Chapter 8: Firm Determination

  "Ring... ring... ring...... Ring... ring... ring......" The phone in the living room kept ringing persistently.

  "Who is it, disturbing my peaceful sleep so early in the morning!" Su Zhen, who had hardly slept all night, got up drowsily and walked over to answer the phone, cursing as he went. It was already 10 o'clock in the morning now, and Su Hangfeng and Li Ping had both gone to work, leaving only him at home.

  "Hello... uh... who is it?" Su Jin said drowsily into the phone.

  "Haha! Su, you're still not awake at 10 o'clock? The sun is already shining on your butt!" came the loud and clear voice of Fat General.

  "Haha, it's Fat Brother, I slept a bit late last night and got up late this morning, what's up?" Su heard that it was Fat General, and the little spirit he had just mustered also dissipated, speaking casually.

  "Is that so? There's a banquet at noon today. Hurry up and get ready, I'll come pick you up later!" said Fat General.

  "Banquet, what banquet? I just signed the contract yesterday and today I'm not resting to attend some banquet? Boss Huang, you go yourself, just say I have something on!" Su Wen said lazily. During this period of time, he had also attended some banquets with Boss Huang, but in his opinion, they were all dull gatherings of uninteresting people, truly talented ones were rare, mostly some idle people who attached themselves to elegance.

  "Oh my, today is something special! Today's gathering has Yuan Yimin and Wang Xing attending! What a rare opportunity!" Fat Zhang excitedly shouted from over there.

  Su Jinxin's heart skipped a beat, Wang Xing knew that this was a great Buddha on the ground of the ancient city. He was a native of the ancient city and an official in the national education system. In the past, when he was in Beijing, he had also served as the deputy chairman of the National Writers Association!

  Later, with the transfer of work, he was transferred to Tianhua Province and became the president of Tianhua Social University, a regular department level. At the same time, he also served as the chairman of the Tianhua Provincial Writers Association!

  The ancient city is the provincial capital of Tianhua Province, and Wang Xing is a local, so he has a high status in the ancient city, and everyone must show him respect!

  "It turned out that it was President Wang in person. That should be visited, but what is this Yuan Yimin doing?" Su Jin asked.

  "Yuan Yimin is an honorary professor at Kyoto University and a member of the Beijing Writers Association, but I'm not quite sure what his specific position is. Anyway, it should be a high-ranking one. He and Wang Xing were colleagues in Beijing initially, and I heard they got along pretty well. This time, he's passing by our city and made a special visit to see Wang Xing!" Fat Zhang explained on the other end of the line, "Alright, let's not talk about it anymore. It's getting late now, hurry up and pack your things, I'll be over soon!"

  Boss Wang finished speaking and hastily hung up the phone.

  Since it's Director Wang over there, I'll just go take a look. If I can build some connections with him, that would be great. After all, in the cultural circle of this ancient city, he is a towering figure. If he speaks up for you, your whole family will rise to prominence!

  Su Jin took a bath, tidied herself up and then went downstairs to wait for Pang Zong's car.

  The venue for this gathering is at Baille Manor, built on the mid-slope of Lianyun Mountain outside the city. It was a local wealthy businessman who had it constructed and normally did not open it to outsiders, only using it to entertain his own clients and friends. This time, upon hearing that Wang Xing would be attending, he hastily offered up the manor as the venue for the gathering.

  The place where Su Jin's family lived was quite far away. Although Pangzi drove his small Audi at a speed of BMW, they didn't arrive at the villa until nearly twelve o'clock.

  "Oh dear, hurry up, I'm afraid the banquet has already started. If we're late, it won't be good!" Fatong urged anxiously.

  It's Su who seems calm and unhurried, saying slowly: "What's the rush? The banquet is scheduled to start at 12 o'clock. Now it's not even ten minutes away! There's still time!"

  "Good grief, my ancestors! Only the really big shots would have a party like this. If Wang Xing were to come, he might have the capital for it, but you and I, brothers, just don't have that kind of power! Today, almost everyone from the ancient city's cultural circle is here. If it's just us two eating, who knows what they'll say about us behind our backs?" Fat Zhang said with a bitter smile.

  Su Jin blinked and said: "If you're still complaining here, you'll really be late!"

  "Oh dear, really! You were so busy talking that you almost forgot. Let's hurry!" Reacting quickly, Fatong pulled Su Yan along to rush towards the venue.

  As he walked into the venue, Su Jin raised his eyes and took a look. Good guy, it was packed with people, and the large venue gave him a crowded feeling at this moment.

  "It's okay, it's okay, at least we didn't arrive late!" Fatong let out a sigh of relief and said as he saw people in the hall gathered in small groups, not engaging in any collective activities.

