Chapter 82

*Yanjing Literature and Art* accepts novels, essays, miscellaneous essays, and poetry, so poetry is certainly fine, not to mention that Wei Ming's reputation as a poet is far and wide.

Behind the *Er Niu* article, they made a brief introduction for Wei Ming in *Yanjing Literature and Art*. Many readers wrote in to say that it was the first time they knew that Wei Ming, who wrote *The Prophet of Ducks*, and Wei Ming, who wrote *Ideal*, were the same person.

If a new poem could have the same influence as *Ideal*, that would be good too.

Sister Zhang Dening immediately said with a smile: "That would be great! I'll reserve the layout for the November issue for you!"

"Ah, appearing in two consecutive issues, wouldn't that be not so good?"

"What's not good about it? Chen Jiangong appeared in two consecutive issues. For new forces in the literary scene like you, it's only right to provide more support, not to mention that *Er Niu* is so successful."

"Oh, is it very successful?"

"Of course!" Sister Zhang Dening indicated, "After the reprint, the circulation has already leveled with the previous issue, reaching 180,000 copies!"

"Ah, does this count as successful?" Wei Ming asked. Only 180,000; he felt there was still a big gap from *Harvest*.

"How could it not count~" Editor Zhang said, "The previous issue was a novel special issue, all novels, so the attraction was naturally strong. It was also our highest circulation issue this year. But this October issue only has two novels; being able to have this circulation is already burning high incense. If we reprint it again later, that will be the highest circulation since the resumption of publication!"

And she believed that it would definitely need to be reprinted again, because famous literary figures like Sun Li had successively published review articles on *Er Niu*, which would inevitably set off a "Wei Ming Fever." This issue of *Yanjing Literature and Art* still had room for demand in the market.

She also told Wei Ming: "Judging from the readers' letters, eighty percent are discussing *Er Niu*. You tell me if it's successful or not!"

She patted her schoolbag: "I brought you the letters sent to the editorial department. I guess you also received some at school."

He had indeed received quite a few. Wei Ming was a bit overwhelmed with opening them for the time being; one layer of that cabinet was already full.

"Then we can raise the price next time!" Wei Ming brought up a topic that made people happy.

Five yuan per thousand characters was already quite a lot, but he wanted six, or even seven!

"I'd like to, but does it make sense for you, a poet, to talk about raising prices or not?" Sister Zhang Dening curled her lips.

Wei Ming slapped his thigh, oh right!

"Back to the main topic, is it a long poem this time too?"

"You'll know when you see it." Wei Ming kept her in suspense.

He had finished his meal, so Sister Zhang Dening urged him to go back and get the manuscript.

After leaving the cafeteria, looking at the sun and the clouds, Wei Ming walked slowly. He was worried in his heart: what should he write?

"Editor Zhang, you don't need to come down. The male dormitory smells strong; I'll go get it for you."

Wei Ming returned to the dormitory, opened a blank notebook, thought for a moment, and hurriedly wrote a few words.

"You're the one!" Immediately, he tore off the paper and blew the ink dry.

Seeing Wei Ming come up, Sister Zhang Dening took the paper with full expectation.

Just one sheet of paper; it didn't look very long.

As a result, after opening it.

Why is it so short! Not even half a sheet of paper!

The title is three characters: *Far and Near*.

The main text is only about twenty characters.

(You

Sometimes look at me

Sometimes look at the clouds

I feel

When you look at me, you are very far

When you look at the clouds, you are very near)

And that's it!

Although Editor Zhang was dissatisfied with Wei Ming's shortness, after reading it once, she savored it again. Oh my, this poem is quite interesting!

If you say it's hazy, it's not just talking nonsense. Between people, far and near, it seems there is some philosophy in it.

"Fine, this time I'll consider it you fulfilling your duty. Next time you have a work, remember to think of our *Yanjing Literature and Art*. Novels, essays, documentary literature, poetry, no limit on subject matter."

"No problem, but this time let's not add an introduction. I'm afraid poetry fans will write letters to me."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Wei Ming: "I don't have time to reply to letters, but if I don't reply, I feel bad in my heart, which is very agonizing."

"Fine, then the editor's note will add a sentence: The author's whereabouts are uncertain." Sister Zhang Dening laughed.

"That would be great. Editor Zhang, take your time." Wei Ming breathed a sigh of relief; he finally dealt with it.

*Far and Near* is a poem Gu Cheng will write next year, and it is also one of his representative works. It was originally published in *Poetry*, so now if *Poetry* wants it, it can only be reprinted.

After Sister Zhang Dening left, the October issue of *Yanjing Literature and Art* indeed reprinted another 20,000 copies, reaching a total circulation of 200,000 for this issue. It couldn't compare to *Harvest* or *People's Literature*, but it easily suppressed *Contemporary* and *October*, and was on par with *Flower City* in Guangzhou.

And as expected, the literary criticism scene was very indifferent to *The Prophet of Ducks*, but had great interest in *Er Niu*, and related review articles were indeed increasing.

Wei Ming also took off the label of "Reform Literature Writer" and entered a broader field.

It's just that many literary analyses left Wei Ming confused; I didn't think that much when I wrote it!

There were also Shandong-based writers who personally went to the Yimeng Mountain area to visit the prototype of the event and wrote it into documentary literature.

Following this cold wind blown by *Er Niu* in the literary scene, more and more young literary people were inspired and enlightened. Yan County dentist Yu Hua learned from the text that ending with a man and an old ox is very lonely and has a lot of artistic conception.

Hunan writer Gu Hua summarized a thought from this novel: Live, live like an animal!

