Chapter 485 I Write
Lin Weimin is not only responsible for settling the bill, but also for picking up and dropping off passengers.
It was the first time that Rong Shihui rode in his Mercedes-Benz. He couldn't help but say, "I've heard about this being the first Mercedes-Benz in Yanjing. Today I finally got to ride in it."
"Don't listen to their nonsense. There are so many Mercedes-Benz in Yanjing."
"Which of those cars has a Yanjing license plate?"
Rong Shihui and Qin Chaoyang were sitting in the car. Normally, neither of them could be a match for Lin Weimin in a one-on-one fight, but today was different. The gang was committing the crime with full firepower.
Ma Kai Restaurant opened in the 1950s on Gulou West Street. It is one of the earliest Hunan restaurants in Yanjing, and many Yanjing people hold their wedding banquets here.
Hunan cuisine is Rong Shihui's hometown cuisine. When he arrived at the door of the restaurant, he couldn't help but sniff, looking intoxicated.
“After so many years, the taste here is still the best!”
After entering the restaurant and ordering a few dishes, the three of them sat together and chatted.
In the four years since he left Guowen Publishing House, Rong Shihui's career has taken a beautiful parabola. He became the deputy editor-in-chief of the publishing house. Now he has been re-employed after retirement and is responsible for the final review of some of the publishing house's novels, making use of his remaining energy. After retirement, he has no more worries and is in a good mood.
Qin Chaoyang is now over 70 years old. Unlike Rong Shihui who just retired and is still eager to make use of his remaining energy, Qin Chaoyang is now truly enjoying his retirement, planting flowers and raising fish every day, living a god-like life.
Lin Weimin listened to the two people's retirement life and sighed, "I still have more than 30 years to go before I retire. How long will it take?"
Qin Chaoyang laughed and scolded: "Why are you so anxious! How about we switch?"
Before Lin Weimin could speak, Rong Shihui said, "Time is more valuable than gold. I really envy Weimin and his generation for catching up with such a good time!"
Continuing the conversation, while Qin Chaoyang was in the bathroom, Rong Shihui suddenly asked, "Weimin, how is Lao Zhang doing at Contemporary?"
Lin Weimin immediately became alert, "Why are you asking him?"
"Just care about old comrades. Look at your attitude."
Lin Weimin said, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You're an old man who's already retired, do you still want to be a matchmaker?"
Rong Shihui scolded, "You are already the deputy editor-in-chief, but you still want to exploit us old comrades. Even capitalists are not as cruel as you. Old Zhang is not much younger than me, and he is about to retire. People move to die, trees move to live, wouldn't it be a good thing to increase his salary?"
"You want to poach my people, but you don't allow me to speak?" Lin Weimin retorted, and then asked, "Do you really want to poach Lao Zhang?"
Rong Shihui said seriously, "I just retired, and the other deputy editor-in-chief of the publishing house is also going to retire this year. The publishing house is short of young people, and we need someone to take over. I think Lao Zhang is quite suitable, he has strong business capabilities and is of the right age."
"You will be the deputy editor-in-chief if you go? Can you make the decision?"
Lin Weimin was very skeptical about this. Comrade Lao Rong once had a nickname in the Guowen Society, "Rong Dachui", and even his son called him that.
"We have to fight for this. If you let him go, I'll talk to the agency."
Lin Weimin said quietly, "Old Rong, I never saw you working so hard when you were at Contemporary Magazine!"
"When I was at Contemporary, the publishing house didn't even let me be the deputy editor-in-chief!"
The words may be rough, but the truth is there, and there is nothing wrong with what he said.
"Okay, once you figure this out, I'll let Old Zhang go." Lin Weimin said.
"It's a deal!"
After eating out with one of his generals, Lin Weimin still had to pay the bill himself. He felt so embarrassed that he wanted to vomit blood.
But for individuals, this is a good thing after all, and he can't stop it.
Before leaving, he saw Rong Shihui holding a cigarette in his hand. Recalling that he had been busy since he came in, and had smoked almost a pack of cigarettes in more than two hours, Lin Weimin couldn't help but say, "You are so old now. Smoke less if you have nothing to do. Be careful not to get lung cancer."
