The story continues.

Melvin watched as he imagined a possible reversal in the future.

The front is still a heartwarming plot.

[The hot and fragrant Yangchun noodles were put on the table, and the mother and son immediately gathered around the bowl of noodles and ate them head to head.

"It's delicious!" Brother said.

"Mommy eats it too!" The younger brother took a chopstick noodle and sent it to his mother's mouth. 】

From here, it can be judged that the three of them were hungry, but because they were shy enough to buy only one bowl of noodles. So the boss's move to add noodles made Melvin a little touched.

In this society, there are not many people who are so kind.

The average noodle shop owner, if he sees three people, as long as he has a bowl of noodles, it is good not to roll his eyes.

Where will you take the initiative to add noodles?

Originally, Melvin guessed that something would happen to the noodle restaurant next, and then the mother and son came to help in order to repay the friendship, but in the end, they got the benefits. Such a reversal is in line with the main point of the short story.

But.

He guessed wrong.

Nothing happened.

Even in the work, in the blink of an eye, it is a year later.

It's also Chinese New Year's Eve.

is the same mother and son, and even the clothes worn by the mother are exactly the same as last year, and even the same as last year, only a bowl of Yangchun noodles was ordered.

The proprietress looked at them and seemed to realize something.

["Hey, kid daddy, give them three bowls, okay? The proprietress whispered in the boss's ear.

No, if that were the case, they might be embarrassed. ”

The boss said, grabbed half of the noodles and put them in the pot. 】

See this.

Melvin's heart skipped a slight beat, and his expression changed slightly.

He had a little thought before: although this boss is a little kind, his kindness is also limited. Can't you add a little more since you've added noodles? How good it is for their mother and son to be fed for the New Year.

But now he was a little ashamed.

It turned out that the boss not only gave love, but also maintained the self-esteem of the mother and son trio who may be very fragile. So even though he wanted to give the other party three bowls of noodles, he still didn't do it.

Melvin breathed a sigh of relief, feeling warmed by a little story.

A warm current surged through my heart, which was still dull just now.

"Isn't there a third year?"

After seeing the mother and son leave, he secretly said in his heart.

As he expected.

Sure enough, the next sentence is that with the booming business of the noodle restaurant, the third year of Chinese New Year's Eve is ushered in.

[From half past nine, although neither the boss nor the proprietress said anything, they all seemed a little uncertain. Just after ten o'clock, the employees left after work, and the boss and the proprietress immediately turned over the price cards of various noodles hanging on the wall one by one, and hurriedly wrote "Yangchun noodles 15 yuan", in fact, since this summer, with the rise in prices, the price of Yangchun noodles has been 20 yuan a bowl. 】

See here.

Melvin raised his brow again.

This story really reveals the heart-warming links everywhere.

Obviously, he, the reader who stands at the top, knows why the boss and the proprietress are upset and why they change the price to the old price.

"It turns out that short stories can be so appealing when they don't satirize a dark society, don't have money worship, and don't have sharp attacks."

A thought welled up in Melvin's mind.

At this moment, he was also looking forward to the arrival of the mother and son.

Even the proprietress put up a "reserved seat" sign at table two.

Until half past ten, there were no customers in the store, but the two were still looking forward to it.

did not disappoint them, the mother and son trio came.

The mother was still wearing the unseasonably faded coat, but the two children's clothes changed every year as they grew older.

A simple sentence is more poignant than many long descriptions.

Only this time.

Mother ordered two bowls of Yangchun noodles.

In Melvin's opinion, it is likely that the two sons have grown up, and a bowl of Yangchun noodles is not enough to eat.

But the boss was as warm as ever, and put the portions of three bowls of noodles into the pot.

This time, when the mother finally talked to her two sons, she clarified the family situation of the three of them.

It turned out that the child's father died early in a traffic accident, but he owed a foreign debt, and the pension was still not enough after the debt. So the mother can only repay the loan slowly in installments, which is why they are so embarrassed.

I was so embarrassed that I could only eat a bowl of Yangchun noodles on Chinese New Year's Eve.

The two children also understand their mother's hardships.

["Okay! Mom, brother, from now on, I still have to cook every day! ”

"I also continue to deliver newspapers. Brother, let's work together! ”】

Of course.

It wasn't here that really touched Melvin.

Instead, the elder brother said that the younger brother had written an essay, and the title of this essay was called "A Bowl of Yangchun Noodles".

["The title of the teacher's essay is, 'What kind of person do you want to be in the future', all the students wrote it, and my younger brother's title was "A Bowl of Yangchun Noodles", as soon as I heard this title, I knew that it was written about the Beihaiting Noodle Restaurant. My brother, how can I write such an embarrassing thing, I thought so at the time. ”】

There is no depiction of my brother's expression here.

