A widower's entertainment

Chapter 438 [Literary Award] (Please Subscribe)
Lin Youcheng, an Eastern screenwriter, wrote the low-budget sci-fi film "The Night of the Comet," which caused quite a stir in the United States. Although its box office performance was far from that of films like "The Truman Show," it was still a remarkable achievement for a film that was shot in less than a week and had a production cost of less than $100,000. This performance has delighted Warner Bros. and made other companies envious.

Many American media outlets and newspapers have reported on the movie "Coherence," which is due to Warner Bros.' promotion, or rather, their effective marketing.

However, Lin Youcheng was not particularly concerned about the film's performance in the United States, but was very concerned about Lin Zhaoqing's college entrance examination results.

This is also very happy news!

Lin Zhaoqing was admitted to Yanjing Physical Education Teachers College. Although it is far inferior to his older sister Lin Zhaoxi's Yanjing Medical University, and even if it is renamed in the future, it will only be a second-tier university, it is still a very good result for Lin Zhaoqing, who is a student with sports specialties. It is worth the pressure that Lin Zhaoqing has been under and studying hard.

"Congratulations, Second Brother!"

Lin Zhaoman was also very happy for Lin Zhaoqing, because he also lived in the west wing and was well aware that Lin Zhaoqing was under a lot of pressure before the college entrance examination, otherwise he wouldn't have been reading books even while eating.

Lin Zhaoqing was naturally very happy; he really didn't dare to think about what would happen if he failed the college entrance examination.

Especially with Lin Zhaoxi, who was admitted to university, and his younger siblings to look after, Lin Zhaoqing, as the eldest son, naturally didn't want to be too embarrassed by not getting into university.

"Zhaoman, you must study hard from now on!"

Lin Zhaoman will be in his final year of junior high school next semester, and he will be taking the high school entrance exam next year, which is a very important time.

Lin Zhaoman nodded naturally. His academic performance wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. However, he was thinking about joining the army in the future, but he didn't say it aloud. He just said, "I will."

Lin Zhaoqing knew that his younger brother was always very sensible and actually a bit better than him in his studies. He just patted Lin Zhaoman's head and looked at his father, Lin Youcheng, who was smiling and talking to his uncle, Lin Youcai, in the yard. He was very happy and finally did not disappoint his father.

In fact, Lin Zhaoqing was well aware that he was able to get into Yanjing Physical Education Teachers College because of his father. He didn't know if he would have had the chance to get into university, let alone a university in Beijing, if he had continued to study in Decheng.

All of this was because their father brought them to the capital to live and study.

Lin Zhaoqing had always been clear about this. In fact, he knew that his father was really doing it for his own good. Even though he didn't let his father go to a sports school to train in sports, it was because he thought it was too hard. He didn't know if he could train well, and he didn't have the idea of ​​becoming a sports champion forever. Now he felt that being able to get into Yanjing Sports Teachers College was already very good.

The courtyard was bustling with activity; Lin Zhaoqing's admission to university was undoubtedly a joyous occasion.

Even though this school wasn't what Lin Zhao had liked before, Lin Youcheng was still very happy.

Lin Youcheng wasn't the only one who was happy; Lin Youcai's family also came to the courtyard to celebrate Lin Zhaoqing's admission to university.

Lin Youcai looked at Lin Youcheng with a smile and said, "Zhaoqing, getting into university is truly a joyous occasion."

As he spoke, Lin Youcai took out the red envelope he had prepared for Lin Zhaoqing, smiled and waved to Lin Zhaoqing, saying, "Zhaoqing, come here, your uncle congratulates you on getting into university."

Lin Zhaoqing ran over, not expecting his uncle to give him a red envelope. He knew that his uncle had also given him a red envelope when his older sister was admitted to university. He glanced at Lin Youcheng, and seeing his father nod, he smiled and accepted the red envelope from his uncle, saying, "Thank you, Uncle."

Lin Youcheng naturally knew that the red envelope was a token of Lin Youcai's goodwill, just like when he gave Lin Zhaoping a red envelope when he was admitted to university. It was a happy occasion.

Seeing Lin Zhaoqing take the red envelope and go to play with his younger siblings, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but smile and say, "I'm relieved that he got into university. To be honest, I was worried about him before."