Gaomi soldier Guan Moye felt through this article that the name "Jiu'er" is very good, suitable for those dashing and strange women.

And Jiang Wen, who failed the college entrance examination and was preparing to take the Central Academy of Drama next year, became deeply interested in the possible story between the cowardly but kind farmer and the captured devil after reading this novel.

Under this background, Liu Zhenyun's review article successfully passed the manuscript by riding the heat, getting a manuscript fee of three yuan per thousand characters, earning six yuan.

Liu Zhenyun, who earned money for the first time, immediately entrusted a classmate to buy chocolate.

……

"Jianmei, don't ignore me. I really didn't mean that that day... If you don't forgive me, then, then to apologize, I can only eat this!"

That is... poop?

Guo Jianmei was startled: "Senior brother, don't be like this. That definitely can't be real... Oh my, don't eat it! Throw it away quickly, you... ugh ugh ugh..."

And after Liu Zhenyun finished eating, he leaned in to let her smell it.

Guo Jianmei then realized something was wrong. This doesn't smell bad either?

At this time, Liu Zhenyun took out another piece of chocolate: "Teasing you. I ate this chocolate. This is what I bought with my own manuscript fee. This time you eat, and I eat... Isn't it especially sweet."

!

Guo Jianmei bit into it angrily: "Hmm, very strange sweetness. There is also some bitterness in the sweetness."

Liu Zhenyun: "Oh, really? Why isn't my piece bitter after it melted? Let me taste yours."

Liu Zhenyun, who used a small trick, successfully ate the same piece of chocolate with Guo Jianmei. At this time, although the corners of Jianmei's mouth were black, her earlobes were already red.

The relationship between the two also took a solid new step. Liu Zhenyun secretly gave Wei Ming a thumbs up.

And Zhao Debiao and Mei Wenhua, who saw this scene from afar, looked at each other, only feeling that they were like a lonely dog.

What are you doing, what are you doing? Didn't you see we are patrolling here? You give us this!

If it weren't for the school not restricting dating, I would have to catch you two, one locked in Peking University, one locked in Tsinghua University, and only let you see each other once a year on Qixi Festival!

After work time arrived, the two hurriedly changed out of their uniforms and ran to the English Corner that Wei Ming mentioned to communicate.

And Wei Ming also finally completed the last paragraph of *The Legend of the Heavenly Book*.

After Master Yuan was taken away by the Heavenly God, Dansheng met a white ape that often accompanied him. In the previous text, it was already hinted that Master Yuan cultivated into a god as a white ape, so Dansheng named it "Ape God."

Two days ago, A Long came to Peking University again and took out ten illustrations, so he could finally submit the manuscript!

It's a bit late now, let's do it tomorrow. Wei Ming prepared to go out for a stroll, but as soon as he went out, he ran into Uncle Ping'an.

Wei Ping'an first expressed his congratulations on the success of his nephew's *Er Niu* in the literary scene.

"I have a few neighbors at home who are in the Chinese Department. Almost all of them have read this novel, and they also said that if you keep it up, you will definitely be the new leader of the literary scene!"

Wei Ming smiled and waved his hand: "I dare not accept that."

Inner heart: Besides me, who else could it be? Who else!

"Oh, right." After chatting about *Er Niu* for a while, Uncle Ping'an took out a magazine and gave it to Wei Ming.

The magazine was the October issue of *Children's Literature*, with a shepherd boy riding a donkey on the cover. After opening it, there was also a remittance slip inside.

"This is your manuscript fee slip. Your aunt asked me to bring it over together."

This time the manuscript fee was 40 yuan, which had reached five yuan per thousand characters, which is a high price for fairy tale works. There must be Aunt Xiaoyan's efforts in this.

"Thank Aunt for me!"

"We are family, don't say that. Right, is your new work finished?" Uncle Ping'an suddenly turned the topic, "Oh, your aunt isn't urging you, just asking casually."

Don't give me that; she is urging for the manuscript. These editors and readers are all the same, wishing they could lock us authors in a small dark room to write from morning till night, not letting us eat if we don't finish, and whipping us if we write slowly!

Wei Ming said: "Actually, I just finished writing today, and I haven't corrected the typos yet."

"Oh my, what typos to correct? Let the editor do this kind of small thing. Go, go, go, take the manuscript and come home with me!"

Arriving at Wei Ping'an's house, looking at the thick stack of manuscripts in his hand, Lü Xiaoyan asked: "So many, how long did it take to write?"

Wei Ming: "Counting the preliminary preparation work, it must have been half a month."

"That's already very fast. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. If it can pass the manuscript, it can at least last for three months." Immediately, Lü Xiaoyan began to read.

She saw a subtitle next to *The Legend of the Heavenly Book*, "Adapted from *The Legend of Conquering Demons*," and was a bit puzzled.

Wei Ming explained: "This is a god-and-demon novel from the Ming Dynasty, written by Luo Guanzhong and Feng Menglong. I read this book from Professor Qu."

"Oh~" Lü Xiaoyan continued to read.

The story begins with a Flat Peach Feast in the Heavenly Palace.

Master Yuan, the god guarding the Heavenly Book, because his position was low, was not qualified to participate and could only continue to guard.

Although he guarded the Heavenly Book for three thousand years, he didn't know what was written on it, so taking advantage of the Jade Emperor's absence, he secretly opened the Heavenly Book...

During Lü Xiaoyan's reading process, Wei Ping'an completed the work of coaxing the children to sleep.

When he returned to the living room, he saw the excitement on his wife's face that couldn't be hidden.

She lowered her voice and said excitedly: "Literary quality, ideological quality, and interesting quality have all reached a new height. Xiao Ming, you have improved too much!"

(End of chapter)