon, that is, most of the people who bought magazines were young people. When it was almost evening, Zhu Changsheng saw a boy bought several copies of "Contemporary".
He chased after him out of curiosity, "Comrade, why did you buy so many copies of Contemporary Magazine?"
The boy asked cautiously: "What do you do?"
Zhu Changsheng smiled, took out his work ID and introduced himself.
The boy's attitude suddenly changed 180 degrees, and he enthusiastically explained: "I prepared this book for the reading corner."
"Oh, so you're helping with class shopping."
The boy said: "I'm not doing any shopping for the class. I bought some magazines and donated them to the class's reading corner."
The price of "Contemporary" is not cheap, only one dollar.
The young man asked for donation as soon as he opened his mouth. What kind of family is he?
After a detailed chat, Zhu Changsheng found out that the young man's name was Zhang Jianjun. He had always liked Lin Weimin's novels. In fact, he had already bought and read this issue of "Contemporary".
He has just entered college and the school term has recently started. He bought these copies of "Contemporary" purely to support Lin Weimin. He plans to donate these copies of "Contemporary" to the reading corners of several classes in their department so that everyone can read "Contemporary".
After Zhu Changsheng understood the inside story, he didn't know how to evaluate Zhang Jianjun's behavior for a moment. He could only smile and praise him: "Classmate, you are really thoughtful!"
Zhang Jianjun said: "It's all to support Contemporary and Teacher Lin. The students in our reading club all agree with the article Teacher Lin wrote in the Literary Gazette. Literature should not have so many rules and regulations. Literary creation in the new era should look like the new era. If you stick to your own broken rules all day long, you will be swept into the garbage dump of history sooner or later. It's just that bunch of old... pedants who still have the nerve to criticize Teacher Lin. Teacher Lin's contribution to the literary world is much greater than theirs..."
Zhu Changsheng finally understood that Zhang Jianjun was really an avid reader of Lin Weimin. He talked about Lin Weimin every other sentence. He was obviously very dissatisfied with the criticism of Lin Weimin in the recent discussion.
"Students, students, don't get excited. Most people still support Teacher Lin."
Zhang Jianjun nodded, "That's right! What a great thing has Teacher Lin done for the literary world? You may not know that many of my classmates were literature enthusiasts before, but when they submitted their works for publication, they were criticized for problems with style, values, and narrative structure. Many of them became discouraged and stopped writing.
If those editors had just a little bit of Lin's patience, responsibility, openness and dedication, it would be fine. Now our classmates have been encouraged by Lin, and some of them have picked up their pens again. We have all agreed that we will submit our manuscripts to Contemporary Journal in the future."
Zhu Changsheng listened to Zhang Jianjun's chatter and thought to himself, is it possible that you guys wrote too badly?
He definitely wouldn't dare to ask this out loud. Young people are full of energy!
When he heard Zhang Jianjun say that they should submit their manuscripts to "Contemporary", he couldn't help but feel his scalp tingling. No wonder the number of submissions has been skyrocketing recently.
It’s all because of the popularity of the first issue and Lin Weimin’s bad mouth. It’s not that Zhu Changsheng is not dedicated to his job, but the workload of the editorial department is increasing day by day, and everyone is almost busy to death.
Of course, Zhu Changsheng only dared to complain in his heart.
The increase in the number of submissions is a sign that the publication is thriving and developing rapidly. We cannot wait to be happy. This is politically correct and we must remain firm and unwavering!
After getting the information he wanted, Zhu Changsheng said hello to Zhang Jianjun and left, his movements were experienced, like a regular customer.
But Zhang Jianjun pulled him back, "Um, Mr. Zhu..."
"Anything else?"
"It's fate that I met you today. Could you please tell Teacher Lin that I want to invite her to give a speech at our school?"
"this……"
Zhu Changsheng hesitated for a moment and asked, "I think it might be more effective if you take the initiative to invite them."
Zhang Jianjun was a little unsure, "Can it work? I'm afraid Teacher Lin is too busy with work."
Zhu Changsheng said: "Of course he is busy serving the people. He basically ignores those seminars, symposiums, writing meetings and interviews. But you college students are different. You can find a few more classmates to go to our club..."
Zhu Changsheng whispered something in Zhang Jianjun's ear for a long time, and Zhang Jianjun's eyes lit up.
I got lucky today and asked the right person!
"Thank you so much, Teacher Zhu!"
Zhu Changsheng patted Zhang Jianjun on the shoulder and said, "You're welcome. Weimin will be very happy to be liked by young people like you."
