The literary era since 1979

The next day, Shen Changwen and Dong Xiuyu waited for Zhang Guangnian and Fang Yan at the Yanjing Sanlian Bookstore.

"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Fang, it is really our honor to meet you."

“I’m deeply honored as well.”

Fang Yan shifted his gaze from Shen Changwen to the woman next to him, "This is Comrade Dong Xiuyu, right?"

Shen Changwen nodded and said, "She will go to Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company to take up an important position just like you, Teacher Fang. I hope you can take care of each other during her time working in Hong Kong." Then, with his introduction, Fang Yan and Dong Xiu Yu shook hands and greeted each other.

"Teacher Fang, I have never been to Hong Kong and I have no idea about the environment there. I may have to trouble you more in the future."

There was a hint of excitement in Dong Xiuyu's tone.

Fang Yan smiled and said, "We are all colleagues. I will never refuse to help if I can."

As Shen Changwen welcomed them into the president's office, he said that Xiao Zi, Pan Yaoming and others had applied to the ministry and the publishing house many times to transfer comrades from the mainland to Hong Kong for support, and they had repeatedly mentioned Fang Yan's name, hoping that he could come to Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company to serve as editor-in-chief.

"Mr. Xiao and Brother Yao Ming are so kind to me."

Fangyan waved his hand and said, "I just helped the bookstore solve some problems occasionally during my cooperation with Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company."

"Teacher Fang is really too modest."

Shen Changwen raised his hand and motioned for everyone to sit down. "Mr. Xiao and his friends have written to us more than once to say that you have repeatedly helped the bookstore out of its urgent needs. And if Mr. Fang had not granted the bookstore the exclusive rights to publish his novels, I'm afraid the bookstore's business would have deteriorated further."

“It’s just been temporarily suspended, not completely resolved.”

Fang Yan said, "I think President Shen and you know more about the situation of Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company than I do, right?"

Dong Xiu Yu had anticipated that the situation at the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company was very bad, but she had never expected it to be this bad.

Despite holding the exclusive distribution rights for dialect novels, the publishing business continued to lose money and it also incurred a large amount of debt.

"This is indeed a very difficult challenge for both of you."

Shen Changwen said: "And to be honest, after the Sanlian Bookstore Group is established as an independent organization, starting from January this year, all of its Sanlian Bookstores will be restructured into branches. The Yanjing, Xiangjiang and other branches will be responsible for their own profits and losses, and the headquarters will no longer provide funding or financial subsidies..."

Dong Xiuyu's heart skipped a beat, and she blurted out, "President, what does 'self-financing and self-loss' mean?"

"That means full-time and full responsibility!"

Shen Changwen explained the intention of the Sanlian Bookstore Group Office in doing so with a serious face.

Dong Xiu Yu suddenly realized that the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company was not just a hot potato, but a fire pit. It was precisely because adding more fuel was useless that the Joint Publishing Company Group stopped funding. This meant that the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company was hopeless and was left to fend for itself.

Suddenly, I began to regret accepting the appointment letter as deputy general manager, and even thought about how I could decline this tough job.

But Fang Yan touched his chin and said, "It's fine to be self-sufficient, but I have some conditions that I have to mention."

"We also know that this is a bit unreasonable, so as long as the conditions proposed by Mr. Fang are reasonable, the group can consider agreeing to them."

Shen Changwen thought for a while.

“Since it is responsible for its own profits and losses, Hong Kong Joint Publishing should be given the power to manage and make decisions independently.”

Fangyan smiled and said the same thing as Li Yunlong. It's no problem for me to make money, but the headquarters can't put a tight rein on Hong Kong Sanlian Bookstore. They want me to have power, and they also want me to be a good boy. This is unreasonable. At least they should give the branch a certain degree of autonomy.

“This condition is very reasonable.”

Shen Changwen said: "But Mr. Fang, I want to ask one more question. After you have the autonomy, what are you going to do next?"

"Although I haven't learned much about Hong Kong Joint Publishing, I have heard a little bit about it from Mr. Xiao and Brother Yaoming."

Fang Yan said that the main problem of the business losses of Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company was not the employees' fault. Xiao Zi and Pan Yaoming were all excellent and hardworking people. The most fundamental problem actually lay in the positioning. The bookstore used to be regarded as a literary and artistic united front position of the mainland in Hong Kong.

