Just when Zhou Hexuan was about to return to Tianjin, Pearl Buck and the Bucks suddenly came to him to say goodbye.
"Are you two preparing to leave because Peking University often defaults on wages?" Zhou Hexuan asked in surprise. In fact, he was also a little guilty. He tricked other couples into coming to Peking University, but they often didn't pay their wages for two or three months.
Pearl Buck said: "It has nothing to do with salary, we still have some savings."
Zhou Hexuan asked: "Then why did you decide to leave?"
"I miss my children, especially my daughter Keno, who is mentally retarded," Pearl Buck said. "When I was in Nanjing, I entrusted my daughter and adopted daughter to the Chinese government because I was afraid of being attacked by rioting soldiers.
My friend will take care of it. Now that the situation in Nanjing has stabilized, I plan to go back and have a look."
"You can bring your two daughters to Peking University. As for the wages, I guarantee that they will be paid on time." Zhou Hexuan persuaded.
Buck interjected: "That's right, I discussed it with Pearl and planned to take my daughter back to the United States and find a mental nursing home for her where she can stay permanently."
"Then I wish your daughter a speedy recovery." Zhou Hexuan didn't know what to say.
"Thank you for your blessing." Pearl Buck said with a forced smile. She sent her daughter to the United States for medical treatment a few years ago, but the doctor could not do anything about it. Problems occurred while the baby was growing in her belly.
Pearl Buck's family has been through many disasters in China. Her mother gave birth to three children in succession, but all of them died due to China's poor medical standards. When her mother became pregnant with Pearl Buck, she was so frightened that she quickly returned to the United States for an abortion, and she was finally successfully treated.
She was raised.
Pearl Buck's parents were missionaries with pure hearts. They refused to live with the rich and mingled with the poor people in China all day long. Their ideal was to preach the gospel of God to every poor Chinese people, and they were even criticized by the locals.
The insults, threats and beatings have never changed.
Zhou Hexuan can accept Pearl Buck's departure because Peking University has no shortage of literary talents.
Buck is different. He used to be the dean of the College of Agriculture at Jinling University. After years of field research, he wrote and published the book "Chinese Agricultural Economy". He is one of the top agriculturists in China today. This person's
Leaving is undoubtedly a huge loss for Peking University.
But Zhou Hexuan could only feel regretful because he could not keep those who should leave.
Buck smiled and said: "Zhou, the academic environment at Peking University is very good. I like it here very much. When I come back from the United States this time, I may come to Peking University as a teacher."
"That's great," Zhou Hexuan said happily, "the gate of Peking University will always be open to you two."
Pearl Buck also took out a stack of manuscripts and said: "Mr. Zhou, I have translated your "Goddess" into English. After I go to the United States, I will recommend this novel to publishers. As for whether it can be published, that depends on
Publisher’s opinion. I would like to ask you to write a letter of authorization authorizing me to help you translate and negotiate publishing matters.”
"That's no problem," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "Let's go back to Tianjin together. I'll also entrust you with the English manuscript of "The Rise of the Great Powers" to help you run it."
Pearl Buck wholeheartedly agreed, and she and her husband returned to Nanjing with the manuscript and authorization letter, and then left Shanghai by boat with their mentally retarded daughter and adopted daughter. After more than a month of bumpy seas, the couple finally landed on the west coast of the United States.
They first searched for a mental health facility for their daughter, and then began to go their separate ways.
Buck took his academic monographs and papers such as "China's Agricultural Economy" and specifically sought financial support from foundations and companies. His agricultural research needed money, so the Chinese government had no hope and could only seek help from American foundations. .
It is ridiculous to say that a foreigner is studying China's agricultural economy in China, but the Chinese government ignores this good thing and forces the person involved to go to the United States to apply for research funds.
Buck almost broke his legs, but gained little, and the foundations were not interested in his research.
Historically, it was not until the spring of 1929 that he received financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation, and the amount was very large. Buck was so happy that he devoted himself to agricultural research and wandered around the fields all day long, completely neglecting his wife. and daughter.
So Buck fell in love, and Pearl Buck fell in love with a publisher for a long time. The two ended their marriage a few years later.
Pearl Buck was also running into obstacles everywhere at this time. She took the English manuscripts of Zhou Hexuan's "The Goddess" and "The Rise of the Great Powers", as well as her debut novel "Guilan", and searched for more than 20 publishers, but found nothing.
Well, Pearl Buck's "Guilan" was later renamed and published as "East Wind: West Wind". This is a Zhang Hui style novel, the heroine is named Guilan... The protagonist is a Zhang Hui style novel, and it is also in English , I’m drunk just thinking about it.
As for Pearl Buck's famous work "The Good Earth", it has not yet been completed and only part of it has been written.
Zhou Hexuan's "The Goddess" received the same treatment and was not favored by American publishers. They felt that American readers were not interested in China and would definitely lose money by publishing this kind of novel.
On the other hand, "The Rise of Great Powers" was favored by some publishers, but when asked about the author, they immediately shook their heads and refused when they heard that it was written by a Chinese. It was not just that they looked down on the Chinese, but because the monographs written by Chinese authors were nothing. As a gimmick, if it is a work by a famous European and American historical figure, publishers can better promote it.
The early and mid-20th century were a prosperous period for the American publishing industry. As early as 1901, more than 8,000 books were published in the United States every year, among which New York, Philadelphia and Boston were the three major centers of the American publishing industry.
Because they can make money, more and more publishing houses are opened, leading to extremely fierce competition in the industry.
Mike Lauer Publishing is one of the countless publishing houses in the United States. Mike Howard used to be the editor of the New York Times. He co-founded the publishing house with his friend Lauer Wood seven years ago. After the two of them jointly Thanks to hard work, the publishing house now has nearly 20 employees.
"Boss, there is a lady who wants to see you. She has some manuscripts in her hand." The golden cat secretary knocked on the door.
Mike Howard never misses any opportunity to discover good books. This is the secret to his success. He immediately said: "Invite her in and make another cup of coffee."
Pearl Buck walked into the office holding a stack of manuscripts and greeted with a smile: "Hello, Mr. Howard, my name is Pearl, and my Chinese name is Pearl Buck."
"Chinese name? This is rare." Mike found it interesting.
Pearl Buck put the manuscript on her desk and said: "Although I was born in the United States, I have lived in China since I was a child. This is my novel "Guilan" based on the Chinese rural background. There are also two other novels written by Chinese scholar Zhou Hexuan. Mr.'s novel "The Goddess" and his historical monograph "The Rise of Great Powers"."
