In the past, Lin Chaoyang and his wife would live apart in Yanjing and Xiangjiang from time to time, but the feeling was completely different from when Lin Chaoyang came to the United States.
Therefore, when the couple met in New York, it felt like they were reunited after a long separation.
After some tenderness, Tao Yushu went to take a bath and looked around the apartment again.
"The publishing house is quite generous, renting you such an apartment."
"The wool comes from the sheep. I contribute tens of millions in revenue to them a year. The most important thing is that they are very optimistic that my next novel will be a hit in the United States."
Tao Yushu returned to the bed, slid sideways into his arms, and concave an alluring curve.
"Then when will you finish writing this novel?"
"It will take a month or two to find it no matter what."
"Isn't it too late to catch up with Lin's listing?"
Lin Chaoyang chuckled and said, "What does this have to do with it? I went to Ming Pao last time for its listing, but wasn't it ridiculed by those newspapers as the 'man behind a successful woman'?"
Tao Yushu chuckled softly, "Who told you to stand at the back? What's wrong with standing in the front openly?"
"I'm not doing this to highlight your 'strong woman' image."
The couple joked for a while, and Tao Yushu suddenly felt a strange growth under her body.
"Why did you get up again so soon?"
"Long drought brings rain." Lin Chaoyang's hands were not idle when he spoke.
"Um - be gentle."
The spring breeze blew several degrees overnight, and Lin Chaoyang clearly felt a little sore in his waist early in the morning.
But listening to Tao Yushu's slightly hoarse voice, he felt that the pain in his back was worth it.
I just don’t know if the soundproofing of this apartment is really as good as Luan Walter said.
It was already after nine o'clock when the couple got up early, and the apartment was not open at all, so Lin Chaoyang took Tao Yushu out to have breakfast.
There are millions of cattle and horses in New York City, so pushcart stalls are everywhere, which makes Tao Yushu curious and look at them endlessly.
It was her first time coming to New York, and it was also her first time understanding the living conditions of New Yorkers.
"I feel that the living conditions of New Yorkers are not as good as those in Hong Kong."
‘It’s not easy for ordinary working people in any big city.’
The couple strolled to the Hudson River, where there was a boathouse cafe. They sat under an outdoor umbrella and ordered some food.
Tao Yushu, who was eating bread, jam, cut fruit, and coffee, frowned and complained to Lin Chaoyang:
"No wonder other magazines asked you to write a food column. The food tastes terrible."
When it comes to food, even a Chinese person can show an overwhelming sense of superiority in front of Americans.
After breakfast, which was not breakfast, the couple took a walk along the Hudson River.
The sun shines directly on the river, and the breeze blows the salty smell. Various yachts are parked in the dock. In the sun, the masts, rudders, glass and reflections of the yachts reflect dazzling light.
"Dazzling capitalism!" Lin Chaoyang said sarcastically.
Tao Yushu's eyes fell on the seagulls flying everywhere, "We are also capitalists now, so please be merciful!"
"We are different, we are capitalists with a conscience."
"Not in shape."
In the afternoon, the couple visited various attractions in New York City. Tao Yushu came to the United States on a business trip. Lin's Pictures will be listed next month. She still has a lot of things to do, so she boarded the train back to Hong Kong early the next morning.
aircraft.
After Tao Yushu left, Lin Chaoyang took several articles he had written to the New Yorker on West 43rd Street.
Magazine.
Robert Gottlieb was a little surprised when Lin Chaoyang came over.
He has been in contact with the contributor writers of The New Yorker for a long time and knows how difficult it is for these writers to plan a series of columns.
It has only been half a month since he last met with Lin Chaoyang, which is so efficient.
The exclamation we had when we all got together and chatted last time has now become a reality.
Robert Gottlieb exchanged greetings with Lin Chaoyang and then showed him around the office.
"From now on, you will be our columnist for The New Yorker. You have to understand this place." He said with a smile.
The New Yorker's offices on West 43rd Street are divided into two floors, on the 18th and 20th floors.
The 20th floor is the headquarters of The New Yorker magazine. Many departments and editors of the magazine work here. On the 18th floor, a group of special writers work.
The New Yorker has been able to stand at the pinnacle of American journalism and cultural circles for half a century not only because it has a group of outstanding editors, but most importantly because it has discovered and cultivated a group of outstanding writers.
J.D. Salinger, who wrote "The Catcher in the Rye," Joseph Mitchell, who is admired by all nonfiction journalists, and legendary journalist James Baldwin——·
"They are The New Yorker's greatest asset!"
When introducing the writers in the cubicle on the 18th floor who were more melancholic and frowning than the last, Gottlieb's expression was full of pride.
"Robert, you should really let them get more sunshine!" Lin Chaoyang joked.
