Chapter 559: Die with Peace of Mind
This business trip to Hong Kong took a total of four days, round trip, which was even faster than Lin Weimin's trip to other places to collect manuscripts.
After returning to the Chinese Literature Society, he first checked in with Cheng Zaochun and reported the results of his communication with Liang Fengyi to Cheng Zaochun.
"Okay, as long as you guys have discussed it. I'll leave this matter entirely to you to handle. Your most important task in the next period of time is this, so you must pay attention to it."
If he had known this would be the result, Lin Weimin would have accepted it calmly and said, "Leader, there is one more thing I want to discuss with you."
"What's up?"
Lin Weimin then told Cheng Zaochun about the current changes in Hong Kong's newspaper industry and Liu Yichang's request. After listening, Cheng Zaochun pondered for a moment.
"Not only you, but I can't make the decision on this matter either. It needs approval from above. This includes the publication of Ms. Liang's works, which all need to be approved."
"Of course I know this, but I didn't completely agree to it."
Cheng Zaochun said: "We can't rush this matter."
"My idea is to wait and see the effect of Ms. Liang's work after it is published. If it is popular, we can continue to try to introduce a batch of works, which can also be regarded as expanding the channels for the agency's business."
Cheng Zaochun nodded slightly. "You are right. This is what we should do. You can first reply to Liu Yichang and tell him not to worry. In addition, as for the political issue, we will definitely handle it strictly when the time comes. Let him be mentally prepared."
"good!"
Two days later, winter was approaching and colleagues in the company were all studying the heating problem this winter.
Lin Weimin was reviewing manuscripts in the office when Cheng Zaochun called him over again.
"Leader, what do you want from me?"
Cheng Zaochun asked him to sit down, his face a little grim, and said: "To make a long story short, someone above has an opinion on "White Deer Plain"..."
More than half a year has passed since the publication of "White Deer Plain". During this period, Lin Weimin has continued to hear some vague accusations and criticisms from relevant leaders. The main problems are still concentrated on the two points mentioned at the original seminar on the work, QS description and historical tendency.
Because White Deer Plain has such an excellent reputation in the literary and critical circles, these criticisms have never caused any waves, and Lin Weimin and Guowen Publishing House have never cared about it.
Cheng Zaochun called him over today, and it was obvious that the criticism was a bit too much.
"Not only pornographic, but also erotic."
After Cheng Zaochun finished his comment, Lin Weimin frowned, "Are you going to kill them all? Who said that?"
Cheng Zaochun looked at him with a subtle look. How could he ask such a thing?
"What does it mean? Make "White Deer Plain" a 'banned book'?"
Cheng Zaochun didn't say anything, but his eyes already gave the answer.
Lin Weimin said with a serious face: "I cannot agree with this! If anyone thinks there is a problem with this novel, please speak out openly. We can hold a symposium and discuss it to see if there is any problem. Instead of making a unilateral decision based on someone's idealistic comments, this is not literary censorship, this is a one-man show!"
"Be careful with your words!" Cheng Zaochun reminded Lin Weimin.
He was actually feeling very aggrieved as well. It had been more than half a year since White Deer Plain was published and half a year since it was published, with sales of hundreds of thousands of copies. Now, a sentence that came out of nowhere would wipe out all the efforts of Guowen Publishing House in the past year. It was so unfair.
Lin Weimin looked at Cheng Zaochun and said, "Leader, you can't just let this matter go."
"So what do you want?"
"Let's ask the higher-ups for clarification. Didn't someone say that there are problems with White Deer Plain? Let's ask the higher-ups to organize a symposium so that everyone can take a look and discuss it! One person's opinion doesn't count. Let the comrades in the literary and critical circles get involved and listen to everyone's opinions. Oh, and we must also invite the 'leader' who has the opinion."
Cheng Zaochun listened to Lin Weimin's words and smiled. "Yes, this is a good idea!"
