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

Cheng Xuemin started having ulterior motives again, pondering where to begin rebuilding his secret stash of money.
Contributing articles to his mother-in-law's "October," or "Yanjing Literature," or "People's Literature"? But Cheng Xuemin, who was used to making big bucks in US dollars, didn't care about such small sums of money anymore!
Of course, this is Cheng Xuemin's old foundation, and he certainly can't give it up just because he can't make big money.

Going forward, we must continue to produce serious works and constantly enhance our status and prestige in the literary world.

Then secretly drawing comic books?
Cheng Xuemin seems to have lost interest in this area of ​​business; now he mainly focuses on guiding his wife, Feng Jiayou, in painting.

As for popular novels and screenplays, with Liang Xiaosheng and his brother-in-law acting as ghostwriters, the money they earned was basically not enough to pass the approval of their own wives, so they couldn't secretly produce them.

So if Cheng Xuemin wants to continue secretly building up his slush fund to occasionally provoke his wife, he needs to think of another way.

There's no rush. Let's finish the Tai Chi book we have first.

Perhaps we can look outward.

Earning US dollars to make a living on the side is the most lucrative way.

In fact, Cheng Xuemin also had the means to do so: he could secretly have an affair with the foreign woman Emily. He could hand over half of the foreign pop song lyrics he submitted and secretly keep the other half for himself.

But now that an aunt has suddenly intervened, it seems that keeping it a secret from her own niece might be quite difficult.

However, the direction is definitely correct.

Anyway, once the movie "Tai Chi" is released, it will be exported to earn foreign exchange. As the main creator, Cheng Xuemin will definitely go abroad with it to sell the film.

So I'll see if there's an opportunity to open an account outside and specifically earn US dollars in foreign exchange to build up a secret stash.

Take it one step at a time!

With the 40th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China fast approaching, my aunt is having a great time here, while Cheng Xuemin hasn't been spending much time with her.

These past two days he's been at the Yan Film Studio, training members of the Tai Chi training class, intensively brushing up on their basic performance skills.

Just before the National Day holiday, People's Literature magazine called Yanying Film Studio. The old director answered the call and told Cheng Xuemin to go there as soon as possible.

This surprised Cheng Xuemin greatly, as he hadn't seemed to be submitting any articles to "People's Literature" recently!

So, Zhang Guangnian of People's Literature Publishing House personally went to Cheng Xuemin to solicit and expedite the manuscript?
It had indeed been a long time since he'd visited People's Literature Publishing House, and if he didn't make an appearance soon, their relationship might drift apart. With this thought in mind, Cheng Xuemin agreed with the old factory director's suggestion and, without a moment's delay, quickly went downstairs and drove to People's Literature Publishing House.

"Teacher Pan, I've been so busy lately, really, really. It's not that I don't like your comic books, I'm just really busy!"

As luck would have it, just as Cheng Xuemin got off the bus at the People's Literature section, he ran into Lao Pan from the children's group.

When Cheng Xuemin came over, Old Pan was overjoyed and said repeatedly: "Finally, I've run into you, kid. These days, you're so forgetful. I can't even find a soul around these days!"

This made Cheng Xuemin very uneasy. Indeed, he hadn't provided any manuscripts to Lao Pan for a while. It seemed that after finishing the comic book version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Cheng Xuemin hadn't taken on any more comic book jobs.

Now that Lao Pan has caught him, he praises Cheng Xuemin for earning hundreds of thousands of US dollars in foreign exchange, and even jokingly says that now that Cheng Xuemin has a way to earn US dollars, he looks down on his comic books.

Cheng Xuemin dared not take the bait and immediately declined, saying he was too busy and really couldn't spare the time.

"Alright, alright! I know you're really busy right now, the higher-ups have given you a lot of responsibility!"

"Well done! Keep up the good work and achieve great results!"

However, Lao Pan quickly changed the subject, patted Cheng Xuemin on the shoulder hard, and said with a smile to encourage him.

"Huh? Teacher Pan, you've heard about it?" Cheng Xuemin was surprised. Old Pan seemed to know something!

The pledge he made to himself has already spread throughout the industry?

What can we do then?
Didn't we agree to keep this a secret for now, so that China Film Group doesn't find out? Otherwise, we'll be in trouble.

"Ah! I heard! Everyone knows now that you've been seconded to Yan Film Studio, ready to make some big moves?" Old Pan nodded repeatedly, then continued, "The fact that the higher-ups are entrusting you with the task of reforming Yan Film Studio clearly shows they value you highly!"

