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

Stay calm, stay calm, it's a small matter!
When Cheng Xuemin left People's Literature Publishing House, he repeatedly reminded himself to stay calm and not get carried away by small matters.

But I was still feeling a bit lightheaded. I was so excited that I didn't dare to start the car for a long time, afraid that I would lose control and fly off with a sudden stomp on the gas.

He never expected that he would once again gain the favor and appreciation of that person, who personally wrote an inscription for his standalone book, "Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain".

Cheng Xuemin had just seen the sample magazine design given by Li Shuguang, and the old man's inscription was directly used as the cover.

Moreover, Li Shuguang also said that in addition to the 200,000 copies ordered by the old man himself, their first edition and first issue was ordered to be one million copies.

The first edition sold one million copies—unprecedented and unparalleled!
Unfortunately, as Li Shuguang just mentioned to Cheng Xuemin, their People's Literature and People's Publishing House, together with the Wenjiang Institute and the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, had already discussed submitting relevant suggestions to higher authorities to increase writers' royalties and copyright benefits.

This proposal may be adopted at the first National Congress of Literary and Art Workers in the near future, thus beginning its full implementation.

Yes!

In the cultural sector, there is a significant meeting: the National Congress of Literary and Artistic Creators, which had been suspended for over twenty years.

It may be held in November. The relevant procedures are already underway, and invitations have been sent to representatives of the arts and culture circles across the country. Cheng Xuemin is definitely among those invited, but the invitation from Beijing may have to wait a while.

Of course, that's not the most important thing!
Most importantly, this National Congress of Literary and Art Circles will reform the royalties and copyrights of literary and artistic creators nationwide, which means improving the creative treatment of writers and artists.

According to Li Shuguang, the proposal has increased the royalties for literary works from three to seven yuan to five to eleven yuan.

In other words, from now on, literary newcomers of Cheng Xuemin's caliber will definitely receive the maximum pay of eleven yuan per thousand words from major publishing units.

The top-tier rate of seven yuan per thousand words has been raised to eleven yuan per thousand words. If Cheng Xuemin's novel, "Wreath Under the Mountain," could be published as a standalone book by then, he could earn a lot more in royalties.

Moreover, this only covers royalties; the proposal also includes suggestions regarding copyright revenue for literary works.

Finally, a price was set, with copyright revenue linked to the number of copies published. Li Shuguang had also revealed this to Cheng Xuemin in advance: 0.2% per 10,000 copies!

What concept?
That is, for every 10,000 copies sold, Cheng Xuemin would receive a royalty of 0.2%.

Cheng Xuemin's "Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain" has a total of over 180,000 words. According to the usual pricing of People's Literature Publishing House, each copy would probably sell for about two yuan.

Ten thousand books would be twenty thousand yuan. At a commission rate of two per thousand, that's forty yuan! Ten thousand books would earn you forty yuan more, which is equivalent to a month's salary for an average worker.

But Li Shuguang just said that their first edition will be sold for one million copies, which is four thousand yuan!

This is more than double Cheng Xuemin's original royalties!
However, in reality, Cheng Xuemin can only receive seven yuan per thousand words this time. Other royalties, such as copyright sales revenue sharing, have nothing to do with him for the time being.

This is also what Li Shuguang kept saying was a pity. If it weren't for the political task assigned from above, which required working overtime to print it as soon as possible to facilitate reading by all units, the people, and the army, he would have really suggested that Cheng Xuemin postpone it. After all, it's only two months, which isn't a long time for literary creators like them.

"What a pity," Li Shuguang said repeatedly, "this is such a pity, as it means Cheng Xuemin has lost at least half of his ten-thousand-yuan fortune."

Cheng Xuemin, on the other hand, was very easygoing. Perhaps because he was making so much money in US dollars, he didn't really regret losing the four or five thousand dollars.

Moreover, Cheng Xuemin comforted Li Shuguang and the others, saying that having this thing in his hands to take back was actually his highest honor and reward.

With that person's personal inscription already, what's the point of those mundane things?
At this, Li Shuguang, Zhang Guangnian and the others praised Cheng Xuemin, saying that he was indeed a promising young man with a very high level of awareness.

Anyway, if it were them, they would definitely feel extremely sorry!

After all, that's half a ten-thousand-yuan household's worth of money gone! They're not like Cheng Xuemin, whose family can easily make several ten-thousand-yuan households.

so what!

Li Shuguang revealed so much to him and calculated so well for him, but in the end he only gave Cheng Xuemin a royalty slip for 1,236 yuan to take back.

It's definitely the old standard: seven yuan per thousand words, top price!
But as I said before, whether or not there is a fee for the manuscript is really not a big deal to Cheng Xuemin!

Most importantly, the entire nation, the entire Party, the entire army, all units, and the entire population should read it, and it will also be published in tomorrow's People's Daily, reported nationwide.

