Chapter 472 The Value of a Great Writer
The 1980s was an era of strong human relationships. Whether in cities or rural areas, everyone was used to eating from the same pot, and the social circle was limited, with friendships going back decades.
The visit of Tao's future son-in-law, a nationally renowned writer, ignited the enthusiasm of many neighbors in the factory's family compound.
No matter whether they are familiar with each other or not, people would come to see the great writer after dinner late at night. Even the Spring Festival Gala could not stop such enthusiasm.
Fortunately, there were only about 1,800 people living in the compound. Apart from the familiar neighbors, most of them just came to take a look and see what the great writer looked like. When they saw nothing special, they left.
It’s easier to deal with familiar neighbors, you can just chat with them for a while and then drive them away.
"It's Chinese New Year, the kids just came back, and they haven't had much rest yet!"
Tao's mother rudely drove away the group of neighbors again, and no one was surprised. They were still talking about Lin Weimin before leaving.
Around nine o'clock in the evening, the Tao family finally quieted down, and the family watched the Spring Festival Gala while chatting.
This year's Spring Festival Gala programs were lackluster and there was nothing noteworthy. The only skit that stood out was "Gou Wa and Hei Niu" performed by Chen Xiaoer and Xiao Xiangyu. Without Zhu Shimao as his partner, Chen Xiaoer's humor was not as effective.
Crosstalk programs are almost becoming a hodgepodge, with six or seven people often performing group crosstalk, which not only looks messy but also lacks punchlines.
There are some good songs, such as "Missing You" sung by Mao Amin, "Naruwan Love Song" sung by Wan Shalang, and "Descendants of the Dragon" sung by Hou Dejian.
It was just past midnight when "Descendants of the Dragon" appeared, and it was the time when every household outside was rushing to set off door cannons.
After setting off firecrackers, Tao's father came back from outside. He only listened to the last few bars, but his blood boiled. "This song is well written!"
Lin Weimin was watching TV and yawning.
Except when he is concentrating on writing, he rarely stays up late.
Tao's mother said considerately, "Weimin, if you are sleepy, go to sleep first."
"Auntie, it's okay, I'm not sleepy."
This was a bit against her will, and Tao Huimin playfully scratched the palm of his hand.
Lin Weimin became much more sober and squeezed her hand gently.
After more than twenty minutes, this year's Spring Festival Gala officially ended and there were no more TV programs to watch.
Tao Huimin was busy getting dressed. She picked out clothes to bring back for her parents from the pile of New Year's goods she had brought back.
"This suit and dress were brought back by Weimin from France. Turn around and take a look."
Tao Huimin urged her parents to go to another room to change their clothes. After a while, the two came out wearing new clothes.
Lin Weimin specifically asked Tao Huimin about her parents' clothing sizes, and the clothes fit them very well. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse. After putting on the new clothes, Tao's father and mother's temperament changed greatly, and even their complexion looked much better.
"Isn't this dress expensive?" Tao's mother said nervously, touching the skirt on her body.
When Lin Weimin was picking out clothes, he specifically asked a shopping guide to help him choose. The dark green velvet long skirt was very suitable for Tao's mother's age, exuding a sense of elegance and luxury, which made her, who was used to wearing simple clothes, a little uncomfortable.
Mr. Tao's behavior was similar to that of his mother, touching things everywhere while wearing a suit.
“Not much.”
Tao Huimin didn't tell the truth. The clothes were actually not cheap. If converted into RMB, it would cost about two to three thousand yuan.
"Dad, Mom, these are beautiful!" Tao Huimin looked at her parents' clothes and said, "Don't move!"
She stood up and rummaged in her bag, pulling out her camera, "Let's take a family photo."
I bought the camera at the Friendship Store just for taking photos during this trip home.
After Lin Weimin took photos of Tao Huimin's family of three, Tao's father asked him to take a photo with them, but found that no one was taking the photo.
"Let's ask someone to find one for us tomorrow morning," said Lin Weimin.
"No need, I'll go get someone."
