The literary era since 1979

Yanjing, Lama Temple Street.

Today, the publishing house has expanded into an entertainment company that integrates book publishing, film and television media and other businesses in accordance with the plan at the beginning of the year.

The editorial department of "Mystery World", the editorial department of "Fairy Tale World", the book publishing department, the film and television media department and other departments are located in different rooms of the courtyard. The scale and reputation of the entire company are no worse than those of the first-tier state-owned publishing houses.

At this time, Yu Hua and Wang Shuo took a break from their busy schedule and hid under the crabapple tree in the yard, drinking tea and chatting.

Yu Hua looked at the blue sky and asked, "I wonder how Tiesheng is doing in America?"

"Needless to say, living together with Ximi, and respecting each other, life will definitely be better than the two of us being single."

Wang Shuo said half-jokingly.

"That's right." Yu Hua nodded, "But I don't know if Tiesheng's illness has been cured?"

"Don't worry about it. The hospital that Teacher Fang found for Tiesheng is definitely not a crappy one. It will definitely cure Tiesheng's illness!"

Wang Shuo smacked his lips and said, "Come to think of it, I envy Tie Sheng a lot."

"What are you envious of?"

Yu Hua was puzzled.

"Of course I envy him because he is the first person in our studio, besides Teacher Fang, to have his novel adapted into a movie by a famous foreign director."

Wang Shuo couldn't help but imagine, "When the movie becomes popular, I can earn US dollars!"

"This is true."

Yu Hua's eyes also flashed with envy, especially since domestic literary magazines are not doing well these days.

In the past, when authors submitted manuscripts, publishing houses would write a rejection letter even if they did not like the work. But nowadays, they are responsible for their own profits and losses. In order to save money on postage, they generally do not send rejection letters to unsolicited submissions. In addition, in order to increase magazine sales, they dare not use the works of new authors at will.

Some magazines even only commission articles from famous writers, and hardly ever read unsolicited articles, throwing them directly into the trash.

“It’s much harder for new authors to stand out now than it was back then.”

Wang Shuo couldn't help but sigh.

"That's right. Fortunately, I started writing a few years earlier. If I had started writing a year or two later, I might still be in the hospital having teeth pulled."

Yu Hua shook his head.

"Ever since Mr. Fang went to Hong Kong, I feel that the mainland's literary career is getting worse year by year, and is not as prosperous as before."

A look of sadness appeared on Wang Shuo's face.

"Didn't Teacher Fang give us a tip?"

Yu Hua suddenly mentioned it.

Wang Shuo asked, "You mean we don't want printing remuneration, but royalties instead?"

Yu Hua said excitedly: "That's right. This way, every time a book is sold, the writer can get paid. If the writer gets a generous payment, it can stimulate them to create more! Better creations!"

"This is indeed a good idea. I plan to do this if a publishing house asks me to publish a book in the future."

Wang Shuo slapped his thigh and said, "I don't want the printing fee. If you want to give me money, just give me 15% royalties!"

"Fifteen percent..."

Yu Hua's mind was now full of thoughts that he must write a novel in the future that would allow him to live off royalties.

Just as the two were talking and laughing, a series of "ding-ling-ding-ling" car bells suddenly sounded outside the courtyard.

The postman stopped his bicycle and shouted into the yard at the top of his voice: "There's a letter for you!"

Yu Hua walked out leisurely, but when he came back, he was in a hurry and walked hurriedly.

As soon as Wang Shuo saw this posture, he knew that the person who sent the letter was no ordinary person.

"Whose letter is it?"

"Mr. Fang's!"

Yu Hua placed a package that came with the letter on the stone table. "Teacher Fang?!"

Wang Shuo's words immediately attracted the attention of other people in the yard, and they swarmed around them.

"What's in here?"

"What did Teacher Fang write in the letter?"

"Is Teacher Fang going back to Beijing?"

"........."

Everyone was chattering and talking at the same time, their eyes fixed on the letter that Yu Hua was holding in his hand.

Yu Hua opened the envelope and took a closer look. "This package contains Teacher Fang's new work. Like Desire and The Story of the Editorial Department, it is also a new realist novel called Yenching People in New York. It seems to be about a young couple from Yenching in the United States..."

Before he could finish his words, everyone had already impatiently opened the package, revealing a thick stack of manuscript paper.

Liu Zhenyun, Ma Weidu, Lu Haiyan and others were immediately excited and eager to have a sneak peek.

"Everyone, don't rush, come one by one."

Wang Shuo shouted instructions, and the manuscript of "Yenching People in New York" was immediately divided up by everyone and circulated among them.

"Teacher Fang asked us to submit this novel to People's Literature for publication."

Yu Hua read the letter quickly, "We also need to find time to adapt the novel into a TV drama script and give it to Xiaolong, Suya and others to shoot."

Wang Shuo asked, "Is there anything else written in the letter?"

"Teacher Fang also said that a delegation of children's literature from Taiwan will come to the mainland soon. At that time, a seminar on children's literature may be held in Yanjing. Yuanjie will lead the team and the editors of "Fairy Tale World" to participate in the seminar to share and exchange experiences in children's literature creation."

Yu Hua turned his gaze to Zheng Yuanjie.

"I normally wouldn't attend this kind of seminar, but since Iwako asked me to, I'll go for once."

Zheng Yuanjie agreed, "But won't he attend such a conference in person?"

Wang Shuo said: "Don't forget, the Oscars ceremony is about to be held, and Teacher Fang and the others have to go to the United States."

………………

Meanwhile, Kai Tak International Airport.

Fangyan waved his hand and watched the delegations from Taiwan and the mainland walk into the airport and slowly disappear from his sight.

Then I drove back to the villa and saw Gong Xing, who had been staying in the crew of "In the Mood for Love", rarely appearing in the living room.

"came back?"

"How is it, is everything arranged?"

Fangyan nodded.

Gong Xing hummed, "During the time that Guo Rong was with us in the United States, I asked Director Wang to finish filming Zhu Lin's scenes first, and then after the Oscars ceremony, Guo Rong and I went directly to Thailand to meet up with the crew and continue filming the exterior scenes of In the Mood for Love in Bangkok."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Fangyan touched her face.

"not bad."

Gong Xing smiled and said, "When are we leaving for Los Angeles?"

"The day after tomorrow."

Fang Yan said that as the male and female protagonists of "The Terracotta Warriors", it was not easy for Zhang Yimou and Gong Li to take leave at the same time. They also had to wait for other important members of the crew such as Chen Kaige and Chen Huaiai to arrive in Hong Kong and then reunite before attending the Oscars ceremony together.

"I heard that the competition for the Oscars this year is very fierce. Do you think we can have the last laugh?"

Gong Xing looked at the setting sun, his eyes flickering, his thoughts having long since drifted to Hollywood across the ocean. (End of this chapter)