Gottlieb smiled bitterly and said: "Stop making trouble, do you think I can command these people?"
When he succeeded William Shawn as editor-in-chief, the New Yorker writers strongly protested.
Even as editor-in-chief, Gottlieb could only handle the matter in a gentle manner.
"Don't look at them being easy to bully. If something happens, they will be like cannonballs, they will hit you at the drop of a hat!"
After complaining about the unruliness of some of his writers, Gottlieb took Lin Chaoyang back to the office.
Lin Chaoyang took out several articles he had written these days.
"This is my first time writing this kind of article. I have little experience, and it is also my first time writing in English. I may need your editor to help check it first."
"It's hard for me to imagine, Lin, that this is your first time writing in English!"
After reading a few articles, Gottlieb's tone was filled with wonder.
His reaction was not fake, but he was truly surprised by Lin Chaoyang's English writing ability.
"How did you do it?"
"Probably because I used to be a librarian and read many original English books."
So that's it, Gottlieb nodded slightly.
But he didn't think that just being a librarian would enable him to develop such superb English writing skills.
Lin Chaoyang's English writing level even surpassed most American writers he had seen. Such ability would be impossible to achieve without hard study and study.
Moreover, he felt that the modesty of Easterners like Lin Chaoyang and others was not a good habit. The article was clearly written so well, but they still said it needed an editor to check it.
"Tranquil, sincere, and profound, every word and sentence reveals an attitude towards life that makes people look up to.
This is not only an elegant attitude towards life, but also art. Giving and receiving, this is a model of harmonious coexistence between man and nature!"
Gottlieb was full of praise for these articles and couldn't wait to call his deputy McGrath, handing him Lin Chaoyang's articles and letting him be in charge of Lin Chaoyang's column.
"Lin, I am very optimistic about your writing style, but I still have to explain it to you first.
We are a magazine, so the longevity of the column depends on how popular it is with our readers."
"I understand that. But, Robert, I'm unlikely to write a column like this for very long."
Lin Chaoyang is different from other New Yorker writers. He has been famous for many years and has been writing non-stop. Therefore, his energy is limited and he cannot devote all his energy to column writing.
Gottlieb knew this very well. He mused and said: ""Gifts of Nature", "The Story of Staple Food" and "Inspiration for Transformation" - we can publish these articles first to see the effect, and you can write a few more to make it up.
into a quarter.
In the future, if readers respond well, we can do a series of columns every year, how about that?
Gottlieb's idea was good, and Lin Chaoyang readily agreed, "Okay."
"There is another important question. You need a nicer name for this series of columns. Have you thought of it?" Gottlieb asked.
Lin Chaoyang looked thoughtful and said, "Let's call it "China on the Bite of the Tongue"."
Gottlieb muttered a few words and smiled, "Very good!"
Lin Chaoyang spent the whole morning at the New Yorker magazine, chatting and laughing with Gottlieb, and became a focal figure in the eyes of many editors and writers at The New Yorker.
Everyone was curious about this Asian face that Gottlieb was willing to spend the whole morning with.
"Have you seen "The Truman Show"? Its author!"
There was nothing confidential about Lin Chaoyang's identity. When he first arrived in the office, Gottlieb introduced him to several close and capable editors and writers.
In less than a morning, word had spread about Lin Chaoyang's identity, and everyone was full of curiosity about this writer from China.
You know, in The New Yorker, the top literary and art magazine in the United States, Chinese people are rarely seen. Lin Chaoyang just accepted an exclusive interview with The New Yorker a few days ago, and he appeared in the magazine again today.
Everyone was even more surprised when they heard that he was going to open a column in the magazine. It seems that this Chinese writer is deeply appreciated by Gottlieb!
After leaving the New Yorker magazine, Lin Chaoyang returned to Ansonia Apartment.
He had written a few columns and had to wait for the results after publication before writing. Tao Yushu also returned to Xiangjiang. Next, he had to focus on his new work.
With a lot of interviews with Ron Woodruff in the past few days, and the customs and customs I experienced in the United States along the way, the new work started smoothly.
But after all, he is not an American, and his short experience will still encounter some difficulties when writing in depth.
Sometimes Lin Chaoyang would go to the New York Central Library to check information, and sometimes he would call Luan Walter to his home to communicate with him about creative details. Most of the time, the problem would be solved.
After entering the writing state, he gets up at about 7:30 every day, then goes downstairs to have breakfast at a nearby cafe, takes a walk, and then returns to the apartment to start writing.
I wrote until two o'clock in the afternoon, then went out to have lunch, and then wandered outside.
During the writing of the book for more than half a month, he traveled from Central Park to the Hudson River, from 59th Street to 110th Street, and visited the entire Upper West Side.
