This year's exchange festival will be held at the American Square Building.
The Sifanglou (Four-Sided Building) encompasses four cultures.
This skyscraper is located on one of the busiest streets in downtown New York City.
This street is almost a hub of culture and a symbol of high-end living.
Because the monthly rent for storefronts on both sides of the street starts at at least $5,000. What does that mean?
That's equivalent to 35,000 yuan a month in China, which would amount to nearly 400,000 yuan a year.
And this is just the starting point; the higher levels haven't even been calculated yet.
Because it's expensive, it's perceived as high-class, and over time, it's become a gathering place for many gentlemen and cultured people.
Today marks the start of the exchange festival.
The official start time has been announced as 10:00 AM.
It's 7 a.m. now.
Li Zhaoyang, who had just woken up in bed, found 12 missed calls, all from his director.
Just as I was about to call back, I noticed an unread message: "Teacher Zhaoyang, I'm so sorry I broke my promise. For the next period of time, and even for a long time to come, I won't be able to go abroad to develop my career. Something happened at home, so I have to stay in my hometown with my mother. I've already asked my supervisor for a long leave. I won't be taking any activities for the next six months, and I won't have the energy to record any new songs. I hope Teacher Zhaoyang understands."
Upon seeing this message and noticing that the contact name was Lin Xianguang, Li Zhaoyang hesitated about how to reply.
For some reason, he recalled many popular singers in the entertainment industry from his previous life. Despite their incredible singing skills and popularity, they retired at the peak of their careers for various reasons. Some were sick and needed to leave the industry to recuperate, while others had other reasons.
When they recovered and announced their comeback, they discovered that the music scene was sick, and even a newcomer could critique them.
Lin Xianguang had been thinking about this message for a long time before sending it to Teacher Zhaoyang.
This also demonstrates his determination.
He retired from the entertainment industry to go home and be with his mother while still enjoying popularity that could earn him at least 200,000 yuan a month, perhaps preparing for a dismal return to fame when he tries to make a comeback.
Picking up his phone, Li Zhaoyang replied with a few short words: Take good care of your family. Spending time with them is always more important than money. Let me know when you want to make a comeback.
Only after replying did I call the director.
As soon as the call connected, Zhang Shulan said, "I'm at the entrance of your villa. If you don't call back, your sister Zhiqi and I are going to go in and beat you up."
Li Zhaoyang: "I'll get dressed and brush my teeth first."
Zhang Shulan: "Okay, come out right after you brush your teeth. We'll have breakfast outside. We won't go to the company yet. The company has a car to pick up other people and take them to Sifanglou. We'll go directly to Sifanglou with your sister Zhiqi in a bit."
Song Zhiqi works at the Sifanglou Literary Forum, so it's best to go there directly by car.
On the bus.
Song Zhiqi was unusually irritable today.
Zhang Shulan comforted her, "Zhiqi, what's wrong? Have we been causing you trouble by constantly hitching rides with you?"
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Song Zhiqi: "Why are you bringing this up?"
Zhang Shulan: "You seem to be in a bad mood."
Song Zhiqi: "This has nothing to do with you; it's a problem with my work."
Zhang Shulan: "If you're not happy with your job, you can just go back to China. Anyway, your current position as a literature professor is only temporary."
Song Zhiqi shook her head and sighed: "It's not that simple. The position of vice chairman of the Writers Association has become vacant. There are three strong competitors for this position. One is me, a professor; another is a poet and scholar of classical texts who is also from China like me; and the third is a well-known American writer. But I have already made it clear that I will resign and return to China at the end of the year. That poet has been holding me back and insists on treating me as a competitor."
Zhang Shulan: "So what are your thoughts now?"
Song Zhiqi: "That old bastard is disrespectful for his age. He thinks I'm a girl and easy to bully. He thinks I'm after that position? Fine, then I'll go and snatch it. After I snatch it, I'll resign and go back to China. I'd rather stand here and not do my business than let that old bastard sit in it."
Zhang Shulan: "As expected of the Zhiqi I know, this is how you should treat someone like this."
Song Zhiqi: "I'm not going to talk about it anymore. I get annoyed whenever I talk about that old scoundrel."
The two women chatted about their troubles, and the car soon arrived at Sifanglou.
Upon arriving at his destination, Li Zhaoyang realized that the building in front of him was not the one he remembered.
I originally thought that the Sifanglou was built in the style of ancient buildings from the Dragon Kingdom.
It turns out that's not the case.
This is actually a modern high-rise building, but it is presented in a square shape and occupies a very large area.
Even standing on the outermost edge of the street, you can see the Sifang Building standing in the most eye-catching place on the street.
The third door from the left on the right is where the American Music Association is located.
Within that area, a very long red carpet was laid out, and countless wreaths were placed outside.
Those who walked down the red carpet into the Sifang Building were all prominent figures.
"I'll take you this far." Song Zhiqi pointed to the very edge. The Writers' Association was in the first row of the Sifang Building, several hundred meters away from the third row.
That's why the Quadrangle Building is so large; this kind of building encompasses all four major cultural sectors of the United States: music, etc.
After getting off the bus, Zhang Shulan was about to call Xiao Zhang when she found that Xiao Zhang and his group were waiting outside the door.
"Director, you've finally arrived." Zhang Xincheng said anxiously, "Many music company executives are here. We didn't dare to go in without you."
Zhang Shulan then asked, "Has the head office director arrived?"
Zhang Xincheng shook his head: "Not yet, but the heads of many domestic music companies have already arrived."
Listening to the conversation between the director and the supervisor, Li Zhaoyang looked over and noticed that some domestic music companies had not yet entered the venue, perhaps waiting for some important person.
About ten minutes later.
Several black minivans were parked at the end of the red carpet.
Several men in suits got off the car.
Leading the way was an elderly man in his fifties. He had a kind face, but his expression was solemn.
"Chairman," was how the music company executives waiting outside addressed him.
Even the vice president and Tang Gang, members of the Shanghai branch, treated the old man with utmost respect.
"No need to wait for me here. Come on in. You music companies are the main characters today. I'm just an observer."
The elderly man is the president of the Chinese Music Writers Association.
In the realm of music, he wields immense power; a single word from him can send many soaring to great heights or plummeting to the depths of despair.
But the old man never used his position to do anything for personal gain.
"Xiao Yu, there are eight spots available in Shanghai, right?" the old man asked, turning his head to the side.
The vice president standing next to Tang Gang quickly chimed in with a smile, "Yes, it's eight people."
The vice president's name is Yu Jingkang. When the president is not around, he is the head of the Shanghai Writers Association. When the president is around, he is just a subordinate.
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