1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 135 Buying New Year's Goods (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
The editorial department of Harvest.

A month has passed, and Li Xiaolin went to the editorial department to start tallying the novel's sales figures for the month. This time, the sales figures have almost doubled.

Indeed, you can't underestimate the wealth of the areas with free shipping, nor can you underestimate their spending power.

"A total of 1.25 million copies, which is 300,000 more than the last 'Boy in Striped Pajamas'!" Guo Zhuo said after finishing the count.

The Nanjing Military Region had a total of 100,000 subscriptions, while the Wuhan Military Region had the second-highest total of 70,000 subscriptions.

Of course, these are all large military regions, which generally have hundreds of thousands of personnel. Subscribing to 100,000 copies will soon reach the level of studying the entire army.

"Really? That's great! The old man said he'd step in if anything went wrong! Luckily, not only did nothing go wrong, but it was a great success!" Li Xiaolin exclaimed.

Guo Zhuo said with a smile, "Professor Ba Jin really has confidence! We editors don't have his magnanimity, no wonder he can be the editor-in-chief!"

Not only were the sales figures phenomenal, but the number of reader letters was also countless.

Because the Nanjing Photo Studio didn't have a high barrier to entry, this part of history is the kind of history that textbooks teach people to remember.

In just over a month, the editorial department of Harvest magazine received nearly five thousand letters from readers, a number that exceeded the total number received in the previous few months.

As Li Xiaolin read through these letters from readers, she felt a great sense of accomplishment and pride in the achievements she and Zhou Xu had made.

I read through some reader letters for a while.

Cheng Depei, an editor from the editorial department of *Shanghai Literature*, who was nearby, came running over after smelling the aroma. "Hey? Why are there so many reader letters for *Harvest*? Are they all from *Nanjing Photo Studio*?"

At this point, Cheng Depei picked up a letter and read: "After reading Professor Zhou Xu's 'Nanjing Photo Studio,' I have a different understanding of this period of history. I realize how hard-won peace is..."

The letters were all full of emotion, and he replied, "So many!"

Li Xiaolin raised her head: "Old Cheng is envious? Don't bother us! We still have to review the manuscript!"

"What kind of review?" Cheng Depei asked.

“Of course it’s literary criticism!” Li Xiaolin proudly pulled out a letter, looking at the nomination: Lu Wenfu from Suzhou.

"Comrade Lu?" Cheng Depei opened his mouth slightly. Lu Wenfu was, after all, the vice chairman of the Writers Association, and had a great reputation.

"What did you write?"

“Of course it’s for the literary review of ‘Nanjing Photo Studio’!” Guo Zhuo replied.

In his letter, Cheng Depei gave a high evaluation of the achievements of "Nanjing Photo Studio": "If I had to name a young writer whose influence has revitalized a region, I can only think of Comrade Zhou Xu! He is a writer with unlimited potential, and I can see an unlimited future in him..."

"...Tsk? Such high praise?" Cheng Depei was surprised.

"This isn't literary criticism, is it? Isn't this just a comedic interlude?"

Guo Zhuo scoffed, "Tsk? A writer's review is literary criticism, what business is it of what our old comrade Lu writes!"

“Yes, yes, yes, that kind of person is just genuinely jealous!” the two replied, one after the other.

"...However, I think he's right. Among young writers under the age of thirty in China today, who can surpass Comrade Zhou Xu in terms of influence?"

"there is none left!"

Cheng Depei returned to the editorial department.

Looking at Ru Zhijuan, he suddenly sighed, "I think we should also keep an eye on Comrade Zhou Xu. This Comrade Zhou Xu is really a gem. The two sales surges of 'Harvest' were all thanks to Comrade Zhou Xu, weren't they?"

Ru Zhijuan nodded: "He is indeed a tempting target now. I heard that People's Literature has offended him, and Liberation Army Literature and Art also has a misunderstanding with him. Now, magazines in the south have a better chance. I think we, Shanghai Literature, have to offer some very generous terms to get him!"

Cheng Depei stroked his chin: "What more can we offer? The highest fee for manuscripts these days is only ten yuan per thousand words in Harvest, right? We can't go any higher than ten yuan, can we?"

Ru Zhijuan beckoned Wang Anyi and Cheng Depei over: "..."

Wang Anyi clapped her hands: "That's definitely a great idea!!!"

……

Yesterday, the issue of promoting B was resolved.

Zhou Xu definitely didn't know about this.

Even if he knew, it probably wouldn't have mattered, as the leaders of the two military regions directly ordered him to return it.

It is clear that Zhou Xu's influence in the literary and artistic field is growing.

After all, to be honest...

Writers and internet celebrities who can influence millions of people are already enough to attract attention and will be taken over by the state.

Such as joining the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Writers Association, the local CPPCC... Of course, Zhou Xu is already within the established staff.

morning.

The snow piled up in the yard. This year's snowfall was unusually heavy, about five or six centimeters deep.

The snow is falling heavily; a good snow promises a bumper harvest!
Zhou Xu really likes heavy snow.

After getting up and sitting for a while, he started washing up. Yao Fanghua got up and started cooking for him.