But Melvin seemed to see a child with a glint in his eyes, talking excitedly.

[The composition is written:...... On the evening of December 31, the mother and son ate a bowl of Yangchun noodles, which was very delicious...... The three of us only bought a bowl of Yangchun noodles, and the uncles and aunts of the noodle restaurant still received us very warmly, thanked us, and blessed us with a good New Year. Hearing this voice, my younger brother couldn't help shouting in his heart: You can't fail, you have to work hard, and you have to live well! Therefore, when my younger brother grows up and wants to open a No. 1 noodle restaurant in China, he also wants to say to customers, work hard, I wish you happiness, thank you. The younger brother reads the composition aloud......]

In the noodle shop.

Behind the counter, the boss and the proprietress were squatting facing each other, a towel, each holding one end, wiping the tears that came out of their eyes.

And outside the story.

Melvin also felt a little sour in his nose.

He didn't expect that such a short story would move him several times.

At first, I was moved by the hardships of my mother with two children, and in the middle, I was moved by the kindness and warmth of the boss and the boss's wife, but now I am touched by the sensibility and progress of the two children.

"They are about to pay off their debts, so next year, they should order three bowls of Yangchun noodles generously, right?"

Melvin wiped his hazy eyes and said in his heart.

Again, however, he did not guess the result.

After the fourth year, the mother and son never came to the noodle restaurant again.

But the boss and the lady still reserve table No. 2 on the night of the Chinese New Year's Eve every year, and seem to have been waiting for their arrival.

Even though business was booming and the tables and chairs were replaced, Table No. 2 remained the same, and the owner and his wife did not feel incongruous, but placed Table No. 2 in the center of the store.

"Why did you put this old table in the middle of the hall?" Some customers are surprised.

So, the boss and his wife told them the story of "a bowl of Yangchun noodles".

In this way, the story about Table 2 made Table 2 a table of happiness.

Customers spread the word everywhere, some people came from far away, some schoolgirls and some young couples, all to the second table to eat a bowl of Yangchun noodles. Table 2 also became famous.

Day after day.

Years.

Until many years later, many people felt that they might never be able to wait for the guests at table two.

But on Chinese New Year's Eve of this year, two young men in straight suits and coats on their arms walked in, and in the middle was a woman wearing brand new clothes.

"It's a misfortune, it's full," the proprietress said apologetically.

"Ah...... Three bowls of Yangchun noodles, is it okay? The woman said calmly.

Hearing this, the proprietress suddenly became overwhelmed, and she immediately recognized that the three people in front of her were the mother and son from more than ten years ago.

"We are the Chinese New Year's Eve of 14 years ago, the mother and son who ate a bowl of Yangchun noodles...... That's it, today, our mother and son came here to visit, and I want to trouble you to cook three bowls of Yangchun noodles. ”

Hear this.

The boss and his wife couldn't hold back any longer, and tears fell one by one.

"Huan...... Welcome, please, please be seated...... Child, his father, three bowls of Yangchun noodles on table two——"

"Okay-three bowls of Yangchun noodles-" The tearful husband almost couldn't make a sound.

And Melvin, who is outside the story, also sat in the noodle restaurant in a trance, applauding with the surrounding guests.

A little story.

spanning more than 10 years.

From one bowl of Yangchun noodles to three bowls of Yangchun noodles.

The number two table that has been sitting for more than ten years.

Melvin clapped his hands, feeling his eyes moisten again. Although it was still early spring, it was cold outside. But he seemed to feel a burst of warmth, which made his heart feel like a fire.

He stared at the computer.

I stopped clapping and was stunned.

The editor-in-chief of the essay "Shuge", he doesn't know how many short stories he has read in his life.

It is no exaggeration to say that this "A Bowl of Clear Soup Soba" is not at all remarkable in terms of conceiving the plot and story twists, and there are even no highlights at all.

Even the ten short stories selected by this issue of Shuge look much more exciting.

Because of this, just like its name, it is like a bowl of clear soup noodles, simple and bland.

However...... When reading those short stories with plot twists, Melvin's heart is unwavering. But after seeing the bland story in front of him, he felt ripples in his heart several times and almost cried.

This is a rare situation for middle-aged successful men.

In fact, in this society full of flowers, he has read a lot of similar warm and emotional short stories, but the previous stories were either boring to read, or deliberate.

And "A Bowl of Clear Soup Soba" made Melvin think a lot, especially at his age, after having rich experience, he can see many precious things that others can't see between the lines.

Maybe it was those things that touched him.

A short story that can touch him is not easy.

Even if it is a short story written by Nolan and Andrew, he only appreciates it at best, and it does not touch his heart. Unless it is the troika of today's literary world and the masterpieces of the three short story giants standing at the pinnacle of the literary world, he can be moved.

