Chapter 405: A Human Touch
Lin Weimin has no sympathy for what happened to the Writers Association.
Everyone has a good relationship at ordinary times, but who can feel comfortable if there is always a blockage?
After talking about Niu Han, Lin Weimin talked to Zhang Qi about the Chinese Literature Foundation.
After more than half a year of development, the foundation has been successfully established and started operations.
Since the beginning of this year, he has helped many colleagues who are having difficulties in life. After this year, Zhang Qi plans to further expand the scope of his activities.
We should not only help our peers, but also expand the influence of mainstream literature among the people.
In the 1980s, the Chinese Literature Foundation didn't even need to spend much money to organize such an event. It just needed a name to get the event off the ground.
Lin Weimin was happy to see Zhang Qi's actions. As he held the title of vice president of the foundation, the greater the influence of the foundation, the greater his implicit benefits would be.
After the phone call, it was almost time to get off work.
Lin Weimin called Qin Chaoyang and ran to Dongzongbu Hutong.
Meng Weizai retired and resigned from the position of president. Lin Weimin was in the United States at the time, and the two did not even meet.
He recently finished writing a novel and happened to have some time in the evening, so he planned to go to Meng Weizai's house for dinner.
Seeing Lin Weimin coming, Meng Weizai was both surprised and somewhat moved.
For this group of retired cadres, the most profound feeling is that people forget about them when they leave.
Before Lin Weimin went to the United States, Meng Weizai had already decided to retire, but he just didn't tell him.
Comrade Lao Meng was extremely happy to see Lin Weimin again today.
He asked his wife to cook some delicious dishes. The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen. Lin Weimin, Meng Weizai and Qin Chaoyang sat in the living room chatting.
Listening to Lin Weimin telling stories about the Guowen Society after his retirement, Meng Weizai felt as if he was in a different world, even though he had only been away for a month or two.
When he heard Lin Weimin giving Cheng Zaochun a bad idea to send Niu Han to help the Cultural Association, Meng Weizai couldn't help laughing and pointed at Lin Weimin and said, "You, you! You can never change this mischievous habit!"
"I don't like what you said. I'm doing this for the overall situation and for the good of the community!" Lin Weimin argued.
After the joke, Meng Weizai sighed: "Now it seems that it is right to hand over the work to you young people. You are more courageous and daring than us old guys!"
There was a reason why Meng Weizai said this. He and his predecessor Yan Wenjing both had mature and steady styles. When there was a conflict, they seldom confronted others face to face. They lacked a sense of sharpness and were often seen as soft persimmons that were easy to bully.
Lin Weimin muttered, "Old Cheng is almost fifty years old, it's not appropriate to call him a young man."
Meng Weizai glared at him and said, "You never say a single serious word!"
Another half an hour later, the dishes were served on the table, and Meng Weizai specially opened a bottle of white wine.
Meng Weizai's wife is a very good cook, comparable to Shi's father. The braised pork is oily, shiny and melts in the mouth. After Lin Weimin took two bites, he flattered him loudly and made Meng Weizai's wife smile from ear to ear.
Qin Chaoyang couldn't help but shook his head when he saw Lin Weimin's character.
After drinking, Meng Weizai asked Lin Weimin about his experience in the United States. After returning, this was almost a necessary procedure for Lin Weimin every time he met an acquaintance.
After listening to Lin Weimin's description, Meng Weizai sighed: "So, the United States is really a good place!"
Qin Chaoyang said, "Just listen to what he said! This guy had a good life in the U.S., but when he came back, he turned around and wrote a novel criticizing the U.S."
"There is such a thing?" Meng Weizai immediately became interested when he heard it.
"What do you mean by cursing the United States? Comrade Lao Tan, what you said is really rude. You are a cultured person after all, so vulgar!"
"What is that called? Wouldn't it sound better to 'criticize American imperialism'?" Qin Chaoyang said.
Lin Weimin said: "My work was a criticism of the alienation of people by decadent capitalism, and it was full of profound philosophical thoughts."
