1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

Chapter 123: He refuses to change despite repeated admonitions. Is this private money? (Request full subscription

Damn, how can it be so accurate?
Feng Jiayou doesn't usually sit in this position, so Cheng Xuemin just stuffed it under the mattress in the morning. How could it be such a coincidence?
"Well, please explain this in detail!"

Feng Jiayou nodded. She just felt uncomfortable on her butt, but just by digging, she actually pulled out a great treasure.

Journey to the West?!

When she opened the contents, she found that they were all blank pages with only text, and only the first few pages had some drawings, which were obviously drawn by her man!
She didn't even wait to ask what was going on. Was she still looking for inspiration?

Her man just dumped her!

As for the extra 300 yuan in royalties, it seems that you didn’t earn it from writing articles, but from drawing illustrations for Renwen Publishing House?
Can you really make money by drawing this?!

No wonder her man was so nervous when she made a joke about this illustration yesterday, and kept explaining and emphasizing it. It turned out that he was just trying to cover up!
Then this must be discussed in detail and made clear!

Just from those few illustrations, he earned 300 yuan in royalties. Feng Jiayou must have seen how much time he spent on it. It must be no less than what he earned from writing articles!
"To be specific... that is, my wife, if you finish the manuscript of Journey to the West, you might be able to earn 1,400 to 1,500 yuan!"

Cheng Xuemin had no desire at all and gave up everything. He had originally thought of using this "Journey to the West" comic book to set up a small treasury and get closer to Feng Jiayou.

But who knew that it was exposed just at the beginning!

"How many?!"

Feng Jiayou was so shocked that he stood up immediately, looked at Cheng Xuemin in disbelief, flipped through the booklet of "Journey to the West" in his hand, and exclaimed!

One thousand four hundred or five hundred yuan?
This, this, this... This is almost as much as her husband gets for writing a novella!

The royalties they paid to Li Qingquan of Yenching Literature for his novel of more than 200,000 words were only a little over 1,500 yuan.

But her husband now tells her that for this picture book in her hand, she can get a royalty of 1,400 to 1,500 yuan after finishing the manuscript?

This... was completely beyond her imagination. This was how she could make money by drawing picture books and comic strips?

But aren’t the people watching this thing just little kids about the same age as her nephews and nieces?

Is it really that easy to make money from little kids?

“Not just this one!”

Cheng Xuemin looked at the woman's startled expression and knew that this money-grubber had found a way to increase her income and had found a new way to make money.

He told her everything in detail: "To be exact, there are three volumes, upper, middle and lower, with a total of 189 comic books. This is the upper volume!"

"Mr. Pan from the art department at Renwen Press gave me a price of seven dollars per piece!"

After saying that, he took out the remaining two volumes from the books piled under the desk and placed them in front of the woman.

"Three volumes, upper, middle, and lower, a total of 189 pictures? I'll give you seven dollars for each one?" Feng Jiayou took the other two volumes, flipped through them, nodded, and asked, "How long will it take you to finish them?"

There are nearly two hundred comic strips in three volumes that need to be drawn. This is a huge project. Feng Jiayou estimates that it will take at least three months, right?

If you calculate it this way, it's actually faster to make money by writing articles, and drawing this picture book is not cost-effective!

However, it is not bad to secretly set up a slush fund to hide private money, under the pretext of finding inspiration and changing your mind.

This man of hers really has beautiful dreams. If she hadn't been waiting for him today, he would have blatantly used his little piggy bank to hide his private money right under her nose!

Moreover, isn’t the amount of one thousand four hundred or five hundred yuan in private savings a bit too huge?
"The time given to me by Mr. Pan from Renwenshe is that it would be best if I can finish the painting before the end of the year!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded and continued to confess honestly, "According to my original plan, if I set aside half a day every day to write the manuscript and draw the comic book at the same time, I estimate that I can finish the whole manuscript within this month!"

"And this is while I'm hiding from you, my wife. If I put all my effort into drawing this, I estimate that I can finish the draft in ten days to half a month at most!"

Cheng Xuemin is not bragging. Ten days or half a month is indeed enough time. If we go all out, there is more to say!

Draw ten pictures in the morning, ten in the afternoon, and ten in the evening, and you can finish thirty pictures in a day!

By this calculation, a comic book with more than 180 pages can be completed in about a week!

