Entertainment Era: My Good Sister Is All Over the World

The leaders of the Jiangmen Federation of Literary and Art Circles also secretly approached Huang Wenbin.

They already knew that the novel in "Foshan Literature and Art" was written by him.

Therefore, I would like to ask Huang Wenbin to write a similar martial arts novel for our "Jiangmen Literature and Art" magazine.

Huang Wenbin did not agree directly, but said that they would talk about it after he had written a suitable manuscript.

He still has a lot of unfinished manuscripts to write. Once he finishes them all, he'll start a new project.

Or rather, he needs to find a few partners who can help him complete some novels, which is commonly known as ghostwriting.

Otherwise, it would be too much for him to write on his own, and many of his creative ideas would go to waste.

The day after the banquet, Du Qifeng, Liu Songren, and others set off for Hong Kong.

Before leaving, Cherie Chung slipped Wong Man-bun a note with his Hong Kong address and a six-digit phone number, presumably a public phone number in Chungking Mansions.

Two days later, Xu Xiaoming, together with Huang Wenbin, finished the first draft of the 25 episodes of "The Legendary Fok Yuan-gap" and returned to Hong Kong.

Because Huang Wenbin added a lot of material to this version of Huo Yuanjia, it has five more episodes than the original.

About a month later, most of the scenes for "Let the Bullets Fly" were filmed, with only some scattered scenes left, such as the opening scene of a horse pulling a train. They had to go back to Yanjing to find another location to film those scenes.

The filming here is finished. Everyone, pack up and get ready to return to Beijing.

However, Huang Wenbin's destination was different from everyone else's; he needed to go to Shanghai.

Two days ago, Li Xiaolin, the editor of "Harvest," personally came to Jiangmen to see him.

He wasn't there to solicit a manuscript, but rather because his novel, "Leaving Home at Eighteen," had caused a huge stir in Shanghai's literary circles after it was published in "Harvest."

The elderly writer Ba Jin wanted to organize a large-scale writers' conference, inviting many new and established authors from all over the country to gather together, exchange ideas, enhance the vitality of Shanghai literature, and promote the development of contemporary literature.

However, due to the large number of people involved and the involvement of various units in other provinces and cities, the Shanghai Writers Association has been slow to issue its approval.

However, Ba Jin couldn't wait any longer and planned to hold a small writers' gathering in Shanghai first, so he invited six authors, Huang Wenbin being one of them.

This time, the Writers Association quickly gave its approval, as they wanted to see how the writing conference would go first.

Li Xiaolin sent invitations to both Yenching Film Academy and Beijing Film Studio, but Beijing Film Studio informed her that Huang Wenbin had gone to Guangdong Province to film a movie.

So Li Xiaolin personally came over to invite Huang Wenbin.

Huang Wenbin murmured, "This matter requires the approval of our dean and Factory Director Wang."

"I've thought of that for you."

Li Xiaolin smiled and took out two letters from her bag: "Before I came here, I went to Yanjing and got permission from your Dean Lu and Factory Director Wang."

Huang Wenbin took the letter and saw that it was indeed written to him by Director Wang and Dean Lu, both of whom were telling him to go to Shanghai and learn from Mr. Ba.

"Such kindness! I'll gladly accept it!" Huang Wenbin nodded. "I'll head to Shanghai as soon as my filming here is finished."

Li Xiaolin left a letter of introduction and departed satisfied, as she was going to meet several other authors.

In fact, Li Xiaolin could have simply written a letter or sent a telegram to each author, but she chose to personally invite them. Such hospitality is truly rare, and it's unlikely that any author would refuse.

In early December 1979, Huang Wenbin took a train from Guangzhou to Shanghai, while Chen Huaikai and others returned to Beijing.

However, Chen Huaikai did not let Huang Wenbin go to Shanghai alone, but instead had Yang Zaibao accompany him.

This era was both a time of flourishing literature and a time of unbridled growth.

When traveling alone, it's easy to be targeted, especially on trains and at train stations where there are many thieves.

Robbery is a minor matter; the worst thing is encountering thugs who don't know their own strength.

In February of this year, body parts were found on train No. 27 from Yanjing to Dandong. Although it was later confirmed that the body was disposed of after a murder, it also shows that the train station is indeed a mixed bag.

Huang Wenbin realized that he had been somewhat inconsiderate and expressed his gratitude to Director Chen and Yang Zaibao.

"You're still young, you haven't experienced much hardship yet."

On the train, Yang Zaibao smiled and said, "When two people travel together, they can look out for each other. Also, don't trust strangers on the train unless you have a lot of friends around you."

Huang Wenbin nodded: "I've learned a lot."

Yang Zaibao said with a smile, "These are just some ordinary pieces of advice. You'll understand once you travel a few more times."

This journey will also take more than 20 hours, and we will have to change trains once along the way.

By the time we arrived at Shanghai North Railway Station, it was already the next morning.

Yang Zaibao had lived in Shanghai for many years and was very familiar with the area. He took Huang Wenbin to the Shanghai Writers Association, which was located at 675 Julu Road.

"The Harvest Magazine Press, the Shanghai Literature Magazine Press, and the former Sprout Magazine were all located here."

Yang Zaibao smiled and introduced to Huang Wenbin: "However, 'Sprout' magazine stopped publication in 66 and hasn't resumed publication yet. Go inside and find the greenest building; the 'Harvest' magazine office is on the third floor."

