Chapter 173: Britain Has Sent Another Letter (Guaranteed First Update)

After a good night's sleep, Zhou Huimin went back to Eternal Records again on Sunday morning and found Uncle Zhang Mingmin.

"Who exactly is this friend of yours, A Ming?" Zhang Mingmin hadn't had time to ask yesterday—he'd been too rushed.

"He seems to be a university professor."

"A university professor?" Zhang Mingmin was stunned. "Peking University or Hong Kong University?"

Zhou Huimin: "Peking University."

"Peking? The one in mainland China?!"

Seeing Zhou Huimin nod, Zhang Mingmin bowed his head in respect—he absolutely had to sing this song, and he had to sing it well.

Then Zhang Mingmin brought the girl to the company's boss, Deng Bingheng.

Deng Bingheng had run a record company for years; though it had never been wildly successful, he was still a seasoned figure who understood music.

He instantly recognized the song's quality. To help raise the price, Zhang Mingmin claimed the song was written by a friend of his and that he himself wanted to perform it.

"Miss, please step outside for a moment while we discuss this."

After Zhou Huimin stepped out, she waited nervously for over ten minutes before being called back in.

"My company will buy this song: 1, 00 yuan for the lyrics, 1, 00 yuan for the melody, with additional royalty shares to be calculated separately."

A total of 2, 00 yuan, plus potential royalties—this thrilled Zhou Huimin; it was the going rate for a moderately well-known musician.

But the royalty share was just empty talk for now—Boss Deng had no intention of releasing a record for Zhang Mingmin; he only planned to record the song, submit it to radio stations for promotion, and test its popularity in karaoke bars before deciding what to do next.

After signing the contract on A Ming's behalf, Zhou Huimin immediately received 2, 00 Hong Kong dollars and pulled out one note to return to Zhang Mingmin.

Zhang Mingmin gave Zhou Huimin his home phone number: "If you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask. If your friend A Ming has new songs, feel free to bring them to me."

Zhou Huimin nodded and left the company.

She felt the membership fee should come from her own pocket, so 150 Hong Kong dollars here belonged to her—A Ming would get 2, 50 yuan.

One hundred and fifty yuan was enough to cover postage, and she could still buy A Ming some Hong Kong snacks and movie magazines—he'd said he loved films.

Life on the mainland must be extremely scarce right now; she wondered if he'd even heard of chocolate or coffee. Then Zhou Huimin returned to Hong Kong Island and began shopping at the supermarket near her home.

She came home earlier this time, giving her plenty of time to cook dinner for her mother.

Over dinner, her mother pulled out money and handed Zhou Huimin one hundred yuan.

Zhou Huimin blinked: "I already have enough pocket money."

"You're sending things to your pen pal on the mainland—how will you send them without money?" Zhou's mother pushed the cash back toward her. "But don't do this too often—once every one or two months is enough."

Even this sum put pressure on Zhou's mother—she wasn't young anymore, and she was determined to save up to send her daughter to university.

Zhou Huimin's eyes grew moist with emotion; her mother had given birth to her at forty-three and was now nearly sixty, surviving on odd jobs that barely earned her a hundred yuan a day.

Zhou Huimin pushed the money back and brought out a bag of snacks from her room.

"I've already bought them."

"Where did you get so much money? Didn't you save your pocket money?" Zhou's mother was astonished.

"I sold a song for A Ming and got a ten percent commission." To prove it, she pulled out the letter Wei Ming had written and showed it to her.

There was nothing incriminating in the letter anyway.

Zhou's mother was stunned: "He writes songs? But isn't he a Peking University student?"

The fact that he was a Peking University student was a major reason Zhou's mother supported her daughter's pen-pal relationship—birds of a feather flock together.

Zhou Huimin: "I just found out—he's not a student, he's a teacher. And he's also a writer. He learned music specifically to write novels, so he writes songs too!"

As she spoke of A Ming, Zhou Huimin's eyes sparkled.

Zhou's mother was even more surprised, but after reading the letter, it clearly said the same thing.

She asked: "How much did they pay for the song?"

"Two thousand five hundred yuan!" Zhou Huimin beamed. "I got ten percent!"

Ten percent meant two hundred and fifty yuan—Zhou's mother now believed A Ming was a university professor. Even under mainland conditions, he earned more in one song than she made in a month—he was clearly no ordinary man, what talent he must have!

"Wait—you sold the song today? All by yourself?" Zhou's mother's expression turned serious.

Zhou Huimin knew her mother was worried. "Mom, I'm not a child anymore—and you work too."

Zhou's mother gently stroked her daughter's curly hair; this child had always been wild, like a tomboy.

"Next time something like this comes up, tell me—I can adjust my schedule to go with you."

"Yes!" Zhou Huimin nodded firmly.

Then Zhou's mother asked which singer bought the song and when she could hear it.

Zhou Huimin smiled: "You'll hear it soon on the radio—just tune into the music station. The song's called 'The Playful One,' sung by Zhang Mingmin."

