095 What? You’ve already written the script? (Please vote for me this month)

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Old Qian had clearly given the theme of “reflection” a great deal of thought!

Although there had been a minor interruption, Old Qian still delivered his comments according to the speech he had prepared beforehand. His tone, however, was considerably gentler, and he removed the particularly sharp, almost caustic criticisms.

In any case, Li Qingquan, the organizer, was extremely satisfied with Old Qian’s speech.

For through this critical reflection, Old Qian had truly elevated The Herdsman, published by Yanjing Literature, to the status of the foremost work of “reflective literature.”

It could stand alongside Liu Xinwu’s The Class Adviser, published at the beginning of the year, and Lu Xinhua’s Scar, published in the middle of the year. In terms of scale and influence, it had even surpassed them!

This was a major breakthrough in the history of modern literature, one that would certainly be recorded as a milestone in literary history!

Everyone present was a core member of one of Yanjing’s major newspapers, periodicals, or publishing houses. Old Qian’s critical remarks won their complete recognition and attention.

They all picked up their pens and quickly drafted briefs to take back to their respective publications, determined to have them printed at the earliest possible opportunity.

After Old Qian finished speaking, the applause continued without end.

At last, following a speech by Cheng Xuemin, the author, the symposium came to a successful close—far more successfully than anyone had expected.

Afterward, Cheng Xuemin, as one of the hosts, saw Old Qian, Ding Ling, and the others off one after another. Before leaving, Li Shuguang of the Humanities Press invited Cheng Xuemin to visit them when he had time, so they could discuss the publication of The Herdsman as a standalone edition.

Cheng Xuemin readily agreed, saying that he would make the trip as soon as possible.

The editors from the other magazines and newspapers also wanted to speak with Cheng Xuemin privately. Their intentions were obvious.

Teacher Ding Ling had just made a major announcement at the symposium.

Old Xu, the author of The Herdsman, apparently had an atomic bomb in reserve. Everyone was eager to speak with him privately, offer their own terms, and snatch it away from the competition.

Yet they never found the opportunity.

Cheng Xuemin was either being watched hungrily by Yanjing Literature, or being guarded like a thief by Liu Xinwu of October, his mother-in-law’s publication. There was simply no opening for them to exploit. In the end, they could only disperse dejectedly and return to their respective offices.

“Xuemin, I’ll head back to October first. Come visit us more often when you have the chance. October is your mother-in-law’s home ground, which means it’s your home ground too. Understand?”

Before leaving, Liu Xinwu had wanted to lure Cheng Xuemin away with him, but Xie Jin had come all the way from Shanghai and was still waiting, so he had no choice but to give up.

Even so, in front of Li Qingquan, Liu Xinwu was positively smug.

The author Old Xu of The Herdsman was actually Teacher Gu’s son-in-law. And if he was Teacher Gu’s son-in-law, wasn’t he therefore October’s son-in-law as well?

He was their own son-in-law. Naturally, all his future manuscripts would have to go to October first. Only whatever October rejected would be left for Li Qingquan.

“Old Liu, you... Come on, come on, hurry up and leave with me!”

Liu Xinwu had angered Li Qingquan so badly that even his teeth hurt. In exasperation, he tried to push Liu Xinwu along and get him out of there.

“Xuemin, filial piety comes before all else. In the future, bring more manuscripts to honor your mother-in-law, understand?”

Liu Xinwu continued provoking Li Qingquan, displaying his triumph with absolutely no restraint.

Liu Xinwu felt wonderfully satisfied that day.

He had originally been unwilling to attend Li Qingquan’s symposium. He had only come out of consideration for the author Old Xu of The Herdsman.

If not for Old Xu, Liu Xinwu truly would not have bothered coming in person. Sending Old Wang to handle things would have been enough.

Who could have known that Yanjing Literature would be waiting for him with such delightful news?

No, this would not do. He had to hurry back to his office and share this gratifying news with everyone before Teacher Gu and the others finished work.

He also had to ask Teacher Gu how she could have remained so calm and kept even him, Old Liu, in the dark.

“That Old Liu...” Li Qingquan watched Liu Xinwu leave, then withdrew his gaze and looked at Cheng Xuemin with a wry smile. “Xuemin, if you come across any good manuscripts in the future, don’t forget your old friend Li!”

