Chapter 267: Bold Collector
The novel "Lover" is special in Lin Weimin's works both in terms of content and encounters.
The downside of having the name of Guowenshe is that we can't let ourselves go as freely as other literary magazines.
For example, when Da Jia published Mo Yan's Feng*Fei*, the title alone was accused of being too vulgar, and then there was an overwhelming criticism from public opinion, which even escalated to personal attacks and political attacks on Mo Yan.
As a result, "Da Jia" turned around and awarded the literature award of that year to Mo Yan. Not only was there an award, but there was also a prize money, which was not much, only 100,000 yuan.
One hundred thousand yuan in the 1990s would be worth several million 20 years later.
Don’t you want to curse?
Keep scolding!
If I bow my head, I lose.
It was not until several years later, at the beginning of the millennium, that Mo Yan's novel, whose title and content were extremely controversial, gained widespread recognition.
"Leader, how do you calculate the royalties?"
Meng Weizai glared at Lin Weimin unhappily, "I really can't forget your royalties!"
"So what? I make a living from this thing!" Lin Weimin muttered.
"5 points per word."
Lin Weimin rolled his eyes and said, "Leader, according to the market conditions in Hong Kong, isn't this price a bit low?"
"You also know the market situation in Hong Kong?" Meng Weizai asked in surprise.
"I don't know." Lin Weimin simply shook his head.
Meng Weizai was so angry that he laughed, "You really rely on Meng?"
"Just tell me, right?"
From Meng Weizai's introduction to the founding background of "Banfang" just now, Lin Weimin roughly knew that this publication probably did not have much money.
Moreover, Hong Kong has basically been a literary desert in later generations. It was only because some old-school literati wandered around Hong Kong in the first half of this century that Hong Kong has had some literary atmosphere in the past few decades.
However, this literary atmosphere quickly dissipated after entering the 1990s.
The 1980s should be considered the last glorious period of Hong Kong literature.
Meng Weizai couldn't lie, "It's indeed a little low!"
"But it's higher than what you have now, right?"
The "now" that Meng Weizai referred to is the royalties Lin Weimin received for publishing his works in the mainland.
"Leader, you can't make such a comparison. Hong Kong is capitalism. Isn't it reasonable for me to get more royalties? This is also to earn foreign exchange for the country and to contribute to the construction of our great motherland!"
"Go away! You have a lot of nonsense to say!" Meng Weizai began to blast Lin Weimin impatiently.
For a leader, being able to change one's attitude at any time is a basic skill.
Anyway, the manuscript issue has been discussed, so there is no need to worry about Lin Weimin jumping again.
Lin Weimin left with a smile (ma) and a smile (lie).
The next weekend, Lin Weimin made an appointment with Ma Dudu and went to a foreign trade store to buy some goods, spending more than 10,000 yuan.
After a busy day, Lin Weimin invited Ma Dudu to dinner. Compared with the lavish lunch in the morning, the lunch was much simpler. Teacher Lin invited Ma Dudu to dinner at Fengzeyuan, also an old restaurant in Yanjing.
Last time, by publishing Lin Weimin's "Chasing the Murderer", Ma Dudu gave face to the editor-in-chief of "Youth Literature" and is now doing very well in the editorial department.
When Lin Weimin called him out this time, he was so happy that he ran and jumped.
If for no other reason than to receive Teacher Lin's help in his career, Ma Dudu would come here even if it meant crawling to him.
What's more, hanging out with Teacher Lin really broadens my horizons!
He spends tens of thousands at a time. Even the capitalists in the old society didn't buy things like this. Ma Dudu is full of respect and admiration for Lin Weimin.
He also likes to play with antiques sometimes, but he mainly does it for viewing, calling it learning, but in fact he just has no money.
Even if he had money, he would definitely not buy calligraphy and paintings. These things are too expensive.
It looks insignificant, costing only a few dollars or ten yuan per foot, but if it is really considered a painting, a small piece of work alone is equivalent to one or two months' salary for him.
Is this something he can play?
Only a wealthy man like Mr. Lin can afford it.
In the 1980s, the domestic antique collecting business was still in a downturn. In contrast, modern and contemporary calligraphy and painting, compared with the income of ordinary people, had always remained at a high level.
"We have almost bought all the paintings. Next time we have time, let's go to the Friendship Store to buy some antiques." Lin Weimin said while eating.
Ma Dudu was overjoyed, Teacher Lin, you finally remembered this thing.
Ma Dudu is not very good at appreciating calligraphy and painting, but is more familiar with antiques such as ceramics, jade, and miscellaneous items.
Lin Weimin plans to collect these things, and his professional knowledge can finally come in handy.
Moreover, these days, all the things sold in foreign trade stores and trust stores are authenticated and 100% authentic. For Ma Dudu, following Lin Weimin to buy things can be considered a kind of learning experience.
After all, he was only in his twenties and not the great collector that later generations would become.
Ma Dudu almost drooled as he imagined the scene of Teacher Lin walking into the Friendship Store and spending a lot of money. Those were all good stuff!
He also gave Lin Weimin's collecting style a name - "Bold and Unrestrained Collector".
It is probably in the same vein as the "Haofang School of Poets".
What stands out is a ditch.
While chatting, Lin Weimin heard the people at the next table discussing the Maxim Western Restaurant which was about to open this month.
Pierre Cardin, the French guy who held a fashion show at the Yanjing Hotel two years ago, is doing something weird again recently.
In 1981, he bought the Maxim's restaurant in Paris, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, for $1.5 million.
Suddenly, he made a bold move and moved the Maxim's Western Restaurant to Yanjing.
Actually, it’s not really moving, it’s more like opening a branch.
