Chapter 383 I Can't Afford to Lose This Person
Arthur Miller was looking forward to Lin Weimin's arrival. Lin Weimin had said that he would contact him after April to confirm the specific time of his visit to Miller. Arthur Miller had already sent out the invitation letter at the beginning of the month.
It is estimated that it will arrive in a few days, and Lin Weimin can then apply for a visa to the United States.
Before Lin Weimin discussed the details of going to the United States with Arthur Miller, he thought he should also inform the unit in advance.
In the editorial department of Contemporary Magazine, it is a recognized fact that Qin Chaoyang is a retired nobody and Lin Weimin is the mainstay.
Lin Weimin's long absence from work will have a huge impact on the operation of Contemporary Magazine.
When Comrade Lao Tan heard that Lin Weimin was going to take two months off, he was terrified.
"I'm a retired comrade, you can't cheat me like this!" Qin Chaoyang said with a bitter face.
"What do you mean by 'deceiving you'? Comrade Lao Tan, I have to say something to you. How can you be so sneaky and cunning when doing revolutionary work?
It's true that I'm the editor-in-chief of the editorial department, but you're also the director of the editorial department!
It doesn’t matter if I usually do more, because I’m young. But you can’t let me down at the critical moment! "
Qin Chaoyang was speechless after hearing what Lin Weimin said and made a silent protest. Lin Weimin went directly to the front building to ask Meng Weizai for leave.
After hearing this, Meng Weizai was silent for a while and asked, "Do I have to go?"
"My friends over there have been waiting for a long time. It would be inappropriate if I didn't go now."
Meng Weizai nodded. He had heard about how popular Lin Weimin's works were in the United States.
"Then arrange your work and say hello before you leave."
"good!"
Lin Weimin asked for leave and left the office happily.
Meng Weizai looked at his back with a melancholy expression.
Within half a day, the news that Lin Weimin would take a two-month leave to go to the United States topped the "Guowenshe Hot Search List" and triggered a lunch tea party in the cafeteria.
Colleagues asked Lin Weimin to confirm the news, and Lin Weimin could only admit it helplessly.
In recent years, the National Literature Society has occasionally had opportunities to go abroad, but they were basically leaders who went for inspections and visits, and had nothing to do with most of the soldiers.
Lin Weimin's situation this time is different from that of the leaders. I heard that he went to the United States at the invitation of a friend.
Everyone knows that Lin Weimin's works have been quite popular in the United States. This kind of utilitarian reason for going abroad is more enviable than going abroad for purely political or cultural reasons.
They went abroad based on their own strength!
Unlike the last time they went to Hong Kong, when everyone enthusiastically asked him to help bring things, this time very few colleagues asked Lin Weimin to help buy things for them.
Hong Kong has close ties with the mainland. Even if people have never used many products, they have heard of them. They all say that Hong Kong products are good, so they naturally want to purchase them if they are within their means.
The United States is different from Hong Kong. It is too far away from China, and no one even knows what can be brought back from the United States. Anyway, Lin Weimin definitely would not dare to bring back the things promoted in the media.
A few days later, Arthur Miller's invitation letter arrived, and Lin Weimin took the documents to the embassy to apply for a visa.
The Americans are eager to welcome cultural celebrities like Lin Weimin to the United States, and the visa application went smoothly.
After obtaining the visa, Lin Weimin also confirmed the time for his trip to the United States.
Before leaving, Lin Weimin prepared a meal.
In late April, Yanjing is in full bloom.
The leaves in the Shichahai courtyard are green, the bonsai pots are becoming more and more beautiful, and the goldfish in the fish tank are jumping around.
The child of Qu Xiaowei's family was standing on a small stool, leaning against the edge of the fish tank to reach into the tank for goldfish. Yao Shuzhi saw it and grabbed the child, "Don't try to get the goldfish. It's too dangerous!"
Liu Haiyan, who was busy in the kitchen, heard the noise and came out to slap the child on the butt, "You're naughty! You're naughty!"
"Waaaa!" the child cried heartbreakingly.
Lin Weimin was gloating while eating melon seeds. You deserve it! You ruined my fish!
The others were unaware and continued chatting.
The Shichahai courtyard, which had been silent for a long time, was particularly lively today. The eldest nephew and his wife, Qu Xiaowei's family, Zheng Guo's family, Shi Tiesheng's family, Yu Hua, Mo Yan, Wang Shuo and his wife, Tong Zhonggui...
Almost all of Yenching’s friends who could come came. When they heard that Lin Weimin was going to the United States for a while, they came happily to see him off.
"Two months is neither long nor short. It is enough time for people to experience the colorful world of capitalism," Qu Xiaowei joked.
"The people must remember that you can eat Lao Mi's sugar coating, but the shells must be sent back!" Zheng Guo echoed.
"Haha!" everyone laughed.
Seven or eight male comrades were sitting in the yard chatting. Shi Tiesheng was sitting in a wheelchair, Lin Weimin was holding the handle of the wheelchair with one hand, the others were either sitting or standing, and Mo Yan was squatting next to Wang Shuo.
The topics of conversation were varied. In addition to teasing Lin Weimin, the most talked about topic was naturally literature and creation.
Shi Tiesheng recently finished writing the novella "The Story of Going to the Countryside to Work", and the manuscript has been handed over to Lin Weimin. It has been reviewed and approved by the editorial department and is expected to meet readers in July.
In the winter of the year before last, Lin Weimin took Shi Tiesheng to Shaanxi to pursue love, and by the way, he went back to Guanjiazhuang in northern Shaanxi where he had been sent to work as a sent-down youth.
