Chapter 18: Yanjing Literature and Art

Wei Ming teased Wei Ping'an.

Wei Ping'an laughed: "I like to suffer first and then enjoy, so let's hear the bad news first."

"The bad news is that I can't go home for dinner this weekend."

This was indeed bad news for Wei Ping'an. He was counting on Wei Ming to help take care of the children so that he and his wife would have time to enjoy their own harmony.

"Why? Do you think your aunt's cooking is bad?"

Wei Ming shook his head: "The reason is the good news. I have to go to the Magic City."

As he spoke, Wei Ming handed over the acceptance letter from "Harvest." Saying a thousand words is not as good as presenting the evidence directly.

After reading the letter, Wei Ping'an went back to look at the envelope, which made his mouth dry. He gulped down a cup of tea, not even spitting out the tea leaves.

Although he didn't study literature, he knew too well the weight of "Harvest" in the literary world. It was basically equivalent to the status of Ba Jin in the current literary world. It was a holy land that countless writers flocked to!

Everyone who writes novels takes pride in being able to get into "Harvest."

And the editor who wrote to Wei Ming, Li Xiaolin, was Ba Jin's daughter and the recognized future successor to the editor-in-chief.

From her words, Wei Ping'an could see that his nephew had written an incredible masterpiece!

Finally, Wei Ping'an leaned back in his chair, full of regret: "Uncle failed you. If I had known you had this ability, I should have arranged for you to work in the office!"

It's just that it would have been harder to arrange an office job, and it would have brought him a lot of criticism. At the time, he hadn't even thought about this option. He felt that he must have subconsciously underestimated Wei Ming, and thus felt guilty.

Wei Ping'an then said: "But don't worry, as long as your novel is published in 'Harvest,' I will definitely get this done for you!"

Wei Ming hurriedly said: "Uncle, please don't. I quite like my current job. Brother Feng just said he was going to transfer me to patrol."

"No, is patrolling better than sitting in an office? From now on, you'll be a brain worker!"

Wei Ming laughed: "Writing novels is brain work, and sitting in an office also requires using your brain, and even using your heart. If that's the case, your heart will be too tired. On the contrary, patrolling just requires moving your legs. Not only does it combine work and rest, but you also come into contact with more people and things, which is conducive to accumulating material."

Another reason was, can the sensation caused by a Peking University office worker writing a novel compare to a Peking University gatekeeper?!

From the perspective of marketing topics, maintaining his current persona is more conducive to the spread of fame and public discussion, and he can even be built into an idol for contemporary grassroots youth!

Wei Ping'an felt that a writer's thinking was indeed different from ordinary people, so he didn't force it.

"Fine, fine, fine, do whatever you want. But when the time comes, I will definitely suggest to Personnel that you be made a permanent employee and get your household registration sorted out. As for housing, don't even think about it for now; your Captain Qiao hasn't even been allocated a place after all these years."

That's right, Brother Feng is really pitiful.

Wei Ming was already very satisfied: "It's already very good to be able to solve the household registration."

As for housing, if the unit doesn't assign it, he'll find a way himself. Although it's difficult to buy a house now, as long as you have money, you can always overcome difficulties.

Just as he was thinking, Wei Ping'an started flipping through his notebook, then smiled and slapped the table: "How about I buy you a ticket for the day after tomorrow?"

"That works."

"But I have to add a task for you," Wei Ping'an said. "Professor Qu Yude from the Chinese Department is going to the Shanghai for a meeting. I'll arrange for you to be on the same train. Remember to take care of her. She is Professor Jin Kaicheng's wife. She had cancer before and her health is not very good."

As the director of the General Office of the General Affairs Department, Wei Ping'an knew almost all the major and minor affairs in the school. He just occasionally heard from Professor Jin about his worry about his wife's long-distance travel, and then he made an exception to upgrade Professor Qu to a soft sleeper carriage.

In universities, generally, one must be at the professor level, or an associate professor over the age of 50, to have this treatment. Professor Qu is currently an associate professor and is in her forties.

Wei Ping'an told Wei Ming: "You are determined to be a writer, so it's definitely right to have a good relationship with the Chinese Department."

The Chinese Department doesn't train writers, but it trains literary critics!

And literature, sometimes besides the reader's word of mouth, also depends on industry guidance. If someone endorses you, you're awesome.

Wei Ping'an was actually paving the way for his nephew in advance.

And what Wei Ming cared about most was: "Then are Professor Qu and I in the same carriage?"

Hearing that Professor Qu was in a soft sleeper carriage, Wei Ming had some fantasies.

Wei Ping'an: "Of course not. Honestly sit in your hard seat. The conditions for the soft sleeper carriage are very strict. I can't even sit in one."

He had the rank, but not the age.

"Then what about a hard sleeper?" This trip takes almost a day and a night. If the waist can take it, the butt can't.

Wei Ping'an laughed: "If you can afford the hard sleeper ticket price, I can buy you a hard sleeper. But as far as I know, for this kind of manuscript revision errand, the magazine only covers the reimbursement of the hard seat ticket. You have to cover the difference yourself. From Yanjing to the Magic City, the hard sleeper is about 20 yuan more than the hard seat."

