1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 19 A Heartwarming Edit

Liu Jiaju led Zhou Xu further into the innermost part of the first floor.

After all, he had a good relationship with Zhou Xu and liked the boy, so he specially chose the best room for him.

Open the door and go inside.

Zhou Xu looked around.

There is a single hardboard bed against the wall, with white sheets and blankets, as well as a two-drawer wooden table and a wooden chair.

A basin stand is used to hold porcelain basins, and there may also be a bamboo-shelled thermos flask. There are several hooks on the wall for hanging items.

The conditions were very poor, but as a single room, it was already quite good. Zhou Xu was very happy, after all, he had been sleeping with a group of big men for more than a month.

Liu Jiaju said with a smile, "This is your dormitory. You'll stay here while revising the manuscript! There's no canteen in the editorial department, so you'll have to take care of your own meals. But the editorial department usually gives you a two-yuan allowance per day. If you run out of money, just come to me for the allowance. Don't be shy."

"Okay, teacher, how many days does it usually take to finish revising a manuscript?"

Liu Jiaju said, "Generally speaking, it can be as long as half a year or so, or as short as ten days. Last time, a writer stayed here for seven or eight days, then heard that his wife was about to give birth, so he finished revising everything in one night and ran away..."

However, your novel is a medium-length or long piece, so time is definitely tight. I won't limit you, but you need to finish revising it within a month, right? After all, the final draft needs to be completed next month!

Zhou Xu immediately replied, "I understand. I will definitely hurry up and revise the manuscript to complete the task within the time limit."

"Yes, it's good that you know..."

Liu Jiaju seemed to have forgotten something... Ah Qiu exclaimed, and he suddenly remembered: "Damn it, this room is so cold. Even though you're a young man, I'm worried you'll get cold. Come to my room!"

The current heating supply rate in the capital is not high. In 1977, the Capital No. 1 Thermal Power Plant was completed, and the heating capacity was greatly improved. At the same time, the Zuojiazhuang Heating Plant was built in the late 1970s. During this period, centralized heating was developed significantly and can be regarded as the first time that heating was widely popularized.

The second major expansion of central heating occurred after the 1990s. In the 1990s, cities like Beijing (BJ) began developing urban heating networks, utilizing waste heat from power plants for heating—a process known as "combined heat and power"—and the adoption rate of centralized heating steadily increased. To ensure heating needs for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing built a new combined heat and power plant and renovated six existing heat source plants to replace boiler rooms around the Olympic venues.

However, the first general survey didn't reach this area. Even if it did, it only covered the family compound; their library didn't have it... Poor writer.

Liu Jiaju, with his decisive and uncompromising nature, led Zhou Xu towards his home.

He naturally also lived in the family compound.

He took a big key, opened his house, and called out to his wife.

Mrs. Liu came out; she was a very simple woman with short hair that gave her a healthy, modern look reminiscent of the Yan'an era: "What's wrong?"

“Where’s that little stove at home? We don’t need it anymore, right? I have a writer here who needs my care! Don’t let his skinny arms and legs get cold! Look how cold it is in the library!” Liu Jiaju said.

Madam Liu looked at Zhou Xu and thought to herself: This child has skinny arms and legs?
However, she was sensible enough to go inside and start looking for the stove.

The relationship between editors and writers was so close back then; arranging accommodations and meals was the editor's responsibility, so many editors and writers had very good relationships...

Moreover, nowadays, almost every literary editorial department is staffed with older, more experienced editors. These editors are particularly concerned about young people; it's a kind of caring concern that comes with age…

In addition, these elderly people lived through the difficult years and the Yan'an period, so you can always hear veteran writers saying how heartwarming the veteran editors are.

Later editorial departments lacked this human touch; the exchange of manuscripts became purely commercial.

"Ah! This is it!" Madam Liu came out carrying the stove.

Zhou Xu immediately took the stove with both hands: "Thank you, Auntie!"

"Hey! How old are you? You're already writing novels?"

Zhou Xu gestured and said, "I'm eighteen this year!"

"Oh! He's still so young! He has a bright future! Don't go yet, come inside and warm up... I'm about to make dinner, eat before you go!" Mrs. Liu pulled Zhou Xu into the house.

Liu Jiaju said, "Don't be shy, come inside!"

Zhou Xu was a grassroots soldier, and these veteran soldiers especially liked him.

He followed them into the house.

The aunt brought over some tea.

He took a sip to warm himself up... Wow! Life here is pretty good; it's hard to go from luxury to frugality! I wonder if I can adapt to the long-distance race again if I go back to the grassroots level.
However, given his current achievements, if he were to go to the front lines, he would likely only be a reporter in the background; he wouldn't actually be sent to carry a gun and fight on the battlefield.

Zhou Xu was naturally afraid of death; it's only human nature!

Dinner was ready quickly.

Because Liu Jiaju is from Chongqing, he prefers spicy food, while Zhou Xu is from Lichuan, Hubei, which is close to Chongqing... so he also likes spicy food.

One dish is stir-fried pork with chili peppers, another is stir-fried cabbage with potatoes, and yet another is stir-fried shredded potatoes... These days, the dishes at home are all quite spicy.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Dad! I'm home!"

Zhou Xu held a bowl of rice and looked towards the door.

A young girl in military uniform and a hat walked in... She looked to be around twenty-five years old and quite mature.

