Chapter 37 Reject People’s Literature!

“Then let’s wait and see. ‘Death’ is just a description. This subject has social limitations. Zhicheng, just wait and see.”

Zhang Guangnian shook his head and ignored Ye Zhicheng.

He immediately turned to look at Ye Shengtao and Cheng Kaiyan who were drinking tea leisurely and calmly on the side.

Zhang Guangnian couldn’t help but laugh and said, “Look, look, the two of us are arguing here, but these grandfather and grandson are drinking tea calmly here.”

Ye Zhicheng also looked over and saw that, “Don’t underestimate Kaiyan because he is young. He is more mature and calm than people in their thirties or forties. If ordinary people heard the editor-in-chief of People’s Literature praising him like this, they would be so happy that they couldn’t stop smiling. This kid is really good, he is just like the old man.”

“Uncle Ye is joking. I didn’t react. Am I too happy to be blinded by joy?”

Cheng Kaiyan drank the Dahongpao in the cup reluctantly and said with a smile.

Speaking of which, drinking tea every day these days has really helped him taste something new and now he likes it.

Wuyi Mountain Dahongpao is really addictive, but it’s a pity that it is too precious.

“I think you are not too happy, but you are thinking about my Wuyi Mountain Dahongpao, right?”

Seeing this, old man Ye Shengtao pointed at Cheng Kaiyan and scolded her with a smile.

He asked why I was just staring at the tea for so long.

“Hehehe~ Grandpa is wise. If we, who are engaged in creation, don’t have something to refresh ourselves, sometimes we really can’t write good works.”

Cheng Kaiyan was not annoyed and said with a smile.

“Okay, okay, look at you, take some back later.”

Seeing his playful look, Ye Shengtao purred his beard and glared at him, saying that he was just thinking about these little things.

“Comrade Kaiyan is right. For those of us who are engaged in literary creation, sometimes inspiration strikes and we write all night long. What can we do if we are too sleepy? There are only a few things to do: smoking and drinking tea leaves. The other thing is that imported coffee is bitter and sour. I would rather drink soybean milk than that.”

As Zhang Guangnian was speaking, he seemed to be craving for a cigarette and took out a box of stale cigarettes from his collar pocket with his right hand. It was a box of Daqianmen.

He patted it first, then turned it over and shook it on his palm, pinched the snow-white cigarette butt with his fingernails and passed it to the three people, “Comrade Kaiyan, do you smoke?”

“I don’t smoke. I don’t have this habit.”

When it was sent to Cheng Kaiyan, he shook his head and declined, asking, “Editor-in-Chief Zhang, it is said that senior cadres smoke Peony, mid-level cadres smoke Xiangshan, workers, peasants and soldiers smoke 23 cents, and rural cadres smoke Dapao. Why don’t you smoke Zhonghua or Peony?”

“I don’t like that thing. I’m not used to it.”

Zhang Guangnian waved his hand, “Comrade Kaiyan, what are your plans for this piece of Fragrant Grass? The excellence of Fragrant Grass is obvious to all.

Just submit it to our People’s Literature. I will give you ten yuan per thousand words.

Just last week, the Party Committee of the National Press and Publication Administration formulated new standards for royalties, appropriately raising the basic royalties and restoring them to the level before the buzz.

The rate for manuscripts has been raised to 3 to 10 yuan per thousand words, and for translations to 2 to 7 yuan per thousand words. At the same time, the rate for royalties based on the number of copies printed has been restored.”

“The remuneration standards have been revised?”

Cheng Kaiyan was a little surprised and looked at Ye Shengtao.

The last time he submitted a children’s literature submission, it was only five yuan per thousand words, but now it has doubled.

“Well, it will be announced before the Spring Festival.”

Mr. Ye nodded, he was also one of the promoters.

“How about it? Submit it to our People’s Literature.

As the first national literary journal in New China, it has carried an important literary mission and witnessed the glory and changes of Chinese literature since its founding in 1949. People’s Literature has created one literary hot spot after another and is regarded as a “national journal.”

Even in January 1980, the sales of People’s Literature reached an unprecedented million copies!”

Zhang Guangnian was worried that Cheng Kaiyan didn’t know much about People’s Literature, so he immediately introduced it to him.

Seeing Cheng Kaiyan seemed a little confused, Ye Shengtao, who was standing by, spoke up to help: “Guangnian, you are too impatient. Kaiyan’s novel was just finished today.”

“Haha, that’s right. How about this, let’s go eat first and talk while we eat. Let’s go to Donglaishun to eat mutton hotpot, it’s my treat.”

After Ye Shengtao’s reminder, Zhang Guangnian realized that he was a little too impatient, so he spoke proudly.

In fact, it is not his fault. In fact, it is because People’s Literature started the wave of scar literature and was at the forefront of many literary journals.

Now that he has the opportunity to see new literature, it would be strange if he didn’t want to continue to hold it tightly in his hands. How could he give it to other literary journals?

