Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 129: Half of "Protracted War" – Governing the World
Liu Yimin had been to the Changzheng Hotel so many times that the staff all recognized him. Every time they saw him coming, they would joke with him from afar.

"Sister Liu, it's been a while! Something good has happened at home!" Liu Yimin said with a smile to the waitress standing behind the counter at the Changzheng Hotel.

Sister Liu is the lobby manager, and she seemed happier than usual today. From afar, you could see her with her hands on her hips and a smug look on her face.

Sister Liu patted her white coat and said happily, "My husband has been promoted to Grade 8 worker!"

"Amazing!" Liu Yimin exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up. Sister Liu led Liu Yimin and Zhang Mengzhao to a spot with a good view, which was also conveniently located away from the draft.

"Editor Zhang, what do you want to eat?" Liu Yimin asked with a smile.

Zhang Mengzhao pursed his dry lips, which were almost stuck together: "Comrade Yimin, you know this place well, so you can decide what to do. This meal is on me."

After ordering, Liu Yimin asked Sister Liu, "Sister Liu, is there any water in the kitchen? I'll go get some!"

"You sit down, I'll go get you some!" Sister Liu hummed a little tune as she walked into the kitchen.

Liu Yimin's treatment at the restaurant was truly unique.

Zhang Mengzhao took the large bowl of water handed to him by Sister Liu, gulped down a big mouthful, and glanced at Liu Yimin apologetically. The bowl of cold water was already empty.

Zhang Mengzhao took a train for nearly 20 hours to reach Yenching University. He only ate one meal on the train and squeezed onto a bus on the roadside after getting off. He finally arrived at Yenching University without stopping to rest.

Liu Yimin sized up Zhang Mengzhao. He had never heard of this name before and thought he was just a minor figure in the history of the Shanghai Film Studio.

"Comrade Yimin, when I read your short story in Harvest, I felt that the story was very compelling and moving. Although it is a short story, from my perspective, it has great potential to be adapted into a film script. I believe in my professional abilities, and I wanted to come to Yanjing to find you from the beginning."

Unfortunately, I learned from the newspaper that you went to France, so I can only come back after you return to China.

Zhang Mengzhao kept introducing the feasibility of adapting "Romance on Lushan Mountain" into a movie, and Liu Yimin kept nodding and saying "uh-huh". Seeing how supportive he was, Zhang Mengzhao became even more excited.

"I was thinking that if you don't have experience in adapting scripts, you can leave it to a professional screenwriter. But I heard discussions about the play 'Mr. Donkey' on the bus from the train station to Yenching University, and that put my mind at ease."

If you can revise a stage play script, you can revise a movie script!

Since its premiere, "Mr. Donkey" has garnered a strong response from audiences thanks to its superb acting and comedic script with a tragic core. As an adaptation of a novel, "Mr. Donkey" already has a large readership.

Those who have read the novel will definitely want to see the play.

Seeing the overwhelming popularity, the Beijing People's Art Theatre began increasing the frequency of performances of "Mr. Donkey." For the past week, every show has been sold out. Zhu Lin's parents wanted to see their daughter perform, but couldn't get tickets.

Zhu Lin was also a little frustrated. She had finally stood on the highest stage of the drama, but her parents couldn't see her. It felt like she was wearing fine clothes in the dark.

“Editor Zhang, what a coincidence, we’re on the same page. I’ve had the idea of ​​adapting it into a screenplay for a while now, and Editor Wan from ‘Screenplay Monthly’ talked to me about it,” Liu Yimin said casually.

Film script adaptations can sell the adaptation rights to others, allowing them to adapt the scripts. The original novel author can then wait to receive a share of the profits, but the author can only receive 20-30% of the profits.

It's more cost-effective to revise it yourself. If the film studio has a conscience, they will give you more than a thousand yuan in royalties. Currently, the highest royalties for a feature film are 2000 yuan per series.

As for the script being published in "Script Monthly", it's nothing more than that I've had the same thing done three times too many times, and I never feel satisfied after only two times.

It will be published once in the "Script Monthly" magazine and then sold to a film studio.

However, to Liu Yimin's surprise, the first to arrive was the Shanghai Film Studio, not the Beijing Film Studio, which was closest to him.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mengzhao's face lit up with a joyful smile, but the next second he became troubled by Liu Yimin's words.

"Comrade Yimin, could you please confirm the script for our Shanghai Film Studio?" Zhang Mengzhao asked anxiously.

Once the script is published in "Script Monthly," many film studios will see it, inevitably leading to competition for the script. Besides Liu Yimin, who can adapt scripts, film studios can also find others to adapt scripts without consulting him, and then send him the adaptation fee directly.