Liu Jiaju introduced, "This is my daughter, Liu Jia, from the General Political Department Drama Troupe... Let me introduce you to our new writer at *PLA Literature and Art*, Zhou Xu!!"

Liu Jia rushed to her seat, picked up a bowl of rice, but her eyes were still sizing up Zhou Xu... What a young writer, that was her first thought.

My second impression... handsome!

There's no way around it; the performing arts troupe certainly has male soldiers, but not many can match Zhou Xushuai's...

"Hello!"

Zhou Xu nodded, "Hello." Actually, he was a little embarrassed to greet him; he was only in his early twenties! He was a socially awkward person…

"Wow! It's rare to see such a young writer. The writers Dad used to bring home were either in their thirties or forties, or even older people!" Liu Jia said, stuffing food into her mouth as she ate her rice.

Zhou Xu looked at her.

It's not a stereotype, but this carefree attitude is exactly like the children of high-ranking officials in Wang Shuo's novels...

By the way, his father was originally a soldier, and he was indeed a child of a military compound!

Tsk!
This must be the second kid from a high-ranking family I've encountered.
Logically speaking, Li Xiaopan was also a child of a high-ranking official, but she was sent to the countryside...

"...Why do you care about other people's age? Why don't you study hard like them? They are much more outstanding than you." Liu Jiaju got angry when he mentioned this.

"What are you talking about! I don't want to write novels... But writers are all pretty amazing, I didn't inherit your temper, okay?"

"shit!"

"By the way, when is my brother coming back? Shouldn't he be returning home this year?"

Liu Jiaju said, "It's being arranged... It'll be December soon, and it would be good if we could make it in time for the New Year."

In the second half of 1978, various regions began to process return-to-city procedures in a concentrated manner, marking the peak period for educated youth returning to their hometowns.

The family chatted. Mrs. Liu said, "Xiao Xu, please keep eating, don't be shy... Come over to our house for dinner whenever you have time these days, it's not far... just a short walk..."

Zhou Xu said, "It's too much trouble for you, Auntie. I can manage on my own..."

Liu Jiaju said, "It's alright, we'll have a lively dinner together! We'll just add an extra pair of chopsticks!"

Zhou Xu ate his rice. Since both families had agreed, he had no reason to refuse: "Then I'll trouble you, Auntie..."

After the meal, he offered to help clear the dishes.

After all, you can't be too lazy when you're eating at someone else's house and not do any housework... Saying you're not allowed to do anything is just polite talk; if you really don't do anything, people will get annoyed after a while.

That evening, Zhou Xu left the house carrying a stove.

Liu Jia followed behind him: "Dad, shall I go see him?"

Liu Jiaju nodded: "Learn from them!"

Liu Jia was curious about what kind of novels such a young writer could write, so she put a hand on his stove and said, "Hey, let me help you!"

Zhou Xu did indeed feel that the weight he was carrying had lightened.

Zhou Xu turned around and said, "Thank you."

"fine."

The two of them entered the house.

Zhou Xu skillfully lit the fire. Coal blocks were usually distributed outside the compound, and the magazine had a pile of them outside the bookstore specifically for writers.

He borrowed a basket from outside. Now that the New Year is almost here, there aren't many writers coming to revise their manuscripts, so it should be enough for him.

Liu Jia sat on the stool. This girl was very outgoing. After all, she had to meet many writers with her father every year, so it would be impossible for her not to be outgoing.

She asked, "May I see what novels you've written?"

"It's right on the table, take a look if you want!"

Zhou Xu focused intently on starting the fire, and every winter people freeze to death... Without a fire, life in the north is truly a joke.

Liu Jia borrowed his manuscript and looked at it curiously.

"Wow! This is the legendary young writer? I have to go back to the theater troupe and brag about him! I've never seen such a young writer before!"

Zhou Xu knew that this girl was in a stage of curiosity and interest towards him. After all, he had met many old writers, but young and talented writers were rare.

There are plenty of writers who submit their work to provincial weekly magazines at the age of seventeen or eighteen, but not many writers who enter national magazines at the age of seventeen or eighteen.

Wang Meng was hailed as a literary prodigy for several years after publishing his first work at the age of eighteen.

Of course, it was because Wang Meng's works were popular for a while.

If Zhou Xu becomes famous, he might also be a child prodigy?
He started a fire, and the stove roared and blazed. Zhou Xu said, "Comrade, come and warm yourself by the fire."

Liu Jia followed along to warm herself by the fire, a novel in her hand... She thought to herself in amazement: This young man is really amazing! His skill level is very high!

"Don't call me comrade. My dad is your editor, and we'll be spending more than a month together. Just call me Liu Jia, or you can call me Sister Jia!" Liu Jia said with a smile.

"I'll call you Comrade Liu!"

"..." Liu Jia stared at him, wanting to see the young man's embarrassment.

Zhou Xu scratched his head: "Okay, Sister Jia."

Liu Jia chatted with them inside the house for quite a while.

Finally, seeing that it was around seven or eight o'clock, Zhou Xu said, "If you're interested, take a part of the manuscript with you when you go back tonight!"

Zhou Xu thought that it wasn't good for a girl to stay in his room for too long.

Liu Jia understood this principle, chatted with Zhou Xu for a few minutes, borrowed the manuscript, and left.

(End of this chapter)