Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 880 Club

Chen Fan originally planned to spend half a day to a day sharing his writing experience with these young writers, and then use the materials he had collected and organized as case studies to analyze and explain them one by one.

This is just the first step.

The second step was to let these dozen or so young writers choose a source material for their own creations.

Since there are many people and few materials, you can choose one by yourself, or several people can choose one together to create a collaborative work.

Chen Fan himself acts as a "mentor," providing them with creative ideas and reviewing their completed articles.

After approval, it will be published through this publishing house.

There are two ways to publish, and it's not a choice between two options, but rather a difference in the order in which they are published.

The first method involves serializing the story in a magazine that is about to be published. After the serialization is completed, the story is then edited by a publishing house and compiled into a book for publication and distribution.

Originally, Chen Fan's idea was that serialization was fine, but when it came to the last part, it would not be published in the magazine. Instead, it would be combined with the previously published content into a book and then published in its entirety.

However, Jiang Tiantian said she still had some self-respect, and Jiang Lili also said, "You should still have some self-respect." Chen Fan could only regretfully give up this good idea and agree to the suggestion of publishing the book after the serialization ended.

All of the above are just plans.

As the saying goes, plans are always subject to change!

As a result, the "sharing session," which was originally scheduled to last a maximum of one day, was still dragged on for three days due to the tireless learning and questioning of these young writers, even though Chen Fan had the teaching aura to shine!
Generally speaking, ... this refers to relatively simple contributions such as correspondence courses in literature or internal study groups of writers' associations. If that were the case, Chen Fan would have quit long ago.

However, this group of people was the "King and Queen Group" that he planned to create for his own publishing house. In order for the publishing house to bind them for a longer period of time and to bind more people through their role model power, Chen Fan endured it!
With a mindset of enduring hardship and humiliation, he persevered and talked with them for three whole days.

He only breathed a sigh of relief after successfully selling all ten sets of materials and watching the young writers leave happily, some alone, some in pairs, and some in small groups.

Then he turned to Jiang Tiantian and said, "Today is the Lantern Festival. It ends tomorrow, Sunday, and schools will basically start next Monday."

Most of these young writers have jobs, a few are students, and only a very few are unemployed. If no one organizes them, they could easily disperse over time.

These three days were not wasted. After listening to Chen Fan's lectures, they developed a "classmate bond," and with the experience of "collaborative creation," they are now showing a tendency to unite as a whole.

Of course, Chen Fan never intended to build these writers into a real team.

Those who engage in artistic creation can invite friends and companions, but they won't be like working people, with fixed hours and division of labor.

The more popular screenwriting studios of the future will have a leader who provides the main ideas, and then several junior screenwriters who fill in the details. This is also a kind of team collaboration, but the works produced by such studios lack "soul".

Perhaps more than a decade or so later, after literature has declined, Chen Fan will make such an arrangement, but not now.

What we need now is "wild growth," protecting every imaginative idea and promoting the arts and culture scene to flourish sooner and faster.

Therefore, that kind of "studio" collaboration model is not suitable for the present.

However, it is possible to win these people over in another way and make them a source of inspiration for the publishing house.

Upon hearing Chen Fan's words, Jiang Tiantian immediately replied, "Don't worry, I've already arranged for Aunt Xie and Uncle Yu to contact them separately, so we can guarantee that we won't lose touch."

The Aunt Xie and Uncle Yu she mentioned are both editors in the editorial department. These senior editors are retired veterans from "Shanghai Literature and Art" and "Harvest". They are older than the other generation, and calling them aunt and uncle makes them sound younger.

However, the fact that they were recommended means that they not only have excellent work skills, but also have a very kind and approachable personality.

After all, Ba Jin personally invited Chen Fan to place the publishing house within the Writers' Association and even offered to provide them with two offices, but Chen Fan resolutely refused, which made it clear that he disliked the seniority-based work atmosphere.

Therefore, those who are recommended are all broad-minded and not too calculative.

Otherwise, with Jiang Tiantian being so young, she probably wouldn't be able to keep him in check.

Chen Fan nodded slightly and then said, "Making more contact is one thing, but what I mean is, it would be best to get these people here whenever they have free time, to get together more often. Only when people come can their hearts be with the group, and they won't let others steal their thunder."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantian couldn't help but burst out laughing. "If Old Ba heard you say that, wouldn't he be furious?"

