Chapter 40 The Grass is Coming

Jiangcheng.

In the early morning, Jiefang Park Road in Jiang’an District is filled with greenery.

The Municipal Federation of Literary and Art Circles is in charge of the editorial department of Jiangcheng Literature and Art. In the quiet and secluded courtyard, there are several small buildings, one of which is a six-story building which is the editorial building.

In the open space in the yard, several workers were removing the big words “Jiangcheng Literature and Art” on the top of the first floor, and replacing them with the words “Fangcao”.

This marks the end of the era of “Jiangcheng Literature and Art”, and the next year will be 1980, which belongs to “Fangcao”.

The word “Fangcao” is taken from a seven-character regulated verse “Yellow Crane Tower” written by the Tang Dynasty poet Cui Hao:
Qingchuan calendar Hanyang tree, fragrant grass parrot island.

As one of the four famous literary figures, Fangcao has always adhered to the principle of publishing pure literature and its unique and elegant style.

The magazine has published many well-known works, such as Wang Zhenwu’s “The Last Basket of Spring Tea”, Yu Shan’s “Female College Students’ Dormitory”, and Sun Shuyang’s “Between Life and Death”.

Among them, “Female College Students’ Dormitory” was later made into a movie.

In addition, Fangcao also widely united literary masters and won the support of celebrities such as Ba Jin, Xiao Jun, Hu Feng, Ye Junjian, Zang Kejia, and Wang Meng.

At the same time, it pays great attention to discovering and supporting emerging new talents in the literary world. The early works of many famous writers were frequently first published in “Fang Cao”, such as Jia Pingwa, Ye Wenling, Wang Anyi, Shi Tiesheng, Han Shaogong, Zhang Kangkang, Zheng Wanlong, Zou Zhian, Wu Guozheng, etc.

……

“Comrades, this report in my hand is the statistical result sent by the comrades from the Distribution Bureau. As of last week, our January issue of “Fragrant Grass” was seriously overstocked in major bookstores. According to statistics, the monthly sales volume is expected to be halved!”

Editorial office.

The office was exceptionally quiet and depressed; the editors dared not speak out in the face of Deputy Editor-in-Chief Yang Shuan’s anger.

In the new January, Jiangcheng Literature and Art, which was renamed “Fangcao”, suffered a disastrous loss in sales, which were halved from the original highest of over 400,000. As of January 15th, sales were less than 80,000.

Yang Shuan, deputy editor-in-chief of Fangcao, was furious with the editors in front of him, but now he calmed down. He pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose and encouraged them seriously:

“Although sales have been cut in half, I think this is normal.

When a publication changed its name, we did not issue a notice or even add the original name on the cover. This was a major mistake!

When readers see an unfamiliar publication, they will naturally not choose to buy it easily.

So I don’t blame anyone. Having said that, I hope that our Fangcao will achieve greater success and become bigger and stronger!
Comrades, do you have confidence? “

“Have!”

When Yang Shuan heard the young editors’ faces flushed, he immediately felt that the military’s morale was strong.

In the past two years of reform and opening up, Jiangcheng’s literature and art has been groping forward on a difficult path, with insufficient human, material and financial resources.

Therefore, the principle set by the editorial department is to cultivate writer-type editors.

Recruit talent from the community of writers.

“Editor-in-chief, there’s a call from Mr. Zhang Guangnian, the editor-in-chief of People’s Literature in Beijing!”

At this time, an intern editor ran over from the office and shouted.

Mr. Zhang Guangnian of People’s Literature?
When the editors in the office heard this, they finally couldn’t help but look up.

When Yang Shuan heard the name, he was surprised. He didn’t know why Mr. Zhang called him. “I know. Come right over. You continue to review the manuscripts. There are many new manuscripts.

In addition, we can write to writers to ask for manuscripts. As long as the quality is good, we can raise the manuscript fee to a level higher than that of the neighboring “Yangtze River Literature and Art”. It is not impossible!”

After giving the instructions, Yang Shuan glanced around again.

He immediately went to the office to answer the phone.

“Hey… Hello, Editor-in-Chief Zhang. Long time no see…”

“What? Editor-in-Chief Zhang, you’re saying that there was a manuscript that rejected the invitation from People’s Literature in front of you, and you even offered a top-level fee of 10 yuan per thousand words.

