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

Chapter 194 Zhu Lin Returns to Beijing
Inside the state-run restaurant, the noise was deafening, and some waiters were already patting their white aprons, waiting to go home.

Wang Yan glanced at Zhu Dexiong and said to Liu Yimin, "Yimin, actually, this is what our factory is thinking. We've already spent a lot of money this year. Could we sign the contract for 'Smoke and Fire in Beiping' first, and then start filming 'Smoke and Fire in Beiping' next year or when we have enough money?"

Liu Yimin shook his head, looked at Wang Yan and Zhu Dexiong, thought for a moment and said, "Director Zhu, Director Wang, in principle, this request is not excessive, and I am very grateful that you told me about this. If you hadn't told me, taken the script, and dragged it out without filming, it would have been the same."

"Since we're cooperating, we need to be honest with each other!" Zhu Dexiong quickly said.

If this really happens, it will probably be difficult to cooperate again in the future.

Liu Yimin shook his head and said, "Director Zhu, Director Wang, let's talk about this when we have more funding at Beijing Film Studio!"

Zhu Dexiong and Wang Yan exchanged a disappointed glance, but still expressed their understanding. They knew that doing so was indeed not a good idea. Besides, they had actually considered that Liu Yimin might agree; after all, the studio often bought scripts but wasn't sure if they would be filmed, and delays were common.

But Liu Yimin is not like those screenwriters; he prefers to keep the initiative in his own hands.

"We can talk about it again when we're ready to film later."

"That's the only way. However, our director, Comrade Wang Yang, is leading the people from the eight major film studios in a competition with China Film Group. If we can get more money from China Film Group, we'll have more funds to make films. In the past two years, the cost of filming has been rising year after year. After a film is finished, we don't make much money at all," Zhu Dexiong said.

“On the one hand, we can’t make money, and on the other hand, the wages are low. Comrade Liu Xiaoqing, who came from the Chengdu Military Region, only earns 56 yuan a month. When he goes out for social events, he has to go to the clothing workshop to borrow clothes. The factory gave the four female employees a raise of 30 or 40 yuan. This raise caused a huge uproar. The editors and art designers in the factory all started to protest and demanded a raise!” Wang Yan said.

He was the director, so he didn't dare to complain about the price increase.

Perhaps it was the beer, but the two of them ended up complaining to each other.

Liu Yimin really wanted to ask, "As an actress, where does Liu Xiaoqing get so many social engagements?"

In the end, he didn't ask the question, but instead comforted her, saying, "It's about reform. You are a generation of filmmakers who are leaping across the reform, and the road ahead needs you to wade through it. If you don't wade through it, who will? This is a problem faced by every industry."

"Yes, we're all saying that we should learn from Director Qiao in 'The Appointment of Director Qiao' and become reformers!"

"We're also currently filming a movie adapted from this novel!" Zhu Dexiong said.

When the restaurant closed for the day, the three of them left on time. Zhu Dexiong and Wang Yan waved goodbye and rode away on their bicycles together.

After watching the two figures disappear, Liu Yimin returned to the courtyard house. He hadn't expected that the Beijing Film Studio would want to film "Mr. Donkey" with a budget even lower than that of "Romance on Lushan Mountain." "Romance on Lushan Mountain" had a budget of 700,000 yuan, and Liu Yimin guessed that they probably hadn't spent it all.

Even with a low budget, "Mr. Donkey" should still cost over 100,000 yuan, at which point the Beijing Film Studio will have to allocate additional funds.

The payment for "The Kite Runner" arrived, and as expected, it was paid at the latest rate of ten yuan per thousand words, totaling two thousand one hundred yuan. When the remittance slip arrived, Liu Yimin also received a letter from Li Xiaolin and a letter from a reader enclosed with it.

In the letter, Li Xiaolin lavishly praised Liu Yimin's "The Kite Runner" and even wrote down the comments that Mr. Ba Jin had given when he read it.

This issue of Harvest sold a total of 800,000 copies, setting a sales record since its resumption of publication.

Li Xiaolin hoped that Liu Yimin would select one or two letters from the dozen or so readers' letters and publish them in the next issue of "Harvest".

Harvest is a bimonthly publication, released every two months, so there's plenty of time. However, Li Xiaolin still hopes he'll reply as soon as possible whether it will be published, and if so, to reserve space for him in advance.

Sitting in his study, Liu Yimin opened the letters from readers and began to read.

The letters, numbering over a dozen, each addressed a different perspective and explored different themes. Some discussed friendship, others the bond between father and son, and still others love or patriotism.

