Chapter 102

Wei Ming wiped his face: "Could you please stop looking at me with that expression? In foreign countries, this is just a very common etiquette. Have you heard of the cheek-kissing greeting? You'll get used to it after a few more times; it's perfectly normal."

Seeing Biaozi: I may be simple-minded, but I'm not stupid!

"Then why doesn't she do that cheek-kissing greeting with me?" he countered.

Wei Ming spread his hands: "Maybe it's because you haven't shaved your beard."

Seeing Biaozi touched his own sideburns and asked again: "Then what did she put in your locker?"

"Uh..." Wei Ming couldn't make up anything more, so he blocked him with one sentence: "Children shouldn't pry into adult matters."

Seeing Biaozi took two steps back. You—you're already an adult!

And you're with such a beautiful foreign girl—this, this is just too exciting!

Wei Ming sent Seeing Biaozi, who still wanted to delve deeper into the topic, on his way. He walked out of the dormitory building and began to stretch his muscles and bones outside. Making love really makes one's body and mind feel pleasant; his whole person felt refreshed.

In his previous life, he lost his virginity at thirty-something, right?

Enjoying a sex life more than a decade early, and while at his physical peak, Wei Ming considered this the greatest harvest of his rebirth.

It was just a pity that this relationship could only last for a little over a month.

This thing between him and Melinda—let's call it a relationship—was a relationship with a countdown from the very beginning. Both of them understood this.

However, with one having a foreign mindset and the other a future-person mindset, they didn't get too tangled up or sentimental; it was better to just enjoy the present.

When Auntie Wang came over to change shifts, Wei Ming gave up his spot and took his manuscript to the library to continue refining it.

As soon as he left, Auntie Wang prepared to tidy up the room. Suddenly, she squatted down and picked up a short, curly red hair from the floor.

She recalled that there was no one in the girls' dormitory with short red hair.

Now Wei Ming was starting to like this job as a dormitory manager. He could spend the morning in the library, audit classes in the afternoon, and even go back to his original dormitory to hang out for a while at noon. One really shouldn't cut ties with the masses.

It was fortunate that he went back to the South Gate guard post at noon; otherwise, Liu Zhenyun would have had a wasted trip.

"I went to the Spoon Garden first, but people said you weren't there during the day, so I guessed you might be here."

He placed the newly released December issue of *Yanjing Literature and Art* in front of Wei Ming. The magazine cover featured the Dai people's Water Splashing Festival, which seemed to be the same one from the Capital Airport.

In October and November, *Yanjing Literature and Art* had published a short story and a short poem by Wei Ming respectively, and this issue was still related to him.

Liu Zhenyun had written an article titled "From *Two Donkeys* to *Two Oxen*: A Brief Discussion on the Similarities and Differences in Wei Ming's Works."

While *The Tale of Two Donkeys* was sparking a multi-party war of words, Liu Zhenyun took a unique approach. Instead of just chatting about that short story, he analyzed the characteristics of Wei Ming's works through these two successively created novellas.

Simply put, it was a "Wei-fan" piece; for Liu Zhenyun, it could be considered applying what he had learned.

*Yanjing Literature and Art* was just worrying about how to get a slice of the traffic from *The Tale of Two Donkeys*. Liu Zhenyun's article could be said to have arrived just in time, tying the "Two Donkeys" from *Harvest* together with his own "Two Oxen" for comparison, creating a feeling that "we are on the same level."

Wei Ming opened it and saw Chen Zhongshi's short story *Happiness* in the table of contents. In Wei Ming's view, his *White Deer Plain* was the pinnacle of new-era literature and the work that best represented the gold content of the Mao Dun Literature Prize.

"Alright, leave the magazine here for me to read."

"Remember to return it to me, I still need to keep it for my collection," Liu Zhenyun said, then mentioned another piece of good news: "The heat on *The Tale of Two Donkeys* is too high; I reckon the discussion about it will continue for a while. And have you heard? This issue of *Harvest* has been reprinted!"

"Oh?" Wei Ming was indeed a bit surprised. The first printing was already as high as 400,000 copies, and they were actually reprinting.

"And they reprinted another 150,000 copies!" Liu Zhenyun shared the news he had heard from the teachers.

Good heavens, a circulation of 550,000. Both the first printing and the reprint volume had surpassed *Huacheng*. The golden age of *Harvest* was about to arrive. Now *Huacheng* should realize the gap between it and the big brother.

The news of *Harvest*'s reprint had already spread within the industry; *Contemporary* had received the news even earlier.

Now they were worrying: how many copies should the third issue of *Contemporary* print?

The circulation of the second issue of this magazine was only 110,000. Originally, the third issue was planned for 130,000, but because they had obtained *The Herdsman*, it was tentatively set at 150,000.

But *The Tale of Two Donkeys* was too hot right now, and that article by Liu Zhenyun in *Yanjing Literature and Art* was still very fascinating.

Especially since he asked at the end of the article: After writing about donkeys, oxen, and ducks, it is said that Wei Ming's new work is still related to animals he is familiar with. I wonder if it can have the same novelty and sensation as the previous works. Let us wait and see.

This question invisibly increased the readers' curiosity and anticipation for this new work, potentially creating a very good circulation volume.

To determine the number of copies for the first printing, several main people in charge of *Contemporary*—Wei Junyi, Yan Wenjing, Meng Weizai, Qin Zhaoyang, and the editor in charge of this novella, Bai Shurong—held a small meeting.