"Don't worry, Zhaoqing and the others are very sensible!"

Lin Youcai, now the eldest brother, greatly admires his younger brother, who is doing increasingly well in the capital and whose children are all outstanding. He said, "You'll be enjoying their good fortune from now on."

Enjoying the blessings of children?
Lin Youcheng raised an eyebrow. He really hadn't thought about this issue. Even without these children, he wouldn't have to worry about enjoying a comfortable life in the future. On the contrary, it was his children who were enjoying his fatherly love. He smiled and said, "I just hope they are doing well."

“Things will definitely get better for them in the future. Zhaoqing has already been admitted to university, and Xier will graduate in two years and start working soon—”

Hearing Lin Youcai speak, Lin Youcheng smiled and shook his head, saying, "It's not certain yet. Xi'er will study medicine for five years, and she may need to pursue a master's degree afterward."

In fact, in the early 90s, the undergraduate program in clinical medicine was gradually adjusted from 6 years to 5 years, becoming the mainstream model nationwide. Students completed 5 years of study. However, starting in 1988, some top universities were approved to pilot a 7-year education program, which is a combined bachelor's and master's degree program, with graduates receiving a master's degree in medicine. However, the scale was relatively small.

Lin Youcai was somewhat surprised to hear Lin Youcheng's words. He hadn't expected that Xi'er would actually pursue a master's degree. That would take quite a long time. However, Lin Youcai thought Lin Zhaoxi was even more impressive. His family was going to produce a master's student.

"Then Xi'er is really amazing!"

Lin Youcheng smiled and nodded. He had always known that his daughter, Lin Zhaoxi, was very capable. If Lin Zhaoxi continued to pursue a master's degree, he, as her father, would naturally support her. After all, studying medicine takes time, and he didn't need Lin Zhaoxi to graduate and start working early to ease the burden on the family. Therefore, he fully supported Lin Zhaoxi in continuing her studies.

It can be said that even if Lin Zhaoxi wanted to study abroad, his father would absolutely support him. In fact, it was a small matter and there was no need to talk about selling everything to support him.

Lin Youcai also knew that his younger brother's family was now quite well-off, after all, they had bought a car, so it was easy to imagine that their lives were getting better and better.

Of course, Lin Youcai was also well aware that although his elder brother was far inferior to Lin Youcheng, their family's restaurant in Beijing was making a lot of money, and their lives were becoming increasingly prosperous. This was all thanks to his younger brother, Lin Youcheng. Otherwise, he, a laid-off state-owned enterprise worker, wouldn't even be able to make a living in Dezhou, let alone have his son admitted to a university in the capital.

Lin Youcai looked at his nephews and nieces, then glanced at little Lin Zhaoyuan still in Xie Shuhua's arms, and couldn't help but say, "Zhaoqing got into university, so next up is Zhaomei. I heard she's planning to apply to film school? To become a director?"

Lin Youcheng nodded and said, "Yes, we'll leave this to them."

Lin Youcheng's gaze then fell on the even younger Lin Zhaoman, as well as Lin Zhaohuan and Lin Zhaole, and he couldn't help but say, "It would be a good thing if they could all get into university."

Lin Youcai understood what Lin Youcheng meant and said with a smile, "If all your children get into university, then our family will really be remarkable."

Clearly, Lin Youcai knew that if this were in Decheng, he wouldn't dare to imagine that both his and Lin Youcheng's children would get into university, because it would be incredibly difficult. The education system in Beijing is far superior to that in Decheng, and the cutoff scores are also different.

This thought only flashed through Lin Youcai's mind for a moment. Looking at the youngest Lin Zhaoyuan, he said, "I wonder which university Yuanyuan will go to in the future."

Lin Youcheng looked at the little boy Lin Zhaoyuan and thought about how Lin Zhaoyuan would have to wait more than ten years to go to university, probably until the early 2010s. He smiled and said, "Time flies by in the blink of an eye. Zhaoqing is about to go to university now. If Zhaoyuan goes to university, we will all be old."

Hearing Lin Youcheng's words, Lin Youcai couldn't help but smile and nod.

