Chapter 8

It's just that they are all local temporary workers from Yanjing, sent to Peking University by policy, while Wei Ming relies on connections.

The bunk left for Wei Ming is the upper one above Qiao Feng's; this is quite good, as the upper bunk offers better privacy, allowing him to write without being disturbed.

Wei Ming smiles and greets his two colleagues, asking where they were sent to work in the countryside.

Zhao Debiao went to the Northeast, while Mei Wenhua was in Henan.

"Then where were you sent?" Mei Wenhua asks, unable to detect any regional accent in Wei Ming's speech, assuming he is the same as them.

Wei Ming replies: "I wasn't sent anywhere; I'm from the team itself."

Qiao Feng: "Ma Xiaowei is from Hebei, a place that produces plenty of white liquor."

Zhao Debiao's eyes light up, and he hurriedly asks: "Then did you bring any?"

Wei Ming laughs: "I came in a hurry, but I'll definitely bring some next time I return from my hometown."

Zhao Debiao rubs his hands: "It's a deal, then!"

Mei Wenhua thinks more than Zhao Debiao; for a rural outsider to get a job at Peking University, there must be someone backing him.

However, he isn't without his own connections, so he isn't intimidated; Mei Wenhua sits down and continues reading.

He feels that Wei Ming's temperament is more suited for a student dormitory.

Wei Ming glances over; it's a magazine called "Today," likely a poetry journal started by Bei Dao and others.

Just like that line: "Despicability is the passport of the despicable, nobility is the epitaph of the noble..."

Once Wei Ming finishes tidying his bed and prepares to write something, Qiao Feng asks eagerly: "Ma Xiaowei, tell us the story of Northern Qiao Feng and Southern Murong."

"Oh, sure. This story is called 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.' It begins in the Wuliang Mountain area of Yunnan..."

Whether it's the original novel or the television adaptation, it usually starts with Duan Yu's story, and Wei Ming does the same.

Although his memory has improved, he doesn't go into too much detail; if he were to cover everything, it would take days to finish, and he doesn't have that kind of time.

However, he has only just begun when Mei Wenhua interrupts him.

"This is a martial arts novel written by a Hong Konger, right?"

"That's right, you know it too?"

"Where did you buy the novel?" Mei Wenhua is very curious; he heard a segment from an older brother when he was in the countryside.

"I didn't buy the novel. I have a high school classmate whose ancestral home is in Guangdong; he's exposed to a lot of it, and I heard it from him." He really does have such a classmate, named Liu Rulong, who is also attending university in Yanjing.

Zhao Debiao impatiently interrupts Mei Wenhua: "Why are you cutting in? I'm really enjoying this; keep going about Duan Yu and the Fairy Sister!"

Unexpectedly, of the three, Zhao Debiao is the most enthralled. Although Qiao Feng likes it too, he is a bit dissatisfied that Duan Yu is stealing the spotlight—isn't it supposed to be a love story about Qiao Feng and Murong? This guy surnamed Duan is truly an eyesore.

Soon, Northern Qiao Feng and Southern Murong appear as background figures.

"Ah, Southern Murong is a man!?" He is greatly disappointed.

"That's right, Murong Fu, also a young talent of the martial arts world. Spoiler alert: the so-called Fairy Sister has a connection to him, too."

Zhao Debiao urges him on immediately; he just loves the Fairy Sister.

Although it isn't quite what Qiao Feng expected, he is also drawn into this brilliant martial arts story; after all, it is Jin Yong's magnum opus.

Even Mei Wenhua, who was dismissive at first, has put down his magazine, pretending to be indifferent while not wanting to miss a single word.

Wei Ming considers this evening a waste, as he didn't write a single word, but he earned the title of "Brother Ming" from Zhao Debiao.

The two are the same age, and Zhao Debiao's birthday is earlier, but he isn't as tall as Wei Ming, so he is content to be the younger one; the two quickly become familiar with each other.

Mei Wenhua is more hypocritical; he clearly envies Duan Yu's luck with the several beauties he gets involved with, yet he says: "These are all just capitalist tools used to kill time—a cancer that doesn't belong in polite society."

Zhao Debiao chuckles: "Then Brother Ming will tell more tomorrow; are you still going to listen?"

Mei Wenhua curls his lip: "Tell it if you want; I don't mind you disturbing my reading."

Brother Feng says: "Alright, lights out and sleep; we have to run drills tomorrow."

