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

Chapter 197 The Green Book Arrives in the United States (Last day of double votes, please vote!)
"Is the novel going to be published in the United States?" Liu Yimin asked impatiently.

What good news could Cao Yu bring from the United States? It must be this matter. Liu Yimin really couldn't think of anything else.

Before Cao Yu could speak, Wan Fang excitedly said, "Junior Brother, you are truly remarkable! The Green Book is going to be published in The Paris Review, but unfortunately it's a quarterly, so it won't be available to readers until winter or even next spring."

After they arrived in the United States, people from The Paris Review specifically sought them out to inform them of the news that the article had been accepted.

What's rather cunning is that they used this incident as an excuse to approach Cao Yu, wanting to conduct a special interview with him. However, Cao Yu declined because of his tight schedule in the United States.

However, Cao Yu still took the time to write an article exploring Chinese drama and submitted it to The Paris Review for publication.

Cao Yu looked at the excited Wan Fang, pointed to the sofa, and gestured for the two of them to sit down: "Look at you, you're even more excited than Yi Min."

"Dad, I'm Yimin's senior in school, of course I'm happy for him! Yimin is going to earn US dollars!"

Cao Yu's fatigue was masked by joy: "This is indeed something to be happy about. Yimin, they think highly of your article, believing it points out the sharp contradictions in American society. Although it's not America in the 1960s anymore, discrimination in society is still very serious."

I saw it with my own eyes. When Black and white reporters stood together, the white reporters always held their heads high, displaying their self-proclaimed superiority. I talked to some professors and colleagues, and even the Black professors sighed when they talked about this.

"What's the use of sighing? You've got to carry a gun on your hip, you'd better be tough!" Liu Yimin joked.

Cao Yu laughed: "Hahaha, you little rascal, you really love making a scene! If what you say is true, then in the 1950s and 60s, the United States wouldn't have been able to keep a close eye on us."

Overall, however, the United States is quite friendly to us now. Some old friends, who regretted the long period without communication, have now opened the door to cultural exchanges.

I also saw several excellent plays, including Miller's *Death of a Salesman*, which I found quite good, and I had a lot to talk about with him. Seeing Miller's *Death of a Salesman*, I realized there are quite a few good plays in America!

"Death of a Salesman" is a masterpiece by American playwright Miller, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It tells the story of Willie Lohman, a salesman who has been in the industry for decades and dreams of making a fortune, gaining fame and status, and achieving his "American Dream" through sales.

Unfortunately, he hadn't achieved this goal by the time he reached old age. Although he held onto his "American Dream" every day, these dreams were like colorful bubbles that burst at the slightest touch.

Ultimately, pressure from his family led Willie to contemplate suicide, and the shattering of his entrepreneurial dream became the final straw that broke the camel's back.

The suicide was also to allow the family to receive a huge insurance payout.

A salesman who believed in the American Dream ultimately died because of it. The biting satire exposes the falsehood of the American Dream and reveals the social problems behind the tragedy.

In 1983, at the suggestion of a director from the Beijing People's Art Theatre, this play was introduced to the theatre for localization, becoming the first American play to be performed at the theatre, and also the first play directed by Miller himself in China.

This was due to a lack of scripts and cultural exchange; subsequently, many foreign play scripts were introduced to China.

This is why the Beijing People's Art Theatre values ​​Liu Yimin so much; they are desperately lacking scripts.

Cao Yu snapped out of his reverie as he spoke: "We've gotten a bit off-topic. They haven't announced the specific payment standards for the Green Book yet. The payment will be directly wired to China. They also hope to establish contact with you and contribute articles regularly in the future."

Liu Yimin laughed and said, "It would be great if you could just bring back US dollars directly from the US!"

“Yimin, you really have wild ideas!” Wanfang said again, “But if you exchange them for US dollars and bring them back, and then exchange them for foreign exchange certificates, you can buy a lot of things. In terms of US dollars, the royalties in the United States are higher than those in France. You can earn a lot of money, and you might even be able to empty a whole counter in the Friendship Store.”

Wan Fang's exaggerated metaphor reminded him of the Tibetan people of Aba, who always liked to use metaphors in their speech.

Cao Yu tapped the back of his right hand with the fingers of his left hand: "No matter what, it's all about earning foreign exchange for the country, which is a good thing. You just need to wait for the people from The Paris Review to contact you. This novel might even be published in the United States."

When the topic of publishing came up, Cao Yu became even happier and asked, "How's your field research going?"

Liu Yimin then explained the two-part division: "The script for the first part is almost finished. I'll bring it to you tomorrow."

"Good!" Cao Yu slapped his thigh. "Young people are efficient. It's a pity you didn't bring it today, otherwise we could have seen it today!"