Of course, if you polish it carefully, ten days or half a month will be very easy!
After all, Cheng Xuemin didn't need to think about how to paint. The reason why he chose this "Journey to the West" picture book to paint was that he had read it in his childhood and the memory was still fresh in his mind, so he could just copy and imitate it. He didn't need any inspiration at all!

Combined with Cheng Xuemin’s existing painting skills, it’s easy for him to produce more than ten or twenty pictures a day!
"You can finish the painting in ten days or half a month. So fast?"

With a thump, Feng Jiayou's little heart skipped a beat. He thought that this would be time-consuming and it would not be worthwhile to earn royalties from it.

But who would have thought that her husband would actually say that he could finish it in ten days or half a month and earn one thousand four hundred to five hundred yuan in manuscript fees for the comic book?
"What else?!" Before he started to bite him, Cheng Xuemin was a little proud of his lack of memory. He smiled smugly and said, "This is also a new way for me to earn royalties by accident. Speaking of which, the other day I went to the Humanities and Social Media to write a manuscript..."

"Yes, yes, yes. Xuemin, please tell me in detail how you discovered this new...track!"

Although Feng Jiayou is not quite sure what the "new track" means, it should be the same as a runway. This is what it means to be a new runway for making money!

Her man discovered this new track by accident, and Feng Jiayou was curious about how it happened, so she asked him to tell her in detail!
You can earn 1,400 to 1,500 yuan in royalties in ten days or half a month. This new track is simply a money-grab.

"Okay, okay, my dear wife, please sit here first. Don't get tired. I'll tell you in detail!" Cheng Xuemin saw that the woman was too excited, so he quickly pulled her over and said, "I went to People's Literature to help proofread the manuscript sample that day. My dear wife, you know that!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, it happened a few days ago on Thursday!" Feng Jiayou sat down and nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, it's Thursday. My dear wife, you have a good memory!"

After praising her and giving her a look, Cheng Xuemin didn't dare to say anything more. He quickly continued, "I was about to go home, but who knew that Lao Pan, the art editor of the People's Literature Publishing House, suddenly barged in, holding a bunch of storyboards and asking me if I drew them!"

"I was also wondering at the time, how come the storyboards for the script of The Wrangler given to Director Xie ended up in the hands of this old Pan?"

“Later I learned that it was Lao Pan who was invited by Director Xie to exchange ideas, and he took the useless storyboards back to Renwen Press, saying that they were going to publish a separate volume of my book The Wrangler and Youyou Cuncaoxin, and needed illustrations…”

Cheng Xuemin honestly explained everything about how he opened this new track!
"So, this three hundred yuan is for the illustrations for the single volumes of Wrangler and Youyou Cuncaoxin. You have already submitted all the manuscripts?"

After hearing this, Feng Jiayou was also dumbfounded. Is this even possible?

Finally, I got the extra 300 yuan in royalties!
"The three hundred yuan is the royalties I got for the illustrations I drew for the single volume of the book for Wrangler Youyou Cuncaoxin. Wife, please count it. I really didn't dare to spend it, not a single cent. It all went into this!"

"Wife, considering how hard I work for the family and how much I care about my kidneys, will you forgive me this time?"

"Wife, I promise you that this will never happen again! From now on, I will give you every penny of my earnings, no matter how much it is, OK?"

Seeing Feng Jiayou's expression relax, Cheng Xuemin quickly took the opportunity to please him and try to celebrate in the evening instead of kneeling on the washboard.

"Go find the beginning of the novella for me to see. Sister Xiaolin must be waiting outside anxiously, right?"

Feng Jiayou didn't deny it but didn't say anything. Instead, he gently wiped the Journey to the West comic book in his hand, thinking it was as beautiful as it could be.

In less than ten days, I will receive another 1,400 to 1,500 yuan in royalties. How can I not be happy!

And if her husband continues like this, he will probably become the first 'ten thousand yuan household' in their family by the end of the year, right?

"Ah good!"

Cheng Xuemin felt uneasy again because of the woman's lack of attitude. Seeing that she was urging him to look at the manuscript, he could only get up and turn to the beginning of his novella.

"Xuemin, you... am I really keeping a close eye on you? If you want money, just tell me!"

Feng Jiayou saw Cheng Xuemin stand up again and take out the manuscript of his novella from the neatly stacked bookshelf, and asked with displeasure.

"No, no, no, my dear. No, no! I, I, I...I really didn't plan to hide you for a long time. I just wanted to make some extra money before the New Year so that I could buy you some new clothes, new leather shoes, new jewelry, and so on!"