Facing several old seniors, Bai Shurong said calmly and confidently: "I believe Wei Ming's creative ability is constantly improving. Although only a few months have passed in between, I believe the quality of *The Herdsman* is even higher than those two pieces about oxen and donkeys."

Qin Zhaoyang agreed with her point of view: "And the theme of *The Herdsman* is actually larger, and the discussion it may trigger at the whole-society level will also be greater."

The old lady Wei Junyi, editor-in-chief of the People's Literature Publishing House, asked: "Old Qin, then how many copies do you think is appropriate for the first printing?"

Qin Zhaoyang said: "Considering that our foundation is indeed weaker, how about 150,000, and we adjust if it's not enough?"

Wei Junyi asked Yan Wenjing again. He pondered and said: "I think at least 200,000, to take a big step up."

A first printing of 200,000—that would basically be on par with *Yanjing Literature and Art*. Finally, Meng Weizai, the youngest among the big shots, expressed his opinion: "I think everyone is still being conservative. I think we should print 300,000 for the first printing!"

Everyone was stunned, including Bai Shurong, who was most optimistic about Wei Ming: Big shot, if you take too big a step, you're liable to tear your crotch!

After another round of discussion, it was finally set at 200,000, and they prepared to track distribution and be ready to reprint at any time.

"In addition," Wei Junyi said to Qin Zhaoyang, "Old Qin, please solicit a manuscript from Wei Ming in the name of *People's Literature*. Just based on this *The Herdsman*, his stance and his ability are very reliable. Such a young person must be nurtured."

After hearing this, Bai Shurong could only sigh in her heart. She still wanted to continue cooperating with Wei Ming. Now that he was being eyed by *People's Literature*, what else could she say? Wish you two all the best in the future.

Among the numerous literary journals, the status of *People's Literature* was in a league of its own, higher than both *Harvest* and *Yanjing Literature and Art*.

It was not only because the status of the first editor-in-chief, Mao Dun, was higher than Ba Jin and Lao She, but also because of its political attributes.

At the beginning of the year, Liu Xinwu was an editor at *October*. He sought out Ding Ling, who had not yet had her status restored, to solicit a manuscript.

Ding Ling was somewhat grateful, so she gave a manuscript of hers to *October*.

As a result, Ding Ling's status was restored very quickly. A leader from the Writers Association came directly and took her manuscript away from *October*, saying that Ding Ling needed to make her debut in *People's Literature*. At that time, *October* had already laid out the pages and was about to print.

That was just how overbearing they were.

!

And Wei Ming being favored by *People's Literature* could also be seen as a manifestation of political correctness, indicating that this person was "no problem."

After finishing a class in the afternoon, Wei Ming prepared to return to the Spoon Garden for work. However, while passing by the Triangle, he saw a group of foreigners putting up big-character posters.

Wei Ming thought to himself, could it be that he and Melinda disturbed the students last night? Are they going to criticize them?

That shouldn't be; both of them were quite restrained.

Walking closer to look, it turned out that the international students had organized a petition opposing Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia, and it seemed they were also raising funds for Cambodian refugees.

The Cambodian people were indeed miserable now, with the Khmer Rouge tormenting the people internally and the covetous Vietnam externally. It was said that the population had decreased by one-fifth in a few years.

He wasn't Prince Sihanouk, so he could at most mourn in his heart, and then he returned to the Spoon Garden.

Auntie Wang was waiting to change shifts with him.

"Oh, Auntie Wang, does your grandson like to eat candy?"

"What child doesn't like to eat candy?"

Wei Ming immediately took a few White Rabbit creamy candies from the locker and handed them to her.

"Oh my, this isn't appropriate, not appropriate."

"It's for the child, take it, take it."

Yesterday Wei Ming didn't feel guilty, but after sleeping with Melinda here last night, he felt a little bit.

Soon, after class, Melinda returned. She greeted Wei Ming and went upstairs, but quickly brought her tape recorder down.

"If you're bored while working, you can listen to some music or the radio." She had seen that the previous dormitory manager auntie had a radio.

"And what about you?"

"If I want to listen, I'll just come here to listen," she said, remembering something, and took a new tape out of her bag. "This is what I just borrowed. It's South American music. Let's listen together after I finish eating."

After Wei Ming took it, there was no song title on the tape, just the character "Gu" written on it.

"Do you want me to bring you food? Steak or a burger?" Melinda asked, leaning over in front of Wei Ming.

Wanting to eat meat buns, Wei Ming smiled: "No need, someone is bringing me some. I couldn't stop them even if I wanted to."

For this dinner, Seeing Biaozi and Xiao Mei were both off work. The two came together, and then they saw the tape recorder on Wei Ming's table.

Guessing it must be Melinda's, their hearts had already been trained to be very strong, and they were completely unmoved.

Wei Ming ate his meal, and they kept saying hello to the female international students endlessly.

Wei Ming was eating with the radio on. While listening, a piece of news from the "stick" side caught his attention.

Yo, the "All-Little-General" has already taken action!

By the time Melinda returned, the two little buddies had already left.

When the melody of the samba dance music came from the machine, not only Melinda but other female students coming in and out wanted to dance along, as if they had arrived in the Amazon rainforest.

Wei Ming asked: "Did you borrow this from a South American classmate?"

Melinda shook her head: "No, I borrowed it from a Chinese auntie. She seems to be some kind of musician~"

(End of chapter)