Sioux City.

A building located in the suburbs.

It's not a good idea to say it's a building, because from the point of view of the exterior style, this building can even be called a toy, a toy building full of childlike whimsy, the whole building is colorful, like a soft jelly-like texture, and the two huge dolls in front of the door add a sense of fantasy again.

On the side of the building is a tall pine tree, decorated with various dolls, this is the kingdom of colors, from the ceiling to the wall to the floor, all the flowing colors, stepping on the soft plastic, like being in a fairy tale kingdom.

When you enter the office, it is a different scene, with wooden minimalist floors, nothing but a company logo on the walls, and huge floor-to-ceiling windows that are lush and green, and you can even see the bird's nest on the branches, and people work in this environment.

This is the "Reading Manga House", formerly known as the "Fantasy Island" studio founded by Feng Mingzhi, the father of Chinese animation and comics, after the retirement of Mr. Feng, it became the headquarters of the Reading Comic Company under the Reading Group, and it is also a holy place in the comics industry.

Because this is not only a comic base, but also a childlike fantasy paradise, Mr. Feng once said, "The happiness of my life comes from creating happiness for children", during the "Fantasy Island" studio, it was built several times, and finally became the perfect "Fantasy Island" in the heart of Mr. Feng.

At this time, most of the people working here are busy reviewing manuscripts, and at a glance, they are all staring at the computer.

Intern editor Liu Jing stretched his waist and temporarily got out of the massive submissions, and his eyes rolled to see a focused face.

"Lao Bai, what makes you so fascinated?" Liu Jing leaned over with a smile and asked, to be honest, he had been reviewing the manuscript for so long, and he couldn't maintain the seriousness and enthusiasm he started with.

Lao Bai refers to Bai Kai, a well-known cartoonist in his early years, who later changed his career to become an editor when his right hand was injured and unable to draw.

It was the middle-aged man in front of him with a focused expression and staring intently at the computer screen.

"Just look at it. ”

Liu Jing was on the opposite side of Bai Kai, couldn't see the computer screen, and turned around curiously when he heard this.

At a glance, I saw Chihiro on the screen pressing the brim of her hat with one hand, and the green silk was flying.

Suddenly it was like being struck by lightning.

Comics, can you still draw so beautifully?

"This ......" Liu Jing was completely shocked, and the aesthetics under the influence of the Journey to the West painting style for a long time seemed to have been impacted, which made Liu Jing lose his voice all of a sudden.

Bai Kai glanced at him: "Calm down, look at your virtue." ”

Can't you be like him, more mature?

When he first saw this submission of "Spirited Away" before, he was only stunned for five minutes on the first page.

Liu Jing didn't answer, and immediately moved a stool to Bai Kai's side.

The other people next to him were curious when they saw it, after all, the office was very quiet, and everyone could see any movement.

Then they were shocked and immediately moved chairs.

", this style of painting ......"

"I dare to say that even if the story is like *, it can become popular with this style of painting!"

"I'm afraid this is going to cause a sensation in the circle!"

"It's not just the circle, it's the whole comic world!"

Bai Kai was impatient with the squeezing, stood up and roared.

"Don't look at it, look at it, I'll send it to the work group, you can see it yourself!"

However, the editor did not buy it immediately, but urged him.

"Old white, hurry up!"

"Hurry up, hurry up—"

It wasn't until Bai Kai sent the file to the work group that the editors dispersed in a hurry, and Liu Jing happily returned to his seat and immediately downloaded the file.

No, Bai Kai looked at the room full of "Spirited Away", and patted his head: "Don't read it for me, review the manuscript and read it after work!"

"Eh Laobai, let's see this as a reviewer!"

"Yes, yes, this work is very good, I think it should be carefully reviewed. ”

"Lao Bai, if it's this kind of work, I'm not tired of working overtime!"

Yes, there is no way, Bai Kai shook his head helplessly.

"Look, look. ”

As soon as you sit down, you can immediately pick up the previous part and concentrate on it.

——

The weather is clear and the wind is smooth.

The forest path is lush and green, and the branches and foliage of the large trees on both sides are luxuriant, even if the midday sun casts down, it can only sprinkle specks on the ground, and with the early autumn breeze, it is refreshing.

This stone road is full of ancient charm, and it is common to see women holding oil-paper umbrellas and wearing Hanfu to take photos here, or tourists with backpacks, holding SLRs to take pictures around and recording the beautiful scenery with the shutter.

However, Salted Yubai carried a large bag and a small bag on the way, grinning his teeth.

The grinning is because his legs are really sore, and the big bags and small bags give him a few blows from time to time, and he still walks this kind of bluestone path that is not smooth, one foot deep and one foot shallow, and under the pull of the joints, it is a burst of soreness.

I was going to rest for a while today, and I was able to stay in the hotel to watch movies and play mobile games, which was really perfect.

However, my mother suddenly remembered that she had bought quite authentic fermented bean curd in a small shop here last year, and asked Bai Ze to buy one for an errand, but she couldn't remember where it was.

The baby is bitter, but the baby does not dare to say.

Bai Ze ran all over the house, and each family took photos for his mother to recall and distinguish, and finally bought four different jars of bean curd, because his mother really couldn't tell the difference.

Bai Ze argued: "I still have to travel everywhere, you let me take these four jars, how can I go." ”

The old mother laughed: "You can continue to travel to have a ghost, most of them will run to Nanyue, and they won't sneak back after a while." ”

Why is Mother so discerning!

——

Dusk is approaching, and the afterglow of the setting sun has gradually dissipated.

Our lovely hard-working editors are still working, sitting intently in front of the computer.

"Hmm-"

"That's it—"

I've watched it many times, and Bai Kai still can't help but feel melancholy when he sees the end.

"Yes-although it's not very suitable, I have to say that this work is really overkill for participating in the Reading Cup-" The editor next to him also sighed.

"Whether it's the style of painting or the plot, it's far beyond the level of today's comics-"

"It seems like it's time to rethink the positioning of comics. Bai Kai said slowly.

He stood up, clapped his hands, faced all the editors, and said aloud.

"I've been in the comics community for almost two decades.

From the beginning as a manga artist, to the current manga judge, manga editor. ”

"All along, I have always had the same goal as Mr. Feng, which is to bring joy to children. I'm sure the same is true for all of you.

However, today's comic has refreshed my cognition. ”

"Can comics be like novels, movies, and dramas, with rich connotations and artistic beauty?"

He paused, then continued.

"I think so. ”