Chapter 571 The Donkey of the Production Team
In the publishing industry, the term "sub-brand" refers to a subsidiary publishing house under a large publishing house.
Speaking of Popular Literature and Art Publishing House, it was quite a long time ago.
In the early days of the People's Republic of China, there was a ZY-level publishing house in Yenching that published books for workers, peasants and soldiers and specialized in publishing various popular reading materials. It was one of the largest publishing houses in the country at that time - the Popular Reading Publishing House.
The books published by the Popular Readings Publishing House are divided into five categories: first, popular theoretical readings, political readings, and readings on the history of the Party and the Party Building; second, current affairs, policy readings, and rural work readings; third, language knowledge readings, history and geography readings, and popular science readings; fourth, popular literary and artistic readings such as folk art and storytelling, story legends, historical epics, dramas and novels; and fifth, comic books, picture albums, and New Year pictures.
From the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China to 1958, when the Popular Reading Publishing House was merged into the People's Publishing House for some reasons, this publishing house edited and published more than 1,700 kinds of popular reading materials. These books were printed in tens of thousands of copies at least, hundreds of thousands of copies at most, and millions of copies at most.
The planned annual publication volume of books alone was as high as 40 million copies. Both the sales volume and influence were enough to surpass the entire domestic publishing industry at that time.
In 1955, only two years after the Popular Reading Publishing House was established, its team had swelled to more than 240 people, and its office conditions were poor. The publishing house decided to raise funds to build a five-story office building of more than 6,600 square meters, located at No. 320, South Chaonei Street, which is now No. 166 Chaonei Street, the location of the Guowen Publishing House.
Unexpectedly, the building was completed in 1958 and experienced an inhumane dismemberment in 1958. That year, the Popular Reading Publishing House was split up and merged into the People's Publishing House.
Most of its political theory, current affairs policy, collection, "Current Affairs Handbook", "Political Studies" book publishing tasks and editorial staff, as well as art, publishing, distribution, and administrative staff were merged into the People's Publishing House;
The publishing tasks and editorial staff of scientific books were incorporated into the Popular Science Press;
The publishing tasks and editorial staff of literary books and Baowentang Bookstore were merged into the National Literature Publishing House;
Baowentang Printing Factory was taken over by the Ministry of Culture.
To some extent, the People's Publishing House and the National Literature Publishing House are now staying at No. 166 Chaonei Street, which seems to be a case of usurping the throne.
The Popular Literature and Art Publishing House and the Popular Readings Publishing House differ by only two characters and the Popular Readings Publishing House is a subsidiary of the Popular Readings Publishing House.
After the literary books publishing of Popular Reading Publishing House and Baowentang Bookstore were merged into the National Literature Publishing House, Popular Literature Publishing House naturally became a subsidiary of the National Literature Publishing House.
Sub-brand publishing houses are not uncommon in the domestic publishing industry. For example, the People's Fine Arts Publishing House has two sub-brands, namely Chaohua Fine Arts Publishing House and China Classical Art Publishing House. There is also the People's Education Press, which also has the sub-brand of Cultural Education Publishing House.
There are many publishing houses and sub-publishing houses that have the same team, but with two names. The people who work are still the same, but they change the names when publishing books. There are also cases where personnel are mixed. For example, the president of a sub-publishing house may very likely be the president or vice president of the parent publishing house. The editorial department is probably the same. The president and the vice president are closely connected.
In addition to the Popular Literature and Art Publishing House, Guowen Publishing House once had many other subsidiary publishing houses, including Shanghai Lu Xun Works Editing and Publishing House, Times Publishing House, Tianxia Publishing House, Writers Publishing House, Literary and Ancient Books Publishing House, Art Publishing House, China Drama Publishing House, Music Publishing House, Foreign Literature Publishing House, etc.
The fates of these sub-societies that Guowen Society once had were different.
For example, the Shanghai-based Lu Xun Works Publishing House and the Times Publishing House were completely incorporated and fully digested.
There are also publishing houses such as Writers Publishing House and Art Publishing House that have restored their independent systems after the reform and opening up.
