1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 279: Famous Writers Compete for Manuscripts
Two days later, September 30th.

Seven o'clock in the morning.

"Tanghulu~"

"Wontons~ If they don't taste good, I won't charge you!"

The streets were crowded with people, forming a gray-blue ocean.

The hawking and shouting, the impatient ringing of bicycle bells and the shrill electronic horns of buses awaken this ancient city from its slumber.

As we are about to enter October, the bleak and desolate autumn in the north is unknowingly eating away at the remaining warmth of late summer.

There were gusts of cool wind blowing on the street, blowing the steam rising from the breakfast stalls everywhere.

Pedestrians who get up early to go to work wrap themselves up tightly subconsciously until a thin ray of sunlight appears above their heads and warmth surges into their hearts.

Next to the street is the General Political Department compound.

"Tomorrow is National Day, we don't have to go to work anymore, do we?"

"That's right. Southern Xinjiang has won a victory these days, and there are many things to deal with. It is very likely that there will be no holiday."

"This is really..."

Several staff members of the General Political Department gathered together and walked into the compound while chatting about their work in the unit.

Most of the men wore a Zhongshan short-sleeved shirt, loose old-fashioned trousers, and a pair of black cloth shoes with thousand-layer soles.

Female comrades have to spend more on their clothes, wearing light-colored short-sleeved cotton shirts with lapels, and light yellow long skirts. Many of them carry net canvas bags in their hands, which contain lunch boxes and documents.

"Why is there no work by Cheng Kaiyan yet? It's been two days."

Liu Baiyu followed behind with a hat on, listening silently to the complaints and laughter of the staff. He glanced at the communication room at the door and thought to himself.

Ever since the news about Cheng Kaiyan came out two days ago, he has been thinking about this young man's work.

It’s a pity that it has never been sent.

"I read in the newspaper that this kid was seriously injured. He may not have much time to write an article."

Liu Baiyu laughed in his heart and shook his head.

He felt like he was a little crazy. He had been thinking about Cheng Kaiyan's work for several days and couldn't forget it.

"Minister Liu! You're here so early too?"

At this moment, a female comrade with a shaved head next to her suddenly caught sight of him and greeted him with some surprise.

"Oh, yes."

Liu Baiyu turned around when he heard this and found that it was a female clerk he had known before, so he responded with a smile.

"By the way, the vice president of PLA Literature and Art came here yesterday with an editor, saying they wanted to talk to you about something, but it seems you weren't there."

The female comrade suddenly had an idea, remembered something, and quickly spoke.

PLA literature and art?
"what's up?"

Liu Baiyu had some guesses in his mind and asked quickly.

"It seems to be about the special issue of military writers. They asked me to pass it on to you, asking you to quickly recommend a few excellent works. They also said that they will print the first issue on October 15th."

The female officer looked at Liu Baiyu and explained.

"The fifteenth? So soon?"

When Liu Baiyu heard this, he was stunned and said, "I understand."

He immediately went in without looking back, his steps hurried.

The female clerk shook her head when she saw this. The old minister was still as decisive as ever.

"It seems that the comrade Cheng Kaiyan reported in the newspaper a few days ago is a member of Minister Liu's field research team? I wonder if his work will appear in the first issue."

……

the other side.

Liu Baiyu walked all the way to the cafeteria, bought breakfast, and sat in a corner of the cafeteria to eat while recalling the content of the work he reviewed yesterday.

Soon, two figures appeared at the entrance of the cafeteria and walked towards Liu Baiyu.

"Old Liu!"

When Liu Baiyu heard the voice, he looked up subconsciously.

It was Comrade Wei Wei and Comrade Xu Huaizhong who had reviewed the manuscript together during this period.

Both of them were dressed simply, in short-sleeved shirts and long pants.

Comrade Wei Wei is in his sixties, with gray hair and kind eyes.

Comrade Xu Huaizhong is in his fifties, with a square face, firm eyes and a cheerful temperament.

"Good morning! Lao Wei, Huaizhong, have you two eaten yet? Let's have something together?"

Liu Baiyu smiled across his wrinkled face and greeted him.

"I just got here and was planning to eat. By the way, the book "Shooting the Wolf" you recommended yesterday is really good. I will ask you for your advice after I finish reading it."

Xu Huaizhong strode closer and replied with a smile.

He is much younger than the other two, so he considers himself a junior in the literary world at work and takes this opportunity to ask for advice frequently.

"It's done."

Liu Baiyu nodded, indicating that it was no problem.

"If Mr. Wei is interested, you can take a look at this novel later. It still needs one more person to review it."

Xu Huaizhong looked at the kind-looking old man Wei Wei standing beside him and said.

Mr. Wei Wei nodded, "Then I'll see what kind of work you two can applaud."

The two put their briefcases on the table, went to the cafeteria window to buy some buns, soy milk and other things, and then came back and sat down.