He was bickering with Qin Chaoyang, but this aroused Meng Weizai's greed, and he kept asking about the specific content of Lin Weimin's novel.
Lin Weimin gave him a general idea, but Meng Weizai was not satisfied.
"The September issue of People's Literature will be out soon. It will be available soon."
Meng Weizai nodded. Even though he was itching to try, he had no choice but to wait.
After finishing their meal, Lin Weimin and Qin Chaoyang said goodbye and left.
"The old lady's braised pork is delicious. Come and eat with me when you have time."
Lin Weimin picked his teeth while walking and had already arranged his next meal.
He came to Meng Weizai's house empty-handed this time, had a free meal, and managed to coax the old couple so much that they couldn't stop smiling.
Qin Chaoyang looked at his lazy character. If he were in ancient times, he would at least be a treacherous jester!
But he had to admit that this kid had a human touch!
It was scorching hot in August, there was not a trace of wind in the air, and the city of Yanjing had turned into a big steamer.
Lin Weimin picked up Qiao Sen who came across the ocean at the Capital Airport.
As soon as Qiao Sen got on the car, he couldn't help but complain: "Another mud-blasting truck!"
"What's wrong with the mud truck? Aren't they selling well in the United States?"
"This thing is as thin as paper." Qiao Sen's words were full of jealousy.
In recent years, mud-bombers have been very popular in the U.S. market, and local automakers such as General Motors and Ford are unable to cope with them.
After chatting for a while, Qiao Sen continued to complain: "Lin, you should have informed me when you went to the United States. Not only can it solve the contract problem, but you can also hold two book signing sessions."
"Book signing event? Do I have that kind of appeal in the United States?"
Qiao Sen said, "Although your works are popular in the United States, but you are not famous, the cumulative sales of your works have already exceeded one million copies. It will definitely be no problem to hold two book signing sessions."
"That's not necessary. I'm not a celebrity, why should I show up in public?"
"Your words are a bit industry discrimination!"
"You have such a dirty heart!"
When it comes to flattery, Qiao Sen is not as good as Lin Weimin. He started complaining as soon as he got in the car, simply venting his resentment about being controlled by Lin Weimin to come to China.
I sent him to the Yanjing Hotel and he adjusted to the time difference.
After settling the publishing contract the next day, Lin Weimin planned to escape.
"Lin, is this how you Chinese treat your guests?" Qiao Sen couldn't help but complain.
Lin Weimin said: "I can't represent the Chinese people!"
Qiao Sen looked at Lin Weimin's shameless expression and was speechless for a moment.
"Okay, let's talk about business." Qiao Sen said.
Seeing that he was serious, Lin Weimin gave up the idea of running away.
"What's up?"
"Please recommend some Chinese writers to me!"
Lin Weimin looked at Qiao Sen, "What do you mean? Are you going to publish it?"
"We have this plan. Your novels have made the company very successful, and the company hopes to try to introduce a number of works by Chinese writers. You are both a writer and an editor, so you should know quite a few writers. How about it? Can you recommend some to me?"
It is certainly a good thing for the domestic literary world that Random House plans to introduce works by Chinese writers.
From a small perspective, it can allow some writers to earn a few dollars, which is definitely much higher than the royalties for publishing or publishing works in China. The amount will definitely not be much, but no matter how small it is, it is also an improvement.
In a broader sense, this can be regarded as expanding the influence of Chinese writers overseas, and to some extent it can also be regarded as a form of cultural export.
"It's no problem for me to recommend it to you. Do you have a translator with you?"
“I contacted the department to help me find one at the university.”
"I'll help you make the contact."
Lin Weimin immediately thought of his nephew’s wife who was on summer vacation recently. What a great opportunity this was to earn some extra money.
But when it came to recommending writers and bookstores, Lin Weimin hesitated.
Based on Lin Weimin's understanding of Lao Mi, it is difficult for them to be interested in modern and contemporary Chinese literature.
The main reason why Lin Weimin's works have achieved good results in the United States is that his novels more or less contain elements that interest Americans.
