A widower's entertainment

Chapter 305 [Foreign Literary Awards] (Please Subscribe)
When Lin Youcheng's children called Xie Zelin "Grandpa Xie," Xie Zelin was undoubtedly very surprised, because it caught him completely off guard.

Xie Zelin looked at the five children in front of him, one, two, three, four, and thought for a moment that there shouldn't be six, but he didn't say it. He just felt that it was really not easy for Lin Youcheng to raise these children all by himself.

Just now, he felt a sense of tension, and his forehead was sweating.

Xie Zelin thought that if his daughter Xie Shuhua really got together with Lin Youcheng, these children would really have to call him maternal grandfather, and he would suddenly have six more grandchildren. This really made him feel a great pressure.

However, Xie Zelin could also tell that these children were all very polite.

He also knew that the oldest girl who was missing must be the one who was tutored in English by Xie Shuhua and later got into Yenching University Affiliated High School.

Xie Zelin looked at Lin Youcheng, not knowing what to say for a moment. He disagreed with Xie Shuhua and Lin Youcheng's relationship, but would his opposition really work?

In fact, Xie Zelin himself was not sure. After Xie Shuhua graduated from the creative writing graduate program at the Lu Xun Academy of Literature, he didn't know if Xie Shuhua would return to Tianjin. If she really stayed in Beijing and followed Lin Youcheng, what could he do to object?

Putting all that aside, if Lin Youcheng and Xie Shuhua were to actually be together, Lin Youcheng's overall character was alright to Xie Zelin, and even though he was older, it wasn't something he would necessarily object to. However, the fact that he had six children was something Xie Zelin simply couldn't accept.

He was fundamentally against becoming a stepmother to six children.

“Writer Lin, I will not agree to this.”

Before leaving, Xie Zelin couldn't help but emphasize one more point.

Lin Youcheng didn't seem to care much about Xie Zelin's objection, and simply said, "Teacher Xie, it's good that you call me Youcheng. I think we should wait until she graduates before discussing this matter."

“Even after graduation, I would not agree. No father would want his daughter to be someone else’s stepmother, especially a stepmother to six children.”

Xie Zelin's words were very direct and firm.

Lin Youcheng wasn't angry. He turned his gaze and saw his daughter, Lin Zhaoxi, pushing her bicycle in. He smiled and said, "Xi'er, you're back. This is Grandpa Xie, Teacher Shuhua's father."

Teacher Xie Shuhua's father?
Compared to his younger siblings' curiosity and indifference, Lin Zhaoxi undoubtedly knew more about the situation. Looking at Xie Zelin, whose temples were also a little gray, he called out, "Hello, Grandpa Xie."

Xie Zelin felt his heart skip a beat again. He had never imagined he would have such a big granddaughter, but he still nodded politely and replied, "Hello."

Lin Youcheng waved to Lin Zhaoxi and said, "You go in first."

Lin Zhaoxi nodded, parked her bicycle, and went into her room. She was naturally curious, but she was also very sensible and didn't ask any more questions.

Xie Zelin looked at Lin Youcheng's eldest daughter, who was already in high school. The thought that his daughter might have to become a stepmother to a high school student made him very uncomfortable. This girl was probably only eight years younger than his daughter, Xie Shuhua.

Thinking about it this way, Xie Zelin's expression became even more serious. He gave Lin Youcheng a deep look, said nothing more, and left.

Lin Youcheng could tell that Xie Zelin genuinely disagreed, but he didn't feel anything particularly amiss. He understood why Xie Zelin would disagree; the age difference and the number of children were the reasons.

Although he understood, Lin Youcheng had no intention of accepting it.

Just as he and Xie Zelin said, let's leave this issue to time for now.

Is the age gap too large?

For some reason, thinking about this made Lin Youcheng think of a love story.

That story is also about the age gap, or even more than just the age gap, or whether it was love at all, which still needs to be discussed. In any case, it is a very complicated story about lust and morality, love and sin, history and personal dignity.

