1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

In the end, Liu Juan didn't receive any definite news and could only go home.

After communicating with Zhang Shouren, Chen Weidong revised the manuscript of "Hibiscus Town" again.

"Weidong, the symposium is scheduled for next Monday. Just come to the October editorial office then. Don't forget."

Unable to resist the warm hospitality of Chen's mother and Chen Weidong, Zhang Shouren had lunch at the Chen family's house and gave them special instructions before leaving.

"No problem, I'll definitely be there beforehand."

After seeing Zhang Shouren off and entering the house, Chen's mother couldn't help but ask, "Weidong, have you written a new novel again?"

Before Chen Weidong started writing, his mother couldn't distinguish between newspapers and magazines at all, and she referred to poetry, prose, and novels collectively as "articles."

It wasn't until Chen Weidong published "The Horse Herder" that Chen's mother realized that the article was actually divided into so many parts, and that what Chen Weidong wrote was actually a novel!

"Yes, I submitted my article yesterday, and today Brother Zhang came over to tell me that it passed the review and to give me the payment."

"Really! That's great! How much did they give you this time? Was it 150?"

Chen's mother asked excitedly. She clearly remembered that the last time she received 125 yuan for the manuscript of "The Herdsman". This time the manuscript is so thick, she guessed that it must be more than "The Herdsman"!

"Mom, Weidong received 1,155 yuan in royalties this time!"

"How many!?"

"One thousand one hundred and fifty-five yuan! Here is the royalty statement, please take a look."

Chen Weidong smiled and handed over the royalty statement.

Although Chen's mother was illiterate, she still knew how much money was.

"Why are there so many this time!?"

Chen's mother said in shock, "You know, 1,155 yuan is equivalent to three or four years' income for an ordinary worker."

It should be noted that Chen's father only earns 647.52 yuan a year, and his eldest son, Chen Jianguo, only earns 396 yuan a year.

One article by Chen Weidong is equivalent to two years' salary for his father and three times the salary of Chen Jianguo. Even if he were to buy bicycles, he could buy six or seven of them.

"That's because my eldest grandson is amazing!"

Grandma Chen was initially surprised, then delighted. She took the royalty statement from her mother and looked at it again and again, liking it more and more each time.

"I wrote more words this time, so I got paid more. Also, last time, when I was a new author for 'The Herdsman,' the magazine paid me five yuan per thousand words. This time they increased it to seven yuan per thousand words, so it's more."

Chen Weidong explained it again.

"Wei Dong is still the best!"

Sister-in-law Chen sighed. It turned out that she looked down on Chen Weidong, thinking that he was a good-for-nothing who didn't live a good life and was always causing trouble or thinking about unrealistic things. Moreover, he was always acting on a whim.

However, since Chen Weidong returned from the countryside, he has changed a lot and can even write articles. But in Chen's sister-in-law's opinion, it is still a bit unreliable. After all, one article's fee can't support you for a lifetime. It would be more practical and stable to find a formal job.

However, upon hearing that Chen Weidong had successfully submitted another article and received a payment of up to a thousand yuan, Sister-in-law Chen's original mindset was instantly shattered.

Although being a writer isn't guaranteed a stable income, it's incredibly lucrative; one submission can provide enough to live on for three years.

You should know that she and Brother Chen have been married for eight or nine years, and they still haven't saved up a thousand yuan.

Chen Weidong earned it effortlessly!

This had a tremendous impact on her!

Hearing the praise from everyone, Su Man's smile grew wider and wider, and her worries from the past few days vanished instantly.

Chen Weidong is indeed a big spender, but he's also a pro at making money. He earned over a hundred yuan from his first novel, and now the royalties for his second novel have increased tenfold.

Let's spend more if it's necessary!

She will try to manage things more closely so that she can save more money for the children.

"Can I exchange this for money?"

After looking through the items for a while, Old Mrs. Chen asked Chen Weidong a question.

"Yes, Grandma, with this royalty slip, you can go to the post office to cash the money."

"Then you should go quickly."

Grandma Chen still felt that the piece of paper was not very reliable and that it would be more practical to exchange it for money, at least that would be something tangible and visible.

"Then I'll go out for a bit. Honey, could you bring me our family's household registration book?"

Since the ID card system is not yet widespread, you must bring your household registration booklet if you want to withdraw money from the post office.

Chen Weidong took his royalty statement and household registration book to the post office. Compared to Lin'an County, the post office in Yanjing was much larger.

"Comrade, what kind of service do you need?"

"I'd like to withdraw money."

Chen Weidong handed over the royalty statement and his household registration book.

The salesperson skillfully opened the window. She handles at least three or four similar cash withdrawal transactions a day, all of which are people from other places sending money to relatives and friends.

Ok?

A royalty statement?!

I never knew he was a writer!

One thousand one hundred and fifty-five yuan!

The salesperson thought he had misread it, but after looking at it again, he realized it was indeed correct: 1,155 yuan!

What article did you write? Why is it worth so much money?

Chen Weidong!

Something looks familiar!

"Comrade, comrade, is there a problem?"

Chen Weidong noticed that the salesperson had been staring at his royalty statement for a long time without reacting, so he thought there was a problem and asked a question.

"Oh, no problem. Just sign your name and I'll get the money for you right away."

Chen Weidong signed his name on the receipt, took a thick stack of ten-yuan notes from the salesperson, and a five-yuan note with a picture of a steelworker on it.

There are no fifty or one hundred yuan banknotes now; the largest denomination on the market is the ten-yuan note. It's possible that someone like Chen Weidong, who exchanges more than a thousand yuan at once, won't be seen for several months.

Chen Weidong counted the money again in front of him, confirmed the amount was correct, and then signed his name before leaving the post office.

With his hands clasped tightly to his chest, feeling the thickness and weight of his pockets, he realized he was now considered a thousand-yuan household!

In his previous life, it wasn't until more than ten years later that his savings exceeded four figures.

This is a full ten years ahead of my previous life, and the money is earned honestly and fairly. It's true that being a writer is really popular at this time!

"Did you retrieve it?"

When Su Man saw Chen Weidong enter, she immediately stood up and asked him a question.

"Yes, I retrieved it. It's all here."

Chen Weidong put down the bag, which was actually just a small pouch his mother had sewn together from scraps of cloth. Luckily, he had brought the pouch with him; otherwise, it would have been difficult to get so much money back.

Su Man opened it and took a look; it was stuffed full of 100-yuan bills.

"Take the child to the main room and sit for a while, I'll check the money."

Su Man carried Chen Xiaosui over; Chen Xiaoan was fast asleep, otherwise they would have had to move as well.

"Just count them already, why are you hiding it?"

Chen Weidong hadn't realized before that Su Man was a bit of a money-grubber.

"Go quickly."

"Okay, okay, I'll be right there. I'm planning to take my parents and grandma out for a meal later. Remember to bring plenty of money."

"Oh, going out to eat?"

Su Man frowned slightly.

"I planned to take everyone out to eat at the beginning of the year, but I didn't have enough money then. This time, I just received my royalties, so let's go out and see the world."

"Okay, I'll come over after I've finished counting."

Su Man finally agreed. Since they came back this time, her family had helped them a lot. Old Mrs. Chen, Mother Chen, and Sister-in-law Chen would also come over from time to time to help them take care of the children. It was normal for them to treat everyone to a meal out.

……

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