As for Lin Weimin's invitation to the "leader", he just pretended not to hear it. It would be strange if the leader came.
Since some people want to minimize the influence of "White Deer Plain" through not-so- aboveboard means, or even ban it in disguise, then they should do it openly and let everyone discuss it.
It’s okay for "White Deer Plain" to have controversial points, but is it as bad as some people say?
At any time, the most terrifying thing is never the complexity of the laws or rules, but the fact that everything can be done openly, but in private there is a set of unspoken rules that can only be decided by a small number of privileged people.
He holds the power of heaven in his mouth, and a single word can decide life and death. It is nothing more than this.
After Cheng Zaochun and Lin Weimin discussed it, they went directly to the office to explain the position of the National Literature Society and urged the office to hold a symposium.
The office had no way of rejecting this conspiracy, and after a week of preparation, the symposium was officially held.
This symposium was different from the last work seminar held by "Contemporary" because it was to comment on the novel "White Deer Plain", so many people who came were engaged in theoretical research. Two people from Guowen Publishing House came, Cheng Zaochun and Lin Weimin.
At the symposium, most of the participants gave positive comments on White Deer Plain, believing that the overall orientation of the novel was fine and that it was a rare novel in decades.
Cheng Zaochun and Lin Weimin looked at each other halfway through the meeting, and the stone in their hearts fell to the ground.
This time the agency held a symposium, at which "White Deer Plain" was fully affirmed. Cheng Zaochun and Lin Weimin thought that everything was fine.
As a result, the higher-ups softened their stance and stopped mentioning Huang SF, but they forbade the printing of White Deer Plain and told us to stop after the current edition was sold out.
After hearing this ban, Lin Weimin went to Cheng Zaochun's office with a cold face, "Old Cheng, I want to go to the office to talk to the leader, do you want to go?"
Seeing his expression, how could Cheng Zaochun not understand what his "heart-to-heart talk" was about?
Cheng Zaochun sighed helplessly, "When you go, can you tell your boss that this matter has nothing to do with me, it was you who wanted to do this!"
"No problem!" Lin Weimin stiffened his neck but remained calm.
Cheng Zaochun stared at him for a few seconds, then gave up his futile struggle and said, "Forget it, I'll go with you!"
Even if Lin Weimin really said that, the leader has to believe it. This guy is his subordinate. If he goes over the head of the leader to fight, how can he get away with it?
If he goes with them, at least he can control the situation.
If you die, you should die with peace of mind.
When Cheng Zaochun thought of this, he couldn't help but sigh to the sky.
It’s difficult to be the president!
"Let's go, Old Cheng!"
Lin Weimin didn't give Cheng Zaochun a chance to sigh and walked out of the office building first.
Cheng Zaochun got in the car, stepped on the accelerator, and drove straight to the superior department.
When they reached the leader's office, Cheng Zaochun stopped Lin Weimin and said, "Let me go in and talk first."
Lin Weimin pushed his hand away and said, "The leader has just taken up his post and is not very familiar with me. It's a good opportunity for me to get to know him."
After saying that, without waiting for Cheng Zaochun to react, he knocked on the office door, and Cheng Zaochun could only follow helplessly.
Once I entered the door, the leader was no longer the same leader.
"Song Shu!"
"We came here this time to discuss with you the situation of "White Deer Plain"..."
After saying hello, Cheng Zaochun had just said one sentence when he was interrupted by Lin Weimin, "Leader, I heard that White Deer Plain can no longer be printed. Do you know about this?"
The leader looked a little surprised, and subconsciously looked at Cheng Zaochun. Cheng Zaochun looked unhappy, and said to Lin Weimin: "Weimin, don't talk yet, I haven't finished yet."
"Don't be in a hurry. Wait a minute." Lin Weimin didn't look at Cheng Zaochun, but kept looking at the leader. "Leader, the symposium a few days ago just ended. I'm sure you've heard about everyone's comments on White Deer Plain. I just want to ask, are the opinions of so many experts and scholars bullshit? As long as someone in a position of authority says so, this book can be banned?"