The current situation is also very complicated.

Of course, in reality, the situation is much simpler than that story.

Lin Youcheng felt that for his next work, he could try writing that complex story.

Just as Lin Youcheng was thinking about his next project, Chen Aige had already finalized the casting for the two main actors in the film "Atonement." Gong Li, whom they had borrowed from Zhang Guoshi, would play Lin Yu. Gong Li was very fond of the novel "Atonement" and was naturally very willing to play Lin Yu. The role of Luo Yang would be played by Chen Daoming.

Upon hearing Chen Aige mention these two leading actors, Lin Youcheng did not object. After all, although Chen Daoming is young now, he has excellent acting skills. Zheng Xiaolong had previously suggested that Chen Daoming play Yu Zecheng, but he felt that Chen Daoming was more handsome and not suitable, so he gave up on the idea.

If Gong Li and Chen Daoming were to collaborate on the film "Atonement" now, and then collaborate on "Coming Home" when they are both old and gray, it would truly be a return. At that time, many viewers who have seen the film "Atonement" might still be looking forward to the two collaborating again on "Coming Home".

"Brother Lin, this is Zhou Jian from the film co-production company. They will also be co-investing in the film 'Atonement' with Yanjing Film Studio."

Chen Aige didn't come to Xinghua Hutong alone this time; she was accompanied by two others. One was Zhou Jian from a film co-production company, and the other was a friend of Zhou Jian from Times Publishing Company.

Clearly, Chen Aige has considerable influence in Beijing's film industry. Zhang Yimou had previously mentioned that Japan was interested in investing in his film, which naturally prompted Chen Aige to contact a production company to secure more support for the film "Atonement."

Lin Youcheng nodded, his gaze turning to Zhou Jian and the other foreigner.

Zhou Jian said with a smile, "Comrade Lin Youcheng, this is Bowers from Time Publishing Company. He's here this time to publish your novel in the United States."

Time Publishing Company is quite famous and has a significant global influence. Founded in New York in 1923 by Luce, it is one of the largest publishing trusts in the United States. Its core publication, Time Magazine, was the first popular magazine in the United States to report current events in a narrative style. It is known for its international news reporting and extensive use of pictures, and its influence covers the middle class and intellectual class. The company later expanded into well-known magazines such as Fortune and Life, and began to extend its business into the book industry and overseas markets in the 60s.

Chen Aige knew about this, which is why he specially brought Zhou Jian and this Bowers over.

Lin Youcheng wasn't particularly surprised by Bowers' identity. After all, several of his previous works had been published in Japan, Taiwan, and even Hong Kong, earning him considerable royalties. Before he proposed the royalty system in mainland China, most other places also implemented the royalty system. This was why Lin Youcheng was able to afford to buy another courtyard house. He was truly not short of money now, especially since the number of copies of "The Devotion of Suspect X" sold in Japan had made his wealth increasingly substantial.

Now that his novel is going to be published in the United States, Lin Youcheng naturally won't refuse.

Lin Youcheng looked at Bowers, wondering if he wanted to publish his novel.

Bowers, who speaks Chinese, had naturally read Lin Youcheng's works. He came forward very enthusiastically to shake hands with Lin Youcheng and said, "Mr. Lin, I especially like your novels. They are so well written. I came here today to talk to you about the overseas publication of your novel 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' Of course, your other novels are also very wonderful. Zhou Jian told me about your novel 'Atonement,' which is a very exciting story. If possible, I also hope that this novel can be published."

Without a doubt, Bowles valued the science fiction romance novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" more.

However, according to Bowles, while Atonement is undoubtedly a brilliant novel, it would be more beneficial to publish it after the filmed version of Atonement is screened at the film festival. For author Lin Youcheng, the science fiction novel Time Traveler's Wife is more advantageous for opening up the overseas market.

“Mr. Lin, I think your novel, ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife,’ is full of romantic imagination. This novel is definitely worthy of the Hugo Award.”