"Huaizhong, how many manuscripts has your group processed?"

Liu Baiyu thought of the special issue for writers who traveled through the military, and asked curiously.

"About three or four."

Xu Huaizhong thought for a moment and replied.

"Old Wei, what about you guys?"

"It's about the same progress."

In fact, since the field trip to the front line ended, manuscripts from the writers have been sent to the office every day.

Sometimes it was one or two, sometimes three or four, but as time went on the number increased.

In the past half month, I have received almost twenty manuscripts.

There are more than 300 writers participating in the field trip, which means that nearly one-tenth of the writers have already completed their works.

This is already quite fast, after all, the time it takes to write a novel is often measured in months or even years.

Some writers are born with quick wits and can write a work in more than a month, and many of them can produce a good quality work.

There don't seem to be many manuscripts, only about twenty or so.

But there are only twelve editors in the office who review manuscripts, including Liu Baiyu.

The twelve people were divided into three groups, with the group leaders being Liu Baiyu, Wei Wei and Xu Huaizhong, three famous military experts.

In addition, the manuscript review process of the field essay competition also adopts the traditional three-review and three-proofreading system.

For each work, each group must send someone to review it carefully, and there must be at least one team leader among the three people to take charge.

After the review is completed, a final evaluation will be given.

If it meets the standard requirements, it will be recommended for publication in "People's Liberation Army Literature and Art".

This is not a small amount of work.

"We need to speed up the process and try to finalize ten works before the 15th and recommend them to PLA Literature and Art."

Liu Baiyu nodded upon hearing this and said in a deep voice.

"People's Liberation Army Literature and Art" usually publishes a new issue on the 1st, but this time the "Special Issue on Military Writers" was chosen in the middle of the month.

Time is a bit tight, and now we are just waiting for the works of the writers on this field trip to be published.

"So fast?"

Both Xu Huaizhong and Wei Wei were a little surprised. It was October 15th, and there were still 15 days left.

It would be a bit difficult to find ten works to publish out of twenty or thirty works without relaxing the standards.

After all, the quality of writers varies.

"We must catch this wind."

Liu Baiyu explained meaningfully.

"Oh, it's because of our field research team leader, Comrade Cheng Kaiyan. This young comrade's deeds have spread widely in the past few days."

Xu Huaizhong understood and said with a smile.

"It's an honorary title at the military region level. It's incredible."

Old man Wei Wei also took the initiative to praise her for the first time, with a bright light flashing in his cloudy eyes. He also grew up in the army and had seen too many combat heroes and many literary and artistic workers, many of whom had made contributions on the battlefield like Cheng Kaiyan.

But this guy is a bit outrageous.

He killed dozens of enemies on the battlefield, and when retreating, he single-handedly killed six veteran reconnaissance soldiers while carrying the wounded.

This is a little scary.

What kind of works will this young comrade write?

Wei Wei was somewhat expectant.

……

Xu Huaizhong did not respond, but took out a stack of manuscripts from his briefcase and put them on the table. "Since we need ten articles by the 15th, what do you think of this one, "Shooting the Wolf in the Sky"? I think it can be recommended."

Liu Baiyu: "Whether it meets the standards, let Lao Wei and his team take a look first."

"That's fine. I'll let Mr. Wei see it after I finish reading it."

Xu Huaizhong nodded and read the manuscript while eating.

After breakfast, the three of them returned to the office in a vigorous manner.

At this time, there were already several editors in the office reviewing manuscripts. The three of them explained the matter of the special issue for writers to the editors and then returned to their seats.

……

Time flies and it is already half past nine in the morning.

A gust of wind blew outside the office window, causing the leaves outside the window to sway.

Xu Huaizhong held the pen in his hand and put down the last piece of manuscript. The joy in his heart was beyond words.

He stood up impatiently, walked to Mr. Wei Wei, and said excitedly: "Mr. Wei, I have finished reading it. It is indeed a rare masterpiece.

Comrade Xiao Zhu's cold and stern words are like a dagger, dissecting the spiritual dilemma of soldiers in peacetime bit by bit.

It shows the helplessness and pain of the conflict between military duties and family responsibilities, as well as the conflict between the ambition to make achievements and the lack of a place for heroes in peacetime. "

"Okay, just put it here, I'll take a look at it later."

Wei Wei looked up at Xu Huaizhong who was somewhat excited and couldn't help but laugh.

It seems that Comrade Xiao Xu really likes this work.

"You should take a look at it now, you will definitely not be disappointed."

Xu Huaizhong put down the manuscript and urged.

He is now like recommending good things to others, and he is eager for the other party to read it and then agree with his opinion.

Liu Baiyu, who was not far away, heard this and shook his head.

Seeing that Xu Huaizhong was not giving up, Wei Wei said coldly, "Let it go for now."

at this time.

There was a knock on the office door.

