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

Chapter 277 The Road to Prosperity for Maiji Brigade
At the Maiji Brigade, Liu Yimin received telegrams from both the Beijing People's Art Theatre and Wei Wei, both concerning the adaptation of the play script "Triumph at Midnight".

Wei Wei represented the Zhan You Drama Troupe and the General Political Department Drama Troupe. In the telegram, Wei Wei talked about the leaders' evaluation of the novel, and also gave his own opinions.

When asked how he managed to write such a powerful and moving work, the literary and artistic workers within the military unanimously praised the novel.

They were discussing privately how to change the writing mindset of military-themed works and create war works for the new era.

Looking at the text on the telegram, which read like a letter, Liu Yimin sighed and remarked on the sheer wealth and power of the sender.

The Beijing People's Art Theatre's version is much simpler; it explains the story in just a few words.

Upon receiving these two telegrams, Liu Yimin faced a dilemma: which company should he send the play script to first?
In the past, scripts were first given to the Beijing People's Art Theatre. If other drama troupes wanted to perform, they would buy the copyright from the Beijing People's Art Theatre, and the copyright fee would be split 50/50 between the Beijing People's Art Theatre and Liu Yimin.

If you sell the same notebook to multiple companies, both companies might complain.

Liu Yimin wrote two letters, first explaining the situation, and then starting his own work on adapting the play script "Triumph at Midnight".

"Teacher Liu, which drama troupe do you want to give the script to?" Zhu Lin looked at Liu Yimin, who was struggling with his decision.

"This play script would be most suitable for the military to perform. Of course, if the Beijing People's Art Theatre were to perform it, the actors there would certainly be a good performance, and there would be no shortage of audience members."

After all, military drama troupes primarily cater to military personnel. Ordinary citizens who want to see plays still need to go to local drama troupes.

Zhu Lin nodded and said, "That's true!"

"Anyway, there's no rush. We can talk about it when we get to Yanjing next year!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

After talking for a while, Liu Yimin asked with a smile, "You've already issued several gold medals? Aren't you going back yet? Are you really waiting for the eleventh gold medal?"

Zhu Lin's parents have sent several telegrams asking when she will return home, as the New Year is just around the corner.

"Oh, Teacher Liu, I'll miss you!" Zhu Lin chuckled. "Besides, everyone in your brigade is really nice. The uncles and aunties are so kind to me. My sister-in-law even said she's going to teach me how to cook a few of your local dishes. I'll cook for you when I get to Yanjing!"

"If you don't go back soon, your aunt and uncle will worry!" Liu Yimin said with a smile, gently rubbing Zhu Lin's hand.

Zhu Lin sighed and planned to tell Liu's parents at lunchtime that if he didn't go back soon, his parents probably wouldn't be able to have a good New Year in Yanjing.

During dinner, Zhu Lin told Liu's parents with a smile that he was going back home. Yang Xiuyun then realized that Zhu Lin had been staying at their house for a while.

Holding Zhu Lin's hand reluctantly, she said, "In a little while, Yimin's father and I will pack some things for you to take back to Yanjing to your parents!"

"No need, Auntie, we have everything we need!" Zhu Lin said with a smile.

Liu Fuqing said, "That's different, these are our own things!"

In the afternoon, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin bought a train ticket in Ruxian County. The two of them wandered around the city and eventually arrived at the Cultural Center.

The cultural center hasn't closed for the holiday yet, but basically everyone's mind isn't on work anymore. Right now, it doesn't matter who comes or doesn't come, as long as there's a reason.

Even if you say you're going to the market to gather inspiration, and end up carrying a bunch of cabbages home, nobody will care.

As soon as I went inside, I saw a familiar face. After exchanging greetings, I immediately blurted out a loud "Yi Min," and everyone who came to work at the cultural center peeked out.

As he led Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin into the house, Elder Zhang, the curator, came out to greet them, still holding a large teacup in his hands.

"Hey, isn't this Comrade Zhu!" Old Zhang quickly reached out to shake hands with Zhu Lin, then patted Liu Yimin on the shoulder warmly: "Yimin, it seems like you two are getting married soon!"

Inside the cultural center, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin sat on a bench, with Lao Zhang and others sitting next to them. In the middle were a coal stove and a large iron kettle, the spout of which was gurgling and steaming.

“We’ve read ‘Triumph at Midnight’ and were just about to come over for a chat with you, but you’ve come first!” Old Zhang said with a smile.

Old Li took out a magazine and handed it to Liu Yimin, asking him to take a look at his article: "This is an article I wrote at the beginning of the year when I went on a field trip with your Maiji Brigade. I had some insights at the time, and it was published in a literary magazine in our province."

