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

Chapter 152: The great contribution, the ancestral graves are smoking (asking for monthly tickets)
On New Year's Eve, Feng's mother, father, brother-in-law and sister-in-law had all gone on holiday and were preparing for the New Year.

Cheng Xuemin set out early in the morning to report to Mr. Wu at Zhonghai.

I don't know what instructions Mr. Wu gave for calling me over on New Year's Eve.

However, before leaving, Cheng Xuemin told Feng Jiayou that if he did not come back at noon, he should ask her to call home on his behalf.

Originally they had agreed in the letter that Cheng Xuemin and Feng Jiayou would make a long-distance call to their parents in northern Shaanxi at noon on New Year's Eve.

Fortunately, my parents in northern Shaanxi were waiting for me at the commune at noon today.

Their commune has a telephone that can make and receive long-distance calls, but it is usually not open to commune members.

However, Cheng Xuemin's uncle is a cadre in the commune, and today is New Year's Eve, so it shouldn't be a problem to arrange for him to answer the phone.

What a coincidence!
The time was agreed to be today at noon. After Cheng Xuemin went to see Mr. Wu, he didn't know if he could get back in time.

If he can't get back in time, let Feng Jiayou go to the nearby post office and call there first, so as not to worry his parents at home.

Moreover, if Cheng Xuemin didn't make the call, his parents might wait there all day.

of course!

In fact, Cheng Xuemin didn't need to remind him of this. In this regard, Feng Jiayou, the daughter-in-law, was more thoughtful and filial than Cheng Xuemin, the son.

Every time Cheng Xuemin published an article, Feng Jiayou would mail a copy back to his home.

I don’t know what my parents at home will think when they receive the magazines and books that are mailed to them.

Anyway, from the letters he received from home, he could tell from the words between the lines that his parents were drifting away.

"Teacher Zhang, Teacher Li, Teacher Qin, hello!"

I entered Zhonghai with familiarity, and happened to see Zhang Guangnian from People's Literature and Li Shuguang from Renwen Press waiting in the yard outside Mr. Wu's office.

The other was Qin Chuan, the editor-in-chief of People's Daily. Cheng Xuemin had dealt with Qin Chuan before, but they were not very close.

"Xuemin, I'm here! I've been waiting for you!"

Zhang Guangnian of People's Literature is most familiar with Cheng Xuemin, and their first dealings were also with Mr. Wu.

When he saw him coming, he quickly greeted Cheng Xuemin. Li Shuguang and Qin Chuan also nodded and greeted Cheng Xuemin.

"Ah?! Just waiting for me!? Teacher Zhang, do you know what Mr. Wu's instructions are?"

With three super bosses of the "people's" generation waiting for him here, it would be impossible for Cheng Xuemin to say that he has no pressure.

I am also confused!
Judging from Lao Zhang's tone, the three of them were waiting for him! So, Lao Wu was going to make a big move again. Could it be that these three super bosses of the "people's" generation would attack together?

"Ask Lao Li and Lao Qin about this, they know! I just came here to join in the fun today!"

Zhang Guangnian waved his hand, indicating that he didn't know much about it.

And judging from his tone, the protagonists today are Lao Li's Renwen Press and Lao Qin's People's Daily.

This made Cheng Xuemin even more confused!
"Xuemin, let's go inside first! It's so cold outside!"

Li Shuguang from Renwenshe smiled and motioned Cheng Xuemin to go in first and talk later.

"Uh... Teacher Li, Teacher Zhang, Teacher Qin, please go first!"

At first, Cheng Xuemin nodded and walked inside following Li Shuguang's gesture, but he soon discovered that he seemed to walk a little faster and instantly walked in front of the three of them.

Cheng Xuemin reacted immediately and quickly stopped and asked the three teachers to go first.

"Same, same! No need for all the empty formalities. You are just too modest and humble, Xuemin!"

Li Shuguang nodded at Cheng Xuemin, shook his head and said with a smile.

But seeing that the young man Cheng Xuemin was determined to fall behind, he did not insist and led him into the palace gate.

"Yes! Xuemin, you were indeed too low-key and humble before!" Qin Chuan from People's Daily said with a smile.

Low-key?
Cheng Xuemin was on the United Front and published four articles in succession, most of which were related to reform and opening up.

Now the whole country knows him, 'Old Joe', right?

If this is what they call being low-key and humble, then how high-profile does it have to be to be considered not low-key and humble?

and also!

Mr. Qin from People's Literature said that he was indeed too low-key and humble before. What does this mean?

Don’t be so low-key in the future?
If you don’t need to be low-key, then how can you be high-key?

Cheng Xuemin was led into Mr. Wu's office with full of doubts, but Mr. Wu was not seen at this time.

