[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-44":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Literary Giant in Russia",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317219,4531,"Chapter 44: Reflections on the Future","my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>As for Krayevsky’s standing in today’s St. Petersburg cultural scene, in short, he is the owner of Zuyi Jishi, the city’s best-selling and most influential magazine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For many authors seeking fame and publication, this status of his is a mountain they cannot climb—after all, offending him could mean, in some sense, being erased from Russia’s cultural world, at least never having their manuscripts published again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of this superior-subordinate relationship with editors, critics, and writers, many who resented him dared only to grumble and gossip in private.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Belinsky, to preserve his job and his right to speak in the magazine, could only complain to his friends:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good heavens, if I could rid myself of this man, I’d be the happiest person alive. I have to keep going to him, saying polite lies, forcing a smile while trembling with rage—this base hypocrisy is unbearable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I sit with him, I despise myself; but what can I do? How can I escape this situation? You can’t imagine how I feel every time I go to him for my own hard-earned money, the fruit of my sweat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Belinsky was severely exploited by Krayevsky, perhaps because Krayevsky was old and powerful, and because most of Belinsky’s friends also feared and dared not defy him, Belinsky did not fully break with his boss until 1846.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, when Panayev recalled this period, he could not help saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In general, we Russians, both then and now, have no spirit of unity, no sense of teamwork; we are merely heroes in words, cowards in action; we are naturally indifferent and passive, quick to submit to anyone, unwilling to muster even brief energy to fight for a lifetime of independence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, this gathering had not touched on this matter, but it seemed that Nekrasov asked Mikhail a question:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mikhail, how much will you be paid for these two manuscripts? I know your recent novels have brought Zuyi Jishi at least eight hundred rubles in profit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikhail: “?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why did I get only sixty rubles the second time, and the publisher even told me he thought long and hard, and because he truly admired young talent, he finally made a decision against his ancestors’ wishes…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuck your money!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enraged, and remembering this publisher’s historical reputation, Mikhail immediately launched into a fiery outburst, leaving everyone in the room stunned, wondering where this young man got the nerve to speak so boldly to such an authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among those present, only Nekrasov looked excited, nodding frequently, clearly agreeing strongly with Mikhail’s views.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for old Turgenev, he was slightly different from the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turgenev: “???”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How can you brag even more than I can?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking for a while, Mikhail seemed to realize he had become a bit too heated, and after a few more words, he looked at Belinsky—furious yet dazed—and concluded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dear Vissarion, when I and Nekrasov make a fortune from our anthology, we’ll find partners and buy Moxianren, then invite you to be chief editor—with an annual salary of eight thousand rubles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the original course of events, this is exactly how things would unfold: Nekrasov and Panayev, true to their friendship with Belinsky, did indeed offer him this exact salary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before such good days could last even a few days, Belinsky soon died as his illness worsened…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So now, Mikhail says this not only because he’s slightly impulsive, but because he genuinely hopes Belinsky will stay healthy—after all, the greatest tragedy is not enduring hardship, but seeing good days just about to arrive, only to lose the person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, to those present, when Mikhail said this, nearly everyone laughed, treating his words as a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, think about it—could Moxianren, a magazine founded by the great Pushkin, really be so easy to buy? And in today’s Russia, which critic earns eight thousand rubles a year? Such a thing is beyond even the wildest dream!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Belinsky, hearing Mikhail’s words, couldn’t help laughing and shaking his head; perhaps to tease, he followed Mikhail’s line:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reviving a once-declining magazine isn’t easy—where will you get the manuscripts, Mikhail?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, we’ll rely heavily on your help.” Though it sounded like a joke, Mikhail sensed a hidden longing in Belinsky’s heart, and smiled in reply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll also serialize a long novel in it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? A long novel?” Belinsky’s interest surged immediately: “Have you already started writing one? How much have you written? Would you read us a passage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll tell you when I finish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chatting with those present for a while, Mikhail—who had rarely let loose—quickly stepped out of the spotlight and turned his attention to the snacks on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having attended so many gatherings, Mikhail was now familiar with most of Belinsky’s circle, so he spoke more naturally than at first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though everyone present held different views, they were still drawn together by a shared calling, voicing their opinions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Nekrasov’s eyes, Mikhail was a gentle yet sharp-witted man; now, through his talent and rhetorical power, he was steadily winning over everyone in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if his earlier words were just a joke, could anyone truly have dismissed the idea as impossible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Nekrasov himself, he had always been uncertain about his career and future, but during his time with Mikhail, he felt genuinely infected by Mikhail’s confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, when working toward this cause, Nekrasov felt energy coursing through his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, and since Mikhail arrived, my appetite seems to have worsened…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",918,"2026-06-20T14:41:53.633Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4a0f0de72287847642992f097a57971d070ceb4f7150733e764f1e9ff5686756","my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-45","my-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-chapter-43",105,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-literary-giant-in-russia-cover.jpg"]