1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 256 Intimidation
Alai, who wrote "Dust Settles", has had his articles selected for the reading comprehension section of the college entrance examination many times.

He told a story that his niece was in junior high school and was doing her homework. Her Chinese homework happened to include reading comprehension of Alai's article, so she wanted to ask the author for advice.

Alai patted his chest and assured that there was no problem, after all, it was something he wrote.

After the reading comprehension test was sent to him, he was stunned when he looked at the questions. He didn't know the answer to any of the questions on the test paper.

With this previous experience as a lesson, Jiang Xian would not be able to answer the questions asked by Zhu Hong, nor would he feel justified in doing so.

"The test setter didn't ask me when he set the question, so how could I know whether my thoughts when I wrote it were the same as the answer set by the test setter or not?"

Zhu Hong heard his words, a glimmer of enlightenment flashed in her eyes, and she muttered, "I finally understand why so many ancient poems and works of deceased writers are included in reading comprehension questions."

"What nonsense are you talking about." Zhu Lin slapped her on the butt.

After clarifying the matter, Jiang Xian went to "Beijing Literature" again and found Wang Meng to have tea.

“The students have just finished their exams, and this is just the beginning.”

Wang Meng smiled and said, "Jiang Xian, you just need to wait for the editorial departments to contact you. The reprint fees alone will be enough for you to make a fortune."

Although Wang Meng's tone was sarcastic, what she said was true.

In the coming period of time, Jiang Xian’s novels will probably attract the attention of college entrance examination candidates, and every article that may be used as an exam question will be magnified and analyzed by teachers and college entrance examination candidates.

As the popularity of articles and sales of novels increase, reprinting in newspapers and periodicals is inevitable.

It can be said that after experiencing this incident, Jiang Xian’s status is different from before.

Even though each of his articles can cause a sensation among the readers, if we really talk about popularity, it is still limited to the readers and the influence is not that great.

But now everything is different.

He was tested in this college entrance examination, but what if he is tested again in the next one?

He took the college entrance examination this year, what if he takes it again next year?

Just tell me whether you are ready or not.

This means that in the next few years, for every student taking the college entrance examination, the writer Jiang Xian will be a familiar name to them.

For Jiang Xian, increasing his fame and attracting attention to his articles are certainly good things.

just
He sighed helplessly.

It's good to be able to earn royalties, but the students must be deeply resentful of him.

He is obviously a popular writer who is loved by everyone, but he makes students love and hate him.

Damn the questioner!

In the following days, just as Wang Meng had expected, Jiang Xian received calls from several newspapers and magazines. Some editors even came to his door and asked to reprint the novel "Brown Lychees".

"Brown Lychees" is not long, only more than 700 words, and the remuneration for reprinting it is only more than yuan.

As a result, thanks to this reprint, Jiang Xian earned more than 50 yuan in royalties, which is comparable to what he would get if he published a -word novel.

Zhu Lin was extremely surprised. With such a high frequency of reposting, she could be considered to have made back the money she spent on buying the yard in Cuihua Hutong.

In addition to the most popular "Brown Lychees", Jiang Xian's other novels that may become examination content have also been favored by various newspapers and periodicals.

Several novels that had been published for a long time began to generate royalties for him.

At the end of the month, Jiang Xian went to pay his personal income tax, and the staff calculated it.

11543.

Those in the sixth level, with an income between 9001 and 12000 yuan, have to pay a full 6% personal income tax.

I am almost at the final level 7. Level 7 is for the portion of monthly income above 12001 yuan, and I have to pay 45%.

When the staff gave him the tax bill and asked him where his income came from, Jiang Xian answered honestly.

"Payment."

"what?"

This scared the little girl and she looked at him as if he were a monster.

The girl has been working for quite a while and has gained a lot of experience since the reform and opening up. She has seen people open restaurants, repair cars, sell clothes, and even sell big bowls of tea.

The one who received the remuneration was the first one.

More than ten thousand yuan a month.

The little girl couldn't help but smacking her lips.

Her ten years' salary added together isn't that much.

In this era when self-employed individuals have just emerged, the Chinese people's lifestyle and economic concepts are still the same as before the reform and opening up, and the pursuit of wealth is conservative and suppressed.

Now that such a huge income gap is in front of the girl, this kind of intuitive wealth stimulation is causing her inner understanding of the world to gradually collapse and rebuild.

Jiang Xian doesn't care about these things. The tide of the times is bound to change everyone's mental outlook. He is very self-aware and knows that he is just an insignificant grain of sand among them.

"We can save this money anyway, so we can use it to improve our family's living conditions," Jiang Xian suggested.

