Back to 80: My Literary Life

Chapter 405 The ISBN Issue

Of course Fang Minghua didn't hear the chat between Lei Xuecheng and the girl.

Although some famous literati in this era like to write inscriptions and lyrics, Fang Minghua has never done this.

It's not because I'm so noble, but because my calligraphy is really ugly.

The pen writing is okay, but when I pick up the brush, I can't even lift my wrist. Can I write well?

However, Fang Minghua has noticed this shortcoming of his and is currently holding a copybook of Ouyang Xun's "Yu Gonggong Monument" and practicing when he has nothing to do.

Words are people’s faces.

In a row of falling snowflakes, 1987 has passed.

This year, the literary world is still exciting.

Avant-garde novels are also in full swing, but another type of literary writing called "new realism" by Fang Minghua, editor-in-chief of Yanhe magazine, has quietly appeared in the literary world.

Of course, this year's phenomenon-level novel "The Ordinary World" in the literary world quickly went from being uninterested to being hard to find after being recorded and broadcast by China Central Broadcasting Station.

Coupled with "Flaming" published by Jia Pingwa last year and "Crossing Guandong" by Fang Minghua, which won the second Mao Dun Award, three masterpieces appeared one after another, completing the Qin Army's first Eastern Expedition.

Today is New Year's Day.

Some people say that in 1988, it started with absurdity, and the legend of the bad guy was like a child's play in the world. Cans were exchanged for airplanes. Of course, this refers to business.

The era has come when everyone is a businessman.

This year (1988) Hainan was established as a province, and it has become a paradise for countless ordinary people and bad men to pursue their dreams of getting rich.

But these are a bit far away from Fang Minghua, and he still lives a peaceful life.

The cold wind was howling outside today, and Fang Minghua was driving his own Mazda around Chang'an South Road near the TV Tower, teaching Lu Yao how to drive.

Fang Minghua usually has to go to work, and Song Tangtang uses this car to and from get off work, so it's the weekend and he takes Lu Yao out to find a secluded place to practice driving.

These days, there are farmland everywhere here, and it is already a relatively remote place. There are few vehicles on the road, so it is very suitable for practice.

After lunch, Fang Minghua drove Lu Yao to this place and practiced for a while. Fortunately, the car had air conditioning, so it didn't feel too cold.

They studied until it was almost five o'clock, and the two of them drove home - naturally Lu Yao drove back.

The cars on the streets in Xijing City were far less crowded than in later generations, and Lu Yao drove slowly, and finally drove to the Xingfu Community outside the south gate with trepidation.

"Brother Lu, practice a few more times and you will be ready to start training." Fang Minghua said.

"Thank you, Minghua, for coming out with me in such a cold weather." Lu Yao thanked him, "Come on, come and sit at my house? Let your sister-in-law cook some vegetables for you."

"Let's have another day. The Red Army family of three are coming to my house today." Fang Minghua replied.

"Well, another day."

Lu Yao walked towards the building where his family lived. Fang Minghua did not drive back to the Planning Commission family building. Instead, he parked his car anywhere in the community and returned to his home.

After her sister Fang Mingli graduated, she had to live at home, and with her children, her parents' place seemed a bit crowded, so on the weekends, Fang Minghua and his wife simply took their two children back to live in the Xingfu Community outside the south gate, so that their parents could relax.

Today is New Year's Day. Zhao Hongjun and his wife brought their daughter to Fang Minghua's house to play.

Since both families have children, they have become closer together. Zhao Hongjun often brings his daughter to Fang Minghua's house, calling it a visit to his future son-in-law, and letting the two children who are slated to get married get close to each other.

However, Lele didn't seem to be too cold about her future father-in-law and daughter-in-law. Because she was a few months older, Zhao Hongjun's daughter Minmin sometimes beat her until she burst into tears.

