1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 22 A random bit of mandarin duck music

Wei Ran Hutong.

"Little boy from the Li family, come here quickly and show me what this word is."

"Aunt, you also like literature. This article "The Chess King" has been very popular recently."

"Is it?!"

"Silly boy from the Li family, you just came back to the city, you don't know that this novel was written by a famous writer in our alley."

"Jiang Xian from the old Jiang family, when you two were kids, you used to play with throwing firecrackers into the toilet during the New Year. Have you forgotten?"

"Ah! The article 'Chess King' was written by Lao Jiang! I thought it was a coincidence, but I didn't expect it was really him."

"It's not that bad. When the Jiang family kid first came back to the city, the neighbors laughed at him and thought he was a vagrant. Now look, he has moved into a guesthouse!"

"I see that the newspapers are reporting and commenting on 'The Chess King' and 'Jiang Xian' every day. We have a celebrity in 'Little Fence' now!"

"I heard that reporters from newspapers have gone to interview them."

"Li family kid, you should also try to be more respectful and learn from Jiang Xian instead of being a street kid every day."

"That's right, that's right."

"You said they were all returned urban youth, so why are there such big differences between them?"

Rao Yuemei walked slowly pushing her bicycle with a reserved smile on her lips.

In the past, when she got home from get off work, she would pedal her bike and flee in a hurry, for fear of hearing these neighbors gossiping about her son.

What about now?
Envy, admiration, excitement, worship.
Facing all kinds of gazes from neighbors and listening to their various discussions, Rao Yuemei seemed light and graceful, and there was wind under her feet when she walked.

There's nothing she can do about it, since she has a good son.

"Son, let's make dumplings tonight. Filled with leeks and pork." Rao Yuemei called Jiang Xian affectionately, just like the parents of a college student who just returned home during winter or summer vacation.

"Okay." Jiang Xian had just finished squatting in the toilet and his butt was cold.

"The snow is falling heavily, crows are gnawing on tree bark, the wind is blowing and my butt is cold, I'd better stay indoors." He recited "Defecation on a Snowy Day" by Zhang Zongchang, a "poet" of the Republic of China.

It’s not that you can’t afford to stay in a guesthouse, but staying at home is more cost-effective.

There were so many people from all over the country visiting the guesthouse. There would be several groups coming a day, and each group would come several times. In just a few days, they would drink 5 kilograms of his tea!
He simply hid back home to avoid receiving those messy guests and to have some peace and quiet.

He washed his hands at the public faucet in the cement pool and went into the kitchen.

"Mom, I'll give you the money I earned during this period."

"How much money did you earn?" Rao Yuemei was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling.

"I spent some money. I just checked it out. It's 198 in total."

"How much?" Rao Yuemei thought she had heard wrongly.

198?

It’s enough to buy a Phoenix brand bicycle!
In the 70s, Phoenix ranked first in bicycles, Forever ranked second, and Fei Ge ranked third.

In this era, there is a popular saying: Flying pigeons are fast and long-lasting, and it’s time to fall in love while riding a phoenix!
"I'll leave you fifty. Be frugal and don't spend it recklessly."

"Okay." Jiang Xian wiped his hands with a piece of cloth, "I'll roll out the dumpling wrappers for you."

"no, I'm fine!"

Rao Yuemei quickly pushed him out and said, "My son's hands are for holding a pen, how can he do such rough work?"

"."

Jiang Xian had no choice but to go out and bump into a well-mannered middle-aged couple.

"Uncle Zhu? Aunt Liu?"

They were Zhu Lin’s parents, Professor Zhu and Doctor Liu.

"Why are you two here?"

He welcomed the two into the house, brought two chairs, and made two cups of tea.

Professor Zhu took a sip and looked around, "Is your father not at home?"

"At work. You know the nature of his job. He's often away from home."

"It's not easy for Lao Jiang."

Professor Zhu sighed, and Jiang Xian's mother also heard the noise and ran into the house wearing an apron.

"Professor Zhu, Doctor Liu, you are here." "Comrade Yuemei, sorry to bother you while you are cooking."

