Three days after the first issue of "Contemporary" was released, the phone number of the Contemporary editorial department was buzzing.
"What, the Xinhua Bookstore in Shanghai wants to order 20,000 copies? Ah... no problem, okay, okay."
"Chang'an wants 10,000 copies. I'll remember it. We'll do it as soon as possible."
"Oh, please wait a little longer. The publishing house is already speeding up printing."
"It's not that we weren't prepared, we really didn't expect it to be so popular this time."
The urgent additional order data received by the editorial department were finally summarized in the hands of Qin Zhaoyang, director of the Contemporary Editorial Department. The sales volume of this issue of the magazine has greatly exceeded expectations. The first printing of 150,000 copies may not last more than a week. All of them are urging the current generation to print more copies.
Such good news immediately made the editorial department feel pain and joy.
I am naturally happy because the magazine is selling so well, but I am painful because I have received too many calls from bookstores and post offices in various places in the past two days. It’s all about pressing for printing, who can stand this?
Why did it explode?
Qin Zhaoyang couldn't figure it out, so he found Meng Weizai, who was responsible for contacting the bookstore and post office business.
"Lao Meng, why is this issue of our magazine selling so well? Is there any special reason?"
Meng Weizai looked at the old leader's confused look and couldn't help but said proudly: "My contribution this time is not small."
"You old boy, tell me what's going on." Qin Zhaoyang said angrily.
Meng Weizai did not answer immediately, but after pouring a cup of tea for himself and Qin Zhaoyang leisurely, he asked leisurely: "Do you still remember what happened to Jiang Yulou?"
Qin Zhaoyang's heart moved, "You mean...this is all the result of "The Conspiracy"?"
Immediately, he shook his head and said: "Impossible, impossible. Although that novel is good, how could it have such a big impact."
Meng Weizai said quietly: "It's really a credit to this novel that you guessed it right."
Qin Zhaoyang's hand paused when he picked up the tea cup. His eyes widened and he said in disbelief: "How is that possible!"
"It seems that you haven't heard of a rumor that has been circulating in Yanjing recently." Meng Weizai smiled and told the story of 701.
Qin Zhaoyang frowned and said, "Isn't this all made up by Jiang Yulou."
"But how can ordinary people tell the difference? What he wrote is so real, which further enhances the credibility." Meng Weizai smiled bitterly and said, "If I hadn't asked him, I would have doubted that everything in the novel was true."
"So, we rely on the people's thirst for knowledge?" Qin Zhaoyang tried his best to choose nice words to describe it.
Meng Weizai smiled vaguely and said: "Part of the reason is that many readers are afraid that the novel will be banned."
"How is it possible..." Qin Zhaoyang was about to refute, but after thinking about it carefully, he really couldn't say.
Since even he has such thoughts, let alone ordinary people who have no information channels.
"More stamps, must be stamped!"
Qin Zhaoyang made a decision quickly.
In fact, this decision is not difficult to make. Even contemporary magazines that rely on People's Literature will not have trouble with money.
As a result, the first issue of "Contemporary" soon announced that the printing of 250,000 copies would be increased, which means that an additional 100,000 copies would be printed.
This must have been a risky decision in the past, but now that the magazine is selling so well, many people feel that the director is being conservative.
As the magazine sold out, discussions about "The Conspiracy" appeared in local newspapers in Yanjing, and the "Yenjing Daily" published a review article "Why "The Conspiracy" is so popular."
""The Conspiracy" fully demonstrates the artistic charm of the novel with its mysterious special theme, magical agent characters, and suspenseful spy plot. The mystery of the subject matter undoubtedly makes the novel "The Conspiracy" even more charming. In peacetime, it is very different from the distant war era. The imagination of strange people and strange news on the hidden front inspires the impulse of verification, which translates into the readers' reading expectations and coincides with the mysterious and real subject matter of the novel.
The in-depth exploration of mysterious themes depends on the fact that the country’s current secret archives are gradually declassified. This is a useful counterattack and attempt at banal themes, and a seductive test of the readers’ psychology of seeking novelty and mystery. "
With the appearance of this review article, there are more and more comments on the novel "The Conspiracy" published in "Contemporary" this time.
Some people spoke highly of the plot design of the novel. The interlocking suspense storyline opens up a flexible space for the characters in the novel to move between reality and fantasy. The deaths of the protagonists in each story also add to the cruelty and complexity of the espionage front. The coldness is as clear as a glance.
There are also comments that praise the image of the characters in the story. The "hero" in "The Conspiracy" is more of an anti-"hero", rejecting the traditional heroes and intensifying the flaws of the protagonist.
There are many praises, but criticism is also indispensable. The focus of criticism is on the protagonist in the novel, that is, the "hero" is not perfectly created.
Such as A Bing's impotence, Huang Yiyi's debauchery, Chen Erhu's rigidity, Wei Fu's sexual desire, Lin Ying's marriage, etc.
There are even radical comments that Jiang Yulou is suspected of insulting martyrs and soldiers.
Of course, such comments will not be mainstream, nor can they be mainstream. If we really can't accept imperfection, wouldn't we be going down the same old path again?
As a result, such reports were quickly drowned out by praise.
The novel "The Conspiracy" quickly became the focus of the literary world, and Wang Shuo naturally also read the novel.
It was well written, even better than he expected.
Some stories in the novel are based on his narration. He guessed that the Wang at the beginning of the novel is him, Wang Shuo. He didn't care much about this. What he really cared about was the memory and respect for the heroes on the hidden front.
Wang Shuo recalled his conversation with Jiang Yulou. At that time, it was just their first meeting. Jiang Yulou expressed a strong interest in the stories he accidentally told about the older generation, and later even consulted him privately.
"Thank you, Yulou!"
This emotion surged like a warm current in Wang Shuo's heart. He thought of his father's stories about his old comrades in the army, who fought for their ideals and freedom. Now, these experiences were recorded by Jiang Yulou in words and turned into the nourishment of the novel. His heart was deeply moved. Touched.
He remembered what his father once said, "The deeds of those comrades on the hidden front will not be forgotten. One day, their deeds will appear in the form of novels, TV series, and movies for the people to remember."
Now it seems that my father was right. The experiences and stories of the older generation he told were seen and respected by others.
At this moment, Wang Shuo suddenly had the urge to write.
After all, he has published articles, but we can't let Yulou alone be the most beautiful.
Wang Shuo wants to regain his determination to write?
If Jiang Yulou knew about it, he would definitely welcome it with a raised hand, and even encourage him to speed up his time to write novels. It is best to fast forward to the publication of his classic works.
