Chapter 7 Chapter Six

—Nearly ten months passed after this. Aozuka Ichiro's name appears in type in an unexpected place.Ichisaka Hidehiko's name and Aozuka's name are listed side by side at the same time.These two names were published on the back cover of a new birth general magazine called "Xinliu". The thickness of "Xinliu" is about 320 pages, and the cover is not a photo that has become popular recently, but an oil painting of beauties.The number seven is printed on the upper corner of the cover, which shows that it has been seven months since the publication was launched.The magazine is displayed in front of the bookstore, but judging from the height of the stack, it is not a popular magazine.In fact, from the fact that people who enter the bookstore pick it up to look at the catalog and then put it back, we can know that it is not very popular.

——In mid-February, a young man holding a business card of "Shinryu Editorial Department Nakamura Tadayoshi" visited the home of critic and essayist Takeo Okamoto in Setagaya. Okamoto used to be a literary critic, and he was valued for his brisk style of writing and his ability to comment on everything curiously.Because of curiosity, the scope of comments is very wide, and they are both commented and written, and they are often busy. After meeting with the gray-haired Takeo Okamoto, the young editor Nakamura Tadakichi respectfully handed over the newly published March issue of "Shinryu" and asked Okamoto to write an article for the magazine within 20 days with 30 manuscript sheets.

Okamoto picked up the magazine, took off his myopia glasses, and opened the catalog to look at it, showing an unwelcome expression.Because the writers are all unknown people, he declined on the pretext that he is busy with work, and said that he will talk about it when he is free. "We understand that you are very busy, but please take the time to write an article for us." Nakamura said unrelentingly: "The editor-in-chief ordered me to ask for your article." "But..." Okamoto picked up the magazine again, and looked closer at the name of the editor in charge. "Ichiro Aozuka?"

"Yes, he ordered you to agree. He is your admirer, no, so am I..." Nakamura hastily added himself. "Thank you. However, I'm really busy right now..." Okamoto knew that it was a polite remark, but he didn't find it annoying, so his tone softened a little. "We understand very well. However, please do help." Nakamura brushed back the hair that was hanging on his forehead, stretched out his knees to beg, and he seemed to have noticed some changes in Okaki's face. "Our magazine has not been published for a long time, and not many people know about it, so the author's name is relatively unknown. Therefore, if you can contribute articles, your name will add luster to the magazine and become an important publication. As long as you come to Publish the article written by you, and we will not be rejected when we ask other great writers for manuscripts." Nakamura lobbied enthusiastically, his face flushed red.

"There, I don't have that much influence." Although Okamoto said this, he was still somewhat self-indulgent in his heart.Originally, he wasn't a first-rate writer, but compared to the writers of this magazine, his reputation is much greater.He thought that if, as the editor said, other writers could contribute to my article, he could agree to write it.One of the disadvantages was a new magazine from a lesser-known publishing house, which made him chivalrous. "I can't make it out within twenty days. If it's later, maybe I can try." After consideration, Okamoto agreed.If you postpone it for another issue, you can decide whether you really want to write it.The young editor was grateful and kept bowing, saying that he didn't have to worry about being scolded by the editor-in-chief.

Okamoto opened the magazine again and looked at it. In any case, he was definitely not an attractive editor.Messy, without focus, many places seem to imitate other magazines, and it is impossible to see what the main theme is.By the way, it seems that I have seen the advertisement of "Xinliu" in the newspaper, and it can be seen that the scale is not small. "Where is Xinliu's company address?" "Near Akasaka, it's still very small, so I only rent two offices." "Which publishing house did the president, Mr. Ichisaka, use to work at?" "No, the president has nothing to do with the publishing house, he's a complete layman in running magazines."

"It's really courageous for a layman to run a magazine. So, is it a pastime for the rich?" "Although it can't be said to be a pastime, there is indeed a lot of money. So even if the magazine has been in deficit for five consecutive years, it will never go bankrupt-this is what the editor-in-chief said." "That's great. To be rich is to make money on the business side?" "Yes." Nakamura looked down with some embarrassment, "Mr. Okamoto, do you know the 'Simei' western restaurant?" "Simei...ah, I know. There are chain stores in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, and Aoyama, right? Because the appearance and signboard of the store are unified, so I am impressed. I seem to have seen it a few days ago... Yes, in Liberty Hill saw it."

"Yes, the store is in Akasaka, and there are chain stores in other districts." "It turned out to be Simei's president. I never imagined that the owner of a western restaurant would start a comprehensive magazine." "It's not just a western restaurant, but also operates two very large bowling alleys." "You also run a bowling alley? These days, it's very profitable to run a bowling alley." "Yes. However, I heard that the recent turnover is not as good as before." "Anyway, a rich man. This person volunteered to be a writer or scholar when he was young, but fate made him engage in the restaurant business. Now he wants to start this magazine in order to fulfill his youthful wish? This is a common phenomenon of successful entrepreneurs."