Therefore, publishing policies and business management all focused on communication with the Hong Kong cultural and academic circles, while neglecting commercialization.

"Teacher Fang is worthy of being Teacher Fang. He really hits the nail on the head."

Shen Changwen and Dong Xiuyu looked at each other and agreed deeply.

"Hong Kong's book publishing market is highly commercialized, and Hong Kong's readers prefer popular books that are full of commercial content."

Fang Yan said: "So most of the novels, books and tomes published by Hong Kong Joint Publishing have very few sales, which is why there are such huge losses and debts. Therefore, the most urgent task is to let the bookstore reform and transform, and change the business policy to commercial operation."

Dong Xiuyu hesitated, "But commercial operation... can this really work?"

"Although Hong Kong Joint Publishing has a big financial hole, it has been operating for so many years and has a large number of connections and a large distribution network in Hong Kong. It also has rich experience and partners in overseas publishing and sales, which are all favorable conditions for commercialization."

Fang Yan said seriously, "I think as long as we work hard and carefully, Hong Kong Joint Publishing will one day be a commercial success."

"Snapped!"

Shen Changwen applauded. In fact, since the restructuring of Sanlian Bookstore Group, it has been learning from the commercialization experience of Hong Kong Publishing Company.

Fangyan's plan coincides exactly with the future strategy of Sanlian Bookstore Group.

Therefore, they planned to use the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company as one of the pilot projects for commercialization, so as to allow other branches of the group to be responsible for their own profits and losses and gain experience in commercial operations. When Shen Changwen thought of this, he excitedly shook Fangyan's hand and stared at him as if he were a treasure.

"No wonder Mr. Xiao and his team repeatedly asked Teacher Fang to be the editor-in-chief of the bookstore."

"Yes, yes, it is a wise move to let you be the editor-in-chief of the bookstore!"

Seeing that Fangyan spoke very convincingly, Dong Xiuyu felt that although the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company was a dangerous place, it was not impossible to give it a try.

After all, if he stayed in Yanjing Sanlian Bookstore, he would probably still be the deputy director, but in Hong Kong, he would be the deputy general manager.

"you flatter me."

Fang Yan said: "This is just an immature idea of ​​mine. How to proceed specifically requires specific analysis of specific issues."

"Xiuyu, when you get to Hong Kong, you must cooperate with Teacher Fang to promote commercial reforms. Do you understand?"

Shen Changwen looked at Fangyan on the left and Dong Xiuyu on the right.

Seeing Dong Xiuyu said "I understand" without hesitation, Fang Yan smiled and stretched out his hand, "Then Comrade Xiuyu, happy cooperation."

"It's a pleasure to work with you, Teacher Fang!" Dong Xiu Yu clenched her hands tightly and shook them vigorously a few times.

…………Half a month passed unknowingly, and what was supposed to arrive finally arrived: the appointment letters of Fang Yan and Dong Xiu Yu came down.

Not many people knew that Fang Yan was going to be transferred to Joint Publishing Company in Hong Kong, and Liu Xinwu happened to be one of those who knew about it.

Fang Yan and he returned to the editorial office of People's Literature from the cultural department and immediately convened a meeting of all editors.

In front of everyone, with a heavy tone mixed with a bit of regret, he slowly read out the news of the dialect work transfer.

In an instant, the whole room was in an uproar, and everyone was whispering to each other, with more or less disbelief on their faces.

"Why did you suddenly transfer Teacher Fang to the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company?"

"Yes, under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Liu and Teacher Fang, our People's Literature is thriving. How can we transfer Teacher Fang away at this critical juncture? Without Teacher Fang, the entire editorial department will be leaderless. What should we do?"

"That's right, without Teacher Fang, we can't do it!"

"........."

The meeting room suddenly became a mess, with everyone chattering and arguing.

"Quiet, everyone, please be quiet!"

Chen Xiaoman said, "Yanzi's job transfer this time is obviously a promotion. The leaders want to give him more responsibilities." Then he glanced around and said, "I heard that the Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company is currently in a serious business crisis and urgently needs to send capable people from the mainland to support it."

Liu Xinwu echoed, "Yanzi's achievements and abilities during his years at People's Literature are obvious to all. Only an outstanding editor like him can help Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company get out of its current predicament as soon as possible, and even bring it to new heights like People's Literature."

"But...but..."

