Quite the Big Shot

In the provincial capital, Dahe Publishing House.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu Dahe arrived at his office right on time. He first made himself a cup of tea, leisurely moistened his throat, then picked up the latest newspaper and began reading.

Spending half the day drinking tea and reading newspapers was Lu Dahe's unshakable daily habit. Many people privately had quite a few complaints about it.

But Lu Dahe never cared about such idle gossip. He was now one man below and above all others—did he need to care about the chatter of those beneath him?

Besides, Lu Dahe believed that studying the newspapers was his most important job.

In these storm-tossed times, seemingly insignificant words in the newspapers could be thunder before a downpour. If a pack of deaf men and blind men could neither hear nor see them, wasn't that all the more convenient for Lu Dahe?

Knock, knock, knock—

The irritating knocking interrupted Lu Dahe as he read.

Lu Dahe frowned and looked up at the wall clock.

It was only 9:10. Which blind fool had come to make trouble? Didn't they know Lu Dahe disliked being disturbed at this hour?

As for the publishing house's president, the only person who could disturb Lu Dahe at will, he would never come knocking. One internal phone call, and Lu Dahe would have to scamper over to wait on him.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a bespectacled young man walked in.

Lu Dahe glanced at the newcomer, took a sip of tea, and continued reading the newspaper with great relish, as if he had not noticed an extra person in the office at all.

The young man was extremely awkward. His face reddened, and after holding it in for several seconds, he finally said, "Hello, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu. I came to ask how we should handle the novel Lurking going forward."

Lu Dahe raised his eyelids and looked at the young man over the top of the newspaper. In an unhurried tone, he said, "How to handle it will be decided after discussion by the publishing house. Why is a young man like you in such a hurry?

"In our line of work, you absolutely cannot be impatient. We must carefully guard the gate for our broad readership."

The young man stood there and listened to Lu Dahe's lecture for a full three minutes. Only when the other man took a drink did he seize the chance to interject, "But Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu, we received the submission several days ago. We should at least give the author a reply, shouldn't we?"

Lu Dahe set down the newspaper and fixed the young man with a cold stare. "Geng Zhi, how many years have you been at the publishing house?"

The young man named Geng Zhi froze for a moment. "Three years, Chief Editor."

Lu Dahe raised his voice and rebuked him, "Then do you think you are now qualified to instruct me on how to do my job?"

Geng Zhi immediately panicked. "No, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu, that isn't what I meant."

"Enough." Lu Dahe waved his hand sternly, as if swatting away flies. "Get out! Do your own job well. Do not interfere with other colleagues, and especially do not violate discipline by contacting the author privately."

.

Geng Zhi left the chief editor's office with a bellyful of anger. He truly could not understand what he had done wrong to offend this immediate superior of his.

Last week, the publishing house had received a novel submission, and it had landed in the hands of Geng Zhi, one of the responsible editors.

A responsible editor was an editor who dealt directly with authors. Every day, he had to read submissions, determine whether they had publishing value, then report upward and decide the submission's ultimate fate.

The moment Geng Zhi opened this submission titled Lurking, he was thunderstruck. He gave it the highest possible rating.

And it was not only Geng Zhi who gave it the highest rating. After the colleagues reviewed it among themselves, it received unanimous praise.

But unexpectedly, after the manuscript was submitted upward, it strangely vanished without a trace.

Several seasoned and prudent colleagues said that this kind of subject matter was far too sensitive. Though it was excellent, though it shone brilliantly, it might not necessarily be permitted for publication.

But Lurking was simply too outstanding. How could Geng Zhi, who had achieved nothing for so long, be willing to give it up?

Today, Geng Zhi truly could not hold it in any longer. That was why he had entered Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu's office at an inappropriate time and received a scolding.

Geng Zhi returned to his desk and sat down. He remained dazed for a long while, unable to come back to himself.

"Hey, Little Geng? Little Geng?"

The older sister sitting across from Geng Zhi suddenly called to him quietly.

Geng Zhi snapped awake and hurriedly said, "Sister Xu, what is it?"

Sister Xu lowered her voice. "Did you go ask Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu about that Lurking novel?"

Geng Zhi asked in surprise, "Yes! How did you know, Sister Xu?"

