Chapter 40: Reader Letters and Illustrations (Seeking follow-up reading!)

A rich expression appeared on Xizi's face: disappointment, depression, bitterness, as if the sky had collapsed. His eyes were even moist.

Xizi: Do you know how much I missed you these past few days? And this is it!

Seeing that the brotherhood was about to break, Wei Ming quickly stuffed an unwrapped candy into his mouth.

"Ah, White Rabbit!" Xizi then turned from crying to laughing. After all, he was just a four-year-old child, and a candy was a huge deal.

Xizi had one, and Lele naturally had one too, and it was wrapped. Lele didn't eat it; she would wait until she was in a bad mood to eat it again.

Two candies were certainly not the gifts for them. Afterward, he took out a stack of books from his bag.

"Xizi, this is the complete set of *Nezha Conquers the Dragon King* comic books for you, and they are even in color."

Ever since watching this animation, Xizi had kept the character Nezha in mind and often cosplayed.

He used his mother's silk scarf as the Armillary Sash, stepped on his father's leather shoes to pretend to be the Wind Fire Wheels. There was also a balloon with good elasticity at home; he poked it and put it on his wrist, looking just like the Universe Ring.

The set Wei Ming bought for him was produced by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio and belonged to movie derivative products. It was beautifully made and very popular. Of course, it wasn't cheap.

Xizi liked it as soon as he saw it, so much so that he was over-excited and swallowed the White Rabbit candy in his mouth directly.

He was about to cry again: I haven't tasted the sweetness yet!

Then he cast his gaze at his sister. Lele, who originally wanted to save it to eat later, decisively tore open the packaging. Eat it now, otherwise it would be too late!

Seeing this, Xizi humbly said: "Then can you give me your candy wrapper?"

Lele was still very generous and gave the candy wrapper to Xizi, letting him lick it as he pleased, then looked at Brother Ming with expectant eyes.

She naturally had an exclusive gift too.

Wei Ming took out a well-made small gift box from his bag. Lele opened it and saw a harmonica with a metallic luster.

She had seen this kind of thing; the music teacher in kindergarten had one and could play moving music.

Wei Ming couldn't afford the big brands like Shanghai or Guoguang, so he only bought an ordinary one, but it was worth half a month of his salary, more expensive than Xizi's comic books and Aunt's silk scarf.

Lele couldn't help but blow it. Although there was no melody, the sound was good, clear and pleasant. Brother Ming's gift really hit her heart.

After Wei Ming left, Wei Anping talked to his wife about him: "Little Ming can be transferred to a permanent position next month. Originally, I thought this temporary worker would have to work for two or three years."

Lu Xiaoyan: "Little Ming is from out of town after all. I thought he wouldn't be able to be transferred to a permanent position in this lifetime."

"It's still the child's own credit. Once the novel in *Harvest* is published in November, we can even consider raising his level."

Lu Xiaoyan: "But he is a writer. You want him to always work in the logistics system of Peking University? That's too much of a waste of talent."

"Little Ming told me about this problem. He said he wanted to experience it at the grassroots level, which could also increase some experience, otherwise he was afraid he would have nothing to write about. Why, do you have any ideas?"

Lu Xiaoyan: "I have thought about it. If he publishes a few more articles in our agency, can we transfer him to our unit as an editor?"

It was very normal for writers to serve as editors. Ba Jin founded *Harvest*, Lao She founded *Jingcheng Literature*. While they were writers, they were also editors and discovered many young writers.

That his wife could think of this for their nephew made Wei Anping very happy. However, he said: "Little Ming is only 18 years old after all. I guess he can't sit still in your office. And I actually hope he can have a higher academic background."

Although a high school diploma wasn't low in this day and age, what about the future? Anyone with a discerning eye could see that there would be more and more college students. Maybe high school students wouldn't be worth much in the future.

"You want him to take the exam again next year? But his problem of partiality in subjects?"

Wei Anping laughed: "It's not that kind of college entrance exam. Let me reveal something to you. Recently, the school is considering restoring correspondence education, a two-year system. It doesn't take up too much time and energy. Plus, he is already a Peking University employee. Getting a diploma shouldn't be a problem."

