1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 191 New clues
The original second half of the novel "Rice" was not what Jiang Xian wrote.

It also tells the story of the second generation of the Five Dragons, involves the Japanese, and finally ends up with an evil fate.

Later, Huang Jianzhong was preparing to adapt the novel into a movie. After analyzing the novel, he thought that the first half of the original novel was better written than the second half, so he deleted the plot about the second generation in the second half.

Jiang Xian also didn't like the second half, as it felt very disconnected when reading it. So in his writing, "Rice" became a story of retribution in this life, completing a vicious cycle.

Wulong died of syphilis on the train loaded with new rice on its way back to Fengyangshu Village.

The story came to an abrupt end.

Kong Jiesheng took a deep breath, silently read the last page and the last line, then closed the book and refocused his eyes on the cover of the novel.

In the short term, he didn't want to read the book anymore.

He felt that his spiritual world had undergone a devastation.

It is the first time I have read a "stream of consciousness" exercise with such a strong story-telling style. Jiang Xian's insertion of "stream of consciousness" is superb. Every image is so obscure and dark, and finally sets the depressing tone of the whole novel.

"Wu Long saw a fresh purple-red bruise crawling on her neck like an insect egg."

Kong Jiesheng really didn't know how Jiang Xian came up with such a description.

Just by writing about the bruise on Zhiyun's neck, Wulong's strong disgust towards Zhiyun is expressed.

"How can someone insert the stream of consciousness so skillfully?" Kong Jiesheng sat in the chair with a dejected look on his face and smiled bitterly.

Powerful writing and ingenious conception.

Compared to his awkward and deliberate "stream of consciousness" insertions, Jiang Xian can be said to have made use of the "stream of consciousness" to the point where he could do it effortlessly.

Ten years, at least ten years ahead of him, must be required to be able to apply stream of consciousness to this level of proficiency.

Before this, he wrote a "stream of consciousness" essay "The Sea and the Lighthouse" and was very proud of himself, thinking that being able to publish it in "Beijing Literature and Art" was a great thing.

After reading the article "Rice", Kong Jiesheng felt as if he had been hit by a hammer.

What right does he have to be proud?
Jiang Xian, who is about the same age as him, is already able to write such works.

Let alone catching up, it is difficult to even approach it. It is truly unattainable and beyond reach.

"Comrade Jiesheng? Why do you look so dejected?" Mo Shen was a little surprised when he saw that it was getting late and Kong Jiesheng was sitting alone in the small conference room, so he walked in and asked with concern.

Mo Shen is the author of "Window", a winner of the National Short Story Award and a representative writer of Shaanxi. He is thin and weak, not at all like the stereotype of Shaanxi people.

He also had an exaggerated sense of humor and particularly liked to make jokes that were a bit too much, but no one in the literary institute disliked him and they all willingly praised him as a "lively LF".

Because whenever there was a meal in the cafeteria, a lecture by a famous speaker, or a group ride on a bus, Mo Shen would always take the initiative to queue up at the end.

Other than that.

Every morning, Mo Shen would quietly help the students empty the urinals outside all the dormitory doors in the corridor.

Rinse the urinal thoroughly inside and out and put it back in its place.

Based on this point alone, Mo Shen is worthy of being recognized as a godfather by the students of the Institute of Literature.

"Did you have a fight with your partner?" Mo Shen sat down next to Kong Jiesheng.

"No, I was reading a novel."

Kong Jiesheng yawned. He had been reading the article "Rice" on and off for a whole day before he finally finished it by staying up all night.

Mo Shen glanced at the table, where there was a black book, and reached out to pick it up, "Is this the one?"

"Ah."

Kong Jiesheng nodded. He and Mo Shen's instructor was the same, Wang Meng. He couldn't help but share, "This is a new novel published by Jiang Xian. Teacher Wang Meng wrote the preface, saying that his writing is better than Comrade Ru Zhijuan and Teacher Wang Meng himself."

"what?"

Mo Shen became interested as soon as he heard it. He was the first student to choose Wang Meng as his instructor, and he admired and respected Wang Meng's articles.

At this time, Kong Jiesheng suddenly said that Jiang Xian's writing was better than Wang Meng's, and he also said that it was Wang Meng herself who admitted this. This made him very eager to read what kind of article Jiang Xian wrote.

"What did you write?"

"It's a stream-of-consciousness exercise."

"Could it be the homework assigned by Teacher Wang Meng before?" Mo Shen suddenly thought of something.

"."

Kong Jiesheng stood there in a daze, as if struck by lightning.

Why not?
He clearly remembered that during that period, Jiang Xian was so exhausted from writing this assignment that he was covered in dust and looked as if he was possessed by a demon.

He must be writing this novel!
And his idea was immediately verified by Mo Shen.

Because Jiang Xian clearly wrote in his preface that he wrote "Rice" in order to complete Wang Meng's homework, which took him a month.

Kong Jiesheng did not read the preface when he read this novel. He does not like to read the author's preface. We are all writers. Which writer would like to hear his peers bragging about themselves?

“You wrote it in just one month?”

Kong Jiesheng looked dejected and said in a frustrated voice, "It took only one month to write such a good novel."

He can barely churn out a short story in a month.

