094 That is my mother-in-law. I have no choice.

Old Li, don't give me those resentful eyes. She's my mother-in-law, and I had no choice!

Seeing Li Qingquan's eyes brimming with endless resentment fixed on him, Cheng Xuemin panicked. His chair even slid a little closer to Teacher Ding Ling.

If Old Li charged over and seized his collar, he would thunder in fury, "Are you handing the atom bomb over to Liu Xinhu or not? Where in the world have I wronged you, Li Qingquan?"

Fortunately, several more people had just walked into the office.

"What atom bomb?" Old Li, we were standing outside in the corridor and heard you yelling about one!

The man who entered first and began to speak was someone Cheng Xuemin didn't recognize.

Yet behind him stood four or five people, among them Big Brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao, whom Cheng Xuemin knew well.

The revelation stunned him.

His symposium had been graced by neither his father-in-law nor mother-in-law. Instead, it was Big Brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao who had come.

"Everyone's here, come on in!"

"Old Li, Old Zhang, Old Yang, Old Xie, Little Feng..." Li Qingquan greeted them one by one. When he reached Big Brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao, he pointed at him and forced a bitter smile. "Little Feng, your mother has kept this from me well. You've kept it from me even better!"

"Don't tell me your brother-in-law Cheng Xuemin is the author of The Horseherd by Old Xu. As your big brother-in-law, how could you possibly not know?"

Big Brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao entered and spotted his own brother-in-law at once. He nodded a greeting, but Li Qingquan from Yanjing Literature seized the moment to question him.

He turned to Cheng Xuemin in alarm. Was this exposure already happening?

His parents weren't present; how had the secret slipped out?

Yet when he caught sight of Old Qian squinting at him from the front yard, Feng Jiazhao realized that with Qian still in the room, nothing could remain hidden.

His eyes silently demanded an explanation from Cheng Xuemin, but his brother-in-law returned only a look of utter despair.

Fine.

This brother-in-law was capable. When matters arose, he could truly bear them all. Today, he would shoulder everything.

Feng Jiazhao had nothing left to bear. His face showed awkward embarrassment as he said, "Teacher Li, the main reason is that Xuemin keeps a low profile. We should avoid saying anything that might distract him from preparing for next year's college entrance exam."

Sigh.

Big brother-in-law was impressive, shifting the blame so cleanly. Cheng Xuemin rolled his eyes. Big brother-in-law, didn't you see me winking? Push it all onto your own mother—that is, Cheng Xuemin's mother-in-law!

"Low-profile... low-profile..."

Li Qingquan was choked into silence and nearly vomited blood. If his brother-in-law were truly low-profile, he would never have released two major works in little more than a month.

One of them was even the atom bomb.

"Shh, Old Qian, Teacher Ding—you've all really come?"

After passing Li Qingquan and the others, the newcomers saw Old Qian and Ding Ling seated inside and couldn't help asking in astonishment.

"Hah, you Li Uncle Guang can enter, so can I, Old Qian?"

Old Qian shot Li Uncle Guang of the Humanities Society a sidelong glance and retorted with pursed lips. Ding Ling gave a slight nod to the arriving group but said nothing.

"We're not picky in the slightest! Old Qian, it's been ages since you sent us a manuscript for People's Literature!"

Li Uncle Guang of the Humanities Society dropped into a chair and immediately questioned Li Qingquan, eating the melon with relish. "Old Li, what's this? The author of The Horseherd, Old Xu, is Xiao Feng's brother-in-law!?"

"Then isn't that Old Feng's son-in-law? Old Liu, Teacher Gu's son-in-law from your October? This... is it true or false?"

"What? The author of The Horseherd, Old Xu, is Old Feng's son-in-law, yet Old Feng never mentioned it?!"

Chinese Literature editor Old Yang exclaimed in the same surprise.

"This just got interesting! Teacher Gu's son's The Horseherd isn't being published in Teacher Gu's October but in Old Li's Yanjing Literature. Teacher Gu probably doesn't even know, does she?"

Old Zhang of People's Literature was equally astonished and quickly caught the scent of a story.

"Old Zhang, don't stir up trouble when there's no pot to boil. I'm sitting right here!"

Mentioning this, Liu Xinhu retorted irritably.

"Shh, Old Liu, you're here! I thought your October wouldn't send anyone!"

Old Zhang from People's Literature edged closer and allied himself with Liu Xinhu. "How come Teacher Gu didn't come? Wouldn't that make it even more lively?"

The last speaker was the one Li Qingquan had called Old Xie. He was Xie Jin from the Shanghai Film Studio. This trip north had been to contact the Yan Film Studio about filming The Horseherd.

It so happened that Yanjing Literature was holding a symposium, so Xie Jin had come to join the event, which also allowed him to consult the author directly.

He had never imagined the author of The Horseherd would be Feng Jiazhao's brother-in-law. The man had always kept the secret, and his lips truly remained sealed.

"Enough! You don't need me to introduce him. This young comrade Cheng Xuemin is the author of The Horseherd himself. The current issue of Yiyou Cun Cao Xin in Yanjing Literature was also handled by him!"

"By the way, Xuemin is Xiao Feng's brother-in-law—that is, Old Feng and Teacher Gu's son-in-law. They're all old friends, so no need to introduce them fussily!"

Li Qingquan's mood had turned thoroughly bitter. He cut the pleasantries short and directly introduced Cheng Xuemin to the group.

"Xuemin, let me introduce you!"

"This is Li Shuguang from People's Literature Press. We call him Old Li. He's responsible for the single-volume edition of The Horseherd."

"Good to meet you, Teacher Li!" Cheng Xuemin had risen long ago and nodded eagerly.