Of course, his wandering is not just wandering around doing nothing. He will talk to strangers and chat, which can be regarded as a kind of collecting.
I wait until seven or eight o'clock in the evening to finish dinner, then go back to the apartment, and then write for two or three hours before going to bed.
This cycle repeats.
By the way, he also went to Wall Street twice in the meantime.
By the last day in mid-June, he had written 100,000 words for his new book, which was quite efficient.
That day he received a call from McIlrath of The New Yorker, saying that the sample issue for the last week of June was out.
The first of Lin Chaoyang's "A Bite of China" series of columns, "Nature's Gift", was published on it, and he made a special trip to the New Yorker magazine for this purpose.
Since its inception, The New Yorker has insisted on using cartoons to present New York urban life or current political events.
This has not changed to this day. This is not only the magazine’s long-standing feature, but also the inherent impression of it by all readers.
The three-column layout of the inner pages, the Carlson font, the illustrations and the distribution of advertisements have not changed much in recent decades.
Lin Chaoyang's column was placed in the "Life and Letters" column.
According to McIlrath, several articles in "A Bite of China" are about food, but more of them are about culture, the relationship between man and nature, and the development and changes of society. They are placed in the style of "Life and Letters"
It's very consistent.
"Lin, what do you think?" McIlrath asked Lin Chaoyang, who was flipping through the sample magazine.
"very good."
McIlrath nodded, "That's no problem. Next Monday, this publication will appear in major bookstores and bookstores in the United States."
The New Yorker is a weekly magazine most of the year and is published every Monday.
Lin Chaoyang left the New Yorker magazine with a sample copy.
"Lin, are you really not considering using a computer to write?"
A few days later, Luan Walter was called again by Lin Chaoyang to the Ansonia Apartment to consult on the details of life in novel creation.
"I didn't know when you wrote in Chinese, but now it should be very convenient to write in English."
"Handwriting feels better."
Luan Walter shrugged. Every writer he knew seemed to have some unique personal quirks. Lin Chaoyang's was considered very healthy.
He looked at his watch, "It's already noon, are you going to treat me to something to eat?"
"I gave you the opportunity to fish with pay, shouldn't you be the one to invite me?"
"Your royalties in one year are more than what I earned in ten years. Stop being so stingy."
The two joked with each other and went out to find food.
With a lunch partner, Lin Chaoyang's foraging scope expanded a lot, and he and Luan Walter went to an old restaurant on 86th Street: Barney Greengrass Restaurant.
According to Luan Walter, this store has been open since 1908 and has a history of more than 80 years. Its specialties are sturgeon, salmon and whitefish.
"It has a nickname among New York gourmets, called the Sturgeon King."
Luan Walter was very excited and told Lin Chaoyang about the history and characteristics of the store.
"Yeah, not bad."
Lin Chaoyang tasted the specialty smoked salmon in the store and gave his own evaluation.
Listening to his comments, Luan Walter was slightly dissatisfied and complained: "A difficult eater like you,
I don’t think any restaurant will welcome you.”
When checking out, Lin Chaoyang placed a $5 note on the table, and the waiter immediately beamed.
"Welcome to visit next time!"
"Look, I have another way to be popular!" Lin Chaoyang raised his eyebrows.
Luanne Walter muttered: "It's great to be rich, why don't you drive yourself?"
"Lin, what are we doing on Wall Street?"
After lunch, Luan Walter did not return to Random House. It was a rare opportunity to fish. He did not plan to go back to work today. Following Lin Chaoyang, no one could do anything to him.
He was sipping coffee comfortably and flipping through the latest issue of "The New Yorker" in his hand.
"Lin, although I don't want to admit it, your prose is really good. Our colleagues are also reading it and they all say it is good."
"Really?" Lin Chaoyang's voice was a little absent-minded.
"Of course. Your article is very interesting. It seems to be about food, but it is actually about the development of society.
The evolution of history, the relationship between man and nature————”
Luan Walter praised several times in succession, but when he didn't hear Lin Chaoyang's response, he raised his head.
I saw Lin Chaoyang with a serious face, his brows furrowed like mountains and ravines, his eyes falling on the newspaper in his hand, "Is there any big news?"
Lin Chaoyang shook his head, "It's nothing. It's not about the United States, it's about East China and SZ appeared in South China."
Since May, there have been continuous heavy rains in some provinces in China. It is the beginning of summer. People originally thought that it was just the rainy season that had arrived early.
No one expected that the abnormal heavy rains would continue continuously, and this situation occurred in many provinces.
Some provinces have received more than 1,600 millimeters of rainfall in just half a month, almost reaching the annual rainfall. SZ has already appeared in Jianghuai and Huaihe provinces.
He was reading the "Wall Street Journal". An American newspaper's SZ report on China's inland areas could not be too detailed, but Lin Chaoyang knew how serious this SZ was.