"Do a good job, kid. Try to lead by example and prove with your actions that you can not only write about an outstanding Factory Director Qiao, but also personally take charge and make him an outstanding Factory Director!"

"So, we're all waiting for you, kid, to put the truth into practice and shine brightly!"

"Ah... this... thank you, Teacher Pan, I... I will try my best!" Cheng Xuemin was speechless, realizing he didn't know about the pledge.

But who leaked the news that the reform of Yan Film Studio would be handled by Cheng Xuemin, a complete newcomer?
Yanying Film Studio is such a big factory, even if it were to undergo reform, it wouldn't be up to Cheng Xuemin to handle it, would it?
They're simply not qualified enough!
But thinking about it, it's probably just a smokescreen, a decoy tactic used by the old factory manager and his associates to divert everyone's attention.

If Cheng Xuemin and his team were to complete a military pledge, it would surely shock everyone.

After all, the pledge of ten million US dollars in foreign exchange is far more important than the reform and innovation of Yan Film Studio.

At least in the eyes of the old factory director and his colleagues, the annual output of Yanying Factory might not even amount to a million US dollars in profit. If they suddenly generated ten million US dollars in foreign exchange, the old factory director could still tell which side was more important and which was less important!
Therefore, this smokescreen was released, which makes it plausible that Cheng Xuemin was stationed at Yan Film Studio.

Old Pan was just about to go out. He exchanged a few polite words with Cheng Xuemin at the door and then hurriedly left.

Before leaving, he repeatedly told Cheng Xuemin to have lunch together at his workplace when he returned. However, Cheng Xuemin didn't give him any assurances, saying that he had a car now and might leave at any time.

"Xuemin, you're here! You're pretty quick!"

When Cheng Xuemin went up to the third floor and entered the office of Zhang Guangnian, the chief editor of People's Literature, Zhang Guangnian was surprised to see him arrive so quickly.

"Old Li, you don't know this, but our Xiao Cheng is a big leader now. He's been given a car by the higher-ups, so he must have driven himself here. That's why he was here so quickly!"

"Hello, Teacher Zhang!" Cheng Xuemin greeted Zhang Guangnian repeatedly, and then greeted Li Shuguang, who was also there, saying, "Teacher Li, you're right, I did drive here directly!"

"Oh right, I forgot about that! Xuemin, you're really something now, you even have a car! No wonder the old leader values ​​you so much and speaks so highly of you!" Zhang Guangnian slapped his forehead and joked with a smile.

"Teacher Zhang, Teacher Li, please don't tease me like that! I just have some ideas and want to try them out! I'm truly trembling with fear of failing, thanks to the affirmation and support of our old leader!" Cheng Xuemin wasn't being modest; speaking in front of these big shots was indeed incredibly stressful. "You're still too modest!" Zhang Guangnian nudged Cheng Xuemin and then asked, "Do you know why we've called you here today?"

"I don't know!" Cheng Xuemin shook his head directly. Although he had been thinking about it all the way and had some guesses, he still shook his head and said no when Zhang Guangnian asked him.

"Then guess!" Li Shuguang added from the side, his face flushed.

This made Cheng Xuemin even more certain!

Along the way, Cheng Xuemin pondered the matter and felt that it was time to publish a standalone book of "Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain".

However, since the phone call to the old factory director came from Zhang Guangnian of People's Literature, not Li Shuguang of People's Publishing House, Cheng Xuemin's statement wasn't entirely absolute.

After all, Cheng Xuemin's most popular book right now is "Garland Under the Mountain". According to Dong Ling, a teacher from the PLA Literature and Art Publishing House, this issue of the PLA Literature and Art Publishing House is selling like hotcakes. It basically sold out as soon as it hit the shelves. They are now working overtime to reprint more than 500,000 copies.

This can be said to have set a new record for the PLA Literature and Art Publishing House since its inception.

Even so, it was still extremely difficult to find a copy; it was simply too popular.

Therefore, it's impossible for the People's Publishing House not to follow up and publish a standalone edition of such a wildly popular literary work!

Now that Li Shuguang from People's Publishing House was also present, Cheng Xuemin was even more certain of his thoughts, and he boldly guessed, "Is it you, Teacher Li, who's going to publish a standalone book for 'The Garland Under the High Mountain'?"

"Hehe, it seems that you, the author, haven't received any relevant notification yet!" Li Shuguang nodded upon hearing this, then shook his head, seemingly unsure whether to agree or disagree.

"A related notice?!" Cheng Xuemin was quite surprised again, not understanding what Li Shuguang meant by that.
Has there been any notification?
But Cheng Xuemin hasn't heard a single word about it so far. And as the family's gossipmonger, his mother-in-law hasn't given any feedback either!
"Old Li, stop playing games with Xuemin! A notice of this level would definitely have to be published in the People's Daily first before it reaches Xuemin!"

