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

Chapter 481 Review of "Huo Yuanjia"

The next day, the newspaper published the news that the March issue of "King of Fairy Tales" magazine was expected to sell more than 500,000 copies.

This news slapped the experts who were skeptical of "King of Fairy Tales" magazine in the face, but they still stubbornly insisted that the reason why "King of Fairy Tales" magazine experienced a significant increase was because it published "Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit Seven Heroes".

"Currently, 'Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit Seven Heroes' is no longer a magazine run by Zheng Yuanjie alone. It was only with the addition of Comrade Liu Yimin that 'King of Fairy Tales' was injected with vigorous vitality."

Zheng Yuanjie agreed with this explanation, feeling that it was a tactful admission of fault.

The situation is even worse for Children's Literature magazine. The children's literature market is already limited, and Fairy Tale King is constantly squeezing out the other's living space.

The editor-in-chief who once boasted that if "King of Fairy Tales" succeeded, the entire editorial department would hang themselves, is now heartbroken and refuses to mention the suicide threat or the name "King of Fairy Tales" to anyone else. He's practically on the verge of a breakdown.

The continuously declining sales left the editor-in-chief and the organizing department unable to explain it. Superiors kept criticizing them, and outsiders ridiculed them as "stingy," meaning that they were unwilling to increase the author's royalties by even a penny, which led the author to start their own publishing house.

At first, everyone hoped that "King of Fairy Tales" would only run for a few issues before it couldn't continue, and that Zheng Yuanjie would have to come back to them. Unfortunately, according to the newspapers, Zheng Yuanjie's addiction was getting bigger and bigger, and he seemed to want to become the national king of fairy tales.

Liu Yimin walked into the Chinese Department, and Cao Wenxuan showed him the list of Yimin's academic scholarship recipients from last year.

The Yimin Academic Scholarship has now been successfully upgraded to a university-wide scholarship program. Liu Yimin's suggestion that Yan Jiayan request funding from the Ministry of Education has been supported by the Ministry of Education, which believes that the Yimin Academic Scholarship is of great educational significance to students and should be supported.

However, Yenching University was also told that it could not always rely on donations from higher authorities and needed to diversify its fundraising efforts. The funding from the education department only played a supporting role.

Yenching University President Ding Shisun and Yan Jiayan readily agreed, saying that as long as the Ministry of Education provided the funds, everything was negotiable, and they could make promises, whether they could or could not.

This year marks the first time that the Yimin Academic Scholarship has been awarded across the entire university, making the competition extremely fierce. However, the Chinese Department already had relevant experience, and the selection process went very smoothly.

After glancing at the list, Liu Yimin instructed Cao Wenxuan to post it outside for public display. Cao Wenxuan said, "The school wants to hold an awards ceremony for the whole school. It would be more educational if you presented the awards. We are also planning to arrange for you to give a speech."

"I see. Professor Cao, let the department talk to the school and say that scholarships will only be awarded to outstanding students, and bursaries will not be necessary, so as to protect the students' self-esteem."

After Cao Wenxuan nodded, he didn't leave. Liu Yimin asked him if there was anything else. Cao Wenxuan leaned on the table and asked Liu Yimin about Zheng Yuanjie in a familiar manner.

Cao Wenxuan is a children's author with an academic background and doesn't think much of Zheng Yuanjie, but Zheng Yuanjie's achievements have really exceeded expectations.

"Professor Liu, I originally thought that these fairy tale works, which are produced like a factory assembly line, wouldn't have much of a market, but I didn't expect that children would like them so much."

Hearing his tone, Liu Yimin put down his pen and looked at Cao Wenxuan: "Teacher Cao, Lao Zheng just writes quickly, but he's not writing on an assembly line. It means he has a lot of knowledge in his head and is hardworking. I've written a lot of works, and no one says I'm writing on an assembly line."

Cao Wenxuan gave an awkward smile: "Professor Liu, it was just a slip of the tongue, please don't take it seriously!"

"Teacher Cao, your fairy tales are also well-written, with a rich local background. However, styles are diverse, and the world in children's eyes is also colorful. There must be a reason why children love to read Lao Zheng's fairy tales."

Cao Wenxuan nodded and walked out of Liu Yimin's office. The people from the Institute of Literature glanced at Cao Wenxuan. Liu Yimin's office inside the Institute of Literature wasn't very soundproof, and they had all heard snippets of conversation.

A professor specializing in journalism sent his graduate students to work with Liu Yimin on a research project for Xinhua News Agency, making the expanded office of the Institute of Literature and Art crowded again.