"Bah! What a crow's mouth! I'm just trying to dig up your name, but you're such a mean mouth!"
"I'm doing this for your own good. After retirement, you can live two more years and get a free pension. How great!"
Rong Shihui said disdainfully: "Vulgar! Your awareness needs to be improved!"
After arguing with each other, the few people left Makai Restaurant.
The next day, Lin Weimin called Zhang Zhonge to his office and told him about the situation on Rong Shihui's side.
"There is a vacancy for the deputy editor-in-chief at Writers Publishing House. Lao Rong is trying to get you a job. What do you think? Are you willing to go?"
Zhang Zhonge was very surprised, but after thinking for a moment, he said without lying, "Of course I am willing to go."
"Well, when there's news over there, Lao Rong will definitely look for you."
"Thank you, Weimin!"
"Why thank me? This is a good thing. If it really works, I will be happy for you.
But I told Lao Rong that if he goes there, I won’t let him go unless he is the deputy editor-in-chief.” Lin Weimin said with a smile.
Zhang Zhongye understood his good intentions. Since they were going to move, they would naturally move to a higher place. It would be meaningless to move horizontally.
“That’s the truth.”
A few days later, Lin Weimin received a letter from Ma Yuan.
After graduating from university in 1982, Ma Yuan went to work in the snowy area. Except for occasionally attending writers' gatherings, he was rarely seen. It has been six years now.
In the past few years, Lin Weimin has been innovating and promoting "avant-garde novels" to a wide range of readers, and Ma Yuan has amazed the public with "The Temptation of Gangdise".
He has produced a lot of works in recent years, but none of them has reached the level of "The Temptation of Gangdise".
This time he wrote to Lin Weimin about his work. He had been in the snowy area for six years and planned to be transferred back to Liaodong.
The biggest motivation for Ma Yuan to be transferred back to Liaodong was the birth of his child last year. The conditions in the snowy area were harsh. The adults were fine, but the child was too young, which was heartbreaking. Lin Weimin took the time to write him a letter back.
"Teacher Lin, the sample book is out!"
Tong Zhonggui knocked on Lin Weimin's office door and brought him a sample copy of "Life is Beautiful No Matter What".
This novel is unique among Lin Weimin's works in that it was first published in English, then in French, and finally in Chinese.
Lin Weimin took the sample book and flipped through it, then nodded with satisfaction, "Not bad!"
Tong Zhonggui said: "It's a pity that your novel was not published in our Contemporary."
"After all, it is a foreign historical background, so it may seem a little unfamiliar to domestic readers. Now that it is published directly, if you like it, just buy it and read it yourself!"
Tong Zhonggui nodded and said, "Are you free tomorrow?"
Tomorrow is the weekend, Lin Weimin asked: "What's the matter?"
"I have cleaned up my yard and plan to move there tomorrow," said Tong Zhonggui.
Lin Weimin said happily: "This is a good thing, let's get everyone together and have fun."
"I've told everyone except you."
"Okay, I'll be there tomorrow."
Influenced by Lin Weimin, Tong Zhonggui has always wanted to buy a courtyard house in Yanjing, and has been saving up royalties for the past few years.
In the past few years, he has published more than a dozen short and medium-length novels, some of which were published in "Contemporary". The works, totaling 300,000 to 400,000 words, have also brought him a considerable income.
After the publication of "Wives and Concubines" last year, he received the largest amount of royalties in recent years and began to think about buying a house.
I finally bought a two-story courtyard house near Shichahai at the beginning of this year. It took me two or three months to clean it up, and I’m moving in soon.
The next weekend, a group of colleagues came to Tong Zhonggui's yard in the morning. Lin Weimin arrived a little late, and he ran to push Shi Tiesheng over. Tong Zhonggui's house was only one mile away from Lin Weimin's yard on Baimixie Street.
Everyone visited Tong Zhonggui's new home, and several people expressed admiration.
"Oh! He has to be a talented young man. Xiao Tong is only 25 years old this year, and he bought a house in Yanjing with his royalties."
"Xiao Tong may be young, but he is outstanding in our company, right? Count how many young people there are who publish several works every year like him?"
