At this moment, Li Ruocheng put the towel on the small stool next to the bamboo chair and picked up his white porcelain cup.
Lin Handa, the author of "Up and Down Five Thousand Years", in Li Ruocheng's eyes, is simply a counterattack model for a literary master.
"The Mr. Lin Handa I know had a hard time growing up. He was sent to a landlord's house to work as a laborer at the age of eight.
He worked this small job for five years. When he was 13 years old, his father was about to send him to a rice shop as an apprentice. Fortunately, his aunt from far away stopped him.
His aunt thought that he was smart and studious, so she sponsored Lin Handa to attend a missionary school..."
From then on, Lin Handa began his campus life where he never let go of books, and along the way he became a professor, provost, and director of the Education Department of Yenching University.
"After graduating from university, Lin Handa worked as an English teacher for a period of time. At the age of 28, he joined World Bookstore in Pujiang as an English editor."
Li Ruocheng looked at Jiangshan and said:
"During this period, he compiled a textbook called "Standard English Textbook", and its sales were close to Lin Yutang's "Enlightened English Textbook".
As a result, Lin Yutang's publisher, Kaiming Bookstore, accused Lin Handa of plagiarism.
Then, World Bookstore, where Lin Handa worked, countersued the other party for frame-up.
It was at that time that I learned about Lin Handa."
At this time, before Jiang Shan could say anything, Qiu Yuefeng couldn't help but ask: "Who will win the lawsuit after that?"
Li Ruocheng smiled and said: "Of course Lin Handa's World Book Company won. If they were not sure enough, they would not sue the other party for slander.
However, because Lin Yutang's reputation was too prominent, the then Deputy Minister of Education persuaded Lin Handa to withdraw the lawsuit.
He also said something to him: I am a doctor studying in the United States, what are you?"
Because of these words, Lin Handa took 400 US dollars home and went to the United States to work and study.
Two and a half years later, he not only received his doctorate, but also took home $500.
"Lin Handa's translation has a special feature," Li Ruocheng said: "It is plain translation."
"Suyi?" Jiangshan heard this word for the first time: "What is Suyi."
Hu Xiao on the side threw him another cigarette: "It's just a simplified translation, take the essence and discard the meaningless parts. In our country, it's also called a translation that considers busy people."
"This is a coincidence," Li Ruocheng explained with a smile:
"The few books Lin Handa translated at that time were mostly related to foreign history, in order to prevent the books from becoming too thick and expensive.
He removed the unimportant parts so that even children from poor families could read the published book.
Unexpectedly, the book translated in this way is very suitable for some busy people.
Because they don’t have time to look at those foreign scenery dishes, they just want to know their stories.”
Jiang Shan nodded: "That means, as long as I know what the hero had for breakfast, I don't need to worry about how to prepare the meal step by step."
"That's pretty much what it means," Li Ruocheng nodded: "The book translated by Lin Handa also has a special feature, it is all translated in Yanjing dialect."
"Isn't he from Zhejiang Province?"
"He got married and established a career in our Pujiang," Hu Xiao said while blowing smoke: "I guess he thinks that anyone can understand the article translated like this!"
"Then..." Qiu Yuefeng hesitated: "Then how did he die later?"
"Lin Handa went all out when writing books," Li Ruocheng looked at him and said:
"They even risked their lives during the anti-civil war in 1945. At the anti-war demonstration held in Pujiang, he and Tao Xingzhi were among the first ones, but it was a pity that they were invited in in the end."
"Hahaha,"
At the mention of this, Hu Xiao, who was sitting in the small courtyard, burst out laughing: "Mr. Li, think about it now, it was not easy for the people who could live in it back then."
"That's right," Li Ruocheng also laughed: "Ordinary intellectuals really can't live in it."
"Look at how proud you two are," Jiang Shan tutted, "You're even more beautiful."
"But some people never come out after they go in," Li Ruocheng lamented:
"Lin Handa was one of them. At that time, he accepted the commission from his superiors to translate the book "Internationalism or Russification".
There was a lot of pressure on this book. Starting from the beginning of July, Lin Handa worked at his desk for sixteen or seven hours a day.
It was not until late at night on July 24 that this task was finally completed.
However, this also became his final chapter, and he died of a heart attack two days later."
When Li Ruocheng finished his last words, everyone in the small courtyard stopped talking.
The warmth of autumn accompanied by the breeze spread over everyone's body, making them feel uncomfortable.
