Chapter 439: Small picture book

The female protagonist in this small picture book was born in the old society and grew up in the New China.

She used to be a child bride, suffering from beatings and scoldings. After liberation, she participated in learning in a literacy class, was not afraid of hardship or fatigue, and eventually grew into a glorious female tractor driver, and wore a big red flower to the capital to participate in the Labor Model Commendation Conference.

Lu Qiao pressed down on the small picture book and said to Lin Xiaomin with bright eyes: "Sister Xiaomin, have you ever thought about publishing this small picture book?"

"Ah!" Lin Xiaomin looked at Lu Qiao in shock, "What is publishing?"

"It means printing it into a small picture book and then selling it nationwide."

Lin Xiaomin was given a start and hurriedly waved her hands: "No, no, I just drew it casually; how could it be published?"

A publishing house, that was such a noble place; how could the things drawn by a staff member like her be published?

This had nothing to do with the limitations of the era; it was just that no one considered it in this direction.

Many small picture books published now were planned and designated by publishing houses.

There were also individual submissions, but currently, such things were rare. If the drawing was wrong or the writing was not good, it wouldn't be adopted.

How to put it?

They were basically customized.

Lin Xiaomin didn't have a professional background, didn't come into contact with these things on weekdays, and the surrounding environment was even less so. It was very normal that she never thought about it.

Lu Qiao said: "Sister Xiaomin, if you trust me, I'll help you submit it. How about that?"

"Ah, don't, can it work? Will it... will it be laughed at by others?"

"We're just submitting it. If they use it, they use it; if they don't, forget it. It doesn't affect anything. I just happen to know a publishing house."

At this time, Lin Xiaomin's mind was in a mess. The things that had made her feel disgusted just now seemed to have disappeared from her mind, and her mind was full of her small picture book being sent to the publishing house.

Remembering something, Lin Xiaomin asked hurriedly: "Then... then which publishing house should it be sent to?"

"It must be the Beidu Publishing House."

Lin Xiaomin was a bit nervous: "Heavens, how could it be the Beidu Publishing House?" Her heart jumped just hearing it. After all, this was something she had never thought of.

Lu Qiao comforted her: "Don't worry, if it doesn't work, it will be returned. Others won't know."

Lin Xiaomin was still very nervous. Although she felt it was impossible, she couldn't help but have expectations in her eyes.

If it could really be published...

Shaking her head violently, she didn't even dare to think about what that scene would be like.

"Then how about this, I'll mail it for you, and write your propaganda section as the return address, how about that?"

Lin Xiaomin looked at Lu Qiao blankly and stammered: "Then... if it's returned, will... will I be laughed at?"

"Oh my, if you're afraid of that, then write the Xiang Yang Neighborhood Office, and the sender's name will be me. Is that okay?"

This matter was too sudden; it was something Lin Xiaomin had never thought of. She actually didn't know what to do.

Lu Qiao looked at her like this and said: "Sister Xiaomin, not only is your drawing good, but the story is also good. If it's really published, it will be an encouragement to all our female compatriots. You have done a great good deed; what else do you have to worry about? Of course, if you don't agree, then pretend I didn't say anything. I'll keep this; I like it very much. Thank you, Sister Xiaomin."

Lin Xiaomin's mind was blank for a moment.

Only after a while did she react and say: "Then... I'll listen to you."

"That's right."

She didn't dare to say it was 100% publishable, but Lu Qiao felt there was an 80% possibility.

Within a certain range, her name, Lu Qiao, was not an unknown person even in Beidu.

Not to mention this story, which could stand the test in any era and under any policy.

Lu Qiao said to Lin Xiaomin again: "You know, if it's published, there will be royalties, and if it sells well, you as the original author will also share the money."

Lin Xiaomin hurriedly waved her hands: "I don't dare to think about it, I don't dare to think about it."

"Alright then, since you don't dare to think about it, let's not talk about this topic."

Lu Qiao changed the subject, lowered her voice, and said to Lin Xiaomin: "Sister Xiaomin, when Sister Qiao and I went to your house that day, your neighbor, the female comrade named Qu Caifeng, came out of your room. How... are you two on good terms?"

Upon hearing this, the smile on Lin Xiaomin's face disappeared instantly, and the blood drained away. She felt her body trembling, perhaps because of hearing this name, and also because Qu Caifeng had actually entered her and Cheng Wen's room.

"When you go back, don't ask your mother-in-law. Maybe I saw it wrong, but I saw your mother-in-law and her looking very familiar."

Lu Qiao just acted as if she didn't see Lin Xiaomin's expression change and still said with a smile.

Lin Xiaomin clenched her hands tightly and said in a hoarse voice: "She and my mother-in-law are on good terms; she always goes to accompany my mother-in-law to talk."

"Oh, no wonder." Lu Qiao changed the subject again, "Do you still remember the small earthquake three years ago?"

Lin Xiaomin didn't know why Lu Qiao suddenly turned to this topic, but this topic suddenly made her breathe a sigh of relief. She nodded and said: "Yes, I remember, but it was fine; it just shook a little and it was fine."

Lu Qiao said: "The quality of the buildings in our factory is still okay, but the third district where you are was built together with the first district. Some households were affected. For example, the kitchen area of your neighbor Qu Caifeng's house was shaken with a crack. You share a wall; doesn't your house have a crack?"

From the moment she saw Lu Qiao, it was one shock after another for Lin Xiaomin.

This made her brain feel like it wasn't enough: "That... what crack? My house doesn't have one."

"That shouldn't be. We discovered it in our investigation. According to the layout of our buildings now, her kitchen and the east wall of your bedroom should be the same wall. Oh my, I remember now, your bedroom wall is covered with wallpaper, right? Do you tear it off every year?"

Lin Xiaomin looked at Lu Qiao blankly and muttered: "Hmm, it's repasted with a layer every year. If it looks new, it will be used all the time."

At this time, there was no so-called wallpaper. Whether in the city or the countryside, besides brushing white lime on the walls, the rest was pasting newspapers.

Pasting newspapers accounted for the vast majority, and there was also a portion that pasted wallpaper, which would be printed with blue patterns. After all, color printing was not good now. Although the color was single, pasting it on the wall with paste was also very beautiful.

The Cheng family's conditions were good; all three people had wages, and there were no children, so there was no burden. Therefore, the wallpaper on the walls of Lin Xiaomin's bedroom was printed with blue patterns.

Lu Qiao said very seriously: "Then you should go back and take a look. Actually, the problem is not big, but it's better to pay attention."

When Lin Xiaomin went home, Mother Cheng was preparing lunch.

Although there were occasional conflicts, Lin Xiaomin also admitted that this mother-in-law was truly impeccable in taking care of her three meals a day and family life.

Precisely because of this, even though she made such a disgusting suggestion, she couldn't speak ill of her mother-in-law. ===== CHAPTER 440 =====