The leader was stunned when he heard this, and his face darkened. "Comrade Weimin, you don't know the situation here, so don't make any comments casually."
"I don't understand the situation. Then find the person who made the suggestion and I'll talk to him face to face to see if I can answer his questions."
The leader frowned. "What's your attitude? Are you looking for me to question you?"
"I'm just asking you a question. If you don't tell me, I'll assume that you're the one who's dissatisfied with White Deer Plain!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
The leader was intimidated by Lin Weimin's unreasonable demands and immediately wanted to explain himself. But then he realized that this was Lin Weimin's provocation. He glared at Lin Weimin fiercely. Lin Weimin was not afraid at all and glared back at him.
The two men stared at each other for a long time. Seeing that Lin Weimin's attitude had not changed at all, the leader knew that he must have come here today with the intention of fighting to the death.
Then he turned his eyes and looked at Cheng Zaochun, "Zaochun, you came at the right time. I want to talk to you about "White Deer Plain"."
Cheng Zaochun was delighted when he heard this, knowing that Lin Weimin's trick of going straight in, catching the tortoise in the jar, and beating the dog behind closed doors must have worked. He pulled Lin Weimin and said, "Weimin, go wait for me outside first!"
Lin Weimin stood where he was, and only after Cheng Zaochun gave him a look did he put away his reckless attitude.
"Old Cheng, I told you when I came here that I will stay here today until the matter of White Deer Plain is sorted out!"
Lin Weimin was speaking to Cheng Zaochun, but the leader knew very well that he was talking to him.
"Got it, got it. You go out first. I'll talk to the leader."
After Lin Weimin left, Cheng Zaochun looked at his leader and saw that his leader relaxed, as if he had sent away the plague god. Cheng Zaochun understood this feeling very well.
"Comrade Zaochun, you, Lin Weimin, are really disorganized and undisciplined!"
"Yes, you are not the only one who said that. Director Bian and Director Du are also troubled by this kid. I can't do anything about him!"
Cheng Zaochun's face was filled with sorrow as he spoke, and it was obvious that he suffered greatly from this on a daily basis.
Seeing his expression, the leader couldn't help but feel that they were in the same boat. "Old Du told me before he left. It seems he was right!"
"That's right. You don't know that it's hard to do your job with a troublemaker like him under you!"
After talking for a while about the pain of being "harmed" by Lin Weimin, Cheng Zaochun said, "Leader, do you think you can be flexible about the issue of White Deer Plain? We have held the symposium that should have been held, and the office also supported our approach at the time. Now it's reported that it is not allowed to be printed..."
The leader sighed, "This is also a helpless move. People have been keeping an eye on "White Deer Plain"."
"I understand your difficulties. But you have also seen Weimin's attitude. He will definitely not give up until this matter is clarified."
After Cheng Zaochun said this, he felt something was wrong.
Is this considered... a threat?
Am I taking advantage of the power of others?
Comrade Lao Cheng felt a flash of shame in his heart.
Hearing his words, a trace of worry flashed across the leader's face. It would be difficult to deal with such a troublemaker!
Cheng Zaochun keenly caught the expression on the leader's face at that moment, and after thinking for a moment, he whispered, "In fact, I understand that you just want to give an explanation to the old comrades. How about this..."
Cheng Zaochun kept talking in the leader's ear like a military strategist, and the leader's eyes lit up as he listened, "This is a good idea, it's for the people..."
"He deserves it!"
Cheng Zaochun's merciless contempt made the leader nod his head.
Zaochun is a good comrade, but it seems like he has been harmed a lot by this guy!
I’m so afraid of 404 someday, please cherish me.
I've only updated twice this week. My cervical spine is under too much pressure, so I have to reduce the time I spend sitting. I went out for exercise in the morning.
(End of this chapter)
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