But this author still submitted his manuscript to our Fangcao, and the name of this manuscript is also called Fangcao? “

Yang Shu’an responded word by word.

After the phone call, he still couldn’t believe what he heard, and his mind was buzzing for a while. Someone actually rejected People’s Literature and insisted on submitting to Fangcao.

It’s incredible!
You have to know that although Fangcao is one of the four famous actresses, compared with People’s Literature, there is no comparison at all.

Even Yang Shuan himself might not be able to refuse the invitation from the “national magazine” People’s Literature!

This young man named Cheng Kaiyan resolutely rejected the invitation from People’s Literature, just to throw himself into the arms of fragrant grass!
“And the novel’s name is also Fang Cao. Isn’t that the same as our new name?”

“Is it really that well written? Mr. Zhang Guangnian gave such a high evaluation, it must be extraordinary! He even called to talk about it.”

Yang Shuan stood up and walked to the window, looking at the mighty Yangtze River in the distance.

At this moment, Yang Shu’an was extremely curious, as if he was scratching his heart with a hundred claws, making it itchy.

Yang Shuan gritted his teeth, turned around and trotted to the editing work area.

He shouted loudly: “Everyone stop what you are doing now! Look for all the new manuscripts that have arrived in the past few days, right now, and find a novel called “Fragrant Grass”!”

“What is the editor doing?”

“Is there a novel called Fang Cao? Isn’t this the same as our new name?”

Following Yang Shuan’s order, the editorial department was in chaos. Everyone put down their work and started rummaging through the sacks at their feet.

“I think it’s true. Didn’t Mr. Zhang Guangnian from People’s Literature call me just now?”

Chen Shanshan, a female editor with a big braid in the corner, was keenly aware of this. She lowered her head and bent over to search in the sack. Soon, a piece of mail as thick as several books caught Chen Shanshan’s attention.

“You are really smart. You are worthy of being a top student of Wuhan University, Shanshan.”

A big sister who was knitting nearby thought about it and realized that this was the reason.

“Who sent this? It’s such a thick stack, there must be 200,000 or 300,000 words, right?”

Chen Shanshan picked it up with curiosity and weighed the thick pile in her hand.

“It’s probably some author who wants to make a breakthrough with his accumulated work. He has accumulated manuscripts for several years. Last time I contacted the professor of French in Wuhan University named An, he translated Notre Dame de Paris in the same way. He wrote a lot at one time and brought it all together later.”

The elder sister who was knitting a sweater muttered.

“It’s An Shaokang! Professor An is gentle, witty and humorous. Many girls in our Wuhan University like his class.”

Chen Shanshan curled her lips and rolled her eyes at her elder sister.

When talking about Professor An, even she couldn’t help but blush.

“Yes, yes, I don’t think you like the class, but you like him, right? He’s a popular idol.” The eldest sister was only busy knitting.

Chen Shanshan was speechless for a moment and ignored her elder sister. She just lowered her head and flipped through the manuscript in her hands.

What comes into view is a line of very beautiful fonts, which is pleasing to the eye.

Fresh, majestic, vigorous and powerful.

The contact address is No. 56, Xiaowei Hutong, Dongcheng District, BJ City, sent by Cheng Kaiyan.

Chen Shanshan was a little curious. Why did this author named Cheng Kaiyan send such a thick stack?

It depends on when we go.
Chen Shanshan shook her head and carefully opened the email. As expected, what appeared before her were neatly arranged manuscripts, and the handwriting was consistent with that on the envelope.

“Fragrant grass…Fragrant grass?!!!”

Chen Shanshan’s eyes widened instantly. Is this the “Fragrant Grass” that the editor-in-chief mentioned?

She immediately stood up, holding up the manuscript in her hand and shouting, “Director! We found Fangcao!”

“Bring it here quickly! Comrade Xiao Chen!”

Yang Shu’an’s eyes lit up. What Mr. Zhang Guangnian said was indeed true!

Their Fangcao editorial department actually published an article called “Fangcao”!
Thirty-nine was reviewed, etc.

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(End of this chapter)