"Comrades, please wait a moment. Mr. Wu is now reporting on his work in the East Hall. He will be back around ten o'clock!" After Secretary Yang led people in, he motioned for Cheng Xuemin and the other three to sit for a while.

Is Mr. Wu reporting on his work? Who is he reporting to in the East Hall?
Cheng Xuemin thought about it briefly and guessed that there might be only a few of them, and it might be the one he met at the last meeting.

Around ten o'clock?
Cheng Xuemin looked up at the long desk clock in the office. It was already half past nine, and there was still about half an hour left.

As a result, Zhang Guangnian, Li Shuguang and Qin Chuan had to talk to Cheng Xuemin again about the several articles that Cheng Xuemin had published during this period.

Horrible, so awesome!
Zhang Guangnian was better off. After all, he was also a member of the united front, and an absolute main force at that. He knew that Cheng Xuemin would have four manuscripts, which would be published online together in Shanghai's "Harvest", Li Qingquan's "Yenching Literature", and Cheng Xuemin's mother-in-law's "October".

However, since I was not very clear about the topics of the other three manuscripts in advance, I was somewhat surprised and shocked when the manuscripts were published.

The same was true for Li Shuguang of Renwen Press. He worked on the floors above and below Zhang Guangnian, so he might have known some inside information.

So Qin Chuan from People's Daily was the most shocked.

to say!

Cheng Xuemin’s previous work “The Record of Director Qiao’s Taking Office” said that he took the lead after the conference and fired the first shot.

The four consecutive manuscripts submitted by Cheng Xuemin this time were no less than an atomic bomb dropped directly at this turning point of breaking the ice.

Yes, a real atomic bomb.

It caused a sensation across the country.

Soon after, Li Shuguang of Renwen Press also told Cheng Xuemin the truth, that this time Mr. Wu called them over just to publish a collection for Cheng Xuemin.

It was under the leadership of the People's Literature Publishing House that Cheng Xuemin's four short stories related to reform and opening up were compiled into a single volume.

Originally, it had been decided to publish a separate volume of "The Record of Director Qiao's Taking Office", and Mr. Wu had already made the final decision.

But later Cheng Xuemin acted too quickly and published two short stories about reform and opening up, including "The Traitor".

The four short stories were compiled into a single volume and published together! When Mr. Wu called them over today, he must have mentioned this task.

After hearing this, Cheng Xuemin nodded repeatedly. He understood what it meant!

Are they going to publish a book together with "Director Qiao's Taking Office", "Chen Huansheng's Visit to the City", "The Traitor", and the short story that Cheng Xuemin wrote to his mother-in-law October? That's... okay!
The first thing Cheng Xuemin thought of was that Lao Li was going to publish a book for him, so should he also settle the publishing royalties for the other three manuscripts with him?
In other words, Lao Li already has the royalties for the three short stories in his pocket?
I have already received the royalties for the single volume of "The Record of Director Qiao's Taking Office", so this one is an exception.

"Everyone is here?"

At almost ten o'clock, Mr. Wu led Mr. Mao into the office. Seeing Cheng Xuemin and others were there, he nodded and greeted them enthusiastically!

"Hello, Mr. Wu, hello, Mr. Mao!"

Cheng Xuemin and the other three also stood up and greeted Mr. Wu and Mr. Mao who came in!
"Xuemin! You've been very popular lately!"

"The East Palace gave you special instructions just now!"

When Mr. Wu came in, he first pointed at Cheng Xuemin and spoke to him with a smile.

Mr. Mao also nodded meaningfully to Cheng Xuemin, but he did not say the same to Mr. Wu.

All of a sudden, Cheng Xuemin became nervous and a little uneasy!
indeed!

Four very influential magazines of the United Front came together to support him, which caused quite a sensation, and it is no exaggeration to say that the influence was terrifying.

So even though Mr. Wu and Mr. Mao were alarmed, Cheng Xuemin was actually mentally prepared.

But unexpectedly, Mr. Wu now said that the East Palace had given him special instructions, which made Cheng Xuemin suddenly unsure whether to be flattered or treading on thin ice.

I don’t know whether this instruction is a good thing or a bad thing.

"Mr. Wu, I apologize to you..."

But before Cheng Xuemin could say anything about his self-criticism, Elder Wu waved his hand and said, "Uh, Xuemin, I didn't call you here today to listen to your self-criticism!"

"Besides, you didn't do anything wrong this time, why do you have to apologize to the organization?!"

"We asked you to come here this time not to listen to your self-criticism, but to praise you!"

Mr. Wu smiled and said, "Of course, it's just verbal praise, don't even think about it for other scholars!"

