Chapter 916 No One Is Better Than Him
New Year's Day in 2000 fell on a weekend, so unfortunately we didn't have much holiday. But at least we didn't have to adjust the day off, so for workers it was a win or a loss.
This past December, the 1999 Nobel Prize award ceremony was held in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
In this year's Nobel Prize selection, the Physics Prize was jointly won by Dutch physicists Gerard 't Hooft and Martinus Veltman; the Chemistry Prize was won by American chemist Ahmed Xavier; the Biomedical Prize was won by American biologist Gut Blobel; and the Economics Prize was won by Canadian economist Robert Mundell.
The Literature Prize was unsurprisingly won by German poet, novelist and playwright Günter Grass.
The winning results were announced as early as October. Although he always makes fun of Roger Strauss, Lin Weimin has to admit that the old guy is indeed well-informed.
According to Roger's information, this year's Nobel Prize in Literature is Lin Weimin's sixth time to be a runner-up, making him worthy of the title of "long-distance runner."
Since the 1980s, the Nobel Prize in Literature has always caused a certain response in the domestic literary community and among readers before and after the awarding of the prize every year, and this year is no exception.
Since the early 1990s, there has been an endless stream of news in China about Lin Weimin being nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature and having the possibility of winning the prize. However, over the years, everyone has always held on to hope and ended up being disappointed, and many people have gradually gotten used to it.
This also shows the difference between the Nobel Prize in Literature and other heavyweight international literary awards. At least the Goncourt Prize, the Booker Prize, and the Strega Prize do not have such attention.
For Lin Weimin himself, he has long been accustomed to this kind of attention and has never taken the award or not to heart. Life goes on as usual.
After New Year's Day, Mr. Wan fell ill and Lin Weimin went to visit him alone.
The old comrade lying on the hospital bed had a pale complexion and looked very weak and lifeless.
Lin Weimin put down his things, and Mr. Wan asked, "You're the only one here? Why didn't the little girl come?"
Lin Weimin felt upset when he heard this. Why can't I come? Why are you treating me differently?
"I have a cold."
"It's just a cold. How many times can I see him with my current physique?" Mr. Wan had a look of regret between his brows.
"I'll bring her to you when she's recovered from her cold."
Hearing this, Mr. Wan finally smiled.
Mr. Wan's illness this time was not serious, but he was too old. He would be 90 after the New Year. He had underlying diseases, and coupled with the troubles he had suffered in previous years, any minor illness now could lead to serious consequences, so Lin Weimin had to be careful.
Lin Weimin sat beside the bed and chatted with Mr. Wan.
When people get old, they always seem to reminisce about the past.
Mr. Wan also told Lin Weimin about the small white building where his family lived when he was a child. He was a young master from a wealthy family.
As he was talking, he reminded Lin Weimin, “Don’t let your child get in touch with those profound classics too early. It won’t have any good effect. I think back to when I was a kid, I read Ibsen and Dream of the Red Chamber at home. I didn’t quite understand what I was reading. When I read them again as an adult, I found that those profound memories were full of mistakes and omissions. It took me a long time to correct them…”
"You think too much. That girl can't read any classics. She doesn't even like to read comic books. But her motor nerves are very developed."
"That means she inherited her mother's good genes. She is so beautiful, so she must look like her mother."
Lin Weimin was unhappy. "What are you talking about? If someone looks like me, then she is not beautiful? If someone looks like me, then she is both beautiful and talented!"
Mr. Wan said, "Well... I can't say that he is not like you. His restless monkey energy is quite similar to yours!"
Lin Weimin was silent. If you disliked me so much, why did you accept me back then? Was it just to attack me now?
He decided to change the subject. "Tell me about the Mr. Dafang who taught you. Didn't he teach Yuan Datou's son? Tell me in detail so I can get some information."
In Mr. Wan’s childhood memories, Mr. Fang, who enlightened him, is one of the most unforgettable people he mentions whenever he talks about the past.
"Mr. Dafang, the one he taught almost became a 'crown prince', and when he was teaching me he often boasted about it to me.
He lived in the French Concession at the time, had a hobby of collecting ancient coins, and had several concubines at home.
He had a problem. He didn't want to light a fire in winter. He would sweat profusely when the room got warmer. Later I wondered if he admired the elegance of the Wei and Jin dynasties..."
When talking about the past, Mr. Wan was in high spirits and looked much more energetic.
At the end of the conversation, Mr. Wan mentioned that he started writing the script and Lin Weimin played the supporting role.
"No wonder you became a great playwright. Look at your teacher and the books you read when you were a child..."
Although Mr. Wan was old and in poor health, he was not confused and started cursing as soon as he heard what he said.
"Stop flattering me!"
Lin Weimin was embarrassed but still kept smiling.
A few days later, Lin Weimin brought the recovered Xiao Doubao to the hospital.
Mr. Wan immediately smiled when he saw the little girl, and he was like a completely different person from when he faced Lin Weimin.
Lin Weimin and his family stayed in the hospital for more than an hour, and Xiao Doubao said goodbye to Mr. Wan reluctantly.
After the Lesser Cold comes the twelfth lunar month, and the affairs of the Guowen Group are still busy. After the establishment of the group, although the responsibilities and powers of each department and subsidiary have become clearer, Lin Weimin's burden is getting heavier and heavier.
