Chapter 275 Ever since a great scholar defended me (two-in-one)
Since May, Fang Yan has been focusing on "Guns, Viruses and Steel".
There are not only the huge library and database of the University of Iowa, but also a large amount of information and data provided by professors in the history department such as Sean Michael, such as Native Americans, indigenous Africans, etc.
Densely packed, all written in foreign languages.
Fortunately, Bai Ruoxue was there to help, and she could translate the things she didn’t understand into Chinese.
The two of them basically stayed in the library except for the weekly seminars they had to attend and shopping for supplies at Asian new stores.
In the evening, Fang Yan returned to the Mayflower Apartment as usual.
I saw Pan Yaoming, who was in the same dormitory, sitting at the table, holding a newspaper in both hands, with depression written all over his face.
“What are you looking at?”
“Ouch, you scared me! Why are you walking silently!”
"You are too fascinated by it."
Fang Yan put his head over, and stock market data such as US stocks and the Hang Seng Index came into view.
"Can't you understand? This is called stocks."
Pan Yaoming smiled and said: "You should not have stocks and stock markets in the mainland."
Just kidding! Big A Leek is here!
Fang Yan pretended to be confused and asked Pan Yaoming for advice on Hong Kong stocks.
After a while, he asked curiously: "So you are speculating in stocks now?"
"Specialize a little occasionally to make more money and support your family."
Pan Yaoming smiled and said: "By the way, I can also earn more tuition for studying abroad."
"You shouldn't have invested all the agency fees for "Once Upon a Time in the Grandmaster"?"
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After receiving Zhang Guangnian's reply, Fang Yan officially hired him as his copyright agent for Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
Pan Yaoming smiled and said that he only took out a little from the agency fee in Xiangjiang.
Fang Yan said: "Is there any news from Baodao?"
Pan Yaoming said: "Speaking of this, it's really strange. Until now, there is no publisher from Baodao. The businessman contacted me.”
“It’s not surprising at all.”
Fang Yan is not in a hurry. After all, "Once Upon a Time in China" has not yet been released in Xiangjiang, and Baodao Publisher has no way of knowing.
“So I packaged and mailed all the newspapers that reported your news these days to Xiangjiang.”
Pan Yaoming said: “If nothing else, it should be able to be published in Ming Pao, Ming Pao and It was reprinted in newspapers such as "People's Semi-Monthly""
"That's right!"
Fang Yan packed up his things, moved a chair and sat down.
"When the time comes, the news that you are famous in the United States will spread in Hong Kong, and naturally there will be publishing companies attracted by it."
Pan Yaoming said: "Maybe there will be companies for "Saving Private Ryan" too. Willing to publish!”
“Should the royalties and royalties also be increased?”
Fang Yan was not surprised.
After all, "Saving Private Ryan" is now on this week's "New York Times" bestseller list, and it is an undisputed bestseller.
"It's more than just an increase."
Pan Yaoming's tone was full of excitement, "Yanzi, you are now a best-selling author in the United States. You don't even know how valuable you are?"
"How high?" "
Fang Yan joked: "Is it three or four stories high?"
"Too low, too low. No matter what, it has to be six or seven stories, just like Ni Yu and Yi Shu. Level! ”
Pan Yaoming said seriously: "It must be the highest one!"
Fang Yan joked: "Then this manager, isn't he also the highest one in Hong Kong and Taiwan?"
"TOEFL, TOEFL, I'm just following you to get some light."
When Pan Yaoming thought about the generous commission, he felt a little excited.
After chatting for a while, Fang Yan flipped through the news reporting on the Hong Kong stock market, "According to you, the Hong Kong stock market is in a mess now?"
"It's not just a mess, it's just a mess!"
Poon Yaoming said that since the two countries negotiated to implement the future of Hong Kong last year, Hong Kong's stock market has begun to fluctuate.
The Hang Seng Index fluctuated repeatedly between 676 points and 1,000 points. Investors and stockholders in Hong Kong were in panic all day long.
Fang Yan read it from beginning to end and found that the Hang Seng Index did not fall significantly, but it could only maintain at a low level repeatedly.
The dead memory suddenly attacks me again. If I remember correctly, Xiangjiang will usher in a big bull market in the 1980s.
