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

Chapter 258 Do you want free money?

"Whether or not you have that piece of paper, the knowledge you gain only counts if you internalize it!" Li Lanyong has a very open-minded view.

Liu Yimin suddenly slapped his thigh: "You can take the self-study exam. It's a pilot exam that the country has just started. If you pass the exam through self-study, you can also get a graduation certificate!"

Li Lanyong became interested and inquired in detail about what a self-study exam was.

Starting this year, the state began piloting a self-study examination system in several cities, including Beijing, but no examinations have been conducted yet.

A diploma obtained through self-study examinations is just as valid as one obtained through full-time study. However, in later generations, diplomas obtained through self-study examinations were practically worthless, except for those used internally by some organizations for professional title evaluation.

However, this was in the 1980s, and very few people had full-time university diplomas. Self-study diplomas were second only to full-time diplomas, and were even considered the same in everyone's eyes.

“Okay, then I’ll take the test!” Li Lanyong’s eyes gleamed with eagerness.

In the days that followed, Li Lanyong kept a close eye on the news about the self-study exams.

As the conversation continued, Li Lanyong brought up the issue of rural reform, and he shared his thoughts in detail.

"I want to learn from some areas in the south and lead our brigade to make money. In our area, farming alone can only solve the problem of food and clothing. If we want to really get rich, we have to think of other ways."

However, this isn't the South, where there are many ways to make money. If you want to make money, you need to think carefully about what to do!

Li Lanyong sounded a bit troubled at the end, as he hadn't figured out what to do.

Liu Yimin glanced at Li Lanyong. Was Li Lanyong going to become the main force in the economic development of Ruxian's townships?
In the 1980s and 1990s, township and village enterprises emerged as a major force in China's economic development, absorbing a large number of rural residents into employment.

Some have developed quite well and become well-known wealthy villages.

Unfortunately, most of them went bankrupt after reaching a certain stage of development due to a lack of economic knowledge, coupled with changes in the environment and tightening of loans. Some villages even ended up with debts.

If Li Lanyong had spent a year or two attending classes at Yenching University, gaining a deeper understanding of economic development, and then returned to lead the villagers to prosperity, who knows what kind of remarkable achievements he could have made.

However, Maiji Brigade's geographical location is not ideal, and transportation is inconvenient, making industrial development difficult.

"If you want to get rich, build roads first; if you want to make money, the roads must be good first!" Liu Yimin told Li Lanyong.

“Yimin, you have a lot of ideas. Tell me, what would be a good idea?” Li Lanyong asked.

"So you're planning to take over your father's position and become the next Party Secretary? Actually, in the beginning, the things the brigade could do were very simple. We had no money and no skills, so there were only a few things we could do!"

Which types?

"Brick factories, tile factories, farm tool factories, stone factories, timber factories, agricultural product processing plants. We have a lot of sweet potatoes in our area, so we also have factories that make vermicelli and other food products. Those with more money canneries, soft drink factories, and so on."

"AUV, impressive, Yimin! You've thought of a lot. I think these guys can do anything!" Li Lanyong said admiringly.

Li Lanyong had only scratched the surface, yet Liu Yimin had already thought of so much. He really wanted to see what kind of brain Liu Yimin had come up with.

"The important thing is not building a factory. The factory is the first step. If we can do something simple, others can do it too. Competition will become more and more intense, and those who can't withstand it will go out of business."

Liu Yimin talked to him about some problems he might encounter in the future, and didn't leave until late at night.

Li Lanyong exclaimed, "I think you should go into the economics department!"

After Liu Yimin left, Li Lanyong couldn't sleep in bed and started thinking about what kind of factory he should build!

After thinking for a long time, I was about to go to sleep when I opened my eyes again. I patted my head in frustration, realizing I had forgotten to ask Yimin about something else: how was the idea for my novel about the frontline war going?

Sigh, I'll ask you when I see you!
Before the start of the semester, Liu Yimin submitted the script to the Beijing People's Art Theatre. Cao Yu reviewed it once and approved it without raising any objections.

He simply asked, "How are you feeling now that Xiao Zhu has become an assistant director?"

“She was very happy and kept thinking about how to rehearse the play. I think she will definitely be able to do a good job,” Liu Yimin replied, sitting on the sofa.

"Everyone's like this when they're directing for the first time. Before, I followed Shan Zun and the others, but I was just listening and didn't have any hands-on experience. Lao Lan also told me that he would boldly let Zhu Lin direct. After a few dramas, a director is basically good enough."