"Hello, hello, I've long admired your reputation!" Li Shuguang nodded back with a smile.

"This is Zhang Guangnian, Old Zhang, from People's Literature. Your岳父 unit's Old Yang from Chinese Literature. Your big brother-in-law needs no introduction—the representative from Yan Film Studio came originally to discuss adapting The Horseherd into a film. I believe you've already learned about it!"

Cheng Xuemin greeted them all in turn, thinking these were literary giants and that in the future he would eat and drink well, all thanks to their favor.

"This one requires special mention—the one who traveled all the way from Shanghai, Xie Jin!"

"Old Xie is a professional director at the Shanghai Film Studio. You must have seen his The Red Detachment of Women, which he directed!"

"This trip north is to discuss the film adaptation of The Horseherd. He is the chief director!"

Li Qingquan finally emphasized introducing Shanghai Film Studio's Xie Jin to Cheng Xuemin. Friends who had come from thousands of miles deserved grand treatment.

"Director Xie, hello! This kid grew up nourished by your movies. I've long admired your name and today have the honor to meet you in person. Truly overwhelming!"

This was a godsend. Cheng Xuemin intended to adapt several more works in the future and cultivate a good relationship with this director legend; it was essential.

"Little Cheng, I also long admire your great name! This time fortunate to be invited to direct your excellent work, I am equally honored!"

Xie Jin had no airs. He clasped both of Cheng Xuemin's hands and shook them warmly.

"Well, everyone, Old Qian, the time is nearly up. Shall we move to the conference room and begin?"

Li Qingquan glanced at the clock; it was almost ten o'clock.

After a quick scan, everyone who was supposed to attend had arrived. He proposed starting the symposium and even asked Old Qian specifically.

"I don't mind!"

Old Qian nodded indifferently. His mind was a storm of worry. Should he still use the manuscript he had prepared? That text was sharp, meant to give Li Qingquan an eye-opener and slowly distance himself from Old Feng and his wife.

But who knew!

The author of The Horseherd was their own son-in-law. Should they still deliver the profound critique?

"Alright, alright! Teacher Ding, Old Li, Old Xie, Old Zhang, Old Yang, let's go over and start! There are already quite a few colleagues waiting!"

Li Qingquan wasted no time and invited these authoritative figures from various units into the conference room!

Cheng Xuemin and Big Brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao followed at the rear.

"After the meeting ends, I'll arrange to meet Old Xie and continue our talk!"

"By the way, Xuemin, how is your script coming?"

Big Brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao asked quietly.

"Excellent, big brother! The initial draft is finished, though it's back home!"

Cheng Xuemin had not expected to hand in the assignment to the director today, so the first draft had remained at home.

"Finished? So soon?!" Feng Jiazhao stared in astonishment. This was only a few days?

The script samples he had brought from the unit had barely been given to Xuemin.

In just about a week, an entire movie script had been written?

"Alright, once we get back I'll take a look. Old Xie can stay in Yanjing for a while, no hurry!"

After his surprise, Feng Jiazhao nodded and said no more.

When Cheng Xuemin and the others entered the conference room, they found more than ten people already seated and waiting.

Yanjing Literature's other Zhou Yanru, Zhang De Ning Bailing and others were receiving them!

A banner hung across the front: Symposium for Short Stories of The Horseherd, hosted by Yanjing Literature.

They offered a brief, modest introduction, realizing these were editors, writers, critics, and others from newspapers, magazines, and literary units across the city.

The conference room held a long table with additional desks arranged around the outside to seat all thirty-plus people.

Nameplates bearing each unit's name and the guests' names stood before them. Everyone took their seats in order, with a teacup placed at each spot.

The head seat, naturally, belonged to the highest authority present: Old Qian, whom Li Qingquan had spent effort to persuade. Beside him sat Teacher Ding Ling, followed by Li Shuguang of the Humanities Society.

As host, Li Qingquan sat in the front row along the side. The newly emerged talent, author of The Horseherd Cheng Xuemin, was placed beside him.

After everyone was seated, host Li Qingquan began his opening remarks, expressing thanks.

The symposium officially commenced, followed by speeches from each unit.

The first speaker was not Old Qian at the head but an editor from Yanjing Daily. Her opening remarks inevitably praised The Horseherd highly.

The subsequent comments were much the same: while analyzing, they engaged the young author Cheng Xuemin in lively exchange.

After lunch and a short break, the symposium resumed at two o'clock.

When Ding Ling spoke, it carried weight, matching her earlier piece in Wen Wei Po. She offered high praise for The Horseherd and then encouraged the author Cheng Xuemin.

Finally, she dropped a major revelation: "The author of The Horseherd, Old Xu, comrade Cheng Xuemin, will soon publish another groundbreaking work. Please keep your eyes open!"

The atmosphere of the entire symposium surged to its peak.

Word of the atom bomb's secret spread rapidly, leaving the editors from every newspaper and magazine in the room eager to seize the scoop.

When it was Old Qian's turn, Ding Ling put down her microphone and teased, "Old Qian, I hear your prepared manuscript is even sharper and more profound than your previous commentary?"

"Reflective literature!"

"Comrade Xuemin's The Horseherd indeed matches what Old Qian critiqued—we do need to reflect!"

During the earlier unit comments, several had already referenced reflective literature and designated Cheng Xuemin's The Horseherd as its pioneering work.

Many in the room nodded in agreement, though perhaps their voices were soft or they simply waited for Old Qian's authoritative final word.

"You... just roast me on the fire!"

Old Qian gave Ding Ling a bitter side glance and muttered under his breath.

He accepted the microphone from Li Qingquan, cleared his throat twice, and began to speak.