"I could tell just by looking at you." Sister Xu spoke mysteriously. "Listen to your big sister—give it up!"

"What? Give it up?" Geng Zhi was both shocked and anxious. "Sister Xu, you've read that novel too. If we give it up, that would be far too regrettable."

"Keep your voice down." Sister Xu looked around before saying to Geng Zhi, "I'm telling you to give it up, not telling the publishing house to give it up."

Geng Zhi was a little dumbfounded and asked in confusion, "What do you mean, Sister Xu? Can you make it clearer?"

Sister Xu pointed next door and lowered her voice. "According to reliable information, Little Feng next door has already contacted Seven-Inch Blade."

"What?"

"Why?"

Geng Zhi shot to his feet. He stared at Sister Xu in disbelief, and the flames he had desperately kept bottled in his stomach suddenly burst from his mouth, nose, and seven orifices.

"Why? Why, don't you know, Little Geng?

"Because Little Feng is a university graduate. Because Little Feng is handsome. Because he's the chief editor's daughter's—hey, hey, Little Geng, where are you going?"

Before Sister Xu could finish speaking, Geng Zhi charged furiously toward the office next door.

A man in black sitting in the corner put down his teacup and complained to Sister Xu, "Old Xu, don't stir up trouble! If this turns into a joke, none of us will look good."

Sister Xu shot him a sidelong glance. "Hmph, then why didn't you stop Little Geng? Besides, Feng Bo struts around like he's somebody important all day long. I don't believe you can stand him either."

The man in black gave a dry laugh. "Ha, I'm almost retired. What is there left for me not to stand?"

Sister Xu looked at him with contempt. "Tch. You're the slipperiest one in the whole office."

.

Geng Zhi burst into the office next door, startling the three colleagues inside.

Two of them immediately lowered their heads and pretended not to see Geng Zhi.

But Feng Bo, seated in the middle, merely lifted his eyelids to look at Geng Zhi and said coldly, "What is it?"

Geng Zhi did not beat around the bush. He asked directly, "You contacted Seven-Inch Blade?"

Feng Bo said unhappily, "You should ask the chief editor that question, not me."

Geng Zhi said angrily, "I'm asking you. Do you understand the rules? It was clearly my manuscript, yet you insist on snatching it?"

The rules Geng Zhi spoke of were actually some of the publishing house's unspoken rules. Whoever received a manuscript first owned it. Even if it was assigned from above, you should refuse it.

But Feng Bo clearly did not care about any rules. Once it landed in his bowl, it was his food—whoever stuck out his mouth first ate first.

"If you have the ability, go ask the chief editor. If you don't, get out."

"Say that again if you dare?"

"I could say it eight more times—"

Ring, ring, ring—

Just as the two were about to blow things up, the office telephone rang.

Feng Bo snatched up the phone first. Adjusting his tone, he said pleasantly, "Hello, Dahe Publishing House."

"Yes, I'm Feng Bo. Seven-Inch Blade? You're Li Ye, right?"

Geng Zhi immediately grew anxious and reached out to grab Feng Bo's phone.

But Feng Bo gave Geng Zhi a stern look and raised a hand in a shushing gesture.

Geng Zhi clenched his teeth and forcibly stopped himself.

Internal conflicts could not be allowed to make outsiders laugh.

Feng Bo smiled smugly and said into the phone, "Yes, our opinion is that you should bring over the remaining manuscript. After we analyze and study it, we'll decide whether it should be published."

"Why? Don't you know what problems your own manuscript has? Bring over the complete novel manuscript. We'll assign professional editors to help you correct it."

"You don't have time to come over? Why don't you have time to come over?"

Without realizing it, Feng Bo's tone had changed. From the friendly warmth at the beginning, it had become domineering and overbearing.

"What did you say? You need to prepare for an exam? What exam are you preparing for? You're really a high school student?"

Feng Bo's voice rose sharply. His final question was almost a shout.

And at the Qingshui County post office on the other end of the line, Li Ye was equally speechless.

Hadn't they said editors in this era were all helpful and enthusiastic?

Hadn't they said editors of this time were all righteous and forthright?

But judging from the voice on the other end, this person was not that old! Why did he sound so old-fashioned and pompous, with such an air of importance?