Chapter 319 The Bad Editorial Department
The Naoki Prize that Lin Weimin did not receive was received by Shinchosha on his behalf. The trophy was not mailed until September, and there was also a prize of 1.2 million yen, which was better than nothing.
However, Shinchosha did propose to reprint "Farewell My Concubine". The influence of the Naoki Prize is by no means as small as Lin Weimin thought. On the contrary, it is quite large in Japan.
Previously, as a foreign translation, "Farewell My Concubine" had little publicity. It was printed twice with a total of 110,000 copies. There are still 20,000 to 30,000 copies in stock. Relying on word of mouth, less than 100,000 copies were sold, and sales in China have peaked.
But after the Naoki Prize awarding ceremony, the old tree has blossomed again in spring, and "Farewell My Concubine" has once again been placed on the hot-selling position in major bookstores in the country.
In just over ten days, inventory had hit bottom.
This time, Shinchosha was very bold in reprinting a quantity of 100,000 copies, which was indeed a bit blindly confident in the publicity effect of the Naoki Prize. However, Mr. Lin did not mind collecting more royalties.
The royalty share was raised to 12%, so the total royalty fee was 42,000 US dollars.
From this perspective, Lao Mi still makes more money!
Lin Weimin admired the style of the old Mi Tu tycoon in his heart, and did not forget to deal with the call from Xinchao Society.
"Other works?"
Shinchosha proposed on the phone that they wanted to publish other works of Lin Weimin. They did not mention it before he won the award, but now they are rushing to talk about it. I guess it is because they saw that the effect of winning the Naoki Prize was too significant.
"Okay, then send someone over here and pick the right one."
Teacher Lin warmly welcomed the money being delivered to his doorstep.
After hanging up the phone, Yan Wenjing couldn't help but sigh: "It's going to be published again!"
"Yes, the award has raised his profile, and the publishing house is very happy to see him."
Yan Wenjing nodded, "That's right!"
Coming out of the front building, Lin Weimin returned to the editorial office. When he pushed the door open, he felt a lazy and decadent atmosphere.
After rubbing their eyes, these people were still reading the manuscript, but observing it carefully.
Yao Shuzhi was picking melon seeds while reading the manuscript, and Zhu Changsheng was reviewing it with his chin on his hand.
Old He was the most serious, but there was a copy of "Zhongshan" on the table, which had obviously been put down just a while ago.
The most outrageous one was Liu Yin, who was knitting a sweater and turning the page from time to time.
Lin Weimin thought about it and didn't go into the house. Instead, he ran to Lao Tan's office. The old man was watering the flowers and was forcibly dragged to Meng Weizai's office by Lin Weimin.
"We can't go on like this!" Lin Weimin looked worried.
Lao Tan looked puzzled, "What's wrong?"
"The fifth issue has just been published, and the manuscripts for the sixth special issue have been compiled. Everyone is a little depressed when they see that the task for this year has been completed. If you go to the office, you will see that the weapons are almost put into storage and the horses are put to rest!"
When Lin Weimin said this, his eyes were fixed on Comrade Lao Qin. He suspected that his comrades were led astray by this old man. The pots of flowers in his office had been blooming beautifully recently, and it was obvious that he had put a lot of thought into it.
Comrade Lao Tan avoided Lin Weimin's gaze and said, "There's nothing we can do about it. The number of manuscripts that can be published is limited!"
Lao Meng also nodded and said, "Indeed."
"Two leaders, why don't we apply to the publishing house and revise the version?" Lin Weimin suggested.
Lao Meng and Lao Tan looked at each other and their hearts skipped a beat. "Revision? What content should be revised?"
"I think the bimonthly publication is obviously unable to meet the volume of manuscripts. Can we change it to a monthly publication?"
After hearing this, Meng Weizai and Qin Chaoyang couldn't help but twitch their faces.
Change the monthly magazine? Are you trying to tire us two old men to death?
It’s understandable that you young people want to make progress, but you can’t make things difficult for the old comrades like this!