"Um!"
It's Saturday afternoon again. Usually at this time, the editorial department of Contemporary Magazine should be idle and slacking off.
But now it’s different. Everyone is still working hard. Thousands of manuscripts are submitted from all over the country every day, and the preliminary review alone is enough to make everyone’s scalp tingle.
Liu Yin sighed as he looked at the manuscript, glancing at Lin Weimin from time to time in silent protest.
If she had known this would be the case, she would have stopped Lin Weimin from writing that article for the Literary Gazette even if she had been beaten to death. But now, from the first issue being published to the start of the big discussion, the number of submissions has been increasing day by day, and there is still no sign of slowing down or decreasing. This trend is despairing.
Everyone is dedicated to their work, but the intensity of the work is really suffocating.
Perhaps sensing the depressing atmosphere in the office, Lin Weimin stood up and raised his head, "Oh, it's almost five o'clock."
Everyone looked at him. It was different when you were a leader. Everyone would find something to talk about.
"Look at the looks in your eyes. Work is about busy times and leisure times.
Tomorrow is the weekend, and I happen to have a few tickets for the People's Art Theatre. Let's go there with our families to relax."
Lin Weimin distributed the tickets to everyone, and the atmosphere in the office became relaxed. Yao Shuzhi said quietly, "Finally you have some conscience."
"You're still talking so much nonsense after taking the ticket. Do you want it? Don't give it to me!"
Yao Shuzhi quickly put the drama ticket into her pocket and said, "You want to get something back after giving it away? I wonder if this ticket is going to be put into the editorial department's account?"
Lin Weimin said helplessly: "I have written so many plays for the National Theatre of China, and I still have to spend money on a few tickets? These are all benefits given by others. The National Theatre of China will also be performing "The Horse Catcher" next month!"
"So fast? Your novel hasn't been published for a few months?" everyone asked in surprise.
Lin Weimin said: "The script has been slightly modified and the rehearsal progress is fast. I gave it to the People's Art Theater before the manuscript was published and asked them to work on the script first."
"No wonder!"
"Okay, let's pack up and get ready to get off work, and relax in the evening." Rong Shihui got up and packed his things.
After the first person moved, everyone realized that it was almost time and prepared to go off work.
At this moment, there was a sudden knock on the office door.
A mature face that did not match his age and a hoarse voice appeared in the editorial office again.
"Hey, all the teachers are here, what are you busy with?"
Jiang Wen walked in and bowed and nodded to everyone in the office in a familiar manner.
Everyone thought he looked familiar, but they couldn't remember who he was. Lin Weimin asked, "What's up? Have you finished rehearsing Farewell My Concubine?"
When Jiang Wen saw that Lin Weimin still remembered him, his face was full of smiles.
"Thank you, Mr. Lin, for your concern. I have just arranged it. I would like to invite you to come to our school to help guide us this weekend."
Everyone followed his words and finally recalled that more than half a year ago, he went to the editorial department and insisted on playing the role of Cheng Dieyi's student from the drama academy.
Everyone couldn't help but smile with relief. At that time, Lin Weimin was pestered by him so much that he authorized them to stage a play of "Farewell My Concubine" by themselves and let him act it however he wanted.
I didn't expect this guy to actually do this.
Everyone didn't know whether to say that he had no self-awareness, or to praise him for his artistic pursuits, which were really persistent.
"I think your efficiency is not high!" Lin Weimin said to Jiang Wen casually.
Jiang Wen was a man who always took advantage of others. Seeing that Lin Weimin was friendly and easy-going, he became even more presumptuous.
"Don't mention it. We are in school, we have to attend classes and hand in homework every day. We have to rehearse your play in the evenings and weekends. It's considered fast to rehearse it now."
Jiang Wen complained about his hardships.
"So I should thank you?" Lin Weimin asked with a smile.
"How can that be? I have to thank you. I came here specially to invite you today. Teacher Lin, if you have nothing to do on the weekend, please come and visit me?" Jiang Wen asked with a grin.
Lin Weimin had nothing to do over the weekend as his girlfriend had already gone to Changchun for a performance.
"Okay, I really want to see how your Cheng Dieyi plays."
Jiang Wen achieved his goal, and his face was full of wrinkles from smiling. It really made people wonder whether he had falsified his age when he took the entrance exam.
After discussing this matter, he saw that the editorial office was about to close, so he tactfully prepared to leave. However, when he reached the door, he was blocked by a burly figure.
"You're the only one who wants to play Cheng Dieyi?"
(End of this chapter)
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