“Liu Xinwu wasn’t wrong. Your mother-in-law’s home ground is also your home. But Yanjing Literature is your maternal home, Xuemin. Isn’t that right?”

Yanjing Literature, the first publication to discover and wholeheartedly support Cheng Xuemin, could indeed be considered the maternal home from which he had risen.

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After all, the first work he had written as a tribute had been published by Yanjing Literature.

After that, they had published The Tender Heart of a Blade of Grass, and the novella of more than two hundred thousand words was also about to appear.

Li Qingquan’s earnest persuasion was not without reason.

“Yes, yes, Teacher Li, you’re right. Yanjing Literature is indeed my maternal home. In the future, I’ll certainly treat everyone equally when it comes to manuscripts... May the highest bidder win!”

Cheng Xuemin nodded repeatedly, which greatly pleased Li Qingquan.

But when he heard the final addition, Li Qingquan was so stunned that he could not react for quite some time.

Once he recovered, the room erupted in laughter.

“Exactly, exactly! Xuemin, you’re right. May the highest bidder win, may the highest bidder win!”

What a wonderfully filial son-in-law. It was perfectly acceptable if he only recognized the highest price from now on.

Li Qingquan did not believe that Liu Xinwu’s October could outbid Yanjing Literature.

Especially when it came to novellas.

October had only just resumed publication, and its budget for each issue was already fixed. How could it possibly compete with Yanjing Literature?

“I’m only joking, Teacher Li. Director Xie is still waiting over there. Why don’t we go over together?”

“Xuemin, you really are an amusing fellow!” Li Qingquan tapped Cheng Xuemin lightly and said, “Come on, let’s go hear what the great Director Xie has to say!”

“It’s being adapted into a film, Xuemin. Keep up the good work!”

After seeing off most of the guests, Zhou Yanru, Zhang Dening, Bai Ling, and the others finally had time to gather around. Zhang Dening encouraged Cheng Xuemin enthusiastically.

“Old Zhou, Dening, Bai Ling, why don’t you join us and offer your own opinions?”

Li Qingquan spoke to them as well, delighting Zhou Yanru and the others.

This was the first manuscript since the relaunch of Yanjing Literature that was about to be adapted into a film.

Moreover, it had been discovered and published under their supervision.

Now that it was being made into a movie, they would also have a part in the process. How could they not be happy?

“Director Xie, Little Feng, sorry to have kept you waiting!”

Li Qingquan led Cheng Xuemin and the others into his editor-in-chief’s office. Xie Jin and Feng Jiazhao had been waiting there.

“Not at all. Congratulations, Old Li. Your Yanjing Literature symposium was a complete success!”

“Once the news appears in tomorrow’s papers, I imagine Yanjing Literature will be in the spotlight again!”

Xie Jin stood and exchanged pleasantries with Li Qingquan before turning to Cheng Xuemin and praising him without reservation.

“Xuemin, you did an excellent job as well. Old Li’s symposium has truly helped you.”

“Especially Old Qian’s incisive comments. They have elevated you in one stroke to the foremost figure of reflective literature!”

“From now on, whenever people mention contemporary literature, and especially the scar literature and reflective literature of our era, you will certainly have a place among them!”

Xie Jin’s vision was remarkably far-reaching. He understood that after that day’s symposium, Cheng Xuemin’s The Herdsman had achieved success in one decisive stroke and entered the literary canon.

“Old Xie, it’s true that the symposium achieved excellent results, but to say that Yanjing Literature made Xuemin’s success possible would be claiming too much credit,” Li Qingquan said.

“It was Xuemin’s own ability, together with the assistance of Old Qian, Teacher Ding Ling, and the others. Yanjing Literature would never dare take credit for it.”

Xie Jin’s flattery was certainly pleasing to Li Qingquan, but saying that they had made Cheng Xuemin was an exaggeration.

“Director Xie, you’re praising me to death! What do you mean, the foremost figure? I only wrote a manuscript. I never imagined that Old Qian and the others would assess it so highly.”

Cheng Xuemin waved his hands repeatedly. Although the reputation had already spread, he still had to remain modest. He then turned to Li Qingquan.

“I really do have to thank you, Teacher Li. Without your guidance, I would never have improved so much.”

“You’re being modest, too modest! Xuemin, being humble and understated is not always a good thing. Isn’t that right, Old Xie?”

