Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 79: A Mountain of Literary Debts

The next morning, Zhang Chao, who had made up his mind, told his parents:
"Dad, Mom, let's buy a house?"

"Huh? Selling the house for just a little trouble? Where will we live after we sell it?"

“…It’s not selling, it’s buying!”

"…It's just a small hassle to buy a house! Where will we live if we buy it?"

"Of course it's the new house we bought! You also need to improve your living environment. Our house is too old."

"You can't just buy things randomly when you have money, especially when houses are so expensive. We have to save this money for you..."

"I already bought it. The house."

"Ok?"

"Yenjing, Haidian, I can walk to Yanda for classes."

"what?"

"70, the transfer has been completed."

"I...you..."

After a war of words, Zhang Chao finally dragged his parents to the only real estate agency in the county. He didn't want to buy a new house, but a pre-decorated one. Because all the new houses in Changfu are rough-finished, there is no such thing as a fully decorated house, and Zhang Chao didn't want his parents to spend the time to decorate it.

However, there is another dispute about what kind of house to buy.

"Why don't we just buy a two-bedroom apartment? We can have one for the two of us, and you can have another when you come back. It's more than enough for us."

"Then I'll come back to write something, so I'll need a study room."

"Well, then three bedrooms would be fine, with one more room for a study."

"What if I get married? What if I have kids?"

"Well, what about buying a four-bedroom house? Wouldn't it be too big and too expensive? What if the housing prices fall in the future?"

"Yes, yes. There are few people in Changfu. Who in the county town doesn't have a house?"

"..."

Zhang Chao didn't want to waste any more time and directly asked the agent to start screening according to the criteria of four bedrooms, nearly new and renovated.

In those days, the land supply in Changfu was not tight, so the houses were generally built larger, often 120 square meters or more. In a few years, this good thing would not be so good. In 2024, before Zhang Chao's rebirth, the developers advertised houses of more than 80 square meters as "large apartments for three generations to live together without worries."

There were very few houses that met Zhang Chao's requirements, so he picked out two that were relatively close and immediately made an appointment to view the houses.

One is on Shengli North Road. The house was built in the 90s as a collective housing for employees. Later, it was registered with a red book. The area is about 140 square meters or more. It's just that the house is a bit old and the layout is also old. Not to mention the decoration, the colorful terrazzo floor tiles make it feel like going home to work - PASS!

The other one is a little further away, near Bishui'an, which is a commercial housing estate built after 2000. The owner is a businessman who bought it for his son's wedding house. But after the son got married, he took his wife to Shanghai to develop his career and did not return to Changfu to inherit the family business.

I felt bad leaving it empty, but I was afraid of ruining the decoration and lowering its value if I rented it out, so I had to reluctantly let it go.

The house is more than 130 square meters, and the decoration, furniture, and home appliances are all brand new - because we only lived there for a dozen days before and after the wedding, and then it was empty for almost a year. The owner asked for 1 yuan per square meter, which is higher than the price of a rough house in Bishui'an.

Zhang Chao's mother was so frightened that she wanted to pull her husband and son away.

Zhang Chao did not leave, but started a tug-of-war with the owner. After nearly two hours of bargaining, the deal was finally concluded at 2 yuan. The rest of the formalities were left to the agent.

Zhang Chao's parents were led by their son throughout the whole process. Even at the moment of signing, his mother was still in a dream and asked in disbelief, "30 yuan was spent just like that?"

Zhang Chao urged, "There are also agency fees... Oh, please sign quickly. Readers won't like a long story about buying a house... No, for a small thing like buying a house, buy it early and enjoy it early, and there's no discount if you buy it late."

Major issues are settled.

At Zhang Chao's urging, his parents finally moved in before he flew to Yanjing again. He slept in his "new home" for only one night, and went to Fuhai Airport to fly to Yanjing early the next morning.

Zhang Chao thought, it seems that I have a shallow fate with houses...

Back at his new home in the East Courtyard of North Street, Zhang Chao began to fill in his literary debt. He had promised to hand in the collection of essays for Lu Jinbo before September, but he still had about 9 words to go. When they first met in Yanjing in June, he assured him that he could finish it in July, but now it was August and his progress was the same as in June.