At this moment, Jiang Shan lit a cigarette and inserted it into the flower pot in the corner: "It was during that time that he completed all the outlines and details of the book "Up and Down Five Thousand Years"."
"So that's it," Hu Xiao also lit a cigarette, inserted it into the flowerpot and said slowly:
"It seems like he didn't miss anything during the time he lived in the bullpen!"
"Well, it's very fulfilling," Jiang Shan agreed: "He has not been influenced by anyone and is only doing what he likes."
"Indeed," Li Ruocheng also lamented: "If it weren't for these outstanding works, we wouldn't be talking about him here now."
After a while, four cigarettes were inserted into the blooming chrysanthemum pot.
Looking at the mist floating in front of him, Hu Xiao patted Jiang Shan's shoulder.
The longer they get along, the more he likes to be with Jiang Shan.
It is fresh without losing temperament, and it is radical without losing stability.
A very comfortable feeling!
"Xiao Jiang," Hu Xiao asked curiously: "Your newspaper has not seen this book yet, but it is ready to be serialized. How confident are you?"
Today's people have high expectations for knowledge that future generations will not dare to imagine.
Even a children's science fiction novel like "PHS Adventures in the Future" can be read with gusto by adults, let alone Hua Men's masterpiece "Up and Down Five Thousand Years".
Jiang Shan nodded affirmatively: "Have you read his "New Collection of Stories about the Countries of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty"?"
"Of course I have read it. I have also read "Story of Spring and Autumn Period" and "Story of Warring States". My favorite is his "New Story of the Three Kingdoms"."
Unlike later generations, there are very few people on the market today who can compile Chinese history into popular storybooks.
Therefore, these books by Lin Handa are very popular.
Jiang Shan specially reminded: "When "Up and Down Five Thousand Years" comes out, you must buy a set and keep it until you see it and you won't want to throw it away."
"Then I'll leave this matter to you," Hu Xiao immediately assigned the task: "How can I have that free time?"
"No problem, I have some free time," Jiang Shan accepted the task: "Leave the errands to me."
Li Ruocheng quickly followed up: "Don't forget that you still have me."
"All of them, all of them," Jiang Shan looked at Qiu Yuefeng and said with a smile, "Everyone sitting here today has a share."
At this moment, Qiu Yuefeng, facing Jiang Shan's cheerful smile, also laughed.
…
In the Bayi Studio in Yanjing City, Chen Peisi had just walked out of the director's office when she hurriedly called her father.
"Dad," Chen Peisi gasped excitedly: "I have good news to tell you. My unit has just informed me to go to Pujiang Translation Studio to cooperate in completing the work."
"Hey, I really told you,"
Chen Qiang couldn't help but joke, even though his son had told him about being seconded by the translation producer after he came back from Pujiang.
But he didn't take it seriously at all at the time.
In Chen Qiang's view, only well-known actors of Sun Daolin's level would be invited to dub at Pujiang Translation Studio.
"Why would they ask you to do the dubbing?"
"Why can't I go," Chen Peisi said proudly:
"Dad, let me tell you, the radio drama "Latent" that Pujiang Translation Factory is going to produce this time was written by a buddy of mine. This novel is famous in Pujiang."
"Really?" Chen Qiang said in surprise: "No wonder Pujiang Translation Factory invited you."
"My buddy said, the main thing is that I have this ability."
Chen Qiang nodded happily: "This friend of yours is quite interesting!"
"Of course," Chen Peisi continued to promote Jiangshan: "Jiangshan is amazing. The two directors of Yanjing and Pujiang TV stations are both his good friends."
"Really?" Chen Qiang asked doubtfully, "How old is your friend?"
"He is a monkey born in 56 years old and is two years younger than me."
"So young? Are you friends with the two station directors?" Chen Qiang clicked his tongue and shook his head: "Just brag!"
"I'm not bragging at all," Chen Peisi said with certainty: "Even the director of the Pujiang Translation Factory is on arm's length with him. By the way, Dad, there is something else I want to tell you."
"what happened again?"
"When Jiang Shan called me yesterday, he mentioned that I should pay attention to the Yanjing Daily in the past two days, saying that they would reprint my interview news."
"Is that the article in Oriental Metropolis Daily?"
"Yes, that's the one."
Great. Chen Qiang, who put down the phone, smiled so much that his eyebrows flew up when he thought that his son's photo would appear in the "Yanjing Daily":
"It's done, I didn't expect Erzi's first movie to be so successful..."
