Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 93 Normal People's Reactions
"Don't you want to publish something to explain your real thoughts on publishing that article?"

"Hmm..." Lin Chaoyang frowned and thought, "It's not impossible. I can earn some royalties."

Tao Yushu patted his forehead speechlessly, "Look at how little you have accomplished."

"Didn't you say the same thing before?" Lin Chaoyang's words left Tao Yushu speechless.

Okay, she admits it.

When it comes to earning royalties from writing, the couple seems to be a bit obsessed.

As it was almost the end of August, Lin Chaoyang received a letter of acceptance and a payment invoice from People's Literature.

His novel will be officially published in the eighth issue of "People's Literature" in 1979. The full text is 504 words, and the manuscript fee is yuan per thousand words, totaling yuan in manuscript fees, which is the largest single amount of manuscript fee since Lin Chaoyang started writing.

Lin Chaoyang and his wife were very happy with the extra income of 500 yuan.

What made people even happier was that within two days, Tao Yushu received replies to the articles he had submitted.

During this period, there were constant criticisms in the literary world regarding "The Inevitable Rise and Fall of Scar Literature", but it had almost no impact on Lin Chaoyang.

Although there are always some individuals who cannot control their temper and take their anger out on "Xu Lingjun", most people are still able to stick to the facts.

Occasionally, when colleagues saw such articles, they would tease Lin Chaoyang about them. He looked indifferent and analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the articles with great interest.

His calmness and composure earned the admiration of many of his colleagues. Many of them asked themselves that if such a thing happened to them, they would probably not be able to maintain the same relaxed and open-minded attitude as Lin Chaoyang.

A son-in-law who can become a professor is indeed no ordinary person.

Not only does he write good novels, but his vision and pattern of thought are also unmatched by ordinary people.

Lin Chaoyang didn't know that the criticism from the outside world actually earned him a lot of good reputation in the library.

However, compared with his leisurely life, Tao Yushu was much busier. Stimulated by those critical articles, she was filled with inspiration and wrote five articles in succession and submitted them. Now, more than half a month had passed, and she actually received a reply.

First, China Youth Daily published her article “Where is the future of “Scar Literature” dominated by emotional values?”, and then Hebei Literature and Art published her article “Aesthetic Limitations and Historical Mirrors of Scar Literature”.

Before the start of the semester, Tao Yushu had already received two acceptance letters. Two out of five submissions were successful, a success rate that was already an impressive record for Tao Yushu, who was still in college.

Not only did it allow her to vent her anger at being scolded by Lin Chaoyang, but it also allowed her to vent her anger at being ignored.

There are clearly two people who signed the document, but these people picked only one person to criticize. Are they blind?

Tao Yushu received payment bills from two publications in succession, one for twelve yuan and the other for twenty-four yuan, which totaled thirty-six yuan. Adding in the publication fee for the previous review of "The Shepherd", Tao Yushu has earned seventy yuan in royalties this year without realizing it.

But this was still a long way from the goal she had set in front of Lin Chaoyang. With three hundred yuan, she would have to write more than a dozen reviews.

The successive publication of articles greatly stimulated Tao Yushu's desire to create. He would write every day when he returned home. Even his initial resentment towards those critical articles gradually subsided, and was replaced by a fanatical pursuit of publishing articles and getting royalties.

That night, Tao Yushu was still writing quickly at his desk.

Lin Chaoyang glanced at the time. It was already half past nine in the evening.

He lay on his side on the bed, his tone somewhat resentful: "Yushu, it's time to go to bed!"

"You go to sleep first." Tao Yushu replied without even raising his head.

"Ugh!"

Lin Chaoyang sighed heavily. He never imagined that the biggest impact of those critical articles from outside would be on his married life.

"It's too late, it's already half past nine." Lin Chaoyang reminded again.

Tao Yushu looked up and said, "Ten o'clock, go to bed at ten o'clock."

Seeing that she was so absorbed in her creation, Lin Chaoyang felt embarrassed to disturb her and could only wait patiently until ten o'clock.

Tao Yushu put down her pen with a feeling of unfulfilled desire. As soon as she lay down on the bed, Lin Chaoyang's hand touched her shoulder.

"If you know me, you are just trying to vent your anger on your man. If you don't know me, you might think you are just trying to make money from your writing."