Having successfully sold A Ming's song, Zhou Huimin began writing him a letter that night, planning to mail the package the next day.

Yuxi, Yunnan, near Mount Ailao.

On the first day of April, Cui Cuicui's family finally received Wei Ming's letter and package from Beijing—she'd waited a month, fearing Wei-something-brother had forgotten her. Recently, she'd seen the March issue of Children's Literature and the cartoon "Black Cat Detective," confirming Wei Ming was indeed her idol, Wei-something-brother.

Wei Ming's package was richly filled: a photo of him with the family, a signed copy of "The Book of Heavenly Secrets" for Cui Cuicui, a signed copy of "Beastly" for Brother Cui Sheng, and several Beijing delicacies—it was a very large parcel.

Cui Cuicui was overjoyed—and even more delighted because Sister Zhu Lin had come to visit again today.

Since they lived nearby and both studied medicine, Zhu Lin often came to exchange knowledge with Dr. Xu Yingying and had become close to the family.

But when she heard Zhu Lin's words, her joy vanished.

"We've finished filming on Mount Ailao—we're returning to Yuxi City tomorrow."

"Sister, I'll miss you!" Cui Cuicui cooed sweetly.

Zhu Lin hugged her: "If you miss me, just watch our movie."

"Mm!"

Dr. Xu added: "Lingling, take some dried mushrooms home—they're delicious. Don't worry, they're all non-toxic."

"Haha, I trust you completely—these mushrooms make the best soups and stews."

!

Dr. Xu continued: "Also, send some to Xiao Wei—just write Peking University as the address, right?"

"Mm," Zhu Lin replied. She'd recently received a package from Wei Ming too, listened to his cassette tape, and heard about his recent trip to Guangzhou.

Zhu Lin in the southwest and Wei Ming could only learn of each other's latest lives through letters.

Meanwhile, Gong Yu in the northwest, besides writing to Wei Ming, also learned about him through word-of-mouth from Lu Xiaoyan and Xi Zi's mother.

So she knew Wei Ming had gone to Guangzhou, bought a motorcycle, and planned to enroll in Peking University's correspondence program.

"So Xiao Wei will be a college student then?"

"Exactly. He won't be a full-time undergrad, but with this credential, he can later apply for Peking University's graduate program."

"Oh! He's going to take the graduate entrance exam too?" Gong Yu exclaimed.

Lu Xiaoyan laughed: "With the skills Xiao Ming already has, he could easily teach Peking University's Chinese literature students. My husband and I hope he gets a higher degree so he can become a professor there."

Gong Yu nodded: "That's truly good—he's so talented, he'll surely make it."

Then Gong Yu thought of her own lack of a university education and felt a pang of regret—she'd been sent to the countryside since middle school; even now, she couldn't take the entrance exam.

As they spoke, a dirty, energetic little boy burst in from outside.

"Mom! Snow Mom!" It was Xi Zi—now fully in character, he no longer called his mother "sister." When Lu Xiaoyan wasn't around, he called her "Mom"; when his real mother was present, he called her "Snow Mom."

Lu Xiaoyan studied her son—he'd only been there a day, yet he'd already blended into the village and made local friends.

But Director Xie only wanted a rustic, authentic feel—this level of grime wouldn't do.

"Xue, is there any work around here? Take Xi Zi to help out tomorrow."

Xi Zi's cheerful expression froze instantly.

Gong Yu smiled: "Then come with me tomorrow—we'll look after the farm's foals and lambs."

Xi Zi's face lit up again: "Great! I love foals and lambs!"

Back in Gouzitun, he'd often helped his uncle care for the commune's livestock.

At night, Xi Zi slept with both mothers. After Xi Zi and Lu Xiaoyan fell asleep, Gong Yu still lay awake.

Now she lived and ate with Lu Xiaoyan and her son, inseparable—she didn't know when she'd get a chance to write Wei Ming a letter alone.

The letter itself was normal, but she feared Lu Xiaoyan would overthink it—she always teased people, making them feel embarrassed.

While Gong Yu was still drafting her letter, Wei Ming in Beijing received another special letter.

"Big Brother!"

While Wei Ming was working at the school magazine office, Biaozi came over on patrol.

"Biaozi, come inside and talk."

Biaozi whispered conspiratorially: "Brother, better step outside."

When Wei Ming stepped out, Biaozi handed him a letter like a spy exchanging secrets: "Letter from England!"

Wei Ming's face instantly brightened—could his foreign currency have arrived?

He opened it—it was indeed from Melinda. He'd waited so long!

He quickly unfolded the letter—but there was no foreign currency or remittance slip.

Instead, Melinda reported on the status of "The Game of the Brave."

"I've completed the full translation and submitted it to the company's children's book division. The division head greatly admired it, but since the story is too short, he suggested hiring an illustrator to turn it into a picture book for market release.

"Royalties will be split 5: : among the original author, translator (me), and illustrator—or possibly 4: : or 3: : , depending on the illustrator's fame and skill. The copyright remains yours. If you agree, please cable me—this deal will let me finally pay off my loan!"

(End of Chapter)