Regarding friendship, a reader wrote: "When I was sent to the countryside, I did something wrong to my friend, but he didn't know I had betrayed him. After returning to the city, whenever I saw his warm and sincere face, I couldn't help but feel guilty."

After watching "The Kite Runner," my guilt has only intensified. I don't know if I should tell my friend, but if they find out the truth, will our friendship be severed forever?

The letter didn't specify the betrayal, making it difficult for Liu Yimin to reply. However, he knew this person was suffering greatly, like a tormented protagonist in a novel.

Liu Yimin thought for a moment, then wrote down some sentences from the book as he did so, and wrote the revised version for him.

Throughout our lives, whether young or middle-aged, we face the dilemma of choosing between loyalty to friendship and betrayal. Whether the other person discovers our mistakes or not, it cannot conceal the fact that the past will resurface and seep into our very being, causing us to suffer.

These past events follow us like our shadows; the more important the person, the harder it is for us to let go. Time cannot be turned back, so we should try our best to make amends and, like Zhuoke Ciren, seek redemption for ourselves.

Sometimes it's better to be hurt by the truth than to be deceived by lies, but speaking out doesn't mean you'll be forgiven.

You have no right to demand your friend's forgiveness; it's his right to forgive or not. If your friend doesn't forgive you after you've spoken up, don't blame him for being petty, because you were in the wrong first, and he's the one who got hurt, while he hasn't wronged you.

Think about it carefully!

After writing the letter, Liu Yimin replied to the one about how fathers and sons should get along, giving a brief response. We'll see which of these two letters *Harvest* uses!
In the evening, there was a knock on the door of the courtyard house. Liu Yimin stood at the hanging flower gate and shouted outside, but no one answered. Instead, a cat meowed.

"Little Yun'er!" Liu Yimin said from behind the door and opened the door to the courtyard house.

Shen Yun was about to hide next to the gate, but the cat's meow gave him away.

Liu Yimin looked at her and said with a smile, "Did you come alone?"

Shen Yun pouted and said sullenly, "My cat is a spy cat."

"Haha, come in quickly, you sent me a spy cat!"

"Yes, I discovered it was a spy for Brother Yimin, so I brought it here."

Liu Yimin looked around and saw that she really had come alone. Shen Yun, wearing a yellow plaid short-sleeved shirt and a red scarf, skipped into the second courtyard, put the cat down, and said impatiently, "You spy cat!"

Liu Yimin handed her a handful of milk candies and asked, "Why did you come alone?"

“My grandpa sent me here. Anyway, it’s not far, so Xiaoyun won’t get lost. I still have some homework today, and I’d like to ask Brother Yimin to explain it to me.”

With a candy stuffed in her mouth and drool on her lips, Shen Yun took out her homework from her bag.

The kitten, with its yellow, white, and brown fur, sat timidly under the ginkgo tree, seemingly far from being able to catch mice.

Liu Yimin was guiding Shen Yun's homework, but her eyes kept darting around the courtyard, showing no intention of doing her homework at all.

"Xiaoyun, you're here at this hour, haven't you eaten yet?" Liu Yimin asked.

"Brother Yimin, you finally remembered! I was starving. I just got home from school and ran here with the cat. You deserve some credit for your hard work!"

Shen Yun covered up her homework, demonstrating her determination not to do it anymore.

Liu Yimin glanced at the kitchen and said, "Let me show you my cooking skills!" Liu Yimin washed a few tomatoes, chopped them, sprinkled them with sugar, and froze them in the refrigerator for a while. He then took them out and said, "Look at my secret recipe for cold tomato salad!"

Then they made a little more simple food, which the two of them ate. They hadn't finished the dried yak meat that Zhuoma had given them; after finishing his own meal, Shen Yun used the dried yak meat to chew on.

Shen Yun started talking to Liu Yimin about things happening in the class; her little head was filled with big worries.

Liu Yimin was a very good listener, nodding continuously.

After venting her feelings, she went back to playing with the cat, refusing to do her homework.

Liu Yimin said, "Xiaoyun, if you don't write it now, the teacher will scold you tomorrow."

"Don't worry, I'll just say I'm studying writing at Brother Yimin's house, and I'll catch up during class," Shen Yun said smugly.

The cat was tricked by her and ran around everywhere, eventually ending up in a ginkgo tree.

The knocking started again, and Liu Yimin looked at Shen Yun: "Is it your grandfather?"

Shen Yun quickly put the homework into her bag, her face drooping as she held Liu Yimin's hand and said, "If Grandpa comes, just say I've finished it. He won't check it."

