[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-in-1979":3,"chapter-rising-in-1979-rising-in-1979-chapter-139":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising in 1979",{"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},2260847,4412,"Chapter 139: Can You Get a Commission Just by Taking a Train? (Baseline Chapter 1)","rising-in-1979-chapter-139",139,"\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan returned to work at her unit, and as soon as she walked in, a colleague asked her: “Is that song ‘Where Is Spring’ sung by our Lele?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded proudly: “Not bad, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, she sings beautifully! My little grandson sings ‘dili dili li’ nonstop now—next time, bring Lele over so we can meet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t think that’s necessary—my daughter’s still young,” Lu Xiaoyan replied sharply, wary: No way is that little brat getting close!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they chatted, the new editor called her to his office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the sample copy of ‘The Book of Heavenly Tales’ had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re planning to launch it with the March issue and use the magazine to promote it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan looked at the slim, illustrated book and said: “Fine, I’ll let Wei Ming know—I’ll take this sample copy to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new editor nodded: “There’s another matter—I heard ‘Youth Literature’ in Shanghai has printed more copies; ‘The Game of the Brave’ has gotten a great response.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan smiled: “Wei Ming’s novels are always fresh and original—it’s natural readers would like them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, the editor worried: “What if we swapped the two novels by mistake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his first decision since taking office—and he’d made it only after Lu Xiaoyan’s advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he felt ‘Black Cat Detective’ lacked the originality of ‘The Game of the Brave’—what if the one we sent out became a hit, but the one we kept flopped?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan reassured him: “No chance. Our readers are mostly elementary students or preschoolers—‘Black Cat Detective’ suits them better than ‘The Brave.’ Just look at my two kids—they clearly prefer Black Cat Detective; now Xi Zi even begs me to get a cat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the new editor relaxed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve got something too,” Lu Xiaoyan said. Though the date wasn’t set, she needed to warn him: “My son Xi Zi just auditioned for a movie role—I might need to accompany him to the set for a while. Editor, you’ve got to approve my leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Your precious son’s that talented?” the editor exclaimed. “What movie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘The Herdsman,’ Director Xie Jin’s new film.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, impressive! Truly impressive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, just lucky,” Lu Xiaoyan demurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The editor: “I mean your nephew is impressive—he got himself cast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan: “It wasn’t all my nephew’s doing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real reason it worked was Gong Ying’s cooperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking that Gong Ying was only four years younger than her, yet she had to act like an elder, Lu Xiaoyan couldn’t help smiling inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at her desk, Lu Xiaoyan resumed work. Since the magazine had become bimonthly but the editorial staff hadn’t increased, their workload had dropped significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Lu Xiaoyan was about to slack off, a call came into the editorial office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiaoyan, someone’s looking for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoyan picked up—it was Teacher Gu Jianfen, who handled all matters regarding Lele’s musical development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply informed Lu Xiaoyan: “The Pacific Audio Company in Guangzhou is preparing to produce the cassette. Your royalty for Lele’s recordings will be sent to your unit—is that fine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, of course! When can we buy it?” Lu Xiaoyan already planned to buy several copies so Lele’s grandfather could hear it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Jianfen: “That depends on their speed—if they move fast, you’ll see it before the end of the first lunar month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry up, hurry up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Pacific Audio’s recording studio, a cassette titled ‘The Spring of the Shepherd’s Class’ was being recorded with busy efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides Wei Ming’s five original songs, Pacific also recruited several local child singers to cover five classic tunes—‘Farewell,’ ‘Counting Ducks,’ ‘Catch the Eel,’ etc.—though not written by Wei Ming, they were mentioned in the novel ‘The Spring of the Shepherd’s Class,’ making exactly ten songs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the New Year, employees were still sluggish; General Manager Liao Mingzu couldn’t help urging them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he stood under 1.7 meters and weighed only 90 jin, he ruled the company with absolute authority—he was a technician by training who suddenly took over a bankrupt Pacific, only to score a massive hit; now he was brewing his next one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his desk lay the latest issue of ‘People’s Literature’—every literary youth in China was reading it, devouring Wei Ming’s ‘The Spring of the Shepherd’s Class.’ They’d surely wonder what the songs in the novel sounded like—and now a single cassette could satisfy them. Was seven yuan too much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liao Mingzu demanded nationwide distribution before Lantern Festival, and for the cassette to go viral before the end of the first lunar month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first batch alone totaled one million cassettes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One million cassettes—that’s seven million yuan in sales. If they pushed hard this year, profits could reach ten million!