So after feeling the fluctuations in his heart, Melvin took a few deep breaths.

He had already determined that this article was extraordinary.

Maybe it's just that he thinks it's good, but that's enough.

"West Building ......"

Melvin's eyes were fixed on the author's name.

The background in the story is China, with a big Chinese New Year's Eve, a magic capital, and a unique Chinese pasta...... So isn't this West Building really the West Building of the Fairy Tale King?

He was trying to confirm the other party's identity.

I heard a knock on the office door.

Then, a panicked deputy editor-in-chief Cassel rushed in: "Sorry, Mr. Melvin, I had to disturb you because I got very bad news. ”

As he spoke, Cassel almost stuttered, apparently very excited.

Melvin frowned: "Calm down, what's the matter?" ”

Cassel couldn't calm down, wiped the cold sweat on his forehead and said, "I just got the news from a friend. Mo Hai and Literary Elegance invited Nolan and Andrew, respectively, to write for their May magazine. Damn it, we've invited so many times and they've turned us down as uninspired. Unexpectedly, they were not uninspired, but moved by all evil money and signed up with our competitors.

This is terrible.

Because in May, our "Book Pavilion" did not have a famous person who carried the beams at all. In particular, the position of the first seat is still undecided. In this case, if it were to arrive in May, the three magazines would be published together. The quality of our magazine's work will definitely be inferior to the other two, which may lead to a decline in sales. ”

If Melvin had heard the news half an hour ago, he probably wouldn't have seen much better.

The competition between Shuge, Mohai and Literary Fenghua has always been there.

If the quality of Shuge's monthly magazines is not as good as the other two, it will inevitably lead to the loss of many readers.

But at this moment, Melvin smiled slightly: "Cassel, is it just such a trivial matter?" ”

Cassel was stunned: "Is this still a trivial matter?" ”

Melvin said: "If Louis, Rick, Elvis and the three of them are poached by the two families, then I will be a little worried." But it's just Nolan and Andrew, who have nothing to worry about at all. ”

Cassel's eyes widened.

I feel like I don't know the editor-in-chief in front of me.

Oh, God!

When did Melvin become so arrogant?

Louis, Rick, and Elvis are the troika of the short story world, and today's literary giants, who can easily poach them?

But although Nolan and Andrew are not as good as them, they are also famous in the short story world, and their popularity is not much worse than that of the troika, but now Melvin actually looks down on these two?

Big brother, are you scared?

Melvin, of course, knew what Cassel was thinking, so he didn't explain, but pointed to the "Bowl of Soba in Clear Soup" on his computer and said, "Mr. Cassel, you can read this first." ”

Kassel spread his hands.

When is it, and where is he still in the mood to review?

But seeing the smile between Melvin's eyebrows, Cassel had a thought in his heart, nodded and looked at it.

At first, he was almost nonchalant.

But soon Cassel subconsciously sat down in his chair, and his eyes became focused.

One minute.

Two minutes.

The article of less than 4,000 words was read by Kassel for ten minutes, chewing on almost every sentence.

It wasn't until Melvin had finished drinking two cups of coffee that Cassel looked up, and he was already in tears, and his emotional reaction was even greater than Melvin had just been.

Melvin wondered, "Mr. Cassel? ”

Cassel wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and then said astringently: "I think of my mother, she is also such a kind person, she brought up me and my five younger siblings, but she did not have the mother in the article to live a good life in the end, but when the five of us brothers and sisters just made achievements, they left with full of illness." Right now...... When our siblings have dinner, we will always have an extra pair of dishes and chopsticks, which will always belong to my mother. ”

Take a few deep breaths.

Cassel calmed down, and when he looked at the article again, his eyes became a little incredulous: "Mr. Melvin, whose work is this?" ”

His expression was extremely shocked.

This article seems to be as plain as water, but the text is sophisticated, and it is from the hands of a famous artist at a glance.

In particular, the sincere emotions contained in the story evoke my fragile heart. This ability to provoke emotions is far from being attainable by ordinary people.

Meantime.

He immediately knew why Melvin was so calm just now.

Thinking of this, Cassel said excitedly: "No wonder Mr. Melvin you are so calm, it turns out that you have already invited a famous short story artist, tell me, who is this famous artist?" Phoebe? Abadu? Or Browning? ”

The three people he mentioned are all short storytellers who are good at writing emotions, and their fame is no weaker than Nolan or Andrew.

Melvin smiled and shook his head: "Neither." ”

Neither!

Cassel was really shocked at this moment, and his breathing became short: "Is it one of the troikas?" Oh, God! ”

Melvin spread his hands: "You think too much, if I can invite any of the three Louis, how can I not let you know, I have already told you widely." And this article, although it can move you and me, the public may not necessarily accept this type. ”

Hearing this, Kassel nodded in approval.

