Chapter 12: Going to the Magazine Office to Revise the Manuscript? (Please Keep Reading!!! Don’t Let It Die Out~)

Wang Hai hurriedly walked toward the door and saw Comrades Li Yousi and Zhu Chunsheng sitting there, discussing matters related to the cultural troupe. Wang Hai quickly called out, “Comrade Li…”

Only then did Zhu Chunsheng turn around and notice Wang Hai from the Propaganda Section approaching.

The section chief was a leader as well.

He hurriedly asked, “Director Wang, what’s the matter?”

Wang Hai, having rushed from the Propaganda Section, was still panting heavily. After a cough, he said, “Comrade Li… I’m here to inform you…”

Zhu Chunsheng was even more anxious than Li Yousi. After clicking his tongue, he pressed, “What exactly is going on?”

Wang Hai took a deep breath and snapped, “Don’t interrupt!”

“Oh…”

The two waited as Wang Hai caught his breath for half a minute, then said, “Come on, follow me to the Propaganda Section. Your novel has been accepted! The ‘Beiping Literature’ magazine just called!”

Hearing this, Li Yousi breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Although he had reviewed numerous novels published by many magazines and was confident in the quality of his own work, various unforeseen issues could still arise—perhaps the letter got lost in the mail, or maybe an editor who didn't like the style rejected it. Aside from quality, there were indeed many uncertainties.

This was Li Yousi’s first time submitting to a magazine, so naturally, he felt somewhat pleased.

“Really?”

“Yes, I just had a call confirming it. Hurry up and go have a look,” Wang Hai said with a sigh.

Having said that, he proceeded to pull Li Yousi toward the Propaganda Section.

Meanwhile, Zhu Chunsheng looked utterly perplexed. When had Li Yousi gotten involved with the Propaganda Section? What was this about?

Could it be that Li Yousi was being poached by the Propaganda Section?

Feeling a little gloomy, he asked, “What exactly are you two talking about?”

Li Yousi knew Zhu Chunsheng wasn’t very familiar with the magazine scene, especially with ‘Beiping Literature,’ so he smiled and explained, “I submitted a novel to a magazine. It seems it was accepted, and they want me to come discuss it with the editor.”

Suddenly, Zhu Chunsheng realized what was happening.

He looked at Li Yousi with a hint of disbelief.

In the entire cultural troupe, only a few from the Propaganda Section had any talent for writing novels. Though he didn’t know the significance of ‘Beiping Literature,’ the fact that the section chief was so eager to personally deliver this news made it clear this was no ordinary matter.

Quickly, he decided to follow Li Yousi and said, “I’ll come with you to take a look!”

“Alright.”

Wang Hai led the way, walking briskly, his heart filled with excitement.

To put it simply, the requirement to enter the county cultural center was simply to publish articles in magazines or newspapers. Most members of their troupe were rather untalented.

A few managed to get published in provincial magazines like ‘Yangtze River Literature’ or ‘Lushang Literature.’ Publishing three pieces in provincial periodicals qualified one as a notable provincial-level writer, allowing entry into the provincial writers’ association.

Provincial-level writers were extremely rare in their troupe—only one or two at most.

Even more prestigious was having work accepted by a national-level literary magazine, which had never happened before in their troupe. Li Yousi was now a rare first.

The hierarchy of writers was deeply entrenched.

A first-time submission being accepted by a national-level magazine marked someone with extraordinary literary talent. Many writers spent their entire lives only managing to publish provincially.

For example, in his past life, Li Yousi had seen authors on short video platforms who at best published provincially. Magazines like ‘People’s Literature,’ ‘Beiping Literature,’ and ‘Harvest’ were utterly out of reach for them.

Wang Hai’s excitement grew with every thought.

Was this not exactly the seed of a national writers’ association member? (The requirement for the national writers’ association was three articles in national-level publications!)

The three hurried along the narrow path until they reached the courtyard of the Propaganda Section.

Wang Hai ushered them inside and said, “Comrade Li, Comrade Zhu, there’s tea here! Please sit and have some while I make a call.”

Li Yousi wasn’t anxious at all. He sat down in an office chair and poured a cup of tea for Zhu Chunsheng.

“Teacher Zhu, have some tea.”

Then he poured one for himself.

By the window, Wang Hai anxiously dialed on an automatic rotary phone—long gone were the days of crank telephones, replaced now by the type found in self-built telephone booths.

The ringing tone sounded.

“Hello? Yes?”

The call connected, and Wang Hai asked, “This is the Jincheng Battle Flag Cultural Troupe. May I speak with Editor Zhou from ‘Beiping Literature’?”

“Hello, this is ‘Beiping Literature.’ Editor Zhou is busy; I’ll call her right away!”

On the other end, Zhang Deling quickly responded, “Editor Zhou, there’s a call for you.”

Back on Wang Hai’s side, he nervously looked at Li Yousi and waved him over, saying hurriedly, “Comrade Li, it’s your call!”

Li Yousi stood up and took the phone.

There was background noise, and soon a soft, refined female voice spoke:

“Hello, is this Comrade Li Yousi, the author of ‘Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots’?”

“Yes, this is Li Yousi.”

“I am Zhou Yanru, editor at ‘Beiping Literature.’”

Upon hearing the name, Li Yousi nodded slightly. Zhou Yanru was a senior editor at ‘Beiping Literature,’ head of the fiction department, having worked there for over a decade with notable achievements.

“Your work, ‘Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots,’ is excellent and has successfully passed our magazine’s review. We plan to publish it in the December issue.”

The voice at the other end still sounded youthful—clearly a young person.

Youth was promising, indicating greater hope.

“Thank you, Editor Zhou,” Li Yousi replied.

Though he hoped they might discuss something more engaging than mere formalities at first.

Zhou Yanru cleared her throat and continued, “The final draft of the novel is due by the end of November. There’s just over a month left. I would like to invite you, on behalf of ‘Beiping Literature,’ to come to the magazine office to revise your manuscript.”

Li Yousi was silent for a moment.

“Well, revising the manuscript might be difficult…”

Being a member of the military cultural troupe, he could not leave without the highest authorization.

Moreover, traveling to Beiping was no small matter.

“Comrade Li, is it due to financial reasons?” Zhou Yanru asked, aware that train tickets were expensive—at least several dozen yuan, beyond the means of ordinary people. “Our magazine will reimburse your round-trip travel expenses.”

“It’s not that. The cultural troupe has assignments. I am an official troupe member.”