"Teacher, please rest today and adjust to the time difference!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

"It seems that this is the only way!"

Liu Yimin winked at Wan Fang again, indicating that he had found a place to publish the script. Wan Fang pursed her lips knowingly.

After Cao Yu finished speaking, he prepared to take a shower and rest. Seeing him walk back to the bedroom, Liu Yimin handed the manuscript from his bag to Li Yuru: "Teacher's wife, this is the manuscript. Give it to the teacher tomorrow morning!"

"You brought it?"

Liu Yimin nodded, and Li Yuru smiled and said in a low voice, "Okay, it's rare that you care about his health. Let him see it after he's rested tomorrow."

Liu Yimin walked out of Muxidi with a cowboy hat in his hand, but he didn't put it on. In some parts of Yanjing, the streetlights were very dim, and if he had put it on, he probably wouldn't have been able to walk.

The following day at noon, Liu Yimin arrived at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, where Cao Yu had already finished reading the script. Upon seeing Liu Yimin, Cao Yu complained, "You were trying to ambush me."

"Isn't this just so you can get some rest?"

Cao Yu knew this, so he didn't continue. Instead, he began to comment on the script: "I think this is a well-developed script. It must have been revised quite a few times, right?"

"Mr. Mao Dun and Mr. Xia Yan visited me and offered many suggestions for revision."

Cao Yu nodded: "That's right, I think it basically doesn't need any changes."

Ouyang Shanzun walked in and chimed in, "That's right. Minor changes can be made during rehearsals. However, making the costumes is a challenge and a significant cost. But Yimin took a picture of the complete uniforms worn by the Tibetan soldiers at the time, so the costume workshop can study them and hopefully make them."

"That's settled then. I think we can take it and start rehearsing. Yimin, haven't you decided on a title for the script yet?" Cao Yu asked, pointing to the blank space on the page.

"We've thought of several names, but none of them quite capture the core spirit of this play. Teacher, Dean Shanzun, what do you think would be a good name?"

Cao Yu thought about it for a while, but couldn't come up with a solution.

Ouyang Shanzun said, "How about 'Mountains high and rivers long'?"

"Oh, tell me about it?" Cao Yu said.

"The reason I thought of this is because I saw a photo taken by Yimin, which included a stone tablet called 'Mountains High and Waters Long.' This tablet was bestowed upon the Wasi chieftain by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. This Wasi chieftain was no ordinary person. Why was it that, apart from the Qing Dynasty's garrison troops, only the Wasi chieftain sent troops to Aba at that time?"

"Yimin, why don't you tell us?"

Liu Yimin continued, "The ancestors of the Wasi chieftain came to Aba from Tibet during the Ming Dynasty. At that time, Emperor Yingzong of Ming transferred the ancestors of the Wasi chieftain to suppress a rebellion. Because of their merits, they stayed in the area and became chieftains. This chieftain was relatively loyal to the inland regime and actively helped Emperor Qianlong pacify the Greater and Lesser Jinchuan, and his territory grew larger and larger. During the Railway Protection Movement in Sichuan Province, the Wasi chieftain also participated in the movement."

Furthermore, since the chieftain of Zhuokeji had no children, Suo Guanying, the 11-year-old son of the chieftain of Wasi, was adopted by him and became the last chieftain of Zhuokeji. Later, he participated in the democratic liberation movement, actively assisted the government, and was received by the elders. "Therefore, I believe that 'mountains high and rivers long' means that people of all ethnic groups are connected by mountains and rivers, and hearts and minds, jointly resisting foreign enemies, which also demonstrates the meaning of unity and solidarity," said Ouyang Shanzun.

"However, the fact that Emperor Qianlong bestowed this upon us is rather sensitive!"

"Let's use this name for now. I think it's a good one. What do you think, Yimin?"

Liu Yimin: "I think it's a good idea!"

"Then let's line up!"

After Cao Yu finished speaking, he saw Ouyang Shanzun staring intently at him. He couldn't help but scratch his head. After finalizing the script, choosing a director was another troublesome matter.

As soon as Liu Yimin left the office, he saw Lan Tianye and Su Min walk over. After greeting Liu Yimin, they rushed into Cao Yu's office.

Liu Yimin laughed: "Go ahead and argue, all of you, go ahead and argue!"

The discussion went on for a long time without any results, but Yu Zhi found Liu Yimin and prepared to pay him the script royalties.

So Zhi was about to come up and sigh again, but when he saw Liu Yimin's amused smile, he swallowed the breath that was about to come out of his throat.

“Yimin, it has to be you!” Yu Shizhi said with a wry smile.

"It's alright, Teacher Yu, I can wait a bit." Liu Yimin crossed his arms, looking like he was ready to watch the show.

