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

Chapter 18: There's no such person here. (Please vote and read on!)
Liu Yimin opened the box, and a brand-new watch was revealed. The words "Shanghai Stock Exchange, China" were written in the center of the dial, and the hands were ticking away.

"Hurry up and try it on!" Liu Yiguo urged with a smile.

Yang Xiuyun and Liu Fuqing, who were standing nearby, also came over and stared at the watch in Liu Yimin's palm. They had only ever seen other leaders wear such high-end watches before, and they had never been so close to one before.

"Brother, this is too expensive. I don't want it, you can wear it," Liu Yimin quickly said.

This brand-new Shanghai-brand watch costs 120 yuan; it's definitely a high-end item. Liu Yiguo sends most of his monthly salary back home, and Liu Yimin can't figure out where he got the money to buy a watch.

Even if the money wasn't sent back, it would still take several months to save up enough to buy one. The most important thing was the industrial ration coupon, which was much scarcer than the bicycle coupon. It often didn't even reach the lower levels before being taken by people with connections at higher levels.

“I’m just a coal miner, wearing this would make me a laughing stock. You’re different, you’re a writer now. When you were a teacher, I wanted to save up to buy you one, but I didn’t have the ration coupons or much money back then.”

Seeing that Liu Yimin refused to wear it, Liu Yiguo directly helped Liu Yimin put it on his wrist, and then waved it in front of the old couple: "Dad, Mom, doesn't Yimin look good in it!"

"Boss, how much does this cost?" Yang Xiuyun asked.

Liu Yiguo didn't mention the price, only saying, "It's not expensive."

“Mom, a watch costs 120, but the problem is we don’t have the ration coupons,” Liu Yimin said.

Liu Yiguo said proudly, "I won first place in the coal mining expert competition a while ago, and this vote was the prize from the mine. Mom and Dad, Yimin, you don't know, even those veteran miners who have been working for more than ten years can't out-dig as well as me."

After Liu Yiguo obtained the industrial permit, many people wanted to buy it for a high price, but Liu Yiguo refused to sell it. He borrowed 20 yuan and bought a watch for Liu Yimin.

He had more money than he could spend, and with the extra overtime work and some subsidies from the mine, he finally managed to scrape together 120 yuan.

Liu Yimin said with heartache, "Brother, I'll give you the money. I have money too; I earned 360 yuan in royalties."

"So much?" Liu Yiguo said in surprise. The mine's clerk had told him that there were fees for submitting articles, but the fees for newcomers were usually very low.

The clerk earned only one or two yuan per article published in the mining bureau's newspaper.

Liu Fuqing used the brigade's phone to call the mine. There were people around at the time, so he was naturally embarrassed to say how much money he had received. He knew the principle of not flaunting one's wealth.

In Ru County, the production teams and brigade headquarters were basically all electrified, with broadcast lines running from the commune, and two large loudspeakers hanging on wooden sticks at the entrance of the brigade headquarters.

The telephone line is also connected via the broadcast line, but it makes a buzzing sound when you make a call. The line is switched to broadcast mode in the morning and evening according to regulations, and calls cannot be made during this time.

“So, boss, the second brother should pay for this watch,” Liu Fuqing said with a smile.

Liu Yiguo affectionately patted Liu Yimin's head. He hadn't expected that his younger brother could earn money for the family in the blink of an eye. He looked at his parents and said, "Father, Mother, this is a gift for Yimin. What kind of thing is it for a younger brother to talk about money with his older brother?"

Yang Xiuyun quickly went to cook, making flatbread again. Liu Yiguo tore it open and ate it in big bites. Liu Yimin noticed that his hands, due to years of contact with coal, had accumulated indelible black marks between the lines of his palms. Over time, the melanin would even deposit into the surface of his skin.

After spending half a day at home, Liu Yiguo had to leave in a hurry to rest for an hour or two at the mine before continuing to work down the mine that night.

Liu Yimin hurriedly borrowed Li Lanyong's bicycle, intending to take Liu Yiguo to the mine. The Third Mine was located on the outskirts of the city, on a similar route to the county seat, all downhill. The two brothers chatted constantly along the way, and when Liu Yiguo learned that Liu Yimin was also confident about his college entrance exam, he smiled as if he could already see the moment Liu Yimin passed the exam.

"Finally, someone from our Liu family can go out into the world. Yimin, don't worry. If you go to school, I will take good care of our parents at home. You don't need to worry about me outside."

Of course, don't put too much pressure on yourself, and don't tense yourself up too much.

Liu Yiguo attended junior high school and was recommended to attend a vocational school, but he didn't make it. He ended up working at a coal mine.

“Brother, if you want to take the college entrance exam, I’ll help you study. The college entrance exam has just been reinstated, so the questions aren’t difficult,” Liu Yimin said as he rode his bike.

A glimmer of hope flashed in Liu Yiguo's eyes, then dimmed again: "Forget it, it's been so many years since I've studied."

When they passed the commune, Liu Yiguo made him stop at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative. He went in and bought a lot of candy, and when he came out, he looked like he had spent a lot of money.

"When the people at the mine heard that you became a writer, they insisted that I treat them to a meal and bring them some candy." Although it hurt his wallet, Liu Yiguo was secretly delighted.

Liu Yimin thought to himself, "The news of my novel being published is going to spread like wildfire."

In the coal mine dormitory, the smell of coal mingled with the stench of feet, and the sound of snoring was incessant. Liu Yiguo put down the candy and then took out a pair of liberation shoes wrapped in yellow paper from the cabinet under the bed.

“Yimin, you try it. Our feet are the same size. What’s the point of you wearing those open-toed liberation shoes?”

Liu Yimin tried them on, grinning, and said, "Brother, they're too small. My toes hurt from the pressure. It's okay, I'll go to the commune and buy a new pair."

"Alright, you should head back now!"

After Liu Yimin left, Liu Yiguo looked at the liberation shoes in his hand and muttered to himself, "I haven't grown taller, but my feet have grown?"

Suddenly, one of the miners woke up and saw Liu Yiguo, who was preparing to rest. Rubbing his eyes, he asked half-asleep, "Yiguo's back. What novel is your brother writing?"

"The name is 'Mr. Donkey'."

"Oh, donkeys need to drink water." After saying that, he lay down and fell fast asleep again.

On August 3, the 8th issue of People's Literature and Art magazine in 1978 was officially published. The magazine appeared in bookstores, newsstands and individual subscribers across the country through various channels of People's Literature and Art, and Liu Yimin's name appeared in the sight of readers nationwide for the first time.

When the postman delivered the People's Literature magazine, he looked at Liu Yimin excitedly and said, "Yimin, look, is there any of your novels in it?"

Liu Yimin smiled and opened the book. Sure enough, on page 10, he saw the three large characters "Donkey Water," with the following in smaller print: "[Author: Liu Yimin, Ruxian County, Henan Province]"

Continuing to flip through the pages, I indeed found Cui Daoyi's review of "Mr. Donkey," titled "[Mr. Donkey - Absurd and Bizarre Satirical Literature, Confronting Human Nature with Dramatic Style]."

"Yimin, keep up the good work! I hope I can send your articles to everyone often in the future," the postman said happily.

Meanwhile, inside the Ruxian Cultural Center, the curator, Old Zhang, was looking at the name in the magazine with a puzzled expression, his brows furrowing more and more. He had never heard of such a person in Ruxian!
(End of this chapter)