Chapter 260 From the modern times back to the Republic of China 15

The doctor was soon invited.

After taking the pulse, the doctor was very helpless: "Didn't I say before that the old lady is not suitable for stimulation anymore?"

Ye Fuguang awkwardly changed the subject: "Doctor, how is my grandmother?"

The doctor shook his head and didn't know what to say: "She was angry and had a stroke. But it's not serious. As long as she is well taken care of in the future, it will not affect her normal life."

After saying this, Ye Fuguang's face changed slightly.

After sending the doctor away, Ye Fuguang instructed the housekeeper: "Let everyone keep their mouths shut. Don't spread a word of what happened in the mansion today."

If people knew that he angered his grandmother to the point of having a stroke, his reputation in the cultural circle would really be ruined.

The housekeeper replied yes and went to deal with the matter.

Ye Fuguang was standing outside Old Madam Ye's house. Just as he was about to go in to see Old Madam Ye, he heard that Zhang Nianzhao had come.

Ye Fuguang hurriedly braved the snow to meet Zhang Nianzhao and led him into the hall: "Brother Wentao, why are you here at this time?"

Zhang Nianzhao said: "I came to see you as soon as the cultural salon was over. Did something happen in your house? I saw that the servants looked a little strange."

Ye Fuguang shook his head, obviously not wanting to say anything more.

But at this moment, Wen Cui walked in quickly. Before she could see the situation in the hall clearly, she spoke first: "Fuguang, the old lady is awake."

After she finished speaking, Wen Cui saw Zhang Nianzhao and a look of embarrassment appeared on her face.

"The old lady is sick?" Zhang Nianzhao said concernedly, "I'll go visit the old lady."

Ye Fuguang secretly glared at Wen Cui.

Wen Cui pursed her lips, trying to reduce her presence as much as possible, not to touch Ye Fuguang's mold at this time.

Ye Fuguang said to Zhang Nianzhao: "The doctor said that the old lady needs to rest, I'm afraid it's not convenient. Brother Wen Tao's kindness, I appreciate it."

Zhang Nianzhao asked again why the old lady Ye suddenly fell ill.

Ye Fuguang: "..."

The more Ye Fuguang looked at Zhang Nianzhao, the more annoyed he became.

If Zhang Nianzhao hadn't invited him to the Cultural Salon, and also invited Zhou Qihuai to the Cultural Salon, how could he have made a fool of himself in public.

Wen Cui helped to make up for it: "Alas, it's unfortunate for our family. The old lady got sick after hearing about the divorce announcement..."

Zhang Nianzhao immediately shared the same hatred and said: "Yao Rong's behavior is really unfilial. From beginning to end, she only cared about herself, but she didn't think about how much trouble her behavior caused to you, Brother Zhiming."

Ye Fuguang's smile on his face almost couldn't be maintained.

He immediately interrupted Zhang Nianzhao and said quickly: "Brother Wentao, I have other things to do here. Why did you suddenly visit?"

"Oh, that's it." Zhang Nianzhao remembered the purpose of his visit.

He told Ye Fuguang that the divorce notice was not only published in several major newspapers in Peking, but also in several major newspapers in Shanghai.

However, they deliberately avoided the Shanghai Daily where Ye Fuguang worked.

So Ye Fuguang didn't hear any news in advance.

"..."

Ye Fuguang couldn't control his expression at all.

So now the cultural circles in Peking and Shanghai have seen the divorce notice, and know that he was notified of the divorce by his old-fashioned wife?

"Brother Zhiming, don't worry." Zhang Nianzhao was not incapable of reading people's faces, and hurriedly comforted him, "Today in the cultural salon, many people agree with this behavior, but there are also many people who stand on your side, Brother Zhiming."

Ye Fuguang looked at Zhang Nianzhao speechlessly: This person doesn't think this sentence is a comforting word.

Zhang Nianzhao didn't notice Ye Fuguang's expression and continued, "Neither side was able to convince the other, so they decided to go back and write articles about this matter. In Beiping, the two major newspapers, Women's Newspaper and Qiming Daily, will be used as a platform for debate."

Ye Fuguang's body began to tremble violently.

It was not enough to publicize the divorce, these people also wanted to start a war of words in the newspapers...

