I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 280 Uninvited Guest

Mela arrived at the restaurant in a flurry of activity.

She greeted the old lady first, and then sat down.

The old lady, like a graceful noblewoman, smiled and nodded, then closed her eyes again.

Since I can't understand what they're saying anyway, I might as well close my eyes and rest.

The restaurant was neither too hot nor too cold, and it was also very quiet.

The sun shone through the glass window, making it very warm.

For a 60-year-old woman, this kind of environment is the most suitable.

"It's a fax from the Guangdong Provincial People's Publishing House, proposing to act as their agent for the Chinese editions of three books: *The Old Man and the Sea*, *Life Is Beautiful*, and *The Father Trapped in Time*. I looked it up, and this Guangdong Provincial People's Publishing House..."

Liu Jin interrupted Mela with a smile.

"No need for introductions, I know them better than you do."

How could we not understand?
In his past life, he had a very close relationship with this publishing house.

"So you mean, give them to them?"

"Sure, but given the current state of the book market in China, I don't think the results will be particularly outstanding."

Tell them that cooperation is possible.

But don't translate carelessly; find a reliable translator.

"The royalty requirements..."

"Let them report it, that'll be fine."

It means, don't make it too high!
This was him repaying a favor to the Guangdong People's Society.

Liu Jin doesn't care whether the Guangdong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security accepts it or not.

In his view, domestic publication is better than nothing.

That's right, the domestic market has great potential.

But in reality, it has been shrinking ever since the year 2000, except for a few works.

In the future, it will shrink more and more.

With the rise of the internet and the development of electronic technology, physical books will become increasingly obsolete, except for some special types of books.

For example, textbooks, reference books...

"Okay, then I'll reply to them!"

Mela didn't ask too many questions.

She could sense that Liu Jin seemed to have a deep affection for the Guangdong People's Society.

God knows what connections they had before?

She couldn't be bothered to ask about it; things in Europe and America were keeping her incredibly busy.

"The Crucible will be officially released in Italy and Portugal next month."

"Is the translation finished?"

"Yes, we found a very detached translator. Both countries were quite provoked by the theft of our country this time, and they are still cursing it now."

"Try to understand, anyone would be annoyed in this situation."

"Hehe, I understand completely, so I cooperate with their work."

French to Italian is the easiest, followed by French to Portuguese, which is slightly more difficult, then French to Spanish and German, and finally French to English. These languages ​​are basically in the same language family, and many words are shared. They are like circles that intersect each other and are very close together.

Chinese is different; it's like two completely independent circles that never intersect.

"By the way, have you decided where to go for your vacation?"

Mela took a sip of her iced drink and asked curiously.

"The sweltering heat of Toulouse is just around the corner."

"Gryssan!"

Liu Jin thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I personally prefer Corsica, but it's too far away."

"You don't favor Corsica, you favor someone from Corsica."

"Mera, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want."

Am I talking nonsense?

"Hmph, hmph, hmph!"

Liu Jin looked dismissive and unconvinced, but he was clearly also a little guilty.

Mella didn't continue, but changed the subject, saying, "How's Notre Dame coming along? Is your retro writing style going well?"

Smoothly my foot!
I'm so used to typing on a computer, it's such a hassle to switch back to handwriting.

But you have to walk the path you've chosen, even if it's with tears in your eyes.

He absolutely refused to admit that he was getting a little annoyed.

"Don't bother me, it's Ottilie who's really bothering me. You know what she said when I told her you were going to write it by hand?"

"It's nothing more than something like 'crazy'."

Mela couldn't help but laugh.

“You’re right. She said you’re just a bored, crazy person who’s making trouble for yourself.”

"Hmph, I knew it!"

"Alright, I won't bother you anymore, I'll be going now."

"If you decide on Gryzan, I'll have someone arrange it for you."

"Then let's go with Gryssan." Liu Jin had already made up his mind.

Mela stood up and said goodbye to the old lady.

Then he left in a flurry of activity...

By now, the outside temperature had dropped somewhat and was no longer as hot as before.

After Liu Jin and the old lady had rested, they said goodbye to Stephen.

He helped the old lady out of the restaurant.

As the sun set, Liu Jin held the old lady's hand, just like he had when he was a child, and they slowly walked home along the winding path.

……

It's hot, I don't want to cook.

The old lady had eaten her fill in the afternoon and didn't want to cook anymore.

So they discussed it, and when they passed by the AL TARTUFO pizza shop, Liu Jin bought two boxes of pizza.

This is a very famous pizzeria in Toulouse.

It doesn't look very appealing, but it tastes really good.

The ingredients are also carefully selected, with mushrooms, truffles, and ham all being of top quality.

The price is also very affordable and accessible to the general public.

Twenty years later, he saw the pizza shop online; it had become a popular online store.

It looks great and is very expensive... but I just don't know if it tastes the same as it did twenty years ago.

“Qianqian will definitely like this. Young girls like her, when they come abroad, they might not be able to appreciate a proper French meal. I reckon that in ten years, if I were to invite her to eat this again, she wouldn’t be willing.”

"Xiao Jin?"

"Ok?"

"nothing!"

"Say what you have to say."

"I always feel like I'm dreaming, a very unrealistic dream."

My son is so outstanding.

Liu Jin felt a lump in his throat and reached out to hug the old lady.

He's stopped growing and is now stuck at around 186-187 cm.

The old lady was from the south, and she wasn't very tall, less than 1.6 meters.
Liu Jin held her close, as if he were holding a small child.

But when he was a child, he was small, and the old lady would hug him like this.

The old lady was smiling very happily.

……

When I got home, Qianqian had already finished school.

But there was an unexpected guest at home.

"Alizee?"

Liu Jin looked at Alizee, who was sitting on the sofa and seemed a little reserved, with surprise.

"How did you come?"

"My exam results are out, so I wanted to give you a surprise."

My God, do you all like this?

Eva is like that, and so are you!

“Alizee, this is my mom, and that’s my niece. Mom, this is Alizee, a friend of mine.”

"Welcome, welcome, please have a seat."

"Qianqian, how can you be so rude? Hurry up and pour some water."

The old lady quickly greeted them.

Just as Liu Jin was about to translate, Alizee bowed respectfully and said in a strange voice, not very fluent Chinese, "Auntie, hello, have you eaten?"

The old lady was completely bewildered.

She turned to look at Liu Jin: Did you teach him?
Alizee looked at Liu Jin and asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

Liu Jin was also bewildered. When did this girl learn Chinese?
"Have you eaten? Have you eaten?"

My mom reacted quickly and replied.

Alizee said, "I didn't eat."

"Uh, there's pizza... Xiao Jin, quickly bring the pizza over."

"Qianqian, go to that Chinese restaurant near the entrance and buy something to eat. Just make do with what you have. Honey, please sit down, don't be shy."

My mom is as energetic as if she's been injected with chicken blood.

Qianqian looked at the pizza, her face contorted in a grimace, and said, "I didn't eat any either..."

“Hurry up!”

With a loud shout from her mother, Qianqian ran off in a flash.

Liu Jin smiled helplessly, glanced at Alizee, and waved to her, saying, "Don't just stand there like an idiot, come over here quickly."

The pizza we bought on the way here was fresh out of the oven and still warm!

……

(End of this chapter)