At six o'clock the next morning, except for the security guards on duty, everyone is dragged by Qiao Feng to the May Fourth Sports Field to run laps.

Wei Ming really wants to exercise; although he is 1.83 meters tall and handsome, he is too thin, looking like a bean sprout.

Not to mention comparing himself to strong men like Qiao Feng and Zhao Debiao, he feels that even Mei Wenhua, that four-eyed guy, is sturdier than him. It's mainly due to years of malnutrition and lack of fat in his diet.

So at breakfast, besides three oil cakes, Wei Ming also buys two boiled eggs, though unfortunately, there is no milk.

Oil cakes are three cents each, but eggs are expensive at twelve cents each. Although eating like this might make his 18.5 yuan monthly budget tight, he believes his manuscript fees will arrive sooner or later.

Sure enough~

After a morning of political and ideological training, Wei Ming, Zhao Debiao, and Mei Wenhua go to the staff canteen together for lunch.

Then, from afar, they see Qiao Feng and Lu Xiaoyan standing at the entrance.

"Sister-in-law, they're here." Qiao Feng points.

"Auntie!" Wei Ming jogs over quickly.

Lu Xiaoyan's eyes reveal undisguised appreciation: "Little Ming, let's have a chat."

"Okay." Wei Ming hands his utensils to Brother Feng, asking him to get his food for him.

Qiao Feng gets Wei Ming some pan-fried tofu and steamed buns; a single lunch costs as much as an egg. Eggs are too expensive these days; even farmers who raise chickens can't bear to eat them themselves.

!

"Captain, over here!" Zhao Debiao shouts.

After Qiao Feng sits down, Mei Wenhua hurriedly asks: "Captain, who is that female comrade? What does she want with Wei Ming?"

Zhao Debiao: "Didn't you hear? Brother Ming called her Auntie, so they must be relatives."

Mei Wenhua: "But I heard the Captain call her Sister-in-law. Could Wei Ming also be a relative of the Captain?"

Qiao Feng scolds Mei Wenhua: "Stop prying and eat your food."

However, he is also curious, because Sister-in-law Xiaoyan said she was looking for Wei Ming on official business.

Official business?

At this moment, the two are strolling outside, and Lu Xiaoyan has already told him the news that his manuscript was accepted, while Wei Ming appears very calm, possessing the demeanor of a great general.

"Did you really write it in one night?" Lu Xiaoyan asks again.

"Of course. If you want, I can write another one for you in one night."

"Great! For fairy tales of the level of 'The Toothless Tiger,' we'll take as many as you can write!" Lu Xiaoyan says generously.

"Thank you, Auntie!" Wei Ming has found a long-term meal ticket, then he asks coyly: "So when can I get the manuscript fee?"

"Are you in a rush for money? If so, I can first..."

"No, no, I'm not that short on money; I mainly want to use my own manuscript fees to help out at home and make my parents proud of me."

Lu Xiaoyan hasn't experienced the hardships of farmers, but she has heard her husband talk about those difficult years in his childhood; it must be that Wei Ming's family is having a hard time in the village.

She says: "Don't worry. I've squeezed you in to be published this month; you can get the manuscript fee voucher on the day of publication, probably in about two weeks."

Half a month is considered fast for magazine submissions; sometimes it's not unusual for things to drag on from today until next year.

"Then how much manuscript fee can I get?" Wei Ming is not ashamed to talk about money.

Lu Xiaoyan explains the current manuscript fee rules to him.

"Starting from '77, the country restored the manuscript fee system. Depending on the quality of the work, original works are paid a one-time fee of 2 to 7 yuan per thousand words. Your manuscript is 5,000 words, so you'll get at least ten yuan."

Also, at this time, authors don't get manuscript fees when works are printed as books; printing-run fees won't be added until the manuscript fee adjustment next year.

"Is it only based on quality?" Wei Ming asks again.

Lu Xiaoyan laughs: "Of course, the magazine's own financial resources and the author's fame also have a certain influence. But don't worry, with me here, I certainly won't let you get the lowest pay."

The minimum of 10 yuan becomes at least 15 yuan. Wei Ming thanks her again and says: "I will come up with new works as soon as possible."

"Hmm, but the new work will be published at the earliest next month; we usually don't publish two works by the same author in the same issue."

Wei Ming certainly understands the considerations, but this speed of making money is too slow.

He begins to consider whether, while satisfying the one-piece-per-month requirement for "Children's Literature," he should also submit to other journals and write some longer stories~

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(End of chapter)