Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 43 Gift
After the brief symposium, the principal immediately exempted Zhang Chao from classes in the afternoon and the next day and asked him to accompany Alai to stroll around Changfu County, especially the Dengyun Road area where he lived.

Alai wanted to ask if Zhang Chao's senior year would affect his studies, but the principal said, "Zhang Chao's grades are very stable, so a few review classes won't affect him. It's a good idea to combine work and rest!"

So Zhang Chao took Alai to visit Zhuangyuanfang, Jinshidi, the ruins of the ancient academy, and even a section of rammed earth wall from the Song Dynasty that has survived to this day. Alai was amazed.

After the trip, Alai found a gap where he and Zhang Chao were alone together and asked with a smile, "How is it, did you let go of your anger?"

Zhang Chaodao knew what he meant, but he didn't understand why a great writer like Alai would help a newbie like him whom he met for the first time.

Alai said: "In recent years, many young writers like you have emerged, but among them, some are full of resentment, some are eager for quick success, and some are self-admiring... I think it's a pity. So I hope you don't narrow your heart because of some villains.

Years later, when you look back, you will find that these are actually small things. But a person's state of mind in life is often ruined by these small things at the beginning.

If a writer wants to go far in the literary world, he must have a pure heart to support him. "

At this time, other people also caught up, and the two of them kept silent again, as if the conversation just now had never happened.

After Zhang Chao returned to school, he sat in front of the computer screen in the "assault team" classroom and muttered to himself: "Innocent heart... Innocent heart..."

He was not awakened until Lan Ting came in.

Lan Ting said to Zhang Chao with envy: "That's Alai! His book "Dust Settles" is really good! By the way, did he teach you any secrets of writing?"

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "It really exists. It can be described in one word: heart!"

"What heart?"

"Innocent Heart!"

“?” Lan Ting naturally found it difficult to understand.

Zhang Chao did not explain too much. This was a secret between him and Alai.

He took out two books from the desk drawer, handed them to Lan Ting, and said, "One is for you, and the other is for Song Shiyu. She is going to Yanjing to take an exam now. Please give it to her for me when she comes back."

Lan Ting took the book and looked at it. It was "Dust Settles" signed by Alai himself, with a rare message on it:
Student Lanting (Song Shiyu): Make progress in your studies and get your name on the list of successful candidates!
Lan Ting was so happy. Alai was one of her favorite writers, so she quickly thanked Zhang Chao.

He wanted to say something to Zhang Chao again, but when he saw Zhang Chao staring at a densely written document on the computer again, he tactfully shut up and quietly did his homework.

A bowl of chicken soup from Alai more or less changed Zhang Chao's view of the world. He was unlucky in his last life, but this life was too smooth. The spiritual world of a person is not a piece of plasticine that can withstand such stretching and kneading.

Fortunately, with the warmth of family, the friendship of Lan Ting, Song Shiyu and others, and the help of Alai, Zhang Chao finally grasped the anchor of inner stability in this "life in the mirror".

Let’s look at the novel “Young Babylon” again - Lu Xiaolu’s youth seems to be barren in the end, but barren is not waste, barren is overgrown with weeds, which is another kind of vitality...

Zhang Chao finally grasped the core temperament of this novel!
Soon, he finished the ending of the novel, checked it again, and felt there were no problems, so he sent it to Huacheng magazine in the form of an email.

On Friday, Zhang Chao met the dusty Lu Jinbo again. The agreement Lu Jinbo brought this time had more details than the previous verbal agreement.

The royalty ratio remains unchanged; the first print run shall be no less than 20 copies; the number of words shall be no less than 10 words; the retail price shall be no less than 19 yuan; the manuscript shall be submitted no later than September this year; …

Zhang Chao signed the agreement without hesitation. Lu Jinbo even took a photo with him, preparing to create publicity for the event with the media he was familiar with.

In the blink of an eye, it's the weekend.

On Saturday night, Zhang Chao finally returned home after two weeks. When he took Alai to Dengyun Road a few days ago, it was a weekday and no one was home, so he could only imitate Dayu and pass by his home three times without entering.

Smelling the familiar aroma of food, Zhang Chao's restless and tired body and mind were calmed down.

At the dinner table, Zhang Chao slowly told his parents what had happened in the past two weeks. The old couple sometimes frowned and sometimes smiled.

Zhang Chao's mother is a worried parent. When she heard that Zhang Chao had signed an agreement for two books, she became a little worried: "If you can't finish writing these, will you have to pay them money..."

Zhang Chao's father was always generous and said, "Don't worry, if my son can't write, I will do it. Back then, I was also a writer in the Chinese Department of Xiamen University..."

Zhang Chao's mother glared at him and ignored him, continuing, "But what about your grades? You can't really follow that Han or something and stop studying after graduating from high school, right?"

Zhang Chao comforted his mother, "Don't worry, Mom. I will definitely find a way to go to college."

Zhang Chao's mother said, "But you spend all your time reviewing, so how can you have time to write a book... Oh, it's okay. If you really can't finish it, I have money and I will pay it back to the owner for you."

Zhang Chao thought for a moment and said, "Wait a minute, I'll go get something."

Zhang Chao returned to his room and flipped through the books. After a while, he returned to the dining table and put the things he had found on the table: "Here, this is my gift for you two."

Zhang Chao's parents looked over and saw a red bank card.

Zhang Chao's mother was puzzled and asked, "What is this...?"

Zhang Chao said: "There is 20 yuan in this card. It is the advance payment from Beirong Culture to me. The password is my birthday."

Uh...it seems like the script is reversed?
In fact, when Zhang Chao saw the advance royalty clause in the agreement brought by Lu Jinbo today, he was also very surprised. It is said that Lu Jinbo is particularly generous to his writers, and it really makes sense. Advance royalties or manuscript fees are only given to famous writers.

In order to win over Zhang Chao, Lu Jinbo spent a lot of money. No wonder Han Han and Yi Zhongtian followed him wholeheartedly and he eventually became a top bookseller.

Zhang Chao's parents now earn only over a thousand yuan a month, plus bonuses and performance, that's only about 20,000 to 30,000 yuan a year each.

Two hundred thousand is already a lot of money.

Zhang Chao's father grinned: "I'm talking about my son..."

The second half of the sentence was glared back into my throat by my wife.

Zhang Chao went on to explain, "I have signed publishing agreements for two books. One is a novel, 20 words, and I have already completed more than half of it. The other is a collection of essays. Although I haven't written many, the total number of words is only 10, and the manuscript must be submitted before September. Don't worry, I will finish it."

Zhang Chao's mother's expression eased slightly.

Zhang Chao's father pushed the card toward Zhang Chao and said, "You earned this money yourself, so you can spend it yourself."

Zhang Chao's mother resisted the urge to glare at her husband again, reached out to take the card, and said, "We won't spend the money, but we'll keep it for you. If you really can't write it, we can just return the money."

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "Okay. But the chances of paying it back are slim. By the way, you don't have to give me living expenses in the future. In a few days, Southern Weekend and some other newspapers will give me royalties, which will be enough for my living in school."

Zhang Chao's parents looked at their son, who was smiling brightly and cheerfully, and suddenly felt that they could grow old peacefully...

(End of this chapter)