Generally speaking, the more influential the award, the more complicated and time-consuming the selection process will be. The selection of the Goncourt Novel Prize lasted half a year, while the selection of the Nobel Prize in Literature lasted a full year.
In September last year, the Nobel Committee sent nomination invitation letters to institutions or individuals qualified for nomination. The former American Nobel Prize winner in Literature chose Zhou Hexuan as a nomination candidate after receiving the nomination invitation letter.
And contact U.S. publishers to produce nomination materials.
At the end of January this year, the time for nominating candidates closes.
The Nobel Committee takes two months to select 15-20 preliminary candidates from hundreds of candidate nominations and submit the list to the Swedish Academy.
Then, it will take another month to select 5 final candidates from among these 15-20 people.
From June to August, members of the Swedish Academy will spend three months reading all the works of the five final candidates, and the Nobel Committee will also prepare a separate selection report.
By September, members of the Swedish Academy began discussions to evaluate and compare the merits and contributions of the candidates.
Until early October, members of the Swedish Academy began voting, and the winner must receive more than half of the votes to be considered valid.
The next step is to prepare for the awards ceremony, and the official awards will not begin until mid-December.
Not only did Zhou Hexuan not know that he had become one of the hundreds of candidates for the Nobel Prize in Literature, he didn't even know that his work had caused a sensation in France. It would take at least a month for the news to reach China from Europe.
Since Zhang Mouzhi wanted to develop in Shanghai, Zhou Hexuan could only take his father-in-law to visit everywhere. Anyway, he was only responsible for introductions. As for who he could establish a relationship with, it all depended on Zhang Mouzhi's own ability.
"Steward Chen, the water supply has been cut off again." The servants in the house came to report.
"When the water is cut off, just go to the water delivery man," the old housekeeper Chen Han said gloomily. "Shanghai is really worse than Jiujiang. The water supply is cut off every three days."
Zhou Hexuan happened to be coming back from outside with his father-in-law. When he heard the housekeeper's complaint, he explained with a smile: "The workers at the water plant in the French Concession are on strike. It probably won't be resolved for a while. It's better to have more drinking water at home."
"My uncle said yes, I will make arrangements right away." Chen Han said respectfully.
Zhang Mouzhi shook his head and said: "The demands made by the water plant workers are too outrageous. They actually want to double their wages. How can the French agree?"
Zhou Hexuan explained: "I heard that the French Concession Water Plant has not raised wages for several years. Prices have risen sharply in recent years. The silver dollar has continued to depreciate since the Northern Expedition. Doubling the salary is reasonable."
Not only were they complaining, the entire French Concession in Shanghai was filled with complaints.
People can go without eating for three days, but they cannot go without drinking water for three days. The recent water shortage has made people want to die.
Even the mayor of Shanghai was alarmed by this incident. He sent people to persuade and negotiate to no avail. In the end, the mayor had no choice but to visit Du Yuesheng in person, hoping that Du Yuesheng could come forward to solve the problem.
Du Yuesheng was at loggerheads with the mayor of Shanghai due to the opium smuggling case some time ago. This time he took the opportunity to show off, and the city government contacted him several times and promised many benefits, before Du Yuesheng finally agreed to help.
Although he is just a gang leader, Du Yuesheng is really capable in Shanghai. With his contact and communication, the water plant workers' strike was successfully resolved. The French Concession Water Plant agreed to give workers a 75% wage increase, but the wages during the strike were not recognized.
Du Yuesheng paid the money in advance to the workers out of his own pocket.
Although some money was spent, Du Yuesheng benefited most. After the matter was settled, the French owed him a favor, the Shanghai Municipal Government owed him a favor, and the workers at the water plant also praised Boss Du for his benevolence and righteousness.
"Xian son-in-law, what kind of business do you think I should do in Shanghai?" Zhang Mouzhi has not yet decided on a development project. He said, "My old profession is comprador and real estate, but the competition in these two industries in Shanghai is too fierce.
Okay. We are new here, so we can’t compete with others.”
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "Dad, do you believe me?"
"Of course I believe it!" Zhang Mouzhi said quickly. He now knew how powerful his son-in-law was. Even Minister Yan came to ask for advice. Business celebrities like Yu Qiaqing and Xu Shenru also favored his son-in-law. It was impossible for him to have no ability.
Zhou Hexuan said: "Don't do anything now, wait a few months to go to the United States to make a fortune."
"The United States?" Zhang Mouzhi said in surprise.
Zhou Hexuan explained: "According to my speculation, an economic crisis will soon break out in the United States. By then, whether it is short-selling for finance, or buying equipment and personnel to build factories, it will be a very profitable business."
"Really?" Zhang Mouzhi was doubtful.
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "You will know when the time comes."
Zhang Mouzhi frowned and thought hard, and then said after a long time: "Then I will wait for a few more months, and then we will go to the United States to see it."
Weng and his son-in-law got along quite happily, and Zhou Hexuan also gave the Zhang family the exclusive agency rights of "Mei Kou" underwear in Jiangxi for operation. Although there are many counterfeit underwear nowadays, "Mei Kou" is a brand-name product, and the female relatives of upper-class celebrities
Only recognize "Mr. Underwear".
Due to the government's inaction in protecting patents, Zhou Hexuan, after discussing with Xu Shenru and Zhang Jiazhu, decided to change the business strategy. From now on, "Mei Kou" will only make mid-to-high-end underwear, leaving the low-end market to other brands to compete.
Zhou Hexuan also wanted to invent other money-making gadgets, but racked his brains and couldn't figure out what to do. MSG had been invented by the Japanese a long time ago. Although silk stockings are very profitable, the technology is too complicated and China, which has no petrochemical industry foundation, cannot do it.
come out.
These days, the more profitable an exclusive invention is, the greater the risk.
For example, Qu Huanzhang, the founder of Yunnan Baiyao, was forced to death by the Republic of China government. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the government called on businessmen to donate money, but Qu Huanzhang's pledge to donate an airplane was useless. He had to donate 300,000 yuan.
Qu Huanzhang simply could not come up with so much cash, so he was imprisoned.
At this moment, Jiao Yitang, director of the Central Traditional Chinese Medicine Center, invited Qu Huanzhang to work at the Central Traditional Chinese Medicine Center. Qu Huanzhang thought he had met a savior and ran to Chongqing. However, he was asked to hand over the Yunnan Baiyao prescription, which was handed over by Jiao Yitang.
Privately held Chung Hwa Pharmaceuticals conducts production.
This was obviously a carefully planned trap, just to seize Yunnan Baiyao prescriptions. Qu Huanzhang refused to agree, and was placed under house arrest and eventually died on a hunger strike.
You know, Qu Huanzhang has been running a shopping mall and has been in the officialdom for more than 30 years. He also knows many big figures and has no shortage of political protection. But ordinary people are not guilty and are guilty of carrying a treasure. Who let him have a treasure in his hand? If he is targeted, he can only
A dead end.
After thinking about this clearly, Zhou Hexuan immediately lost interest in making exclusive inventions.
When Weng and his son-in-law were chatting about the shopping mall, the servant suddenly came in with a telegraph newspaper and said: "Uncle, there is an urgent call from Peiping!"
There were only eight words on the telegram: Union Hospital, Mr. Ren is critically ill.