Zhou Xu, holding the bowl of beef noodles she had made, suddenly forgot his roots! He asked, "By the way, Fanghua, aren't you going home for the New Year?"

Ahem, it's true that men and women shouldn't touch each other. Although Zhou Xu never does anything out of line because of his status, it's inevitable that some sparks will fly if they spend too much time together.

"I'm not going back. My mom said I can't go back, so I'll stay here and annoy them." Thinking this, Zhou Xu bit her lower lip and started playing the good guy: "Well! Auntie is actually doing this for your own good, you know that, right? Besides, introducing you to someone isn't mandatory..."

After teaching for a while, Teacher Zhou noticed that her face had visibly turned red, which was definitely a warm red.

"Ahem... Oh right, what are you having for lunch? I'll go grocery shopping later."

"Eat... um, spare ribs, please," she replied slowly.

Zhou Xu looked at her and then asked, "So, are you going to spend the Chinese New Year here?"

"Ah."

"Then go out and buy New Year's goods when you have some free time in a couple of days!" Zhou Xu said helplessly.

After finishing the noodles, I asked Yao Fanghua to wash the dishes.

Thinking about this, Zhou Xu felt that finding a hardworking and beautiful wife might not be such a bad idea? After all, apart from her sometimes bad temper, she didn't have any other flaws!

After thinking for a while, he shook his head. It seemed too early to be considering this issue, but he didn't know why he had this thought.
in the afternoon.

Zhou Xu went outside and brought back a new bed, and also bought a new mattress: "Hey? What kind of bed did you buy?"

Yao Fanghua looked at him in surprise.

“Aren’t you going to stay here permanently? I can’t possibly sleep in a recliner for a whole month, can I? So I went out and bought a bed…” Zhou Xu said.

With a second bed in the already small bedroom, it's a bit cramped.

Zhou Xu felt like he was back in the days of struggling migrants in Beijing, living in basements. But it was alright, he was, after all, the male protagonist of a Beijing-drifting novel, because he had a beautiful roommate.

"By the way, you don't have a chance tomorrow, right?"

"No no!"

the next day.

The two got up.

They headed towards Xinjiekou, and soon the two arrived on the street. Zhou Xu walked ahead, and she followed behind: "What are we buying for the New Year?"

"Okay, let's do it your way. I don't have any special requests," Zhou Xu said honestly.

"I'll buy some snacks like sunflower seeds and peanuts, drinks like milk and beer, and New Year's goods like pork, duck, and fish..." she counted on her thumb.

"Then you lead the way? I'll pay you later..." Zhou Xu pushed Yao Fanghua in front of him. Her hair was long and thin, flowing like a waterfall... and it was particularly eye-catching.

"Alright alright."

The two had gotten used to living together, and would go shopping together like a couple.

After a while, Zhou Xu came carrying two bags of things, and Yao Fanghua also came carrying two bags of things.

They saw a strange man walking towards them.

"Fanghua?" he called out.

Yao Fanghua looked over with curiosity: "Comrade Qian Tianxiang..."

"What is this?" Qian Tianxiang was startled when he saw Zhou Xu leaning against Yao Fanghua.

Yao Fanghua pulled Zhou Xu over and introduced him, "This is my friend..."

Then he introduced Zhou Xu, saying, "This is my uncle's grandson, Qian Tianxiang."

Qian Tianxiang's face visibly turned pale with anger. He suppressed his emotions and asked, "You and him?"

Zhou Xu remembered the name. Oh, that's the guy he introduced to Yao Fanghua? He frowned immediately, feeling he shouldn't have meddled in this, but then he thought...

Finally, he said, "Fanghua and I have known each other for a long time. Hello, Comrade Qian."

"Oh, I'm sorry to have bothered you." Hearing this, Qian Tianxiang glanced at Zhou Xu and figured that this person was dazzling and must not be an ordinary person, so he had no choice but to leave awkwardly.

"Let's go... let's continue shopping." Yao Fanghua pulled Zhou Xu along.

She didn't say anything, and Zhou Xu didn't ask either.

However, Xinjiekou is the largest street in the vicinity, and there are usually many people coming to buy things during the Chinese New Year. Of course, perhaps the two were just unlucky, because soon they saw another stranger walking towards them.

Yao's mother glanced at Yao Fanghua, then looked at Zhou Xu standing next to her...

"Ahem." Mr. Yao exclaimed in surprise, "You were right after all, she ran off with a man?"

"...Pah, is this a good thing? I'll go call her back! She ran off to live outside, and with a guy she doesn't even know. It'll look terrible if word gets out!" Yao's mother walked ahead.

Yao's father pulled her aside, saying, "I asked the old lady. She lives at the old lady's house. She looks like she's out shopping with her boyfriend. Don't overthink it."

The old lady wasn't lying; she was just an honest person who didn't talk much.

Yao Fanghua lived in the old lady's house. Although Zhou Xu also lived there, at least he had a place to stay.

"Besides, you're such a strange mother. When someone finds a partner, you try to stop them, but when they haven't found one, you try to introduce them to potential partners. Now, free love is encouraged!" The father's two-pronged attack left the mother completely bewildered.

"Oh! That's right."

(End of this chapter)