“Then today we are really blessed by Kaiyan. Let’s go! Let’s go to Donglaishun!”

When Ye Zhicheng heard this, his face suddenly lit up with joy.

He has always been craving for Donglaishun mutton hotpot.

Donglaishun was founded in the 1903th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the late Qing Dynasty, AD.

From “Congee Stand” to “China’s No. 1 Hotpot”

The original address of Donglaishun is in Jinyu Hutong, the north entrance of Wangfujing Street in Dongcheng District, which is also the north gate of the old Dong’an Market.

……

The three of them hurried out and walked towards Wangfujing.

The streets and alleys are covered with a layer of red sunlight. The sun has not yet set, and Wangfujing Street is very lively.
It was just time to get off work, and when the three of them arrived at the store, it was already packed with people as expected.

It was chilly outside, but the air inside was filled with the unique smell of mutton and the spicy aroma of chili peppers.

Cheng Kaiyan and the other two chose a corner near the window and ordered a plate of peanuts, a bottle of Erguotou, a few plates of mutton slices, mutton meatballs and shredded mutton, and some sesame buns to take out.

Some people say that watching the Donglaishun chef cutting meat is a sight to behold, and eating Donglaishun hotpot is a pleasure.

This sentence is indeed true.

At present, the blue and white porcelain plate is filled with fresh tender lamb slices, which are bright red and thin, and the patterns on the plate can be vaguely seen through the meat.

The weathered copper hot pot stove was bubbling with red oil and emitting steam in front of one’s eyes. The white steam made one’s vision misty, especially since most of the four people except Cheng Kaiyan were wearing glasses.

“Come on, let’s drink some wine to warm ourselves up and eat some food to fill our stomachs.”

“Drink one, old man, don’t drink any more.”

Everyone raised their glasses, Cheng Kaiyan only took a sip, then started eating and chatting.

The bottom of the pot was boiling, and Cheng Kaiyan put the mutton slices into the bottom of the pot. After a few stirs, it was cooked in a short while and dipped in a sauce dish.

This is a dipping sauce made mainly of sesame paste and soy sauce, supplemented by fermented tofu and chives, a little shrimp oil and chili oil.

He quickly stuffed it into his mouth while it was still a little hot, and the delicious aroma of the meat mixed with the sauce immediately filled his entire mouth.

“Ha! This is delicious!”

Cheng Kaiyan quickly ate a few more bites and started sweating while eating.

“I thought this kid would like it. Young people like to eat meat and eat it freely.”

Zhang Guangnian looked at Cheng Kaiyan with a smile, as if he was looking at a treasure.

“You little brat, you’re going to bankrupt me. Don’t bankrupt your editor-in-chief Zhang.”

Ye Zhicheng teased, the salaries of editors like them were not that high, so who would have the time to eat at Donglaishun?
A meal for four people would cost at least six or seven yuan.

“What’s the big deal? As long as we can get the manuscript, what’s the big deal? Zhu Wei from China Youth Magazine rides his bike to writers’ homes every day to urge them to submit their manuscripts. People call him the urging man again. Comrade Kaiyan, just submit your manuscript to our People’s Literature!”

Zhang Guangnian looked at Cheng Kaiyan who was eating happily beside him with a burning gaze. He didn’t believe that anyone could eat his mutton hotpot and run away with such a thick face.

“Editor-in-Chief Zhang, to be honest, I have already made a choice in my mind.”

Cheng Kaiyan scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed.

In my life, I have never been stared at like this by a man, except by girls.

Zhang Guangnian’s tone stagnated, and he asked unwillingly: “Which editor cut in the deal? You can’t even eat at Donglaishun?”

“Actually, I had my mind set on Jiangcheng Literature and Art, but don’t worry! Next time I have a new work, I will definitely submit it to you first!” Cheng Kaiyan said honestly.

“Jiangcheng Literature and Art? That’s OK, at least it’s one of the four famous actresses.”

Zhang Guangnian sighed. He didn’t expect that someone could be so shameless.

“Jiangcheng Arts?!”

At this time, Mr. Ye Shengtao also exclaimed, causing everyone to turn their heads to look.

“What happened to Jiangcheng Literature and Art?”

“Don’t you know that this month, Jiangcheng Literature and Art officially changed its name to “Fangcao”? “

“Fragrant grass?!!”

“Fangcao? Isn’t this the same name as Kaiyan’s novel? Is it really fate?”

“Isn’t this too much of a coincidence? The people in the Fangcao editorial department are so lucky!”

“But this is also a good story. Fangcao published “Fangcao”!”

“Uh… Actually, I was just looking for my boyfriend… As for the fragrant grass, it was just a coincidence.”

“Ah? Just to meet someone?”

……

After dinner, everyone went home.

Cheng Kaiyan rode his bike back, then ran out to send out Liu Xiaoli’s letter and the manuscript.

(End of this chapter)