There are also cases like the Literary and Ancient Books Publishing House, which went through many twists and turns over the decades and finally became a subsidiary of the Guowen Publishing House.
When Lin Weimin went to the office to seek justice, he said that he wanted to restore the Popular Literature and Art Publishing House. In addition to giving his superiors a way out, he also had his own agenda.
After he became the editor-in-chief of Guowen Publishing House, he planned to expand the publication of popular reading materials in the publishing house.
But Guowen Publishing House is, after all, a publishing house that excels in pure literature, and it has published too many popular reading materials. Not to mention the opinions of the outside world, I am afraid that the first voices of opposition will arise from within Guowen Publishing House itself.
Restoring the Popular Literature and Art Publishing House as a subsidiary publishing house would kill two birds with one stone, solving both the immediate troubles and possible troubles in the future.
I run a publishing house that specializes in popular reading materials. It would be unreasonable for me to find fault with the people I work with, whether they are from my own company or outsiders, right?
Lin Weimin told Cheng Zaochun all his ideas, and Cheng Zaochun expressed his approval after thinking it over.
Since Lin Weimin had already taken care of everything, Cheng Zaochun didn't hesitate and quickly asked someone to write a report.
With one more sub-brand publishing house, Guowen Publishing House will have more impetus in its development, and the sooner the Popular Literature and Art Publishing House recovers, the better.
"You have to take good control of the publishing direction of the sub-brand publishing house after it resumes, including planning the bibliography, and implement it as soon as possible. You can't just put up the brand and leave it empty," Cheng Zaochun warned.
"Don't worry, since I came up with this idea, I definitely can't let it sit idle."
Cheng Zaochun added, "Since you were the one who proposed the Popular Literature and Art Publishing House, I think it would be better if you could take on the roles of both president and editor-in-chief."
"Do you want to tire me to death?" Lin Weimin yelled.
Cheng Zaochun frowned and looked at him, "What? You took back the mess yourself, and you want others to clean it up for you?"
Lin Weimin said jokingly, "Look at what you said. If others heard it, they would think it was a tough job. I can just be the editor-in-chief, and let someone else be the president."
"As a secondary club, how much resources do you want to occupy in the club?"
Lin Weimin looked at Cheng Zaochun with some frustration, "Leader, the donkeys in the production team can't be used like this!"
"I'll give you an extra subsidy."
I need your subsidy?
"Leader, you are the only one who has the final say. I demand that this matter be discussed at the meeting." Lin Weimin argued.
Cheng Zaochun looked calm and nodded, "Of course, we'll have a meeting tomorrow to finalize this matter."
There must be a reason why Cheng Zaochun is so confident.
The sub-brand has just been restored, and since Lin Weimin is concurrently serving as the editor-in-chief, the position of the president must not be lower than his.
Looking around the Guowen Society, there is no one else except the president and the secretary.
The secretary is always idealistic and certainly doesn't want to get involved in such matters. Cheng Zaochun is not willing to do it. Who else is suitable to be the president of this sub-club except Lin Weimin?
Moreover, leading cadres who hold concurrent positions are paid based on the principle of the higher salary, that is, they will receive the salary of the position that offers the highest salary.
If Lin Weimin served as the president and editor-in-chief of Popular Literature and Art Publishing House, his position would never be higher than that of editor-in-chief of Guowen Publishing House, a superior publishing house, and his salary would not change, so Cheng Zaochun said to give him an extra subsidy.
It's like doing more work but not earning much more money. This kind of work is really the kind that those who are within reach don't value, and those who value it are out of reach.
Lin Weimin was a little depressed and felt that he had dug a hole for himself.
"Don't feel pressured. After all, you are the leader. You can leave the specific work to your subordinates. Go back and think carefully about the development path after the establishment of the sub-brand club. Write a document later. After the higher-ups approve our application, we will have to hold a meeting to discuss it!"
Cheng Zaochun comforted Lin Weimin while sending him out of the office, then turned around with a bright smile on his face.
I finally managed to trick this Monkey King. Oh my! It feels so good!