Chen Fan laughed and said, "No, he'll just glare at you at most, because he doesn't have a beard."

After looking at the garden and lawn for a while, Chen Fan suddenly gestured for her to follow.

Walking along the bluestone path on the side of the main building to the back, you will see two small villas side by side.

Although it's called an auxiliary building, each one is actually comparable to Chen Fan's villa on Panyu Road. It just goes to show that the big boss who built this garden villa decades ago was really rich.

Reaching the two villas, Chen Fan asked, "Are these two buildings currently empty?"

Jiang Tiantian nodded, "They're all empty."

He then pointed to the building closest to the main building and said, "Both buildings have been cleaned up. This building even has bedding and beds prepared. It used to be used by my uncle as a temporary accommodation. The bodyguards, assistants, and doctors he brought with him this time are staying in this building."

Chen Fan hummed in agreement and said, "Then we'll keep this building and use it as a guesthouse. When writers come to revise their manuscripts or have any events that require accommodation, they can be accommodated here."

Jiang Tiantian nodded and said, "These two buildings look similar to our house, but they have more rooms and are relatively more compact, since they used to be for the servants. There are three floors and eight rooms in total. If each room has two beds, it can accommodate sixteen people, which should be enough."

Chen Fan turned to look at another building and said, "Before the Writers Association ceased operations, a writers' club was set up at the former headquarters, which is No. 64 Wangfujing Street in Beijing. Have you heard of it?"

The writers' club was located on the first floor of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles building, occupying a considerable amount of space. It was originally proposed by several veteran writers who felt there was a lack of a place for everyone to relax, unwind, and exchange ideas. However, the previous headquarters of the Writers' Association was located at No. 22 Dongzongbu Hutong. Although that courtyard was not small, it was clearly insufficient for the large number of staff members. Some resident writers even had to borrow offices from other units such as the Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

It wasn't until early 57, when the Writers Association moved to the newly built Federation of Literary and Art Circles building, that they were able to occupy a space on the first floor to set up this club, which also included a teahouse and a convenience store.

For a long time afterward, writers including Mao Zedong, Ba Jin, Cao Yu, and Zhang Tianyi would often appear in the club, either to drink tea and chat or to play billiards, making it a place for many writers to relax and exchange ideas.

Later, when the wind picked up and the clouds flew away, the club naturally and predictably disappeared.

Jiang Tiantian shook her head blankly, "Never heard of it."

The next second, she realized what he meant and looked at the other villa, saying, "You mean, we're going to imitate the Writers' Club, create our own Writers' Club, and use this building as the club's headquarters?" Chen Fan smiled and said, "More or less."

He explained, "Most of these writers are part-time writers, and even if editors frequently contact them, it is difficult to unite them."

If we set up a club, invite these writers to become members, and provide them with a place to exchange ideas and learn, then you won't have to do anything; they will definitely come here whenever they have free time.

Then... hehehehehe!

Jiang Tiantian's eyes lit up when she heard this, "Your idea is really good."

He then tilted his head back and laughed, "I know what to do. Don't worry, none of these young writers will escape! Moreover, I'm going to use this club to set up a trap and attract even more writers to come here!"

Chen Fan laughed and said, "It's good to try to attract more new members, but don't forget to pay attention to quality. Don't bring in those with weak foundations or those who are just a flash in the pan."

Jiang Tiantian nodded and smiled, "Don't worry, I understand."

……

The sharing session ended on the Lantern Festival, and the next day was Sunday. Chen Fan flew back to the provincial capital of Jiangnan from Shanghai on Sunday.

It was now March 2nd.

Chen Fan suddenly realized that living in the company dormitory area was not a good thing, especially being neighbors with the leaders.

Because as soon as I come back, the boss comes knocking on my door.

As soon as Chen Fan drove into the yard, He Qingsheng, carrying a large tea mug in one hand and a cigarette in the other, effortlessly leaped over the fence and into Chen Fan's yard, as if possessed by Wang Xunhua.

Well, although Lai Weiwen won the 110-meter hurdles championship at last year's National Games, Wang Xunhua, who won the 110-meter hurdles championship at the Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand the year before last, is the true hero in this field.

