Chapter 108

Jiang Yue leaned over and muttered: "Our Old Song family isn't a beggar, and we can't just be dismissed by anyone who is desperate."

Jiang Yue's standards had always been very high; her husband and daughter knew this.

Jiang Yue also had a little cleanliness obsession—both material and spiritual. Song Shi and Song Yu knew this even better.

Her mother thought Li Heng was desperately clinging to her. A trace of helplessness flashed in Song Yu's heart, but she didn't argue. Instead, she pointed to the news in the newspaper and said:

"Mom, take a look."

She didn't know what medicine her daughter was selling in her gourd.

Jiang Yue reached out and took the newspaper, lowering her head to read.

This was a copy of the "People's Daily," and it was also the only newspaper the family subscribed to every year.

Jiang Yue wasn't unfamiliar with it in her hand. The news headline was: "To Live" — The 1987 Literary Masterpiece.

"To Live"?

Wasn't this the literary work her husband had been fascinated by a while ago, reading it carefully four or five times back and forth?

Under her husband's recommendation, she had also read it. The novel was indeed written well, written very brilliantly. She had stayed up almost half the night to finish reading it.

Especially when reading about Fengxia becoming mute because her fever wasn't treated well, and Fugui's grandson Kugen dying from eating too many beans, she couldn't help but shed tears, secretly blaming this writer for not giving readers a way out. This tragedy was too heartbreaking.

However, having said that, sadness was sadness. But the quality of the novel was high. It was like a dose of poison; once you got your hands on it, there was no way to give it up. She was stunned and heartbroken until she finished reading it in one breath.

She didn't know why her daughter wanted her to read this news, but just the fact that this news appeared in the People's Daily was already remarkable.

And for a publication of the level of the People's Daily to crown it with the title of "1987 Literary Masterpiece" was even more incredible.

With doubts, Jiang Yue quickly read through the entire news piece.

The content was relatively long, a full 2,000 words.

But to summarize, it was:

Since the novel "To Live" was published in February, it had triggered a strong response among the readership. "Harvest" magazine had used this to create a historical record in sales, breaking the 250,000-copy mark for three consecutive issues, standing out among various literary journals in the country and leading the way.

It wasn't just the readers who reacted fiercely; "To Live" had swept through the entire literary world like a typhoon. Various comments from the literary world had also appeared in newspapers one after another. The scope of the comments was wide, and the number of critics and writers participating was a rare grand event in the last decade.

Reading to the end, Jiang Yue also saw a statistical figure: the sales of the single-volume edition of "To Live" had reached 580,000 copies in 9 days of being on the market. "Harvest" magazine had already decided to print it for the third time, and the million-copy mark was just around the corner.

At this point, Jiang Yue raised her head and asked her husband: "Old Song, what level is 580,000 copies sold in 9 days for a single-volume edition?"

Actually, Song Shi had already read this news long ago. He had just glanced at it and was drinking tea peacefully again, but his gaze occasionally drifted to Yu Bao, his heart pondering what her daughter's intention was.

Hearing his wife's inquiry, he took a sip of tea and said: "The level is very high. This is an unprecedented event."

Jiang Yue was puzzled: "What do you mean? Haven't books in the past sold 580,000 copies?"

Song Shi shook his head: "580,000 copies are certainly very remarkable, but you haven't grasped the point.

"Harvest" magazine has to pay royalties to the writer for these 580,000 single-volume copies. This is the first time in the country that the earth has been opened and the sky has been split."

Once explained like this, Jiang Yue suddenly understood a bit.

She had been obsessed with a piano piece recently and hadn't read the newspapers much. She didn't know at all that outside, because of the royalty issue, public opinion had already sharpened its knives and aimed them at "December." Those who published these articles were all unknown people; there were very few venerable critics, and writers with names were even rarer.

Many people privately guessed that this wind of criticism against the royalty issue of "To Live" should be the joint effort of numerous publishing houses, because this had seriously damaged the immediate interests of the publishing houses.

This also explained why domestic writers all chose to watch from the sidelines.

Because other writers were also not satisfied with earning a few hundred or a few thousand in manuscript fees for a novel. In their hearts, they hoped that royalties would become a trend and an unwritten rule, but they couldn't afford to offend literary magazines and publishing houses, so they could only watch silently.