"It's not that there are a few, but that there is none. Xiao Tong is still very spiritual!"
Tong Zhonggui felt embarrassed by everyone's praise. He was busy running around serving tea and water to everyone.
Seeing this, Liu Yin couldn't help but teased, "Xiao Tong, look, we already have this house, is there something missing?"
Yao Shuzhi immediately responded, "What else is missing?"
"What's the difference? Of course it's the hostess!"
Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter, while Tong Zhonggui scratched his head shyly.
Lin Weimin pushed Shi Tiesheng for a stroll in the yard and saw Mo Yan squatting next to the crowd, watching everyone laughing and talking without saying a word. That was his normal state.
"I haven't seen Yu Hua for a long time." Shi Tiesheng said suddenly.
"If you miss him, give him a call. Now that you have a reason to take a leave, you will probably be able to see him in a few days."
Shi Tiesheng was amused by him, "You have figured out this kid's temperament."
"It's really not easy to meet again after this separation." Lin Weimin sighed.
"Yes, but every farewell is more precious because of this." Shi Tiesheng said.
Lin Weimin nodded slightly.
The two walked over to Mo Yan and saw that he looked worried. Lin Weimin asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." Mo Yan stood up and said insincerely.
"Your lie is so insincere and fake," Lin Weimin joked.
Mo Yan was in a low mood, "I miss home and my mother. I should bring her to Yanjing to enjoy a few years of peace and quiet."
Chinese people always have some plots engraved in their bones. For example, when we see land, we think of food and harvest. When we see a house, we think of home and mother.
"It's a pity... I'm just a passer-by in Yanjing."
Lin Weimin said: "If you want to stay, just stay here. After graduation, it won't be difficult to find a way to stay in Yanjing."
At this point, Lin Weimin couldn't help but think of the story about Mo Yan using his Nobel Prize money to buy a house in Yanjing.
It’s different now. Mo Yan had bought a house in Yanjing before, but his work has not yet moved to Yanjing, so netizens have lost some fun since then.
Mo Yan looked at Lin Weimin with only one thought in his mind.
People's joys and sorrows are not the same. What is easy for Teacher Lin may be as difficult as climbing to the sky for him.
Seeing his sad face, Lin Weimin said, "Don't be so depressed. You are a famous writer after all. Is this a big deal?"
"Difficult!" Mo Yan uttered a word.
"I'll do it for you." Lin Weimin said happily.
Mo Yan was inexplicably surprised, "Really? Teacher Lin!"
"But..." Lin Weimin said and then fell silent again.
Mo Yan was immediately upset when he saw this, "But what?"
"With your current work, it's still a little lacking and not convincing enough." Lin Weimin said with some regret.
Mo Yan blurted out, "I'll write it!"
The sentence "I write" is very spiritual. It seems to be irrelevant to the question, but it completely fits the main point of what Teacher Lin said.
Lin Weimin couldn't help but nodded, thinking that the boy was teachable.
It has to be you!
Such comrades are the talents that every publication is looking for!
The more Teacher Lin looked at Mo Yan's little eyes, the more he felt that they were emitting the light of wisdom.
"Come on, tell me, what are you writing recently? Do you have any inspiration?"
Lin Weimin no longer cared about Shi Tiesheng at this moment. He pulled Mo Yan to sit aside and started to care about his creation, study and life.
Well, mainly creation.
When Tong Zhonggui saw Lin Weimin and Mo Yan talking about their new work, he couldn't help but admire them. Perhaps only a spirit like that of Teacher Lin could ensure that "Contemporary" would continue to produce excellent works and achieve long-term sales.
The other colleagues looked at Mo Yan who was trapped by Lin Weimin and shook their heads sympathetically.
My weekend is ruined by Wei Min's entanglement!
On the other hand, Mo Yan, with Lin Weimin's promise to let him stay in Beijing, was filled with inspiration and ideas. He had originally had no ideas, but he managed to come up with one in a hurry.
Lin Weimin listened to him talk about his ideas, nodded from time to time, and finally when the discussion was almost over, he said: "This is a good idea, write it down and show it to me!"
"good!"
(End of this chapter)
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