After exchanging glances and understanding each other, Lao Tan said, "Weimin, I fully understand your feelings, but have you ever considered the feelings of your comrades?"
"Don't think that everyone is free now, but it's only a month or two. If you change the bimonthly to a monthly, the workload of the editorial department will double! How busy will everyone be?"
After he finished speaking, Comrade Lao Meng also spoke up: "The most important thing is that readers are already accustomed to the rhythm of bimonthly publication. If you rashly change to monthly publication, people may not be able to accept it."
Lao Tan continued, "The printing factory is also a problem. The company's annual workload is pretty much the same, but now that it's suddenly changed, the printing factory has so many extra tasks, and they're going to have complaints."
Lao Meng said, "What about the manuscripts? Even though we have a lot of manuscripts now, monthly and bimonthly are different after all. How can you guarantee that the quality and quantity of the manuscripts will meet the needs of the revised monthly? What if we can't meet the needs?"
Lin Weimin looked at the two old...comrades and nodded, "What the two leaders said makes sense. I was indeed not thoughtful enough about the revision..."
Meng Weizai and Qin Chaoyang both breathed a sigh of relief, finally they had managed to calm this kid down.
"but……"
Meng and Qin's hearts trembled again, and they heard Lin Weimin say, "But the amount of manuscripts received is indeed a bit too much now, we have to think of a way!"
"Yes, yes, it's indeed a bit too much. Weimin, do you have any good ideas?" Lao Meng took the initiative to ask.
As long as you don’t revise the edition and upgrade it to a monthly magazine, everything can be negotiated!
This is Meng Weizai’s attitude.
"Our book series has been suspended for more than a year, right?"
Lao Meng clapped his hands and said, "Oh, look, you are so busy that you forgot something so important."
Old Tan also said, "That's right! This series of books is one of the lifeblood of our Contemporary. This shouldn't happen. It really shouldn't happen."
The two said to Lin Weimin, "Let's do this. Weimin, bear with the hard work and pick up the book series work. It just so happens that everyone is quite free during this period."
"That's fine. Since the two leaders trust me so much, I promise to complete the task. Then the topic..."
"You decide. Just decide."
"That's so inappropriate."
"There's nothing inappropriate about it. You were the one who started this series of books."
"Why don't we start with a collection of selected novels from Contemporary? Not only those we have published before, but also those that were rejected but published in other publications and caused a sensation, as well as some that are of good quality but have been suppressed for too long. All of them can be put into this collection. What do you two think?"
"Good! This is a good topic. It not only helps digest the manuscripts that have been squeezed out, but also enriches the content of the series. However, some authors' works will be published in the Contemporary Series instead of Contemporary Magazine. You must communicate well with them to avoid any resentment."
Lao Meng and Lao Tan were completely in a mess, leaving Lin Weimin helpless.
However, his goal was achieved.
First they opened their mouths like a lion, and then pushed forward a step. Look, aren't Lao Meng and Lao Tan grateful?
Brother Xun is truly a god!
"knew."
After seeing Lin Weimin off, Meng and Qin looked at each other with lingering fear.
After returning to the editorial office, Lin Weimin announced the news about the book series in public, causing wailing in the office.
"Can't you give everyone a break?" Yao Shuzhi complained.
"In the old society, when we worked for the landlords, we at least had time to rest. You are treating us like animals!" Liu Yin waved her knitting needles, filled with indignation.
The male compatriots were relatively calm, but they also looked at Lin Weimin with unfriendly eyes.
Lin Weimin pressed his hands and said, "Don't make any noise, don't make any noise, just listen to what I have to say."
His shouting brought a moment of silence to the office, and Lin Weimin then said, "The manuscripts are all ready, and the workload for proofreading is relatively small. It's mainly a communication problem. Everyone has worked hard for the past two months, and the monthly bonus will be doubled."
The most critical reason why Lin Weimin first chose novels as the subject of the series is that novels are long enough, their number is relatively small, and the amount of work coordination involved is much less.
It is just right for the editorial department which has some time but not too much time.
The selection of works for novels cannot be limited to those that have been published before. If you put old wine in new bottles, readers will not feel fresh.
