1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 232 Just Let Him Write It
The next day, Jiang Xian reviewed two scripts in "Film Creation" and Wang Fu came to him.

"Teacher Wang Fu, it's been several days, why is there no news about my manuscript?" Jiang Xian asked.

It had been three or four days since he handed "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood" to People's Literature.

It can’t be that the subject matter is too sensitive and the manuscript won’t be approved, right?

He still hoped that "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood" could be published in its entirety in "People's Literature", or even published in its entirety from one draft, thus completing the feat that Mai Jia's "The Whistleblower" could only accomplish many years later.

"We have read your manuscript," said Wang Fu.

"How about it?"

"very good!"

Wang Fu took a deep breath and said, "I really didn't expect you to write such a story in this way. It completely subverts your own writing style and deviates from the modern school."

"Not really. In fact, I haven't gotten out yet."

Jiang Xian honestly admitted: "This almost cold, zero-degree narrative is actually a modernist avant-garde writing style, belonging to the French new novel genre."

"New novel?" Wang Fu was surprised again.

So those simple words may seem like you can do it, but in fact they are all techniques?
"This is a new genre that emerged in France. The authors oppose the experience of 19th century literature such as Balzac and Stendhal. They refuse to care about the motives and purposes of the characters and only write about them as objects, showing an extreme indifference." Jiang Xian explained to Wang Fu.

The new novel entered China too late.

It was not until 1979 that the first novel of the "new novel" genre, "The Voyeur," was published in Chinese. This writing style did not attract much attention in the Chinese literary world at the time and only became popular in the late s.

"You also know that I often read foreign novels and am more sensitive to these modernist things." Jiang Xian shrugged.

Wang Fuxin said that this is not just sensitive, this is too sensitive.

While everyone is still studying stream of consciousness, you are already tired of writing it and are going to try new ways of writing.

It's so white, is this actually a show of skill? !
"Jiang Xian, Comrade Cui Daoyi and I both advocated publishing this novel in its entirety, but there was a lot of resistance," Wang Fu said frankly, "The final discussion of the editorial board of People's Literature was that it could be published in its entirety, but..."

"But what?" Jiang Xian was puzzled.

Wang Fu looked frustrated. "You also know that our People's Literature is under the jurisdiction of the China Writers Association, which in turn is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture. He Jingzhi is dissatisfied with you now."

Jiang Xian frowned, "I've written so many novels, and if one of them doesn't satisfy him, he'll control every one of them?"

Wang Fu simply revealed the truth to him, "Mr. Guang was also very angry. He slammed the table with him. You also know that Mr. Guang has a bad temper. When Comrade He wanted to interfere in People's Literature, Mr. Guang directly handed his resignation letter to him on the table."

Guang Weiran has this kind of personality. He is never afraid of offending his opponents. He once said: If a person lives his whole life without offending even one person, it is too cowardly.

He was also worn out by these repeated interferences and simply resigned. His resignation requests were rejected every time by the organization on the grounds that there was no suitable successor. Finally, Wang Meng took over his position.

Jiang Xian finally understood now that this was probably the undercurrent before the "Modernist Storm" that would occur soon.

The old writers faced modernism as if they were facing a formidable enemy. Wang Meng, who had always advocated modernism, was the first to be hit in that storm, thanks to the protection of old predecessors such as Xia Gong, Ba Jin, and Guang Weiran.

If Jiang Xian wants to write something modernist, he will inevitably wade into the muddy waters involved.

"I just want to write a novel quietly, why is it so difficult?" Jiang Xian also got angry.

I returned to the house and started writing a play, turning my grief and anger into strength, writing furiously by myself.

Zhu Lin noticed that he was in a bad mood and put her arms around his neck, "Jiang Xian, I'm free these few days. Can we go to the Summer Palace together one day to relax?"

Jiang Xian agreed.

Finding a sunny day, he and Zhu Lin went to the Summer Palace together.

In November, the lotus flowers on the lake in the Summer Palace had already withered and the golden autumn leaves along the shore added a sense of tranquility and beauty to the garden. The sky was clear and the wind was gentle. Jiang Xian took Zhu Lin and walked side by side along the Kunming Lake, talking and chatting all the way. He felt at peace in his heart.

When I got home, I found Wang Fu standing at the door with a happy look on his face, "Jiang Xian, Jiang Xian!"

"what happened?"

Jiang Xian invited her in. Before he could pour the hot water, Wang Fu excitedly said, "It can be published! The Story of Xu Sanguan Selling Blood can be published! The entire text will be published at once!"

"Teacher Wang Fu, what's going on? Please tell me slowly." Jiang Xian felt a little dizzy.

Zhu Lin brought a cup of brewed tea, Wang Fu took a sip and said happily: "You are going to create a precedent, did you know that? Mr. Guang said that the December issue of People's Literature will publish your article "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood"."

"What's going on here?"

Jiang Xian was a little surprised. "Didn't the higher-ups forbid us to send it? Why did the wind direction suddenly change?"

"Is it related to your appearance in People's X Newspaper?" Wang Fu speculated.

"People's X Newspaper?" Jiang Xian had no idea. He had not paid any attention to the outside world these days. Apart from writing plays, he was living a sweet life with Zhu Lin.

Wang Fushou didn't have a newspaper either, so he could only tell him that the interview article "Ba Jin - Chinese Delegation Visits Japan" was published on page 9 of the "People's X Newspaper" yesterday.

In it, Ba Jin talked about Jiang Xian's performances in Japan several times and refuted the domestic criticism that he was a "Leland" who was only concerned with writing.

Although he did not understand why this report would affect People's Literature, Jiang Xian was still very interested in the content of this issue of People's X Newspaper and immediately found the newspaper and read it.

After watching it, I finally felt a lot better.

Lenin said it well: Don't be a giant in words and a dwarf in actions.

Each one of them talks more arrogantly than the other.

Come, let’s see how we become anti-Japanese heroes?

"Jiang Xian, publishing just one novel is a bit too little. Why don't you write a creative talk and we will publish it in People's Literature at the same time."

"Creative talk? Sure." Jiang Xian agreed immediately. He had a lot of emotions in his heart that he wanted to express.

Let’s turn back the clock a little.

Haizili.

Mr. Xia smiled and recounted the story of the delegation's visit to Japan.

He laughed out loud and spoke with a thick Sichuan accent, "This little guy is quite smart in handling things."

"He writes better." Xia Gong adjusted his glasses. "Among the kids of this generation, he is the best at writing. The article he wrote a few days ago was as noisy as the mural on the Water Splashing Festival."

"What are you writing?" he asked.

Mr. Xia glanced across the table and said, "Comrade Jingzhi, please tell me about it. I haven't seen it yet."

He Jingzhi sat upright at the table and said meticulously: "A man, for the sake of painting, even gave up his family, and finally became a great painter in a small village."

He took a puff of cigarette, thought for a while, and said with a smile:
"Isn't it just a Gauguin?"

"What's the big deal?"

"Just let him write it."

(Gauguin: French painter)

(End of this chapter)