Indeed, his younger brother Lin Youcheng got married and had children very early, but his youngest daughter Lin Zhaoyuan was born relatively late, and there is quite a big age gap between her and her older brothers and sisters. By the time Lin Zhaoyuan goes to university, they will all be old.

Lin Youcheng thought the same thing. Although there were still more than ten years left, eleven years had already passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Zhaoqing, who was eight years old at the time, had already been admitted to university, and the younger ones had all grown up.

Time flies, and Lin Zhaoyuan may have grown up without even realizing it.

Of course, these were just fleeting thoughts. Lin Youcheng didn't have that many thoughts at the moment; he was more happy for his son, Lin Zhaoqing, to have been admitted to university.

The courtyard is now celebrating Lin Zhaoqing's admission to university, but for Lin Youcheng, there is another matter waiting for him.

Zhang Wei from People's Literature magazine has also informed Lin Youcheng that the selection process for the fourth Mao Dun Literature Prize has begun.

The meaning of this statement is quite clear: Lin Youcheng is very likely to win the Mao Dun Literature Prize again.

Lin Youcheng, who has already won the Mao Dun Literature Prize, is now a hot candidate for the same prize. After all, he has published a lot of novels, many of which were considered worthy of the Mao Dun Literature Prize when they were first published.

Both "Atonement" and "The Reader" were recommended by People's Literature Publishing House. However, it is clear that Lin Youcheng's other novels are also excellent, but they are not medium or long novels. In addition, it is impossible to recommend every one of them. Even "Lurking" was not recommended, which shows how fierce the competition is.

Of course, there was some discussion before that Lin Youcheng's novel "The Message" did not win the Mao Dun Literature Prize. Now we just have to see if Lin Youcheng's "Atonement" and "The Reader" will win the Mao Dun Literature Prize.

Even though the publisher recommended two novels, it is clear that even if there is a possibility of winning the Mao Dun Literature Prize again, it is impossible for both novels to win it at the same time. In the eyes of many literary workers, the novel "Atonement" is more likely to win the Mao Dun Literature Prize.

Zhang Wei shared the same thought. When People's Literature magazine received Lin Youcheng's "Atonement," they were completely stunned by the story. Its unique literary structure and unexpected plot made it a classic.

"Youcheng, your 'Atonement' has a good chance of winning the Mao Dun Literature Prize."

Hearing Zhang Wei's words, Lin Youcheng smiled and said, "It would be great if we could really win this award!"

Although Lin Youcheng had already won the Mao Dun Literature Prize for his novel "Strange Tales of the Human World," winning it again would be an even better thing.

Zhang Wei looked at Lin Youcheng and said, "Your novel 'Atonement' is absolutely worthy of winning the Mao Dun Literature Prize again."

It can be said that the entire editorial department of People's Literature magazine never expected Lin Youcheng to bring such a shocking love novel. In fact, this novel is far more than just a love story. It contains love, humanity, class, redemption, and war, all of which make Atonement an incredibly moving novel.

In particular, the protagonist of the novel, Lin Xue, is also the author. In the novel, she reunites her sister and Luo Yang, thus rewriting the ending of reality. In the process of rewriting, she also achieves a certain degree of atonement. In addition to self-redemption, there is also a heavy spiritual sustenance. It conveys a kind of power of novel and literature. Even if it is atonement, it made all the editors in the editorial department feel extremely shocked.

It should be said that not only all the editors in the editorial department, but more importantly, readers and the literary circle have also praised Lin Youcheng's "Atonement".

Because Lin Youcheng truly captured this kind of literary atonement, this unique literary structure has earned praise from critics within literary circles, as it is a true work of literature written by a literary author.

Lin Youcheng was well aware that the novel "Atonement" was highly praised. After the novel was published, three directors approached him wanting to adapt it into a film, all because the novel had a very large influence.

However, Lin Youcheng was also well aware that since he had won the Mao Dun Literature Prize before, it would be extremely difficult to win it again. Moreover, the results of literary awards cannot be completely forced; it depends on the choices of the judges.

For this reason, Lin Youcheng's personal mindset was not particularly concerned, since winning the Mao Dun Literature Prize or not would not affect the excellence of the novel "Atonement".

(End of this chapter)