Zhu Wei's words were full of reluctance. After all, he had been a partner with Fang Yan for so many years, and the two worked in perfect harmony and got along well.

"There's nothing wrong with that. As part of the cultural front, we should obey the organization's arrangements."

Liu Xinwu turned his gaze to Fangyan.

"Editor-in-Chief Liu is right. We are all bricks. We can be moved wherever we are needed."

Fang Yan said seriously, "Hong Kong Joint Publishing Company is the only stronghold of our mainland literary community in Hong Kong. We cannot destroy it no matter what. This time the department transferred me from Renwen Publishing House to the bookstore as the editor-in-chief. This is both progress and a challenge."

"Yanzi, you have to take more care of me from now on."

Liu Xinwu promised that if he and People's Literature were needed, he would do his best to help.

Fangyan thanked him repeatedly and said that before he officially left office, he had prepared a special gift for People's Literature.

"Big gift?!"

Liu Xinwu, Chen Xiaoman and others looked at each other, and then saw Fang Yan took out a thick stack of manuscripts from his briefcase.

Zhu Wei took a closer look and the title "New Realism - New Trends in Realistic Literature" suddenly caught his eye.

At the same time, several other theoretical articles related to "New Realism Novels" were circulated among everyone present.

Zhu Wei asked the question that everyone else wanted to ask: "Teacher Fang, what exactly is this new realism..."

In addition to repeating what he had said to Zhang Guangnian, Liang Zuo and others, Fang Yan also added some new insights:
“Neo-realism is still realistic, but it has a basic principle, which is to keep the original ecology of real life!”

"There is no grand narrative, nor any historical sweep. There are only the mediocre and trivial lives of small people, the worries and desires of small people, and the difficulties, loneliness and helplessness of ordinary small people in surviving in the big society. One of the core concepts is 'survival is not easy'."

"........."

Listening to the explanation, each of them seemed to have opened a whole new door, and gained a deeper understanding of realistic literature.

“However, compared with traditional realistic literature, this new realist novel still has many flaws and shortcomings.”

Fangyan answered almost every question and resolved the doubts that lingered in the minds of everyone in the editorial department one by one.

Soon, Zhu Wei, Chen Xiaoman and others suddenly realized that People's Literature could set off a new wave in the literary world with its "New Realism". Seeing this, Liu Xinwu's eyes were full of enthusiasm, "Yanzi, I didn't expect you to leave us such a great gift!"

"That's too polite of you to say."

There was a firmness in the dialect, "No matter which publishing house I work for or what I do in the future, Renwen Press will always have a place in my heart."

"Teacher Fang is right!"

Everyone present burst into laughter, but as they laughed, the atmosphere became a little strange and became solemn and sad.

"It's impolite not to reciprocate, Yanzi, since you gave us such a good gift, we should also show some appreciation."

Liu Xinwu is planning to hold a banquet tonight as a farewell party for Fang Yan.

Even though it was a farewell party, and even though everyone had a smile on their face and said congratulations, they finally couldn't hold it back.

Before the farewell party, Fang Yan hurriedly handed over the work on hand to Zhu Wei, Wang Fu and others one by one.

It even includes the writer resources and stable manuscript sources that he has on hand, such as the second part of Lu Yao's "Ordinary World".

After all, once I go to Hong Kong, it will probably be impossible for me to come back for a year or two.

"Teacher Fang, I remember everything you told me. Thank you for your training."

As an editor, Zhu Wei knew very well how valuable and important these writers were. He held the cup in both hands and toasted him with tea instead of wine.

"Work hard, and I think you will be my deputy editor-in-chief in the future."

Fangyan held up the enamel cup and clinked glasses with him.

"Yanzi, time is tight, and I can't write a poem suitable for the occasion. I'll just recite a few lines."

Liu Xinwu drank a glass of wine with water instead of wine. "Don't worry about having no friends on the road ahead. Everyone in the world knows you."

Then, it was the turn of Chen Xiaoman, Wang Fu, Wang Pingzhi and others, who sent their blessings one after another, saying similar words at the same time:

The editorial department of People's Literature is the home of dialects.

These people are all the dialect’s mother’s family.

Fangyan suppressed the slight sadness in his heart, clasped his hands and said, "Thank you all for your cooperation and assistance in my work over the years! Thank you also for recognizing my work in People's Literature! I hope that one day in the future, I can come back here and fight side by side with you!" (End of this chapter)