Back to 80: My Literary Life

Looking at Fang Minghua's dazed expression, Zhao Hongjun was a little proud: "You haven't seen it, have you? Let me tell you, this is Nescafe coffee! My dad brought it back from an inspection trip to the United States. I heard that it is very refreshing after drinking it. Aren't you writing a novel? Use this when you’re sleepy.”

"Thank you, thank you." Fang Minghua took it.

But I couldn't laugh or cry in my heart.

This thing.

In the past, I didn’t like it at all. If I wanted to drink it, I should at least drink hand-brewed coffee, right?

You might as well get me some of your dad's high-end tea.

But Fang Minghua was very touched by the other party's thoughtfulness.

The two chatted for a while, and Zhao Hongjun drove the borrowed Dahongqi home.

Fang Minghua also rode his bicycle home. Now that he had a bed, he told his parents and moved all the mats, mosquito nets and quilts from his bed at home to the work unit. He also ran a few times to get brown boxes, a change of clothes and books. , small alarm clock, etc.

Just stay here.

In fact, the conditions here are much better than at home. At least there is no need to smell the smell of the toilet next door in summer.

After struggling until ten o'clock in the evening, he finally settled down and looked around.

No curtains?

It doesn't matter, just cover the lower half of the glass with newspaper. Many people do this.

Hmm. Not bad, not bad.

Fang Minghua was very satisfied.

Seeing the bucket of coffee cans on the desk again, I couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Forget it, it's better to pack it away. Don't waste it if you like it or not. This thing is still a luxury item now.

He took off his clothes and pants, took a towel and basin to the faucet and took a shower. Fang Minghua dried his body, got dressed, and made himself a cup of tea. After seeing that the time was less than 11 o'clock, he sat in front of the desk and spread his hands. Opening paper.

It's still early, let's write some more.

Fang Minghua completely took root in the work unit, but he set a writing time for himself: no later than 12 o'clock in the evening, he must get up at 7 o'clock in the morning, go for a run and then go to the work canteen for breakfast, and then take a nap after lunch before writing. You must never become a night owl like Lu Yao.

I don’t want to sacrifice my life to literature.

Time passed quickly, and by mid-August, the first draft of "Youth" was completed.

Looking at the thick stack of paper, Fang Minghua felt a sense of accomplishment.

More than twenty days and nights.

After writing the first draft, it was natural to ask others to help look at the shortcomings. The first person Fang Minghua thought of was Lu Yao.

In fact, he could also approach several editors-in-chief of Yanhe Magazine, but Fang Minghua did not plan to publish this novel in "Yanhe".

"Yanhe" basically publishes short stories. For example, "Youth", Fang Minghua estimated that it has about 120,000 words, unless "Yanhe" is published as a stand-alone book.

There seems to be no precedent for this.

Since it is not published in "Yanhe", it cannot be justified to find someone else's editor-in-chief. Except for a personal relationship with Dong Mo, the other two editor-in-chiefs have a working relationship.

Fang Minghua's goals are large publications like "Contemporary" and "October" that publish novellas, and "People's Liberation Army Literature and Art". He likes to publish military novels the most, but they don't publish novellas?

Fang Minghua really doesn't know.

No matter how many things there are, let’s check with Lu Yao first.

But looking at the time, it was only ten o'clock in the morning, so Lu Yao probably hadn't gotten up yet.

Forget it, let’s go look for it after lunch.

After lunch, Fang Minghua put the thick manuscript in his yellow satchel and was about to leave, when he suddenly remembered that there was a box of unopened coffee.

How about giving it to Lu Yao so he can try it?

This also refreshes his mind and makes him smoke less.

Fang Minghua immediately took out the box of coffee from the box, put it in a yellow satchel, locked the door and rode his bicycle out of the magazine office in the scorching sun.

Lu Yao's family lived in the courtyard of the Writers' Association. They had two bungalows and were very close to the magazine. Within a few minutes, Fang Minghua entered the courtyard of the Writers' Association and went straight to the backyard.