They are afraid that others will not see the two or three hundred words of divorce notice, right...

"By the way, I also heard from Miss Zhou that Editor-in-Chief Chen of Women's Newspaper is in Shanghai at the moment. In Shanghai, the two major newspapers, Women's Times and Shanghai Daily, will be used as a platform for debate."

Ye Fuguang suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhang Nianzhao.

In the Shanghai Daily! ?

Where he worked! ?

"Brother Zhiming, don't worry, I'm definitely on your side."

Zhang Nianzhao patted his chest, looking very righteous and generous.

"When I get home, I'll start writing an article right away. I promise to write an article that will make people applaud and leave the other party speechless."

Ye Fuguang raised his hand, pointed at Zhang Nianzhao, and opened and closed his lips several times, wanting to say something, but swallowed the words back when they came to his lips.

Wen Cui learned her lesson this time. Seeing this, she quickly walked to Ye Fuguang's side, supported Ye Fuguang, and said to Zhang Nianzhao with a smile: "No, no. Mr. Zhang loves Miss Zhou, isn't it? If you write this article, won't you make the beautiful woman unhappy?"

"No, as a writer, pursuing the truth and speaking freely is my life purpose."

Zhang Nianzhao became more and more excited and slammed the table.

"Brother Zhiming, you should have a good rest and take good care of the old lady. Leave the next quarrel to me, just be at ease."

Looking at Zhang Nianzhao who walked away with his head held high, Ye Fuguang almost vomited blood.

Peace of mind?

How can he be at ease!

If the next quarrel was handed over to Zhang Nianzhao, he was afraid that he would be ruined from then on!

***

Yao Rong's divorce announcement was like dropping an atomic bomb on the cultural circles of Beijing and Shanghai, causing a huge storm.

On the second day after the announcement was published, only a few articles in the newspapers mentioned the incident.

But starting from the third day, more than half of the space in "Women's Newspaper" and "Qiming Daily" was published with articles related to the incident.

The conservatives belittled the whole thing, believing that Yao Rong's behavior was disrespectful to her husband. Marriage is a matter between two parties, and there is no need to make a fuss about it.

The literati who pursued ideological liberation strongly praised it, believing

that this move would inspire more women and allow more women to stand up and pursue freedom and progress. The neutral party gave both sides a slap on the wrist, believing that Yao Rong and Ye Fuguang were both wrong, but that publishing a divorce notice in a newspaper was fashionable and worth promoting.

On the fourth day, the front page of Women's News published an article written by Zhou Qihuai.

In this article, she described in detail the reactions of the public before and after the newspaper was read, and then questioned the public in the article:

"Almost everyone believed that the first person who dared to publish a divorce notice in the newspaper must be a man."

"They praised this as a clever move and praised it as a fresh and interesting approach."

"But when they found out that the person who published the divorce notice was a woman, an old-fashioned woman who never left the house and had never been to school, their reactions immediately changed." "

Gentlemen, what are you opposed to, the divorce in the newspaper, or a woman publishing a divorce in the newspaper?"

"Are you speaking out just to target the incident itself, or to defend your own prejudices against women?"

Zhou Qihuai's article was like a sharp blade, directly cutting through the essence of the problem.

It also led more people to join the war of words.

***

The war of words in Peking was fierce, and the literary circles in Shanghai were no less fierce.

Ye Heqi would run to the newsstand downstairs to buy newspapers every day, hide downstairs to read them quietly, and dare not bring the newspapers home at all.

But how could she hide her behavior from Yao Rong.

On this day, Ye Heqi, as usual, finished reading the latest issue of "Women's Times" and "Shanghai Daily" downstairs, gave the newspapers to the neighbor who opened a shop downstairs, and quietly returned home.

As a result, when he opened the door, Ye Heqi found Yao Rong sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper.

The newspaper in Yao Rong's hand was the latest issue of "Shanghai Daily".

"Mom!"

Ye Heqi widened his eyes, shouted subconsciously, and stepped forward to snatch the newspaper from Yao Rong's hand.

There was a person with the pen name "Floating Life Old Man" on this issue of the newspaper. There was not a single dirty word in the article, but the curses were particularly ugly. He

even made malicious speculations about Yao Rong and fabricated a non-existent adulterer, believing that Yao Rong's series of actions were all instructed by the adulterer.