It was in 1984 that after the joint statement on the future of Hong Kong was made public, the Hang Seng Index immediately bottomed out and rebounded. The Hong Kong stock market started a new round of bull market that lasted for four years. The peak of the peak period seemed to be almost reached. 4000 points.
If you buy the bottom at this time and choose to buy the futures index, the price will be more than 3,000 points from 670 points to 4,000 points!
In fact, behind all this is Da Ying who is causing trouble and secretly manipulating it to continuously push up the Hong Kong stock market, create bubbles, and attract a large number of fanatical investors to speculate in the stock market. They take the opportunity to make crazy money and harvest leeks. Loot the wealth of Xiangjiang.
The result was three major stock market crashes and economic recession in Hong Kong in the 1980s.
As soon as I thought about this, I asked Pan Yaoming about how to speculate in the Hang Seng Index in the Hong Kong stock market in this era.
"Specialize in the Hang Seng Index?"
"You want to speculate in index futures!?"
Pan Yaoming was startled, then shook his head: "There is no Hang Seng in the futures market in Xiangjiang yet. Index category."
Fang Yan was stunned, "There is no Hang Seng Index futures?"
"Yes, no"
Pan Yaoming said that since the establishment of the Xiangjiang Commodity Exchange, the current futures commodities are only cotton, raw sugar, gold and soybeans.
Is your plan to make a fortune just gone? !
The corners of Dialect’s mouth twitched, my money! My money!
"In my opinion, even if you are speculating in futures, you must not do so."
Pan Yaoming advised him to give up his thoughts, "Speculating in futures is different from speculating in stocks. If you’re not careful, someone will die!”
Fang Yan sighed quietly and had to make other plans.
"Let me tell you, instead of speculating in futures and losing money, you might as well lend me the money for tuition."
Pan Yaoming then asked about "Saving Private Ryan" Royalties currently earned.
Fang Yan did a rough calculation and found that the current royalties received are based on 32,500 copies, which is US$65,250 before tax.
Even if Old Mike helped avoid taxes before, only 54.5% is left, which is about US$35,600.
When I thought about my money being "stolen" by the IRS, I couldn't help but want to go to California to find Mike and talk about how to register a company in the Cayman Islands and how I could achieve 70% to 80% tax avoidance. It would be best to be like Dong Jianguo.
A maximum payment of US$750 per year is enough.
"I think if you really want to trade in stocks, you might as well invest in US stocks and try the waters first."
Pan Yaoming pulled out a newspaper from the pile, "For example, Ruoxue The IBM computer I wanted to buy before, IBM’s stock is pretty good.”
Fang Yan took it and read it absently.
IBM, Coca-Cola, Apple, Disney, Cisco, Microsoft...
At this moment, Bai Ruoxue's voice came from outside the room:
"Teacher Fang, you are here. Letter!"
"Letter?"
Fang Yan walked out quickly, originally thinking it was a letter from Gong Zie, but when he saw the sender, he couldn't help but be startled.
Pan Yaoming saw his lost look and asked curiously: "Yanzi, who sent the letter?"
"The editor-in-chief of Random House, Jason Epstein."
Dialect said: "He said he would personally deliver me an invitation letter to the American Library Association Annual Conference, and also said he would talk to me about novels."
…………
Three days later , Iowa City.
Jason Epstein took a translator and took a car from the airport. It took him more than 30 minutes and finally arrived in the university town.
The campus is still full of speeches promoting identity labels such as feminism and eco-environmentalism, as well as affirmative action.
The words are full of strong and extreme emotions, including resentment, anger, yearning for equality, etc.
Jason Epstein is already used to this.
But when I heard their speeches, they mentioned "geographical determinism" and "dialects" from time to time, and I became very interested for a while.
So, I found a few students on the road, some were black, some were white, and some were Chinese. After asking, I found out——
In just over a month, dialect has become a trend at the University of Iowa. figure!
"No wonder the sales of "Saving Private Ryan" suddenly skyrocketed in Iowa."
The translator said softly and glanced around.
In sight, several students in the crowd were holding copies of "Saving Private Ryan."
Seeing this scene, Jason Epstein could not wait to meet this Chinese writer whom he had never met before.
