Chapter 404 The Young Bookstore Owner

The bookstore has two facades, but the depth is relatively long. Like bookstores of this era, it is not exclusively for selling books. There is also a large part of the bookstore for renting books.

There was no one in the store now. The owner was a young man who was sorting the books on the bookshelf. He seemed to feel someone coming in. He turned his head and looked at Fang Minghua with a smile on his face.

"Hello, Editor Fang."

Fang Minghua saw the young man's face clearly, and a smile appeared on his face.

It turned out that I knew him.

Lei Xuecheng.

The acquaintance between Fang Minghua and Lei Xuecheng was quite dramatic.

In early 1981, Fang Minghua ran into Lei Xuecheng on the train to Yanjing to receive an award. This guy turned out to be a fan of Beidao and evaded fare to Yanjing in order to see the honor of his idol.

Before the Spring Festival in 1982, one night, this guy and a little girl went to a magazine to steal books. Fang Minghua, who was a guard at the time, caught him on the spot, but he finally let him go.

It's been a few years since we last saw each other. Last spring, Lei Xuecheng applied for a job at Zhao Hongjun's company, but was rejected.

Fang Minghua happened to go to the company to pick up Song Tangtang that day. He saw Lei Xuecheng, and after knowing his situation, he pointed out a way for him - setting up a bookstall to rent out martial arts books.

Later, Fang Minghua passed by Xida and saw that he had set up a bookstall on the street. The business was not bad, but Fang Minghua did not go over to say hello.

Unexpectedly, I haven’t seen him for more than a year, and now I’m opening my own shop.

"Not bad, Lei Xuecheng, you opened a bookstore? When did you open it?" Fang Minghua asked.

"It opened two months ago. Editor Fang, please give me your opinion."

Fang Minghua took a closer look and found that the bookstore was divided into two major areas.

Half of the book rental area is filled with all kinds of martial arts and romance novels. Fang Minghua not only saw the first three published volumes of the book "Swordsmen in the Snow" he wrote, but also the recently published "Snow Millie" series. Girl takes care of the family"!

This book is obviously curled at the corners, which seems to be because it has been borrowed too often.

Seeing Fang Minghua's eyes paying attention to the book, Lei Xuecheng took out the book and handed it to Fang Minghua: "Editor Fang, this is the most popular book on the market recently. I bought ten copies, but it's not enough to rent. "

Fang Minghua took it over, turned it over, and asked, "What do you think?"

"The literary value is almost zero, but it is very eye-catching." Lei Xuecheng said with a smile: "But the book is clearly organized and the storyline is very suspenseful. It seems that this person named Xuemili still has certain writing skills. "The plot is somewhat imitated by the novel "The Godfather" by American writer Mario Puzo, and the following content is a parody of a Sicilian crime story."

"Have you seen "The Godfather"?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Yes." Lei Xuecheng said, and took another book from the bookshelf in the book sales area and handed it to Fang Minghua. It was "The Godfather"!

"It's a pity that this book "The Godfather" only sold one copy, which is far less popular than this book "The Housekeeper."" Lei Xuecheng added.

This is true.

Although the movie "The Godfather" has been released a long time ago, pirated discs have not yet appeared in China, and many people still know about this book.

Just as he was talking, a young man hurriedly walked in and borrowed the book "Female Leader".

"Boss, I heard that Xemili also has a copy of "Female Stars to Female Prisoners". Why don't you?" asked the young man.

"Sorry, that book has been borrowed." Lei Xuecheng apologized.

"Bring in more books." The young man said as he left the bookstore.

Fang Minghua did not talk about this issue again, but walked to his book sales area and took a look. Basically, they were Chinese and foreign masterpieces, including "The Ordinary World". Fang Minghua also saw "Crossing the Guandong" written by himself and the novella Anthology of Novels.

"Xuecheng, everyone reads popular novels now, so the sales of these classics are not very good, right?" Fang Minghua asked again.

"It's okay, but of course it can't be compared with the scenes of queuing up to buy classics a few years ago." Lei Xuecheng said with a smile: "The sales of books like "The Ordinary World" and "Crossing the Guandong" written by you are very good. After all, there are still people who like to watch something thoughtful.”