What was the purpose of the adulterer?

Of course, the purpose was to slander Ye Fuguang, the real husband, and take the opportunity to gain fame and fortune.

After reading the whole article, Ye Heqi was so angry that his whole body was shaking.

She couldn't imagine how sad her mother would be after seeing this article.

Yao Rong didn't stop Ye Heqi's action, and followed Ye Heqi's strength to stuff the newspaper into her hand.

Ye Heqi looked down, and her eyes went dark.

Oh no, it happened to be the article of "Floating Old Man".

"Mom, you... have you read this article..." Ye Heqi asked with a hint of luck.

"I have." Yao Rong nodded.

Ye Heqi gasped and said in a hurry: "Mom, please don't get angry because of this kind of person."

"If you want to stigmatize a woman, just make malicious sexual assumptions about her. This is the most common trick these people use."

Yao Rong pulled Ye Heqi to sit down: "I'm not angry. But I think you are much angrier than me."

Ye Heqi looked up at Yao Rong and saw that there was indeed nothing unusual in Yao Rong's expression, so he was slightly relieved: "I'm just afraid that you will be sad."

Yao Rong reached out to take the newspaper.

Ye Heqi let go of his hand obediently and let Yao Rong take the newspaper back.

Yao Rong said seriously: "Heqi, you underestimated me this time."

Ye Heqi quickly defended herself: "How could I underestimate you, my mother?"

Yao Rong held Ye Heqi down, motioning Ye Heqi to calm down: "I know, Heqi, you are a brave, strong and wise child."

"You have a broader vision than me, and you know more than me, so in the past few months, you have always been standing behind me, pushing me forward, pushing me to constantly change myself."

"Even this war of words that swept the entire Peking cultural circles and Shanghai cultural circles was instigated by you behind the scenes."

Having said that, Yao Rong raised his hand and touched Ye Heqi's ponytail.

These days, Ye Heqi is busy writing novels, reading newspapers, and getting angry. She doesn't even have the mind to braid her hair and dress herself up. She just randomly ties her hair up every day.

"I can feel that you want to protect me, but I want to tell you that you have done enough. You don't need to carry my life on your shoulders."

"You gave me the strength to escape the quagmire and helped me plan a feasible future. You can accompany me for the rest of the way, but you don't need to continue to lead me."

Ye Heqi didn't quite understand what Yao Rong said. She was a little confused and a little sad: "...Mother, do you think I'm interfering too much?"

Yao Rong smiled: "Why do you think so?"

Ye Heqi pursed his lips: "That's because I misunderstood."

Seeing her expression, Yao Rong knew that Ye Heqi was still a little sad.

It seems that what he just said was a little obscure.

Yao Rong thought about it and simply gave an example: "Heqi, if you want to save a person's fate, then after solving the other person's most urgent dilemma, what will you do next?"

Ye Heqi was a little confused by the question.

What to do after solving the other person's most urgent dilemma?

Of course...

Of course...

Ye Heqi found that he couldn't answer this question for a while.

However, considering this question, Ye Heqi vaguely understood the meaning of what Yao Rong had just said.

"I may need to think about this question for a while before I can answer it." After a while, Ye Heqi said carefully.

"Okay, then you think about it carefully, don't rush to give me an answer."

Yao Rong put the newspaper in his hand aside and untied Ye Heqi's hair tie: "I'll help you comb your hair again."

Ye Heqi turned sideways so that Yao Rong could exert more force.

The afternoon sun slanted in from the window and fell on Ye Heqi's soft long hair.

Yao Rong used his fingers as a comb to comb Ye Heqi's hair with his hands, picked up Ye Heqi's thick black hair, and re-braided it into a beautiful pigtail.

"Okay, go change your clothes quickly, we're going to go out in a while."

"Where are we going?" Ye Heqi touched her pigtail and boasted a little with the reflection of the window.

"Editor-in-Chief Chen helped us arrange a dinner with the editor-in-chief of Women's Times to discuss the serialization of the novel."

Now that the war of words triggered by the divorce announcement has intensified, it is time to start the second step.

The novel must be serialized in Women's News.

However, Women's News is only published in Peking and has no foundation in Shanghai, so Chen Wan plans to continue to cooperate with Women's Times and serialize the novel simultaneously in the two cities.

