"Sure, I’ll give it a taste."
Seeing how happy Su Zheng was eating, it really got my appetite going.
After speaking, I took a bite of the watermelon.
It was sweet and juicy, quenching my thirst and delicious, just like what I remembered.
"This is really good!" Lin Tang said with a smile.
Su Zheng’s smile broadened, his short legs swinging, barely containing his pride.
Gu Yingzhou watched the kid steal both his thunder and all of Tangtang’s attention, feeling somewhat speechless inside.
This nephew was really doting on him to death!
At least Su Zheng had the sense to eat two pieces of watermelon, grab an apple, and go play on his own.
Gu Yingzhou relaxed his expression and asked about the matter at hand, "Qi, what did you come to see Tangtang about?"
Lin Tang wiped her hands clean, looking puzzled at Su Qi, waiting for him to speak.
Regaining his sense of presence, Su Qi inwardly sighed at the difficulty of his situation.
Sitting up straight, he looked at Lin Tang with a gaze full of admiration.
"Comrade Lin Tang, congratulations, the manuscript you submitted last time has been accepted, and my main purpose for coming here today is to discuss the publishing matters with you."
Publishing?! Lin Tang was caught off guard by the surprise.
She had never thought about publishing.
She was just thinking it would be nice to have it published.
"Publishing? Are you sure it’s possible, Comrade Su?"
What if no one bought it?!
Encountering a new field for the first time, Lin Tang was somewhat worried.
It was rare for Gu Yingzhou to see hesitation and lack of confidence on Lin Tang’s face; at this moment, she seemed like a young girl.
The Lin Tang before... she was so mature and composed it was touching.
Thinking thus, Gu Yingzhou could not bear to see his girl like this.
Extending his hand to rub the top of Lin Tang’s head, Gu Yingzhou spoke with a calm voice filled with deep trust.
"Why wouldn’t it be possible? Qi is a professional, you have to trust his judgment. If you weren’t worth it, do you think he would have made the trip here specially?"
After speaking, he looked at Su Qi, signaling him to add something.
With the cue, Su Qi adopted a professional demeanor.
"Yingzhou is right, the fact that I’m here already proves the point."
"Your manuscript is very good, it moved Xiaowan to tears, and when the manuscript was passed around, it left a room full of people in tears, everyone speculating about the little rabbit’s future, hoping for it to rise and breathe easy."
Xiaowan is an editor from the Xiangyang Newspaper named Wan Xinxue, whom Lin Tang had previously interacted with.
When it came to the content of the manuscript, Su Qi showed an expectant look and commenced urging for more on the spot.
"Comrade Lin, is the continuation of the manuscript ready? How does the rabbit change its plight...?"
Lin Tang, just comforted, faced the embarrassment of being rushed for updates.
This feeling was rather novel and somewhat exciting.
Having someone like what she wrote and drew was a satisfying and blissful thing.
Her eyes curved, glittering like summer stars scattered in her gaze, looking absolutely stunning.
"Thank you for your fondness, Comrade Su." Lin Tang thanked him and, thinking of the two new Chapters created at home, cheerfully said, "I plan to launch a series of stories, it won’t happen all at once, but I’ve already finished drawing the next two Chapters..."
Before she could finish, an excited Su Qi interrupted her.
"Two Chapters? That’s great! Combined with what you’ve already submitted, you can publish a volume first," he said with a face full of excitement.
Of course, the quality has to be up to the mark; otherwise, it might not escape revisions.
Lin Tang was aware of this and proactively said, "It’s better for Comrade Su to check out the later stories first."
She thought they were good, but the market’s reaction was unpredictable.
The manuscript Lin Tang submitted was highly valued by the Xiangyang Newspaper, and Su Qi took it very seriously as well.
Hearing Lin Tang’s words, he made an on-the-spot decision, "Where’s the manuscript? Can we go and see it now?"
The Xiangyang Newspaper wasn’t considered a major paper among the various newspapers in Provincial City, but it had gained influence after reporting a few big newsworthy events that made waves in society.
At this rate, the newspaper had a bright future ahead.
But reality is never short of surprises.
The rival newspaper somehow signed several adept authors who wrote what some call narrative nonfiction, capturing a large portion of the market.
Because of this, the leadership and editors at the Xiangyang Newspaper found Lin Tang’s submitted manuscript a breath of fresh air.
Patriotic themes are always timeless in creative works.
While Lin Tang was surprised at Su Qi’s urgency, she figured he was simply curious about the rest of the story and was unaware of the small dilemma the Xiangyang Newspaper was facing.
Thinking it was no big deal anyway, she nodded, "Sure, it’s convenient. The manuscript is at my place; as long as you don’t mind the heat on the way, it’s no problem to go there."
With a crisp attitude, Su Qi stood up, "What heat to fear? That short distance will take just minutes."
Gu Yingzhou also said, "Why would we two grown men fear the heat...?"
It’s the little girl with her short legs who might struggle to move fast.
But he dared not voice this thought, fearing the little girl would get angry.
Lin Tang, oblivious to his consideration, saw the two had no objections, and immediately said, "Then alright, let’s go."
Su Zheng, with ears perked up, jolted upon hearing this and hurried over.
"Tangtang, take me with you, I also want to go to your house!!"
His dirt-covered hands almost touched Lin Tang’s waist.
Gu Yingzhou quickly intercepted, with a frown, "Don’t touch my girl with your dirty hands. How filthy!"
While speaking coldly, his handsome face remained cool as he picked up Su Zheng and washed his hands and face.
Su Zheng didn’t mind the rough treatment and even enjoyed it.
It felt like swinging on a swing set.
After Gu Yingzhou had cleaned his face and hands, Su Zheng hummed a tune and scuttled back to Lin Tang’s side.
"Tangtang, let’s go, I’ll come with you."
Lin Tang, always a favorite amongst children, was not surprised by Su Zheng’s attachment.
Gu Yingzhou took a quick glance at his grandnephew, stretched his long legs, and went inside to retrieve a sun hat.
He quickly came back out and placed the hat on Lin Tang’s head.
"Be careful of sunburn, don’t get hurt."
Considering himself attentive and thorough, Su Qi couldn’t help feeling inferior watching his brother-in-law’s considerate gesture.
He hadn’t ever thought about taking care of such things for Aiguo.
Indeed, he still had room to grow.
Su Zheng, observing the beautiful sun hat atop Lin Tang’s head, wanted one too.
Clinging to Gu Yingzhou’s leg, he began to fuss, "Little Uncle, I want a hat too."
Little Uncle had changed!
No longer was he the cherished one of Little Uncle.
Wah, wah, wah.
Gu Yingzhou, feeling the heat from his grandnephew’s sticky embrace, displayed a hint of disgust on his face but gently peeled him away.
"A big boy like you, what do you need a hat for? Stop fussing."
A gentle reprimand followed by a bribe.
"If you behave, I’ll buy you a treat later."
Seeing the firm look on Little Uncle’s face, Su Zheng showed a bright smile and tactfully responded, "Okay then, I don’t want it anymore."
A hat is hardly as important as a treat, right?!
Subduing Su Zheng’s imperious demeanor, the group of four set out for Lin Tang’s place.
Lin Tang touched the brim of the hat, turning her head to ask Gu Yingzhou, "...Where did you get this hat from?"
A little pink ladies’ sun hat wasn’t something a grown man would wear, right?
Without a second thought, Gu Yingzhou said, "I saw it at the state-run store yesterday and just picked it up for you."
He thought at a glance that the little girl would look great in it.
And indeed, she did!