Lan Tianye dared to give Zhu Lin the greatest authority because he had consulted with Cao Yu.

"Your teacher's wife has been talking about you a lot lately. When are you going to come over for a meal?" Cao Yu said kindly.

"I'll go to school to register and then come over for a free meal!" Liu Yimin said with a grin.

"Alright, your teacher's wife will definitely be happy to hear that!" After Cao Yu finished speaking, Liu Yimin walked out of the office.

Zhu Lin was already waiting in the corridor. When she saw Liu Yimin nod at her, she immediately smiled excitedly.

He pulled Liu Yimin toward the rehearsal space, where Lan Tianye was already waiting.

Liu Yimin handed the script to Lan Tianye, who took it and flipped through it, then asked Zhu Lin for his thoughts.

Zhu Lin took out his notebook and laid out his thoughts. After he finished speaking, he stared intently at Lan Tianye, trying to catch the subtle changes in his facial expressions.

Lan Tianye didn't speak, but instead picked up Zhu Lin's notebook and started reading. He turned from the first page to the last.
Liu Yimin noticed that Zhu Lin's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat. Only after Lan Tianye nodded did Zhu Lin give Liu Yimin a relieved look.

Liu Yimin strongly suspected that Lan Tianye did it on purpose, but he couldn't find any evidence.

“Well done. We’ll proceed according to your plan. Let’s choose Pu Cunxi for the male lead, Wang Jiawen. Yang Lixin’s face isn’t really suitable for this role!”

Lan Tianye said slowly.

"Okay, Teacher Lan!" Zhu Lin nodded and immediately replaced Yang Lixin.

Zhu Lin went to notify the actors about the audition. Just as he left the rehearsal room, Lan Tianye grabbed Liu Yimin's arm and started chatting with him.

Liu Yimin joked, "Teacher Lan, your expression just now almost scared me to death. I thought something had happened."

"Hey, I was just putting some pressure on Xiao Zhu!" Lan Tianye patted Liu Yimin's arm: "What? Feeling sorry for my student?"

"It's heartbreaking! Prepare more scripts for us, teacher and student. Good directors are made by feeding us scripts!" Lan Tianye said.

Upon hearing Lan Tianye's words, Liu Yimin couldn't hold back any longer: "I've only ever heard of sharpshooters being made by being fed bullets, I've never heard of directors being made by being fed scripts!"

"It's all the same. Without a good script, what can the director practice with?" Lan Tianye said casually, showing no airs of a senior director.

So Zhi walked in and saw the two of them chatting and laughing, so he teased, "Old Lan, Yimin, anyone who didn't know better would think you two were plotting something!"

Upon getting closer, Yu Shizhi asked Liu Yimin to write more scripts suitable for older comrades like himself: "I feel uncomfortable if I don't act for a day!"

Lan Tianye, holding Yu Shizhi's hand and pretending to be an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor, felt Yu Shizhi's pulse: "You don't feel unwell at all. If you really are, let my student prescribe some medicine for you. He's a student at the National Academy of Medical Sciences, a professional." "You should keep the medicine for yourself, hahaha!"

So Zhi handed an envelope to Liu Yimin, which contained the payment for the script "The Button": "It's a short script, so the price will naturally be lower, four hundred yuan!"

The script for "The Button" is indeed quite short, so the price offered is reasonable.

Liu Yimin counted the money and put the envelope into his pocket. Lan Tianye said to Yu Shizhi, "With so much money, I almost want to rob it!"

Lan Tianye earns 100 yuan a month, and with the director's subsidy, he can earn around 120 yuan, which is already considered a high-income income.

Yu Zhi glanced at him with disdain: "For Yi Min, four hundred yuan is just the price of a drink for lunch. He makes money as fast as if he has a money printing machine at home."

"Nonsense, Comrade Yu, how could a money printing machine be that slow!"

"If you keep talking, we two old guys won't be able to hold back and will hit you!" So Zhi lightly punched Liu Yimin.

Zhu Lin returned with several actors and began showing them the script, preparing for auditions. Lü Zhongchong nodded to Liu Yimin; Wu Zetian, just over forty, transformed into a kind old lady with makeup.

Lan Tianye and Liu Yimin were chatting and laughing, while Zhu Lin was instructing the actors on how to do their makeup, focusing on which aspects, until he was satisfied before letting Lan Tianye see it.

Lan Tianye nodded, immediately settling into his pose.

After watching for a while, Liu Yimin left the Beijing People's Art Theatre and rode his bicycle toward Yenching University.

Today was registration day at Yenching University. Freshmen and returning students were all there together, and the entrance was packed with people, completely surrounded.

