Chapter 341

"What's the print run?"

Lu Xiaoyan held up two fingers.

Wei Ming was stunned: "Two hundred thousand? How dare you for a new magazine? How did the director agree?"

"We based it on postal subscription data, and there's a stable ratio between postal orders and bookstore channels. After calculation, two hundred thousand should sell out easily."

The magazine had only just hit shelves, so it wasn't sold out yet, but half the print run had already been distributed; today, Lu Xiaoyan visited all major bookstores and newsstands in Beijing, and the market response was excellent.

Wei Shenme and Black Cat Detective still held strong Jinzizhaopai in the hearts of primary and middle school students, no weaker than later hits like Douluo.

And "The Fairy Tale King" cleverly placed "Wei Shenme" and "Black Cat Detective" on the cover; though the design wasn't as elegant as "Children's Literature," it was more childlike and fun, drawing stronger appeal from young readers.

Wei Ming said: "I'm now more curious about this month's print run of 'Children's Literature.'"

Lu Xiaoyan: "It'll definitely drop, but we'll see by how much—if the reduction is less than 'The Fairy Tale King's' total print run, then it won't have been for nothing."

Wei Ming nodded; if the combined print runs of both magazines exceeded the previous "Children's Literature," the publisher would earn more, give more children's literature writers a chance to shine, create new positions, and help the city meet employment targets—everyone wins.

Xiao Yan's aunt went to pick up Xi Zi and Le Le; Wei Ming walked with her to Peking University Affiliated Primary School, where Xi Zi and Le Le were now elementary students.

"Although the magazine's performance is encouraging, there are other voices," Lu Xiaoyan said.

"What? Got criticized?"

"Mainly 'If History Were a Pack of Cats'—some older comrades felt it was too irreverent toward history and ancestors, lacking seriousness," Lu Xiaoyan shrugged, "but today, visiting bookstores, I saw many kids flip straight to those comic pages first, so I let their comments go in one ear and out the other."

"Young readers naturally prioritize pictures over text, so my works abroad were all turned into picture books. Maybe this comic series will make 'The Fairy Tale King' even more popular."

"Haha, I think so too—Xi Zi and Le Le both gave high praise to that comic."

Wei Ming also thought it wasn't a problem; controversy was normal—his new work "Days of Splendid Sunshine" had sparked plenty too.

At that moment, the school bell rang, and children poured out in a steady stream.

Wei Ming saw Xi Zi walking out holding hands with another girl; he nearly thought Le Le had gained weight after a few days apart, but then noticed Le Le was walking behind them alone.

Seeing his mother, Xi Zi said to the girl holding his hand: "Xiao Mei, my mom's back. I'll tell you the rest of the Calabash Brothers story tomorrow."

"Big Brother Xi Zi, can I come home with you? I want to know what happened to the third brother."

Wei Ming understood: this kid was using the full version of the Calabash Brothers he'd heard from him to flirt with girls!

Indeed, you can tell a child's character at three—he seemed to see the future: Xi Zi's seven Calabash Brothers surrounding him, calling him "Grandpa, Grandpa."

Lu Xiaoyan firmly refused; she was glad she came to pick them up—if she hadn't, this kid might have actually brought a classmate home, especially since he'd just started school and barely knew the girl.

Soon Xiao Mei's grandmother arrived to pick her up—clearly not from the same neighborhood; Xi Zi stared after Xiao Mei with deep longing, while Xiao Mei looked back every few steps, her eyes filled with reluctance over the unresolved plot of "Calabash Brothers."

Xi Zi turned to Wei Ming: "Big Brother Wei, 'Black Cat Detective' has a theme song—does 'Calabash Brothers' have one too?"

"There is one—what do you want to do?"

Xi Zi grinned: "Le Le sang the 'Black Cat Detective' song—can I sing the 'Calabash Brothers' one?"

He thought it was cool how Le Le had become the singer of the "Black Cat Detective" theme song in class.

Hearing his brother wanted to steal the spotlight, gentle Le Le immediately got upset.

Wei Ming quickly soothed little Le Le: "Don't worry, Le Le—I originally planned for both of you to sing it together, but it's still too early to talk about it now."

Then Wei Ming parted ways with Xiao Yan's aunt; he didn't go to Tuanjie Lake today but picked up Gong Yu at the Beijing Film Studio gate, taking her to stay overnight at the sihe courtyard—mainly because she missed the detective.

When they arrived, the door was locked, no one inside; Wei Ming and Gong Yu hurried in and locked it from within.

First, the dog Yin Xing rushed over warmly, then they saw Black Cat Detective battling the Calabash Brothers.

On one wall of the courtyard grew a calabash vine, brought by Old Wei from an elderly friend; reportedly of excellent quality, the calabashes had now fully grown—each plump and perfectly shaped.

One calabash was shorter, nearly touching the ground; the detective kept scratching at it with his paw, ruining a perfectly good calabash.

Wei Ming rummaged in the kitchen and found some chicken; using its fishy smell to distract the detective, he managed to pet him a bit, but Gong Yu couldn't get near.

Aside from Old Wei and his wife, only Wei Ming was barely allowed to touch him—everyone else, no way.

Then Wei Ming and Gong Yu entered the bedroom, where there was a full set of high-quality brush, ink, paper, and inkstone; Gong Yu could practice and sketch a few strokes.

Wei Ming picked up the new issue of "October" and began reading; he'd let Gong Yu read it first because it was hard to get—he only had one copy.

"October" now habitually featured its hottest work on the cover—a significant innovation compared to the other three major literary magazines.

This issue included Zhang Jie's novel "Heavy Wings," Wei Ming's novella "Days of Splendid Sunshine," and Jia Pingwa's short story "Elegy for 'Xia Wu Po.'"

When Gong Yu finished painting a large peach, Wei Ming put down the magazine and hugged her from behind: "The peaches from my hometown in Hengzhou are famous—they were once imperial tributes. Right now, they're perfectly ripe."

Gong Yu blushed: "Just say it—can't your hands stay still? Don't steal peaches."

She glanced at the magazine and changed the subject: "Today at the film studio, someone from the Literature Department mentioned your new story."

"Oh? What did they say?"

Gong Yu: "They said it has strong adaptation potential—could make a great film."

Wei Ming: "But I don't think they can film it well."

"Why not?"

"Because their age is wrong—they're not from the courtyard generation who lived through that era. Even if a parent of a courtyard kid directed it, it wouldn't capture the flavor I want."

"Then your novel probably won't become a film for a while," Gong Yu said, "after all, the oldest of that generation are barely thirty—where are you going to find such a young director?"

Wei Ming shrugged: "Then wait. I don't need the screenwriting fee. If no director catches my eye, I'd rather not make it."

The screenwriting fee he once valued most now meant nothing to him.

In the dormitory of the 1980 Acting Class at the Central Academy of Drama.

Eighteen-year-old, naive male student Jiang Wen had lain in his dorm for a full day and night—not sleeping, but feverishly reading Wei Ming's "Days of Splendid Sunshine," occasionally lighting a cigarette and puffing.

His roommate Liu Xiaoqing grew impatient.

"Jiang, this magazine was mine—I haven't even read it yet. You've had it for a day and night and still haven't returned it—is that fair?"