The Writers Association has several small courtyards. Lu Yao lives in a courtyard to the east. Fang Minghua rode over and saw Lu Yao wearing a vest and big pants, playing with his daughter on a broken rattan chair under the shade of a tree in the courtyard.

When he saw Fang Minghua pushing the cart in, he greeted with a smile: "Xiao Fang, have you finished writing?"

"Well, I finished the manuscript today, and I thought about asking you to take a look at it for me." Fang Minghua said straightforwardly.

"Okay, but I can't do it now. I have to take care of my daughter. Your sister-in-law has gone to work." Lu Yao said with a smile.

Fang Minghua knew that Lu Yao's wife's name was Linda and she worked at Xiying.

He looked at the little girl who was less than two years old again. The little girl blinked her black eyes and looked at him curiously.

"Brother Lu, wait a moment." Fang Minghua suddenly thought of something and hurriedly left on his bicycle. He returned within a few minutes with a few fruit candies in his hand.

"Mingming, uncle gives you some candy." After saying that, Fang Minghua squatted down, peeled off a fruit candy and stuffed it into the little girl's mouth.

The little girl immediately smiled and said in a sweet voice: "Thank you, uncle."

"You're welcome."

Fang Minghua stuffed the remaining candies into the pocket outside the skirt Mingming wore, and took out the coffee can from the yellow satchel.

"Brother Lu, this is called coffee. It was brought back from abroad by a friend of mine's father." Fang Minghua explained: "Drinking it can refresh your mind, relieve fatigue, and cheer up your spirit. It will help you write!"

"Really? So powerful? Or a foreign product? No, no, it's too expensive. Use it yourself." Lu Yao declined after hearing this.

"Brother Lu, to be honest, the aftertaste of this coffee is a bit bitter, and I can't get used to it. Besides, you smoke too much. Drinking coffee can refresh you, so smoke less."

"Xiao Fang, you care too much about me. That's fine. I'll accept it and try this foreign product." Lu Yao took the coffee can and looked at it from left to right. It was very fresh.

Fang Minghua briefly told him the basics of making coffee. After hearing this, Lu Yao said, "I'll make a cup first and try it." After that, he rushed into the room happily.

Fang Minghua picked up the little girl and started playing with her.

Perhaps because he was given candy, the little girl refused to give up and giggled at him.

Within a few minutes, I suddenly heard a scream from Lu Yao coming from the room: "Oh my god, why are you so miserable?"

Fang Minghua hurriedly carried the little girl into the room and said, "I wasn't used to it at first, but I heard it tastes better after drinking it for a long time. My friend said that if you find it too bitter, you can put some sugar in it."

Lu Yao didn't add sugar and tried to drink two more sips. His frown slowly relaxed: "Don't tell me, it's bitter at first but there's a fragrance at the end. It's a good thing!"

"If you feel tired after staying up late at night, you can drink something to refresh yourself, but don't drink too often as it may cause neurasthenia!" Fang Minghua reminded.

"Isn't this the same as drinking tea? Don't worry, I'm in good health." Lu Yao carried the coffee brewed in the enamel jar and left the room again, and said to Fang Minghua: "Bring it here."

"What?"

"You wrote the manuscript."

Oops

I almost forgot about the real thing.

Fang Minghua put the little girl on the ground, then took out the manuscript from the yellow satchel and handed it to Lu Yao.

""Youth"." Lu Yao read the title of the novel and praised it: "This is a nice name. You are better at naming than me!"

Ah?

"Okay, you go about your business and I'll read it for you tomorrow." Lu Yao said.

"No rush, no rush, just take your time and watch." Fang Minghua chatted for a while longer before leaving.

Go back and take a nap.

Thanks to book friend 20210301106587940932, book friend 20220525072459517, and strange flower Kaikai for their monthly votes.