Mr. Tao said this and went out. Within two minutes he called a neighbor who knew how to use a camera.
At this time, every household is staying up all night to celebrate the New Year, and there is no worry about disturbing everyone's sweet dreams.
With the help of their neighbors, Lin Weimin, Tao Huimin and their family of four left behind a family photo.
After taking the photo, Tao Huimin held the camera and smiled brightly, and told Lin Weimin to make sure to develop this photo.
It was almost one o'clock, and Tao's mother urged Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin to go into the house and go to bed.
The two of them had been traveling for several days and had not slept since they came back. They had to get up early tomorrow to pay New Year's greetings.
The sound of firecrackers could be heard from time to time outside, and the two of them slept in their clothes.
While I was in a daze, I heard the sound of firecrackers outside becoming more frequent. I got up and saw that it was already half past five.
It was still dark outside, but the corridors of the tube-shaped building were already bustling with noise. Every household was making breakfast. Those who had eaten early were already preparing to go out to pay New Year's greetings, and would say "Happy New Year" from time to time when passing by.
We eat New Year’s Eve dinner on the 30th and eat leftovers on the 1st. This is how we always celebrate the New Year.
After breakfast, Tao's father and mother took Tao Huimin and Lin Weimin to pay New Year's greetings.
Tao's mother's family is from Ruian County, and her father is from the countryside. Today they went to Tao Huimin's grandmother's house to pay New Year's greetings.
These days, people go out to pay New Year’s greetings either on foot or by bicycle.
The Tao family only had one bicycle, but there were four people in the family, so Tao's father had to borrow another one. Tao's father rode Tao's mother, and Lin Weimin rode Tao Huimin.
Tao Huimin's grandmother lives near the old wharf, in a two-story old-style house where Tao Huimin's uncle's family and grandmother live.
Tao's father and mother led Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin into the house. They looked like a perfect couple, and Tao Huimin's grandmother smiled happily. She asked, "When are you getting married?"
After asking this question, Tao's father and mother did not speak. Tao Huimin looked at Lin Weimin, who smiled and said, "Grandma, Huimin is still filming a movie. We plan to get married after she finishes the movie."
The grandmother nodded. She knew that her granddaughter was making a movie and was now a star.
"Why did it take so long to shoot your movie? Can't you talk to your company and get married first?"
Grandma's words made everyone laugh, and Tao Huimin also laughed and said, "Grandma, the film will be finished next year."
"So slow!" said grandma dissatisfiedly.
Everyone couldn't help laughing, and Tao Huimin's uncle said to her mother: "Huimin's boyfriend is amazing, he's a great writer, and he was on the "News Broadcast" some time ago."
After entering the door, Tao's father and mother learned from yesterday's lesson and solemnly introduced Lin Weimin to avoid being asked questions by everyone.
When Tao Huimin's grandmother heard this, she laughed even more happily, "Great, writers are good, cultured people, and knowledgeable!"
While Tao Huimin was coaxing her grandmother, Tao Huimin's aunt kept pulling her mother to watch.
"This dress is so beautiful. Huimin bought it for you, right?"
Tao's mother smiled and said, "Weimin brought it back from France. It's also on Old Tao's body."
Tao Huimin's cousin's wife was amazed when she heard this: "You brought it back from France? No wonder it looks so good. It must be expensive, right?"
"It's not much money." Tao's mother said, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise.
The clothes were beautiful, but what made her even happier and more proud was that her daughter had made great progress.
My aunt and cousin's wife were chattering around Tao's mother.
My uncle's family has three children. The eldest cousin has married and moved out, the second cousin works in a textile factory in the county, and the youngest cousin is still in high school.
My eldest cousin's family and Tao Huimin's family entered the door one after the other.
Except for a few women who were discussing clothes, almost everyone focused their attention on Lin Weimin.
The younger cousin who is in high school was the most attentive, asking Lin Weimin all sorts of questions.
“Brother-in-law…”
Before he could say anything, his sister hit him and said, "Call Weimin brother!"
