The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

Just when Zhou Hexuan was about to return to Tianjin, Pearl Buck and Mrs. Barker suddenly came to him to say goodbye.

"Are you two planning to leave because Peking University often defaults on wages?" Zhou Hexuan asked in surprise. In fact, he also felt a little bit guilty. He tricked other couples into Peking University, but he often didn't pay his salary for two or three months.

Pearl Buck said: "It has nothing to do with salary, we still have some savings."

Zhou Hexuan asked: "Then why did you decide to leave?"

"I miss my children, especially my daughter Kai Nuo, who is mentally retarded," Buck said. "When I was in Nanjing, I entrusted my daughter and adopted daughter to the Chinese for fear of being attacked by rioting soldiers." A friend is taking care of it. Now that the situation in Nanjing has stabilized, I plan to go back and have a look.”

"You can bring both of your daughters to Peking University. As for the salary, I promise to pay it on time." Zhou Hexuan asked to stay.

Barker interjected, "It's like this. I discussed with Pearl and planned to take my daughter back to the United States and find a mental nursing home for her to live in permanently."

"Then wish your daughter a speedy recovery." Zhou Hexuan couldn't say anything more.

"Thank you for your blessing." Pearl Buck forced a smile. She sent her daughter to the United States for treatment a few years ago, but the doctor couldn't do anything about it. The baby had problems while it was developing in her womb.

Pearl S. Buck's family had many disasters in China. Her mother gave birth to three children in a row, all of whom died due to the poor medical level in China. When her mother was pregnant with Pearl Buck, she was so frightened that she hurried back to the United States to have a baby, and finally brought her up smoothly.

Pearl Buck's parents were missionaries with a pure heart. They refused to live with the rich and mingled with the poor in China all day long. Their ideal is to spread the gospel of God to every impoverished Chinese people, even though they were reviled, threatened and beaten by the locals, they never changed.

Zhou Hexuan could still accept Pearl Buck's departure, because Peking University has no shortage of literary talents.

Barker is different. He used to be the dean of the Agricultural College of Jinling University. After years of field research, he wrote and published the book "Agricultural Economics in China". He is one of the top agronomists in China today. The departure of this person is undoubtedly a huge loss for Peking University.

But the person who should leave couldn't be kept, Zhou Hexuan could only feel regretful.

Barker said with a smile: "Zhou, the academic environment of Peking University is very good, and I like it very much. When I come back from the United States this time, I may come to Peking University as a teacher again."

"That's great," Zhou Hexuan said happily, "The gate of Peking University will always be open to the two of you."

Pearl Buck also took out a stack of manuscripts and said, "Mr. Zhou, I have already translated your "Goddess" into English. After I go to the United States, I will recommend this novel to publishers. Whether it can be published or not depends on the Publisher’s opinion. I would like you to write a letter of authorization authorizing me to help you translate and negotiate publication matters.”

"That's no problem," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "Let's go back to Tianjin together, and I'll also entrust you with the English version of "The Rise of Great Powers"."

Pearl Buck fully agreed, and she and her husband returned to Nanjing with the manuscript and the power of attorney, and then took their mentally handicapped daughter and adopted daughter and left by boat from Shanghai. After more than a month of rough seas, the couple landed on the west coast of the United States.

They first searched for a mental sanatorium for their daughter, and then began to run their own way.

Buck took his own academic monographs and papers such as "China's Agricultural Economics" and specifically sought out those foundations and companies for financial support. His agricultural research needs money, and the Chinese government naturally has no hope, so he can only seek help from American foundations.

It's ridiculous to say that a foreigner is studying China's agricultural economy in China, but the Chinese government ignores such a good thing, forcing the person concerned to go to the United States to apply for research funding.

Buck almost broke his legs from running, but he didn't gain much, and those foundations were not interested in his research.

Historically, he did not receive financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation until the spring of 1929, and the amount was very large. Buck was so happy that he devoted himself to agricultural research and wandered around the fields all day long, completely neglecting his wife and daughter.

So Barker became green, and Pearl Buck fell in love with a publisher for a long time, and the two ended their marriage after a few years.

Pearl S. Buck was also running into walls at this time. With Zhou Hexuan's English manuscripts of "The Goddess" and "The Rise of a Great Power", as well as her debut novel "Guilan", she searched for more than 20 publishers in succession, but found nothing.

Well, Pearl Buck's "Guilan" is the "East Wind: West Wind" which was later renamed and published. This is a chapter-style novel, the heroine is Guilan... a chapter-style novel with the protagonist named Guilan, and it's in English, so I get drunk thinking about it.

As for Pearl Buck's famous work "The Great Earth", the draft has not been finished at this time, and only a part has been written.

Zhou Hexuan's "The Goddess" received the same treatment, and was not favored by American publishers. They felt that American readers were not interested in China, and publishing this novel would definitely lose money.

