1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 379: Approval and Tang Minghua's Goodwill

“That’s well said, and our contributions are outstanding.

It is an encouraging thing that our domestic works have been recognized abroad this time!
This proves that the quality of our literary works is no worse than that of developed countries abroad, we just lack a suitable opportunity.

Prove that what we are doing now is correct.

This is another victory for our Chinese Literature magazine!
This marks a step forward in our great goal of spreading Chinese culture and literature to the world.”

Teacher Ye Junjian looked at everyone with satisfaction and raised his hands to applaud.

"Everyone applaud!"

"Clap clap clap!"

When everyone heard this, they all applauded with red faces.

This is not only an honor for Professor Cheng Kaiyan, but also an honor for the entire "Chinese Literature" community!
"Editor-in-chief, editor-in-chief!"

After the applause, a middle-aged man with glasses and a Mediterranean look asked curiously, "American publishers publish Cheng Kaiyan's books, so they earn money in US dollars, right? How much is the fee? At least a few hundred US dollars, right?"

"Yes, editor-in-chief, we also want to see the world. This is US dollars, and we earn foreign exchange. One US dollar is worth six or seven RMB!"

"Hey, that's a private exchange. You can only get 1.5 yuan at the bank."

"It's a pity that it's mandatory and I can't keep it. It's a real disadvantage."

The crowd was bustling and asked curiously.

"Cough cough."

Teacher Ye Junjian coughed lightly. He also felt that this amount of money was quite a lot. He explained in a deep voice, "I heard from the comrade who came to report the news that the first print run is 5,000 copies, and the total royalties are more than 5,000 US dollars!"

"Five thousand... U.S. dollars?!"

No matter how calm Zhang Lirao was, he almost bit his tongue at this news.

"This is too much, more than 5,000 US dollars, which is more than 30,000 RMB!"

"Thirty thousand, dear!"

"I feel like I earn over 300 yuan a year for a job that pays 30 yuan. I have to work for 100 years without eating or drinking to earn that much!"

"Oh my god! I can't make that much money in my lifetime."

“Is this a market economy? … The gap between people is just too big!”

The editorial office was in an uproar and everyone's jaw dropped.

No one expected there to be so much money, and everyone was shocked.

"Well, not that much. After converting to the official exchange rate, it's only over 7,000."

Ye Junjian noticed the agitation among the crowd, shook his head and explained, "Don't talk about the black market matters in public. This money needs to be examined."

"Yeah, it's just a pity."

Everyone nodded obediently. Even though the money was not theirs, they still felt a little painful at this moment.

In fact, people subconsciously think of the black market because the country does not strictly control the private retention and exchange of small amounts of US dollars, which creates such an impression.

A few dollars, a few dozen, or even a hundred or two, just turn a blind eye to it.

After all, there are families like those who study abroad at their own expense, those who are sent abroad by the government, overseas Chinese families, and those who have foreign-related marriages.

They would more or less exchange some of it with others in private to pay for their children's education or to maintain living expenses.

But the amount of royalties that the publishing house sent in the letter this time was too large, a full four thousand US dollars.

Some things can't be weighed even if they weigh four ounces, and they can't be weighed even if they weigh a thousand kilograms.

Four thousand US dollars, according to the crime of foreign exchange evasion, I would probably have to go to prison and do labor reform for several years.

"Okay, let's get to work."

Mr. Ye Junjian waved his hand, signaling everyone to disperse, and returned to his private office to prepare translation materials, which he would need at the Ministry of Culture for joint review.

The editors readily returned to their seats and chatted while processing the manuscripts.

The office is still very busy.

Everyone's enthusiasm for gossip and heated discussions has not subsided. It is a rare thing to publish it abroad, and it is very face-saving to use it as a topic of conversation.

About ten minutes later, Chief Editor Ye Junjian came out, and the office fell silent. He walked over to Zhang Li, patted her shoulder, and instructed:
"Comrade Xiao Zhang, there will be a joint review of the two works in a while. Please come with me to the Ministry of Culture. The review will be led by the leaders of the Ministry of Culture."

"Got it! Editor-in-Chief!"

Zhang Li agreed with some excitement. She was the one who recommended these two works, and now they are going to be published abroad. Her contribution cannot be underestimated.

Maybe you will get a salary increase and promotion in the future!
No!

She must hold on to Cheng Kaiyan's thigh tightly.

"How about translating Totoro as well?"

Zhang Li took the paper and pen he had brought with him and left the office with the editor-in-chief, and couldn't help but think about it.

……

Ministry of Culture meeting room.

"First of all, I want to make it clear that the direction of this contract review is to encourage and support writers to publish their works. If there is no sensitive content, all of them will be approved and no obstacles will be imposed."

"do you understand?!"

At the conference table, Tang Minghua, wearing a black women's suit, rolled up her sleeves and leaned her white arms on the desk, and reminded with a serious expression.

"Understood! Leader!"

Upon hearing this, the staff members in charge of this review from several departments below the stage nodded repeatedly.

It seems that the leader of the Ministry of Culture is very clear about how to deal with matters such as foreign publishing in this environment of reform and opening up.

A few years ago, it was very troublesome for domestic writers to publish their works abroad and receive foreign currency royalties because of a series of censorship, and the impact was not very good.

If the royalties are low, it's like chicken ribs.

But if the royalties are too high, there will inevitably be criticisms.

Comrades from the working and peasant classes only earn a few dozen yuan a month.

Even Mr. Ba Jin donated his royalties to literary institutions such as the China Modern Literature Museum to avoid suspicion after his works were published abroad.

Mr. Mao Dun saved 200,000 yuan in royalties throughout his life and even used it to establish the Mao Dun Literature Prize.

As a young literary and artistic worker, what do you want to do with so much royalties?
I think you are a typical petty bourgeois who is greedy for pleasure, suffers from the erosion of capitalism, and tries to be detached from the masses and superior!

But now the trend is quietly changing.

"I declare that the review work has officially begun. Within two hours, I want to see the review opinion on my desk."

Tang Minghua nodded indifferently, turned around and left the meeting room.

Let staff from several departments stay here to review.

"First, we need to finalize the publishing contract and make sure there are no clauses that would harm the interests of the writer or the country..."

"The second is to strictly review the content of the work to ensure that there are no sensitive remarks or state secrets..."

"at last……"

Under the guidance of Mr. Ye Junjian, the staff began the review work in an orderly manner.

Two hours later, a freshly completed review report was delivered to Tang Minghua's office.

"The four thousand US dollars in royalties will be exchanged at the Bank of China and then distributed to the author... What is the exchange rate?"

Tang Minghua frowned as he looked at the review report and asked in a deep voice.

"1.5, that's six thousand yuan."

The clerk's heart tightened and she quickly answered. She felt that the leader was upset.

“Let me take a look first and send the contract and foreign exchange intact to the writer himself.

Although it is foreign exchange, it involves the legitimate income of the people and cannot be handled privately. It must be handled reasonably and legally in front of the parties involved. Do you understand?"

Tang Minghua pondered for a moment and gave the order in a calm tone.

"Understood!"

The official from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange nodded repeatedly, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart that this leader was really rigorous in his work.

(End of this chapter)