Chapter 87 Letter from an Old Colleague
The days slipped quietly into deep winter amidst the bustle and anticipation. Yanyuan was blanketed in snow, and the library's heated heat made people drowsy. Gu Qiuyue was buried in a translation of materials on the "Special Zone Economy" when she was suddenly awakened by the booming voice of the old man in the mailroom: "Gu Qiuyue, Economics Department! Registered mail! With a red seal!"
Gu Qiuyue's heart skipped a beat. A registered letter with a red seal? She practically ran downstairs. Her fingers faltered as she took the thick brown paper envelope, emblazoned with the full name of the renowned literary magazine and its striking red official seal. Returning to her dorm room, she closed the door, leaning against the cold panel. She took several deep breaths before tremblingly tearing open the seal.
There was no lead-printed receipt inside. What slid out first was a brand new magazine with a fresh scent of ink and a simple and elegant cover design.
She eagerly flipped through the catalog, her eyes quickly scanning over the titles and author names... Her gaze suddenly stopped at a page in the middle and back.
"Wutong Rain", author: Qingwu.
Her heart seemed to stop beating at that moment, and then started beating wildly again, hitting her chest and making a huge roar.
It really was her novel! The one she had revised repeatedly and poured so much effort into, "Wutong Rain."
With trembling hands, she turned to the corresponding page. Familiar words, with the weight of lead type and the scent of ink, were clearly printed on the white paper.
No longer a lonely blot of ink on a piece of draft paper, it had become lead type that could be read by millions! She greedily looked at her own name—"Qingwu"—printed below the title, with a dreamlike sense of reality.
Attached to the magazine was a formal letter from the editorial department. The magazine's red logo was printed on the top of the letterhead, and the content was no longer in small handwritten characters, but in formal typeface, with serious and congratulatory wording:
Comrade Qingwu:
We are pleased to inform you that your esteemed work "Wutong Rain" has been unanimously approved by the final review committee of our journal and will be published in this issue (Issue No. XXX). The work has a novel concept, vivid characterization, and detailed descriptions that are quite characteristic of the times and have a sense of life. The writing style has also been significantly improved compared to the first draft. Special congratulations!
Enclosed are two sample copies of the journal and a payment notice (see attachment for details). Please check. We look forward to your continued contributions!
Sincerely,
salute!
Editorial Department of New Wind Literary Magazine
(Editor: Lin)”
An overwhelming surge of joy washed over Gu Qiuyue like a surging tide. She clutched the magazine and letter tightly, her fingertips turning white from the strain. Tears welled up in her eyes without warning, splashing onto the page printed with her name and the title of her work, creating tiny dark dots.
It's not sadness, but the indescribable excitement and release when the dream comes true. The many days and nights of writing, the many times of pondering and revising, the anxiety of having the manuscripts rejected or falling into the sea... at this moment, all turn into the sweetest reward.
She almost immediately wanted to share this great news with the person thousands of miles away. She rushed to the desk, spread out the letter paper, and her hand holding the pen was still trembling with excitement:
"Shi Yu! Shi Yu! My novel! 'Wutong Rain'! It's been published! In 'Xin Feng'! It passed the final review! There's a fee! There's a sample issue! The editor also said that he looks forward to my continued submissions..."
The tip of the pen moved rapidly across the letter paper, her words were incoherent but filled with the most genuine ecstasy, and every word was leaping with excitement. She wanted to let him know immediately that her efforts had borne the first fruit, and that his "Qingwu" had lived up to his expectations.
Just as she was about to finish and seal this joyful letter, there was a knock on the dormitory door. It was a classmate, handing her another letter: "Qiuyue, I just saw your letter in the mailbox downstairs. It's signed...Heishui County, Liaoning Province?"
Gu Qiuyue took the letter. The envelope was made of ordinary kraft paper. The handwriting was beautiful but a little unfamiliar. She opened it with doubt and unfolded the letter. The letterhead read:
Qiuyue:
Hello! It's been a while since we last spoke. I'm Sun Juan. I miss you and Deputy Headmaster Xie, as well as Huahua and Shuangshuang... "
Sun Juan? Gu Qiuyue was stunned for a moment, then remembered the cheerful colleague who had enthusiastically helped her take care of her children in the family compound. Why would she be writing from Heishui County, Liaoning Province? Gu Qiuyue suppressed the excitement that was boiling in her heart over the publication of her novel and read on curiously.
"...My transfer to the military hasn't been finalized yet, and my elderly family member isn't in good health and needs care. Mancang and I discussed it for a long time and decided to complete the demobilization procedures for military dependents by the end of this year. The organization took good care of me and arranged for me to work in the Publicity Department of the Heishui County Cultural Center. I just reported for duty..."
In the letter, Sun Juan talked about her reluctance to leave the base, her unfamiliarity with the new environment and her efforts to adapt to a remote small county town in the south of Heishui County, the trivial work at the cultural center such as writing promotional articles and organizing mass activities, as well as her envy of Gu Qiuyue's university life and her longing for the children.
The words reveal a longing for a new life, mixed with a hint of confusion at leaving the familiar environment and uncertainty about the future.
"...Qiuyue, I really admire you for being able to get into university and persist in doing so many things. When I was at the cultural center, I saw those people who could write and draw, and I thought they were so amazing. You must be even more amazing now. If you write any good articles in the future, could you send me a copy to read? I can learn from them and broaden my horizons..."
As she read Sun Juan's letter, Gu Qiuyue's surging emotions gradually subsided, and a complex ripple appeared.
Sun Juan chose another path, leaving the collective life of military families and stepping into a completely new and unknown field for her. The thirst for knowledge and envy of Gu Qiuyue in her letter are so familiar and so touching.
Gu Qiuyue lowered her head, looking at the brand new "New Wind" magazine on the desk with her work printed on it, and then looked at the sentence in Sun Juan's letter, "Can you send me a copy to read?" An idea quietly emerged. She picked up a pen and added another sentence to the end of the letter announcing the good news to Xie Shiyu:
"...By the way, I just got a letter from Sun Juan. She's been transferred from her base to the Heishui County Cultural Center in Liaoning Province. I'm enclosing a copy of New Wind with this letter to make her happy. We're all working hard on our own paths, aren't we?"
Outside the window, dusk fell and the lights on the campus lit up one after another. Gu Qiuyue carefully sealed two letters. One letter flew to the distant military camp, carrying the great joy of a dream come true; the other, a brand new magazine and a short reply letter, were sent to that unfamiliar small northern county with encouragement and sharing.
On this cold winter night, the power of words, like a warm lamp, not only illuminated her own way forward, but also tried to light up another heart that was struggling to explore in the distance. Her battlefield seemed to have quietly widened an inch.
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