Zhang Mengzhao felt a headache coming on when he thought about this.

Zhang Mengzhao's concerns were not unfounded; this wasn't the first time a film studio had snatched up a script. Liu Yimin recalled that there had been two previous film adaptations of "Xu Mao and His Daughters." First, the August First Film Studio had taken a liking to the novel written by Zhou Keqin, and approached Zhou Keqin to personally adapt the script.

The original author has made the revisions, and the August First Film Studio is ready to film it. Wang Yang, the director of the Beijing Film Studio, has also taken a liking to it and has asked a director from his own film studio to revise the script.

After both companies discovered they were making adaptations, their verbal battle escalated to the Film Bureau, which couldn't intervene.

Before anything was resolved, Wang Yang of the Beijing Film Studio pulled a sneaky move, getting filming started immediately. The August First Film Studio was furious, and the two studios started a bidding war, each trying to film the same movie. Ultimately, despite the August First Film Studio's initial move, the Beijing Film Studio's film was released first.

Liu Yimin pondered for a moment, and Zhang Mengzhao said again, "Our Shanghai Film Studio is definitely capable of making a good movie. When I came here, I had already shown the novel to the director and the studio manager, and everyone agreed with it."

Zhang Mengzhao was panicking. He didn't even realize when the water in the bowl had run out. He picked up the bowl and tried to pour some into his mouth, only to find that he hadn't drunk anything.

He swallowed hard and continued speaking.

“Editor Zhang, I am deeply moved that you have come all this way. I can assure you that once the adaptation is finished, it will be sent to both the Shanghai Film Studio and the Script Monthly,” Liu Yimin said, looking at the anxious Zhang Mengzhao.

Sweat clung tightly to his polyester short-sleeved shirt, and his travel-worn appearance touched Liu Yimin's heart.

"Great, great, great!" Zhang Mengzhao said happily three times, wiping the sweat from his forehead and confidently saying, "Our film studio will definitely use it. When I receive the letter, I will reply to you as quickly as possible."

Seeing that things were settled, Zhang Mengzhao realized that the dishes had been served but he hadn't touched them yet. Hunger struck him, and looking at the food, his appetite was whetted.

He gave Liu Yimin an awkward smile and then wolfed down his food.

As they left the restaurant, Zhang Mengzhao repeatedly reminded Liu Yimin not to forget to send it to her. The scorching sun beat down on the earth. Liu Yimin asked, "Editor Zhang, shall I take you to the pavilion at school to rest for a while?"

"No need. I only came to Yanjing for this one thing. Once it's done, I need to head back. Staying at a guesthouse in Yanjing will cost the factory money. I bought the ticket this afternoon, and I should be in Shanghai by tomorrow night. Don't worry about me."

Zhang Mengzhao, carrying his briefcase, waved to Liu Yimin, urging him to hurry back to school. After taking a few steps, Zhang Mengzhao turned back and called out to Liu Yimin, "Comrade Liu Yimin, please don't forget, I'm waiting for your letter at the Shanghai Film Studio!"

Zhang Mengzhao kept turning back to look at Liu Yimin as he went, only stopping when Liu Yimin disappeared into Tiger Cave Alley.

I felt uneasy the whole way, carefully recalling every detail of our conversation, wondering if I had misheard, and whether the script would end up on the desks of the Beijing Film Studio or Changchun Film Studio.

At this moment, Zhang Mengzhao's behavior was just like Liu Yimin's, who kept wondering whether he had locked the door after leaving the house; they were in a state of serious internal conflict.

Zhang Mengzhao's mind raced, but he finally realized he hadn't misheard, and a smile appeared on his lips. But the next second, his brow furrowed again.

"It seems like we didn't ask him where he adapted it!"

After returning to school, Liu Yimin bought some popsicles and went to the dormitory. Liu Zhenyun and the other two were already up, wiping themselves with cold water, looking at Liu Yimin's empty bed, and muttering to themselves.

Upon seeing Liu Yimin, he scratched his head and asked him where he had been.

"I went to buy you guys some popsicles, do you want some?" Liu Yimin tossed one to each of them, and the three of them quickly reached out to catch them. Feeling the coolness of the popsicles, they all smiled happily and didn't ask any more questions.

After finishing his Wei-Jin Literature History class in the afternoon, Liu Yimin strolled around the campus a few times, enjoying the beauty of Yenching University's summer campus. Passing by the gatehouse, he greeted the old man there and, carrying his bag of letters, nonchalantly walked away amidst the curious stares of those around him.

Upon opening the envelope, Liu Yimin found many names he didn't recognize; they were clearly from readers. He didn't open it but placed it in the cabinet Chen Dazhi had specially made for him by his bedside.

