Zheng Yuanjie was originally very happy for Wang Debao, but seeing He Yuankui really making arrangements quickly and resolutely, he became a little restless.
Arranging a manuscript change at short notice is a big deal, and requires the entire editorial department to take action together - the proofreading editor must cross-proof it three times, and the typesetting editor must retype it according to the number of words. There cannot be a situation where half a page or even a few lines take up a whole page.
In those days, there was no computer typesetting, and authors submitted manuscripts by hand. Therefore, in order to turn it into printed matter, a typesetting editor had to design the typesetting, and then use a Chinese character printer to type out the sample manuscript word by word. Make sure there are no problems.
, will be taken to the printing factory, where the technicians will assemble the typefaces and then start printing.
Wang Debao has seen the most advanced Toshiba typewriters in this era. It is not easy just to remember the positions of hundreds of commonly used Chinese characters, not to mention the time is tight, the task is heavy, and no mistakes can be made... The key is that you only need to
If you knock one wrong, the whole thing will be scrapped and you will have to start all over again.
Wang Debao is only glad that he does not use any uncommon words in his novels.
And in this entire assembly line, because of an order from He Yuankui, almost all the work that had been completed had to be overturned and started over.
It is impossible for the entire editorial department and printing plant to say that there are no complaints. After all, no one likes unexpected situations or urgent tasks. It is too easy to make mistakes. This is not a surprise, but a shock.
The time when the boss made a phone call and the workers had to work hard at the risk of sudden death without even daring to complain was twenty years from now, not now.
You must know that now everyone is a state-owned enterprise and the master of the country. Everyone has a sense of ownership. It is not the social beast that will regard 996 as a blessing twenty years from now. Therefore, He Yuankui still has to rely more on his own prestige.
and charm, even favors, to enforce one's orders.
At the same time, if something goes wrong, He Yuankui himself will bear full responsibility.
So as a good friend, Zheng Yuanjie began to feel restless... He saw that He Yuankui's busy work had come to an end, and immediately pulled He Yuankui aside and whispered: "It's too risky. I also admit that Xiao Wang's article is very good.
, but it won’t make any difference if you put down an article, right? You’re withdrawing the article and changing it on time, what will you do if something goes wrong?”
Wang Debao also felt sorry and said in a low voice: "Editor-in-chief He, I'm really not in a hurry. It's all a joke to jump in line. Don't take risks for this. I feel sorry for you."
He Yuankui smiled slightly, a bright smile bloomed on his wrinkled face, and he said meaningfully: "What I do is indeed a risk, but it is also an opportunity... I won't go into details, you two.
Just know that I'm not a reckless person, haha, I'll be done with my work in a few days, and I'll treat you two to a drink."
He patted Wang Debao on the shoulder twice, and He Yuankui smiled particularly gently and kindly: "Xiao Wang, Lao Zheng is right, you are a genius. You are welcome to submit more manuscripts. Next time you have new manuscripts, just give them to me directly."
Then He Yuankui hit Zheng Yuanjie on the chest and said, "I won't be going home for the next few days. Old Zheng, please help me entertain Xiao Wang."
Zheng Yuanjie looked at He Yuankui's energetic look and whispered suspiciously: "This old guy hasn't been so excited in how many years. Isn't he taking medicine?"
Wang Debao's eyes twitched. You two are indeed good friends. Your comments about each other are all the same.
etc……
Wang Debao suddenly remembered something and said, "I haven't signed the contract yet, right? Is this the end of it?"
Zheng Yuanjie was stunned: "What contract?"
"Don't you have to sign a contract after submitting a manuscript? You can't sign a contract when signing a contract?" Wang Debao's eyes widened. Brother, you can't bullshit me. You won't even sign a contract for me, so how can I guarantee my rights?
"Who told you that you still need to sign a contract?" Zheng Yuanjie also widened her eyes and said in disbelief: "I have been writing children's literature for several years, and I have never signed a contract. I have never signed a contract when I publish a collection of works."
Wang Debao was speechless. How are your rights and interests guaranteed? What if...
Wait, this is 1984, and there seems to be no such thing as a manuscript signing contract. The author submits a manuscript, and once it is published, it is a manuscript. When newspapers and magazines are published, the author will receive the sample issue and manuscript fee by mail. The whole process is also
There is no need to sign a contract.
Even if most authors are rejected, they will not receive a rejection letter. They can wait for newspapers and magazines to be published and see if their own works are available.
Wang Debao patted his head. He was applying the model of signing online articles thirty years later to today. It was indeed inappropriate... Not to mention thirty years later, not many people would still read newspapers and newspapers twenty years later.
Magazines, print media are among the media forms that have been eliminated.
But now is 1984, the most prosperous era of print media, but also its last glory.
"You are a newcomer and have no room for negotiation, but it will be fine after your article is published." Zheng Yuanjie pulled Wang Debao out of the editorial office and taught him earnestly as he walked: "Don't worry about the fee first, publish the important things first, and then
You can also continue to write high-quality work."
"Don't worry, Old Zheng. I can tell you right now, I have no intention of getting rich from writing. It's almost impossible, so the royalties are about the same. I'm not greedy," Wang Debao said bluntly: "But I want to
Making a name for myself through writing is the most important thing to me."
"When I was your age, I wish I could see things as clearly as you did." Zheng Yuanjie immediately understood what Wang Debao meant and said with some emotion.
Wang Debao chuckled: "It's not too late now... Hey, don't hit people, why are you so impatient?"
Zheng Yuanjie punched Wang Debao and said proudly, "I have been a soldier."
Wang Debao rolled his eyes and said: "The entire editorial department is working overtime, which makes me feel a little embarrassed. Lao Zheng, what do you think I buy some fruit for delivery?"
Zheng Yuanjie waved her hands repeatedly: "No, you have good intentions, but what if someone accuses you of bribing editors? Originally, there was nothing wrong with the editors, and the decision-making was all made by Lao He alone, but the dirty water was taken away.
They couldn't avoid it, and they did eat the fruit you gave them, so they couldn't explain it clearly... If it were you in their place, wouldn't you feel aggrieved? At this time, would you hate the person who made the whistleblower? Or do you hate them?
The person who brought you fruit?"
Wang Debao was stunned, and suddenly sighed and said: "It's not easy to be a human being... Then I really don't express anything at all, then they don't hate me to death?"
Zheng Yuanjie said meaningfully: "After your novel is published, it arouses enough response and you become famous... Then you give fruits and gifts, and no one will say anything, because at that time, it means they have a keen eye to recognize talents.
, the meaning is completely different.”
Wang Debao thought about it carefully and realized that this was really the case, and he sighed again.
Zheng Yuanjie sighed: "But I still don't understand why Lao He is so anxious and insists on publishing your novel in this issue? What is this old boy thinking about?"
Yes, even a layman knows that this matter is very risky, but He Yuankui still forces himself to do it, and it must be done... So what is he trying to do?
Wang Debao's eyes flickered, and he had a little guess, but he was not very sure... After all, it is a children's book, is it really that important?