"I've never heard of such a thing. The president never criticizes or makes demands on the quality of the magazine." "That's quite an open-minded president. Then, will you request that you need to increase sales, or make money?" "Say nothing." "So it turns out that it's people who make huge sums of money in restaurants and bowling alleys. They just don't care about the deficit of a magazine. If it's an ordinary person, I'm afraid they have to cut their editorial fees." "The editorial fee is not reduced, but increased. Ah, by the way, your manuscript fee will be extremely high."

"Thank you... Then, the editor-in-chief will let you play freely, right? This editor-in-chief is a famous editor-in-chief dug from which magazine?" "No, he has no experience in editing magazines. I heard that he used to work for a newspaper in Hokuriku." "Reporter?" Okamoto was a little disappointed.Hearing that it was a local newspaper, he knew the key to the magazine's unattractiveness.This man came to Tokyo to edit a magazine, but of course he couldn't edit anything decent. "Is the editor-in-chief Qingzuka still young?" "I heard he was thirty-three years old."

"The younger the editor of a magazine, the better. Older age dulls the senses." However, when I look at this magazine again, I can't say that I am an editor with a keen sense.It's just that since the investors are quite rich, they are determined to spare no expense in the next five years.Then, this will probably change gradually, and Aozuka will perform well.It's only been half a year, so it's too early to make a judgment. Nakamura thanked and thanked, and left happily.Judging from his appearance, the editor-in-chief's order was fulfilled, which made him extremely excited.It seems that being able not to offend the editor-in-chief is more reassuring than getting Okamoto to agree to write a manuscript. A few days later, at a party, Okamoto asked a friend: "Hey, do you know the magazine 'Xinliu'?" "Ah, 'Xinliu'? Know something." This friend is quite familiar with the publishing industry. "Going to invite you too?" "I've been here, so I wrote an issue for them. The manuscript fee is slightly higher than other places, but the magazine itself is not decent, and in fact the sales are not good. However, their president is the famous western restaurant chain' Sime's operator, so it doesn't matter if it loses money for five consecutive years. The editor-in-chief is said to be a dictator." "You know a lot after all. To be honest, they also came to invite me for a manuscript. I was a little bit undecided. I still couldn't decide whether to write it or not. The young editor said that their editor-in-chief was authoritarian just like you." "It seems to have a lot of background, and even the president looks at him differently. However, this is only for you here. This person Qingzuka asks the president for a huge amount of editing fees, but it is not very useful for magazine editors .In other words, into his own pocket." "So it's this kind of person? Then I will refuse to submit the manuscript." Although Okamoto said so, he was very curious and thought that he could write an issue to learn more about Aozuka. "Since he is such a corrupt person, he must play very well." "But no, he seems to be a very dutiful man." "Well, save the money, then?" "It seems that Qingzuka has a very capable wife. She controls her husband's money and forbids him to play with women. According to legend, the money that Qingzuka scraped into his private pocket was confiscated by his wife and saved. His wife used to live in Asakusa Roast bird shop as waitress." "That must be a beautiful woman, that's why the husband is afraid of his wife." "It's far away. I haven't seen it, but I heard that it is short and fat, as white as a pig, and has an ugly face. However, it is quite smart and capable. It is said that she looks older than her husband, and seems to be much older. " "I heard that the husband loves the older wife more. However, it's strange, how could Qingzuka be so tightly controlled? When I was the editor-in-chief, I was overbearing. I'm afraid it was because of being suppressed by my wife and wanting to vent my depressed emotions. Well, I I want to see what kind of character this person is." However, the next day, when Okamoto handed in twenty sheets of paper to Nakamura, the editor-in-chief Aozuka didn't show his face. "I want to meet with the editor-in-chief once," Okamoto said. "Yes, I will make a special trip to visit your house in a few days." Nakamura said with a bow. "Is the editor-in-chief still strict?" "Yes, quite strictly." "But to be honest, magazines don't sell well, do they?" "Yes, almost at a standstill." "Then, no matter how authoritarian the editor-in-chief is, it will be disgraceful in front of the president, right? Since the editorial fee is so high, this situation can't last forever, right?" "You really know." Nakamura said looking at Okamoto's face. "No, I heard that too." "Yes, the editor-in-chief has a bad temper recently, because it seems that the president is dissatisfied with the funding issue." "That's for sure. The magazine has been published for nearly a year, and the president knows a little about it even if he is a layman. Of course, he can't contribute without restrictions." "And it seems that the bowling business is not as good as it used to be, because the number of competitors keeps increasing, which is probably why the president can't afford the money. The editor-in-chief made a lot of complaints, saying that he must find a way. In fact, no matter what , anyway, the editing fee is not in our hands, so it has nothing to do with us." Nakamura said while exhaling smoke rings.