"Fine, then let me lie for you too!"

Liu Yimin walked to the door, with Shen Yun closely following beside him. As the door opened, a fragrant breeze wafted in, accompanied by a joyful voice: "Teacher Liu, you didn't expect this, did you? I'm back!"

Zhu Lin stood with her hands on her hips, grinning and revealing most of her teeth. She hadn't told Liu Yimin the specific time she would return to Yanjing, intending to surprise him. A large bag sat beside her, its contents unknown.

"Yimin, brother, who is this sister?" Shen Yun's head peeked out from behind Liu Yimin. It was already dark, and the face was not clearly visible.

Zhu Lin immediately stopped smiling when he saw that there were still people around. He looked at Liu Yimin and then at Shen Yun, but unfortunately, he couldn't see them clearly.

Liu Yimin said, "This is your favorite sister, Zhou Yun."

"Oh~" Shen Yun immediately ran over and grabbed Zhu Lin's hand.

Liu Yimin told Zhu Lin that this was Xia Yan's granddaughter, Shen Yun, and then carried Zhu Lin's bag into the yard. Under the dim light of the incandescent bulb, the two recognized each other.

Shen Yun, holding Zhu Lin's hand, said, "Sister, you're so beautiful, even more beautiful than in the movies."

Zhu Lin had just gotten off the train, showing no signs of fatigue. She chatted excitedly with Shen Yun as she stood up. She was wearing the same long dress she wore in the photo; she had been rushing and, combined with the cool evening air, was covered in sweat.

After she washed her face, Liu Yimin handed her an ice pop to cool her down.

Zhu Lin gently bit down: "Teacher Liu, you bought a refrigerator! That's amazing!"

"Sister is amazing too!" Shen Yun said from the side.

Liu Yimin patted Shen Yun's head; this light bulb was getting brighter and brighter.

Why didn't you tell me when you were coming back? I could have picked you up.

Zhu Lin smiled and said, "It's only a few steps from the train station to here, a mere twenty minutes' walk. Besides, there are other actors and directors from the film crew. If you spend half the time chatting with them, I won't be able to get a word in edgewise."

"You haven't eaten, have you?"

"No, I'll go make some!"

"No, you should sit down and chat with Xiaoyun. I'll go make something, but please don't complain if it's not very good!"

"Just don't intentionally poison me!"

"Hahaha!"

"My sister is eating dried yak meat, it's so delicious! Did you know? Brother Yimin fought wolves on the grassland, and now everyone calls him the wolf-hunting hero!"

"Fight wolves?"

"Yes!"

"The newspaper said that Brother Yimin encountered two packs of wolves on the grassland. He was really brave! All the students in our class look up to Brother Yimin!"

Before Shen Yun could speak, Zhu Lin ran into the kitchen, pulled Liu Yimin under the light, and looked him up and down.

"Teacher Liu, why didn't you tell me you encountered a wolf? Let me see if you're hurt."

Liu Yimin looked around and, seeing that there were no wounds, Zhu Lin finally felt relieved. She took the kitchen knife and started cooking herself, saying, "Let me do it, Teacher Liu!"

She then complained, "Why didn't you tell me this in your letter?"

"It's nothing serious!"

“Everyone says that Brother Yimin is learning from Uncle Lei F. Uncle Lei F does good deeds without seeking recognition, so Brother Yimin naturally can’t say anything either,” Shen Yun said earnestly from the side.

Zhu Lin chuckled: "Brother Yimin is a hero. You can keep it from others, but you can tell your sister."

Zhu Lin cooked three bowls of noodles, and Liu Yimin and Shen Yun each ate one bowl.

Shen Yun smiled and said, "It tastes better than what Brother Yimin makes."

After dinner, it was getting late. Liu Yimin rode his bicycle to take Shen Yun home, and Zhu Lin was also going home.

After careful analysis and reasonable arrangement, Liu Yimin seated Zhu Lin in the front and Shen Yun in the back.

This was the first time Liu Yimin had led a group like this. After some initial awkwardness, he finally managed to get back on track. The evening breeze blew past Zhu Lin, and the fragrant scent lingered around Liu Yimin's nose.

At first, Zhu Lin blushed and didn't dare to look up at her surroundings. After a while, when she realized that no one was looking at them, she finally felt relieved and raised her head. Liu Yimin's head was positioned right at the neck of Zhu Lin, but she kept her head tilted to the side, which made her feel uncomfortable.

"Teacher Liu, why are you so hot?" Zhu Lin asked softly, feeling the heat radiating from her neck and the area around her body.

"It's hot!"

(End of this chapter)