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

Chapter 30: Manuscript Accepted from Poetry Journal

Liu Yimin's manuscript circulated within the editorial department of "Poetry Journal" and, unsurprisingly, will be published in the next issue of the journal.

Zou Huofan even loudly proclaimed that it would be an injustice if such poems were not published. He completely forgot what he had said when he opened the envelope.

"Everyone stop looking, and try to find poems like this too!" Yan Chen waved his hand, and the atmosphere in the editorial department immediately quieted down.

"Old Zou, how much do you think is appropriate for the royalties for this kind of poetry?"

"How much? Seven yuan per thousand words. This kind of poetry is too cheap, we can't present it to the public!" Zou Huofan said with a smile. The poem is ten lines long, so it's seven yuan per ten lines.
"Seven yuan? Isn't that too much? Many veteran authors don't even get seven yuan. It's not appropriate for a newcomer to the poetry scene to receive such a high amount. Moreover, the royalties are too high, which is not conducive to young people's efforts. Young people should be given some room for progress."

Deputy editor-in-chief Shao Yan expressed her objection.

This is the first thought many editors have when they see manuscripts from newcomers. Even if a manuscript is similar to that of an experienced writer, they will try to lower the price for a newcomer. Most of them can only get 1,300 or 1,400 yuan, and 1,500 yuan is very rare.

This shows just how powerful People's Literature and Art is!

After listening to Shao Yanxiang's words, Yan Chen showed a thoughtful expression.

Zou Huofan quickly said, "Old Shao, you're wrong. We should recruit talent without being bound by convention. It's our responsibility to promote talent in the poetry world. We can't lower the royalties just because someone is a newcomer. According to you, we should cut your salary in half. Isn't a high salary also detrimental to your efforts? We should give you some room for advancement."

Look, after being an associate editor for so long, with a little more effort, you could become the editor-in-chief.

"Old Zou, is what you're saying the same thing I'm saying?" Shao Yanxiang immediately panicked. His salary was cut in half; how was he supposed to survive? If it was cut in half today, his whole family would starve tomorrow.

"How can they not mean the same thing?"

Zou Huofan retorted without hesitation. In the editorial department of Poetry Journal, apart from Yan Chen, whom he maintained a certain level of respect for, there was no one else he dared not criticize.

Don't let Zou Huofan's status as a new editor fool you. He's like the Eighth Route Army soldier in "Bright Sword" who said about Li Yunlong: "He's not new at all. He was a regimental commander in the H Army. He's senior and has a lot of influence."

Zou Huofan was born in 17. He used his pen as a weapon, participating in the initiation and organization of the "All-China Federation of Literary and Art Circles for Resistance Against Japan." In 40, due to various reasons, he entered Fudan University. After graduation, he worked as a special editor for the Hong Kong-based *Hua Shang Bao*, director of the Liaison Office of the Bureau of International Cultural Relations under the Ministry of Culture, and deputy secretary-general and editor-in-chief of the *Wenyi Bao* (Literary Gazette).

He had a very rich life experience, having founded various patriotic poetry journals and participated in the national salvation movement. He was very familiar with Ai Qing, Xia Yan, and others.

Although Shao Yanxiang's qualifications were not bad—he had studied at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University and was a war correspondent during the liberation—compared to Zou Huofan, he was truly insignificant.

The appointment of Zou Huofan as deputy editor-in-chief is expected to be finalized soon; anyone with eyes to see knows he will be the editor-in-chief after Yan Chen.

Shao Yan said helplessly, "I have reservations."

"I also think that if we don't give seven yuan, we should at least give five or six yuan. Or we can ask Cui Daoyi and refer to their royalties. In short, it's inappropriate to give too little. Why did the Central Committee reinstate royalties?"
Besides reflecting that our country is a socialist country and adopts the principle of distribution according to work, it also serves another purpose: to encourage outstanding writers and poets to participate in creative work. "I think extremely low royalties are not a way to encourage them," said Deputy Editor-in-Chief Ge Luo.

“Old Ge, I don’t agree with what you’re saying. We’re writers and poets, how can we talk about money? It’s too damaging to the image of poets,” Shao Yanxiang said hastily, as if she had found a loophole in his words.

In this era, intellectuals are ashamed to talk about money. People's impression of intellectuals is that they are unconventional and untainted by the smell of money.

"Old Shao, what's your salary?"

“This is different, this is my salary,” Shao Yan said quickly. “Then Lao Shao should publish more poems in our magazine in the future, and the payment will be 3 yuan per article.”

Shao Yan said, "..." I won't say anything more, okay?

Finally, Yan Chen called *People's Literature and Art* magazine and confirmed Liu Yimin's payment as six yuan per thousand words. When Cui Daoyi learned that Liu Yimin was going to publish a poem, he kept asking Yan Chen to read it to him.

All I got in return was: "Let's see after it's published in a few days!"

When Zou Huofan had lunch, he ran into Ge Luo and said with a smile, "Thank you for speaking up today."

Ge Luo is usually very quiet and rarely expresses his opinions.

"I have my own reasons for speaking out. First, it's well-written, and second, Liu Yimin is from my hometown. Our hometowns are probably only a few dozen kilometers apart, both in Los Angeles. It's not easy for a writer and poet to come out of our area."

Ge Luo said happily.

"I see. Without offering high royalties, it's impossible to attract authors. 'Stars' magazine will resume publication next month, and authors will have more choices then."

Although Stars is a magazine in the same field and is based in Sichuan Province, its influence is no less than that of Poetry Journal.

Inside the cultural center's dormitory, Liu Yimin turned on his desk lamp and diligently wrote, occasionally swatting a mosquito that was being too affectionate, admiring its corpse before throwing it to the ground.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the window. When I opened the window and drew back the curtains, I saw Liu Yunsheng standing at the window with a surprised look on his face.

The dormitory building was a long corridor connecting both sides, with ventilation relying on the windows on the left and right. However, Lao Zhang gave Liu Yimin special treatment; his room was located in the middle of the corridor and was originally a duty room with a window at the door.

"Yimin, are you still writing a book so late?" Liu Yunsheng rubbed his eyes, feeling incredulous.

"It's still early, it's only 11:30." Liu Yimin glanced at his watch and said with a smile.

Upon hearing Liu Yimin's words, Liu Yunsheng was instantly wide awake. What did he mean by "it's only 11:30"? It's one thing to be talented, but why is he working so hard at writing?
"Yimin, it's 11:30? I've already taken a nap." Liu Yunsheng got up in the middle of the night and saw the light in the room, assuming that Liu Yimin had fallen asleep and left the light on.

"I'm going to sleep right away. I'm just feeling a lot of inspiration right now, and I'm afraid I'll forget it tomorrow if I don't write it down."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunsheng became excited and hurriedly asked, "Yimin, can I go in and take a look?"

"Come in!" Liu Yimin opened the door.

Liu Yunsheng glanced at his lower body, gave an embarrassed smile, and hurriedly said, "I'll come back later. Don't come over, I'll be right there."

After a while, Liu Yunsheng, dressed neatly, sat down next to Liu Yimin, looked at Liu Yimin's manuscript, and casually discussed literary creation.

"The College Entrance Examination in 1977? Is this a novel about the college entrance examination?"

"Yes, I took the college entrance exam and had some insights, so I'm trying to write them down!"

(End of this chapter)