On the contrary, "The Rise of Great Powers" was favored by some publishers, but when asked about the author, the other party shook his head and refused when they heard that it was written by a Chinese. It's not just that they look down on the Chinese, but because the monographs of Chinese authors have no gimmicks. If they are works by European and American historical masters, publishers will be able to promote them better.

The early and mid-20th century was a prosperous period for the American publishing industry. As early as 1901, the United States published more than 8,000 books every year, of which New York, Philadelphia and Boston belonged to the three major centers of the American publishing industry.

Because they can make money, more and more publishing houses are opened, which leads to extremely fierce competition in the industry.

Mike Lauer Publishing House is a very humble one among countless publishing houses in the United States. Mike Howard used to be the editor of The New York Times. He founded the publishing house with his friend Raul Wood seven years ago. Through the joint efforts of the two, the publishing house now has nearly 20 employees.

"Boss, there is a lady who wants to see you. She has several manuscripts in her hand." Secretary Jinsimao knocked on the door.

Mike Howard didn't let go of any opportunity to find a good book, which is the secret of his success, and said immediately: "Please come in and make another cup of coffee."

Pearl Buck walked into the office with a stack of manuscripts in her arms, and greeted her with a smile, "Mr. Howard, my name is Pearl, and my Chinese name is Pearl Buck."

"Chinese name? This is rare." Mike felt a little interesting.

Pearl Buck put the manuscript on the desk and said: "Although I was born in the United States, I have lived in China since I was a child. This is the novel "Guilan" written by me in the background of rural China. There are two other novels written by Chinese scholar Zhou Hexuan. Sir's novel "Goddess" and his historical monograph "The Rise of Great Powers."

Due to the translation problem of the title, Mike had no impression of "The Rise of Great Powers", and when he heard that it was a work with a Chinese background, he immediately felt a little hopeless. But out of work habits, he still said: "Let me see it first."

"Okay." Pearl Buck sat down and waited.

Mike Howard read "Guilan" first, and frowned after reading it. Not only was he not interested in the story in the book, but he also felt that the narrative of the novel was also very bad. He didn't finish reading at all, so Mike put down "Guilan" and continued reading "Goddess" instead.

"Hey, this novel has a taste." Mike muttered in his heart. He is also not interested in the plot of "Goddess", but the novel's narrative technique is refreshing.

But Mike still has some doubts. It is difficult for him to predict whether such a work based on China will be sold in the United States.

After reading the first five chapters, due to time constraints, Mike put down "The Goddess" and read "The Rise of Great Powers". After only reading the beginning, Mike found that the content was very familiar, and when he read some of the later chapters, he suddenly said in surprise: "Isn't this the book on world history that is sought after by the academic circle!"

The original foreign language version of "The Rise of Great Powers" was translated by British journalists, and spread to Europe and then to the United States. Although the content was incomplete and the translation was messy, it still caused a sensation in the European and American academic circles.

Of course, this kind of sensation is limited to the circle of historical research, and ordinary civilians don't know anything about it.

Mike Howard, a former reporter for The New York Times, also has a background in history—several historians turned journalists in the early 20th century. The first thing Mike read was "America Chapter", and he felt like a treasure at first sight, and he asked his friends to collect "British Chapter", "French Chapter" and "Dutch Chapter".

The remnants of the four volumes of "The Rise of Great Powers" made Mike admire the author so much. At this moment, he was delighted to find that what was in front of him was actually the whole book!

Mike Howard is a businessman after all, he quickly concealed his inner excitement, and asked in a calm tone: "This "Rise of Great Powers", can you be the master?"

Pearl Buck took out the authorization letter and said, "Of course, the author of the original work has authorized me, but the scope of copyright is limited to the United States."

Mike laughed and said, "Then let's talk about the publication of "The Rise of Great Powers."

"What about "Guilan" and "Goddess"?" Pearl Buck asked expectantly.

Mike laughed and said, "We'll talk about those two novels later. If "The Rise of Great Powers" can sell well, then the author Mr. Zhou's novel "Goddess" can be published along with the trend. When "Goddess" is recognized by readers, you as "Goddess" ", your novel "Guilan" can naturally be considered for publication."

Well, this is a businessman, he has done his calculations well, and he has even thought out the follow-up operations.

Pearl Buck was a little disappointed, but she still had hope, and immediately talked with Mike about the publication of "The Rise of Great Powers".

"The Rise of Great Powers" can get 30 to 40% of the royalties in China, but it is very low in the United States, because the taxation of the publishing industry here is heavy. Mike only offered 6% at the beginning, but after repeated efforts by Pearl Buck, he only talked about 8% in the end.

There is no way, no matter how harsh the conditions are, I have to agree, who said that only this publishing house is willing to help.

"The Rise of Great Powers" had to wait until the end of December 1927 to truly meet readers in the Western world. As for the huge influence achieved, Zhou Hexuan, who is far away in China, has no idea that the international communication conditions are too bad these days.