  "Haha, this brother is afraid of delaying the dinner time! No need to rush, just now the host informed us that President Wang said that today is just a gathering of the ancient city cultural circle, and there are no high or low positions here, we are all literati. Although leaders will give speeches, everyone can just do their own thing. However, President Wang's table is over there, if you're new here, it's still best to go over and greet him!" A young man on the side heard the fat boss muttering to himself and chuckled as he said this.

  "Ah, I see! Thank you so much! I'll go right away!" Fatong said to the young man with repeated gratitude, and then pulled Su Yan towards the direction the young man had pointed.

  "I think this book is just a crowd-pleaser, relying on a bit of plot to attract people's tears. It doesn't have any depth or convey any ideas. At most, it can only be popular for a while, and in the end, it will only be laughed at by future generations!" Just as Su Jin and the others approached the so-called Wang Shaochang's position, they saw a forty-year-old man with gold-rimmed glasses on his face, speaking angrily.

  "Hehe, one civilian said so, it's a bit too much, I heard that the author of this book is just a student, for a student to be able to write such a thing, it's already an excellent work, although the writing style is still a bit immature, but the plot design and overall grasp are still commendable, after all, one can't be too demanding of a student!" A short and stout middle-aged man gently refuted.

  "It's precisely because he is a student that he can't be allowed to slack off! First and foremost, as a student, what is his main occupation? Studying. If a student doesn't study diligently and instead writes, this in itself is not doing his job properly! And look at what he's written - it's about online romance! And on top of that, it's even praising online romance!"

  The internet and puppy love have a great influence on students! Schools should regulate the phenomenon of students surfing the internet and falling in puppy love, this is a consensus in the education sector! But this student not only praises online romance, but also fabricates stories and writes them down! If it's just for personal entertainment, that's fine, but he even publicly publishes it!

  If it were just a mediocre article, it wouldn't matter, but what's most important is that this student has quite a bit of literary talent and writes in a way that moves people! I don't know, the better they write, the worse the influence! What kind of bad influence will this have on those students! Middle school students are already in a rebellious phase, and school management is feeling particularly difficult. Do we still need to use this kind of work to entice students into obsessing over the internet and falling deeply in love?! How can this be?! I think that for this kind of work, the Writers' Association should take a stand, publicly condemn it, and ban it! Only then can we achieve our goal!" The man with gold-rimmed glasses said, his face still showing an expression of pain and indignation.

  "This... is making a big deal out of nothing. After all, it's just writing something, if this is considered leading students astray, it seems a bit excessive." The short and stout man shook his head in disagreement.

  "Old Wang, you can't say that. We're doing this for his own good. You have to understand that students are at an age where they can't tell right from wrong and are easily swayed by extremes. If we adults don't provide timely guidance and education, he might stray further down the wrong path! Today's criticism is meant to wake him up! Only then..."

  "Flattery and eloquence! Quick tongue and long mouth! It's not a gentleman's behavior to speak ill of others behind their backs!" Su Jin could no longer endure, shouting loudly.

  Although the gold-rimmed glasses did not directly mention the name "First Time", how could Su Jin not hear that he was talking about himself? Listening to this guy reversing black and white, wantonly slandering and vilifying himself, how could Su Jin not be filled with righteous indignation!

  Su Jin's angry shout attracted everyone's attention, and the short fat man and the gold-rimmed glasses also cast their eyes over.

  "This classmate is......" The short and stout man looked at Su Jian with a puzzled expression.

  "Ah, ah, Director Wang, hello! Hehe, let me introduce you to the author of 'First Intimate Contact', Su Jin! And Su Jin, this is Director Wang!" The chubby boss who had just failed to stop Su Jin hastily came over to make the introduction.

  Then, Boss Huang looked at the gold-rimmed glasses with a bitter smile and said: "This is the Professor Yuan Yimin I told you about!"

  Yuan Yimin's face was very awkward, speaking ill of others behind their back, and being overheard by the protagonist, who immediately called him out on it, then furiously demanded an explanation from him, which was really not a good thing.

  Moreover, he really didn't expect Su Jin to be so young. Although he already knew that Su Jin was a student, through his analysis of the plot and writing style, he thought Su Jin should at least be a university student.

  But looking at the current situation, Su Jian is clearly just a middle school student. He is a professor in his 40s, an honorary professor at Beijing University, and yet he can't even get along with a middle school student. If this gets out, he'll probably lose respect for himself!

  "Hum, so you're Su! I didn't expect you to be here too! What's wrong, don't you agree with what I said? Do you have a different opinion?"