The dinner was arranged in a famous Western restaurant.

Yao Rong and Ye Heqi, wearing the new clothes sent by Zhou Qihuai, hurried to the Western restaurant and saw Chen Wan sitting by the window waving at them.

Next to Chen Wan, there was a woman with a strong bookish air and slightly gray temples.

It was Bei Lin, the editor-in-chief of Women's Times.

"We are late." Yao Rong apologized quickly.

Chen Wan smiled and showed her watch: "It's a few minutes before the time we agreed to meet. You are not late, it's us who arrived early."

After Yao Rong and Ye Heqi sat down, Bei Lin greeted them: "I have wanted to meet Ms. Yao and Heqi for a long time. You and your daughter are both outstanding women."

"Editor-in-chief Bei, you are too kind." Yao Rong said modestly.

Bei Lin shook her head. She always liked to speak the truth: "It's not exaggerated at all. The impact caused by the divorce notice is far beyond my imagination, not to mention that you have the next plan after the divorce notice."

In addition to praising Yao Rong and Ye Heqi, Bei Lin also thanked them on behalf of the Women's Times: "In just a few days, the sales of the Women's Times increased from 3,000 copies to 11,000 copies, which has surpassed many famous newspapers."

And this increase in sales is all due to the war of words.

It can be imagined that after the novel begins to be serialized, the sales of the Women's Times will definitely soar further.

At this point, Bei Lin smiled at Chen Wan and said, "The sales of Women's Newspaper must be better."

Chen Wan said modestly, "It has increased from 2,000 copies to 15,000 copies, which is about what I expected."

Bei Lin laughed and scolded, "You save some money. Selling 2,000 copies can only guarantee that it will barely break even. 15,000 copies means it has directly entered the ranks of best-selling newspapers and periodicals."

Chen Wan was so solemn and serious that she couldn't suppress the joy in her eyes and eyebrows: "Qi Huai told me about this 15,000 copies yesterday, and it is estimated that there will be a little more today."

After talking about the sales of newspapers, the few people turned the topic to novels.

If the newspaper wants to publish Ye Heqi's novels, it must pay for the manuscript.

Bei Lin was not stingy either. She offered the same price as Chen Wan, four yuan per thousand words.

Hearing this price, Ye Heqi said quickly, "This is too high. I'm just a newcomer. The two editors-in-chief should just pay me according to the newcomer's remuneration."

"Women's Newspaper" and "Women's Times" are both private newspapers. Generally speaking, the remuneration offered by these two newspapers is between one silver dollar and three silver dollars per thousand words.

The price that unknown new authors can get is basically one silver dollar per thousand words.

The price that famous authors can get is at most three silver dollars.

Jin Fengzui, the most famous writer at present, can get six silver dollars per thousand words for writing a novel. This is definitely the highest remuneration in the industry.

These news are not difficult to inquire, so Ye Heqi has also heard a little about it.

Bei Lin couldn't help laughing: "Little girl, why are you still thinking about saving money for us? We are not afraid of spending money."

Ye Heqi blushed.

That's right, only those who complain that the price is too low, like her, are rare.

But Ye Heqi also has her own ideas: "Editor-in-Chief Chen and Editor-in-Chief Bei have always taken good care of us mother and daughter, I don't want you to suffer a loss."

Chen Wan said gently: "This thousand words, I have discussed with Editor-in-Chief Bei, you can take it with confidence. Just based on the increased newspaper sales during this period, we can't lose money."

They are willing to offer this price, not only because of the novel itself, but also because this novel can indeed greatly promote the sales of newspapers.

Bei Lin also echoed: "We are businessmen, we don't do business without capital. I offer you four dollars per thousand words because your novel is worth it. I am even worried that it is a bit low."

Ye Heqi finally accepted the price of four dollars per thousand words.

She turned her head to look at Yao Rong and winked at Yao Rong secretly.

With this big income, they don't need to worry about money for a long time.

Yao Rong was amused by her.

Chen Wan and Bei Lin on the opposite side also saw Ye Heqi's actions and covered their giggles by drinking water.

"By the way, Editor-in-Chief Chen, Editor-in-Chief Bei, this is the last manuscript." Ye Heqi took out the remaining 30,000 words of the manuscript from his bag.