“So why don’t you just show Xuemin the copy you received now? It’s not against the rules!” Zhang Guangnian, standing next to Cheng Xuemin, helped him out of the predicament and urged Li Shuguang with a smile.

This sparked Cheng Xuemin's boundless imagination and curiosity! What kind of notice was this that even had to be published in the People's Daily?
"I'm just letting Xuemin guess! What if he can figure it out?" Li Shuguang said with a simple and honest smile, while reaching behind him to retrieve the so-called notice.

"How could you possibly guess? You dare to even think of that, Lao Li!" Zhang Guangnian laughed, annoyed.

Ok!

The two old guys' back-and-forth banter really piqued Cheng Xuemin's curiosity, making him increasingly itchy, and his gaze was fixed on Li Shuguang!
"Here, this is the notice that just came down. Xuemin, take a look at it yourself!" Li Shuguang handed a document to Cheng Xuemin and continued, "I just received the notice and had Lao Zhang call you over!"

"Look at you, kid! You've really hit the jackpot!" Li Shuguang couldn't help but exclaim in amazement!
Cheng Xuemin quickly took the document and glanced at it. The document that caught his eye was "Notice on Organizing All Units of the Nation, the Party and the Army to Read."

Red head?!
This sudden announcement made Cheng Xuemin gasp in shock. This...this notification...it's an official document?!

After reading the following text, Cheng Xuemin finally understood the significance of this notice.

Surprisingly, it was a call to action from all units across the country to organize serious reading of "Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain" by the renowned writer Cheng Xuemin. This work, through its factual reporting of our series of monkey counterattacks, successfully portrayed…

I'm coming!

Cheng Xuemin should have been somewhat prepared, after all, the novella he was paying homage to was "Garland Under the Mountain," which caused a sensation when it was first published.

Although the memory in my mind, the sensation caused by the wreaths at the foot of the mountain, has been documented in writing.

But it is ultimately a written record!

No one has ever experienced this firsthand before, knowing how much of a sensation this notice will cause once it is reported by the People's Daily!
Anyway, Cheng Xuemin's hands were trembling as he looked at the official notice in his hand and combined it with the records in his mind.

Because this is going to be huge!
These are units from all over the country. Just how big is this?
Cheng Xuemin didn't even dare to think about it; all he could do was tremble and shake.

"I knew you'd get this excited!" Li Shuguang, seeing Cheng Xuemin's reaction, continued with his usual outrageous statement, "But that's not the most sensational part!"

what?
This is going to be read nationwide, isn't that the biggest sensation yet?
Cheng Xuemin suddenly looked up, staring intently at Li Shuguang, waiting for him to continue.

“This is the most sensational thing, take a look!” Li Shuguang pulled out a piece of paper from somewhere and handed it to Cheng Xuemin.

Provoked by Li Shuguang's words, Cheng Xuemin quickly took the manuscript, unfolded it, and saw several large characters on it: "The glory stained with blood, a tribute to our most beloved people!"

This is an inscription!

When Cheng Xuemin saw that all-too-familiar handwriting again, his eyes bulged out of their sockets!

I got an inscription again!
This is this...

"The instructions I just received are that the 'Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain' must be published as a standalone book as soon as possible. This is a handwritten inscription for you!"

"Furthermore, the old man who wrote the inscription personally funded the publication of 200,000 copies of 'Wreaths at the Foot of the Mountain,' to be distributed to the soldiers on the front lines, ensuring that every one of them receives a copy!"

hiss!
Upon hearing Li Shuguang's message, Cheng Xuemin trembled with even greater excitement. He was speechless with emotion.

Although it was expected that, given the ongoing war in the south, paying homage to "Garland at the Foot of the Mountain" would inevitably cause a sensation.

But to everyone's surprise, it caused such a sensation!
This...this...it's beyond being flattered or walking on thin ice; words can't even begin to describe Cheng Xuemin's excitement and nervousness at this moment.

"How about it? Aren't you excited?" Seeing Cheng Xuemin standing there dumbfounded, Li Shuguang thought to himself, "Finally, I've managed to intimidate you, kid!"

But then again, anyone would have to kneel down in that situation!

He then snatched the notification document from Cheng Xuemin's hand and said, "We can't give you the document back, but we've already made a rubbing of this inscription. You can take the original back with you!"

"Just like before, it really needs to be framed and hung in the main hall. We can only envy this kind of honor!"

...(End of chapter)