1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 475: The Path of Ordinary People

"Comrade Jiang Xian, the royalty system you proposed is great!"

"I've only heard that foreign countries use the royalty system, but I didn't expect you've already used it."

"This matter is too low-key. This is a big deal! Taking royalties is the first time since the founding of the country!"

"Yes, it's enough to be recorded in the history of literature!"

A group of authors chattered and talked to Jiang Xian excitedly.

Jiang Xian examined the novel in his mind, and responded with a smile when the writer complimented him.

The first writer in New China to propose royalties.

Jiang Xian actually didn't care much about this title.

In the original history, the person who got this title was Wang Shuo.

But for Wang Shuo, this title is actually not that impressive. What makes Wang Shuo famous throughout the country is his novels.

"Which work brought in royalties?" Li Tuo chased after Jiang Xian and asked.

Jiang Xian did not hide anything and told Li Tuo everything about the Writers Publishing House.

When Li Tuo heard the words "all novels", his heart skipped a beat.

After hearing the royalty rate of "12%", he quickly did some calculations in his mind and came to a result that left him dumbfounded.

Li Tuo shouted in shock: "How many ten thousand yuan can you earn? You won't become a millionaire, right?"

"It's not that exaggerated."

Jiang Xian waved his hand, signaling him to speak more quietly, "How much can a bookstore sell for a book? Even if you include royalties, how much money can it make in total?"

Li Tuo was confused.

Is this human language?

He just felt the blood boiling in his chest and he felt indescribable envy and jealousy.

"Don't you see how popular your novels are after they were published? Don't you see how many works you published this time?!"

When he said this, Li Tuo was extremely angry.

The literary world is really like this: some are dying of drought, some are dying of flood!
Speaking of which, Li Tuo has been in the literary world for many years, has a wide range of friends, and is quite famous in the commentary circle. He is also respectfully called "Master Tuo" in the Beijing circle.

Unfortunately, the reality is that Li Tuo did not produce many novels, and most of his works are short stories, which have only been published a few times individually or in group collections.

The sales volume was dismal.

To put it bluntly: a money-losing product.

Publishers are not stupid.

Seeing that your works are all rubbish, why should I waste my time on you?
Therefore, looking at Jiang Xian's ungrateful look, he wanted to fight him to the death.

You are noble!
You are amazing!

Based on the usual sales of Jiang Xian's works, even if Jiang Xian stopped writing from now on, the royalties would be enough for him to live a worry-free life for the rest of his life.

Not to mention, this guy is the first writer in New China to receive royalties.

That is truly a major event that will go down in the history of literature.

It is a great achievement that will be mentioned again and again once the name is mentioned.

Leave your name through the ages.

Isn't this what those of them who are in the literary circle dream of?
But then again.

Li Tuo looked at Jiang Xian again, the tall man in a Zhongshan suit holding two "Lu Xun Literature Award" medals.

In their eyes, "the first writer in New China to receive royalties" may be a great title.

But for others.

This title doesn't seem to mean anything.
"Comrade Jiang Xian."

Jiang Xian, who was in a very prominent position, was suddenly called. He turned around and found that it was none other than Lu Yao.

Compared to the last time they met, Lu Yao looked visibly more aged. He was only in his thirties, but he looked like he was almost fifty. He looked more like a middle-aged man than Li Tuo.

"Congratulations on winning the 'Lu Xun Literature Award'." Lu Yao said with a smile.

"You're welcome, you're welcome. I didn't expect you to come to the capital."

"That's just a coincidence."

Lu Yao said: "I have a novel to be published in Huacheng, and Huacheng plans to hold a symposium on my novel in Beijing."

"Novel? What novel?"

"It was a long novel, originally called The Road of Ordinary People. Later, the poet Ziye read my manuscript and gave me a new title, The Ordinary World."

"."

Jiang Xian was surprised.

Unexpectedly, he had not seen Lu Yao for such a short period of time, but Lu Yao had already completed the creation of "Ordinary World".

Of course, this is only the first part of the novel.

"Good news, this is good news, why didn't you inform me? I'll go over and join in the fun when the time comes."

"That's perfect."

Lu Yao smiled, rubbed his hands, and looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Jiang Xian smiled when he saw this, "What's wrong? Is there anything else?"

"this one"

Lu Yao looked embarrassed.

"What's the matter? Just tell me."

