Entertainment Era: My Good Sister Is All Over the World

That's how writing is; for authors like Chen Cun, all they have to do is write.

However, for a literary giant like Ba Jin, there were many more things to consider.

Li Li didn't stay long either; she said goodbye and left an hour later.

Ba Jin was also a little tired and needed to rest for a while.

Editor Peng, along with Huang Wenbin and the others, took the opportunity to say goodbye and returned to the Harvest magazine office for a short meeting.

The meeting didn't cover anything particularly special; it was just a discussion of the suggestions and inspirations we received from Mr. Ba Jin, as well as our subsequent creative plans.

Zhang Xianliang was deeply inspired today and said with a serious expression, "Master Ba is right. A novel is the best subject to carry everything and can perfectly express my thoughts. I plan to write a novel."

"That's great!" Editor Peng nodded. "If you need any help, just let us know. We can work together to polish your work. Harvest magazine has some veteran editors with decades of experience who can give you some suitable advice."

Then, he looked at the others.

Zhang Kangkang cleared his throat and said softly, "I still have some short stories I haven't finished, but I also have the idea for a long novel, which I need to refine gradually. My writing skills also need to be improved slowly."

"You did the right thing!" Editor Peng agreed with Zhang Kangkang's idea: "When you lack confidence, there's no need to force yourself to write a long novel. Xianliang is an experienced author; he has the ability to handle long novels. It's only natural for you to choose to hone your skills further. Don't rush, take it slow."

Lu Xing'er, however, lacked confidence: "I probably don't have the ability to handle long novels. Writing a short story is already quite difficult for me, and a novella would be even more challenging."

"Like I said, take it slow." Editor Peng encouraged him directly: "You have a high output of short stories, and the quality is also good. So play to your strengths and write more when you feel it's about time."

"Although I received encouragement from Buffett, I am well aware of my own level."

Lu Yao may seem a bit dull, but he's actually very decisive and has his own plans for everything he does. "I'm planning to write another novella. This idea has been lingering in my mind, and I have to write it down first before I can think about what comes next. Besides, I already have a novella that I haven't published yet."

"It's great that you have your own ideas!" Editor Peng said earnestly. "Your article, 'A Heart-Stopping Scene,' is actually very well written. It doesn't need any more revisions. Just submit it in the next couple of days. It will be published in the first issue of 'Harvest' next year."

Lu Yao's eyes lit up, and he immediately beamed with joy: "Thank you, Editor Peng."

Editor Peng turned to look at Chen Cun and Huang Wenbin. Chen Cun immediately spoke up, "Editor Peng, don't worry. Writing a long novel is no big deal. I'll definitely be able to submit one next year."

"I wasn't asking you." Editor Peng also teased Chen Cun with a smile. "I was looking at Comrade Xiao Huang. He already has experience writing novels, so writing another one really won't be difficult for him."

Writing a novel is indeed not difficult for Huang Wenbin. He has too much material to write about and many existing works to copy.

Huang Wenbin said, "Don't worry, Editor Peng, I will be able to submit a full-length manuscript within the next two or three months."

"You said it yourself, so I won't rush you." Editor Peng laughed. He really thought highly of Huang Wenbin. Anyone who had read his scripts could see how terrifyingly talented this kid was.

"Alright, that's all for this little meeting." Editor Peng turned his gaze away and clapped his hands. "You can all go back to the guesthouse. You can stay for another two days, or just buy tickets home."

"Hey, hey, Editor Peng, at least pay attention to me!" Chen Cun said anxiously, grabbing Editor Peng's hand. "I'm a member of the writers' association now, and a young writer that Harvest is focusing on developing. I have the ability to write novels, really, I'm not kidding you."

Editor Peng joked, "You'd better submit a short story to me first."

"You look down on me, huh!" Chen Cun's pride was wounded. "Old Peng, you just wait, I'll write a short story tonight that'll scare you to death!"

Editor Peng nodded: "I'm waiting."

After saying that, he got up and left. It wasn't that he really looked down on Chen Cun, but that this guy was too unruly and couldn't be tolerated at all.

