Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 15: Reading is so useful!

Although it gets dark late in summer, we traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently along the way. We even visited Tian Qingping in the commune to thank him. By now, the sun had long since set, leaving only the crimson glow of the evening sky.

Looking into the distance, the fiery red and orange-red clouds appeared as if they had been crushed, with gold accents on the edges, creating a gradient effect across the sky. Even the western mountains, which the members of the Maiji Brigade hated most, seemed much softer in this way.

Liu Yimin saw the dark mass at the village entrance from afar, and was so frightened that he thought something had happened and involuntarily stopped in his tracks. Then he heard Li Lanyong's cheers and faintly heard his own name.

A large, dark shadow suddenly rolled toward him. Liu Yimin took a deep breath and gritted his teeth as he walked toward the other side.

Seeing Liu Fuqing running over, Liu Yimin quickly asked, "Dad, what happened?"

"Yimin, how did your college entrance exam go?" Liu Fuqing suppressed his curiosity about the editorial department's letter and first inquired about Liu Yimin's college entrance exam.

In his mind, the college entrance examination was more important than becoming a writer.

Liu Yimin replied wearily, "I did alright on the exam, I should get a good score."

Hearing this, Liu Fuqing was even happier. Seeing that he hadn't asked about submitting his work, Li Dashan couldn't help but ask eagerly, "Yimin, *People's Literature* sent you a letter. Are you going to become a writer?"

"People's Literature and Art?" Upon hearing this, Liu Yimin's weariness vanished, and he asked anxiously, "Really? When did you reply?"

Liu Yimin's heart pounded, and he even began to silently pray that it was a letter of acceptance, not a rejection letter. Liu Fuqing quickly handed the letter to Liu Yimin, not even noticing that Liu Yimin's hand was trembling slightly as he took it.

Feeling the thickness of the envelope, a huge weight was lifted from my heart; its thickness meant it definitely wasn't a rejection letter. However, it wasn't impossible that they hadn't sent the original manuscript back, but only a rejection letter.

With a "rip," Liu Yimin quickly tore open the envelope. The bicycle he was holding had already been taken by Li Lanyong.

Liu Yimin pinched open the envelope with his left hand, and quickly pulled out a letter from inside with his right. He opened it swiftly under everyone's watchful eyes, and read:

[Respected Comrade Liu Yimin:]
I have read your novel "Mr. Donkey"!

The work is written in fluent language, with a rigorous narrative and a humorous style. The characters are well-developed, and the dialogue is full of profound meaning. Our publishing house has decided to use the manuscript and will publish it in a prominent section of the next issue of *People's Literature*. To make it suitable for publication, the editorial department will make minor revisions. Furthermore, to help readers understand the deeper meaning of the novel *Donkey Water*, our deputy editor-in-chief, Comrade Cui Daoyi, will write a commentary on it, which will also be published in the same issue.

Thank you for your trust. Our organization looks forward to more of your works, which can be submitted directly to Comrade Cui Daoyi.

Editorial Department of People's Literature and Art

"Yimin, what did you write?" a member at the back of the crowd asked loudly, standing on tiptoe.

"My novel has been accepted by People's Literature and Art!" Liu Yimin said happily.

Although he knew that it wouldn't be difficult to get "Mr. Donkey" published, he still couldn't hide his excitement when he actually received the manuscript acceptance letter.

"Really!" Liu Fuqing grabbed Liu Yimin's shoulders with both hands and shook him excitedly. The weight on his heart finally lifted. Fortunately, it wasn't some other letter, otherwise the Liu family would have lost face big time today.

Li Lanyong tossed his bicycle aside, excitedly rubbed Liu Yimin's shoulders and hair, and loudly proclaimed to the surrounding commune members, "Yimin has become a writer! Our Maiji Brigade has produced a writer!"

The letter in Liu Yimin's hand was snatched away by the other commune members, who eagerly began reading it. Most of them couldn't read, but they still read with great interest. He quietly slipped the envelope into his pocket; he could feel there was something else inside. It must be money being wired!

There are just too many people here, so it's not suitable to take it out to look at.

After a while of commotion, Liu Fuqing pulled Liu Yimin through the crowd and ran towards home.

"You have to tell your mother this news right away. She's been so worried about your job lately that she hasn't been able to sleep at night. Tonight, she'll finally get a good night's sleep. I always said, like father, like son, how could I possibly spend my whole life eating dirt in this yellow earth ditch?"

You should also hurry and send a message to your older brother. He'll definitely be happy to know.

Liu Fuqing jogged along, talking nonstop, spitting everywhere. Because he was running so fast, a significant portion of the saliva he sprayed was perfectly absorbed by Liu Yimin behind him.

As soon as he reached the door, Liu Fuqing couldn't help but shout, "Damn it, Yimin is back! Yimin really has become a writer! This is the manuscript submission letter!"

Liu Fuqing let go of Liu Yimin's hand and ran towards home, like a soldier who had won a battle and was holding an urgent news report, rushing towards Chang'an.

Yang Xiuyun was making fried dough sticks when she heard Liu Fuqing's words and hurriedly ran out. After Liu Fuqing carefully read them to her, she smiled and looked at Liu Yimin: "Yimin, are you hungry? Your mother made fried dough sticks tonight, so eat more later."

"I am indeed a little hungry," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Yang Xiuyun was even happier to hear this and hurried to the kitchen to start cooking. Where the Liu father and son couldn't see, Yang Xiuyun secretly wiped the corner of her eye while burning firewood.

Liu Fuqing muttered to himself, "Why is his wife so calm? Shouldn't she be as happy as I am?" But he stopped thinking about it and started asking Liu Yimin about other things.

As Liu Yimin answered, he took out a crumpled envelope from his pocket and happily pulled out a money order. The white background with green lines made the postal green color very eye-catching. In the box corresponding to the money order amount, it was written in large letters "Three Hundred and Sixty Yuan Renminbi Only", and the payee was Liu Yimin's name.

The upper left corner was stamped with a small rectangular red seal that read "High-Value Draft," and the draft still smelled of fresh ink. Three hundred and sixty yuan. "Donkey Water" was 60,000 words long, meaning that *People's Literature and Art* paid six yuan per thousand words.

Why does People's Literature and Art magazine give such a high level of support to a new author?

The moment Liu Fuqing saw the remittance slip, his eyes widened, and he asked tremblingly, "Yimin, you get paid for writing? How much?"

"Father, three hundred and sixty!"

"Oh, three yuan. What? Three hundred and sixty? Really?" Liu Fuqing said in shock.

"Father, of course it's true, you can see for yourself."

At that moment, Liu Fuqing's mouth could have fit an egg. He knew that studying was useful, but he never imagined it would be this useful!
Liu Fuqing took the draft and examined it closely. After confirming it was correct, he ran to the kitchen to show it to Yang Xiuyun. Surprise groans echoed from Yang Xiuyun inside. She, who had been able to remain calm just moments before, could no longer maintain her composure.

Three hundred and sixty yuan, that's Liu Yiguo's annual salary from working in the coal mine!

　Requesting monthly votes and recommendation votes.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)