My cousin changed his tone, "Brother Weimin, I have read many of your novels. Many of my classmates also like your novels. Many of us write poems and novels. Can we submit our works to your magazine?"
Lin Weimin smiled and said, "Of course you can, but I don't guarantee you will be hired."
"Is it not possible even with you as the editor-in-chief?"
Tao Huimin asked, "Do you think the magazine is a one-man show? If everyone is like you, will the magazine still be published? Will anyone read it?"
Even after being criticized a few times, my little cousin was not angry.
With Lin Weimin, the great writer and future brother-in-law, he will have something to brag about when school starts. Thinking about the envious expressions of his classmates at that time, he can't help feeling proud.
After staying at his uncle's house for two or three hours, Lin Weimin followed Tao Huimin's family back to the family compound.
The old man in Tao's father's family has passed away, and he has a younger brother and a younger sister, both of whom live in the countryside. There is no reason for him, as the eldest brother, to go and pay New Year's greetings to them.
So, today’s New Year greetings activities have come to an end here.
After returning home and having lunch, the whole family took a nap together.
On the afternoon of the first day of the New Year, the family compound was unusually quiet, and everyone was the same.
It was not until the evening that the family compound became lively again.
This year, there are an unusually large number of neighbors and friends visiting Tao Huimin's home. The Tao family's celebrity daughter has returned, and brought back a boyfriend who is a famous writer, which has become a hot topic.
Even many factory leaders came to visit, which made Tao's father, an honest employee in the factory, feel very proud.
At eight o'clock in the evening, Tao Huimin turned on the TV to CCTV-1.
"Are you acting in a new TV series?" Tao's mother said as she looked at the opening credits of "Desire".
Tao Huimin boasted: "I took this for my friends."
Upon hearing what was said, Mr. and Mrs. Tao and the neighbors who were visiting their home immediately became serious.
The opening song of the TV series was playing, and suddenly someone pointed at the subtitles on the screen and shouted.
"Look! Look!"
The words "Chief Screenwriter: Lin Weimin" flashed by, followed by the names of three screenwriters.
"Comrade Kobayashi is also the chief screenwriter?" everyone exclaimed.
Lin Weimin said: "I just came up with an idea, and they asked me to put my name on it."
When everyone heard this, they became even more envious. It is good to be a great writer. TV dramas will actively ask for their names to be listed.
Everyone curiously asked about Lin Weimin's TV series, but as they chatted, no one spoke anymore, as their attention was drawn to "Desire".
Before we knew it, two episodes of the TV series were over, and everyone was still not satisfied.
“This TV show is great!”
"The things written by writers are still the best!"
Everyone stayed at Tao's house until almost ten o'clock before leaving.
The next morning, after breakfast, Tao Huimin had nothing to do, so she planned to take Lin Weimin for a stroll in Ruian County, but she didn't expect anyone to come to visit her. It turned out to be the leaders of Ruian County who came after hearing the news.
The county leaders' visit immediately ignited the enthusiasm of the neighbors in the family compound. Many neighbors who heard the news surrounded Tao Huimin's door.
Lin Weimin didn't expect that the news had spread so far just two days after he arrived in Ruian, and he didn't expect that the county leaders would come to his door.
He thought these people came to ask for something and wanted to take advantage of their celebrity status, so he was a little wary.
But after chatting for a while, I finally understood that it turned out that several county leaders were fans of his literature and came to ask for his autograph.
Lin Weimin signed for several people with a helpless look on his face and took photos with them. The county leaders then invited Lin Weimin to visit the county, but he refused.
The few people were not at all disappointed when they were rejected. The purpose of their trip had been achieved, and they left the family compound contentedly.
The onlookers watched the factory leaders respectfully see the county leaders off, and then looked at Lin Weimin who was sitting steadily in the room.
Before, everyone just called him a great writer but had no idea what he was talking about.
Today, I saw the county leaders coming to my house, and also saw Lin Weimin sitting on the Diaoyutai.
Everyone finally understood the value of this "great writer"!
(End of this chapter)
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