When Chen Peisi's unit received the secondment letter written by Hu Xiao, the units of Liu Xiaoqing and Pan Hong also received the same invitation.
All units have given great support to Pujiang Translation Factory’s proposal.
After receiving the feedback, Jiang Shan is already making final plans for the publication of "Latent".
…
The weekend expansion of "Pujiang Daily" has indeed achieved very good results.
On the day of the expansion, the circulation exceeded 150,000 copies.
The Propaganda Department and the Press and Publication Department both called Wei Yuanxing to congratulate him, making Wei Yuanxing extremely happy.
This kind of treatment is not something Jiang Hai can enjoy.
After all, as an old comrade, Wei Yuanxing has been deeply involved in this industry for many years.
Therefore, because of his rich experience, he immediately changed the combined issue of "Gone with the Wind" to "PHS: A Journey into the Future".
But, just two or three days after the weekend edition of "Pujiang Daily" was released.
Pujiang Daily has received a large number of letters from readers one after another.
"In these letters," Editor-in-Chief Wu reported: "Most of them are questions about our newspaper."
Wei Yuanxing, who was sitting in his office chair, raised his head and asked: "Question? Question what?"
"They say we don't keep our word. We said before that we would publish a collection of "Gone with the Wind" novels, but we only saw a collection of "PHS Adventures in the Future"."
"Oh," Wei Yuanxing slapped his forehead and said, "I forgot about this. If I had known about it, I wouldn't have made any advance notice."
Compared with the children's science fiction "PHS Adventures in the Future", "Gone with the Wind" has a larger audience.
In the novel "Gone with the Wind", readers can not only see a crazy love story that took place in a foreign country, but also learn about the background of the Civil War.
This is simply not something that can be compared to "PHS Adventures in the Future".
"What should we do with these letters from readers?" Editor Wu continued to ask, "Should we just ignore them?"
"Then what else can we do?" Wei Yuanxing spread his hands and said with a smile: "The more this happens, the more it shows that these readers cannot do without Gone with the Wind in our newspaper."
"That's true," Editor Wu nodded and said, "This novel is indeed good. Thanks to your persistence at the time, I would have given up if I had done it differently."
"Haha," Wei Yuanxing believed in his own eyes: "That's just me. As long as it's right, I will stick to it to the end!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the phone on the desk rang.
Somehow, half of the cigarette ashes in Wei Yuanxing's hand fell down.
While he was fussing about in a hurry, Editor Wu answered the phone for him.
After only saying a few words, he looked at Wei Yuanxing in front of him with blank eyes: "Chief Editor..."
"What's wrong?" When Wei Yuanxing saw the other party's dead look, he quickly answered the phone: "What happened?"
This was a call from the Municipal Propaganda Department. The content of the call was very concise and to the point: "Have you read today's Guangming Daily?"
Although the other party didn't say much on the phone, Wei Yuanxing had already heard the underlying meaning of what the other party said.
Before Wei Yuanxing could put down the phone and speak, the editor-in-chief of the news department walked in with a copy of Guangming Daily: "Editor-in-Chief Wei, please take a look at this."
It was just in time that Wei Yuanxing took the newspaper: "...Compared to "Uncle Tom's Cabin", "Gone with the Wind" is a reaction and a cultural regression..."
Compared with Wei Yuanxing's voice getting smaller and smaller, Editor Wu's eyes opened wider and wider: "It's bad, it's bad, it's really bad now."
"Yes," Wei Yuanxing's voice suddenly sounded a bit older: "It seems like this "Gone with the Wind"... sigh!"
On the second day, Editor-in-Chief Wei, who was still reluctant to part with it, immediately made the decision to stop serializing "Gone with the Wind".
Wei Yuanxing knew that his decision would undoubtedly cause a lot of trouble for Pujiang Daily.
But rather than being scolded by readers, it is better than being pointed in the nose and lectured by your superior department.
Now, the only thing he can do is to ask Editor Wu of the Supplement Department to write an explanatory article to appease readers and publish it in the newspaper.
Then, I quickly threw the time bomb of "Gone with the Wind" out.
So at this moment, Editor-in-Chief Wu of the Supplement Department walked into the courtyard of No. 51 Anhe Street with a gloomy face.
"Translator Li, how could you conceal the actual situation of this book?"
After sitting down and chatting for a few words, Editor Wu started complaining to Li Ruocheng: "Do you know how much bad influence this book has had on our newspaper?"
"No..." Li Ruocheng was surprised: "You didn't read the book at that time, so you came to me and asked me to serialize it?"