"Thank you, Brother Yang," Huang Wenbin said sincerely.

Yang Zaibao laughed heartily and waved his hand: "I originally wanted to invite you to my house, but you probably don't have time. I'll invite you another time."

Huang Wenbin nodded: "I will definitely visit when I have time."

Yang Zaibao turned and left.

Huang Wenbin walked into the Shanghai Writers Association compound with a little trepidation. His first impression was, "Wow, so damn green!"

Although it's already December, the temperature in Shanghai hasn't dropped too much, and the trees in the courtyard haven't turned yellow much yet.

Huang Wenbin found the greenest building and went inside.

Upon reaching the third floor, I indeed saw a room across the hallway with a sign on the door that read "Harvest Editorial Department".

"Hello?"

Huang Wenbin peeked into the magazine office and saw that there seemed to be two or three people inside, so he knocked on the door.

Upon hearing the sound, two people turned their heads to look over.

"Who are you looking for?" one of the elderly women, who was in her fifties, asked with a smile.

Huang Wenbin immediately introduced himself: "My name is Huang Wenbin. I was invited by editor Li Xiaolin to attend the writers' conference."

"Oh, you're Huang Wenbin?"

"He's so young, and handsome too."

The old lady was a little surprised and quickly waved her hand, saying, "Don't stand outside, come in quickly."

Huang Wenbin stepped inside.

Another young male editor immediately brought Huang Wenbin a chair.

"Xiaolin praised you a lot, saying you'll definitely be a great writer in the future." The old lady looked at Huang Wenbin with a smile: "Judging from your appearance, you might actually become a big star."

Huang Wenbin could only smile awkwardly: "You flatter me. May I ask who you are?"

"My name is Guo Zhuo, and I'm the head of the review team." The old lady was very enthusiastic and said to Huang Wenbin, "I was the one who reviewed your article 'Going Out into the World at Eighteen' during the second review, and Ba Jin himself reviewed it during the final review."

"Thank you very much, Editor Guo," Huang Wenbin said casually.

He had barely sat down when a number of people gathered around him.

Even the editors of the neighboring "Shanghai Literature" magazine joined in to see what was going on.

The hottest literary theme this year is undoubtedly "scar literature," and the most sought-after writers are Liu Xinwu and others. However, after the National Congress of Literary and Art Circles, the most dazzling new star in the literary world is Huang Wenbin.

To be favored by an elder and have someone personally write a message for you—that must be an immense honor; you'd certainly be considered a star.

The editors who were watching couldn't help but bombard Huang Wenbin with questions:

"Comrade Huang Wenbin, is there a real-life person behind your story 'The Heart-Shaped Stone'?"

No, it's just wishful thinking.

"Leaving home at eighteen? How did you write that? That's a bit strange."

That's magical realism, it came from Latin America.

"Hey, can you write poetry?"

I haven't written much.

I liked your piece...

Thank you for your kindness; I will work even harder.

Huang Wenbin wasn't too nervous, though his ears hurt a little, but he still answered their questions one by one.

"Alright, alright, stop asking."

Guo Zhuochong waved to them, "If you scare everyone away, Xiaolin will hold you responsible."

The editors then left sheepishly.

"You just got off the train, right?" Guo Zhuo asked again.

Huang Wenbin nodded.

"Xiao Peng, take Comrade Xiao Huang to the guesthouse to check in first."

Guo Zhuo called over the young male editor and then said to Huang Wenbin, "What's the matter? Take a day off, and we'll discuss it in detail later."

"Okay." The young editor nodded, then said to Huang Wenbin, "Let's go, I'll take you there."

Huang Wenbin waved goodbye to Editor Guo and the others, then followed Editor Peng downstairs to the bike shed to get his bicycle.

"Come on up," Editor Peng said to Huang Wenbin with a smile. "The guesthouse is a bit far, and the road is a bit bumpy, so make sure you're seated firmly."

"It's alright, I'm not afraid." Huang Wenbin didn't mind and got into the back seat.

Editor Peng laughed, started the car, and sped out of the compound.

"The nearest guesthouse to us is the guesthouse of East China Normal University."

As they rode, Editor Peng explained to Huang Wenbin, "So all the writers who come here are arranged to stay there; it takes about half an hour to ride there."

"You can take the bus when you come tomorrow," Editor Peng casually told him a bus route.

"For meals, you can eat at the cafeteria at East China Normal University. Of course, if you have enough money on you, you can also eat at restaurants outside."

Half an hour later, the two entered East China Normal University and soon arrived at the guesthouse.

Editor Peng helped Huang Wenbin check in and gave him a paper sign: "Room 404 is a double room. There's already a writer in there, who's also an editor. He arrived a day earlier than you. You two can have a good exchange of writing experiences."

"Okay, thank you." Huang Wenbin took the sign, looked at the number, and was speechless. It was another 404 error.

Editor Peng arrived at room 404 and knocked on the door: "Are you there?"

The door slowly opened, and a wisp of smoke drifted out first.

Then, a rather simple face appeared in front of Huang Wenbin.

The man looked to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, wearing a gray sweater, and was a bit overweight.

"This is the new writer, Huang Wenbin. Please get along well with him."

Editor Peng and the other introduced themselves: "This gentleman, whose pen name is Lu Yao, is only thirty years old this year. He is an editor at the Yanhe Magazine and also a writer."

"Hello." Huang Wenbin's eyes lit up, and he extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, nice to meet you."