Many students also had red flowers pinned to their chests, which were probably worn by people from their hometowns. Despite the hot weather, they were reluctant to take them off on the train.

Anyone can tell at a glance that he got into university this year.

Upon further inquiry, he loudly replied, "Yan University," eliciting gasps of admiration from the passengers in the carriage.

Every generation produces its own "king of arrogance"!
Freshmen still registered in the main dining hall, while returning students registered in their departments. Liu Yimin walked in and saw several students gathered around for autographs in their dorm rooms!
Liu Yimin shouted at Liu Zhenyun, "Write my name down too!"

The class monitor in front looked up, saw it was Liu Yimin, and smiled slightly at him: "Yimin, I'll help you write it!"

Zhang Manling, who was standing next to him, said, "Professor Yan Jiayan was just asking if you were here. He saw you and told you to go to his office to find him!"

"Find me?"

“Yeah, it’s probably about the freshman orientation ceremony again. You gave a great speech last time, so they’ll definitely let you speak again!” Zhang Manling said.

After Liu Zhenyun and the others had finished signing their names, they said to Liu Yimin, "With great power comes great responsibility. We'd like to say a few words, but we're not qualified yet!"

Liu Yimin knocked on Yan Jiayan's office door. A voice came from inside, and he immediately pushed the door open and entered: "Professor, you wanted to see me?"

"Yimin, sit down. How's your thesis coming along?" Yan Jiayan walked out from behind his desk and said kindly.

While chatting, he ran to the washbasin by the door, grabbed the wet towel inside, and wiped the sweat from his neck.

"I've already decided on a topic, and I'm just about to start writing!"

What topic?

"The research focuses on the impact of Western literary thought on contemporary Chinese literary thought, as well as the future direction of literary development!" Liu Yimin said.

Yan Jiayan was also taken aback for a moment, and after thinking for a long time, he tentatively asked, "This is not easy to write, is it?"

Seeing Yan Jiayan's expression, Liu Yimin restrained himself and pretended to be nonchalant for a moment: "If it's easy to write, then I won't write it!"

"Good, that's ambitious!" Yan Jiayan couldn't help but applaud and say, "That's exactly the kind of confident student I want."

"Did you bring your thesis with you? Let me take a look!"

"I really didn't bring any!"

Yan Jiayan was quite disappointed and asked Liu Yimin to bring it to him next time.

"Professor Yan, what brings you here?"

"The school has decided to give you a sum of money!"

"Ok?"

"What? You don't want it?"

"Everyone wants money, but first we need to clarify what kind of money it is. I'm afraid this money might be difficult to obtain!"

Liu Yimin racked his brains but couldn't figure out what money the school owed him, nor had the school done anything to wrong him!
"This money is easy to get. You don't need to do anything. Just take it without feeling guilty!"

Yan Jiayan couldn't resist teasing him again.

“Money earned honestly is never free! Professor Yan, please continue your lecture!” Liu Yimin urged with a smile.

"Here's the thing, the Chinese department is planning to pay you a salary to work as an intern lecturer! But even if you don't stay at the university as an intern lecturer, you'll still get the money!"

"why?"

"Because the school wants you to stay on as a teacher, and we can't force students to stay on campus, we will treat you like a teacher in terms of salary!"

Liu Yimin understood. Even if Liu Yimin went to work for another unit, Yenching University would still pay him this money until he felt embarrassed and obediently returned to become a teacher.

There is a precedent for this in the Chinese Department of Yenching University. Cao Wenxuan, a worker-peasant-soldier student, was paid a salary for a year or two, but he was too embarrassed to take it anymore, so he went to Yenching University to become a teacher in 79.

Cao Wenxuan is the one who almost got children's novels banned. He was publicly attacked by children's literature author Zheng Yuanjie for turning "authors entering schools" into a business, using students to boost book sales.

The feud between the two has a long history, and the root of the conflict may stem from the difference in their backgrounds as academic writers and grassroots writers.

It is said that at a meeting, Cao Wenxuan jokingly said that Zheng Yuanjie was ignorant of his own limitations, writing a monthly magazine by himself, and if he could keep it up for two months, he would write his own name backwards.

Zheng Yuanjie turned humiliation into motivation, and he actually succeeded.

“Yimin, the former director Yang Hui, the school leaders, and I all agree that it is most suitable for you to stay at the school as a teacher. You can be an intern lecturer in the second semester of your senior year, and then stay at the school after graduation. The senior professors will not agree if you don’t stay at the school.”

(End of this chapter)