Writer 1979: Writing for the People

"Old Xu, looks like you're going to be famous again!"

Lu Yao said with a smile while eating lunch at the state-run canteen.

After the two became more familiar with each other, their way of addressing each other changed. One started calling each other by their names, while the other began calling him Old Xu.

Xu Lu was quite used to it. Before the nickname "Writer Xu" became popular in Zhangjia Village, everyone called him Old Xu.

In addition, during this period, under Xu Lu's influence, Lu Yao finally paid a little more attention to her diet.

At least lunch is no longer just pickled vegetables and steamed buns!

As for smoking, he has toned it down a bit compared to before. Writing still holds a lot of weight in Lu Yao's heart. Although he doesn't know if what Xu Lu said is true or false, he'd rather believe it than not!

Whether you become famous or not, just live your life as it comes!

Xu Lu's attitude towards things he couldn't control was always to let them develop as they pleased, without caring at all.

"By the way, Lin Da is about to give birth, right? Has your application for a house with the Writers' Association been approved yet?"

  

Lu Yao is still living with Lin Da in the 10-square-meter dormitory next to Xu Lu. However, since he is about to have a baby and is also planning to bring his mother over to help take care of her during her postpartum period, he is currently applying to the Writers Association for a two-bedroom apartment.

"The process is still underway, but it should be quick. Lin has agreed to give birth in November, and the house will definitely be approved before then!"

"When will she come back to prepare for childbirth?"

Xu Lu asked again, as he was not familiar with the current policies in this regard.

"Maternity leave is 46 days in total, 15 days before delivery and 41 days after delivery..."

Based on the current due date, even at the earliest, it will be at least half a month before I can return to prepare for childbirth.

"Okay, just be careful during this time. If anything happens, come find me anytime!"

Xu Lu reminded him that if any problems arise, having more people means having more strength.

"OK!

By the way, I've almost finished revising the manuscript "A Thrilling Scene," and I'd like to ask you to take another look at it tonight.

If there are no problems, I'll submit it to *Contemporary* magazine tomorrow.

During this period, Lu Yao would spend any free time revising the manuscript.

Although it was only 10,000 more words, Lu Yao felt that writing those 10,000 words was far more difficult than writing the previous 50,000 words.

Fortunately, after spending more than half a month, the manuscript is finally almost finished.

He couldn't help but wonder what kind of feedback he would get after submitting the article.

He certainly trusted Xu Lu's judgment, but he still felt uncertain before the manuscript was approved.

"OK."

Xu Lu certainly wouldn't refuse such a small favor.

……

There are no reviews of "Life on a String" yet, but that's just a matter of time. After all, writing a manuscript or publishing it in a magazine takes time.

Prior to this, the latest issue of "Children's Literature" was scheduled to be published on September 15th...

But for now, let's rewind to half a month ago.

In early September, when Liu Tinghua returned to the editorial department with the manuscript of "Calabash Brothers," he immediately knocked on the door of the editor-in-chief's office.

The editor-in-chief of "Children's Literature" at that time was Jin Jin, a famous children's literature writer whose representative works include "The Kitten Fishing" and "The Little Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate"!

He was also the actual organizer of the publication, having taken over Children's Literature since the 1960s.

He absolutely deserves credit for the magazine's success today.

"Tinghua, you're back. How was your trip to Shaanxi Province?"

Upon seeing Liu Tinghua enter, Jin Jin smiled.

The other party is young, highly skilled, and handles interpersonal relationships well, so he has always valued her highly.

"Editor-in-chief, during my recent trip to Shaanxi Province, I visited the editorial office of 'Yanhe' magazine and met Comrade Xu Lu..."

Liu Tinghua began to recount the entire process in detail, and then took out the manuscript of "Calabash Brothers".

Jin Jin was also surprised when he heard that Liu Tinghua had actually asked Xu Lu to write a manuscript and had already brought his new manuscript.

He knew about the reposting of "Calabash Brothers". He had read the story and thought it was indeed good. Although it was a pity that it wasn't first published here, it was better than nothing to repost it.

He originally intended to write a letter, but since Liu Tinghua was going there to participate in an event, he simply handed the matter over to him.

Jin Jin was unaware of the commission from Xu Lu, and what he didn't expect was that Liu Tinghua actually got the sequel to "Calabash Brothers".

Wow, that person's writing efficiency is really high!

However, it remains to be seen how good this so-called "sequel" will be...

He thought similarly to Liu Tinghua before him, believing that the plot of "Calabash Brothers" was already quite complete and there was no need to write a sequel.

If you were to actually write it, it would be very difficult to guarantee the quality.

Although he didn't know exactly how Xu Lu conceived the idea, he trusted Liu Tinghua's judgment.

Since he dared to ask for the manuscript directly and even offered a high price of six yuan per thousand words, he believed that the manuscript must have something special about it.

He immediately took the manuscript and began to read it carefully.

Liu Tinghua waited there, awaiting Jin Jin's response.

Jin Jin's mental journey while reading "Calabash Brothers" was similar to Liu Tinghua's.

After watching the beginning and discovering that Xu Lu had introduced the character of the Green Snake Spirit, he felt relieved.

After all, the story can only continue if there are new characters and new bosses.

As for whether I can write it well?

It all depends on the author's own ability!

Judging from Xu Lu's performance in "Calabash Brothers", Jin Jin felt that the story shouldn't be too bad.

Sure enough, as the story unfolded, Jin Jin's smile became more and more frequent.

Jin Jin knew that Xu Lu was more famous for his adult literature works, but in Jin Jin's opinion, who mainly wrote children's literature, Xu Lu was equally skilled in that field.

Whether it's his previous work "Calabash Brothers" or this current one "Calabash Brothers: Little King Kong," he always manages to write stories that are both simple and exciting, both fun and meaningful.

"This story deserves six yuan per thousand words. Tinghua, you made the right choice!"

Jin Jin nodded in approval.

It would be such a shame if someone else snatched this manuscript!

Liu Tinghua smiled, feeling relieved, and then asked again.

"By the way, editor-in-chief, if we're going to reprint 'Calabash Brothers,' will this article, 'Little Calabash King Kong,' be published in the next issue?"

Currently, the word count of a single issue of "Children's Literature" is around 10 words, while "Calabash Brothers" and "Calabash Little King Kong" together already have more than 4 words, basically taking up half of the page.

Never before in the history of Children's Literature has a single issue published a story with so many words...

Whether to release it all at once or in two parts is a decision that can only be made by editor-in-chief Jin Jin.

"Let's rearrange the layout and put both stories together. This is such a wonderful story, let everyone enjoy it all at once!"

Soon after, Jin Jin made a decision!