The literary era since 1979

The first draft of the script of "I Love My Family" was finally assigned by Fang Yan to Wang Shuo, Liang Zuo and Zhong Acheng, while he himself served as the chief screenwriter.

Just as everyone was discussing several subsequent work tasks of the editorial department, the phone rang in an office not far away.

The discussion came to an abrupt end. After a while, Fang Yan heard Shi Lan's shout echoing in the yard:

"Brother Fang, this is a call from Sister Gong Xi!"

"Excuse me for a moment."

Fang Yan asked Shi Tiesheng to continue presiding over the meeting, then quickly walked to the main hall and took the phone from Shi Lan:

"Did your sister Gong Xi tell you what the emergency was?"

"That's nothing, I didn't say anything."

Shi Lan left tactfully and closed the door before leaving, creating a private space for Fang Yan and Gong Xing.

Fang Yan thought something big had happened at home, but he didn't expect that Zhang Guangnian couldn't contact him, so he contacted Gong Xing.

"If you are free today, Senior Brother asked you to come to his house. Could it be related to your job transfer?"

"Nine times out of ten it's this kind of thing."

After hanging up the phone, Fang Yan explained all the things on hand before setting off for Zhang Guangnian's home.

"Dong dong dong."

There was a knock on the door for a while, and Zhang Guangnian came to open the door himself, "Junior brother, you are really busy. It's only been a few days since the Spring Festival, and I can't find you. I called the Humanities Press, but they said you were not in. I called your home and only found your sister-in-law. What are you busy with every day?"

"Am I not busy arranging tasks?"

Fangyan spoke with reservations about some of his arrangements in the editorial department of "Mystery World".

From "situation comedy" to "creating a brand new children's magazine", Zhang Guangnian was bored until the dialect mentioned "new realist novels", and then he became interested, "What is this 'new realist literature'? What kind of tricks are you playing?"

"Brother, neo-realist fiction is a branch of realistic literature, just like magical realism and hallucinatory realism."

Fangyan said seriously.

Zhang Guangnian asked: "So, what is the difference between this new realist novel and traditional realistic literature?"

"Realism focuses on techniques, and its purpose is to reproduce the authenticity of social reality, while realism focuses on expressing the background, causes, solutions, etc. of real problems." Fang Yan said, "New realist novels are mainly about the common people, marriage and divorce, weddings and funerals, conflicts between couples and families, grievances between neighbors, and even trivial matters in life."

Zhang Guangnian's eyes lit up and he keenly realized that this might be a brand new path for realistic literature.

"I plan to write a few articles on 'New Realism Novels' and publish them in People's Literature."

Fang Yan said: "If handled properly, 'New Realism Novels' may become the backbone of Renwenshe in the next few years."

"good very good!"

Zhang Guangnian was overjoyed. "Junior brother, I was worried that you might be a little slack in literature as you are the chief screenwriter of the "Great Battle" series and are busy with various movies and TV series. But I didn't expect that you would give me such a big surprise!"

"How can it be!"

Although Fangyan has many things to do, he always focuses on literature. Not to mention anything else, he has made great efforts to apply for the opportunity for China to host the World Science Fiction Convention in Chengdu. Otherwise, it would be almost impossible to do it with the strength of the Science Fiction World Publishing House alone.

"Let me tell you what you want to say. The World Science Fiction Convention was indeed well done!" Zhang Guangnian changed the subject and said, "By the way, you will be transferred to Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company as the editor-in-chief. You will be notified soon."

Fang Yan was surprised and delighted: "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

"But let me be frank with you. I sent you to Hong Kong to save Joint Publishing."

Zhang Guangnian urged: "You must work hard. I don't ask you to turn the tide immediately, but at least you can find the root cause and prescribe the right remedy to keep our only literary window and position from the mainland to Hong Kong. You can do this, right?"

"It is my duty, Brother!"

Fangyan promised solemnly.

Zhang Guangnian also told him to go with him to the Sanlian Bookstore Group the day after tomorrow. "You are not the only one being transferred to the Hong Kong Sanlian Bookstore this time. There is also a deputy general manager named Dong Xiuyu. She will assist you, Xiao Zi, Pan Yaoming and other comrades to rectify the business of Sanlian Bookstore."

...............

At the same time, Sanlian Bookstore Group.

Ever since Sanlian Bookstore separated from People's Publishing House and became an independent entity, Dong Xiu-yu, who once served as deputy director of the editorial department of Reading, had originally wanted to work happily under the leadership of president and editor-in-chief Shen Changwen to make Yanjing Sanlian Bookstore flourish.

But what he never expected was that the appointment notice he received did not appoint him as the deputy general manager of Yenching Sanlian Bookstore.

It turned out to be the deputy general manager of Joint Publishing Company of Hong Kong. At first he couldn't believe his eyes, but after confirming that it was correct, his head was buzzing.

The next moment, he knocked on the door of the president's office without hesitation, confronted Shen Changwen, and expressed his doubts and confusion:
"Boss, is this a mistake?"

"What's wrong?"

"I have never been to Hong Kong, so I don't know much about Hong Kong, or about the Joint Publishing Company in Hong Kong or the literary world there."

Dong Xiu Yu was helpless. She was not being modest. She thought it would be better to find someone more capable to be the deputy general manager. How could she, a deputy director of Yanjing Sanlian Bookstore, manage the Hong Kong Sanlian Bookstore? Besides, she was reluctant to leave Yanjing and the familiar working environment.

After all, the literary market in the 1980s was very prosperous, and any novel or magazine that was published would be printed in at least 20,000 copies.

There is no need to pay too much attention to business strategies, just select the right books for publication, but it is different in Hong Kong.

The two of them talked to each other and actually expressed some intention to support the front line, but Dong Xiu Yu was still not convinced.

"I know you may be a little worried for a while after being suddenly transferred to Hong Kong Joint Publishing, but don't worry too much."

Shen Changwen smiled and said, "It is precisely because of this that the department and the company have already found a good assistant for you."

Dong Xiuyu asked, "Are there any helpers?"

"Of course there is a helper, and once you know the name of this helper, you won't have any concerns about being the deputy general manager of Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company." Shen Changwen didn't keep it a secret and said directly, "He is Mr. Fang Yanfang."

Dong Xiuyu was shocked, "Fangyan is also going to be transferred to Hong Kong?!"

Shen Changwen said that under the leadership of dialects, the sales and achievements of "People's Literature" are obvious to all.

Coupled with the fame and popularity of dialects in Hong Kong, his unique insights into business logic and the commercialization of literary magazines, and his accomplishments in popular works and pure literary novels, he is undoubtedly the best candidate to save Hong Kong Joint Publishing.

"If Mr. Fang is the editor-in-chief of the bookstore, then I can also..."

Dong Xiuyu couldn't help but waver, and her originally resistant attitude softened a bit. (End of this chapter)