"Eh, this is good!" Lu Xiaoyan said, "Tell Little Ming later; he will definitely be very happy when he knows."

Wei Anping: "Better not say it yet. After all, the school is only discussing it and hasn't finalized it. And even if it is finalized, it will be at least the second half of next year."

The two were talking when Wei Ming returned with the two little ones, accompanied by the sound of Lele's harmonica. Lu Xiaoyan was stunned: "Lele, you really know how to blow it?"

Now it wasn't just blowing out sound; there was really a bit of melody.

Wei Ming was also marveling: "Lele asked me to teach her. I'm just a half-baked person. I taught her casually, and she learned it."

Lu Xiaoyan picked up her precious daughter: "Didn't expect my daughter to have musical talent, haha!"

As for her precious son, he suddenly saw a wild Armillary Sash and immediately waved it excitedly.

Lu Xiaoyan was anxious: "Wei Xi, put it down!"

After a flurry of activity, the five sat down to eat. It was very rich, with fish and meat, and wine.

Wei Anping opened the Ginseng-Angelica Nourishing Wine, which was twice as expensive as Moutai, and divided 25 grams for each of the three adults.

"On this happy day, I will simply say a few points first. First..."

Lu Xiaoyan kicked him, and Wei Anping immediately changed his words: "First, start eating!"

!

While eating, he said to Wei Ming: "Little Ming, your transfer to a permanent position can be handled next month. At that time, the award will be given to you together. As for the household registration, it will have to wait a while."

"It's okay. Even if I have the household registration, I won't be assigned a house." That household registration was useless to him for the time being, but it was also something he had to strive for. How many years had he struggled in his past life before getting it?

"Also," Wei Anping added, "that family surnamed Li told me they would wait until they were busy with National Day before coming to thank you. You know, military personnel, they are even busier during National Day."

Wei Ming nodded and raised his glass to clink with Uncle Anping. He was also drinking this kind of medicinal wine for the first time. It had a special taste. The two uncles and nephews looked at each other and smiled, both feeling it wasn't as good as the hometown's Old White Dry, so after drinking this half liang, they switched to the hometown wine brought by Old Wei.

Lu Xiaoyan took a sip and liked it very much. She remembered something: "Oh, by the way, after the September issue of *Children's Literature* was released, your *The Toothless Tiger* had a good response and received many reader letters. I brought them back for you."

"Oh, really?" Wei Ming was a little excited.

He thought of the legend of Zheng Yuanjie, who bought ten houses in Jingcheng because of storing reader letters. It was simply the highest realm of showing off.

I want to buy twenty!

Then Wei Ming saw Aunt Xiaoyan holding a stack of envelopes, and his ambition suddenly withered. This wasn't much either.

Probably about ten or so.

Wei Ming asked: "Then how many reader letters do other authors have? Like that Zheng Yuanjie who writes about ants?"

Lu Xiaoyan thought for a moment: "Five."

Wei Ming was immediately happy. Then he wasn't considered few!

In fact, *Children's Literature* had many reader letters, but most were to the editorial department. Those specifically naming a certain author were only a minority.

But *King of Fairy Tales* only had one author, Zheng Yuanjie, and he would occasionally publish the letters in the magazine and reply publicly, stimulating the children's enthusiasm for writing letters. Naturally, there were a lot of letters.

After eating, Lu Xiaoyan showed Wei Ming the illustrations for *If I Were Wu Song*. She specially brought them home for Wei Ming to look over.

Because *The Toothless Tiger* was temporarily inserted into the September issue, the illustrations were done in a rush and were relatively sloppy, and there were only three.

And *Wu Song* was submitted early, so the illustrations could be done seriously. The quality was significantly improved, and the quantity was also large, with a full eight.

Lu Xiaoyan said: "So if you can hand in the November manuscript to me as soon as possible, we can specially find an outside artist to tailor-make it and make it more exquisite."

So they could find an outside artist to tailor-make it. Wei Ming was suddenly a little curious: "Then are there any writers who bring their own illustrations when submitting?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 41 =====