"Please come in."

Liu Baiyu said in a deep voice.

"Minister, today's letter has been delivered."

A familiar-looking young man came in with a pile of letters and spoke breathlessly.

"More manuscripts? Quite a lot."

The editors in the office all looked over and saw the thick stack of manuscripts in his hands, and their mouths twitched.

"Leave it there. Distribute the items according to the quantity. Time is short and the task is heavy. Please bear with it."

Liu Baiyu frowned and gave the order in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Xu Huaizhong walked forward, took the manuscript from the young man's hand, and wanted to put it on the table beside him.

"Wait, the manuscript on top is from Comrade Cheng Kaiyan!"

Suddenly, Secretary Ye saw this and quickly grabbed the manuscript on top.

Xu Huaizhong was stunned.

"Cock!"

Just as he was stunned, the sound of stools colliding suddenly was heard in the office.

The sudden noise made the whole office quiet down, and everyone looked over quickly.

"Xiao Ye, give me Cheng Kaiyan's manuscript quickly!"

Liu Baiyu stood up suddenly and waved his hand and said.

His usually calm, solemn and serious face suddenly showed a smile of surprise.

He knew that with Cheng Kaiyan's creative speed, the work must have been completed long ago.

The reason why it was sent only now might be that they deliberately waited until the day of publication to send it?
"coming."

Secretary Ye took the manuscript and handed it over, and just when it was about to be delivered to Liu Baiyu.

But the other hand stopped it and snatched it away.

Liu Baiyu's face darkened and he turned his head quickly, only to see Wei Wei holding the manuscript, looking down and groping for something on his own.

"Old Wei, what are you doing?"

"Let me read it first! You haven't finished reading the one you have on hand. A person should have a beginning and an end."

Wei Wei had a smile on his friendly face, as if he was not the one who snatched the manuscript just now.

He was also very curious about the articles written by the recipients of the honorary title, and he had also read a lot of works by the young man Cheng Kaiyan.

"Why should I give it to you?"

Liu Baiyu's eyelids twitched and he said angrily.

He had been looking forward to this manuscript for two or three days!

So neither of them gave in and they started arguing.

This shocked the editors of major magazines in the office and left them in tears and laughter.

Why are these two arguing over a manuscript?

But was this written by Comrade Cheng Kaiyan?

Many editors in the office remembered the young man who was featured in the news two days ago, and they looked at the manuscript held in Mr. Wei Wei's hand with curiosity.

"It's just a manuscript, you two shouldn't be that serious."

"Mr. Wei, didn't I just ask you to read Shooting the Wolf? Why bother arguing with Mr. Liu? In my opinion, the works written by Comrade Cheng Kaiyan may not be as good as those written by Comrade Zhu Sujin."

Xu Huaizhong was also helpless at this time. These two were both elderly people, and as a junior he couldn't say anything, so he hurriedly tried to persuade them.

In fact, he felt somewhat unhappy when he saw Mr. Wei Wei put aside the manuscript he had just given him so coldly, and instead paid so much attention to another person's work.

Cheng Kaiyan is indeed amazing, and Xu Huaizhong thinks so too.

But this does not mean that just by going through a short field trip, he can compare with Zhu Sujin, a military writer who has been rooted in the army for many years, in military literature.

Moreover, the work "Shooting the Wolf" is excellent in both subject matter and main idea.

Xu Huaizhong couldn't imagine how Cheng Kaiyan could write works better than his.

"That's not necessarily true. Comrade Xiao Cheng's thoughts and vision are not comparable to those of ordinary writers."

Wei Wei shook his head and didn't want to say anything more.

In fact, he had noticed Cheng Kaiyan's predictions about the future in "Fragrant Grass" very early on.

Marketization, mass layoffs, the new century...

Especially this grand perspective of building a house from a high level, as if he can foresee the future.

It is naturally impossible to predict the future.

Wei Wei, who has read countless literary works, knows this.

This is just a writer who captured the eternal laws of human nature, power and technology, and when he used the scalpel of thought to dissect the lesions of the times, he saw the end of the festering in advance.

Like many famous writers in history, George Orwell's "1984" depicts totalitarianism, Huxley's "Brave New World" predicts consumerism and biotechnology, and Jules Verne predicted submarines, space travel, and more.

"What kind of work will you write?"

Wei Wei opened the envelope, sat in his seat, and looked at the lines of azure blue pen words in front of him.

The handwriting reveals a lively and youthful vitality.

"In 1974, a movement that had lasted for decades reached its climax... The sun was so hot that it seemed to explode. In this summer, in a corner of the ancient city of Beijing, a poor and ignorant boy boarded a conscription train bound for southern Xinjiang."

"What he didn't know was that this was a one-way trip."

"I didn't know that this one look back would bring me lifelong regret..."

Wei Wei's eyes became serious.

(End of this chapter)