Chapter 14: Journey to Beiping

Just that one sentence left Liu Feng’s mind in a daze. He was indeed the first to learn that Li Yousi had written a novel, but he had never really believed he could successfully submit it for publication.

He asked in surprise, “Is that for real?”

—

With a soft creak, the door opened. While everyone was still discussing, Li Yousi quietly stepped inside.

In that instant, all eyes fixed on him, silently scrutinizing him. Not a word was spoken.

The dormitory fell into an eerie silence.

Li Yousi felt those strange gazes upon him and opened his mouth—

Just as everyone expected him to say something—

He suddenly let out a loud burp.

Wang Hai had just treated him to a meal, which was so good it included two meat dishes!

He had eaten far too much, and Wang Hai even gave him a thumbs-up, praising his good appetite. Indeed, his appetite was better than before.

Liu Feng, unable to contain his curiosity, immediately asked Li Yousi, “I heard your novel passed the magazine’s review?”

Li Yousi nodded slowly. “Almost. They just notified me about it.”

“Ah?”

Hearing the confirmation from Li Yousi himself, Liu Feng was truly stunned. Could it be that this kid actually succeeded in submitting his work?

Though Liu Feng hadn’t finished reading Li Yousi’s novel, he found the opening paragraph too flowery and refined for someone like him. It seemed that such a literary style was indeed more suited to magazines.

But that wasn’t the most important thing. Liu Feng was worried his brother would suffer, even more so than he feared his brother driving a Land Rover!

He hurriedly asked, “I heard the magazine pays for submissions???"

Li Yousi nodded. “Pretty much. The payment is definitely there.”

“How much?”

“I haven’t asked yet. The magazine pays after the manuscript is finalized.” Li Yousi knew the rates but was reluctant to say, fearing it might discourage the others.

It was now 1983.

In the 1970s, those literary circles had already made a fuss. After all, many wrote novels to improve their lives, and no payment meant no motivation. The government responded by mandating that magazines pay authors between three to seven yuan per thousand characters for original works.

Then, in 1980, the government issued a second payment regulation, raising the rates to four to ten yuan per thousand characters.

As for “Beiping Literature,” a national-level magazine, it certainly wasn’t short on funds and typically paid authors at least seven yuan per thousand characters.

For a hundred-thousand-word novel, that would amount to roughly seven hundred yuan.

That was equivalent to two years’ salary for members of the cultural troupe—truly a fortune.

Hence, Li Yousi didn’t mention the exact amount.

Meanwhile, Pingtou, with a spectator’s amusement, helped hype Li Yousi up: “Usually, it’s just a few yuan per thousand words, but Li Yousi’s novel must earn him a few hundred yuan at least!”

Now, one yuan could buy over a pound of pork. A few hundred yuan was a massive sum. The entire dorm erupted into chatter.

“What? Writing a novel can earn you several hundred yuan?”

“I want to write novels too! Comrade Li, you’ve got to teach me!”

“Ha! Not to mock you, but you can’t even manage a few hundred words of reports a month, and you think you can write novels? Dream on!”

The dormitory quickly returned to its noisy state.

Everyone teased each other but increasingly admired Li Yousi.

After chatting with them, Li Yousi began packing his things. Others might not realize how stark the temperature difference was between north and south, but Li Yousi knew it for sure.

He stuffed his bag to the brim with a coat and a padded jacket.

Watching him pack, Liu Feng asked, “Are you really being transferred to the Propaganda Department after writing the novel?”

Li Yousi smiled, “Isn’t there already someone from our dorm in the Propaganda Department?”

“What are you doing there?”

“The magazine invited me to Beiping to revise the novel! I’m leaving tomorrow morning,” Li Yousi said slowly.

He looked at Liu Feng’s face, and surprisingly, thanks to the earlier developments, Liu Feng wasn’t shocked but found it quite normal.

Fortunately, he wasn’t directly given a household registration there.

The group chatted until eleven at night. When the inspection lights outside flickered repeatedly, everyone finally curled up under their blankets, too scared to speak.

~

Early the next morning,

Li Yousi got up and washed his face with hot water borrowed from Liu Feng, then rinsed his mouth.

Once clean, he wrapped himself in a military greatcoat. After tidying up, he looked in the mirror and felt quite dignified.

If this were several decades ago, he could easily have passed for a young commander.

At the Music Ensemble’s courtyard, Li Yousi first said farewell to Zhu Chunsheng, who had been very kind to him during his time there.

Zhu Chunsheng gazed at the young man with a sigh: “By the way, when you go to Beiping to revise your manuscript, will you come back?”

Li Yousi smiled, “It’s just for this month. I’ll be back next month. I’m still a member of the cultural troupe!”

He spoke as if writing a novel instantly elevated him, but Zhu clearly didn’t quite understand the profession.

“Alright then, work hard.”

After saying goodbye to the Music Ensemble,

Li Yousi carried his luggage to the Propaganda Department’s door, where Wang Hai had told him to wait.

Li Yousi waited a short while before Wang Hai appeared at the entrance.

Hurriedly, Wang Hai took him outside. “Let’s go. I’ve reported your situation and got your leave approved. There’s just the right bus to Jiangcheng today. You can go with them.”

Li Yousi, clad in his greatcoat, ran after Wang Hai.

Soon, they arrived at the cultural troupe’s gate. A troupe vehicle was parked outside—painted green.

Wang Hai handed him a cigarette and exchanged a few words before letting Li Yousi board the bus bound for Jiangcheng.

Wang Hai stood quietly at the troupe’s gate, watching the vehicle depart. He felt that something significant might be about to happen from here on.

Soon, he shook his head and entered the troupe building.

Li Yousi boarded the troupe’s bus.

Though there was a train from Jincheng to Jiangcheng, since arrangements had been made for the bus, he didn’t object.

The next afternoon, Li Yousi arrived at Jiangcheng, a crucial transportation hub in Hubei.

He raised his hand to the driver in farewell: “Thank you, comrade. I’m heading to the train station.”

Jiangcheng’s station was a nexus for many rail lines, and from there, Li Yousi could board a train straight to Beiping.

After getting off the bus, he found a modest inn.

Then, he bought a train ticket at Jiangcheng station and, afterwards, spent a few yuan to enjoy a proper meal at a state-run restaurant.