Calm down, calm down! Hurry and pull your mother-in-law back!

At the dinner table, he forced himself to keep his head down and just eat.

“Xue Min, when you went to the meeting today, besides the manuscript to be published, did Old Wu give any other special instructions?”

But this meal was not something Cheng Xue Min could just brush off by feigning ignorance.

His mother-in-law took the initiative to open the topic, asking if there were any directives apart from releasing the “atomic bomb.”

“Ahem!”

Before Cheng Xue Min could answer, his father-in-law, Old Feng, cleared his throat twice, which immediately irritated Mrs. Feng.

“Old Feng, I’m talking to Xue Min here, what’s with the coughing?”

“And why do all your faces look so strange? Are you hiding something from me?”

When she came out of the kitchen, she saw that whether it was her husband Old Feng, their eldest son Feng Jia Zhao and his wife, or the second daughter-in-law, all four debt collectors were unusually quiet.

Especially the youngest Feng Jia Mo, usually a carefree glutton who should have been sneaking into the kitchen to steal food by now, was uncharacteristically well-behaved.

At first, Mrs. Feng was too excited to notice, but since her son-in-law Cheng Xue Min came back, the atmosphere at home had become increasingly strange.

She was only trying to ask if Old Wu had any other instructions besides releasing the “atomic bomb”!

Why did everyone act as if they were facing a great enemy?

“Xueqing, between your magazine ‘October’ and ‘People’s Literature,’ which do you think has greater influence?”

Forget it!

Old Feng spoke bluntly, no longer hiding anything.

He decided to lay it out clearly—otherwise, before she went to work tomorrow, clueless and kept in the dark, she might go around telling everyone that their ‘October’ was really about to release it, and that it was her son-in-law Cheng Xue Min who was behind it!

“Although I don’t want to admit it, ‘People’s Literature’ definitely has more influence. After all, it carries the word ‘People’—it’s the pinnacle of our publications!”

“Why bring this up now, Old Feng? Comparing our ‘October’ to ‘People’s Literature’ for influence is just no contest!”

“But if we compare it to Old Li’s ‘Yanjing Literature’…”

Mrs. Feng was puzzled at first, wondering why Old Feng suddenly brought this up—comparing their ‘October’ to ‘People’s Literature’? No contest at all!

But if it was against Li Qingquan’s ‘Yanjing Literature,’ then it was at least a contest worth fighting for.

Comparing to ‘People’s Literature’—though not like an ant trying to shake a giant tree—the gap was still vast!

After all, ‘People’s Literature’ starts with ‘People,’ making it a national-level publication. Their ‘October,’ if you really counted, might not even reach the departmental level, at best a deputy-level publication under the Writers’ Association.

But as Mrs. Feng spoke, realization dawned—Old Feng wouldn’t bring this up without reason.

Her voice trembled, chopsticks dropping as she looked at Old Feng and asked, “Is it going to ‘People’s Literature’?”

“This manuscript was personally appointed by the old leadership. It must be published immediately with full cooperation from the propaganda department and must have nationwide influence!”

“Our ‘October’ isn’t recognized outside Beijing, its influence is limited! Also, Old Wu considered the publication timing—it’s just too late!”

“So after the meeting, Old Wu specifically kept Old Liu and Xue Min behind to discuss precisely this matter!”

“In the end, the manuscript was decided for ‘People’s Literature’!”

Alright!

Her father-in-law was reliable after all—when it counted, he stepped up. Handling situations like calming down the mother-in-law required his intervention.

“Hmph, what big secret could you be hiding from me?” Mrs. Feng was momentarily stunned, her expression shifting several times before she feigned ease.

“Isn’t this better? Publishing in Old Zhang’s ‘People’s Literature’ means the higher-ups value Xue Min’s article more!”

“For Xue Min himself, it’s a tremendous honor. If it weren’t for Old Liu’s face, when Old Wu decided, I would have wanted it in ‘People’s Literature’ too!”

“After all, our ‘October’ does lag behind. Even if we published it, we wouldn’t be able to unleash the ‘atomic bomb’s’ full power!”

