Xiao Fei arrived at Hongqiao Airport at 6 p.m. on September 13.

At that time, Editor Cheng had been waiting at the airport for a long time.

Xiao Fei and Li Tianran came out of the pick-up gate together, and saw Editor Cheng standing in the crowd, nodding and smiling at the two of them.

"Xiao Fei, Teacher Li, I didn't expect you to get together." Editor Cheng looked very familiar with Li Tianran, and said with a smile when he met.

"Haha! Oh, yes! It couldn't be more coincidental, I was on the same flight as Mr. Xiao, and I happened to meet while waiting for the plane. Li Tianran said with a hearty smile.

"Teacher Xiao?"

Editor Cheng muttered, a little surprised that Li Tianran used an honorific title to address Xiao Fei.

However, after thinking about it, he understood that it seemed that Xiao Fei had handed over the publishing copyright of the single book of "Brothers" to the writers' club.

"Hello Mr. Cheng, I'm really bothering you, I've been waiting at the airport for a long time, right?" Xiao Fei greeted Editor Cheng with a smile.

"I didn't have to wait too long, let's go! The hotel has already been arranged, Mr. Li, will you come along? Editor Cheng helped Xiao Fei drag his luggage and greeted Li Tianran.

"No, no, I have other things to do, you can go first." Li Tianran said.

The main task of coming to Shanghai this time has been completed, and Li Tianran has no worries in his heart, and plans to stay in the magic capital for two or three days and visit a few old writers in the city.

Xiao Fei and the others said goodbye to Li Tianran.

Cheng editor brought a car.

Hongqiao Airport is not far from the harvest editorial office, although it is the peak season, but it only took half an hour to get there.

The press conference was held in a conference room in a hotel near the newsroom.

The domestic media reporters who came to attend the press conference this time were also arranged to stay in this hotel.

Xiao Fei's room is on the third floor of this hotel.

Editor Cheng diligently helped Xiao Fei complete the check-in procedures, and helped him drag his luggage into the room. Along the way, I met several reporters who asked Xiao Fei for an exclusive interview.

were all blocked by Editor Cheng.

Editor Cheng told reporters that the interview arrangement will be arranged tomorrow, and no media interviews will be arranged before the press conference.

Come to the room and drop off your luggage. Editor Cheng asked: "Xiao Fei, have you already handed over the publication of the single book of "Brothers" to the Writers Publishing House?" ”

"Yes." Xiao Fei said.

"Alas! Then forget it. Editor Cheng sighed and said.

"Teacher Cheng, what's wrong?" Xiao Fei asked.

"Xu Hao of Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House was asking me yesterday, which publishing house do you plan to hand over the copyright of the single copy of "Brothers" to. They are very interested in cooperating with you again. Cheng said.

Xiao Fei had also received a call from Xu Hao before.

According to Xu Hao, their publishing house would like to refer to the cooperation model of "Fish Walking on Land" and further cooperate further. Of course, if Xiao Fei is willing to completely hand over the copyright of the single book to them to operate, then they are even more welcome.

Xu Hao has not yet figured out the relationship between Xiao Fei and Hanmo Culture Media Company.

He also thought that Xiao Fei handed over his book to Hanmo Company for publication. It's just coveting that company's high remuneration.

Therefore, in order to persuade Xiao Fei to hand over the book to them for publication, Xu Hao also promised a high royalty.

But Xiao Fei still didn't agree to him.

He had already published a book with the book number of the Demon Capital Literature and Art Society, and he didn't plan to put all his eggs in the same basket.

"Mr. Cheng, he also told me before that my book was originally going to be handed over to the writers' club for publication, so I didn't promise him." Xiao Fei said.

"Are you preparing for the Mao Awards?" Editor Cheng said what Xiao Fei thought in his heart.

No writer, as long as he writes a novel, does not covet the Mao Award. It is the most authoritative long-form award in China.

Winning this award can basically be regarded as a success.

"Yes, Mr. Cheng." Xiao Fei said.

Editor Cheng looked thoughtful: "If you want to say, the quality of your work is enough, but have you thought about it?" You're too young, and the possibilities are endless! So, I don't think you will win the 5th Mao Award. ”

Editor Cheng's words are very straightforward.

And Xiao Fei also knows. He was right.

The youngest author in history to win the Mao Prize is Ah Lai, the author of "The Dust Settles", who won the fifth Mao Prize, which will be awarded in 1999.

And Ah Lai was going to be forty years old at that time.

Xiao Fei is only 20 years old now, and he is still too young. Even though his work is excellent. But the judges will also mumble when they see his youthful face.

Of course, the reason why Xiao Fei stubbornly wants to work the fifth Mao Award is because he knows that this Mao Award is the last time that Old Man Ba Jin will serve as the director of the award committee.

And this year's Mao Award awards, he also thinks that they are more reliable than later generations.

Speak with your work.

