Writer 1979: Writing for the People

Chapter 61 The True Talent Scout

In September 1979, Contemporary was in its early growth stage, having just published its inaugural issue in July.

Originally, the plan was to print only 50,000 copies, but the editor-in-chief, Qin Zhaoyang, gritted his teeth and increased it to 70,000 copies. At first, he was worried about what would happen if it didn't sell. But as soon as it hit the market, it received a warm response.

In just one week, they were all sold out.

It's a pity that paper was in short supply and large-scale printing was not possible, otherwise the final results would have been even more impressive.

Such success on the first attempt is naturally encouraging, and it has strengthened the editors of Contemporary magazine's determination to run the magazine well.

However, new problems arose.

Although "Contemporary" had made a name for itself in the literary world at this point, it was still not as established as other "veteran" publications.

Their foundation is still not deep enough.

Therefore, although we have received a lot of submissions during this period, very few of them are actually usable.

Even though "Contemporary" is now a quarterly publication and requires far fewer submissions than monthly magazines, everyone still can't help but worry when they see so few accepted submissions.

That morning, Li Jinfeng, a part-time editor at Contemporary, was sorting through the latest submissions he had just received.

Since Contemporary is a newly established magazine, it adopts a model of "full-time core staff + part-time collaboration throughout the company".

Apart from the two full-time heads, the remaining editors are mainly part-time staff drawn from various editorial departments within the publishing house.

Li Jinfeng, for example, was originally from the North Fiction Group of the Modern Literature Editorial Department of People's Literature Publishing House. He has now been transferred here to be in charge of the preliminary review work of the "Contemporary" fiction group.

While distributing the manuscripts, he suddenly noticed a familiar address: No. 71 Jianguo Road, Anxi City.

This looks like the editorial office of "Yanhe" magazine!

  

Wang Weiguo?

He wasn't very familiar with that name.

However, when he opened the envelope and saw the pen name "Lu Yao" inside, he still had some recollection of it.

In the original history, Lu Yao's most famous work was indeed "A Heart-Stopping Scene", but before that, he had already published quite a few works in provincial publications.

Examples include "Silver Flowers in Full Bloom", "The Man Who Can't Write Poetry", and "Father and Son"!

They are the backbone of the literary world!

Li Jinfeng couldn't possibly have no recollection of him at all!

Li Jinfeng was overjoyed to finally see a writer with some recognition among the submissions.

He wasn't expecting to get any blockbuster works from the other party; he just thought that writers of this caliber usually have a relatively stable output, so the quality of this issue's manuscript should not look too bad.

He pulled out the manuscript, sat down at his desk, and began to carefully read through its contents.

Throughout the story, his expressions changed constantly as the plot unfolded.

Finally, he picked up the manuscript and, to the astonishment of his colleagues, rushed into the office of the editor-in-chief, Qin Zhaoyang.

He's struck gold this time!

Comrade Lu Yao:

Your novella, "A Heart-Stopping Scene," has been reviewed and approved by the editorial department, and finally approved by Comrade Qin Zhaoyang, the editor-in-chief of our journal. It has been officially decided to publish it.

Comrade Qin Zhaoyang and the editorial department unanimously agreed that the work directly confronts the real contradictions of a historical turning point, and uses the fate choices of grassroots cadres to write about the glimmer of humanity and the pain of the times, breaking through the common narrative path of similar themes.

With its bold subject matter and weighty theme, it demonstrates the power of realist literature and is a rare mature work among recent emerging writers.

""

On September 25, after receiving the notification of publication of her article in Contemporary, Lu Yao immediately shared the good news with Xu Lu.

Contemporary magazine not only gave his work high praise, but also offered him a high price of 6 yuan per thousand words.

The publication date was tentatively set for the third issue of "Contemporary" in 1979, which was the December issue, and it was to be featured as the lead story in the novella section, as a key work of that issue.

Because Xu Lu helped oversee the process, the original historian's request for him to go to Beijing to revise the manuscript did not occur this time.

They believed the manuscript was already of high quality and required no revisions.

"Thank you so much, Lao Xu. If it weren't for your help in reviewing my manuscript, giving me feedback, and recommending the magazine 'Contemporary' to me, I don't know when this article would have been published."

Looking at Xu Lu, Lu Yao's eyes were full of gratitude.

Before this, his article had been rejected by many magazines, and the continuous setbacks had caused him to feel very frustrated.

He himself felt that his manuscript might really be no good.

But he still can't forget the first thing Xu Lu said after reading the article that night.

I think this story is very well written!

The certainty in that tone even made Lu Yao wonder if the other person was just saying that to comfort her.

Otherwise, how could he have given such approval to a manuscript that was rejected by so many people?

He then revised the article based on Xu Lu's suggestions, and then, following Xu Lu's advice, submitted the manuscript to "Contemporary".

He was grateful for the recognition from Qin Zhaoyang, the editor-in-chief of Contemporary.

But he was even more grateful to Xu Lu.

He felt that Xu Lu was his true mentor.

He knows what he's writing, what he wants to write, and how to make him write better!

"It's nothing, don't worry about it."

Xu Lu smiled and waved his hand. Even without his help, according to the original course of history, Lu Yao would have submitted the article to "Contemporary".

It will just be at least six months later than it is now.

"Okay, that's all for now. You absolutely have to come to my place tonight. We need to have a couple of drinks to celebrate."

Lu Yao said with a smile.

"OK·"

Xu Lu nodded this time, agreeing!

Around the same time, Li Xiuzhi, who was far away in Zhangjia Village, also received a reply from Xu Lu.

The letter she wrote to Xu Lu last time was one she wrote many times before sending it.

She was afraid of making mistakes and not expressing the meaning correctly, and she was also worried that her handwriting would be ugly and she would lose face in front of Xu Lu. So she had to write it again and again, and finally sent him the best version after she was sure it was accurate.

After that, I waited for Xu Lu's reply.

She really missed him. Although she could take care of herself on her own, and although Zhang Qiaoqiao often came to visit her, she still missed him!

She wanted to see him as soon as possible and spend time with him!

But she was too embarrassed to say it out loud, and she was afraid of affecting his work, so she had no choice but to keep quiet about it.

I wonder what he's doing right now?

Li Xiuzhi sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), staring at the kerosene lamp on the table, her mind wandering—