Liu Yimin asked Yan Jiayan for an office, but Yan Jiayan didn't have any extra offices for Liu Yimin. The Chinese Department's faculty had expanded rapidly in the past two years, and everyone needed offices.

Yan Zhen walked into the office and hurriedly put down her backpack. The others immediately asked Yan Zhen how she did on her postgraduate entrance exam.

Today is the postgraduate entrance exam. Yan Zhen left with great determination, vowing that she would definitely pass Liu Yimin's postgraduate entrance exam.

Yan Zhen ignored them completely and instead hurriedly knocked on Liu Yimin's office door: "Professor Liu, Professor Zhu Guangqian has passed away."

"how do you know?"

"When I returned to the office building, several senior professors had already passed away." Yan Zhen had barely finished speaking when Yan Jiayan strode in: "Professor Zhu has passed away."

Liu Yimin and Yan Jiayan ran to Zhu Guangqian's courtyard. A crowd had already gathered outside. Some professors were still holding vegetables, obviously having heard the news of Zhu Guangqian's death while washing vegetables and rushed over.

Zhu Guangqian's family tearfully recounted how, three days earlier, Zhu Guangqian had gone upstairs in a daze to write annotations for "New Science".

We thought Father was feeling a bit better.

A while later, President Ding Shisun arrived and, together with Yan Jiayan, comforted Zhu Guangqian's family. Zhu Guangqian was an academician of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Upon learning the news, CASS immediately sent people over, with Qian Zhongshu, as the vice president of CASS, arriving by car at the first opportunity.

"Alas, Brother Mengshi (Zhu Guangqian's courtesy name)!" Qian Zhongshu sighed.

A large crowd gathered in front of the courtyard, creating a somber atmosphere. Qian Zhongshu proposed holding a memorial service, which Principal Ding Shisun agreed to. A funeral committee headed by Qian Zhongshu and Ding Shisun was immediately established.

More and more students from the Chinese Department of Yenching University arrived, and Liu Yimin stepped forward to calm them down and tell them not to interfere with the funeral arrangements.

“Classmates, let’s quietly send Mr. Zhu off on his final journey!” Liu Yimin said.

In March in Yanjing, some flower branches have withered and died, while others are still in bud.
A cold wind howled, and white flowers bloomed like snow. Liu Yimin, wearing a white flower on his chest, stood beside Yan Jiayan and slowly bowed to Zhu Guangqian in farewell.

Professors Qian Zhongshu, Wu Zuxiang, and Wang Yao were the most saddened, as their old friends left them one by one.

After the memorial service, the hearse drove to the crematorium, and the crowd made way for it as it departed.

Before leaving, Zhu Guangqian's son handed the manuscript of "New Science" to Liu Yimin. Liu Yimin nodded, knowing what the other party meant.

Zhu Guangqian had previously stated that if he couldn't finish annotating "New Science," Liu Yimin would do it on his behalf.

After attending the funeral, Liu Yimin returned directly to the Overseas Chinese Apartment.

Xi Mei was playing with the two little ones when Liu Yimin walked to the middle of the living room and said, "Xi Mei, thank you for your hard work."

"Professor Liu, you're not tired at all. These two little ones are so well-behaved," Xi Mei said with a smile.

Ximei can manage to take care of two people normally, but she can't manage when it comes to cooking, and she can't find a suitable second nanny right away.

"Ximei, do you have any suitable girlfriends?" Liu Yimin asked.

Xi Mei was cooking when she turned to look at Liu Yimin: "Professor Liu, there really aren't any suitable ones." "It's only a year short. They'll be fine when they turn three, and then they can go to kindergarten." Liu Yimin said with a headache: "We can only keep looking. If I'm not back at noon, you can take them out to buy some food."

Xi Mei said, "Professor Zhu will come over for a while at noon, and then I can cook."

Liu Yimin didn't say anything more. After a while, Zhu Lin returned from the Beijing People's Art Theatre with a bag of things in his hand.

"Has Professor Zhu Guangqian's memorial service finished?" Zhu Lin asked.

Liu Yimin nodded. Zhu Lin came over and played with Liu Yu and Liu Lin, and took out some fruit for them to eat: "Teacher Liu, you should try some too. There are more and more kinds of fruit on the market these days."

"It's delicious," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

In the evening, the "Youth Night Talk" program aired on time, continuing the popularity of the first week, and even surpassing it in terms of listenership.

Countless young people listened to Qian Xuesen recount his life experiences and Liu Yimin discuss the spirit of youth.