"Then I'll tell you."

"Ah."

"Jiang Xian, how is the second half of your novel "The Last Hun" going?"

"What am I talking about?"

Jiang Xian smiled and said, "So it's about urging the manuscript to be submitted."

"The Last Hun" was a novel he published in "Yanhe".

Once this plateau epic was published, it immediately caused a sensation in the entire Shaanxi literary world.

Unfortunately, only the first half of the novel was published.

Readers in Shaanxi have been eagerly awaiting the second half of the novel for so many years.

Unfortunately, after waiting for so long, I haven't received even a single word of the novel.

"I was afraid that you would forget this. At that time, you said that you felt it was not yet time to write the second half of the novel. You felt that the history that northern Shaanxi had experienced so far could not be as profound as the first half."

Lu Yao said slowly: "After waiting for so many years, we have undergone so many earth-shaking changes. Isn't it time to create this novel yet?"

"I think"

Jiang Xian patted his shoulder and said, "I think it's almost done. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten the novel. I've always remembered it. When the time comes for the novel to appear, I will definitely publish it for you."

"Ah."

After hearing Jiang Xian's promise, Lu Yao felt mixed emotions, as if he had been promised a pie in the sky.

This cake can be seen but not touched.

It was both fascinating and annoying.

The following discussion mainly revolved around the issue of royalties, because it involved the direct interests of the award-winning writers, so every writer was very concerned about it.

The Writers Association and Writers Publishing House are also generous enough to offer a 10% royalty rate to all writers.

This price is certainly not as high as Jiang Xian’s, because it is the result of comprehensive considerations.

Jiang Xian was given 12% because he is so famous.

However, those writers who won the Lu Xun Literature Prize, such as Zhou Meisen, Jiao Jian, and Tie Ning, these young writers have not even been able to gain a foothold in the literary world.

Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, 10% seems to be the most appropriate result.

Jiang Xian, who "lowered his status", didn't feel that he had lost much.

After the novels are compiled into a collection, the authors will share the money according to the proportion of the length of their respective novels.

And the proportion he occupies.

maximum!
After all, he was going to publish two novels, "The Heavenly Bureau" and "You Have No Choice"!
And one advantage of the sales of this kind of novel collection is that the works will not be affected by previous publications.

The novel "Tian Ju" was made extremely beautifully by Renwen Press and has been very popular recently.

One disadvantage of this is that if Tian Ju is published again at this time, it will be affected by the Renwen Press edition, and its sales will be discounted. However, after Tian Ju is published in the award-winning collection, the impact will be much smaller.

Because readers may buy it for other works, or they think the first "Lu Xun Literature Award" is of great significance and want to buy it for collection.

With this calculation, Jiang Xian made a lot of money, because what he actually received when the royalty rate was 10% was not much different from the 12% royalty rate for separate publishing, and it might even be much more.

After everyone took photos, the symposium ended.

Since Jiang Xian was the director of this selection, he stayed until the end. After everything was completed, he chatted with several cadres of the Writers Association for a while, then left, got in the car and returned to his home in Tuanjiehu.

"came back?"

As soon as she entered the door, Zhu Lin came over holding Jiang Niannian.

"What are you carrying?"

“Medal.”

“Yeah, they even designed a medal for it.”

Zhu Lin looked at the award medal of the "Lu Xun Literature Award". In the center of the front was a bust of Lu Xun, surrounded by the words "Lu Xun Literature Award". On the back was engraved Jiang Xian's name and the titles of the two novels "You Have No Choice" and "The Heavenly Bureau".

"very nice."

Zhu Lin's face was filled with excitement and pride, but then she thought of something and said with some regret:

"What a pity, we could have gotten seven."

“What a pity.”

Jiang Xian's heart was as clear as a mirror.

"I have the opportunity to win seven awards for outstanding novels. How can seven awards compare to my two 'Lu Xun Literature Awards'? I wouldn't trade them for ten."

He knew very well that the reason why the "Lu Xun Literature Award" was won so quickly this time was of course because his seven novels ranked high.

The fact that seven novels by one person were recommended put pressure on the Writers Association to change the award system.

As for value.

In the Chinese literary world, the "Lu Xun Literature Award" can be said to be second only to the "Mao Dun Literature Award".

Its value and significance are absolutely incomparable to any excellent novel.

So he didn't feel like he was at a loss in this exchange.

