Chapter 212 Soft Rice
Lin Yuan was relieved; it was good for both Nan Zhiyi and the publishing house that Comrade Nan Zhiyi was willing to continue writing.
He took out a document, "The Science and Technology Association also plans to recommend 'Star Whisperer' to participate in next year's national selection of outstanding popular science works."
"This...is this okay??" Nan Zhiyi was quite surprised. "I'm a new author...and does science fiction count as popular science?"
"You're too modest," Editor Lin said solemnly. "Comrade Zhiyi, you may not know how special your work is. It maintains scientific rigor while also possessing poetic imagination. Professors from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have affirmed your work, saying that although the plot is fictional, the scientific spirit is real."
Nan Zhiyi stared blankly at the line of words.
Xiaoman suddenly ran over with building blocks in her arms, slapped them on the royalty form a few times, and then curiously fiddled with the paper, giggling.
“Look,” Lin Yuan teased Xiao Man’s hand, “the young readers have also voted, so please be sure to continue writing this series.”
Nan Zhiyi unwrapped a White Rabbit candy and stuffed it into her son's mouth, telling him to go play somewhere else.
She carefully put the royalty statement in the study on the first floor and took out a pen and notebook from the drawer.
"Editor Lin, for the next part, we can start by writing about 50,000 years ago..."
Nan Zhiyi does indeed have a wildly imaginative mind. She discussed the outline and opening description of the work with Editor Lin for a long time, and she carefully wrote down those ideas and Editor Lin's suggestions in her notebook.
After discussing the matter to the point of exhaustion, both of them were hoarse from talking.
Nan Zhiyi heard Lin Yuan's voice become hoarse and said apologetically, "Editor Lin, please have some tea first."
Lin Yuan took a few sips of his drink before saying, "The college entrance exam results should be out soon."
Nan Zhiyi put down her teacup. "Yes, I didn't expect it to be so fast. I have to thank you for your reminder before, and also for the foreign exchange certificates. I've gone to so much trouble for you, and I haven't even had a chance to thank you in person."
Lin Yuan waved his hand, "You're too kind. If you need foreign exchange certificates in the future, just let me know."
Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "When I really need it, I will definitely not be polite to you."
As evening approached, Lin Yuan took his leave. "Once you've finished writing the first 20,000 words, send them over. I'll review them carefully." He then slapped his forehead and brought up the royalties for the second volume, saying, "I can only settle the payment with you after the New Year."
Nan Zhiyi hurriedly said politely, "It's all thanks to you and the company for your guidance... thank you for your hard work."
Lin Yuan exchanged a few more polite words before leaving.
After seeing Editor Lin off, she immediately took her notebook to the study, opened the manuscript paper and started writing, not even paying attention to Xiaoman, and just finding some snacks to appease him.
As dusk deepened, Gu Xiao pushed open the door and saw Nan Zhiyi hunched over the table, writing furiously, while Xiao Man sat on the carpet beside her, munching on a biscuit, her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel hoarding food.
"Dad!" Xiaoman opened her hands, which were covered in cookie crumbs.
But Nan Zhiyi was faster, quickly throwing herself into Gu Xiao's arms and wrapping her legs around his waist: "Fifth Brother, we're rich!"
Gu Xiao supported her by her bottom, holding her steadily. After listening to her chatter on about royalties and the awards, he lowered his head and nuzzled her warm cheek with the tip of his cool nose: "Good wife, you're amazing. From now on, our family will depend on you..."
He suddenly lowered his voice, looking at her intently, "My wife... won't look down on me for being a kept man, will she?"
Nan Zhiyi lifted his chin, mimicking his cold tone: "For the sake of this face... I grant it!"
"Then it's settled... I'll be living off this for the rest of my life."
Gu Xiao chuckled and tried to kiss her, but Xiao Man wobbled over and hugged his leg, saying, "Kiss! Hug!" Cookie crumbs were all over his military pants.
Nan Zhiyi jumped down, her face flushed.
Gu Xiao sighed as he looked at his son hanging on his lap: "When can we send this little guy to daycare?"
"Nonsense!" Nan Zhiyi picked up her son and kissed his little face, which was still smelling of cookies. "Our Xiaoman is still young and will accompany his mother to university."
Before she could finish speaking, Gu Xiao hugged her from behind, his arms encircling his wife and children. "Then, for your mother's sake, I'll give you another two years..."
Since she has decided to continue writing, Nan Zhiyi will first write the prequel to this book, about the origin of the planetary descendants and how the colonists wiped them out.
Once she started writing, her inspiration flowed freely, and she finished the first 25,000 words in just over a week.
She was out of stamps at home, so she handed Xiaoman to Sister Zhang and went to mail it to Editor Lin herself.
The cold wind in December stung people's faces. Nan Zhiyi wrapped her wool scarf tightly around herself and buried her face in her raised collar, leaving only her eyes showing.
After walking along the cement road for half an hour, I arrived at the post office next to the military service center in the army compound. The green storefront was inconspicuous.
A female staff member sitting behind the counter was knitting. When she saw Nan Zhiyi come in, she put down her knitting: "Sending a registered letter?"
"Oh, send it to the capital."
Nan Zhiyi took off her gloves to stick on the stamps, revealing her chin, which was red from the cold.
The staff member recognized the pretty young woman who had sent mail and packages several times before. She leaned forward and said, "Are you Comrade Nan Zhiyi? We just received your package and letter yesterday, and we were just about to have the postman deliver it today."
As he spoke, he took out a package wrapped in oilcloth and a kraft paper envelope from under the counter.
Nan Zhiyi realized what was happening and quickly thanked them. She glanced at Feng Xuemei's neat handwriting on the package slip and Zhang Yueran's handwriting on the letter paper, and felt a warm glow in her heart.
After sending out the manuscript, she ran home with the package in her arms, and as soon as she entered the entrance hall, she couldn't wait to open the letter.
Zhang Yueran's letter filled three pages, saying that she felt good about the college entrance examination, especially that she wrote the essay smoothly, and that she would send a telegram to her sister as soon as the admission notice arrived.
Feng Xuemei's package was filled with her heartfelt gifts: a corduroy cotton-padded jacket and trousers two sizes too big for Xiaoman, which she said she would keep for next year; for Xiaoman, there was a hand-knitted maroon wool cardigan, two jars of fermented bean paste and spicy fermented bean curd, the glass jars sealed tightly with wax. There was also dried beef and mutton, which she said she had traded from a fellow villager...
Nan Zhiyi calculated the dates and found that it had taken fourteen days for the package to travel from their military region to the capital.
She hugged her sweater and sighed softly, "If only I could make phone calls..."
The only public telephone in the entire compound was at the service center, and you had to queue and register to make a call. Once, she tried calling Aunt Feng, but was transferred through three switchboards, and by the time she got through, Xiaoman had already finished her afternoon nap.
Furthermore, the phone in Gu Xiao's office was strictly forbidden for private use. Once, when she called urgently, the operator questioned her seriously for ten minutes before transferring her.
Gu Xiao happened to be home when he saw her staring blankly at a pile of local specialties.
"Did Aunt Feng send this?" He picked up the sausage and smelled it. "I had Sister Zhang steam it and eat it."
Seeing her eyes redden, he leaned closer to comfort her, "Missing Aunt Feng? Maybe they'll send Zhang Yueran to Beijing for university in the spring. Then you'll see her..."
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