In a private room, two pigs, one black and one white, were having fun under the table.

Li Xiang was a little embarrassed and drove out the two piglets who were accompanying food and drinks, and said to the waiter: "I don't need piglets to accompany you here, take them out."

When the staff saw that it was Li Xiang treating a meal, they specially called two piglets with the best fur and the fattest flesh, but Li Xiang didn't need it. Alas, they were a little discouraged and felt that they were flattering on their hooves.

He called another waiter, and each of them took a net bag, grabbed one at a time, took it out, and gently closed the door of the private room.

After the two piglets left, Li Xiang said to Bai Su and Yang Kun: "The piglets are the specialty here to have dinner with them."

He was embarrassed to say that this was his idea.

Yang Kun smiled and said, "It's good to be full of childlike fun. Children will like to come very much, and they still want to come when they come."

He writes fairy tales and keeps a childlike heart.

Bai Su said: "The hotel business is really good."

When I came in just now, I saw that the booths and private rooms were full, and I was very popular.

Li Xiang said: "The main reason is that my dad is running it, and the business is OK."

With his reputation, many people come from a distance just to "check in" here for a meal. If they can meet Li Xiang or Dou Dou Shishi, they will make a lot of money.

The two chatted casually, and the food was almost done. The three of them came down from the dining table, sat on the tea table next to them, and served tea to make tea.

Li Xiang said: "I will report to the two teachers about the overseas publication of "The Old Man and the Sea". A few days ago, I discussed with Teacher Bai and found the leaders of the China Daily. Then through them, I found a director of the Ministry of Culture. With his help, I attended a regular meeting of the expert group of the Overseas Promotion Plan of China Culture. Now "The Old Man and the Sea" has been included in this promotion plan and will focus on promoting it overseas. That day, Director Wang of the Ministry of Culture helped me a lot and invited me to attend the literary symposium organized by the Ministry of Culture and 12 senior officials of the Ministry of Culture the next day to discuss the vitality of literature and culture."

"I met several foreign officials at the meeting, especially Mr. Adrian, a senior official of the French Ministry of Culture. After listening to my introduction, he was very interested in "The Old Man and the Sea". After returning, he spent two days reading the English version of "The Old Man and the Sea" I gave. Yesterday, he called me and talked with me for a long time to discuss the plot in the book. He liked this book very much. I told him that I wanted to participate in the Goncourt Literature Award, and he promised to recommend it to me."

Li Xiang introduced the things these days in a few words, and Bai Su said with relief: "I won't talk about whether it can be done or not, at least it has taken an important step. If I didn't do anything, what it was like at the beginning and what it was still like now. When we first discussed it, we felt that it was difficult and quite difficult, but now isn't this a good start? So, it's up to man to do it."

Yang Kun said: "I happened to talk about this today. I have sent the book and the recommendation letter to France. I have been contacting Dean Cecil by email these days. Last night, we were at night and they were at daytime, so I replied to me. In the email, he said that he had finished reading "The Old Man and the Sea" and praised the book very much. He liked it very much."

Bai Su said: "Don't just like it. Can you help?"

Yang Kun said: "I was about to talk about you and interrupted."

Bai Su: "You talk, you talk."

Yang Kun said: "He is the vice president of Goncourt College and one of the candidates for the Goncourt Literature Award. He admires "The Old Man and the Sea". This itself is a recognition. When recommending the shortlist, he naturally has a scale in his heart, so there is no need to be particularly said."

Bai Su said angrily: "Old Yang, you are just thin-skinned! Sorry to mention it! You think this is China. I am not questioning the unfair selection of the Gonguer Literature Award, but there are favors everywhere. Don't say that foreign countries are not human relationships and society, nonsense. As long as you are human, as long as you have friendship, you will be close and distant. This is human nature!"

"Although Vice President Cecil appreciates Li Xiang's "The Old Man and the Sea", you don't tell him about the Goncourt Literature Award. He thought you were just recommended to him, and there was no other meaning. Let's take a step back, even if he can understand what you mean and knows it was for the Goncourt Literature Award, if he doesn't make some clear words, he will pretend to be stupid. He doesn't have to think about it. At this time, there must be countless authors pushing their books to others' homes, and they may forget about it in a blink of an eye."

Yang Kun picked up the teacup, took a few sips, put it down leisurely, and said, "I haven't finished speaking, you just talk a lot. Can you let me finish it?"

Bai Su: "You haven't finished your words yet. Can you breathe in one breath? Get this breath up and don't get up and down, which will make people feel happy."

Yang Kun smiled and said, "Isn't this a problem that people who write books have? It seems like you don't have it."

Bai Su said helplessly: "Continue to say okay? I won't argue with you now, Li Xiang is waiting in a hurry."

Yang Kun glanced at Li Xiang and said, "Li Xiang is more calm than you, you just jump up and down, annoying!"

Bai Su held back and didn't say anything, and refused to listen to Yang Kun finishing his words. He had no intention of arguing with others.

Yang Kun said: "Although I didn't directly say that "The Old Man and the Sea" was for the Gonguer Literature Award, they understood it in their hearts and asked a lot about Li Xiang. I heard that he was only 19 years old and was very shocked. Of course, age is the second most important, mainly because of the good books. He liked it very much and highly praised it."

Bai Su asked: "How do you praise me?"

Yang Kun: "It's so praiseworthy. He said that Li Xiang is a real artist. "The Old Man and the Sea" is a short but not small masterpiece, a real work of art that exudes symbolic and allegorical meanings."

Bai Su said: "Is it the original words or you made them up? How can you remember the original words so clearly?"

Yang Kun said angrily: "I still have recordings, do you want to listen?"

Li Xiang was amused by the two of them's quarrels. Bai Su, who had always been calm, showed a very lively side when communicating with Yang Kun.

Yang Kun said to Li Xiang: "Director Cecil wants to meet you. Do you have time to go to France? Communicate with him in person "The Old Man and the Sea". I think if you are really determined to be shortlisted for the Goncourt Literature Award, you must go there in person. The people on the jury do not know you, and have never even heard of you, and have no impression. If you can meet you in person, not only can you leave an impression, but literary discussions will also help them understand you faster."

Li Xiang said: "Thank you, Teacher Yang. Of course I am willing to meet them. It just so happened that "The Old Man and the Sea" will be on sale in Europe soon. I am preparing to go there and attend the listing event. If I can meet Dean Cecil with your recommendation, I will try my best to seize the opportunity."

Yang Kun said: "Then it's okay. You can decide the time. You can see when it's right. I'll make an appointment with him after the time is set."

Li Xiang said: "How is the day after tomorrow? The day after tomorrow is the time for "The Old Man and the Sea" to be released, of course it's OK one day after that. Two time periods will depend on which one is suitable for him."

Yang Kun said: "Okay, I'll make sure with him."

Bai Su said at this time: "Old Yang, you have to follow him then, and you still need to recommend him."

Yang Kun: "Isn't this nonsense? Of course I will follow."

Bai Su smiled and said, "I'm a little responsible."

Yang Kun: "If I could really win the Gonguer Literature Award, I would have to be so proud that we never dreamed of winning the Gonguer Literature Award."

Bai Su: "I still have a chance."

Yang Kun smiled and said, "What chance do you have? Your book "The Giant River" has been insulated for several months, but hasn't come out yet?"

Bai Su said angrily: "Can orthodox and serious literary works be compared to fairy tales? Do you think they are telling children's stories that coax children to sleep?"

Yang Kun was angry and started to fight with Bai Su.

Li Xiang sat aside, drinking tea while thinking about how to talk to the other party if he met Cecil.
Chapter completed!