Fortunately, there was Old Man Ba at the front, and fortunately, "Harvest" magazine had enough weight in the literary world, so it was limited to criticism in newspapers, and they didn't join forces to ban the writer "December," and it didn't affect Li Heng in reality.

Nowadays, the outside world had been waiting for the writer "December" to stand up and speak, but Li Heng had been busy with the college entrance exam during this period and didn't have time to read newspapers at all, not knowing at all that a wind of "toppling him" had formed outside.

Of course, even if he knew, what could he do?

Could he really curse at every major publishing house one by one?

Not to mention that people didn't stand up and criticize him openly, just suspected of using various stand-ins.

Furthermore, even if people stood up upright, with his current volume, with his current thin arms and thin legs, it would be no different from a mantis trying to stop a chariot. He was no match.

After all, people were a group, a state-owned publication. How could he alone resist?

Therefore, Li Heng, who vaguely guessed something, simply chose to see no evil, not read newspapers, not be an angry youth to retort, and just silently collect the money.

However, he didn't intend to swallow this breath either. He planned to write a work that could shock the literary world to slap their faces.

Tell them, why was I the first one to take royalties?

Tell them, when strength reaches my level, one should take royalties!

Regardless of how big, how good, or how bad the public opinion is, setting aside these external bubbles, everything will eventually be spoken with hard strength.

Therefore, Li Heng's next step was to use hard strength to rectify his name again.

Reading the news carefully again, Jiang Yue raised her head and asked: "Are you saying that this one is even more powerful than what we see now?"

Song Shi nodded: "Of course. In any field, wanting to break the existing pattern and create a new world is by no means an easy task. The obstacles and hardships encountered are not what ordinary people can imagine.

Once successful, it is destined to become a benchmark and be remembered. And this benchmark is not just a reflection of data, but a huge progress in concept."

Jiang Yue asked: "Then is this writer 'December' in a very difficult situation?"

Song Yu also put down her teacup and looked at her father.

Facing the mother and daughter's eyes, Song Shi pondered for a while and shook his head: "I don't think so.

This 'December' is very composed. No matter how the outside world criticizes and crusades against him, he has never appeared. He has a bit of the general's style of 'let the enemy surround me with thousands of layers, I remain unmoved.' This demeanor makes me admire him even more."

Hearing this, Song Yu smiled, picked up the teacup again, and drank it in small sips while holding it in her palm.

Jiang Yue discussed with her husband for a while, suddenly remembered something, and turned to look at her daughter:

"Yu Bao, when Mom talked to you about Li Heng earlier, why did you show me this news? What is the connection between the two?"

Song Shi had just been pondering the connection between the two, but he couldn't think of anything even after breaking his head. Seeing his wife ask this, he also pricked up his ears.

Song Yu looked at her father, whose teacup was stopped at his mouth, and then looked at her mother, who was frowning in confusion.

She said quietly: "Because Li Heng is 'December'."

"What?"

Jiang Yue thought she had auditory hallucinations and opened her mouth wide, her eyes fixed on her daughter's face, wanting to distinguish the truth from the micro-expressions on Yu Bao's face.

Song Shi, who was usually relatively patient, couldn't hold back his temper at this time. He followed his wife and asked seriously: "Li Heng is a writer? Did he write 'To Live'?"

Song Yu stood up and said calmly: "It's him."

After saying that, she didn't look at the rich expressions on her parents' faces anymore and quietly returned to her bedroom.

"Bang," a small sound.

The bedroom door opened gently and closed gently again.

For a time, the living room was so quiet that a needle could be heard falling. Only the couple was left staring at each other, you looking at me and me looking at you, their eyes full of shock.

After a long while, Jiang Yue swallowed hard: "Old Song, did I hear wrong? Did daughter say Li Heng is the writer 'December'?"

Song Shi drank the tea in his cup in one breath and let out a turbid breath: "A while ago, I heard a rumor from a colleague that an editor from the literary journal 'October' came to the First Middle School to look for the writer 'December.' I thought it was just idle talk after a meal at the time."

Jiang Yue said: "Two days ago, I watched the provincial TV station, and the host said 'December' is from Shaoshi City."