After watching TV, Zhu Lin, Xi Mei, and the other three sat in the living room and listened to the radio.

"Sister Lin, Teacher Liu's lecture was really good," Ximei said.

Zhu Lin said with a smile, "You haven't seen him give a speech on stage. He speaks fluently and eloquently, and everyone is his audience. His humor is infectious, and his words seem to jump into your heart."

When Liu Yimin heard Zhu Lin say that, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

On March 10th, Liu Yimin and Qian Lao visited Deng Lao again, who was already preparing for his second surgery.

Even while lying in his hospital bed, Deng Xiaoping was still writing a proposal, a joint letter with several scientists including Yu Min. He combined his experience in the nuclear field with the development of the nuclear field abroad to propose the future direction of nuclear weapons development.

Seeing Mr. Qian and Mr. Liu Yimin arrive, Mr. Deng put down the documents in his hand and said, "Thank you both for your hard work."

Professor Xu Luxi accepted the gift from Liu Yimin and nodded to him. Liu Yimin had talked to her about writing articles before he came.

Deng Lao said to Liu Yimin, "Actually, we just did what we were supposed to do."

"That's precisely why you're so remarkable. So many people haven't done what they should have done," Liu Yimin said, holding Deng Lao's hand.

Mr. Qian told Mr. Deng the story of Liu Yimin ordering hamburgers and missiles. Mr. Deng smiled and said, "It's not a dream to have a strike range covering any corner of the globe; it's definitely achievable. However, I still hope it won't be used. War is too cruel, and there are very few countries that would allow us to use such weapons."

Or perhaps it's about peaceful development, people living in peace and contentment, truly achieving national prosperity and strength, and realizing a world of great harmony.

"Use force to stop war and stabilize the world!"

Liu Yimin didn't talk much about the past with Deng Lao, but chatted with Deng Lao's wife, Professor Xu Luxi, for about three hours in the next room.

Looking back, even bitterness feels like happiness; talking about the present brings only sadness.

“Old Deng doesn’t regret it, and if he doesn’t regret it, then I don’t regret it either. Nuclear energy is a kind of radiation-emitting sword. Someone has to forge it, and someone has to wield it after it’s forged. The responsibility doesn’t just fall on Old Deng’s shoulders; so many people have gone without hesitation.” Xu Luxi wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Professor Xu, I'm sorry to have saddened you."

Professor Xu Luxi smiled slightly: "It's alright. I also have my own selfish reasons. I want you to finish writing it as soon as possible, so that Lao Deng can see it and realize how remarkable his life has been."

"I will finish writing it as soon as possible, don't worry," Liu Yimin said.

When they returned to the ward, Mr. Deng noticed his wife's unusual behavior but did not ask. Liu Yimin handed Mr. Deng the draft of "Brotherhood of Blades": "This is the latest popular novel. If you like it, I'll leave it here for you to pass the time."

"Okay, I'll have someone send it to you after I finish reading it."

"I'll come and get it."

Mr. Qian laughed and said, "Comrade Yimin, you're showing favoritism. Last time, Old Deng cut in line, but this time you're keeping it from me."

Laughter filled the ward, and both Mr. Qian and Mr. Deng became very emotional when Guo Yonghuai was mentioned.

"Scientists are the nation's treasures and must be protected. If Yonghuai hadn't left, we could have reached another level."

Seeing that Deng was tired, Liu Yimin and Qian left the 301 Hospital.

After they went outside, Mr. Qian suddenly asked Liu Yimin if he remembered the flight speed of the Dongfeng-5.

Mach 23.

"Yes, do you know how fast that is?"

"Whoosh." Seeing that Old Qian was a bit speechless, Liu Yimin quickly said, "Over 20,000 kilometers in one hour, it actually takes less than half an hour to get to the United States. If the restaurant is a little slow in delivering the hamburger, it will not only arrive faster than the hamburger, but it will also be hotter than the hamburger."

Mr. Qian nodded in satisfaction, but pointed at him helplessly and said, "You really are a hawkish writer."

"Actually, I'm a conservative."

On March 15, Liu Yimin received a message from Beijing Film Studio that the film "Huo Yuanjia" had been edited and that they would soon bring people to the Overseas Chinese Apartment to review the film with Liu Yimin.

"Okay, I'll wait for you at home."

Wang Yang drove a Jeep, followed by six people, including the main director and five assistant directors.

Fortunately, the screening room was large enough that it wasn't too crowded.

"We've already looked at it once and we don't think there's anything seriously wrong with it."

(End of this chapter)