Lin Weimin left the office with a sad face. He was melancholy for a while and then let go of his emotions.
The New Year is coming soon. Don’t think about these troubles for now and just have fun for a few days.
He had just taken office as editor-in-chief and had been devoting all his time and energy to work. Now that the Spring Festival was less than a week away, it was time for him to relax.
The next day was the weekend. Lin Weimin planned to take Tao Huimin to Wangfujing for some shopping in the morning and go to the People's Art Theatre to watch a play in the evening. He got a call from Wang Shuo early in the morning, asking him and Tao Huimin to have dinner.
"I'm not free tonight, please treat me to lunch." Lin Weimin said bluntly on the phone.
"Beating up! I'm inviting you to eat Western food. What's the mood for lunch?"
Lin Weimin joked, "Oh, Master Shuo is bleeding, we're going to have some foreign food today!"
"Maxim, 7 o'clock in the evening, come if you want!" Wang Shuo said and hung up the phone.
Lin Weimin was not annoyed. This was the usual way he and Wang Shuo got along. He turned to Tao Huimin and said, "We can't watch the play. Wang Shuo will treat us to dinner tonight at Maxim's."
"It doesn't matter. I haven't had Western food for a long time. This is just the right way to satisfy my craving." Tao Huimin said with a smile.
The two chatted and laughed as they packed up and went out.
According to the plan, we will go to Wangfujing for shopping first.
As the Spring Festival approaches, any place in Yanjing city that has something to do with shopping and sightseeing is bustling. Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin went into Wangfujing and felt the crowds of people.
When I came out again, I had a bunch of New Year's goods in my hands and was covered in sweat.
The reason why there are so many people in the mall is not only because it is approaching the New Year, but also because of the sharp rise in prices in the past few years.
In recent years, there has been a wave of panic buying from time to time. Ordinary people are scared and will rush to shopping malls at the slightest sign of trouble, wishing to spend all the money in their passbooks.
It doesn’t matter if you lose money, as long as you have things. After all, if you buy things late, their prices will really go up!
After finishing their shopping in Wangfujing, Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin first went to Quanjude for lunch and then went to Friendship Store in the afternoon.
What he bought in Wangfujing in the morning were some ordinary New Year goods, and what he bought at the Friendship Store were some New Year goods for gifts. The things here are a bit expensive, but it’s face-saving to give them as gifts, and Lin Weimin has gotten used to buying them in recent years.
While walking around the Friendship Store, Lin Weimin asked Tao Huimin, "When will mom and dad arrive?"
"They said they would leave tomorrow and should be here the day after tomorrow."
This year, Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin do not plan to return to their hometown in Ruian for the Spring Festival. Instead, they invite Tao Huimin's parents to Yanjing to celebrate the Spring Festival. After the Spring Festival, they will let Tao Huimin bring her parents to Yanjing to play for a while.
Tao's mother just retired this year, and Tao's father still has two years to retire. Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin discussed bringing the two of them to Yanjing to settle down.
Tao's parents have only one daughter. After retirement, they are getting older and older, and they need no one to take care of them. Lin Weimin asked Tao Huimin to take this opportunity to persuade his parents.
After a day of shopping outside, at around five in the afternoon, Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin first sent all the New Year's goods home, and then drove to Maxim's Western Restaurant at No. 2 Chongwenmen West Street.
After opening in 1983, Maxim's quickly became a leader among Yanjing Western restaurants, and has become increasingly lively in recent years.
A few years ago, when Bertolucci was filming "The Last Emperor" in Yanjing, he liked to come here when he had nothing to do. He had a hot relationship with the restaurant manager Song Huaigui and even let Song Huaigui play a cameo role in the movie. Lin Weimin once suspected that the two had something unspeakable going on, but unfortunately he had no evidence.
When I arrived at the restaurant today, I didn't see Song Huaigui standing at the door to greet guests. When Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin entered the restaurant, they saw Wang Shuo standing in the corner of the restaurant, waving at him. In the waving hand, a black "brick" was particularly conspicuous.
(End of this chapter)
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