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

Chapter 75 Reprint Fee (Seeking votes and continued reading)
The first issue of "Today" published his poem "Answer," which Liu Yimin also liked very much. Most of the poems published in the first issue were poems they had written before, and apart from "Answer," there weren't many others worth reading.

Many poems are just a few short sentences put together, and it's even difficult to understand what they mean. This is why Ai Qing and Zang Kejia called them "obscure." Some of their poems are probably only understood by themselves.

The inaugural address and message to readers are quite interesting. The inaugural address states that the older generation of poets has fallen behind, and a new era of poetry has begun. Could these older poets be happy to hear this? Liu Yimin thinks that these old men have already shown considerable patience by waiting until the late 1980s to release their work.

The key is that even if it's well-written, most of it is the same as what those people at the Ruxian Cultural Center write. The only difference is that they don't have their own publications, so they can't get published.

The message to readers is even more interesting, stating that "history has finally given us an opportunity." Considering Bei Dao's stance, it becomes quite intriguing. No wonder that after going abroad, he viewed criticism from within China as partisan strife, or even persecution.

Today was priced at 50 cents a copy, more than three times more expensive than People's Literature and Art and Yanjing Literature and Art. This is understandable, as apart from the paper being provided free of charge, everything else cost money, making it incomparable to regular publications.

Liu Yimin folded the magazine up, estimating that in a few days, the campus and surrounding areas would be filled with discussions about it.

"Yimin, you can actually read English books?" Li Xueqin asked in surprise, looking at the book Liu Yimin was holding. Then, he squinted and hummed a couple of times, "Are you trying to act all high and mighty? Our English levels are about the same, practically zero. I don't believe you can understand it."

"To be honest, I study English while you're sleeping. I don't think English is difficult. As long as you master the techniques, you can all learn it," Liu Yimin said to Li Xueqin, who looked unconvinced, after closing the book.

"Then tell us, what is this book about?"

"This book records the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1960s, as well as Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech..." Martin Luther King Jr. has a famous speech called "I Have a Dream," which was later included in Chinese students' Chinese textbooks.

Upon hearing this, the three realized they could really understand it, so they pulled Liu Yimin aside and explained the story to them. Some students passing by their dormitory, hearing that someone was talking about American history, also stopped and came in.

Liu Yimin gave a brief explanation of the triangular trade, how the Hey People became American Hey People, how they picked cotton on plantations, and then he went on to tell them about what happened in American society in the 1950s and 60s, how the Hey People fought for their rights, and how Hey People leaders were assassinated.

"Damn it, these white people are really scum. They helped them win the Civil War and then helped them in other wars, and they still get discriminated against." Liu Zhenyun was so angry that he even spoke in his Henan dialect. After entering Yenching University, everyone was very careful about their accents, even though sometimes their Mandarin was not very good.

"Therefore, there has never been a savior, nor can we rely on gods or emperors; we must rely entirely on ourselves!"

"That American guy is holding a fire poker!"

“You don’t understand, they call this nonviolent non-cooperation.”

“That’s right. If it’s nonviolent non-cooperation, then they’ll cooperate with violence.”

The moment the speaker uttered the words, it immediately drew laughter from many people. Those familiar with Gandhi knew the meaning of nonviolent non-cooperation; the student had made a complete fool of himself, yet still didn't understand what he had done wrong.

"Actually, it's not bad to some extent!" Liu Yimin chuckled. If one strike doesn't work, what about three strikes in one second?

"Clap clap clap!" Three short but loud claps rang out at the dormitory entrance. Liu Yimin turned his head and saw an old man in a coarse cotton coat standing at the door, looking at Liu Yimin with admiration.

"Professor, who are you?!"

"Professor Deng?" A student recognized the old man as Deng Guangming, the head of the History Department. Deng Guangming squeezed in through the door and said with a smile, "Liu Yimin, you spoke well. I was chatting with Lao Zang the other day, and he mentioned that a young man from the Chinese Department of Yenching University has emerged in the poetry and literature circles. I didn't expect to meet him today."

"Professor, you flatter me. I was just making it up!"

“Young man, there’s no need to be modest. I came here to talk to the history students about a problem, and I just happened to overhear you. You go on, and I’ll listen. Maybe we can exchange some experiences.”

"Yimin, this is the royalties. I'm bringing it to you so you don't have to make a trip!" Cui Daoyi handed Liu Yimin a yellow envelope containing not only the royalties for "Hachiko: A Dog's Tale," but also royalties from magazines or newspapers that reprinted the story.

A total of five magazines and newspapers reprinted the novel "College Entrance Examination 1977". Some magazines sent it to Liu Yimin, while others sent it to "People's Literature and Art", which then forwarded it to Liu Yimin.

"In just six months, the standard royalties have reached seven yuan. This speed can be described as unprecedented. Take your senior brother Chen Jiangong, for example. His current standard royalties, which Lao Zhou gives him, should be four yuan. It's going to increase recently, but it's only five yuan."

Last time you met that Feng Jicai, I heard you didn't have to revise your manuscript, and you were depressed for days.

Chen Jiangong is a young writer whom Yanjing Literature is preparing to cultivate as a key talent. Apart from Yanjing Literature, he rarely publishes in other magazines.

"Haha, I think Comrade Feng Jicai has something in his belly, he's so warm-hearted." Liu Yimin recalled how warmly Feng Jicai hugged him when he last visited People's Literature and Art.

"The manuscript needs to be revised multiple times, and the monthly subsidy is higher than my salary."

"Thank you so much for coming to deliver the payment in person, senior. Let's go, I'll treat you to dinner."

I received a total of 315 yuan in royalties for "Hachiko: A Dog's Tale". The reprint fee was less than the regular fee for the original article, but even so, the money in the envelope still amounted to 500 yuan.

Cui Daoyi grabbed Liu Yimin's arm. "Alright, don't bother. I can't accept your meal. If I do, it'll be hard to get the manuscript done later. Do you have any ideas lately?"

"Senior brother, please let me go. It's so cold, I can't even open my arms properly. I have to take it slowly."

"Young people have plenty of energy, what's a little hardship? Your twenties are the prime of your literary career, you can't waste it. Didn't you say that those who chase the light will shine brightly? Your hands may be cold in the dead of winter, but the words you write will be dazzling. My junior brother, keep trying, keep going, and keep going!"

Cui Daoyi patted Liu Yimin on the shoulder, gave him a smug smile, and rode off on his bicycle.

Liu Yimin pouted and said, "Hey, senior brother, those are all my lines!"

"No matter whose words they are, if they can be used, they are good words. If you need anything, come to People's Literature and Art magazine to find me. Remember to bring your manuscript when you come."

Please vote! There will be an extra chapter tonight, I'll post both chapters together in a bit!

(End of this chapter)