Located at No. 2 Chongwenmen West Street, the most prime location in the prime location of Yanjing City, Maxim's Western Restaurant will officially open to the public on the 26th of this month. Its recent advertisements have made it well-known to all Yanjing residents, young and old.
"Old Mo can't be so arrogant this time!" said one person.
"Lao Mo is nothing! To put it nicely, it's Western food, to put it bluntly, it's Russian food, even the new immigrants are the same, Maxim's is a serious French restaurant!"
The other person's words were full of contempt for Lao Mo and admiration for Maxim's. If you didn't know, you would think Maxim's was opened by their family.
Lin Weimin thought that when his girlfriend came to Yanjing, he could take her out for a meal.
It’s been half a year since we last met. Teacher Lin, how hard it has been!
Two days later, Tong Zhonggui came to the office to help in the afternoon, and Lin Weimin handed him a receipt for royalties.
"Teacher Lin, this..."
"Manuscript fee receipt!"
“So soon?”
Lin Weimin said with a smile: "How can you not get some benefits when working in the editorial department?"
Tong Zhonggui knew that this must have been the help of Teacher Lin. He took the manuscript fee and said happily: "Thank you, Teacher Lin!"
"What are you thanking me for? This is all earned through your hard work!"
This was not the first payment for royalties Tong Zhonggui had received in his life, but it was the largest amount he had ever received.
30 yuan.
"Memories of the Mulberry Garden" is a short story with a total of less than 5,000 words. The basic salary for new writers is 6 yuan per thousand words.
But for Tong Zhonggui, who is still a student, this amount of money is not a small sum.
The two poems he had previously published in "Feitian" and "Xingxing" together earned less than 30 yuan!
Tong Zhonggui was very excited when he received the royalties, not only because of the money, but also because he saw some possibilities in himself, the kind of possibilities that could determine his future.
This excitement lasted the entire afternoon. Before the end of get off work, Lin Weimin greeted Tong Zhonggui and said that there was nothing to do today and asked him to leave first.
Tong Zhonggui packed up his things, politely greeted the teachers in the editorial department before leaving the office.
After leaving the back building, the sun was shining brightly outside. It was only four o'clock this time, so I could take out the royalties before the post office closed.
Thinking of this, Tong Zhonggui became excited again. He trotted out of the Guowen Society compound. There was a post office not far from No. 166 Chaonei Street.
When Tong Zhonggui came out of the post office, there were three more big unity banknotes in his bag.
After withdrawing the money, the first thing that came to his mind was to buy books.
I took the bus to the China Bookstore in Xidan Shopping Mall. As soon as I entered the door, I could see a pile of books stacked in the middle and I could pick any one I wanted.
A whole year's worth of "Reading" magazine, a whole year's worth of "Foreign Literature and Art", and a whole year's worth of "World Literature" magazines are all discounted books and periodicals. The cheapest copy of "Reading" is only a little over ten cents, which is like picking it up for free.
Tong Zhonggui picked out a thick stack of "World Literature". The original price of each book was 70 cents, and the special price was 35 cents, so the whole stack cost just over four dollars.
He picked up a few books from the bookshelf inside, including four volumes of "Selected Works of Foreign Modernist" published by Shanghai Translation Publishing House, "In Exile" and "A Rose for Emily" published by Huacheng Publishing House, and "A Gun Sold" published by Masses Publishing House.
After a large purchase, one of the three great unity notes was missing before they were even warm in their pockets, but Tong Zhonggui didn't care at all.
There were too many books to fit in the package, so on the No. 22 bus back to school, he held a stack of books in both hands, leaned against the railing, and leaned back slightly to prevent himself from falling.
It’s okay if you fall, just don’t damage the book.
Gangwashi, Xisi, Pinganli, Huguo Temple, Xinjiekou...
When they arrived at Huokou, there were still two stops to Yanshi University, so Tong Zhonggui got off the bus in advance.
There is a Hefeng steamed bun shop here. Because it is very close to Yanshi University and it is the only restaurant around that is open all night, it is very popular among the teachers and students of Yanshi University.
Hefeng is called Baozi Shop, which mainly sells buns, but also provides cold dishes and beer.
Tong Zhonggui ordered a pound of meat buns, a pound of vegetable buns, two servings of cold dishes, and four liters of beer. The beer here is in bulk, at 56 cents a liter. Buying all these things cost Tong Zhonggui four dollars and eighty cents, and two pounds of food coupons.
Carrying things out and holding books in his hands, Tong Zhonggui walked all the way back to the school not far from Yanshi University.
The Normal University was located in Beitaipingzhuang, which is now the urban-rural fringe area of Yanjing.
The most common thing at the entrance is the bus stop on the roadside, with a red and yellow iron sign and a row of iron railings. This is a transfer station for many buses.
It is common to see rows of passengers waiting here with different expressions, some silent, some active. Tong Zhonggui has always felt that this kind of scene is very literary, and if he has the chance he plans to write this scene into his novel.
As I walked into the school, I saw a few students passing by me from time to time. When I saw them holding a thick stack of books in their hands and having enough energy to carry a pile of food, their eyes were full of envy.
If you need material food, you have material food; if you need spiritual food, you have spiritual food.
Tong Zhonggui walked on the campus with an upright posture. Although his hands were sore from fatigue, he did not feel tired at all.
Tonight, he is going to drink and chat with his good brothers in the dormitory and talk about their literary dreams.
By the way, the most important thing is to tell them about Teacher Lin’s latest masterpiece, which he secretly saw when he was slacking off in the office these two days.
Exclusive secrets, very exciting!
Tong Zhonggui's heart was burning with passion.
(End of this chapter)
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