EFB Chapter 25 The World Cup is here!
Chapter 25 The World Cup is here!
"You really wrote a novel?"
James Huang sounded somewhat shocked on the phone.
Although I already knew about Xu Shengjie's book writing, and even encouraged him.
But when he actually heard that Xu Shengjie had written it, he still couldn't believe it... Who was Xu Shengjie? He lost his father at the age of twelve and grew up wildly in Chinatown. Fighting and brawling were common stories, but writing a book...
On what grounds?
I initially thought it was just a momentary impulse, a fleeting interest.
Once he fails, he will naturally continue his studies in a down-to-earth manner.
It's too late this year, but we'll send him to school after summer vacation! James Huang has even found a school for him.
result……
"Who will you choose as your agent?"
"Mr. Robert Adams Gottlieb."
Is he famous?
"The best editor in America once nurtured Joseph Heller, the author of Catch-22."
Xu Shengjie replied over the phone, which surprised James Huang even more.
Gottlieb? He didn't know who he was.
Joseph Heller—the name sounds familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.
But Catch-22...
He was very familiar with that book; it was even one of the essential works he considered to read in his lifetime.
It is second only to The Great Gatsby and The Old Man and the Sea.
If that's the case, then he's probably not a fraud, meaning Jeffrey really does have a talent for writing.
He had heard from someone before that Xu Shengjie had won the lottery.
But James Huang didn't take it to heart.
As for luck, everyone seems to have won the lottery before. Besides, it's only about eighty or ninety thousand US dollars, which can solve his immediate problem.
Can be written...
"Well done!"
James snapped out of his daze and praised her over the phone.
"If Jia Dong were alive, he would be very proud of you."
Jeffrey, you are talented. However, since you have this talent, don't waste God's gift. I suggest you retake the college entrance exam. If your novel is successfully published, it will greatly improve your chances of getting into a good university.
"I'll consider it."
Xu Shengjie would rather die than go to university.
Why go to university?
Tuition fees of 30,000 to 40,000 yuan per year add up to over 100,000 yuan over four years.
Relying on student loans? The interest alone could take him a lifetime to repay.
Do you think capitalists' money can be lent out so easily? The reason there are so many homeless people in America is precisely because of the heavy burden of debt. Hovering on the brink of homelessness, Xu Shengjie, a Kiernerlist member, certainly doesn't want to become homeless.
However, there are not many homeless people of Chinese descent.
The main reasons are twofold. First, it provides a safety net; many overseas Chinese will return to China for treatment if they fall ill, avoiding substantial expenses. Second, the people of China are incredibly kind to those living abroad, with absolutely no limits to their generosity.
Another difference is that Chinese people have different financial management methods and consumption concepts than Westerners.
I suspect that another reason why Chinese people are unable to integrate into Western society is largely due to this mindset...
James Huang meant well, and Xu Shengjie couldn't simply refuse.
Let's delay it as long as possible!
He then changed the subject, "Uncle Huang, I need a lawyer. I need him to take a look at the agency contract when I sign it tomorrow."
"Doesn't Kenny have a lawyer?"
"But I'm no longer a member of the Ghost Shadow Gang."
So, you mean I should continue to maintain contact with the Ghost Shadow Gang?
James Huang paused noticeably on the phone.
"That's no problem. I'll have my lawyer contact you tomorrow."
Is there anything else?
Xu Shengjie thought for a moment and said, "That's all."
"By the way, don't cause trouble lately. You need to change your habit of pulling out a gun at the slightest provocation. The World Cup is coming up, and the government is taking it very seriously. Mayor Giuliani sees this World Cup as an opportunity to enhance New York's image. He has given strict orders to strengthen management in all districts, and Chinatown is a key focus."
"……I see."
He understood what James Huang meant.
He warned Kenny and his men through his own words.
"Also, you've been doing well lately!"
"Thanks!"
"On June 15th, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Houston, I had a ticket in the second row."
However, I have to be on duty that day, so I won't be able to attend. If you're interested, I'll have my lawyer send you the tickets tomorrow.
New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets?
To be honest, Xu Shengjie wasn't very interested.