"Hey, do you think he looks down on me?" Chen Cun couldn't catch up with Editor Peng, so he turned around and asked the others.

Lu Xing'er suppressed a laugh and nodded seriously: "You're right, Editor Peng looks down on you, and I look down on you too."

"Hey Lu Xing'er, what do you mean?" Chen Cun retorted, pointing at her and saying, "How about we have a competition to see who can finish writing a novel first?"

Lu Xing'er rolled her eyes: "Even if you wrote a pile of crap, would I compare myself to you?"

Chen Cun retorted irritably, "If I had the ability to publish this pile of shit, it would be a good pile of shit that benefits the country and its people. Unlike you, you can't even poop. You're constipated today, aren't you!"

"Disgusting! You're such a jerk!" Lu Xing'er blushed, spat at Chen Cun, and pulled Zhang Kangkang away.

The group returned to the guesthouse one after another.

Four men stood with the door open, smoking in the hallway, continuing their conversation about literature and recent national events.

As they chatted, Zhang Xianliang suddenly exclaimed, "Are we crazy? What are a bunch of grown men doing talking about literature, women, fishing, and sports?!"

Chen Cun immediately got excited: "Then let's talk about women. How should we talk about them, and where should we go about it? I know a lot about women."

"You're not still a virgin, are you?" Zhang Xianliang blurted out.

Chen Cun immediately blushed, then pointed at Huang Wenbin: "He must be too!"

Zhang Xianliang kept his eyes on him and said with a smile, "Comrade Huang is only 19 years old, while you're already in your mid-twenties!"

"Then why don't you ask Lu Yao!" Chen Cun pointed at Lu Yao.

"I'm married!" Lu Yao chuckled lightly; he had just gotten married last year.

Chen Cun was struck another blow, then shouted, "I had a girlfriend in college, and we're getting married after graduation. How could I possibly do that kind of thing before marriage? That would be worse than being an animal!"

"Good man!" Zhang Xianliang gave a thumbs up.

Chen Cun's eyes darted around, and he said ambiguously, "Brother Zhang, you didn't... you know... before you got married, did you?"

Zhang Xianliang just chuckled and said nothing more. He turned to Huang Wenbin and said, "Comrade Huang, your article 'The Heart-Shaped Stone' is very powerful. It captures the mentality of movie stars in the Republic of China very well. How did you do that? I've only heard my grandfather mention it to me."

Zhang Xianliang's family background was quite impressive during the Republic of China era. His grandfather, Zhang Ming, was a member of the Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance) and had served as a diplomat for the Nationalist government. His father, Zhang Youlong, graduated from Harvard Business School and had served as Zhang Xueliang's English secretary. His mother, Chen Qinyi, also came from a prominent family; her father was Chen Shuping, the prefect of Wuchang during the late Qing Dynasty and an advisor to President Li Yuanhong.

Zhang Xianliang had indeed encountered such a family background in his early years.

The group chatted haphazardly about everything from astronomy and geography to elephants and ants. When they got tired of talking, they went back to their rooms to rest.

The next morning, Lu Yao took his leave. Besides writing, he also had a regular job to do, and Yanhe magazine only granted him three days' leave.

Zhang Xianliang was going to take the train back to Yinchuan; he was an editor for the Ningxia-based magazine "Shuowen".

Chencun is right in Shanghai, so there's no need to move. However, I'm exhausted from working on this all night.

The remaining Zhang Kangkang and Chen Xing'er went north with Huang Wenbin.

Zhang Kangkang is still a member of the Heilongjiang Writers Association. She has a formal position there and is a full-time writer on creative leave. Naturally, she has to transfer trains in Beijing to return to Heilongjiang.

Lu Xing'er is still a student at the Central Academy of Drama and will be returning to Yanjing.

Moreover, it's safer to have three people with you.

Huang Wenbin was in charge of buying the tickets; he really didn't want to take the slow, green train anymore.

So he bought tickets for the three of them for a direct express train, which would take only 19 hours to reach Yanjing. The train was red and white.

This era has indeed been very kind to him.