"It seems like your business is good."

"Yeah" Lei Xuecheng didn't hide it, "It's better than going to work."

"Fortunately, you didn't apply for Shengshi Book Company." Fang Minghua joked.

Hearing Fang Minghua mention this, Lei Xuecheng sighed with emotion: "Thanks to your guidance at that time, it was the lowest point in my life. Although I can't become a writer and poet like you now, I can read books every day, and sometimes I love It feels good to talk to literary people.”

Lei Xuecheng's words reminded Fang Minghua of those literary and youthful owners of Internet celebrity bookstores in later generations.

At this moment, I suddenly heard a girl's voice: "Brother Xuecheng, I'm back."

Fang Minghua turned around and saw a young girl wearing a red ski shirt and a ponytail walking in. She looked to be in her early 20s.

"Meimei, this is Fang Minghua, the editor-in-chief of Yanhe magazine, and a great writer." Lei Xuecheng introduced each other.

"This is my friend Wu Meimei."

The girl named Wu Meimei looked at Minghua below with her big eyes, and her tone became very enthusiastic: "Hello, Chief Editor Fang, I'll give you some water."

"Look at my memory. I asked you to stand here." Lei Xuecheng apologized.

"You're welcome, I'm just here to take a look around."

But the girl had already poured a cup of steaming tea, so Fang Minghua had no choice but to take it and say thank you.

"Brother Xuecheng, you talk to Editor Fang and I will help you organize the books."

"No, I'll do it myself."

"I'm fine anyway." The girl said, and she started to work on the bookshelf.

The girl was very enthusiastic about Lei Xuecheng, and had a special feeling for him.

"Your girlfriend?" Fang Minghua asked in a low voice out of curiosity.

Lei Xuecheng suddenly became a little embarrassed: "Not really, the two storefronts I rented are hers. She works in a textile factory. Sometimes she comes to help during the day when she doesn't work. I said no, but she didn't listen."

Huh?

Fang Minghua suddenly remembered that a few years ago, Lei Xuecheng ran to the magazine to steal books, and he even brought a little girl with him.

It must be said that the literary youth of this era does have an invisible lethality to girls, not to mention that Lei Xuecheng looks gentle and refined.

"Just chase him if you like him." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

The two chatted for a while, and Fang Minghua was about to say goodbye. At this time, Lei Xuecheng hesitated, and mustered up the courage to say: "Editor-in-Chief Fang, I have a request."

"What is it?"

"Can we take a photo together?"

Take a photo together?

Fang Minghua immediately understood and agreed very happily.

"Okay."

"Meimei, bring my camera over here. I want to take a photo with Editor Fang." Lei Xuecheng shouted towards the bookshelf.

"Okay."

The girl immediately ran to the back and ran out with a camera.

"Brother Xuecheng, I'll take a photo for you!"

The two stood by the bookshelf, and the girl took the camera and took two photos.

After finishing, Fang Minghua said goodbye and left.

"Editor Fang, come and sit down when you are free." Lei Xuecheng greeted enthusiastically.

"Okay." Fang Minghua agreed very happily.

When you are free, it is also interesting to come to the bookstore and chat with Lei Xuecheng.

After Fang Minghua left, Wu Meimei fiddled with the camera: "Brother Xuecheng, are you going to print out the photo of you and Minghua and hang it in the bookstore?"

"Smart." Lei Xuecheng praised: "Minghua is a famous writer in China. Taking a photo with him can increase the popularity of the bookstore."

Wu Meimei's eyes rolled after hearing this: "Then why don't you ask him to write an inscription for your bookstore? It would be great to change the sign at the door of the store and use Fang Minghua's inscription!"

"Of course I want to, but I heard that Fang Minghua is very arrogant and rarely writes inscriptions for others. I can't ask for too much for the first time, otherwise people will say that I am asking for too much."

"If he publishes a new book in the future, I can also invite him to sign and sell the book!"

"Yeah, Brother Xuecheng, you are so smart!"

The girl looked at him with admiration.