  "Of course, I have an opinion. I write my own books, what does it have to do with you? If writing a book is considered seducing students, then shouldn't game development companies be guilty of a heinous crime?! Why don't you go scold them?! It's just that you're afraid of their power and don't dare say anything! People like you who are weak and timid, yet harsh on the inside, can only spew nonsense at others' well-written books because they themselves can't write something likable. You're truly shameless and seeking fame by slandering others!" Su Jin looked at Yuan Yi Min's icy rebuke.

  "You, you." Yuan Yimin really couldn't believe that Su Zhan was so unscrupulously! In front of so many people, he loudly scolded him, without any regard for face!

  "Hmph, sharp teeth and a sharp mouth, what's the use? I've said it before, towards this kind of book, even if it can be popular for a while, but rubbish is still rubbish, sooner or later it will still be spat out by people!" Since they had already torn their faces apart, Yuan Yimin simply didn't care about anything anymore.

  "Despised by others? What kind of person are you, to think you can sway readers' opinions? Ridiculous! To someone like you who lives in an ivory tower. Apart from a small circle of people around you, do you think readers will know what you're made of? You say my book will be despised, but I believe it will one day spread far and wide, influencing millions of people! It's people like you, who only know how to step on others' shoulders and gain fame by doing so, who will be despised by the masses! Let me tell you, thirty years from now, whether east or west of the river, don't underestimate a young man in poverty!" Su Jin's eyes revealed unmasked disdain, as well as unmasked self-confidence, looking at Yuan Yimin with a scornful gaze.

  "You, okay, I'll see how you can dominate the world and influence thousands! If you really can do it, I'll dig out my eyes and throw them to the ground!" Yuan Yimin said with a cold hum, his breath coming in short gasps.

  "Hmph, just you wait and see! Within three years, I'll make sure you witness it!" Su coldly snorted, turned around and walked out the door.

  "Alas, Xiao Jin, sigh, Director Wang, look at the situation today, I won't stay any longer, I'll take my leave first." The chubby general, with a bitter smile on his face, greeted Wang Xing and then chased after Su Jin.

  Wang Xing watched Su Jin's departing back, a look of interest flashing across his face as he muttered to himself: "Heh heh, interesting. It's been a long time since I've seen such a spirited young person. Ah, the cultural circle is too stuffy, I wonder if his arrival will bring a breath of fresh air!"

  Su Jin walked out of the venue and punched the Audi with a loud bang, his face turned red, panting heavily, and white mist swirled around him in the cold wind!

  "Haha, don't smash my car when you're angry, it's still gonna need repairs even if it's broken!" The chubby boss's joking voice came over.

  "Hum, looking down on people with dog's eyes! This cur dares to speak of me in such a way, simply because I'm just an unknown minor figure. If I were one of those truly influential masters who can sway the tides and affect thousands, would he dare be so presumptuous!" Su Jin said indignantly.

  "Haha, Xiao Jin, reality is like this, not just in the cultural circle, but also in other circles. There are people everywhere who will speak ill of you. As the saying goes, 'famous people have many criticisms.' Actually, on the contrary, you should be happy. It's precisely because you've gained fame and achievements that people will speak positively or negatively about you. Look at it this way, throughout history, in all corners of the world, which famous person hasn't been slandered? Is there anyone who is universally praised? Even if you could meet everyone's standards for being a good person, due to factors like interests and factions, there would still be people who criticize you. If you really take this to heart, then you've lost." Manager Huang said with deep concern.

  Upon hearing what Fatong said, Su gradually calmed down and a hint of regret appeared on his face as he asked: "Was I wrong then?"

  "No, not wrong! Although it doesn't require seriousness, for this kind of person and thing, you still have to deal with them ruthlessly. Otherwise, others will think you're easy to bully and won't take you seriously. Every celebrity has their own way of handling such things, and your method is indeed a bit rough. But it's just right for you!"

  Young people don't need too much city, want to scold and scold, this kind of temperament will win the favor of the world! If you really follow those big shots, on the surface, nothing is said, behind the scenes, black hands are made, but it will make people say that they are anxious and deep, and everyone will be wary of you. Xiao Jin, do you know what your greatest capital is?" asked the fat general lightly.

  "What?" Su Jin was startled and said.

  "Youth! Youth is your greatest asset, and with youth comes infinite possibilities! Just like what Liang Qichao wrote in 'The Young China Says', the red sun rises, its way is great and bright. The river flows out of the valley, pouring into the vast ocean! You young people can be fearless, just as you said, thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west bank, don't underestimate the poor youth!" Fat General said firmly.

  A faint flush flashed across Su's face, and he silently muttered to himself: "Yes, youth, youth, youth is my greatest capital. But in today's society, is it enough to just be young?" Thinking of something that had been on his mind for a long time, Su slowly made up his mind!