"No, no! Mr. Wu, you are joking!"

Cheng Xuemin spoke again and again, and he finally felt relieved. It would definitely be right to correct his attitude and reflect on himself first.

But what I heard was not a review, but praise.

Although it was just verbal praise, it was verbal praise from Mr. Wu, representing the East Palace, so it was of extraordinary importance.

"I'm not kidding you, Xuemin. It was just a verbal praise. I didn't even get you a certificate!"

Old Wu smiled bitterly and said, "Ruo, I wasted a whole morning talking and only got this thing from you!"

After saying this, Mr. Wu showed the document in front of Cheng Xuemin and then put it away. Even though Cheng Xuemin had sharp eyesight, he couldn't see clearly what it was.

Because the file in Mr. Wu's hand was not even opened.

This not only aroused Cheng Xuemin's curiosity, but also Zhang Guangnian, Li Shuguang, Qin Chuan and others were also curious about what it was when they heard it.
It's not just a verbal praise, he didn't even get a certificate, but what does Mr. Wu have in his hand?
What did he get from the higher-ups to help Cheng Xuemin?

"By the way, Lao Li, have you told Xuemin everything?"

After Mr. Wu invited Mr. Mao to take his seat, he sat down in the main seat next to him and mentioned something to Li Shuguang of Renwen Press.

"Mr. Wu, I have just told Xuemin about publishing a collection for him!"

Li Shuguang nodded quickly and reported to Mr. Wu.

"Mr. Wu, Teacher Li has already mentioned this to me. Do you have any instructions?"

Cheng Xuemin also stood up and asked!
"Xuemin, please sit down and don't be shy. You don't need to stand up to speak!" Old Mao waved to Cheng Xuemin and said, "Old Wu's instructions are that I, an old man, will write a preface for your collection. What do you think, Xuemin?"

"If you have other suitable candidates, then I, an old man, will have to give way to you!"

"what?!"

Suddenly, Cheng Xuemin's butt, which had just been sitting upright, was so shocked by what Mr. Mao said that it bounced up!
What a joke!
Cheng Xuemin published a collection of short stories. Didn’t Mr. Mao take the initiative to ask to write a preface for him?

And this tone!
If Cheng Xuemin feels that Mr. Mao is not qualified, he can find someone else.

Rely on!
How could I have deserved this? Is smoke coming out of my ancestral graves?

If there is still time later, I will call back and ask his father whether there is smoke coming out of the ancestral grave of his family!

How can you be so virtuous!
Cheng Xuemin is a young and fledgling author who has published a collection of short stories. Mr. Mao wrote a preface for him. Did he hear it right?

"Mr. Mao, would you like to write a preface for this collection of short stories by Xuemin?"

Li Shuguang, who had taken on this task nearby, was also stunned and dumbfounded, and asked in shock and horror.

Even Zhang Guangnian and Qin Chuan, who were standing by, were also shocked and horrified when they heard this.

Did Mr. Mao personally write the preface for Cheng Xuemin?
And it depends on whether Cheng Xuemin is willing. This... am I hearing it wrong or hallucinating?

"What? I'm just writing a preface for Xuemin, what's wrong with that? What a fuss!"

Mr. Mao smiled with a ruddy face and also looked at Cheng Xuemin.

“Mr. Mao! I, I, I…how should I put it, I, I, I…I really don’t know how to express it!”

Cheng Xuemin was stunned and so excited that he was incoherent and didn't know what to say.

It is an unimaginable honor for Mr. Mao to personally write the preface to Cheng Xuemin's collection of short stories.

What a sensation it would cause if this were officially published?
Anyway, it is conceivable that there was definitely a major earthquake in the cultural circle, major universities, and government agencies.

Incredible!

This is not just verbal praise, this is to praise Cheng Xuemin to the sky!

"Young man, calm down. It's just an old man like me writing a preface for you. Is it necessary for you to be so happy?"

Old Mao laughed at Cheng Xuemin again and said, "If you ask Old Wu to give you the reward he asked for, you will have to... directly..."

"Well, I don't know what to say, I'll wait and see!"

Mr. Mao was indeed very humorous. After setting up an ambush here, he looked at Mr. Wu.

This made Cheng Xuemin and Li Shuguang even more curious. Even Mr. Mao's preface was not the reward for today. Did Mr. Wu have something even more powerful?

What could this be?!
"Are you all looking at me?" Old Wu also smiled, opened the folder in his hand, and said, "Here, Xuemin! I didn't get you a certificate, but I got you this thing. Take a look for yourself!"

After saying that, he took out a piece of rough paper from the folder and handed it to Cheng Xuemin!

……

Asking for a monthly ticket!
(End of this chapter)