Among the literary giants of today, who can rival him?!
After struggling to calm himself down, Cheng Xuemin started the car and slowly drove away from People's Literature Publishing House, returning to Yan Film Studio.

"Xuemin, how are things? I heard you were called to People's Literature Publishing House? Is there a new work out of it?"

The old factory director wasn't in his office, so Cheng Xuemin originally planned to go there and make a show of it, but then simply went back to the training center.

Director Huang Jianzhong, who was coming towards him, greeted him and asked him questions.

“There’s no new work, but I was called over to discuss publishing ‘Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain’ as a standalone book!” Cheng Xuemin replied to him.

"Huh? Brother Cheng, you're publishing another book?! 'The Garland of the Mountains'? I've read it, I've read it!" Li Lianjie, with his slippery ears, quickly overheard the conversation and shouted that he had read it. Then he egged Cheng Xuemin on, saying, "Brother Cheng, Brother Cheng, I heard you went south in the first half of the year and even went to the front lines to kill monkeys, is that true?"

"Yes! Teacher Cheng, everyone says you've killed people, personally fought on the battlefield in the south, and even shot and killed a wild monkey with your own hands. Is that true?"

"Teacher Cheng, you really killed a monkey? Then... what did it feel like to kill a monkey?"

"Are you extremely excited?"

With Li Lianjie leading the way, the other students listening to the lecture gathered around and started asking questions.

Clearly, these guys have been hanging out together for a long time, and have been at Yan Film Studio for quite a while. They've heard a lot of gossip, even that Cheng Xuemin went to the battlefield and killed wild monkeys.

However, Cheng Xuemin thought to himself, "You guys are still too conservative!"
What killed a wild monkey?

Did he kill only one?

Unfortunately, that medal of honor and battle record had to be kept a top secret, and no one was allowed to reveal it. Even Cheng Xuemin's mother-in-law and the others who knew about it were given an absolute gag order.

So, at this moment, Cheng Xuemin just smiled at them and vaguely brushed them off.

Even so, the way everyone looked at Cheng Xuemin was probably more of awe than respect, after all, even wild monkeys are...people!

This guy has a criminal record; he's a ruthless man.

No wonder when I asked Teacher Cheng which school he studied, he shook his head and said that what he learned was not martial arts, but killing techniques.

They rarely make a move, but when they do, it always draws blood!

At the time, I thought Teacher Cheng was just showing off, but after getting a lot of gossip from Yan Film Studio, no one thought that anymore.

Everyone knows that Teacher Cheng's killing skills were indeed honed on the battlefield. "Alright, alright, I came here to inform everyone that I just discussed it with the old factory director, and the first training course for our 'Tai Chi' production team has temporarily come to an end. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of our country, I'm granting you all a special five-day holiday!"

Upon hearing that the training course was ending and a holiday was coming up, Li Lianjie, Wang Qun, Ji Chunhua, and the others jumped up in surprise. Even the senior members, Yu Hai and Yu Chenghui, showed joy on their faces.

It wasn't easy, but we've finally graduated and are on holiday!

"During the holiday, you can relax and stroll around Yanjing as you like. Once the film crew officially starts shooting, you won't have so much free time!" Cheng Xuemin said to everyone with a smile.

Then he remembered something else and said, "By the way, Yan Film Studio will be holding a huge National Day celebration on National Day. As the 'Tai Chi' crew, should we put on a performance?"

"Director Huang, you're sure you can handle this, right?"

Today, the old factory director did indeed inform Cheng Xuemin that the factory was going to hold a National Day celebration and asked their Tai Chi drama troupe to put on a few performances to add to the festivities.

Isn't this putting Cheng Xuemin in a difficult position?
But he couldn't shirk his responsibility, so Cheng Xuemin thought for a moment and decided to just pass the buck to Huang Jianzhong, since Huang should be good at it anyway.

"Alright, alright, I'll make the arrangements!" Huang Jianzhong actually already knew about this beforehand. The organizing committee of the gala had informed him that their "Tai Chi" crew should also put on a few performances to liven things up. He was just about to tell Cheng Xuemin about it.

In fact, he also had his own thoughts, and added, "Actually, there's no need for deliberate rehearsals. Our programs are all ready-made. Several of you performed quite well before because you didn't do your homework properly!"

"I'm planning to include a few of the better shows, and then have Little Li and the others perform a martial arts routine for the factory workers. Xuemin, what do you think?!"

"Martial arts performance? That's great, that's great, it's our forte! Let's have Li Lianjie and the others go on stage and perform martial arts!" Cheng Xuemin nodded in agreement. Huang Jianzhong's suggestion was indeed good. Letting Li Lianjie and the others perform martial arts on stage would be a game-changer, wouldn't it?

You should know that Li Lianjie and his team have performed martial arts abroad, for leaders and dignitaries from various countries!

They've won major international awards!
Therefore, having them perform at the small party held within the Yan Film Studio was a minor affair.