Hugo Award?
Clearly, neither Zhou Jian nor Chen Aige knew anything about the Hugo Award that Bowers mentioned, or had even heard of it.

Lin Youcheng, however, was very clear that the official name of the Hugo Award was the Science Fiction Achievement Award, an award presented by the World Science Fiction Association in memory of Hugo Gernsback, the father of science fiction magazines. It has been presented annually at the World Science Fiction Convention since 1953 and is hailed as the Nobel Prize of science fiction literature.

This alone is enough to demonstrate the prestige of the Hugo Award.

The original version of "The Time Traveler's Wife" did not win this award, but Lin Youcheng wrote this love story about time travelers in the 1980s, so it is naturally more novel, more incredible, and more full of romantic imagination, and therefore has a great chance of winning the award.

While Lin Youcheng's *The Time Traveler's Wife* leans more towards fantasy due to its soft science fiction elements, it's important to remember that while the Hugo Awards have undergone many changes, both science fiction and fantasy are eligible for awards. The Hugo Awards aren't solely for science fiction; fantasy is also a significant part, otherwise *Harry Potter* wouldn't have won a Hugo Award.

Lin Youcheng wasn't particularly concerned about "The Time Traveler's Wife" winning the Hugo Award in 1990. He just felt that if the novel could win an award, it would undoubtedly be something to be happy about, since the first Hugo Award in China wouldn't come until after the millennium.

"Mr. Lin, rest assured, your book 'The Time Traveler's Wife' will definitely be very popular overseas."

As Chen Aige listened to Bowers' words, he realized that he had actually considered filming the science fiction romance novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" before. However, he thought that the current film technology would be difficult to meet the setting of rejuvenation, and the setting of time travel would certainly be quite difficult as well, so he did not give it much consideration.

It would be easier to adapt the other novel, "The Lake House," into a film, since that story involves time travel through letters and is more realistic. However, Chen Aige felt that the story focused more on love and would be less substantial, unlike "Atonement," which is a realistic story that includes love as well as the darkness and conflict of human nature.

Chen Aige was also somewhat puzzled as to why Bowers would choose "The Time Traveler's Wife," even if he didn't publish those novels on the theme of the anti-Japanese war. After all, Lin Youcheng's other romance novels were also quite wonderful.

In fact, Chen Aige didn't know that this was because Bowers himself was a science fiction fan, and it was for this reason that he noticed Lin Youcheng's "The Time Traveler's Wife" in China. After reading it, he was naturally amazed and moved.

Although the story doesn't have many actual science fiction elements, the captivating science fiction concepts and the plot design about time travelers are amazing enough, not to mention the deeply moving love story.

According to Bowers, readers in the United States undoubtedly love this kind of science fiction romance novel.

This is why Bowles specifically wanted to publish Lin Youcheng's novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" first. Of course, Bowles also intended to publish another novel, "The Lake House," which also had a very impressive story design. However, Bowles felt it would be better to translate and publish "The Time Traveler's Wife" first.

Lin Youcheng had no doubt that Bowers said the novel would be very popular overseas, because she knew very well how influential "The Time Traveler's Wife" was globally, and that it was definitely a global bestseller.

As for whether he could win the Hugo Award, Lin Youcheng was somewhat uncertain, because he didn't know if the current Hugo Award committee would award the prize to "The Time Traveler's Wife," just as he didn't know if the domestic Mao Dun Literature Prize committee would let him win the Mao Dun Literature Prize again with "Atonement," which had caused a huge controversy. These were things he couldn't know.

Of course, Lin Youcheng would not refuse no matter what, and he was also aware of the influence of Times Publishing Company.

As for whether he could win the Hugo Award, he would just let nature take its course. Lin Youcheng didn't care much about it, since he had already won the highest mystery literature award in Japan.

Of course, if it could win the Nobel Prize of science fiction literature, that would be great too. Like Bowles, Lin Youcheng felt that the novel "The Time Traveler's Wife" was absolutely worth it in this era.

(End of this chapter)