Hearing this, Tao Yushu felt guilty instinctively, frowned, and spoke righteously.

"I just can't stand seeing these people bullying you!"

Having slept in the same bed for such a long time, Lin Chaoyang knew Tao Yushu too well. What he said just now was just a joke.

Looking at Tao Yushu's reaction, he couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, this group of people just think I am honest and bully me! Thanks to my wife for helping me and saving the situation."

His tone was relaxed, without any bitterness or resentment of being bullied, which made Tao Yushu roll his eyes.

"You are the most heartless person in this family!"

"I don't agree with what you said. Where do you put your elder brother?"

The couple said bad things about the brother-in-law behind his back, and Tao Yushu couldn't help laughing, "They say these jokes all day long."

"Then let's stop making jokes and take some practical action." Lin Chaoyang came up with a smile.

At night, it was pitch dark.

The bed frame swayed rhythmically like the rhythm of darkness. Suddenly, the man's belly was grabbed and squeezed.

The shaking of the bed frame stopped immediately, and the man tensed up, "What?"

"Have you gained weight recently?"

"No!" The man ignored the circle of fat on his belly.

The woman said nothing more, and the bed frame continued to rock until late at night.

Early the next morning, Lin Chaoyang walked towards the library, ready to go to work.

Suddenly, the conversation from last night came into his mind again. He lowered his head and pinched the fat on his belly.

Have you gained weight?
It must be because I’ve been busy writing recently, all for this family!

He comforted himself in this way and walked near the library. He saw a thin figure staggering to the east.

“Uncle Zhu, you really are not afraid of wind and rain!”

Lin Chaoyang and Zhu Guangqian ran side by side and took the initiative to talk.

Old Zhu glanced at him, his mouth tightly shut, with no intention of answering at all.

It seems that the old man is really afraid of getting a stitch in the side.

Lin Chaoyang didn't say anything else. The two of them ran for about twenty minutes. He glanced at his watch and saw that the library was about to open, so he hurried towards it.

It was a sudden impulse to run with Old Zhu. Last night, his wife disliked him, which made him feel a sense of crisis. Nowadays, it is not so easy to have a gigolo. Women want not only his talent, but also his beautiful body.

Alas, greed!

However, he had to admit that his life in Yanjing over the past year had been too comfortable, and he didn't even have any decent physical work.

It is a bit tedious to find and put books away every day, but it is not too tiring. The only thing that is relatively tiring is probably turning the shelves over, which happens only once or twice every quarter.

He used to arrive at the gym twenty minutes early every day. Today, seeing Old Zhu exercising regardless of rain or shine, an idea came to his mind.

From now on, he also uses the time before work to run.

A man's dignity cannot be lost!

In September, the Yanda campus, which had been empty for a summer vacation, became lively again, with people coming and going, and it was very bustling.

That day, Lin Chaoyang was on duty at the front desk of the lending library when Liu Zhenyun, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, came over.

"Chaoyang!"

"Zhenyun, come to borrow a book?"

Liu Zhenyun handed Lin Chaoyang a few book request cards. He registered his information first. Liu Zhenyun said, "I've read your novel."

"Which one?"

Lin Chaoyang published two novels this year, one was "Little Shoes" published in "Yanjing Literature and Art" in May, and the other was published in "People's Literature" in late August.

"Of course it's 'The Garland Under the Mountain'!"

"Oh, that one."

Lin Chaoyang had a calm expression on his face. For some reason, Liu Zhenyun had the urge to punch him.

"It's amazing to be published on the front page of People's Literature!" Although Liu Zhenyun thought Lin Chaoyang was a pretentious person, he still said sincerely.

"Thank you. It's just a coincidence. The troops appreciate it more."

"The army?" Liu Zhenyun didn't know why Lin Chaoyang mentioned the army. What does writing a novel have to do with the army?

Lin Chaoyang did not try to hide the truth and explained it to him. Liu Zhenyun sighed and said, "I was wondering why you would write a novel about war and military themes out of the blue! So that's it."

As the two were talking, a young and beautiful figure appeared near the front desk.

"Brother-in-law!" Tao Yumo called sweetly.

Lin Chaoyang said: "Why don't you go home these days?"

When the school term started at Yanda University, Tao Yumo, a freshman of the class of 79, also moved to the student dormitory. Her departure was like a dragon released into the sea or a tiger returning to the mountains. The Tao family hadn't seen her for several days.