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of such high profits, then recalling the songwriter and singer’s mere dozens of yuan, Liao Mingzu felt a twinge of guilt—but regulations were regulations, just like manuscript fees, all set by the state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Manager Liao thought Wei Ming was a true talent—mastering both novels and songs, and writing them so well. He should be cultivated. He’d invite him to Guangzhou under the guise of musical exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the train left the revolutionary base, Wei Ming’s group arrived in Xi’an, where Section Chief Jia reluctantly prepared to disembark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Writer Wei, if you ever return and have time, come visit Xi’an—and if possible, write a novel about our Terracotta Warriors!” Jia cautioned. Wei Ming waved goodbye; Jia couldn’t tell if it meant “goodbye” or “no chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Wei Ming was interested in writing a Terracotta Warriors novel—but he had no time. He only wanted to finish his promised screenplays, then focus on his own long novel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To gain lasting prestige in the literary world, one needed a monumental masterpiece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So farewell, Section Chief Jia; farewell, Terracotta Warriors; farewell, lamb stew and roujiamo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi’an Station was a major stop, pausing nearly half an hour; Wei Ming’s family of four took turns stepping off to stretch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wei Ming and Wei Hong returned to the carriage, they saw new passengers boarding—everyone hoped no one else would join their two berths; just their family of four was perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, a new passenger boarded—young, refined, and well-mannered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After settling his luggage, he began studying the clearly familial group of four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his gaze landed on Wei Ming’s face, he froze, eyes narrowing slightly, probing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked just like him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Comrade, are you surnamed Wei?” he asked Wei Ming directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming paused, then nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wei Ming?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wei Ming’s subtle expression, the young man knew he’d guessed right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exclaimed joyfully: “It really is you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiefang asked his son: “Do you know him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming shook his head; the young man shook his too: “Comrade Wei Ming doesn’t know me, but I know you—the celebrated national writer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei immediately grinned—his son’s fame had reached this level? Not only did people know his name, they recognized him by face alone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only writer he’d ever recognized by face was Mr. Lu Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon the young man introduced himself—he wasn’t just an ordinary fan; he was an editor and a poet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Liang Ping, ‘Stars’ Poetry Journal—long admired your name, Writer Wei,” Liang the editor shook Wei Ming’s hand firmly. He’d read Wei Ming’s interview in ‘China Youth Daily’ and recognized him from the black-and-white photo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming had a bad feeling and gave him a cool greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This editor Liang was the future chief of ‘Stars’ Poetry Journal; ‘The Ideal’ had originally been published there. Though ‘Stars’ had far less influence than ‘Poetry Journal,’ it was still a top-tier second-tier publication with massive influence in Sichuan-Chongqing and the entire western poetry scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he here to solicit a poem from him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came to Xi’an on assignment to gather manuscripts—but didn’t get much. Who’d have thought I’d run into you on the train? What fate!” Liang the editor laughed. “I love all your poems—they’re too few, only two. Writer Wei, have you written any new poems lately?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here it comes, here it comes! Finally!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming shook his head: “I’ve been busy writing a novel—no poetic inspiration lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pity. You should’ve toured Xi’an—this ancient city would’ve sparked your inspiration.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No time. We’re traveling to Sichuan-Chongqing to find relatives—we’re not in the mood for sightseeing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! I remember—your mother is from Sichuan-Chongqing,” Liang slapped his forehead. He’d read every one of Wei Ming’s works and knew the background of ‘The Herdsman.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he began conversing with Xu Shufen in the local dialect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly envied places where the entire province spoke nearly the same dialect—his mother’s accent was from Rongcheng, yet she communicated effortlessly with mountain dwellers; back in Hebei, you struggled to understand people just outside your county.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The train continued southward; night fell. Liang the editor had learned nearly everything about Xu Shufen’s family situation from the letters sent by enthusiastic readers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on those letters, it seemed Xu Shufen’s village had been buried under landslides and flash floods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But most villagers had evacuated safely and were resettled in three nearby villages—hence Xu Shufen’s letters to her hometown went unanswered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next, we’ll search those three villages—we should find them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang the editor suggested: “Baoxing County is mountainous and has changed greatly in recent years—I’m afraid your mother won’t recognize the old paths. Why not go to Chengdu first and stay at the Writers’ Association guesthouse? I’ll find someone familiar with the area to accompany you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang the editor hadn’t given up on soliciting a poem from Wei Ming—hence his eagerness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve gone this far—how can you not leave me a poem?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Thank you, generous readers! Three updates today—third one may be late; still seeking monthly votes!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1612,"2026-06-19T16:30:57.111Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3787b23d8552460701f9618fbe2d6057fe1eb02592a5ebea571e7f0c62027bac","rising-in-1979-chapter-140","rising-in-1979-chapter-138",509,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-in-1979-cover.jpg"]