Wei Ming immediately said: "Hard seat, just choose the hard seat, I love the hard seat!"

20 yuan, the money for one of my fairy tales is gone, this won't do!

However, for a day and a night's journey, Wei Ming felt he had to take some small measures.

"Uncle, can I use your family's sewing machine?"

"You know how to use a sewing machine?"

"I don't. Do you?"

"I don't either, your aunt does." In this day and age, almost no woman doesn't know how to use a sewing machine, even if they don't have one at home.

"Then let's wait until she gets off work. Also, I need some old clothes that aren't used at home, and some cotton."

Wei Ping'an looked at him suspiciously. In the middle of summer, are you preparing winter clothes?

Next, Wei Ming went to the Security Department to ask for leave, starting the day after tomorrow, for an uncertain number of days.

At first, the leader didn't agree. After all, the National Games needed manpower. Even if you are Wei Ping'an's nephew, you can't just quit at this time.

But when Wei Ming took out the acceptance letter from "Harvest" magazine, the leader immediately changed his expression: "Little Wei, sit, sit down and talk..."

After wasting a lot of saliva, Wei Ming walked out of the office building. Because it wasn't his shift time yet, he went to the library.

There are no mobile phones on the train, only reading can pass the time. He had to find a few books to take on the road.

In addition, he also wanted to find Professor Qu Yude's works so that they would have something to talk about. By the way, what meeting is she attending?

Also, he and she are not in the same carriage, how is he supposed to take care of her?

At the same time, Zhang Dening, an editor of the "Yanjing Literature and Art" fiction group, returned to her beloved alma mater.

She had graduated for a few years, and this return to her alma mater was mainly to solicit manuscripts.

!

Not looking for those famous teachers and professors, but looking for students.

Don't underestimate these students. Chen Jiangong of the '77 Chinese Department has already published works in several famous domestic literary journals, and Huang Beijia in their class has already published her own short story collection.

There is a saying about the "Five Talented Women" in the '77 Chinese Department. Huang Beijia is just one of them. Other people like Cha Jianying and Cen Xianqing are also very talented. They are all her potential contributors.

Chen Jiangong is the leader of the '77 Chinese Department and has also sent articles to "Yanjing Literature and Art," so Zhang Dening went to find him first.

In today's university dormitories, men and women can enter each other's rooms at will, except in summer, because in summer, people wear less, and regardless of gender, the first thing people do when they return to the dormitory is to take off their clothes.

It's mid-September, and it's quite hot, so Zhang Dening called a male student and asked him to help call Chen Jiangong down.

Liu Zhenyun was particularly active: "Okay, I'll go right now."

Although Zhang Dening is an editor and a senior sister, Chen Jiangong is older than her.

"Dening, you're soliciting manuscripts all the way to the boys' dormitory." Chen Jiangong welcomed her with a smile, and Liu Zhenyun followed behind.

"No way, 'Contemporary' has risen, and now authors around Yanjing are submitting there, so I can only ask junior students for help."

"Contemporary," which was launched in July this year, has only released two issues, and then it quickly became popular with new works by writers like Shi Tiesheng, Ma Shitu, and Qin Mu. Its circulation has approached "Yanjing Literature and Art," which has a long history.

This put great pressure on the editorial department of "Yanjing Literature and Art," so Zhang Dening came to the door to ask for manuscripts.

"You just published a new article in 'Flower City,' do you have any stock on hand now?" Zhang Dening asked.

"I really don't."

"What about Huang Beijia, and other classmates in your class."

"As far as I know, there shouldn't be. Recently, they have all been busy with the launch of 'Weiminghu,' including me. Although I also wrote some articles for 'Weiminghu,' they probably don't meet your standards."

Zhang Dening hurriedly asked: "Yo, is 'Weiminghu' coming out? When?"

When she was studying at Peking University, the May Fourth Literary Society, which had a long history, had already been shut down due to the movement. The restoration of the literary society was only restarted after the new generation of college students in the '77 class enrolled.

"Working on the layout, you should be able to see it early next month."

Zhang Dening: "Must leave me a copy then."

"For sure."

"Then help me think of ideas again. Do you have any ideas in your head? Or recommend someone with good writing skills to me." Zhang Dening hadn't given up yet.

Liu Zhenyun on the side wanted to say: Me! I'm not bad either, I can write novels too!

"Got it!" Chen Jiangong finally saw Liu Zhenyun and pointed at him, "This is Liu Zhenyun, '78 Chinese Department..."

Liu Zhenyun wished he could kowtow to Chen Jiangong at this moment. As expected of the leader of our Chinese Department, from now on you are my own brother!

Chen Jiangong continued: "Zhang Manling in their class has a good level. She is a Yunnan educated youth with a lot of life experience. She published articles before enrollment. To be honest, I think her strength is not below mine, and I heard she is writing a novella recently."

Liu Zhenyun:...

"Novella, great, I'm short of novellas now!" Zhang Dening said excitedly, "Where is she?"

Chen Jiangong looked at Liu Zhenyun.

Liu Zhenyun braced himself and said: "At this time, Big Sister should be in the 'Weiminghu' editorial department."

Zhang Dening grabbed Liu Zhenyun's arm and said: "Junior, help me lead the way."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 19 =====