The selection is the best feature of the four years.

These are the principles of the Mao Award.

But you really have to rely on the work alone. It's so hard to do that, and it's not always going to work.

"Teacher Cheng, I still want to work hard and give it a try." Xiao Fei said what he thought.

"Well, I, Editor-in-Chief Xiao and Harvest Magazine will definitely support you strongly! We will recommend your best work to participate in the judging and try to help you shortlist the pre-selection. Editor Cheng patted Xiao Fei on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Ba Lao likes young people to grow up quickly, if he sees that you are so young and so good, maybe he will say good things for you, think about it carefully, in fact, your youth is both a disadvantage and an advantage, if you are in your twenties and won the Mao Award, it is big news." ”

"Thank you, Mr. Cheng." Xiao Fei thanked him.

This is how the network accumulates little by little.

Xiao Fei thought to himself, I know all the judges of the 5th Mao Award, I still have the advantage of being reborn, and I also know how to operate these connections and make them my resources.

There's no reason why I can't make it!

"You're welcome! Pack up, let's go down to dinner later." Editor Cheng said with a smile.

There was nothing to do that night, Xiao Fei went back to the room after dinner and called Xu Fengjuan, watched TV for a while, and then washed and fell asleep.

The press conference was held promptly at 9 a.m. on September 14 in the hotel conference room.

The conference room is not big, only 100 square meters, and there are two tables in a row on the stage, where Xiao Fei, Editor-in-Chief Xiao and Editor-in-Chief Cheng are seated.

There were five or six rows of tables and chairs in the audience, and before the press conference began, it was already full, and more than 50 reporters came.

In the open space behind, a camera was set up.

In the open space in front, reporters came over from time to time, squatting down to take pictures.

It can be said that this press conference was quite enthusiastic.

The press conference was presided over by Editor Cheng, and there were several main processes.

The first, the editor-in-chief of Harvest Xiao gave a speech, introducing the birth of the special issue of the novel, introducing the relationship between Xiao Fei and Harvest, and spoke highly of Xiao Fei's literary talent, and finally, the editor-in-chief Xiao introduced Xiao Fei's new work "Brothers", and announced that the second half of "Brothers" will also be launched in the spring and summer volume of the 1998 special issue of the novel.

Editor-in-Chief Xiao is raising Xiao Fei in a high-profile manner.

There are many first-class domestic writers who have a good relationship with the harvest, but there are not many who are so praised by Editor-in-Chief Xiao in public.

In the second part, Xiao Fei talked about the creation of "Brothers" and the meaning and purpose of this work.

Xiao Fei didn't talk much, but just talked about his cognition of the two eras in his works.

The first half of "Brothers" is mainly about the Wenge period, which has seen too many absurd things happen in this special period, which is comparable to the Middle Ages in Europe.

There are always too many absurd stories happening in absurd times, and of course, there are too many tear-jerking stories about love happening.

Xiao Fei himself is too young to know enough about that era, but he has heard too many stories of that period, and he has read too many literary works of that period.

Gradually, a story took shape in his mind......

The second half tells the bizarre story after the reform and opening up.

Xiao Fei didn't tell the story of the second half, he just told everyone that the second half is as wonderful as the first half, which is enough to make readers laugh and cry, cry and laugh, and re-understand the society around them.

The third session is the free question period for reporters.

This time is the most lively.

Many reporters were holding back their energy, just waiting to ask Xiao Fei questions at this time.

At this moment, outside the door of the conference room, a noisy voice suddenly sounded, and it seemed that a group of people were making noise outside the door and wanted to break in.

"What's going on?" Editor-in-Chief Xiao frowned.

Editor Cheng got up and came to the door, where there were two staff members who had already opened the door.

Xiao Fei saw that a group of old men and old ladies came in a commotion outside the door, speaking the local dialect of the magic capital, and they couldn't understand half a sentence of chatter.

The reporters were excited.

Quite a few reporters rushed to the door and began to take pictures from vantage points and ask about the old people.

"We want to make the most serious protest to Harvest! "Harvest" is a cultural banner of the people of Allah, how can it publish some messy novels? What is that "Brothers" written about? The beginning is so vulgar, and the words used are so explicit, aren't you afraid to teach bad children? And the author named Xiao Fei, if you still have a little conscience, you shouldn't write such a work! It shouldn't be published! You're sinning, you know? An old man with a loud voice said aloud angrily.

When Xiao Fei heard this, he was stunned.

He said in his heart, "Damn!" Is it also worth organizing a protest? It seems that pure literary works are more unbearable, right? Why did you target me?

Moreover, Xiao Fei directly implicitated the words that were too explicit in the original "Brothers". To say that "Brothers" is vulgar and obscene, this is slander!

Intuitively, Xiao Fei felt that this was a conspiracy.

But he looked at the old man and the old lady at the door, but he didn't see any clues. (To be continued.) )