Tokyo: The life of a literary giant begins with home self-defense!

Chapter 136: Young and Famous
Back to Sumida Ward, where the Tokyo Skytree will be built.

Many people from the media and newspapers came.

In the noisy environment, the ground is paved with lawn, adding a bit of vitality to the once dilapidated ruins.

"It's even more grand than last time."

The Youth Award creation lasts for three weeks, and the works selection lasts for one week.

The works of more than one hundred young writers have been released through various channels, and today is the day to announce the winning works.

One winner, two runner-ups.

There are ten outstanding works left.

"The Youth Festival is a national cultural project built in conjunction with the Skytree, so of course it has a big presence."

Having seen reporters from three media outlets including the Asahi Shimbun, Takeda Maki looked around and saw Ryukawa Toru in a corner.

I walked over with my silly sister, and found that the organizer had arranged a large area for young writers, publishers, and media to work and rest.

The weather is clear and the sunshine is just right.

When I walked over, I heard Longchuan Che talking about something about the Writers Association.

"What's the point of the Writers Association? All the people there are old. If we want to do something, we should just start a new Writers Association."

The Writers Association is the largest writers group in Japan. Hearing the boy's muttering, Takeda Shinki's mouth twitched.

The sun shines on the green lawn, and everything looks youthful and perfect.

Takeda Shinki sat down and Ryukawa Toru glanced at her.

"Congratulations, Ryukawa Tetsu."

Thanks to Kodansha's instant success in capturing a huge group of young readers, this Youth Award ceremony was more like his coronation ceremony than an announcement of the winning works.

"Ms. Takeda."

Longchuan Che glanced at the three people who arrived later, first winked at his wife, then turned to look at the executive of the largest publishing house.

Kodansha is the largest publisher of entertainment works in the country.

In this country where automobile manufacturing is the largest industry and novels and comics are the second largest industry, the other party's identity is self-evident.

"Go take a walk over there."

The woman raised an eyebrow at Longchuan Tetsu.

Takeda Maki is noble and elegant.

The beige haute couture suit made her look very cool, and Longchuan Che still remembered that she had mysophobia.

Standing up and buttoning the first button of his suit, Ryukawa Toru nodded to Ying Sili, Nishijo Kana and others who had just been chatting, and followed the woman to the riverside.

The Youth Culture Center is adjacent to the Sumida River, which was named 'Arakawa' in ancient times and is an important waterway in Tokyo.

The waves were sparkling, and the wind was blowing across the river, bringing a subtle scent of bitter plum from the woman's hair.

Takeda Maki's face is almost identical to Takeda Takako's, which makes people feel a little confused, but Ryukawa Toru can now distinguish them well.

"What's up? I should be here soon."

Longchuan Che pointed to the stage where the award ceremony had already begun and said.

Officials from the Ministry of Education counted the votes, an old man who came from afar presented the awards, and the final protagonist was undoubtedly Ryukawa Toru.

I was a little speechless because Takeda Maki said that if I were around, the other party would not become a famous writer.

Now that "Snow Country" is gaining popularity, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Monk Hongping's boycott has become unnecessary.

As long as the publicity is big enough, literati will turn their disinterest into secret purchases and readings of the book.

"Sign it."

Her snow-white cheeks turned a little red, and Takeda Shinki slapped the publishing contract in front of Ryukawa Toru.

They were "Pinball in 1973" and "A Wild Sheep Chase" that I had promised my wife.

Mrs. Takeda helped a lot this time, so Ryukawa Toru naturally would not refuse.

10% of sales revenue will be shared, based on the printing volume of the printing plant.

Longchuan Che signed casually.

It’s great that the other party didn’t cause any trouble.

Takeda Maki breathed a sigh of relief. She would not look good if she did not get any benefit from giving out so much magazine space.

Ryuukawa Tetsu's "Hear the Wind Sing" did not help the magazine's sales.