Zhu Lin immediately felt sorry for the small amount of money she had just received. "We already have everything at home. How do you want to improve it?"

"We have them at home, but don't our parents have them at home?"

After hearing Jiang Xian say that he was buying things for his parents, Zhu Lin no longer objected. After all, the money was earned by him, and it was his duty to respect his parents.

"We already have a TV at home, so let's get a washing machine," Jiang Xian suggested.

Zhu Lin has been using a washing machine for a long time. She has personally felt the convenience it brings. It saves labor and a lot of effort in housework, which has made her a lot lazier.

"Then I'll try to get a ticket for the washing machine."

"No need, go to the Service Center for Overseas Travellers." Jiang Xian said.

People who go abroad now can enjoy an enviable benefit after returning home, that is, they can go to the Overseas Personnel Service Department and buy large items tax-free.

For example, Jiang Xian can buy an original Japanese electrical appliance, including televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, tape recorders, etc.

The duty-free shop in Beijing was the first to open in China, in 1980.

This is also the reason why the above considerations mean that many people who go abroad often use the foreign exchange saved from food expenses and pocket money to buy goods that are in short supply in China when they return home.

Just supply duty-free goods directly to people traveling abroad.

This not only saves the country's limited foreign exchange, but also avoids the inconvenience of carrying things on shoulders or in hands when returning home.

Now it is just a shop, and in 83 it became the Service Department for Overseas Personnel, namely "Zhongchufu".

Jiang Xian and Zhu Lin went over and checked the other party's credentials, and found that the quota was enough for them to get a large item.

They also came with a purpose, and went straight to look at washing machines, and chose a Toshiba brand fully automatic twin-drum washing machine.

The staff asked him where to send it to, Jiang Xian waved his hand and said, "Zhongguancun."

Zhu Lin looked at him in surprise.

She subconsciously thought that Jiang Xian bought it for her parents, but she didn't expect that he bought it for their family.

I felt a warm feeling in my heart and subconsciously held his arm.

"Jiang Xian."

"Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You ask even though you already know the answer." Zhu Lin frowned slightly.

Jiang Xian smiled at her, "Aren't your parents also my parents? They are all the same, they are all family."

Zhu Lin thought for a moment and said, "I'll try to get a ticket for a washing machine and buy one for your parents."

"Just spend money to buy it." Jiang Xian was quite generous. "If you go to get the washing machine ticket, you will inevitably owe favors. We are not without money to buy tickets. There is no need to save this money. Favors are the hardest to repay." Zhu Lin thought there was some truth in what he said and nodded.

A few days later, the washing machine was sent back home. Jiang Guoqing and Rao Yuemei kept complaining about Jiang Xian spending money recklessly.

"Don't blame me, this was Zhu Lin's idea. She's doing this to honor you two."

As soon as Jiang Xian shifted his target, Jiang Guoqing and Rao Yuemei immediately shut up, their mouths wide open with delight.

"Thank you for your trouble, kid."

As he spoke, Jiang Xian pulled Jiang Guoqing aside and said, "Dad, please find some more people to fix the courtyard. The weather is getting hot soon, and it rains a lot in summer. Fix the courtyard so that we can live comfortably."

Chao Shou is a Chao Shou corridor, which is a common building in the Siheyuan.

It usually connects the hanging flower gate, wing rooms and the main house. On rainy and snowy days, people can walk underneath to go between the houses to avoid rain and snow, and it can also provide shade on sunny days.

The original grill in the yard had been completely demolished, and Jiang Xian had always wanted to build another one, and now he finally took action.

"I have the money, so don't skimp on the material."

Jiang Guoqing has now become obsessed with renovating the yard.

In addition to walking the dog and bird every day, I take care of the flowers and plants in the yard.

After hearing what Jiang Xian said, of course there was no objection, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

At the same time, in the editorial office of "Beijing Literature".

All the editors were moved by an article.

"Life is always like this. It's impossible to satisfy people everywhere. But we still have to live passionately. There are many things worth loving in life. Don't be discouraged because of one dissatisfaction." Liu Heng recited a passage with ups and downs.

The novel he read was "Life".

After more than two years, this work, which symbolizes the pinnacle of Lu Yao's literary career, was finally finalized.

After reading it, Wang Meng sighed, "Jiang Xian has discovered something extraordinary."

"Life" will be published in the June issue of "Beijing Literature". "Beijing Literature" also invited Wang Weiguo to have a talk on creation.

He quickly submitted his reply, which was a creative essay titled "Morning Starts at Noon."

In the article, Wang Weiguo wrote about his experiences in the literary field in recent years. When talking about "Life", he said that although there has been a seed called "Life" in his heart for several years, it still needs a timely rain to take root and sprout.