Having been a leader for so many years, he has long understood that a single tree cannot make a forest and that tasks cannot be completed by one person alone, so recently he has been considering unloading some of his burdens.
In a blink of an eye, it has been half a year since Lao Cheng stepped down. Gao Xianjun has also been the editor-in-chief of Guowen Publishing House for half a year. He has not made any mistakes in his work and has been very dedicated, proving that the editor-in-chief was not wrongly chosen. Now it is time for him, the president, to step down and let others take over.
Lin Weimin's existence is an exception in the history of Guowen Society. He took office as editor-in-chief when he was less than 30 years old, and then became the president a few years later. If he does not retire, he will be like a mountain pressing down on the potential young people of Guowen Society.
When young people joined the company as editors, he was the president; when they became leaders, he was the president; even after people retired, he was still the president...
No matter how you work, in the end, this president has nothing to do with you. Isn't this blocking everyone's path to advancement?
All in all, Lin Weimin has been the editor-in-chief and president for ten years, and it is time for him to give way to younger people.
That doesn't seem to be right, as the other candidates in the society are not even younger than him.
As the year draws closer, a rumor suddenly spreads within Guowen Group.
Old Lin is about to abdicate.
People in the company have always respectfully addressed Lin Weimin as editor-in-chief, president, and chairman.
But I don’t know since when, when people chat privately, the name changed to Lao Lin.
Resigning does not mean retiring. According to rumors, Comrade Lao Lin is going to step down as the president of Guowen Publishing House and focus on the management of the group.
As soon as the news came out, it immediately became the hottest topic in the Guowen Society before the New Year, even overshadowing the year-end bonuses and benefits.
The most fundamental reason why everyone is so concerned about Lin Weimin's job change is, of course, because of the changes he has brought to the Guowen Publishing House over the years he has been the president.
The Guowen Society was founded more than 40 years ago, and is now almost 50 years old. It has had many presidents, all of whom are talented and highly respected. They have made invaluable contributions to building the Guowen Society from scratch into the highest institution in the domestic literary world.
Lin Weimin was not the longest-serving president or the longest-serving editor-in-chief in the history of Guowen Publishing House, but he was the leader who brought the greatest changes to Guowen Publishing House.
The changes he brought to Guowen Press were all-round, including book publishing, author discovery and training, management system reform, accelerated market competition, and Guowen Press's transformation into a company...
Thanks to Lin Weimin's efforts over the years, Guowen Publishing House has undergone earth-shaking changes.
Some older people may feel that today’s Guowen Society lacks the purity and humanity of the past, but they have to admit that today’s Guowen Society is indeed on a better, flatter and smoother road.
Think about it from another angle. If it wasn't Lin Weimin, but someone else as the editor-in-chief or president, would they do a better job than Lin Weimin?
This question does not need an answer, everyone in the Guowen Society knows it very well.
No one can do better than Lin Weimin!
Lin Weimin is about to step down from the role of president. Who will be his successor is not only a matter of concern to Guowen Publishing House, but also a major concern to everyone in Guowen Group.
There are pearls and jade in front of you, and it is difficult to stop them with tiles and stones.
With the huge empire that Lin Weimin has built for Guowen Publishing House over the years, no matter who his successor is, he will probably have unlimited pressure on his shoulders.
The gossip spread through the community for a few days, and everyone was talking about it, and the news became more and more true.
This is not only because everyone is discussing it, but the more crucial evidence is that Lao Lin started talking to people.
Whenever there are personnel changes in the unit, a conversation with the leader is an inevitable prelude.
This phenomenon undoubtedly strongly supports the recent rumors in the society. It seems that Lin Weimin's resignation is a foregone conclusion.
Lin Weimin talked to people, including several vice presidents, editors-in-chief and secretaries of the Guowen Publishing House. Among them, two people also held the title of president of subordinate publishing houses. The only exception was Li Xin.
Tongwen Society has a very special position in Guowen Society. Unlike other sub-societies which only have a name, it is a subsidiary society with its own team and its strength is comparable to that of Guowen Society.
President Li Xin does not hold the title of vice president of the Guowen Society, and in the eyes of everyone in the Guowen Society, there is no need for him to do so.
Over the years, the title of president of Tongwen Society is much more valuable than the vice president of Guowen Society.
Someone has done some statistics and found that Lin Weimin talked to a total of six people, and these six people all seemed to meet the requirements for the position of president. Everyone knows that the next president of the Guowen Society will be one of these six people.
While the employees were discussing the candidate for the future president of Guowen Publishing House, Lin Weimin began to visit several former presidents.
"The National Literature Society is going to change its president, and the opinions of the old comrades cannot be ignored."
Faced with Lin Weimin's high-sounding words, Meng Weizai almost spat in his face.
"You keep mentioning 'Li Xin'. You tell me this is asking for my opinion?"
"I finally see that you have used all your tricks to deal with us retired comrades."
"If you want him to do it, just let him do it. Why force me to express my opinion? How many years have I been retired?"
"What? If he can't convince the crowd, are you going to call me out to support him?"
…
After being scolded, Lin Weimin swallowed his anger.
"Look at what you said. I am also trying to unite my comrades! OK, I understand. You agree with this candidate."
"roll!"
Lin Weimin was kicked out and he couldn't help shaking his head.
The older the old comrades get, the more irritable they become, and they lack the self-control of a veteran cadre.
(End of this chapter)
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