"Forget it, forget it, why are you sighing? I should be happy to have a good script! Shan Zun has already told me, how about this, the script fee is 650 yuan! The rest of the performance share will be the same as 'Wolf Smoke in Beiping'!" Yu Shizhi said, looking at Liu Yimin.

Liu Yimin laughed and said, "Alright, look how embarrassed you are. Do you think I can bargain?"

"Sigh, the money is in my hands, I have to be careful with every penny I spend!" Yu Zhi said helplessly.

"Understand, understand!"

The fee for "The Flames of War in Beiping" was 560 yuan last time, and now it's 650 yuan. The difference is 10 yuan, and the increase is less than 100 yuan. I guess the increase should be attributed to the cost of the film.

The royalties for stage play scripts are low. According to Liu Yimin's unintentional understanding, this script is already considered very high at the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

After receiving the money, Liu Yimin also received 200 yuan from the copyright share of the Sichuan Provincial Drama Troupe's "Wolf Smoke Over Beiping", bringing his total to 850 yuan.

"Almost a thousand~" He swayed a wad of cash in his palm and couldn't help but hum a soft hum, singing in a singing voice.

Riding his bicycle back to the courtyard house, Liu Yimin saw that the gate was locked and facing inwards. He knew that Zhu Lin must have arrived. Liu Yimin knocked on the door, and when the latch opened, he saw Zhu Lin holding Sanhua.

"when did you come?"

"I hadn't been here long when I saw the door was locked, so I knew you weren't here. I took advantage of the little privilege you gave me and opened the door with the key." Zhu Lin was wearing a pink floral dress with red flowers today. Sanhua was dozing in her arms, looking very comfortable.

Liu Yimin said, "Be careful, it might have fleas!"

Zhu Lin didn't speak. Sanhua opened her lazy eyes, gave him a warning look, and then closed them again.

"Shen Yun is right, it's like a spy cat."

Zhu Lin teased the cat, giggling. Back in the room, Liu Yimin remembered he hadn't given Zhu Lin something, so he gave her the ox horn comb he'd brought back from Aba.

"Made from yak horns from Aba."

Zhu Lin played with it for a moment, said thank you, and carefully put it in her bag.

"Teacher Liu, when did you go to Beidaihe?" Zhu Lin looked at the people in the photo and carefully distinguished them one by one.

"It was organized by the Poetry Journal right after the summer vacation started."

Seeing her admiring the scenery of Beidaihe, Liu Yimin felt a surge of warmth in his heart: "Why don't we go to Beidaihe and let you get some rest?"

"Beidaihe, isn't that a bit troublesome? It takes a long time to go there and back!"

"The Writers Association has a guesthouse in Beidaihe where you can rest for one night."

“But I’m not with the Writers’ Association!” Zhu Lin said hesitantly.

Liu Yimin said, "Just treat paying as a business transaction with the company, and don't take advantage of them."

Zhu Lin's heart immediately stirred with interest. Beidaihe was a resort town, such a mysterious place: "When does Yenching University start? Don't let it interfere with your studies."

"The new students have just enrolled, and the returning students will have to register a few days later. After those few days, there won't be many opportunities left, and besides, the weather starts to get colder after September."

Zhu Lin immediately nodded and said happily, "I'll take Sanhua with me!"

Sanhua: Meow~
However, when Zhu Lin got home that night, he still had to tell his parents, but the reason he gave was: "My company organized a trip to Beidaihe."

Upon hearing this, Zhu's parents exclaimed, "The Beijing People's Art Theatre is really great; they even organized a trip to Beidaihe!"

That evening, Zhu Lin packed her clothes, looking at the clothes in her bag, constantly putting them in and taking them out.

"No, no!" Zhu Lin shook his head as he took it out.

After a while, he put it back in: "We'll be swimming at the beach eventually, so we should bring it!"

So he put it back in, and the next day after breakfast, he rode his bicycle to the courtyard house. Liu Yimin first went to the Beijing People's Art Theatre to tell them that he was busy with something and wouldn't be at the courtyard house, so they wouldn't make a wasted trip.

Cao Yu didn't ask any questions, only saying to get some rest and come visit the Beijing People's Art Theatre when you get back.

Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin squeezed onto the bus and headed towards Yanjing Station. Liu Yimin also wore the hat Wan Fang had given him, but the wide brim caused quite a stir among the people around him on the bus.

"Teacher Liu, this is Beidaihe! The sea is so vast!"

PS: A reader asked if I could make each chapter 4,000 words. After working hard for the past two days, I've gradually gotten used to 12,000 words. I'll try to keep it at 12,000 words from now on.

Please vote!
(End of this chapter)