"This article has made Lao Li extremely proud!" Director Zhang said with a smile. "This is the first article published in a provincial magazine by our cultural center in recent years, besides yours. It can be said that Lao Li's long-cherished wish has been fulfilled."

The most impressive piece ever written by the cultural center was Old Li's article, which received a revision notice but was ultimately never published.

Because of this incident, he would always speak sarcastically in the cultural center, boasting of his own talent, but the fact that he hadn't published his work remained a source of pain for him.

Liu Yimin glanced at it and read that it described how, after the implementation of the household responsibility system, farmers worked actively, but some new contradictions also emerged. It was a moderately good rural reform article.

But why is this land called "Old Liu"?

"Old Li's writing is quite good!"

After reading it, Liu Yimin praised it, and Lao Li immediately beamed with joy, taking the opportunity to announce that he would next aim for domestic magazines such as "October" and "Harvest".

When he heard that Liu Yimin would be staying at Yenching University as a teacher, the curator, Old Zhang, was both happy and regretful for Liu Yimin, saying, "The leaders of the Provincial Writers Association even mentioned that they wanted you to work at the Provincial Writers Association and would give you a lot of training!"

Liu Yimin smiled but didn't say anything; that's what the National Writers Association also said.

Zhu Lin and Liu Yimin left the cultural center after a short time.

After they left, Old Zhang said to everyone, "Am I right? Comrade Xiao Zhu and Yimin are a perfect match standing together!"

"It's a pity Old Sun didn't come. Yi Hong is a good girl, but compared to Comrade Xiao Zhu, she's far inferior," Old Li said with a smile.

Back home, Yang Xiuyun and Liu Fuqing had already prepared some local specialties for Zhu Lin to take back with him, including their own vermicelli and sesame oil they had bought.

“These things aren’t that great, but please don’t look down on them!” Yang Xiuyun said.

"Auntie, you're too kind. These are all good things. You can smell the fragrance even without opening the lid of this sesame oil!" Zhu Lin praised.

Liu Fuqing nodded happily and said, "That's good, that's good!"

The next day, Zhu Lin set off with his luggage. The entire Liu family came out to see him off at the train station.

Before leaving, Yang Xiuyun held Zhu Lin's hand and said, "Good child, go back and say hello to your parents. If Yimin bullies you, write back and I will teach him a lesson for you."

"Auntie, don't worry, Teacher Liu won't bully me!" Zhu Lin waved with a smile and boarded the train.

"Send a telegram to let them know we're safe as soon as we get to Yanjing!" Liu Yimin said.

"Okay, Teacher Liu! Goodbye, uncles and aunts, elder brother and sister-in-law!"

The train departed the station with a mournful whistle, and only after it disappeared from sight did Yang Xiuyun and Liu Fuqing reluctantly turn their gaze to Liu Yimin. "Let's go home. I really love Linlin!"

Liu Yimin said with a grin, "I like it too!"

Yang Xiuyun was stunned for a moment, then patted Liu Yimin on the shoulder and said with a laugh, "You shameless child!"

Liu Fuqing laughed heartily a few times and called everyone home for the New Year.

After Zhu Lin left, Li Lanyong and Tian Qingping became entangled with Liu Yimin. Li Lanyong's desire to make the brigade rich coincided with that of Tian Qingping, a commune cadre.

Both of them wanted to do something. Li Lanyong was studying in Yenching and listened to Liu Yimin's opinion. He had some initial ideas, but felt they were not mature enough.

I talked to Li Dashan, and he thought I was just making a fuss over nothing. He told me to worry about my marriage first, and we could talk about other things after I became the Party Secretary!
As the three walked along the Maiji Brigade, Liu Yimin said, "It seems the policies have become more flexible, but our rural task is still to complete the national grain procurement task first."

Grain was subject to unified purchase and sale, and each county had its own procurement standards.

“Of course!” Li Lanyong said.

"If we can meet the grain collection quota and ensure that everyone has enough food, we can plant more cash crops, such as cotton, which is profitable!"

With so many cotton mills in Henan Province, the demand for cotton will increase significantly once the unified purchase and sale of cotton cloth is abolished.

With grain purchased through the central government at a low price, growing cotton was undoubtedly more profitable.

Tian Qingping calculated the purchase quota and shook his head: "Cotton can make money, but if you don't grow enough, it won't be enough!"

"At least we can make some money!" Li Lanyong thought that every little bit of extra money was good.

"I've already told you about the other ways to make money in Yanjing: build some factories! Building materials, growing melon seeds, roasting melon seeds, and making simple snacks and daily necessities are all ways to make money," Liu Yimin said to Li Lanyong.