"I really wanted to give you a surprise, my wife. I didn't think of making some private money behind your back!" "Besides, my wife, you didn't control me too much. Look at the pocket money you gave me. I haven't spent it all in a month. I still have a lot of money left!"

Seeing the woman suddenly become sad and choked up again, Cheng Xuemin really tried to comfort her with all his heart.

If it hadn't been discovered, of course it was his private piggy bank; now that it has been discovered, it must all be yours, my wife, and it must have been saved to buy you new clothes, new leather shoes, and new jewelry for the New Year!
Of course, jewelry is not popular in this era, and no one dares to go out wearing jewelry in a flashy way, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear it at home!
It’s okay to secretly show it to your man!
"Who wants your new clothes and new shoes?"

"Cheng Xuemin, I'm telling you, this won't happen again. Don't do this behind my back. If we have to do it, we should do it together. Do you understand?!"

Feng Jiayou must have felt more touched and distressed!
As a man, she works so hard for their little family. It makes her feel distressed just seeing her like that!

She originally thought that her man worked hard enough and she loved him enough, but she didn't know that he actually worked even harder behind her back.

It's all the pressure she puts on her man, and it's all the pressure her family puts on her man. It's so painful to see!
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, wife, you are right. This will not happen again. If we have to do it, let's do it together!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded repeatedly, thinking that this matter should just pass like this?
"Okay! Then you can teach me how to draw comic books. I actually have a pretty good talent for drawing. When I was a kid, I won an award for my drawings!"

Feng Jiayou choked and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, nodded repeatedly and said to her man!
She was also thinking about trying a new track herself. Although she graduated from the Chinese Department of Yan University, it was extremely difficult to publish her articles!
But after flipping through the comic book in her hand, Feng Jiayou felt that she could do it too.

Thinking of trying a new way to make money together with my man.

"Okay, my dear wife, even if you don't tell me, I will take you to paint together later! After all, I have seen your painting skills when we were in Chengjia Bay. Your painting is really good!"

Cheng Xuemin also quickly complimented her, saying that a woman also wanted to try drawing comic books, right?
That's a good feeling!

Cheng Xuemin already had an idea in his mind, so he asked Feng Jiayou to follow him and draw first!

"You think I can draw well?"

Feng Jiayou opened her beautiful eyes and looked at her man with great surprise and emotion!

"Of course, my wife is a talented woman, of course she is proficient in all kinds of talents!"

Cheng Xuemin flattered again!
"Okay! Let's start with the Four Great Classics!"

Feng Jiayou nodded, and seeing the manuscript in Cheng Xuemin's hand, he took it and asked, "Is this the new manuscript you are going to give to Sister Xiaolin?"

"Yes! This is it!" Cheng Xuemin followed up, "I was originally going to give it to this one, but Sister Xiaolin just said that we should move towards reform and opening up, so we have to change the manuscript again. This one..."

"Parental Love?" Feng Jiayou took the manuscript and found that the title of the article was this. He asked in confusion, "Is this the same as the "Loess Plateau" you published in "Yanhe Literature"? Is it about the things that happened to my parents over the years?"

"Well...wife, if I say that this is based on the prototype of our parents, will they kick me out if they find out?"

Speaking of this, Cheng Xuemin was not actually writing about his parents, but was paying tribute to the classic work from his previous life.

However, as he started writing, he suddenly realized that what he was writing about was the story of his mother-in-law and father-in-law's generation!
"It's written about my dad, my mom, your mother-in-law and your father-in-law!?"

"You dare to write this?"

In an instant, Feng Jiayou was dumbfounded. Was this man really desperate? He actually secretly wrote about the things that happened between his mother-in-law and his father-in-law?
"Well, so I thought about changing one to another. I won't write this one. I can't write this one!"

Feng Jiayou’s reaction was so big, what would happen if his mother-in-law found out?
If he had done it secretly, Cheng Xuemin could have done it, but now he was doing it in front of Feng Jiayou and her mother. Cheng Xuemin was afraid that he would not be able to finish the manuscript and it would be aborted in the womb!
Even if it doesn't die, under the supervision of mother and daughter, they will definitely ask for repeated revisions, and this and that cannot be written.

So now that it has been exposed, I can no longer write this manuscript!

"Let me take a look first!"

Feng Jiayou was excited, really excited. She also wanted to know what her husband had written about her mother-in-law!