"Xuemin, are you coming to the factory tomorrow?" Zhu Lin was probably the only one present who wasn't happy about the holiday. After hesitating for a long time, she finally asked.

"They're all on holiday, so Teacher Cheng probably won't be coming, right?" Liu Xiaoli, Tianxian's mother, chimed in from the side.

"Come on, come on! Brother Cheng, come with us tomorrow and show us around!" Li Lianjie led the cheering. "Besides, Brother Cheng, you said before that you would treat us to Peking duck after we pass the training!"

moment!

When Li Lianjie egged them on by mentioning Peking duck, not only did the other guys, Ji Chunhua, Sun Jiankui, Xiong Xinxin, Du Yuming, and Hu Jianqiang, start drooling, but even their coaches, Yu Hai, Yu Chenghui, and Wu Bin, started drooling.

For them, Peking duck was truly a household name, its fame was so great that just hearing about it made their mouths water.

Not to mention that Cheng Xuemin had previously promised to treat everyone to Peking duck!
"Oh right, I almost forgot!" Cheng Xuemin nodded and said, "Alright, alright, let's do it tomorrow! I have a small matter that I need Xiao Ji and Xiao Du's help with, let's all go together!"

Upon hearing that there would be Peking duck tomorrow, these guys started doing somersaults—they were incredibly skilled.

"Xuemin, if we all go together, you'll be bleeding a lot of blood tomorrow!" Huang Jianzhong was very anxious for Cheng Xuemin as he listened from the side. Although not all the crew members were present, there were more than a dozen trainees in front of them.

If Cheng Xuemin were to invite everyone, it would take at least ten large roast ducks to finish.

And we'll have to order other dishes, right?

So it's highly likely that Cheng Xuemin won't be able to afford this meal without spending at least a hundred or two hundred yuan tomorrow.

"It's nothing, I just picked up my royalty check, I've got money!"

Cheng Xuemin glanced at the royalty slip he had just received from the People's Publishing House and then quickly put it away. Huang Jianzhong only caught a glimpse of it but didn't get a clear look.

"What? More than a thousand?" It was Li Lianjie again, that kid with sharp eyes, who saw a bit of it and exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Cheng, open your eyes, open your eyes! Is it more than a thousand?"

"More than a thousand?"

Li Lianjie's sudden announcement caused everyone present to gasp. A royalty statement for over a thousand yuan? Really?

Will Cheng Xuemin show it to them?

Of course I won't give it to you. I'll just leave you hanging, itching to death.

Not long after they started fooling around at the training center, Cheng Xuemin's brother-in-law, Feng Jiazhao, came over and said it was time to leave, which allowed Cheng Xuemin to get away.

"Second Brother said he's already made all the arrangements. Eldest Brother, you just need to go through the motions. There's really no need to be so nervous!"

Cheng Xuemin was still driving, and it was clear that his brother-in-law, Feng Jiazhao, sitting in the passenger seat, was very nervous.

"How about you drive for a bit, brother, to get used to it?" Cheng Xuemin suggested immediately afterward.

"No, no, let's wait until I get my driver's license! Driving now would be driving without a license!" Brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao waved his hands repeatedly, saying he needed to get his license first, probably because he was still unsure of himself.

Yes, this afternoon was the day that my second brother-in-law, Feng Jiacheng, arranged for my eldest brother-in-law, Feng Jiazhao, to take his driving test.

Cheng Xuemin is the same; although he can drive, he has been driving without a license until now. He doesn't have a driver's license at all.

That's why he asked his second brother-in-law to use his connections in the logistics department to help him and his eldest brother-in-law get a driver's license.

Of course, Cheng Xuemin was really serious about it, but he couldn't be careless with his brother-in-law's side; he had to practice, practice a lot!
Only after he had practiced and obtained his driver's license could he become a driver for his brother-in-law, Cheng Xuemin.

So, the two brothers-in-law work at the same company, so they won't have to suffer the situation of one driving a car while the other has to ride a bicycle.

Of course, the most important thing is to take care of my sister-in-law!
My sister-in-law is now three or four months pregnant, but she is a strong-willed woman and has no intention of taking a leave of absence to stay home and prepare for childbirth. She is not yet due to give birth, so her brother-in-law still has to pick her up and drop her off at get off work by bicycle every day.

So Cheng Xuemin had his brother-in-law learn to drive long ago. Once he learned how to drive and got his driver's license, he used the car to pick up and drop off his sister-in-law at get off work.

Anyway, the family has the means, so it's not reasonable for Cheng Xuemin, as the brother-in-law, to have to drive his sister-in-law to work early every morning and then pick her up after get off work in the afternoon.

He has the desire, but not the time.

So if the brother-in-law can drive himself, that would be even better; he could also be Cheng Xuemin's driver.

……

Please subscribe to the full chapter and vote with monthly tickets! (End of this chapter)