sbdcsierra Chapter 81 My Mom Was a Literary Master in the 1990s
Chapter 81 My Mom Was a Literary Master in the 1990s
“Zhao Yu, write a reply in the Morning Light Story Club newspaper, saying that I accept this challenge.”
Seeing Zhao Yu's drooping head, Si Yan couldn't help but laugh.
It's no big deal. I've been to so many worlds, I don't even need to think about writing stories.
Writing directly based on what you see and hear is wonderful enough.
"Sister Siyan, you don't need to do this. You write martial arts novels, but the challenge he proposed is science fiction, which has nothing to do with what you are good at."
Zhao Yu's tone was dejected. How could they break this deadlock?
Si Yan couldn't bear to look at Zhao Yu's expression. Was he scared already?
"Who told you I'm only good at writing martial arts novels?"
"Has no one said that? Does that mean you're not only good at one genre, Sister Siyan?"
As Zhao Yu spoke, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Si Yan, her surprise almost overflowing.
"I can write a little bit about any subject, but science fiction is one of my favorites. So don't worry, I wouldn't dare take on a project if I wasn't absolutely sure."
After calming Zhao Yu down, Si Yan left the county town and returned to her village.
I was stopped just as I reached the village entrance.
"Si Yan, there's a letter for you."
Before Si Yan could react, Yang Cuihua, who was gossiping with the village women, heard it and snatched it away.
"Hey, let me see who sent it. It's probably not that fellow villager from your city."
"You can't take it; this isn't your letter."
The postman hurriedly tried to snatch it back.
"Comrade, Si Yan and I are from the same village, what's wrong with looking now?"
As Yang Cuihua spoke, she tore open the envelope in her hand.
"Provincial newspaper? To author Si Yan personally?"
"Hey, one of our cultured folks has submitted an article! Everyone come and take a look, maybe someone from our village will get their article published in the newspaper."
The women under the old tree at the village entrance all rushed over when they heard it was in the newspaper.
"What newspaper?"
"Who in our village can be featured in the newspaper? Who is it?"
"Oh dear, it's not that someone from our village is going to be in the newspaper, it's that Si Yan, the cultured person in our village, has submitted an article to the provincial newspaper."
Yang Cuihua looked at Si Yan triumphantly. Last month, someone from the next village also submitted a manuscript, but received a rejection letter, which looked exactly the same as this one.
Can Si Yan write as well as someone from the next village who went to university?
I'll praise her high first, so she can fall down and embarrass herself.
"Yang Cuihua, taking something without asking is stealing, don't you know that? Or is it just a habit of yours to steal?"
Si Yan snatched it from Yang Cuihua's hand, but accidentally dropped the contents inside.
It was a remittance slip, with details stating "manuscript fee" and an amount of one hundred yuan.
"Wow, that's amazing. Cultured people are different. They can earn a hundred yuan just by writing an article."
Aunt Wang exclaimed in surprise as she picked it up from the ground. You have to understand that in 1995, a rural person working in the city could only earn about 300 yuan a month.
Si Yan can earn 100 yuan for writing an article now, so she still needs to study.
"What? How is that possible? The college student next door had his submission rejected, so why did you, Si Yan, get it accepted?"
"Hey, Cuihua, that's a bit harsh of you. Weren't you the one yelling at us to come and see? How come you don't believe that Si Yan is really making money?"
Even Aunt Wang couldn't stand it anymore. "You're really targeting them!"
"Yang Cuihua, whether I make money or not, whether my manuscript is approved or not, has nothing to do with you. You should mind your own business."
After saying that, Si Yan took the remittance slip and went straight home, while the aunties behind her were still lecturing Yang Cuihua.
"Cuihua, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you're too jealous. So what if you liked Gu Cheng back then and he rejected you? You don't have to hold a grudge until now. You're a mother now, and you're still so petty."
Aunt Liu couldn't stand how Yang Cuihua targeted Si Yan; wasn't it just jealousy?
"What do you know? So what if I hold a grudge? Does that mean everyone has to like Si Yan?"
Yang Cuihua was indignant and yelled at the women in front of her before turning around and walking away angrily.
When Si Yan returned home and opened the letter, she found it contained her acceptance notice and the payment schedule for her manuscript.
The science fiction story Si Yan submitted to the provincial newspaper this time was about 3 words long, which can be considered a short story or novella.
The payment for the article was only one hundred yuan; as expected, the big newspapers didn't offer very high prices.
After carefully putting away the letter and remittance slip, Si Yan began preparing dinner.
However, Si Yan did not notice the editor's signature, which read "Si Chenglin".
Si Yan bought meat today and is going to make braised pork, Gu Xiuyuan's favorite dish.
After a flurry of activity, all the dishes were ready, and I even made egg drop soup.
Si Yan had just put the dishes on the table when she heard Gu Xiuyuan's voice.
"Mom, is what they're saying true? Is your article going to be published in the provincial newspaper?"
After Gu Xiuyuan finished speaking, he was panting heavily, which showed how fast he had run.
"Yes, I've already received the payment. Based on the date in the letter, I estimate I'll see Mom's article in the provincial newspaper tomorrow."
Si Yan reached out to wipe Gu Xiuyuan's sweat, wondering why he was sweating so much.
Gu Xiuyuan grabbed the towel and smiled apologetically at Si Yan.
"Mom, I'm so happy! Everyone is so envious of me! Even my teacher knows about it."
Si Yan smiled helplessly.
"How did it spread so quickly?"
"It was Wang Yang's mother from the next class who said it. Later, no one knows who spread it, but everyone knew before school ended."
As he spoke, Gu Xiuyuan wiped his sweat and handed the towel back to Si Yan.
Si Yan took the towel, washed it in the basin, and then hung it on the bamboo pole.
"You've been working up a sweat just for this?"
"Go wash your hands in the basin before you come to eat."
Gu Xiuyuan obediently washed his hands and went to the table to take a look.
The food is so good today, there's even braised pork.
"Mom, I've gained weight recently, there's no need for me to eat meat all the time. It's not easy for you to earn money, and it breaks my heart to see you writing stories until midnight every day."
Si Yan smiled and nodded at Gu Xiuyuan's head.
"Why are you worrying so much? Mom knows what's going on. You're at the age where you're growing, so eat more and grow tall."
"Okay, Mom."
After saying that, Gu Xiuyuan began to eat with relish.
After dinner, Si Yan took Gu Xiuyuan out.
There's an event in the village tonight; an art troupe from the county town is performing in the countryside.
Si Yan planned to take Gu Xiuyuan along to join in the fun.
Unexpectedly, they witnessed a good show there.
Yang Cuihua would also go on stage for these performances, mainly to sing.
As usual, she was dressed up beautifully and was just about to start singing when she was interrupted by the police who rushed in.
"Yang Cuihua, right? The murderer Cai Guoqiang, whom we arrested before, confessed that he had made a money deal with you. Please come with us to cooperate with the investigation."