For example, the Peking Opera, BL and feudalism in "Farewell My Concubine", the colors and love in "The Lover", and the crime in "The Murderer".
Another reason is that his writing style is strongly influenced by film and television works, with a strong sense of picture, and is both literary and popular.
However, in recent years, there are not many contemporary literary works in China that meet this requirement.
But when I think about the fact that the Americans are stupid and have a lot of money, it seems inappropriate not to cheat them out of something.
Lin Weimin directly listed the main contributors of "Contemporary" and their main works to Qiao Sen. As for which one Qiao Sen would choose, or whether he could not choose any one, that was beyond his control.
I went to Youqizuo Hutong in the evening and told Yin Geli about my job as an interpreter for Qiao Sen. Yin Geli was very happy.
She was studying Chinese language, and it was summer vacation now. Although she and Han Zhuangzhuang had never lacked money living in Yanjing, it was always good to earn more money so that she could put her knowledge into practice.
Introducing the works of Chinese writers is not something that can be done overnight. Just to understand the works on Lin Weimin's list will take a lot of time and energy.
Of course, more of this time and energy was spent by Yin Geli, because she was a translator.
After Lin Weimin completed the matchmaking, he put the matter aside.
One day in the middle of the month, Liang Xiaosheng came to Lin Weimin's office and told him that the casting for "Dream of Red Mansions" directed by Xie Tieli was about to start. Lin Weimin immediately called Tao Huimin.
Tao Huimin returned to the Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe after finishing filming the TV series.
Having gone out to film for two consecutive years, Tao Huimin became the most special one in the Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe, and naturally attracted the attention of the entire troupe.
The year before last there was "Beautiful Prisoner", and last year there was "Legend of a Female Doctor". Although no one said anything on the surface, various rumors were circulating in private.
They are all actors, and were selected by the troupe from thousands of opera actors across the province. They have good qualifications. Why is it that only Tao Huimin can act in movies and TV series?
There are colleagues in the group who envy me, and there are also many who are jealous of me.
When "Beautiful Prisoner" was released last year, it made almost no splash. Some colleagues in the troupe who were jealous of Tao Huimin gloated over it, thinking that there was nothing wrong with going out to make a movie. After the filming, she would still not be famous, right?
But this year, things are a little different.
In June, "Legend of Female Doctor" was broadcast on CCTV, and the response it caused was unprecedented. Even if people live in an art school, they can feel the impact of this TV series on society.
From time to time, we could hear the leaders and teachers in the group talking about the topic of "The Legend of Female Doctor", and newspapers would report on it from time to time.
When I go home during the holidays, not only my family members wait in front of the TV every night to watch "The Legend of Female Doctor", but my neighbors do the same. After dinner, the topic of "The Legend of Female Doctor" is even more popular.
All signs indicate that the TV series "Legend of Female Doctor" will be a huge hit.
Tao Huimin played the fourth female role in "The Legend of Female Doctor". She did not have many scenes. According to later generations, she was the best friend of the main female character Tan Yunxian. Her character was extremely likable and she was quite popular.
During the days when "Legend of Female Doctor" was on the air, Tao Huimin hardly dared to go out on the street, because as soon as she went out, she would be recognized by the audience who had watched the TV series. Once she was even blocked in a store, and was only rescued by the police after she called the police.
Not only shopping, but even the troupe's normal performances attracted audiences to come and support them.
Xiao Baihua is a Yue Opera troupe. Their performances usually don't make much of a splash, but recently there have been frequent incidents of enthusiastic audiences shouting Tao Huimin's name in the play in the theater, disrupting the rhythm of the performance on stage and making the troupe's leaders very annoyed. Tao Huimin was both happy and helpless about this.
Fortunately, the TV series finally ended after more than a month of broadcasting, and the sensation it caused is gradually subsiding.
At this time, Tao Huimin received a call from Lin Weimin. She was happy for just a few days before the transfer letter for the film version of "Dream of Red Mansions" arrived at the troupe.
Not only her, but also He Saifei went to Beijing to audition for the movie.
(End of this chapter)
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