When there was too much to do, he completely forgot about it!

The script of "Better Days" has less than 2 words, and it will probably take another 2 words to complete the manuscript. He Jiping is already urging him to come up with a first draft in early September.

I have just started writing "An Apartment", but fortunately, no one is urging me to finish this novel, so I can put it aside.

There are still 8 days left in August, and I owe 20 words. It doesn't seem like much, and I only need to update about 4 words a day. But I still have classes at Luyuan, so it's not easy to ask for leave; August 2000 is the registration day for freshmen at Yanda, followed by physical examinations for freshmen on the 8th and 17th, and military training starts on the 18th and lasts until the 19th.

He will also go to Shanghai to attend a book fair at the end of the month.

September 9th is also the registration day for new graduate students at Yanshi University.

Zhang Chao now feels what it means to have a mountain of writing debts. He reflects bitterly on himself that he should have been better at saying no to others. If he had gritted his teeth and made up his mind to be tough with Sister Lai, he would have had 10 more full days to write.

However, too many mosquitoes do not itch, and too many debts do not worry, Zhang Chao decided to finish writing the collection of reviews first and put off writing the script as much as possible. After all, one agreement is to submit the manuscript before September, and the other agreement is to submit the manuscript before October.

But miscellaneous reviews are not easy to write. Whether it is social review, literary review, or news review, it must be targeted and not nonsense.

Adaptation is not random editing, and miscellaneous reviews are not random comments. Zhang Chao leaned back in his chair in the study and began to think.

Suddenly he thought of his several speeches at Luyuan Academy and the various discussions surrounding "Snail House" - aren't these the materials?
Open the office software, create a new file, and enter the title:

"Is the Great Master Out of Date?" "House, Money and Face"

I wrote until midnight and only finished the first article.

The next day, Zhang Chao returned to Luyuan and attended a few more days of classes. He was racing against time every day and even typed a few lines on his BlackBerry during meals.

Other students praised: "The young man loves creation, his spirit is commendable!"

Zhang Chao was thinking: "You confiscated 20 yuan from someone..."

Finally it was the weekend. This was Zhang Chao's last day of class in the Luyuan Advanced Research Class. Everyone held a simple farewell ceremony for him. Vice Dean Zou Guangming also handed the "Yanzhou University New Student Registration Form" and the "Yanzhou Normal University New Student Registration Form" to Zhang Chao at the same time.

After reluctantly bidding farewell to his classmates, Zhang Chao waved goodbye to Luyuan and returned to his small home in the east courtyard of Beida Street.

Tomorrow is the day for new students to register at Yan University. I only need about 3000 words to finish Lu Jinbo's collection of essays, which can be done in one article. Zhang Chao felt relieved and could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Doorbell rang.

Zhang Chao felt strange because only a few people knew the address here, and these people should have called him before coming.

When she opened the door, it turned out to be no stranger, but Shan Yingqi, an editor of Chunfeng Literature Publishing House, who looked exhausted. Seeing that it was Zhang Chao who opened the door, she breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You are so hard to find! I asked around and only then did I know that you live here!"

Zhang Chao quickly let her into the living room, but was embarrassed to find that he didn't even have teacups and tea leaves to entertain guests. He could only apologize and give Shan Yingqi a bottle of mineral water.

Shan Yingqi said, "Don't bother. I came here just to ask you for a favor. I didn't call you in advance because I was afraid you would avoid me."

Zhang Chao asked, "What can I do for you?"

Shan Yingqi said, "Can you give your copy of 'Dwelling Narrowness' to our publishing house? You have the final say on royalties and print runs."

Zhang Chao asked: "How do you know...?"

Shan Yingqi said: "Quan Yongxian from your advanced research class is my friend. He told me that you have a good novel."

Zhang Chao said, "Yes, there is. But I have just started writing it. I am not sure if I can finish it this year."

Shan Yingqi said: "It would be great if you can give it to me within this year - or before the Spring Festival."

Zhang Chao asked, "Why are you so anxious?"

Shan Yingqi sighed and explained the reason.

(End of this chapter)