Comrade Jiang Xian is this timely rain.

"Frankly speaking, among the older generation of contemporary Chinese writers, there are two I respect the most: the late Liu Qing and the still-living Jiang Xian. They are my literary 'godfathers'."

"I met Liu Qing many times during his lifetime. When the second part of The History of Entrepreneurship was published in Yanhe, I was his editor-in-chief. Every time I met him, he would tell me many unique insights. To a large extent, Life is my answer to my mentor Liu Qing.

Comrade Jiang Xian, I have carefully studied his works, his speeches and his every move. He helped me improve the spiritual qualities necessary for a writer.

To this day, I still owe him a satisfactory answer. In the future, I will pay tribute to him with another novel!"

Jiang Xian also gave the literary review he wrote for "Life" to "Beijing Literature".

The second literary review he wrote was addressed to Wang Weiguo and Comrade Lu Yao.

Wang Meng was very excited after reading these two articles in succession. She always felt that these two people were like Boya and Ziqi, and there was a feeling of searching for a soulmate in the mountains and rivers.

Life will succeed.

The literary world will surely have the good stories of Wang Weiguo and Jiang Xian in the future.

"Brown Lychees" appeared on the college entrance examination paper. While Jiang Xian's popularity increased, his originally peaceful life also became more turbulent.

He first received a flood of letters, countless of which came from all over the country. The contents of the letters were varied, and most of them were sent by students.

Some called him comrade, some called him uncle, and some simply called him grandpa.

The topic students talked about most in their letters was the college entrance examination.

Those who did well in the exam shared the good news, while those who did poorly asked him about his future path.

Among them were some frustrated young men who had suffered setbacks. Their words were harsh and they stipulated in the letters that he must write to them by a certain date to enlighten them, otherwise they would die in front of him.

Jiang Xian frowned.

These are nothing. The most outrageous thing is that there are some letters that directly threaten him.

Some students blamed him for their poor performance in the exams and ordered him to stop writing publicly in their letters, otherwise they would retaliate against him.

Jiang Xian was really afraid that something might happen, so he asked his family to stay at home as much as possible for the next few days.

"The kids are just joking," Zhu Lin said.

"It's hard to say. The control is lax now and it's so chaotic outside. It would be terrible if we really run into someone with extreme thoughts." Jiang Xian said seriously.

"What should we do then?" Zhu Lin was at a loss.

She had never encountered such a thing before. After all, as a non-public figure, she would not encounter such troubles.

"It's okay, I'll take care of it."

The next day, Jiang Xian went directly to the Chaoyang Branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau.

As soon as he stepped in, he was recognized by several policemen, who slapped their thighs and shouted, "You, you, you..."

"You are Comrade Jiang Xian!"

He is an old acquaintance of the Chaoyang Branch. He had come into contact with them a lot during the filming of "Sancha Lane Robbery".

"Comrade Jiang Xian, why are you here?"

Bao Hanxin, the director in charge of public security, came over and shook hands with him with a smile.

There was a kind look in his eyes when he looked at Jiang Xian.

There is no other reason. "The Sancha Lane Robbery" made Lei Xun famous, and also made Bao Hanxin famous.

As the prototype of Lei Xun acknowledged by Jiang Xian himself, Bao Hanxin was a prominent figure in the bureau during this period, and was interviewed and commended every now and then.

Looking at Jiang Xian now, it feels like seeing a family member.

Sitting down in his office, Jiang Xian greeted him and asked.

"Is work going well lately?"

Bao Hanxin nodded. "It went smoothly, it went smoothly. How about you? Are you feeling well?"

After asking each other about their recent situation, Jiang Xian started talking about those frustrated young people and the threatening letters.

Jiang Xian sighed, "I am a married man, my wife has been too scared to go out these past few days, and I don't dare to let her go out.

You said that if the letter is true and something bad happens to my family, I won’t be in the mood to create anymore.”

"boom."

Bao Hanxin angrily slammed the table, "This is too bad!
I didn't do well in the exam, and instead of reflecting on my studies, I put the blame on you, trying to commit suicide. This is really unhealthy."

"I was desperate and tried everything I could think of."

Jiang Xian looked weak and smiled bitterly, "I don't know if Director Bao can help me solve this problem. I've been so upset these past few days that I can't write a single word."

Bao Hanxin is in charge of public security and is actually in charge of criminal cases.

He said generously, "We are all family, so you can rest assured."

As he spoke, his expression became more and more ferocious.

"These little mischievous brats, I have to teach them a lesson."

(End of this chapter)