"Okay, why do you have to compete with Jiang Xian when there are so many people to compete with?" Mo Shen consoled.

Seeing Kong Jiesheng's behavior, he became even more curious about the content of the novel. Time passed quickly and two days passed.

On this day, without the "unsung hero" who emptied the urine pot at the Institute of Literature, each dormitory had to select one person with great difficulty.

Kong Jiesheng became the unlucky guy.

There are four people living in other people's dormitories, so the probability of being caught is one in four. But there are only three people in their dormitory, so they just grabbed him on the head.

Kong Jiesheng cleaned the urinal and went out, just in time to bump into Mo Shen.

Mo Shen was in a bad mood.

Kong Jiesheng stopped him and asked, "Have you finished reading it?"

"I've finished reading it. I stayed up late last night to finish it." He replied.

The classes were very busy these past two days, so he read the book "Rice" whenever he had free time, and he was so worried about it while reading it.

"How is it?" Kong Jiesheng asked expectantly.

Mo Shen pondered for a long time, his eyes wavering, and finally he uttered a sentence slowly.

"Teacher Wang Meng is still too conservative."

He had to admit that Jiang Xian's article "Rice" was definitely much better than those written by Wang Meng and Ru Zhijuan.

"A disciple does not have to be inferior to his teacher." Mo Shen sighed.

Kong Jiesheng knew exactly what he meant. "I wrote a literary review for Rice yesterday. Comrade Mo Shen, can you help me take a look at it?"

Kong Jiesheng handed over a piece of letter paper, and Mo Shen glanced at it.

——"When Desire and Despair Are Equally Burning——My Thoughts on Reading <Mi>"

Jiang Xian’s washing machine was bought back. To be exact, it was not bought by him, but by Zhu Lin’s parents. It was a token of love from the two old people.

This is a Little Swan brand twin-tub washing machine with an aluminum body. The color is the unique green of this era. Jiang Xian doesn't know why home appliances nowadays have to be painted green. It doesn't look beautiful at all. The new ones look like old ones.

No one may have ever seen a twin-tub washing machine. It has two tubs in total. After washing in one tub, you need to take out the clothes and put them into the other tub to spin dry. When spinning, the washing machine will make an exaggerated "bang bang bang" sound, and the washing machine can even do space walks on the ground.

"Our 'three turns and one ring' is quite luxurious."

Jiang Xian was wearing a white vest and holding a washing machine. "Others have sewing machines, bicycles, watches, and radios, but we have air conditioners, washing machines, and refrigerators. Well, we just lack a color TV."

Zhu Lin's family got a washing machine, so Jiang Xian's parents naturally wanted to show their appreciation by getting them a refrigerator.

"How can you say three turns and one ring?" Zhu Lin chuckled and continued to look through the review materials. Her exam was approaching soon, and with her personality, she had to be completely confident.

After completing the formalities at "Beijing Literature and Art", Jiang Xian joined the editorial department as an editorial member.

On his first day at work, he walked around very solemnly. He was very familiar with the editors here and there was no need for introductions.

Big office.

Because of Jiang Xian’s arrival, the editorial board held a small meeting together.

"Comrade Jiang Xian, welcome to join Beijing Literature and Art."

First, Yang Mo shook hands with Jiang Xian eagerly, "I hope we can work together smoothly in the future."

"Please take good care of me." Jiang Xian agreed politely. She caught a glimpse of her secretary also sitting in a seat to listen in. This person was just Yang Mo's personal secretary.

Zhou Yanru told Jiang Xian about his future work. The editorial board of "Beijing Literature and Art" has a series of responsibilities, including supervising editorial work, determining publication policies, manuscript quality control, coordinating internal and external relations, publicity and promotion, and compiling manuscripts and selecting topics.

"Teacher Jiang Xian" Zhang Dening greeted him sullenly.

Alas, times have changed.

A few days ago, she thought Jiang Xian had no control over her, but today he really did.

"Teacher Dening, why are you suddenly talking like this? It sounds so strange." Jiang Xian smiled.

Jokes aside, Zhang Dening was his old comrade after all, and he certainly didn't want their relationship to become estranged.

Seeing that Jiang Xian was still the same Jiang Xian, Zhang Dening's expression suddenly became much more natural, "I've read your article "Rice"."

"how?"

Zhang Dening smiled and said, "I'm afraid I need to be brave enough to read it again. It's hard to imagine how you wrote such a depressing novel."

"It was painful for me to write, and I felt like I was fighting with another me every day."

Zhang Dening couldn't help but interrupt him and shared: "Do you know how popular your novel is now?
Readers often see you publish articles in "Beijing Literature and Art" and think that this "Rice" is also arranged for publication by our "Beijing Literature and Art". All the letters written to you have been sent to us. We have sorted out two sacks. Please remember to pack them up later. "

"Really?" Jiang Xian was surprised.

"Rice" has only been published for a week, but it has received such a warm welcome in the market?
He had not been to the Institute of Literature often recently and had been out of touch with the news. When Teacher Chen Shanshan from the Academic Affairs Office ran into him, she quickly told him about the "instructor".

"The instructor the institute hired for you is..."

"Mr. Cao Yu."

Jiang Xian swallowed back all the words he had prepared.

What else can you say?
I have already got what I wanted.

(End of this chapter)