He has too many distribution channels, and Kodansha itself is large enough.

Throwing "Hear the Wind Sing" in there is like stirring a big jar with a toothpick.

But this exclusive publishing authorization is something that can really make money. Takeda Maki put away the contract in a good mood and glanced at Ryukawa Toru, who had changed a lot.

The first time I met him was when he returned to Yamanaka Lake to look for his relatives.

At that time, I had just paid off the debt to the Takeda family and wanted to take my sister back.

The young man was wearing inappropriate clothing and had an innocent and simple look on his face.

In the blink of an eye, he is wearing well-tailored clothes and is about to become a representative of the younger generation of writers.

Later, the Ministry of Education endorsed him and he sang against Monk Hongping.

"Ryukawa Toru, do you want to sign a long-term contract as a writer with Kodansha?"

The so-called long-term contract authors are the kind that have guarantees and job ranks.

Takeda Maki was a businessman, and after realizing the other party's commercial value, she immediately extended an olive branch.

Long Chuan Che was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

Signing a long-term contract means he can only publish with Kodansha, and he doesn't want to be confined to one place.

"If you don't become a contracted author of Kodansha, I won't trust my sister to you."

After her personal invitation was rejected, Takeda Maki said something that was not sure whether it could be considered a threat.

"Then you should marry her."

Longchuan Che looked at the surface of the river and smiled casually.

The wind blew over his body, making him feel as if all the shackles were gone.

With the Youth Prize and the future resource channels from the Ministry of Education, it will never happen again that an old monk alone can affect the sales of his works.

"Cold-hearted and cold-faced, just like your grandfather."

Talking about getting married can only scare her silly sister, but there is no way to control Ryukawa Toru, Takeda Maki said with gritted teeth.

“Excellent works: "Silent River", "Love Letter", "Flower Curtain"."

The outstanding works have already been announced there. Hearing the woman's words, Longchuan Che smiled.

"If it was two months ago I would have gladly agreed to your request."

Two months ago, Longchuan Che was still a young man who wanted to earn some royalties.

"But after attending the Youth Awards, I have some different opinions."

Longchuan Che looked at the group of young people who happily went up to the stage to receive their awards.

There is his girlfriend and the new friends he made this month.

During this month, they discussed new works together and witnessed the birth of one novel after another.

Ryuukawa Tetsu likes the feeling of earning generous royalties, but he also thinks it would be nice to see people like him writing what they want to write.

During the Youth Appreciation, everyone was in high spirits.

But an article titled "Splitting the Tongue" will break everyone's spine.

Longchuan Che was very sure that without him, everyone would eventually throw themselves into the arms of class literature.

“It’s not bad, it’s just not good enough.”

The deeper he got into the so-called writer's circle, the more Ryukawa Toru could feel Ono Taro's ambitions.

Seeing a dragon in the wild is a unique sight.

Monk Hongping became the "dictator" of the literary world, and he wanted to be what he called a "traitor to the people"

The 'dictator' rules the country, and the 'traitor to the people' acts without regard for the consequences.

It's unknown what Ryukawa Toru said in the end, which made Ms. Takeda from Kodansha stand there in a daze.

She watched the young man walk up to the podium and listened to his stories.

"I often feel hopeless when I pick up a pen, and often have a sense of powerlessness that I can't finish what I want to write."

"The poet monk Ryokan said 'there is a strong wind in the sky', saying that the work should be free and unfettered."

"Ikkyu Sojun started writing Kuangyunshu at the age of twelve.
The owner of Dasai wrote at the age of seventeen: "Under the lonely moon, the cry of blood is unbearable to hear."

March 10th, Youth Award selection event.

Most of the Japanese media looked at the young man standing by the sparkling water.

He was so tall and mighty that the surface of the water stirred by the wind looked like the scales of some gigantic creature.

He smiled and said to all the young authors...

"Since we have drunk water from three rivers, why can't we spit it out all at once?"

(End of this chapter)