When I arrived at the door of the writers’ workshop, I bumped into Bo Yang who was leaning on a cane.
The translator thought it was Fang Yan who went out to greet him and asked tentatively: "Dialect?!" "No, I'm not." Bo Yang shook his head and said, "Are you from Random House?"
“This is Mr. Jason, the editor-in-chief of Random House.”
The translator nodded and introduced: "I am his translator. Can I ask if Fang Yan is here now?"
"Yes, he is inside."
Bo Yang With wide eyes, he looked them up and down.
Jason Epstein thanked him and prepared to go inside with the translator.
“I’ll take you there.”
Bai Yang sighed quietly and took the initiative to act as a guide, limping with them to the conference room.
When Jason Epstein saw Dialect with his own eyes, he couldn't help but be surprised. He never expected that someone who could write "Saving Private Ryan" and propose "geographical determinism" would be so young. , simply beyond my expectations.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Dialect smiled and said:
"Water, or coffee?"
"Coffee, thank you."
Jason Epstein said: "On my way here just now, I heard many students discussing you, including history, geography, anthropology, and archaeology. I think the ideas you raised are very interesting. We can start with Let’s talk about this?”
“Of course.”
Fang Yan and Bai Ruoxue looked at each other.
Bai Ruoxue acted as a translator knowingly.
The topic started with "geographical determinism", and the conversation started immediately, and the atmosphere of the conversation became more and more harmonious.
"Wow, your insights are really groundbreaking." Jason Epstein said: "If "Guns, Viruses, and Steel" is published, I will definitely buy a copy."
The conversation immediately changed and the idea of this book came up.
"I'm sorry, I have promised to hand it over to the University of Iowa Press." Fang Yan shrugged.
“That’s really a pity.”
Jason Epstein looked at the translator with regret in his tone.
The translator understood and took out the invitation to the American Library Association Annual Conference and Exhibition from his bag.
Dialect said: "Mike will also have an invitation letter, right?"
"Of course, both the author and the translator." The translator handed it over and said that Mike's invitation letter had been sent a long time ago. Went to China.
Bai Ruoxue received the invitation and was filled with surprises.
Especially when Jason Epstein said that this annual meeting is the pinnacle event of the American book industry.
Several of the most prestigious awards in the literary world, such as the Caldecott Medal, the "Oscar of picture books," the Newbery Medal, the "Oscar of children's books," and the National Book Award, which is as famous as the Pulitzer Prize, are all awarded by the United States. Awarded by the Library Association.
“So Saving Private Ryan was nominated?”
Fang Yan stared directly at Jason Epstein.
"Yes, and it is a nomination for two awards, the first novel award and the translation award."
Jason Epstein raised two fingers.
Fang Yan was surprised and asked: "Award for Translation Works?"
The translator explained that the four categories of the National Book Award are fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and youth literature, but these four awards are limited to American writers. , only the first novel award and the translated work award are not restricted by nationality, but must be published by an American publishing company.
“If “Saving Private Ryan” had become popular earlier, it might have caught up with this year’s Pulitzer Prize.”
Jason Epstein shook his head and laughed: “It’s a pity it’s too late. Now I can only apply for next year's Pulitzer Prize for History."
"Do you think "Saving Private Ryan" can win, I mean the National Book Award?"
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Fang Yan asked curiously.
“I dare not say that I am 100% sure.”
Jason Epstein asked: “But I am very curious, why did you, a Chinese writer, think of writing this novel? ?”
When asked about his motivation, Fang Yan frankly started from guiding Mike to write, and slowly talked about the anti-fascist war.
"In World War II and the Anti-Fascist War, China was the main battlefield in the East. We paid a huge price and made great sacrifices and contributions to the final victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Forgetting history is tantamount to betrayal. Remember history Only then can we create the future.”
"We have a saying in China, 'Although the motherland is big, if it likes war, it will perish; although the world is safe, if it forgets to fight, it will be in danger.'"
"..."
"A promising country A country cannot be without pioneers, and a promising nation cannot be without There are heroes."
"I think I understand why you wrote "Saving Private Ryan""
Jason Epstein smiled with satisfaction and said that Random House has one. A series of best-seller marketing promotion strategies.
By then, if the author really wins the National Book Award, media interviews, reading sessions and other activities will be arranged for the author.