Song Shi said: "The public statement from 'Harvest' magazine has always been like this."

After speaking, the couple looked at each other for a long time. This news was just too explosive and too unbelievable.

How old is Li Heng?

18 years old this year, just finished the college entrance exam.

How awesome is "To Live"?

A classic book, and it's the pioneer of domestic royalties.

18 years old + "To Live"—this combination is too heaven-defying, exceeding the limits of imagination, directly crashing the couple's brains.

The problem is...!

The key is that such a great writer is pursuing their daughter.

After regaining his senses, Jiang Yue, whose heart felt like it was being bitten by thousands of ants, stood up and walked straight toward her daughter's bedroom.

First, she twisted the door handle, but it was bolted from the inside.

"Dong dong dong..."

"Yu Bao, open the door, Mom has something to tell you."

"Dong dong dong..."

There was a faint singing sound coming from inside the bedroom; it was the sound of a tape recorder.

Seeing his wife anxious like something, but getting no response after knocking on the door several times, Song Shi walked over and pulled her away.

"Old Song, if we don't ask clearly, can you sleep tonight?" Once back in the master bedroom where the couple rested, Jiang Yue said as such.

Song Shi opened the window to let the fresh air from outside come in:

"Yu Bao doesn't want to discuss this matter with us too deeply. Have you thought about why?"

Jiang Yue asked subconsciously: "Why?"

Song Shi turned around and faced her, saying: "Actually, you guessed it in your heart. Li Heng and our daughter should still just be good friends."

Jiang Yue was silent. That was her first reaction just now.

This also fits her daughter's steady and reserved temperament—not flashy, not casually getting involved in other people's affairs.

After a while, Jiang Yue, who had figured out the cause and effect, said: "It seems that Chen Zi Jin and Li Heng are still in contact."

Song Shi acknowledged this speculation and simultaneously said: "It also doesn't exclude that Yu Bao has no feelings for Li Heng."

Jiang Yue said depressingly: "They shared an umbrella."

Song Shi shook his head with a smile: "This can't represent anything. It only shows that the two have a good relationship. Aren't they desk mates? It's only right that they have a good relationship."

In the middle of the night, Jiang Yue suddenly sat up from the bed and pushed her husband awake: "Old Song, this matter is not right, it's weird."

Song Shi turned over: "How is it weird?"

Jiang Yue analyzed: "Since our daughter knows Li Heng is the writer who wrote 'To Live,' then Chen Zi Jin and the Chen family should logically know too. Why do they still look down on Li Heng?"

Song Shi pondered for a while and said: "Didn't Yu Bao say that the Chen and Li families had a conflict? It's estimated that the dispute arose before he started writing. The conflict might not be small. Even if Li Heng is not what he used to be now, with the Chen family's energy, they might not necessarily compromise."

Jiang Yue asked: "What kind of conflict is it that makes two children suffer?"

Song Shi said: "I don't know which side is wrong, so it's not easy to evaluate casually. But Li Heng and Chen Zi Jin dating so early might be the fuse for the conflict between the two families."

Jiang Yue felt it made sense.

If Li Heng had been dating her daughter in middle school, no matter who initiated it, she would be very angry.

Plus, Yu Bao said Chen Zi Jin and Li Heng had been out of contact for a long time, so she felt her husband had guessed the truth.

Seeing his wife still pondering, Song Shi yawned and said: "Don't worry blindly. No matter who is right or wrong, it has nothing to do with us. Sleep."

"Hey, that's true."

Although Jiang Yue blamed her daughter a bit for dropping a bomb and not caring whether she could sleep at night, Li Heng was just an outsider no matter how excellent he was, so it wasn't worth being so concerned.

On the other side.

On the way back to the dormitory, Liu Li said with lingering fear: "Li Heng, you guy, your heart is really big. Just now when Song Yu's mother mentioned Chen Zi Jin, I was anxious for you, but you acted like nothing happened."

Li Heng smiled and said: "Actually, I was nervous too."

Zhang Zhiyong and Liu Li looked at each other, not believing it at all.

Dorm 215.

The three of them were shocked by this group of animals as soon as they entered.

PS: New month, seeking base monthly tickets, let's boost it!

(End of Chapter)