Rao Yuemei smiled and said, "I'm making dumplings now. We'll eat at home later."

"No." Professor Zhu said politely, "We'll just sit for a while and leave. The main reason I came this time is to find a job for Jiang Xian."

Doctor Liu continued, "Didn't we have a Youth League Congress some time ago? Old Zhu was so busy with it that he forgot everything that Old Jiang had entrusted to him. I talked to him about it several times at home. How long has it been since then? He even delayed the birth of his child."

"It's okay." Rao Yuemei raised her lips.

"This is my fault." Professor Zhu said apologetically, "Comrade Yuemei, you know that the job market in the city is tight right now and it's not easy to find a job. It's just in time for the winter and the heating service at the Industrial College is short of manpower, so I secured this quota for Jiang Xian."

Heating service is burning the furnace.

In those days, most units could not afford to install heating, let alone "central heating", and indoor heating depended on lighting a fire.

Doctor Liu said earnestly, "Although it is not a formal position, it is also a formal contract worker. There are five indicators in total, and the competition is fierce."

Rao Yuemei smiled carefreely, "Let's give this quota to someone else. Jiang Xian's father and I are also responsible for this matter. I forgot to tell you, Professor Zhu, so you worked in vain."

Professor Zhu and Doctor Liu looked at each other, both somewhat confused.

"Our Jiang Xian already has an organization."

"Is there a plan?"

"The staff of the Medical College Security Department has now been seconded to Beijing Literature and Art to write."

"Security department? Secondment? Writing?"

Doctor Liu was stunned for a moment.

I work in the Security Department and also write in the editorial department.

This child is a master of both literature and martial arts?!

"When did this happen?"

"About a month or two ago." Rao Yuemei said excitedly.

"Really? Xiao Jiang?" Doctor Liu looked incredulous. "You're writing for Beijing Literature and Art?"

"I'm writing a novel." Jiang Xian answered truthfully.

"This kid is always messing around. Some time ago, I don't know how he managed to write a novel and even published it in Beijing Literature and Art." Rao Yuemei pretended to be disgusted, with a face full of happy worries. "He has become a writer and independent. His father and I can't control him anymore."

"All children are like this when they grow up." Doctor Liu smiled a few times, "Jiang Xian, what is the name of the novel you wrote? Auntie will read it when she goes back."

"Call him Chess King." Rao Yuemei quickly revealed.

"The Chess King?" Professor Zhu frowned and recalled carefully. It seemed that many people had mentioned this novel to him these days.

This kid actually wrote it!
After sitting for a while, the couple stood up and said goodbye.

Even until he turned out of the alley, Dr. Liu was still somewhat shocked.

"This Jiang Xian can actually write?"

Professor Zhu said: "Looking at the entire Industrial College, I'm afraid no one can get their manuscript published in Beijing Literature and Art."

"If that's the case, this Jiang Xian is quite capable!"

Professor Zhu glanced at his wife and chuckled.

"You've always looked down on me, haven't you? What's wrong with me?"

Doctor Liu smiled awkwardly, "How can you blame me? Who could have thought of such a thing?"

"Old Zhu, can you make money doing writing work now?"

During the Buzz Buzz period, the remuneration mechanism was abolished. If you published something, you would be rewarded with ballpoint pens, notebooks, etc. Sometimes you would also be given a few cards. With these cards, you could go to the designated bookstore to pick up the corresponding books.

"The remuneration for articles has been restored. I heard that the income is not low. One article is worth several months' salary for others."

"Then he has good conditions!" Doctor Liu exclaimed, and his mind began to work. "You said that our Linlin is so old, but she doesn't even have a partner. She is about the same age as Jiang Xian."

"Don't try to match people up randomly. Our girl has her own ideas."

On the other side, a middle-aged woman with elegant face and calm demeanor knocked on Jiang Xian's door again.

"Excuse me, is this Comrade Jiang Xian's home?"

"I'm Shi Wenxin, an editor in the literature department of Beijing Film Studio."

(End of this chapter)