Who can blame them for bringing glory to their country abroad!
Of course, Lai Weiwen is not bad either, and he is even faster than Wang Xunhua.

Seeing He Qingsheng leap over with agility, Chen Fan couldn't help but sigh, "Judging from your posture, it's a real pity you weren't dragged by Wang Xunhua to practice hurdles."

He Qingsheng raised his head, as if he didn't understand the meaning behind his words, and grinned, "You're right. If I could be thirty, no, twenty years younger, I would also train in hurdles and win gold medals for the country."

Chen Fan couldn't help but tremble twice, smacked his lips, took out his keys, opened the door, and went inside.

Pushing open the door, it was unsurprisingly covered in a layer of dust.

He tossed his suitcase into the corner, went into the study, took out a rag from the drawer, and went to the back to get water to clean.

He Qingsheng looked around and said, "You can't stay here either. Why don't you come sit at my place first and I'll have the property management cleaner clean it up for you before you come over?"

Chen Fan moved swiftly, filling a basin with water from the bedroom bathroom and carrying it out, saying, "When I entered the community, the security guards already made a call for me; they'll be here soon."

He then wiped the desk and chair, saying, "I'll just wipe this little bit. Let's sit and chat while they clean up."

At the same time, he looked up at He Qingsheng and smiled, "I'm not going to your house. I heard you were there, right? If I go over there, I'll have to give you a big red envelope!"

Seeing that he first wiped it clean with a damp cloth and then wiped it again with a dry cloth, He Qingsheng put the teacup on the table, pulled out a chair and sat down, saying, "You're so stingy. I heard you're having a wedding this time you're going home for the New Year, right?"

He pulled a large red envelope from his pocket and slammed it on the table with a thud. "Here, this is my wedding gift."

He also pursed his lips, "I'm not like some people who are stingy."

Chen Fan didn't stand on ceremony, picked up the red envelope and opened it. The next second, his face was full of smiles. "Chairman He is so generous!"

He happily stuffed the red envelope into his pocket, and was about to pat it when his face suddenly stiffened. He turned to look at He Qingsheng and asked, "Have you heard about it too?"

He Qingsheng pulled over the rosewood ashtray, about to flick his cigarette ash, when he heard this and was taken aback. "What did you hear?"

He then frowned slightly, "Is there some important policy to be announced again?"

Chen Fan raised an eyebrow and patted his pocket lightly. "So, this 600 yuan red envelope was just a simple gift, nothing more?"

He Qingsheng glared at him, "Don't give it back to me."

He threw the cigarette butt away and reached out to grab it.

Chen Fan quickly covered his pocket with one hand and took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from the drawer with the other, and shoved it at him with a grin, "Chairman He, calm down, calm down, come on, have a cigarette to cool down."

He Qingsheng then sat down, picked up a cigarette, opened the pack, and said irritably, "You really don't know what's good for you. If I had known, I would have given you two cents, the same price as in the countryside."

He took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a lighter. Then, He Qingsheng looked at Chen Fan and asked seriously, "What was that you were talking about?"

If something can make him suspect that you bribed him with a large red envelope, then this matter must be serious.

Just as Chen Fan was about to speak, he suddenly looked out the window and immediately stood up. "The cleaner is here. I'll go and make arrangements."

He then went out and welcomed in several cleaning staff who had come to clean the house. Seeing that they were all familiar faces, he didn't say anything, but gave them a box of pastries he had bought in Shanghai to share, and then returned to his study.

He lit a cigarette before speaking to He Qingsheng, "I've received word that the higher authorities will officially issue foreign exchange certificates in one or two months at most."

"Foreign exchange certificates?"

He Qingsheng frowned, staring intently at him. "Is it a policy related to foreign exchange?"

Chen Fan nodded and said, "The foreign exchange certificates have already been printed. We're just waiting for the documents to be issued before they'll be officially implemented. From now on, whether you're an overseas Chinese or a foreigner, you won't be able to use foreign exchange for consumption in China. You'll have to exchange it for foreign exchange certificates first before you can use it."

He Qingsheng suddenly exclaimed "Oh!" and then stared blankly for several seconds before looking at Chen Fan. "Foreign exchange, foreign exchange certificates? I don't have any foreign exchange, and my company doesn't use foreign exchange domestically. What does this have to do with us?!"

(End of this chapter)