"Looks serious?" Luanne Walter asked.
"It's quite serious." Lin Chaoyang put down the newspaper and said, "Lu An, I have to go back to China!"
When Lin Chaoyang said this, his eyes were so serious that Luan Walter thought he was going to take off his clothes in the next second to reveal a capital "S" and red pants.
"Are you going to provide disaster relief?" Luan Walter asked tentatively.
"It's disaster relief."
Lin Chaoyang didn't notice that Luan Walter breathed a sigh of relief, and then showed appreciation.
"I didn't realize that someone as stingy as you would actually think of going to disaster relief."
Lin Chaoyang said sternly: "My stinginess is based on people."
After receiving a critical blow, Luan Walter looked unhappy and was thinking about how to fight back, but Lin Chaoyang had already stood up.
"Lin, where are you going?"
"Go back and pack your things and go to the airport."
Lin Chaoyang didn't even look back.
At that moment, Luanne Walter really felt that his back looked a bit like Christopher Reeve.
What a pity he is a miser!
"Lin, don't forget to write novels when doing disaster relief."
Flying across the ocean, it was impossible for Lin Chaoyang to leave whenever he wanted. He left only the next day.
Of course, going to the airport requires Luan Walter as a driver. In the car, he didn't forget to tell Lin Chaoyang to write a novel.
"You are so considerate!"
Lin Chaoyang got out of the car with his luggage, and Luan Walter watched him enter the airport.
Half a day later, Lin Chaoyang walked out of the passage of Kai Tak Airport and saw Tao Yushu and the two children at a glance.
There were a few bodyguards around them, but they were scattered among the crowd and looked very inconspicuous.
It had been forty or fifty days since Lin Chaoyang left home. The two little ones at home were extremely excited to see Lin Chaoyang and kept calling them daddy.
"It's a coincidence that you're back, the company is going public tomorrow!"
"I won't go, so as not to be ridiculed by the media again." Lin Chaoyang said jokingly.
"I've already returned to Hong Kong, so I might as well go. The company doesn't go public every year."
The couple got into the car while talking.
Lin Chaoyang became concerned about the situation in the mainland, and the information he knew in the United States was very limited.
"The situation is not optimistic." Tao Yushu looked worried, "I called home, and now the newspapers are
The TV is full of SZ news, and I sent a reporter from Ming Pao to the mainland two days ago."
"Read the newspapers." Tao Yushu handed over two newspapers, one was "Ming Pao" and the other was "Ta Kung Pao".
Xiangjiang has close ties with the mainland. Recently, news about SZ in the mainland has frequently appeared in the newspapers, and the media in Hong Kong have also reported on it, which has touched the hearts of many Hong Kong citizens.
These two newspapers reprinted some mainland newspapers' reports on the SZ situation, and two newspapers also reported their own reports on the SZ situation.
Reports on SZ broke out intensively after mid-June. The words and pictures in the newspapers were shocking. Lin Chaoyang couldn't help but feel worried after reading them.
He knows that the current situation reported by the media is far from reaching the peak of this SZ, and the real test will come in July.
"I talked to Comrade Zhou. The area of ​​SZ this time is too large, and the second wave of heavy rainfall has already begun in some areas. Press the gourd and the gourd will float. The pressure on disaster relief is also very high."
Tao Yushu frowned as he spoke and said, "We should donate more money."
Lin Chaoyang said: "Donating money is a must, but donating money alone is not enough. After all, our own power is limited, and we still need to call on more people to participate."
Tao Yushu nodded and acknowledged Lin Chaoyang's words and asked, "What do you think?"
"The company happens to be listed tomorrow, we can take this opportunity-"
The next day, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The trading hall covering an area of ​​thousands of square meters is wide and bright. The counters in the center of the hall are arranged in a square shape and are strict and orderly.
As the opening time approaches, traders wearing red vests are already standing ready. The huge electronic screens that usually flash various stock data and company information have not yet been turned on.
Counting the time, the staff of the Stock Exchange opened the electronic display screen. After simple debugging, the stock code of Lam Pictures and the related words of the first day of listing appeared on the screen.
In the hall, executives, directors, stars, and screenwriters from Lin's Pictures gathered together, and everyone's face was filled with pride and anticipation.
Today is the day that Lin's Pictures goes public, and all the prominent people in the company have been invited.
In addition to insiders, there are also many friends, business partners, and brokers who participated in the listing process of Lin Chaoyang and his wife in the trading floor.
Everyone was dressed up to attend, and dozens of guests gathered together. While they were beaming with joy, the atmosphere was warm and solemn.
In addition, nearly a hundred reporters from major media outlets on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and three places gathered in the interview area. They had already set up cameras.
Chapter completed!