Uh!

Mrs. Feng’s uncharacteristic words stunned everyone present, including Old Feng, and even Cheng Xue Min looked up in disbelief at his mother-in-law.

Could it be that Old Mao was right—his mother-in-law’s awareness was truly remarkable? Impressive!

“Mom, you… you really think that way? You’re not angry with me and Xue Min?”

Their dutiful daughter Feng Jia You was dumbfounded. She’d thought of countless ways to comfort her mother, but never expected this reaction.

“Angry? Why would I be?”

“We’re just talking behind closed doors. For Xue Min, this is a great blessing. For our Feng family, it’s a huge blessing. We can’t be ungrateful and act all high and mighty!”

Mrs. Feng’s words made Old Feng exchange a glance with a resigned sweat—her awareness was indeed high—but she quickly smiled wryly.

“It’s just that this matter is a bit unfair to Old Liu!”

Speaking plainly!

As a mother-in-law, she naturally wished her son-in-law to be more recognized—it would make her heart happy.

Swapping to ‘People’s Literature,’ and with the article personally appointed by the old leadership, meant her son-in-law was truly acknowledged at the top!

From now on, whenever the spirit of this meeting was mentioned, it would inevitably involve her fine son-in-law.

When he advanced in his career, this political capital alone would carry him far, no less than Old Feng’s own father.

But as the chief editor of ‘October,’ having the manuscript wrested away by ‘People’s Literature,’ especially with the old leadership’s direct intervention, was truly frustrating!

Yet Mrs. Feng was no saint—her mother-in-law instincts took precedence over any lofty ideals.

Let Old Liu bear the burden of that frustration—he must feel very wronged by now!

“Mom! After the meeting, Old Wu told Old Liu verbally that after the new year, ‘October’ might be upgraded from a bimonthly to a monthly publication!”

Cheng Xue Min quickly added.

“That’s great!” Mrs. Feng nodded, then said, “Xue Min, you should send us more manuscripts later, try to boost our ‘October’s’ influence!”

“Definitely, Mom. Tonight I’ll have Xue Min start writing a grand masterpiece for you. It’ll be a hundred or even a thousand times better than that ‘The Herdsman Atomic Bomb’!”

Feng Jia You quickly jumped in, making the verbal promise on Cheng Xue Min’s behalf to please her mother.

“Oh, come on! It’s all your doing behind the scenes, you little debt collector. Otherwise, that ‘Herdsman’ manuscript should have been ours in ‘October’ long ago!”

Mrs. Feng smiled wryly, half-jokingly scolding her daughter for claiming their work was a hundred or a thousand times better than ‘Herdsman.’

Does she think her husband is some sort of literary star who can churn out masterpieces one after another?

“I was just afraid you’d impose strict demands again!”

Feng Jia You pouted, softly retorting, then added, “Besides, who knew it would be such a hit?”

They hadn’t expected it to catch fire. Initially, it was just a quick submission to earn some manuscript fees.

But who could anticipate such quality?

Now it was hailed as the foremost article of ‘reflective literature.’ Had they known, they would have given it to her mother’s publication.

But in this world, there’s no ‘if only’!

A false alarm!

What was expected to be a dark, tense “last supper” turned out to be a harmonious gathering.

However, after dinner, once everyone had washed up and returned to their rooms, faint sobbing could be heard from the Feng parents’ room.

This made Cheng Xue Min feel a bit guilty, and Feng Jia You also slipped into her mother’s room, emerging with tears on her face.

When Cheng Xue Min asked, she didn’t say much.

It was understandable—at the table, the mother-in-law had shown some face for her son-in-law.

That was partly because Cheng Xue Min had now been accepted into the family. If it were when he had just arrived in Beijing from Shaanbei as a rustic son-in-law, the mother-in-law would have scolded them both to death.

Early the next morning, after seeing Feng Jia You onto the bus, Cheng Xue Min headed to ‘People’s Literature’ to report.