“Indeed, you’re far too modest.”

Xie Jin nodded, then returned to the main subject.

“Xuemin, this manuscript really is excellent. Now that the symposium has given it such momentum, I feel tremendous pressure as the director.”

“I’m afraid my limited abilities won’t be enough to do justice to such a fine manuscript. I’d hate to ruin it.”

Xie Jin was not being falsely modest. The quality of The Herdsman had already been exceptionally high, and now it had been elevated to such a lofty position.

He truly felt a great deal of pressure, worried that he might fail to direct it properly and disappoint countless readers across the country.

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“Old Xie, you’re being modest now too? This isn’t like you!” Li Qingquan said with a laugh, lightly tapping Xie Jin. Apparently, modesty was contagious.

Xie Jin had directed such an outstanding film as The Red Detachment of Women, and yet he was claiming to feel pressured and afraid of mishandling the project?

“I’m not being modest, I’m not being modest!”

Xie Jin waved his hands repeatedly, then asked Feng Jiazhao, “Jiazhao, there’s no problem with the rights to Old Li’s manuscript. What does the Yanjing Film Studio say?”

“More importantly, what about the screenplay? Are you going to handle it personally and come to the aid of your brother-in-law?”

For a good film, the most important element was the screenplay.

If the adaptation was handled well, directing it would be much easier for Xie Jin. If the adaptation was poor, then Xie Jin, as director, would be the one suffering the greatest headache.

As a famous director from a Shanghai production studio, Xie Jin naturally had his own team of screenwriters.

But this was a film being produced by the Yanjing Film Studio. Xie Jin was merely a director they had borrowed, and they had never explicitly said that he would be responsible for the screenplay.

That was why Xie Jin had asked. Naturally, he hoped the Yanjing Film Studio would entrust the screenplay to their own people as well.

If that was not possible, then having Feng Jiazhao personally adapt the work would be the most suitable arrangement.

The two of them were practically teacher and student. They understood one another and worked well together.

“Old Xie, Xuemin said he plans to write the screenplay himself. He’s already finished it.”

Feng Jiazhao naturally wanted to handle the adaptation personally, but his brother-in-law was capable of everything, leaving him no room to intervene.

“What?! Xuemin, you’re going to write the screenplay yourself?”

“And it’s already finished?”

“Where is it? Did you bring it with you? Let me have a careful look!”

Xie Jin had only asked Feng Jiazhao out of curiosity. He had assumed that even if the Yanjing Film Studio intended to write the screenplay itself, it would not have happened so quickly.

After all, the director had only just been confirmed. Before the screenplay could be started, the screenwriter and director would ordinarily need to meet and exchange their views.

Besides, The Herdsman was an adaptation, not an original screenplay. With an adaptation, the director naturally had to be involved in the screenplay to a considerable degree.

Who could have known that his casual question would lead to this?

He had merely intended to ask how they should approach the opening and begin discussing the screenplay. Instead, Feng Jiazhao had told him that his brother-in-law—the original author himself—had written it.

Not only had the original author written it himself, he had already completed it!

How could he be so capable?

Xie Jin was truly astonished. He stared at Cheng Xuemin in disbelief and asked to see the screenplay.

Li Qingquan, who had been accompanying them, was equally stunned. Xuemin had already completed the screenplay for The Herdsman?

But hadn’t he been working on his novella just a short while ago?

Only a few days had passed since he submitted that novella, and he had already written the screenplay for The Herdsman?

Was the screenplay any good?

“Director Xie, this is my first attempt at writing a screenplay. I’m not really sure whether it turned out well...”

“The screenplay? Hurry up and let me see it! How else can we know whether it’s good?”

Before Cheng Xuemin could finish his modest disclaimer, Xie Jin impatiently urged him again.

“It’s at home. I didn’t bring it with me.”

Cheng Xuemin answered simply and directly. He had not expected that, despite being in his fifties, Xie Jin would be even more straightforward than he was.

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go. We’ll get it from your house right now. I’ll come with you!”

“What?”

Cheng Xuemin was completely dumbfounded.

Even Li Qingquan, his brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao, Zhou Yanru, Zhang Dening, Bai Ling, and the others were all left staring in stunned confusion.

They could not help thinking that the great Director Xie truly was decisive and swift in action.

...

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