The reason is simple: the Rockets didn't have Yao Ming, and the Knicks... well, although they had Patrick Ewing, Ewing wasn't exactly a "black Jesus." He wasn't very interested in basketball (mainly because he didn't have the money to watch games before), and in his memory, Ewing seemed to have lost to Hakeem Olajuwon in the end. A bunch of black guys running around, fighting while playing basketball, was really boring.
But James's good intentions...
"Thank you, Uncle Huang."
"Alright, that's enough for now. Get some rest."
After the call ended, James Huang hung up and said with some relief, "Susanna, you would never have guessed that Jeffrey would actually write a book? And someone actually took a liking to it! I really didn't expect that."
Susanna is James Wong's wife, an American, and now a writer for ABC, the American Broadcasting Company.
She did know Xu Shengjie, so she was very curious.
"What book did you write?"
"Um, I forgot to ask."
The last time I talked to him about it, he mentioned vampires and exorcisms… He's only 19, an age when his imagination runs wild; he was probably just daydreaming. But his agent is quite extraordinary—Gottlieb.
"Who?"
Robert Gottlieb, who is said to have published "Catch-22".
Do you know this person?
"Oh, oh, oh!"
Susanna looked shocked. "Robert Adams Gottlieb?"
"That seems to be the name!"
"This book by Jeffrey must be pretty good! It's definitely not just random thoughts or something he wrote casually. Gottlieb has a sharp eye; to be chosen by him and become Jeffrey's agent? My God, it must be a great book."
"James, could you ask Jeffrey for a copy of the article? I'd like to see it first."
"It should be fine!"
James Huang wasn't in the publishing industry, so he naturally didn't know Robert's influence in the field.
Now, judging from Susanna's expression, he realized that Xu Shengjie's latest work must be quite interesting.
He changed into his pajamas and lay down on the bed.
After a moment of silence, he said to Susanna, "How about this, I'll go see him tomorrow and see if I can get the manuscript."
Susanna laughed and gave James a big kiss.
……
Xu Shengjie, on the other hand, was somewhat excited.
It was very late, but he was not sleepy at all.
So he turned on the typewriter and started typing away, continuing until three in the morning.
The original novel, "Broken April," is 120,000 words long.
However, due to the film adaptation, many tedious plot points were cut, leaving only the core elements of the original book. When Xu Shengjie was creating the outline, he planned a total of five chapters, with a total word count of approximately 100,000 to 110,000 words.
I've already written over 70,000 words, and if all goes well, I should be able to finish the manuscript before the 17th.
This excited him, and Robert's parting words kept echoing in his mind: he could write some short stories or essays and submit them to The New Yorker to raise his status in the literary world. It was a good idea, but what should he write?
He didn't have any particular idea right away.
My thoughts are in disarray, rising and falling in waves.
He didn't fall asleep until 5 a.m., but a phone call at 9 a.m. pulled him out of bed.
It was Robert's lawyer who asked him to come to the law firm that afternoon to sign the agency agreement.
Around 10 o'clock, a woman called. She was a lawyer introduced by James Huang, and then arranged to meet Xu Shengjie at the law firm.
I feel a bit aimless!
Xu Shengjie glanced at the date on the calendar; today was the 14th.
The New York Knicks won their last game, and tomorrow is Game 4 of the Finals.
Since James Huang mentioned it, let's go check it out! Joining in the fun and clearing our heads is a good option.
But before that...
Xu Shengjie took a cold shower and then got dressed.
A white T-shirt, jeans, and a pair of Nike shoes—this is the typical attire for men in this era, or rather, in most eras.
He got on his motorcycle and headed straight for Mott Street.
Mott Street in Manhattan, commonly known as the Funeral Street, is the oldest street in Manhattan's Chinatown and one of the core areas of Chinatown. It is not too far from East Broadway.
The streets are narrow, and funeral homes and funeral supply stores are everywhere.
Gui Li's paper craft shop is at the end of the street, with a very small storefront.
Xu Shengjie pushed open the door and entered. The door struck the copper bell behind it, making a soft tinkling sound that instantly gave off an eerie atmosphere.
……