She is so scared that she dare not write anymore. It is obvious that she has something on her mind and is secretly messing around with her mother-in-law!
Feng Jiayou, who is a big fan of melons and not afraid of trouble, is even more excited to watch!

"Hey, take your time to read it first!"

Seeing that Feng Jiayou is so enthusiastic, it will definitely take him a while to finish reading it. He has already written more than 30,000 words!
Cheng Xuemin then sat back at his desk, thinking about starting the conversation with Li Xiaolin outside!
He also realized that this novella was not suitable for Li Xiaolin to read yet, regardless of whether the manuscript should be continued or not.

Otherwise, if Li Xiaolin saw it, her mother-in-law would definitely come over to watch, and that would be a good show!

So taking advantage of this opportunity, Cheng Xuemin prepared to write another article about the direction of "reform and opening up". He would write a thousand words and let Li Xiaolin read it to fool her first!

Then, Feng Jiayou in the room quickly forgot about Li Xiaolin who was waiting outside, and was fascinated and focused on looking at the "Parents' Love" in her hand;
Cheng Xuemin was also writing furiously, trying to finish the beginning of a short story before lunch.

The manuscript was ready. Cheng Xuemin had already had the second article about the reform and opening up in his mind. He was waiting to submit it to his mother-in-law's magazine "October" at the end of the month as a tribute, so that it could be published in the first issue of next year.

But now, Cheng Xuemin plans to give Li Xiaolin's "Harvest" first, and his mother-in-law's can be put off until the end of the month.

This really made Li Xiaolin, who was waiting outside, look confused!

what's the situation! ?

Why didn’t Feng Jiayou and Cheng Xuemin come out after they returned to their room?
Isn’t it just the beginning of a novella? Is it so difficult?
Could it be that he had forgotten about her?

Li Xiaolin had a miserable look on her face. The old man and his friends were drinking tea and chatting in the room. As a junior, Li Xiaolin had no common topics to talk about and could not interrupt.

I can only go into the kitchen and chat with Teacher Gu!
"Xiaolin, why are you in the kitchen? Where are Xuemin and Jiayou? They're not talking to you."

Feng's mother was busy in the kitchen. When she saw Li Xiaolin come in, she was stunned and asked!

"They went into their room and said they wanted to get me the beginning of a novella, but they haven't come out yet!"

"I can't get close enough to listen!"

Li Xiaolin smiled awkwardly, thinking that there shouldn't be any guests outside, so what else can the couple do in the room with the door closed?
"what?!"

When Feng's mother heard this, she was stunned at first, but then she quickly realized that it must be the debt collector in her family who was training her man!
Even though the debt collector said in front of everyone just now that she knew everything, it was not Xuemin who was secretly setting up a slush fund to hide his private money.

But how could a mother not understand her debt collector? She must have said that on purpose because she didn't want to embarrass her man in front of outsiders.

Now she has definitely got the chance. She wonders how to train her man in the house!

Kneeling on the washboard?

When Feng's mother thought of this, she took a look outside the yard and saw that the washboard next to the laundry sink was still there. If it wasn't kneeling on the washboard, then how was he disciplined?

He handed over his private money to the slush fund and was busy counting his royalties!
Soon, Feng's mother, who knew her daughter best, thought of the woman who must be hiding in the house. She ordered her husband to hand over all his hidden private money and not to hide a single cent.

Now he must be happily counting his royalties and completely forgetting about the guests outside!

After guessing this was the situation, Feng's mother felt it was not right to tell her own debt collector to stop counting, and quickly came out to entertain the guests.

He could only be in the kitchen, chatting with Li Xiaolin in a casual manner!
The main thing I'm talking about is her 'good son-in-law'!

Li Xiaolin was talking about something irrelevant. She asked Feng's mother why her son-in-law had written so many good articles, but why there had not been any articles in October that had received much response recently?

When asked this question, Feng's mother, the mother-in-law, was really speechless and felt very suffocated!
At about noon, the door of the east wing was finally opened, and Feng Jiayou was seen holding a manuscript in his hand. When he saw Li Xiaolin, he shouted:
"Sister Xiaolin, Xuemin just wrote a manuscript. Can you help me review it? How is it?"

what? !

A newly written manuscript?

So the couple stayed in the house for half the morning and were busy writing this manuscript?
But didn’t her husband Cheng Xuemin say that he had already written the beginning?
Can the quality of a manuscript that was rushed out in such a hurry be guaranteed?
Li Xiaolin was completely confused after hearing this, and several questions flashed through her mind!
……

(End of this chapter)