"I'm busy with classes!"

"Busy in class and after class? Busy at night?" Lin Chaoyang mercilessly exposed his sister-in-law's lie and reminded her: "Mom hasn't been in a good mood recently."

Tao Yumo was not afraid at all. Instead, she smiled confidently, "She scolded me a lot, didn't she? It doesn't matter. Let her scold me. I can't hear it anyway."

Tao Yumo was so happy with his university life that he didn't even want to go home.

Lin Chaoyang looked at his sister-in-law's performance and felt as if another "Tao Yushu" had appeared. He wondered if all the women in the Tao family would develop this kind of fearless spirit after being admitted to university.

"Brother-in-law, it's already noon, please treat me to a meal!"

"Your sister only gives me that much money a month? How can you be so embarrassed to ask me to treat you to a meal?" Lin Chaoyang cried poorly.

Tao Yumo looked as if he was being stupid and asked, "You have money to buy a recorder for my sister, but you don't have money to treat me to a meal?"

Lin Chaoyang: ...

My sister-in-law's reason sounded impeccable. She had money to buy a 200-yuan tape recorder, but didn't have money to spend 50 cents to treat me to a meal?

Lin Chaoyang sighed inwardly, my tape recorder only cost me thirteen dollars!
He never expected that his wife's casual words of "two hundred yuan" would dig such a big hole for him, and he actually became a fat piece of meat in the eyes of his sister-in-law.

"Zhenyun, come along too."

Since you can't avoid being treated, just be generous.

Lin Chaoyang noticed that ever since Tao Yumo appeared at the library, Liu Zhenyun's eyes had been avoiding her, the kind of look that seemed like he wanted to look but didn't dare to.

Tao Yumo looks similar to her sister Tao Yushu, both inherited their mother's good genes, but her face has a more delicate and girlish look.

Lin Chaoyang invited the two to the Changzheng Restaurant and ordered two meat dishes. The three of them enjoyed the meal very much and spent one dollar and eighty cents in the end.

"Thank you, brother-in-law!"

After having a free meal at Lin Chaoyang's place, Tao Yumo wiped her mouth and left, leaving Liu Zhenyun looking at her back with a sense of loss.

"Don't look, there's no trace of it." Lin Chaoyang reminded.

When his thoughts were exposed, a look of embarrassment flashed across Liu Zhenyun's face.

He is one year older than Lin Chaoyang, but Lin Chaoyang has been married for almost two years and he is still a virgin. It is normal for him to have such a reaction when seeing a beautiful girl.

"Chaoyang, the novel "The Garland under the Mountain" is really well written!"

Liu Zhenyun changed the subject very abruptly, but Lin Chaoyang still gave him face and said, "What's good about it?"

Putting aside the shyness in his heart, Liu Zhenyun pondered for a moment before speaking.

“After reading this novel, I was most impressed by two points. The first point is the authenticity and three-dimensionality of the characterization.

The image of soldiers in the novel "High Mountains" is very different from what we have seen in literary works and movies before. It has broken away from the past simple stereotyped treatment and perfect heroic image.

Instead, they are endowed with a rich emotional world and complex human traits. The simplicity and perseverance of Liang Sanxi and the growth of Zhao Mengsheng in the novel, this realistic approach makes the characters closer to real life and also enhances the artistic appeal of the novel itself.

Then there is the tragic consciousness and humanistic concern displayed in the novel. The story of "High Mountains" is somewhat at a disadvantage in literary creation.

Because in this kind of war-themed work it is impossible not to praise heroism, but I think you handled it very well here.

The focus of the novel shifted from simple military narrative to the treatment of conflict and drama, and it also incorporated a strong tragic color and deep humanistic concern.

In the end, the thoughts on the cost of war and the value of life were profound, especially when exploring the significance of military sacrifice and the responsibility to their families, which raised sharp social issues. "

Liu Zhenyun talked about the contents of the novel, which was very different from his usual silent image. Lin Chaoyang smiled and joked, "As expected of a Chinese major, your analysis is very logical!"

Liu Zhenyun was a little embarrassed. "Speaking of these things in front of an author like you is just like showing off my skills in front of an expert."

You see, this is the reaction a normal person should have when talking to the author about his work.

(End of this chapter)