And you should know that the selection of the "Lu Xun Literature Award" is to select works with excellent ideological and artistic qualities from the award year.

Therefore, if "The Heavenly Bureau" and "You Have No Choice" miss this year, they will never have the chance to win the "Lu Xun Literature Award".

So in the eyes of others, Jiang Xian suffered a huge loss.

But in Jiang Xian's eyes, he had won.

This is also the "First Lu Xun Literature Award"!
Its significance to Chinese literature is extraordinary!
"Hmm~"

Tiny Jiang Niannian was currently being held in Zhu Lin's arms. His chubby little white hands snatched the "Lu Xun Literature Award" medal from Zhu Lin's hand, then he opened his little mouth and started to bite it.

"Every year!"

Zhu Lin gently tugged at the medal, fearing that she would hurt her daughter. "You can't eat this. We won't eat it."

"Wow~"

Jiang Niannian didn't let go and continued to eat it.

"You can't eat it. This is dad's medal. You can't eat it!" Zhu Lin's eyes were stern.

"Hey~"

Jiang Xian smiled and hugged his daughter, "She can't swallow it anyway."

As he said this, he put both medals around the little Majesty's neck and let her hold the two big medals and chew them, until her saliva was all over them.

"You really are."

Zhu Lin put her hands on her waist, not knowing what to say as she watched this scene.

This is the "Lu Xun Literature Award"!

Such a precious medal.

Looking across China, there are only fourteen in total, not to mention that these are the two first places.

But when it came into Jiang Xian's hands, he just threw it to his daughter to play with?
"Your father is the number one in the world." Zhu Lin muttered.

He was thinking in his heart that his daughter was the best in the world.

There will be so much more you can brag about when you grow up.

Do you know the “Lu Xun Literature Award”?

My father gave me the first place medal to chew on as a kid.

"come over."

Just as she was thinking about it, Zhu Lin was embraced by Jiang Xian.

"what?"

"I'm not afraid that you'll be jealous."

Jiang Xian smiled and took off a medal from Jiang Niannian's neck and put it on Zhu Lin's neck.

"I treat you and your daughter equally. You are both our precious treasures."

"Virtue."

Zhu Lin reprimanded softly, but couldn't hide the slight smile on her face.

"I heard that in the past, children would hold a "Zhuazhou" ceremony on their first birthday. How about we do the same for Niannian someday?"

"Zhuazhou?"

"Yes, isn't it also written in Dream of the Red Chamber? Jia Baoyu grabbed a rouge hairpin and ring."

"This"

Jiang Xian's heart moved.

He had wanted to hold a one-year-old birthday ceremony for Jiang Niannian, but these days, customs are quite sensitive, so he didn't do it.

Now that Zhu Lin mentioned this, he started to think again, "Then let's wait until Niannian's birthday this year and give her another one."

"it is good."

Just a few days after the Lu Xun Literature Award ceremony, Jiang Xian’s old friend Su Chen from Huacheng came to visit.

"I'm not here to commission an article." Su Chen emphasized this as he entered the room.

"how?"

Jiang Xianle laughed, "You guys in Huacheng are so unwelcoming to me?"

"how come."

Su Chen smiled and said, "I'm afraid that too many people will ask you to write for them. Seeing me will give you a headache. Get out of here."

"I see."

Jiang Xian shook his head and said regretfully: "That's a pity. I happen to have a manuscript here. In this case, I'd better leave it to someone else."

"Is there really a manuscript?"

Su Chen glanced at him and said, "Comrade Jiang Xian, you are not making fun of me, are you?"

"It's true."

Jiang Xian smiled and said, "It's a modern manuscript. Maybe you guys at Huacheng will like it."

Su Chen immediately lost his composure, "What manuscript? Why not just give it to Huacheng?"

"We'll talk about this later."

Jiang Xian poured him a cup of hot water and said, "You came here uninvited. If you are not here to ask for an article, what is the matter?"

Su Chen swallowed.

My heart was filled with desire for the manuscript that Jiang Xian mentioned.

However, after hearing Jiang Xian's words, he first explained the purpose of his visit today.

"You know Life, right?"

"Lu Yao, the Shaanxi writer who wrote Life, submitted a manuscript to us called Ordinary World."

"We plan to hold a seminar on this novel in Beijing."

"I'm not asking you to come over and calm the situation down."

(End of this chapter)