Only with the combination of new and old can there be expectations and surprises.
Double the monthly bonus?
This is possible.
In the office, which was filled with complaints just now, the atmosphere suddenly became peaceful after Lin Weimin announced the decision.
"Weimin, I think this series of books is well done, and we can definitely do more of it!" Liu Yin's attitude took a 180-degree turn.
The monthly bonus has doubled, which means an extra ten or eight yuan a month, which means hundreds of yuan a year. For editors who mainly rely on salaries and occasionally royalties, it is a considerable income.
Lin Weimin looked at her helplessly and said, "Sister Liu, even Sichuan Opera can't change faces as well as you do!"
Liu Yin glanced at him and said, "I can't help but praise you!"
The fifth issue in September has been completed, and the manuscript for the sixth special issue in November has also been finished. Everyone has been very free recently. We have been busy reviewing manuscripts every day. We are having a very happy life.
If it weren't for the monthly bonus, we would all resolutely resist this exploitation of the working people.
Lin Weimin divided the work among everyone in an orderly manner, and the editorial department finally returned to its former busy state.
Looking at this scene, he finally felt happy. This is what is right!
After work, Lin Weimin drove to Xi'anmen Street.
The car stopped at the gate of the courtyard where Li Guangfu was already waiting. Seeing Lin Weimin getting out of the car, he said with envy, "Teacher Lin, your car is amazing!"
“It’s just a means of transportation.”
The two exchanged a few pleasantries and entered the yard.
Compared to the first time I came here, the courtyard has been completely renewed, and it is a feast for the eyes as soon as you enter.
The layout and appearance of the courtyard house have not changed much, it has just been renovated, but this renovation alone has made it resemble the splendor of its former glory.
Add to that the various potted plants and landscape pieces that Li Guangfu spent a lot of time designing, as well as the ceiling fish tank and pomegranate tree that are indispensable to the old Yanjing courtyard house, and the whole courtyard is full of vitality while exuding a sense of harmony between man and nature.
"Good! Guangfu, your taste is impeccable. This yard is well designed and makes people feel comfortable." Lin Weimin praised after walking around the yard for a while before entering the house.
Li Guangfu looked proud and said modestly, "Well, it's because I met a customer like you who is willing to spend money. Otherwise, it's useless to have a good idea."
As the two were talking, Li Guangfu took Lin Weimin into the house for a walk.
The overall decoration style of the house retains its original appearance, but has been renovated. The living facilities are based on Lin Weimin's habits, with some modern facilities added.
Finally, the two came to the basement in the backyard. The side walls of the reinforced concrete basement alone were thirty centimeters thick. There was no waterproof material at that time. The basement was waterproofed with white glue, which was an ancient waterproof material. White lime was applied to the backfill soil and the ground drainage was done well. This was a multi-pronged approach, using the ancients' waterproofing ideas.
The interior decoration of the basement is plain and simple. It is used to store collectibles and does not require any decoration. The main thing is that the place has to be big enough.
The basement, which is over a hundred square meters in size, has a total height of more than five meters and is divided into two floors. The space of more than two hundred square meters can be well arranged to accommodate Lin Weimin's current collection.
If I collect more in the future, I will have to find another way.
Li Guangfu pointed at the charcoal and wood ash scattered all over the ground. "This stuff is used to prevent moisture. Your basement is full of antiques, especially calligraphy and paintings. The most feared thing is moisture. In another month or two, the moisture in the basement will be almost gone, and the things can be brought in. Then you can change these things frequently."
Lin Weimin nodded with satisfaction and said, "Thank you for your trouble!"
"You're too polite. This is what I should do!" Li Guangfu said with a smile on his face.
Since I have taken people's money, I naturally have to do my job well. Working for Teacher Lin is a bit tiring, but the rewards are also great.
The commissions from Teacher Lin's courtyard, plus the courtyard owned by his nephew Han Zhuangzhuang, are enough to cover Li Guangfu's earnings at the People's Art Theatre in the first half of the year, including his performance expenses.
It's worth doing this job.
(End of this chapter)
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