Tang Hanliu entered.
Jiang Ye repeated a similar speech, stating that funds would be tilted towards the Media University, as propaganda media was of utmost importance.
Everything that needed to be said had been said.
However, Tang Hanliu did not get up to leave. Instead, he wore a smile with an unclear meaning.
"Sir, now that our official business is concluded, may I discuss some personal matters with you?"
Jiang Ye was surprised. "Personal matters? What do you mean?"
"It's like this, I have a friend, also one of my subordinates. She is 28 years old this year, very beautiful, the type with a lively, pure, and cute appearance, but with a great figure and a habit of working out. When she was attending university on Har Star, she was selected as the campus belle. She lost to the first place by a mere two votes." Tang Hanliu took out his phone from his pocket. "I'll find a photo of her for you."
"What do you mean? Are you planning to cultivate her for a debut? You can decide on such matters yourself; there's no need to seek my approval." Jiang Ye was a bit confused.
"No, no, no, it's not about cultivating her for a debut. She is still single, and she has privately expressed that she has some interest in you..." Tang Hanliu's smile carried a hint of ambiguity.
"What the heck?" Jiang Ye was shocked.
"She wants to try dating you, and she sent me to probe your intentions."
Jiang Ye laughed, finding it utterly absurd.
"Tang Hanliu, you can see my social circle. You should know that I am already married, with a loving wife and a child who has just started walking. What is the meaning of this stunt you're pulling now?" Jiang Ye's smile vanished.
"If you are unwilling, I will go back and tell her." Tang Hanliu shrunk his neck.
"Go back to your work, and don't let this happen again in the future." Jiang Ye waved his hand.
Tang Hanliu stood up, his high heels clicking as he left the office.
Jiang Ye felt a bit hungry. Just as he stood up to go to the naval port canteen for a meal, his desk screen suddenly lit up.
"You have one unread alien email."
Receiving an email was a rare occurrence. Only very significant and formal matters were sent using the ancient method of "email."
Alien emails were even rarer.
Jiang Ye clicked it open immediately.
Sender: Bao Luri, Editor-in-Chief of "Literary Cannon" Magazine
"Dear writer friend, hello. Our editorial department has received your submission of 8 short stories. After review by the editorial team, we unanimously agree that they are of excellent quality and can be published. Please click to add my contact information and include your pen name as a remark to discuss all specific matters. Thank you very much!"
The Zaijun's manuscripts were accepted!
And they were of "excellent quality," with the editor-in-chief personally replying!
The name of this magazine sounded grand, "Literary Cannon," like some small workshop printing cheap tabloids that one would have to read in secret, lest they be ridiculed.
But in reality, "Literary Cannon" magazine was the absolute top-tier in the literary world of this era!
All major literary awards would spend money to publish award posters in the pages of "Literary Cannon"!
Even famous writers had to beg and grovel to get their articles printed in this magazine, and sometimes even had to pay to get through the back door!
If a young person, in their twenties or thirties, had an article published in "Literary Cannon" magazine, they would absolutely be qualified to become the head of a city's writers' association and be labeled a "genius."
When Jiang Ye submitted Zaijun's articles to "Literary Cannon," he did so with a "just try it" mentality. If he wanted to make a name, he would do it in the most authoritative place. Even if the submission was rejected, there was a chance of receiving genuine high-level guidance. He never expected to succeed on the first try!
Jiang Ye was truly excited for Zaijun. Was this considered a debut in the literary world?
He quickly clicked on the sender's information to add them as a friend.
The other party seemed particularly busy. After sending the friend request, there was no response for a long time.
Jiang Ye was not in a hurry. He made a phone call, asking the canteen staff to send a few dishes to his office. He would wait while eating.
The dishes had just been served, and before he could even pick up his chopsticks, the friend request was accepted!
Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri: "Hello, Mr. Zaijun. The 8 short stories you submitted are all of very high quality. We plan to dedicate a special section to publish these works in two installments next month. We need to sign an online contract. First, may I ask for your real name and pen name? Your pen name is Zaijun, correct?"
Jiang Ye: "Actually, these manuscripts were submitted on my behalf. The real author is not me, but Zaijun."
Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri: "I see. Then may I speak with Mr. Zaijun?"
Jiang Ye: "You've misunderstood. Zaijun is not a Mr. Zaijun. Strictly speaking, Zaijun is not a pen name. Zaijun is the name of a type of microorganism."
Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri: "???"
Jiang Ye: "A type of highly intelligent bacteria, kept in a large tank. These bacteria can read human literary works, undergo deep learning, and finally create these novels. I am the owner of these Zaijun, so I help them submit their work."
Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri: "Bacteria? This, this... this is too absurd. Are you saying you're writing author introductions in a joking manner before the articles?"
Jiang Ye scratched his head. The editor-in-chief seemed unconvinced that bacteria could write articles.
Well, it was indeed a bit beyond comprehension, as it was the first time something like this had happened.
Jiang Ye flipped through his photo album and found a few pictures of the Zaijun cultivation tank.
The first photo showed the Zaijun floating in liquid. The second photo showed many books floating in the liquid, their pages covered with white Zaijun colonies. The third photo showed over a dozen large keyboards submerged in the liquid, their surfaces covered with white Zaijun.
He sent them all.
After a long pause, Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri replied, "Is this some kind of avant-garde art?"
Jiang Ye was exasperated. "Those white things are the Zaijun! The first picture is them in their normal state, the second is them reading, and the third is them writing articles. Is it that hard to understand, my esteemed editor-in-chief?"
Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri: "Holy crap, they're really written by bacteria!"
Jiang Ye was stunned for a moment. He had originally thought that the editor-in-chief of such a literary magazine would be a refined person full of poetry and prose, but he didn't expect him to curse. It felt much more down-to-earth.
Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri: "This is the first time I've encountered such a situation, and it's so troublesome. There was a news report a while ago about some kind of fungus creating songs, and then being sued by music companies. If these articles are indeed written by bacteria, wouldn't that also attract lawsuits?"
Jiang Ye: "The news report you mentioned is about this type of bacteria."
Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri: "Ah?"
Jiang Ye: "You don't need to worry. The lawsuit has already been won, and the draft revision of the Galactic Empire's Art Law has also been released. From now on, artistic works created by bacteria will be protected by law. I believe the gimmick of the first-ever literary work created by bacteria will surely make your magazine sell well. Therefore, choosing to publish Zaijun's articles is a win-win situation for both of us."
Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri: "But who should I sign the contract with?"
Jiang Ye sent his personal information. "You can sign it with me. The music contract was like this, and there were no problems. Please send the electronic contract as soon as possible."
Editor-in-Chief Bao Luri: "Holy crap, why does your credibility score have over 100,000 points? It's incredible! I've worked diligently for half my life and only have five thousand points. May I ask, sir, who are you, and what is your profession?"