The cabinet is similar to a bedside table in later times, but apart from the bottom and top being made of solid wood, the other three sides are openwork, mainly because there is too little wood.

Inside was a letter from Old Zhang, the director of the cultural center, along with a magazine. Liu Yimin opened it and read it. In the letter, Old Zhang told Liu Yimin that the jars unearthed in Ruxian County were indeed cultural relics, and the province had reported them to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, which had sent people to protect them urgently.

The provincial professor of cultural relics and the curator of the provincial museum asked him to convey their gratitude to Liu Yimin for successfully protecting the cultural relics.

This magazine is a professional journal about cultural relics. It published an article about the Stork and Fish Stone Axe Picture in Ru County, and Lao Zhang's name is also listed as the author.

The article begins with a brief description of the discovery process of the cultural relics, and ends with the sentence, "Special thanks to Comrade Liu Yimin for his efforts in the protection of cultural relics."

Liu Yimin smiled, knowing that he would soon be a figure frequently mentioned by his history teacher.

Thinking back to the history teacher's eloquent explanation of the story behind the discovery of the Stork-Fish-Stone Axe Diagram in class, Liu Yimin couldn't help but let out a soft hum and wiggle his toes.

Since Liu Yimin returned, the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press has not held a single formal club activity.

Li Congren protested to Liu Yimin several times, but each time the protests were ineffective; the vice president continued to do as he pleased. However, they couldn't let things run wild. After Liu Yimin informed Li Congren and Ke Lifu, they excitedly called on the international student members of the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press to participate in the activity.

Looking at the eager international students under his command, Liu Yimin sighed. Yenching University has extraordinary individuals who excel at training foreigners.

"During my absence, have you all been studying Chinese culture properly?"

"Liu Jun, we've studied diligently! I can already recite a few lines of Chinese poetry!" Xiao Mei Hezi said first. Seeing Liu Yimin's gaze turn towards her, she quickly sat up straight and began reciting, swaying her head: "A tiny globe, a few flies bumping against the wall. Buzzing, a few mournful cries, a few sobs."

"Not bad, where are the rest of you?" Liu Yimin praised, then turned to look at the others.

A PLO student, holding a copy of "On Protracted War," marveled at the military wisdom contained within.

“There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘Half of the Analects can govern the world.’ If you understand this book, it will benefit you for the rest of your life,” Liu Yimin said with a smile.

When Liu Yimin went to the international student dormitory, he touched the international student's penis. There was more than one; the short one was at the waist, and the long one was in the dormitory.

Was I accidentally creating a formidable rival for Squid? When this student returns home, I'll have to send him several copies of my professors' works. They need to understand what it means to seek peace through struggle, and then peace will prevail.

After chatting for two hours, seeing that everyone had made progress, Liu Yimin offered a few words of encouragement.

Fernando from France is telling everyone about Liu Yimin's experiences in France. He has a French newspaper sent to him by a friend.

"Liu, you are truly a writer who dares to fight!" Li Congren put his arm around Liu Yimin's shoulder and shouted loudly.

As they left the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, Li Congren, Kelifu, and Mulatu followed behind Liu Yimin.

Klif sighed from the side, saying it was too hot to go to the bathhouse, which was a real shame.

"Liu, we told the teachers in the Overseas Students Office that we wanted to see your play, but unfortunately there are no tickets available." Li Congren nudged Liu Yimin's shoulder and winked at him.

"We Chinese can't even buy tickets yet, you foreigners should line up at the back!" Liu Yimin said with a laugh.

Li Congren pretended to be dejected, which made everyone burst into laughter.

Li Congren then inquired about the progress of Liu Yimin's "Green Book," to which Liu Yimin told him that it had only just begun, which greatly disappointed him.

Liu Yimin told him that he still had many scripts to finish, and Li Congren could only express his understanding. He then took Liu Yimin and the others out for a meal before they parted ways.

While enjoying the delicious taste on his tongue, Murat couldn't resist adding insult to injury, shouting that he had exploited the Americans on behalf of his country's people.

On June 10th, the results of the "Representative Young Writers" voting and award event of China Youth Daily were finally released to readers amidst much anticipation.

The China Youth Daily had already previewed the issue in its newspaper a few days prior, so the June 10th edition was snapped up by readers as soon as it came out. Orders through the post office also reached a new high in June.

In the classroom, students were all holding copies of the China Youth Daily, looking at the list of names on it, pointing at the people and discussing the representative works of the famous authors featured in the article.

As soon as Liu Yimin walked in, everyone's eyes turned to him.

(End of this chapter)