As for "Saving Private Ryan", one of the preset plans is to give speeches and promotion activities to various veterans associations, veterans clubs and other organizations of World War II veterans.
“When will it be held?”
Fang Yan took a sip of coffee.
“The time is tentatively scheduled after the annual meeting.”
Jason Epstein said: "If the novel does not win the award, then everything I just said will not count."
Fang Yan glanced at the time on the invitation and suggested that the reader meeting be scheduled on Around June 6th.
“June 6th?”
Both the translator and Bai Ruoxue looked confused.
Jason Epstein exclaimed: "I'm sorry you can imagine it. Indeed, it was a good day!"
Bai Ruoxue cast an inquiring look at Fang Yan, and then got the answer. It turned out that that day was the anniversary of the Normandy landing.
Not only is the D-Day landing a landmark battle in Europe's Western Front, but the story of "Saving Private Ryan" begins with the D-Day landing. We chose such an anniversary to promote and promote the novel. It couldn't be more appropriate.
“The fact that you chose the D-Day anniversary is one of the best marketing plans I have ever seen in my career!”
Jason Epstein extended his hand.
Fang Yan shook hands with him: "Where, where."
"I think we can maintain long-term contact in the future."
Jason Epstein cast a meaningful look.
………………
Returning from Iowa to New York, Random House began its operations.
The National Book Awards are funded by the National Book Foundation and are selected by a panel in each category.
Each panel is composed of five people, including a chairperson, chosen directly by the National Book Foundation.
For each award, the five best works will be selected to be shortlisted for the finals, and the judges will cast their own recommendation votes.
At this moment, a debate was breaking out in the translation team.
A female judge said: "I admit that "Saving Private Ryan" is a very well-written book. It not only gives us a reflection on the cruelty of war, but also explores the inner humanity of ordinary soldiers. But everyone, please remember that this is a translation award, and we have to consider not only the quality of the original work, but The translation level of the translator must also be considered.”
Another male judge echoed: “I agree, compared to the translation level, whether it is Milan Kundera’s "The Record of Laughter and Forgetting", or Rilke's "Selected Poems of Rilke" is far better than "Saving Private Ryan".
"I disagree!"
As a poet of the "Beat Generation", Allen Ginsberg expressed support for dialects, "If the translation award gives priority to the translation level, it is simply putting the cart before the horse. A good The translation can indeed make the original work better, but the prerequisite is that the original work itself is not bad at all.”
The female judge countered: “Ellen, I know you have a good impression of the Chinese. , but please do not bring your personal emotions into the award. In terms of the level of the original work alone, "Saving Private Ryan" cannot be compared with Milan Kundera's "The Book of Laughter and Forgetting."
Not necessarily. Allen Ginsberg spoke, and American historian Samuel Newland retorted:
“But don’t forget what “Saving Private Ryan” is about!”
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“It’s the Normandy landing!”
“From the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to the fall of Paris, from the defense of Stalingrad to the conquest of Berlin, no battle in World War II was as significant as the Normandy landing. , Do you have any objections?”
Both sides seemed to have valid reasons, but the negotiation eventually turned into a quarrel, and no one could convince the other.
As a result, the four people turned their attention to the chairman of the group and asked him to make the final judgment.
The chairman of the group cleared his throat and said slowly:
"Forgetting history is tantamount to betrayal. Only by remembering history can we create the future!"
"Nearly 3 million soldiers crossed the English Channel and landed on the Normandy beach in northwest France."
"In World War II and In the Anti-Fascist War, the Battle of Normandy was a turning point on the Western Front in Europe. It was the largest and longest-lasting battle in human history so far. The landing operation successfully opened up the second battlefield in Europe, causing a fundamental change in the strategic situation! "
"Eisenhower called the day of the landing 'the longest day in history'!
“Our US military paid a huge price and made great sacrifices and contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.”
"..."
"A country with a future cannot be without pioneers, and a nation with hope cannot be without heroes."
If Fang Yan was present, he would be scolded.
What the hell are you talking about?
In fact, these words were all modified by Jason Epstein and then delivered to the chairman of the group.
"Bang bang."
"Okay, I'm done, let's vote."
The chairman clapped his hands and looked around.
(End of this chapter)