After all, a short story that takes the warm route, no matter how well it is written, rarely wins the public's love and praise.

It is dull and is a hard wound.

It's hard to get readers' approval.

After all, middle-aged people like them who have experience and can be moved by warmth are a minority.

Melvin didn't sell it, and said directly: "The writer who wrote this "A Bowl of Clear Soup Soba", he ...... There is a high probability that he is a newcomer in the short story world. ”

"Newcomer?"

Kassel screamed.

Such writing, such emotional interpretation, you tell him that he is a newcomer?

"Actually, it's not a newcomer."

Melvin told Cassel of his speculation, and he thought that the West House was the West House of the Fairy Tale Couple.

Now, Kassel was even more confused.

A fairy tale king, you don't write fairy tales, you come to write short stories?

But I have to say that this story is really well written.

Cassel rubbed his eyebrows: "Xilou is the king of fairy tales in the world, and it was rumored a while ago that he was still writing mythological stories about Huaxia, why did he suddenly come to the realm again?" ”

But anyway.

Both of them can judge that the quality of this "A Bowl of Clear Soup Soba" is fully qualified for the first seat in May. Although they don't know what kind of works Nolan and Andrew have written, there is a high probability that Xilou's article will not be worse than the other party.

That's enough!

What surprised them even more.

After sending an email to consult, Melvin quickly got a definite answer: this West Building is the West Building of the Fairy Tale King.

In this way, even if this short story is not as good as the other party at that time, they will start to hype it up from the identity of the West Building, and use the popularity to increase their popularity.

……

When Wang Mo received an email from Melvin asking him about his true identity, he immediately admitted the fact that he was the "Fairy Tale King West Building".

After all, the purpose of writing a short story this time is to enhance the reputation of the West Building.

There is no reason to hide it.

At the same time, Melvin's email also dispelled his concerns, allowing one of the editors-in-chief of the other party to send an email to inquire in person, which means that "A Bowl of Clear Soup Soba" has passed the other party's review.

It's just that Wang Mo can judge between the lines of Melvin's words: although the other party vigorously praises the work as excellent, it still reveals that it may not be accepted by the public.

For this, Wang Mo just smiled.

Less likely to be accepted?

The story of this short story, which is hailed as a national treasure by Fuso and even drove the global noodle restaurant business, is definitely not as simple as Melvin imagined.

Next, Wang Mo didn't pay attention to this matter anymore, but sank into writing "Journey to the West".

That's the big thing!

Writing a short story is just to lay the groundwork for this.

Finally......

At the end of April, the editorial offices of the three major magazines got their new May issues.

……

Mohai.

The editorial department looked at the newly printed "Mohai May", and everyone was smiling.

In particular, when I saw Nolan's work "Tomorrow's Little Market", which was the first short story writer, everyone was even more excited.

"It is worthy of being a famous Nolan artist, and the quality of the works is not ordinary."

"'Tomorrow's Little Market' is so well written."

"The irony of this story is really strong, and it vividly shows the faces of small citizens and money worship."

"I don't think it's as good as the work of the troika, it's not far behind."

"I heard that this month's "Book Pavilion" didn't invite any short story masters?"

"Yes, I heard from the staff of the Book Pavilion that they can't even choose the first work."

"Literary Elegance has brought in Andrew, and we have Nolan. If Shuge hadn't invited a weighty short story master this time, then their May issue would probably be unsold. ”

Everyone was talking and the mood was stirring.

……

Literary elegance.

At this moment, the employees in the office area are also boiling.

"In May, the quality of each article was good. In particular, Mr. Andrew's "This Little Staff is Very Attentive" is too well written. ”

"Beautiful! The end of this story is amazing! ”

"It's worthy of Mr. Andrew's masterpiece, and the twist of the ending almost made me not come back to my senses."

"Although I heard that Mohai invited Nolan, we also have Andrew. So Mohai can't take advantage of it at all. ”

"Where's the Library? It seems that there are no characters who carry the beams in this issue of the Library? ”

"In May, it's our competition with Mohai, and Shuge is on the side."

……

And at the same time.

Melvin, the editor-in-chief of Shuge, also got the "May Issue" of Shuge with the fragrance of ink.

"I hope this article in the West Building can be accepted by readers......"

Melvin said secretly.

If the market feedback is not good, he can only hype up the fame of Xilou to increase the sales of the monthly magazine.

……

That's it.

At a time when each of the three literary meccas has its own thoughts.

May is finally here.

At the same time, countless libraries, newsstands, and magazine stalls around the world have all appeared in the May issues of "Shuge", "Mohai", and "Literary Elegance". (End of chapter)