They had worked overtime the night before to prepare the sample issue, which had to be submitted to Old Wu’s office for approval today. As the author, he naturally had to review the sample and help oversee the process.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Feng arrived at her workplace, storming into chief editor Liu Xinwu’s office with an intimidating presence, causing all the editors in the department to be shocked and puzzled—what had she done to upset their boss?

They quickly followed her, eager to listen and understand what was going on.

Yesterday, the entire department was frantically searching for their editor’s son-in-law, the author of ‘The Herdsman,’ Old Xu. Even their ‘October’ chief editor Old Liu was called to the department.

Yet by the end of the day, Old Liu never returned, and this morning his expression was as sour as if someone owed him hundreds—no one dared provoke him.

Now that Mrs. Feng had arrived, also with a grim face, everyone wanted to get the full story.

“Old Liu, what exactly happened? You went to the department meeting and lost our ‘atomic bomb’?”

At home, she was mother-in-law; at work, she was chief editor of ‘October.’

If Liu Xinwu, the chief editor, could lose the ‘atomic bomb’ at a meeting, who else could be blamed?

When the soldiers are fierce, the commanders are fiercer—why didn’t he fight harder for it?

Though Liu Xinwu was undoubtedly frustrated, Mrs. Feng had to maintain the proper attitude as chief editor.

So however upset she was, she had to let Old Liu bear the brunt of it—all the grievances had to be his to carry!

After all, he was in charge of ‘October,’ not her.

If she, Gu Xueqing, were head of ‘October,’ the stolen manuscript would be a different matter entirely.

What?

The curious editors outside didn’t expect Gu to launch such a startling accusation so early in the morning—questioning Old Liu about losing their magazine’s ‘atomic bomb’ because her son-in-law had given it away to ‘People’s Literature’!

What was going on here?

“Gu Laoshi, please calm down. I knew Old Feng and Xue Min wouldn’t hide this from you!” Liu Xinwu looked miserable. When Gu burst into his office, he instinctively stood and backed up, pleading, “Gu Laoshi, I’m frustrated too!”

“But the old leadership said it must be published as soon as possible. ‘October’ won’t come out until next month, it’s too late!”

“I fought for a special issue, but the old leadership emphasized impact. They worried ‘October’ couldn’t make this first shot loud enough, so they switched to ‘People’s Literature’!”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Feng’s expression remained serious.

“Impact? How is our ‘October’ less influential than ‘People’s Literature’? ‘People’s Literature’…”

“No, no, no, Gu Laoshi, you have to understand! ‘People’s Literature’ is simply incomparable—we have to accept that!”

No one knew what harsh words Gu would have flung out in anger. Liu quickly interrupted, waving his hands to stop her—this couldn’t escalate further!

“I’m going to the department to plead with Old Wu again!” Mrs. Feng said, turning to leave.

“Wait, wait! Gu Laoshi, please! Stop her! Someone stop her!” Liu Xinwu was alarmed, calling out to the onlookers to restrain her.

Awareness, awareness!

Yesterday, Old Mao nearly scolded Liu Xinwu to death over his lack of awareness.

If Gu really stormed the department to cause a scene, it would be disastrous!

“Gu Laoshi, please calm down and listen to Old Liu!” Liu pleaded.

“No, it’s not Old Liu’s fault. What really happened? Did it really go to ‘People’s Literature’?” Wang Shimin, the editing team leader, stopped her and asked Liu Xinwu.

“Sigh! It’s my fault. I should have listened to Gu Laoshi back then. We should have just approved the manuscript directly, not waited for Old Zhang at ‘People’s Literature’!”

Liu Xinwu lamented, regretting his lack of decisiveness. He had been cautious, wanting to consult superiors first.

But who knew the manuscript was accepted, yet had nothing to do with ‘October’ anymore?

“Aren’t there two manuscripts? If this one went to ‘People’s Literature,’ why not use the other one?”

Wang Shimin pressed.

“Uh… right!” Liu agreed.

“Gu Laoshi, maybe Xue Min can try to get back that novella from Li Qingquan?”

“You don’t know, after the meeting yesterday, Li Qingquan was like comforting me—it was just… damn it!”

…