The three young people walked from the hillside to the bottom, talking about their future.

Tian Qingping thought some of the ideas were quite good and planned to go back and discuss them with the leaders of the commune. He wanted to see if they could start from the commune or even the county level to systematically improve the local planting structure and increase the proportion of cash crops.

After Tian Qingping left, Li Lanyong took Liu Yimin to his house and chatted with Li Dashan.

Li Dashan puffed on his pipe and pondered, "Growing cotton is a good thing, but I'm afraid that after paying the state's share and keeping enough for the collective, there won't be enough for individuals to eat!"

“Dad, we’re slowly getting enough food now, but we still don’t have any money! We still can’t afford clothes and stuff!” Li Lanyong said.

"Yimin, do you think this will work?"

"With more land reclaimed by the villagers, grain production will increase, and the country's tasks can be completed. The remaining idle land can be used to grow cotton and other profitable crops. In the future, Lan Yong is even thinking of opening a factory and leading our brigade to prosperity. I think as long as we choose the right path, we can all become rich."

Uncle, we can't just focus on the small plot of land in Maiji Brigade; we need to see what kind of work is available outside. Running a factory privately is risky, but collectively, it's definitely no problem.

Individual development may lead to problems due to hiring workers, which the collective economy will certainly not interfere with.

The key is to maintain good relations with the commune and the county to secure support and loans.

"Then let's do it this way. We need to have food in our bowls and money in our pockets too! Let's have a meeting, the team will buy seeds and distribute them to everyone, and we'll use the money we earn to pay back the team for the seeds!"

Buy cotton seeds now and plant them in the spring; it's not too late. As for land reclamation, almost every household has some reclaimed land; it's just a matter of how much.

"Dad, you disagree when I say it, but you agree when Yimin says it?"

“Mr. Yimin is a professor, and he has a thorough understanding of the policies in Yenching. Of course, what he said makes sense. Besides, if you want to buy the seeds back, you have to promise me a favor!”

"What's going on?"

“Go meet the girl I told you about during the New Year!” Li Dashan said without any room for argument.

Li Lanyong glanced at his empty left sleeve, and an endless bitterness rose in his heart. What family would be willing to marry their daughter to a man with only one arm?
"Okay!" Li Lanyong reluctantly agreed, since it was just a meeting anyway.

In the days that followed, Li Lanyong went from house to house in the brigade to collect everyone's planting wishes and finally decided on the quantity of seeds to buy.

In the 1990s, my country had three major cotton-growing areas: the Huang-Huai-Hai cotton-growing area, the Northwest cotton-growing area, and the Yangtze River basin.

The cotton planting area in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain accounts for half of the national cotton production, and it is one of the main cash crops grown by farmers in various places. Cotton stations are set up in townships.

Later, under the unified control of the state, the center of gravity of cotton production areas began to shift to the northwest.

Two days after Zhu Lin arrived in Yanjing, firecrackers went off, and 1982 officially began.

Since Zhu Lin returned to Yanjing, the Liu family felt much quieter.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, while eating dumplings, Yang Xiuyun was still thinking about Zhu Lin.

Liu Yimin said with a smile, "Mother, don't think about it. Yanjing is much more lively than here. After the wheat harvest, you can come and stay in Yanjing for a while, and I'll show you around."

"Second brother, what's the house you bought in Yanjing like?" Liu Fuqing asked.

Which version are you referring to?

"."

Not long after the New Year, Liu Yimin prepared to return to Yanjing. Telegrams kept arriving; if he didn't go back soon, his home would practically become a postman's inn.

Holding the telegram, he could already imagine Wei Wei in his military uniform shouting, "Send another telegram to Liu Yimin!"

Yang Xiuyun said angrily, "As the old saying goes, people are afraid of becoming famous, just like pigs are afraid of getting fat. Once Yimin becomes famous, he finally gets to go home for the New Year, and people send him telegrams every day."

"Mother, I'll be waiting for you in Yanjing. I'll take you to visit Tiananmen Square then!"

"Alright, your dad and I will have your eldest brother and sister-in-law accompany us. We two old folks might get lost again. Beijing is the capital, and it's not easy to find our way around if we get lost!"

Liu Yimin, carrying his luggage, boarded the train and headed straight for Yenching. Li Lanyong will also go to Yenching this year, but he won't be able to until the start of the school year.

On the train, Liu Yimin could occasionally hear people around him discussing "Triumphant Return at Midnight".

"Dear travelers, we have arrived at the great capital, Yanjing!"

(End of this chapter)