After Shi Tiesheng returned to Yenching, he always wanted to write a story about his time as an educated youth. In fact, he has mentioned his experiences as an educated youth in his works in recent years, but none of them were detailed enough to comfort Shi Tiesheng.
After more than a year of planning, he finally wrote the book "The Story of Joining the Team".
The name of the book "The Story of Going to the Countryside to Work" can be attributed to the literature of educated youth. To put it more broadly, it can also be called scar literature.
Much of the educated youth literature these days is filled with strong negative emotions and accusations. In a few years, it will degenerate into pornographic literature.
People like Liang Xiaosheng who extol the experiences of educated youth are not particularly common.
Shi Tiesheng's description of the experiences of educated youth is somewhat different from the other two. In his novels, you won't see extreme joy or sorrow, passion or indifference. If you have to make a comparison, Lin Weimin feels that his style is like the clear river in front of Guanjiazhuang, peaceful, warm and indifferent.
When talking about the manuscript, Yu Hua asked about Shi Tiesheng's royalties.
"Eighteen pieces for a thousand words." Shi Tiesheng told the truth.
Yu Hua's eyes widened at the time, "So high?"
Mo Yan looked at Yu Hua in surprise, "You often visit the editorial office, don't you know? The remuneration standard has been raised now!"
"I know, but 18 yuan for 1,000 words..."
Yu Hua didn't finish his words because they seemed a bit offensive.
Eighteen yuan per thousand words is too high!
Yu Hua didn't think Shi Tiesheng shouldn't take this number, but the huge change in price compared to the previous one caught him off guard.
Wang Shuo smiled and said, "What's the big deal? The novella I gave to the editorial department before was also 15 words per 1,000 words!"
At this point, he complained to Lin Weimin, "We all have novellas, so why is Tiesheng three yuan more expensive than me?"
Yu Hua watched Wang Shuo fire at Lin Weimin and thought, is fifteen yuan per thousand words not enough?
"Just be content! It's good enough that it was published. Let me tell you first, the editorial department will definitely scold you after you publish that article, and you won't be able to get away with it. No one will cover for you."
It is impossible to be rated as ruffian literature without being criticized.
When Lin Weimin agreed to publish Wang Shuo's article "The Troublemakers", he was prepared to be scolded.
Fortunately, he is going to the United States soon, so let Lao Tan bear the bombardment alone.
Wang Shuo curled his lips. He knew that Lin Weimin was telling the truth, but he was still angry. "You are listening to those idle people and you are not writing a novel. What's wrong?"
When it comes to talking nonsense, Shuo Ye has never been defeated by anyone.
Even if he is pinned to the ground and beaten and calls him dad, as long as you dare to let him go, he will immediately become grandpa.
As everyone was talking and laughing, Yu Hua secretly asked Mo Yan, "Your royalties for Red Sorghum were low, right?"
Mo Yan said: "Yes, I published it last year, but it didn't catch up with the increase in royalties."
"That's a big loss!"
Yu Hua said this while thinking about it in his mind.
Mo Yan's "Red Sorghum" has 300,000 words. If he asks for 3 yuan per thousand words, that's 900 yuan, which is more than the money for publishing a novella.
Tiesheng just said that his article “The Story of Joining the Team in the Countryside” has more than 70,000 words, and the price is 18 yuan per thousand words, which means 1,300 to 1,400 yuan.
It's just a novella of more than 70,000 words, but the price is almost as high as the price of a novel in the past.
If I wait another one or two years and the royalties go up, it would be a net profit!
Yu Hua found another legitimate reason for delaying his submission.
There was noisy chatting in the yard, and when noon was approaching, the table was set up in the middle of the yard.
With the weather warm and the wind blowing, it is a very pleasant experience to have a meal in the yard.
There were a lot of people today, and more than a dozen people couldn't sit at one table, so two tables were set up.
While eating, everyone talked to Lin Weimin about the United States.
He has been gone for two months, and his friends are still very concerned about him.
However, Lin Weimin's visit to the United States this time was different from those who were invited on the visit. To put it bluntly, he and Arthur Miller were partners. Just like when company bosses in later generations went abroad for inspection, shouldn't the cooperative units treat them to good food and drink?
Everyone felt relieved when they heard from Lin Weimin that the house in the United States had already been rented.
After finishing lunch and packing up, everyone left.
The house was empty and Lin Weimin started to pack his luggage.
The next morning, Lin Weimin did not drive but took a taxi.
Two years ago, Yanjing City imported a batch of Crown taxis. These taxis usually only work at airports and major hotels. Lin Weimin called to make an appointment yesterday.
Early in the morning, a taxi arrived at his doorstep and Lin Weimin got in the car carrying his luggage.
Along the way, the driver talked a lot to Lin Weimin. These drivers often pick up foreigners, and they claim to be knowledgeable and speak in a boastful manner.
There are very few taxis in this era, and the starting fare for a taxi is five yuan. For example, Lin Weimin went to the airport today, and one trip was enough to pay half a month's salary for an ordinary worker.
This is why taxi drivers are so popular, not to mention that they drive Crown cars.
These drivers have to wear suits and ties when they go to work. They are considered white-collar workers nowadays, and many of them have even married flight attendants.
After getting off the car, Lin Weimin looked at the back of the Crown Taxi.
I have to change the car next time I come back. I didn’t pay attention when I didn’t take a taxi before. The car I drove was just like a taxi. Teacher Lin can’t afford to lose face!
(End of this chapter)
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