Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 69 Liu Yimin actually replied to your letter?

Zhou Yanru and Zhang Dening set off from Yenching University from Yenching Literature and Art Publishing House to find Liu Yimin. Before they set off, they had already inquired through acquaintances about the manuscript fee standard offered by People's Literature and Art Publishing House: six yuan per thousand words.

While lamenting Cui Daoyi's disruption of the new talent market, the editorial department also made up their minds. After discussing it, they decided to give him six yuan, or seven yuan if six yuan wasn't enough.

The journal *Yanjing Literature* recently appointed a new head, Li Qingquan. Compared to his predecessor, who was conservative and timid, Li Qingquan's boldness and willingness to take responsibility have freed up the editors to work with complete autonomy.

Everyone was highly motivated and eager to secure good manuscripts, hoping to make a name for themselves in the literary world. Zhou Yanru brought Zhang Dening along because Zhou Yanru was the second-stage editor, while Zhang Dening was the first-stage editor for most of the manuscripts she handled, and the authors were jointly responsible for their work.

Another reason is that Zhang Dening is a senior in the Chinese Department, and she has a natural affinity with students in the Chinese Department of Yenching University.

However, when the two arrived at the Chinese Department of Yenching University full of confidence, they couldn't find Liu Yimin. They also heard that the May Fourth Literary Society was recruiting new members, and many freshmen had gone there. The two suddenly realized that Liu Yimin must have gone to participate in the literary society's recruitment.

The Yenching University literary society was not just a simple school club; they also had their own journal, which was sold to the public. Because Yenching University's achievements in literature surpassed those of other universities, many universities and organizations in Beijing subscribed to their journal.

After the name of the journal "Weiming Lake" was established, Mr. Mao Dun personally wrote the title and the inaugural address.

Zhou Yanru and Zhang Dening arrived at the May Fourth Literary Society and met Chen Jiangong, a student from the Chinese Department and the vice president. Chen Jiangong warmly invited Zhou Yanru to give a short speech to the members and prospective members, encouraging everyone to bravely pursue their literary dreams.

They initially thought Liu Yimin was downstairs, but after asking in public, they learned that the young man had gone to People's Literature and Art Publishing House, and they immediately felt breathless.

So you came all this way just for him? You came for nothing again!
The two felt they couldn't leave empty-handed. It would take two or three hours to cycle there and back, so they waited at the school and asked Liu Zhenyun and the other two to let them know when they saw Liu Yimin. However, Liu Yimin didn't come back that night.

"Yimin, you have no idea how resentful my senior sister looked when she left. And Zhou Yanru, the editor, is over fifty years old, yet she waited for hours. If even one editor were willing to do that for me, I would die happy!"

Li Xueqin said with a complicated expression that he had shamelessly stuffed his 7,000-word short story into his senior sister's hands, but she refused it very politely.

"This is the letter your senior sister left for you before she left!" Liu Zhenyun handed the letter on the table to Liu Yimin. It was addressed to "Comrade Liu Yimin".

Thanks, everyone!

"polite!"

Liu Yimin opened the letter and read it carefully. It read:

[Respected Comrade Liu Yimin:]
I am Zhou Yanru, an editor at *Yanjing Literature and Art*. *Yanjing Literature and Art* is a leading pure literature magazine in China, with readers throughout the country. Your works *Donkey Water* and *The College Entrance Examination 1977* have had a tremendous impact on the Chinese literary scene. Our magazine is soliciting contributions from you; the subject matter is open, and the payment is seven yuan per thousand words.

"Comrade Zhou Yanru is quite polite!" Liu Yimin exclaimed, putting the letter of invitation into an envelope and tucking it under his pillow.

Zhou Yanru originally planned to pay six yuan per thousand words first, and then raise the price if necessary. However, after hearing that Liu Yimin had gone to People's Literature and Art, she couldn't sit still anymore and set the payment standard at seven yuan before leaving.

She felt that this payment standard was already the highest; People's Literature and Art magazine was already paying six yuan per thousand words, and it was impossible to raise it again in such a short time. Unfortunately, after Cui Daoyi of People's Literature and Art magazine got Liu Yimin's manuscript, he contacted Zhang Guangnian, and the payment standard was immediately raised from six yuan to seven yuan per thousand words.

"Have you heard? The wind has changed. They've imported films like 'Manhunt' and 'Homecoming' into China. There's a lot of talk about it in the newspapers. Apparently, they're showing in Shanghai, and tickets are impossible to get. I really want to see what their movies are like. I heard there are some... scenes in them!"

Li Xueqin winked at them, as if to say, "You know what I mean."

Liu Yimin snorted coldly. What's so special about that? He'd seen even more of that in his daily life.

"Hmm, what's so great about Xiao Ri Zi Movies? I still prefer 'The Battle of the South and the North,' which the army used to show all the time when I was in the army. I haven't seen it since I was discharged." Liu Zhenyun snorted, showing his disdain for Xiao Ri Zi Movies.

Chen Dazhi glanced at Liu Zhenyun and leaned over to say, "Our movies also need to be shown to Xiao Rizi. That's what equality is all about. But it seems that our relationship with Xiao Rizi really needs to be eased."

I'd like to see the movie "Little Days," but I'd much rather see a play at the Beijing People's Art Theatre—tickets are so hard to get!

The Beijing People's Art Theatre has not fully recovered yet, and performances are still on a small scale, but tickets for every show are selling like hotcakes, and ordinary people simply cannot buy them.

Liu Yimin also wanted to go see it, but the recent performances were Guo Moruo's "Cai Wenji" and "A Loyal Heart", which was a cautious attempt by the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

Liu Yimin was more interested in watching "Thunderstorm" and "Teahouse," so he did not join the ticket-buying frenzy.

In the girls' dormitory of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, several girls walked in with magazines and excitedly asked Zhu Lin, who was sitting at the table reading a letter, "Zhu Lin, People's Literature published a reader's letter. The writer's name is Zhu Lin. Confess, is it you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Lin quickly turned around and went to look at the magazine. It was finally published! She had received a reply several days ago and had been waiting for the latest issue of "People's Literature" to be published every day.

"Stop looking, is that you?" Roommate Chu Lan nudged Zhu Lin's shoulder and asked impatiently.

A hint of smugness flashed in Zhu Lin's eyes as he suppressed his excitement and said, "That's right, it's me. I just wrote something casually; I really didn't expect it to be published."

When she saw her letter in print, even though she already knew it would be published, she couldn't contain her excitement. Publishing one's own writing is a dream for many.

"I envy you so much! Liu Yimin actually replied to your letter. I wrote several letters but didn't get a reply. Tell me honestly, did you put your photo in the envelope?" Chu Hong shook Zhu Lin's shoulders with both hands and pressed him for an answer.

"Oh dear, what nonsense are you talking about? What photos? There's nothing like that. I just wrote down what was on my mind!" Zhu Lin's cheeks flushed slightly, and she unconsciously brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead.

"Where's the reply? Let us see it!"

The dormitory at the National Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine is an eight-person room. The other seven people gathered around Zhu Lin's bedside, waiting for her to take out Liu Yimin's handwritten letter for everyone to see.

(End of this chapter)