Ye Heqi had already given the first few tens of thousands of words of the manuscript to Chen Wan.

"Okay." Chen Wan took the manuscript, opened it and looked at it, "You guys can come up with a name for the novel."

Ye Heqi gave this opportunity to Yao Rong: "This novel is mainly adapted from my mother's experience, so let my mother come up with it."

Yao Rong did not refuse.

She lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then raised her head and said slowly: "I thought of two names, one is more literary and the other is more popular and easy to understand."

"The first one is called "Fire Phoenix"."

"The second one is called——"

"A Feudal Woman's Rebirth from the Ashes."

Chen Wan boasted, "Both names are good. I really had a hard time deciding for a while."

Bei Lin said straightforwardly, "Why not use the novel "Fire Phoenix" or "A Feudal Woman's Rebirth from the Ashes?"

Chen Wan laughed, "Okay, then there's no need to bother."

After dinner, Bei Lin left first.

Chen Wan, Yao Rong, and Ye Heqi wore thick clothes and walked on the street to digest their food.

Chen Wan said to Yao Rong, "New Year's Eve is just a few days away. With Editor-in-Chief Bei's help in Shanghai, I can leave for Peking with peace of mind."

Ye Heqi asked, "Editor-in-Chief Chen, when are you planning to leave?"

"I bought a train ticket for tonight."

Yao Rong said, "I'll take Editor-in-Chief Chen to the train station."

Chen Wan didn't want to make things so difficult for Yao Rong, so she declined her offer, "I'll just call a rickshaw."

Yao Rong: "That's fine. Be careful on your way."

Chen Wan suddenly remembered something and reminded him, "The war of words in the newspapers has been very intense recently. If we don't take the next step, this matter will be almost over." "

But now we are going to start serializing the novel, and the scale of this war of words will probably become bigger and bigger. You'd better not read the newspapers these days."

"Those who write articles are mixed. Some of their words are just fine to listen to, but some of their words are torture to even listen to."

Yao Rong smiled and said, "Heqi's ideas are the same as Editor-in-Chief Chen."

Chen Wan immediately understood the implication: "It seems that your ideas are different from both of ours."

Yao Rong said, "If one's conduct is superior to others, everyone will criticize him."

"The more those people scold me, the more they jump up and down, the more it shows that what I am doing is absolutely correct."

"So when I see those articles scolding me, I don't get angry or feel sad. On the contrary, I think these people are ridiculous and pathetic."

It was the first time Chen Wan heard such a view. She asked curiously, "Why is that?"

Yao Rong: "I am feudal because I have only been exposed to the teachings of the Three Principles and Five Constant Virtues and the Three Obediences and Four Virtues since I was a child. My feudalism is reflected in my knowledge."

"After I was baptized by the new culture and new thoughts, I chose to resist feudalism. Because I knew that all those things were wrong."

"Those literati who scolded me learned all kinds of advanced culture and accepted all kinds of advanced thoughts, but their feudalism has been engraved in their bones."

"Well said!" Chen Wan clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Women's feet are in their bodies, but their feet are in their heads. It's really ridiculous and sad."

Yao Rong smiled and continued, "When I see an outstanding woman, such as Miss Zhou, Editor-in-Chief Chen and Editor-in-Chief Bei, I will admire your demeanor, praise your talent, and feel your independence and persistence in your career."

"But some people see an outstanding woman, and the first thing they think of is sex."

"I won't look down on myself because they scold me, but I will look down on them because of the attitudes that naturally come out of their words."

"Their knowledge is indeed much better than mine, but the moment they stood up and scolded me, their character had already lost to me."

Ye Heqi stared at Yao Rong in surprise. At this moment, she realized very clearly that she had indeed underestimated her mother.

Her mother has never been her vassal, and she doesn't need her to arrange her life.

In many cases, her mother is more sober, brave, and determined than her.

Chen Wan's eyes suddenly lit up. She grabbed Yao Rong's hand tightly and said excitedly: "Ms. Yao, please write an article. Write down what you just said."

"After the serialization of the novel is finished, I will publish your article on the front page of Women's Newspaper - I will publish it for a month!"

Curse, curse, the more fierce these people are now, the more vicious they will be when the time comes.