No, Fang Minghua went up to the third floor and before opening the door, he heard the cry of a girl coming from the house. He took out the key and opened the door, and saw Zhao Hongjun holding his daughter and coaxing her, while Lele was sitting on the sofa as if nothing had happened. Playing with building blocks.

Fang Minghua's daughter Ruirui usually appears as a melon-eater at this time. No one on the two sides helps, and she watches TV alone with relish, where this year's hit drama "Black Cat Sheriff" is being played.

"Lele, did you bully your sister again?" Fang Minghua glared at his son and scolded.

The son and daughter have just turned one year old now and can only call them mom and dad. When Lele saw her father being mean to him, she curled her lips and looked like she was about to cry.

"Lele is a man, don't cry, don't cry." Zhao Hongjun quickly hugged his daughter with one hand and held Lele with the other to comfort her.

After speaking, he glared at Fang Minghua: "They are all children, they are not sensible, what is there to be so cruel about?"

Damn it!

Fang Minghua was speechless.

This is my son. Why do you feel more distressed than me?

He took off his coat without saying anything, and went to the kitchen to look around. The two wives were chatting while cooking. Without any help, he returned to the living room, picked up his daughter Ruirui, and chatted with Zhao Hongjun.

"Have you finished driving? How did Lu Yao learn?" Zhao Hongjun asked.

"It's not bad. You can practice a few more times before you can start training." Fang Minghua replied: "But I need help with the driver's license."

"Don't worry, a buddy of mine works at the Vehicle Management Office of the Municipal Public Security Bureau and is also a section chief. There will be no problem with this matter." Zhao Hongjun agreed.

Fang Minghua is very relieved about this. When it comes to connections and energy in Xijing, he is definitely not as good as Zhao Hongjun.

Fang Minghua knew a few people in the cultural world, but otherwise he was almost black-eyed.

"Minghua, I have something to discuss with you." Zhao Hongjun said suddenly.

"What's up?"

"It's still a matter of our company's ISBN."

It turns out that although the country now allows private publishing companies to sell books, it has not liberalized ISBNs.

In other words, you can only sell books like Xinhua Bookstore but cannot publish books like state-owned publishing houses. As a result, the gray business of buying book numbers from state-owned publishing houses came into being.

Shengshi Book Publishing Company is also following this path now, but as more and more books are published by itself, the demand for ISBNs is very high. Every book has to be published by a state-owned publishing house, and the appetite of these publishing houses is getting bigger and bigger. Come bigger.

Now, a book number can reach up to 300,000!

Those state-owned publishing houses cost nothing. They apply for a book number from the state and can earn up to 300,000 by reselling it!

Therefore, Zhao Hongjun wanted to solve this problem once and for all, and planned to directly affiliate with a publishing house and sign a long-term contract, so that he would not have to go to the leaders of state-owned publishing houses every time for book numbers.

And there are already some clues about this matter.

Now that he heard Zhao Hongjun suddenly mention this matter, he was a little puzzled.

"Red Army, didn't you go to President Wang of Huayue Literature and Art Publishing House? Didn't he already relent? After New Year's Day, I will ask him to go out for a meal, and you will also attend when the time comes. I will help you again in the name of your friend. , I think this can be done.”

Huayue Literature and Art Publishing House was formerly the literary and artistic editorial department of Qin Provincial People's Publishing House. It just became independent in the summer of this year (87). It has an independent establishment and independent accounting. Of course, it can also apply for a book number from the Press and Publication Administration.

The president of Huayue Publishing House is also a director of the Qin Provincial Writers Association. Fang Minghua naturally knows him. He is the one who leads the way in this matter. After several talks, the other party has relented. The next step is the specific details of cooperation.

Zhao Hongjun naturally knows these things very well, but now he shook his head: "Minghua, forget it, President Wang is a timid person with a big appetite. I don't think it is cost-effective to find him."

"Then which one are you going to find? Publishing houses in other provinces are even less suitable."

"I want to go to Hainan!" Zhao Hongjun expressed his thoughts.