1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 234 is released

After three rounds of drinks, Jiang Xian went downstairs to see Zhao Zhenkai off.

"What do you think about the resumption of publication?"

Zhao Zhenkai hesitated for a moment and said, "I guess there is no hope. We plan to hold an internal discussion meeting instead. Readers can go to the scene to listen, and then print it into a manuscript, which is equivalent to data compilation."

Jiang Xian knew that their information was banned after only a few issues. After all, "Today" was an illegal publication in a strict sense.

This is also the prelude to the massive anti-spiritual WR movement, which will impose a series of controls on publications.

"Jiang Xian, I heard that you are planning to set up a literature museum."

Zhao Zhenkai took a puff of his cigarette and said, "There's a man named Zhao Yifan in Beijing. Have you heard of him?"

"Zhao Yifan?"

"This man is a collector. Both of his parents are high-level intellectuals. He was disabled due to illness when he was young. Buzz buzz buzz, he has preserved a large amount of literary materials."

After Zhao Zhenkai said this, Jiang Xian remembered that there was such a wonderful person in the capital.

Zhao Yifan was paralyzed when he was three or four years old. He slept on a plaster bed and was bedridden for thirty or forty years. When he reached the buzzing period, it was as if God was giving him a mission, and he was able to walk with the help of crutches.

Underground literary salons were popular at that time, and Zhao Yifan was active in them.

Zhao Zhenkai said: "I was chatting with Zhao Yifan the other day. He heard about the Literature Museum and was willing to donate all the materials he had. It was a huge amount of materials. I was printing poetry collections at the time, and he actually had many of the poems I had thrown away."

"Zhenkai, can you help me contact this person? We really need the information." Jiang Xian said happily.

After seeing Zhao Zhenkai off, he returned home and fell into a deep sleep while drunk.

After a few days of leisure, Jiang Xian received the copy of "Family" which was personally packed and sent by Ba Jin from Shanghai. It was a 1978 edition published by People's Literature Publishing House, and it was inscribed with "To Comrade Jiang Xian, Ba Jin, 1980.11.23".

Along with the package was a personal letter from Ba Jin, "To Comrade Jiang Xian: 'Go your own way and let people talk!' These are two lines of poetry from Dante's Divine Comedy on the gate of Hell, which Marx borrowed. When I was in Niu Peng, I would recite Dante's Divine Comedy every day. This was the spiritual force that supported me, an old man, to get through those dark years.

Marx believed that people who want to engage in scientific research should have such a character: "tenacious and unperturbed by public opinion and prejudice." I think people who engage in literature should have the same character, following the pursuit of truth by Wang Guowei and Chen Yinke, and not following the trend and vulgarity.

Jiang Xian knew that Ba Jin hoped that he would not be disturbed by the previous events.

He was touched.

Logically, I should write a reply to express my determination, but I thought that "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood" would be published soon.

If the entire article is published in People's Literature, it is impossible for Ba Jin not to pay attention to it. When the time comes, just show the article to Ba Jin directly, which will be more useful than anything Jiang Xian says.

I solemnly put away Ba Lao's signed book and this very precious handwritten letter.

After rummaging through the drawers, I found that he had more and more information and books. They were either piled on the table or scattered in the drawers. This was not a good thing.

I simply took Zhu Lin to the furniture factory to pack up the furniture.

Long Shuncheng Furniture Factory is a time-honored brand in Beijing. In 1956, it participated in the public-private partnership and merged with factories of different sizes. The factory name retained the three words "Long Shuncheng" and was called "Long Shuncheng Table and Chair Shop".

Although the two factories are nominally merged, production and store sales are still separate.

Jiang Xian and Zhu Lin went to the main factory on the east side of Yongdingmenwai Street together.

Zhu Lin held the foreign exchange coupons in her hand and warned, "There are not many left. Don't spend them recklessly." "Okay, don't worry." Jiang Xian agreed.

As soon as he entered, he immediately picked up four Ming-style huanghuali round-back chairs and a Qing-style red sandalwood gold-painted floral treasure cabinet, which was about two feet six wide and less than five feet high, 165 centimeters, almost the same height as Zhu Lin.

"Antiques from prosperous times and gold from troubled times will definitely appreciate in value in the future." Jiang Xian comforted Zhu Lin and spent most of the foreign exchange coupons he had left.

The two of them followed the movers and carefully moved these items to Jingshan East Hutong and placed them in the west wing that was used as a study.

Other people's treasure pavilions are used to display antiques and collectibles, but he uses it as a bookcase, storing all of Mao Zedong's calligraphy and Ba Jin's letters, and also some rare books he collected from all over the place.

Looking into the house from the door, it is finally a place with a scholarly atmosphere. The walls are not plain and monotonous either. There are paintings by Ling Zifeng, traditional Chinese paintings by Zhao Zhenkai's wife Shao Fei, and calligraphy by Wang Zengqi.

Jiang Xian walked around twice, and his hands started to itch again. "When are we going to clean up the skewers?"

In the blink of an eye, it is the end of the month and Jiang Xian is busy now. This winter, he not only has to store winter vegetables for his family, but also has an additional task to help Zhu Lin's family move the winter vegetables.

Doctor Liu watched Jiang Xian busying around and couldn't help but complain about Professor Zhu, "Look, they are all intellectuals who hold pens, but Jiang Xian is more capable."

"How old is he and how old am I?" Professor Zhu curled his lips, then put the dishes in order, and smiled as he pulled Jiang Xian to play chess.

Jiang Xian knew that the old man’s level was mediocre, his chess ethics were poor, and his moves were all based on human relationships and worldly wisdom.

There's no other way, since he has to call him dad.

"Good chess." Professor Zhu was in a good mood.

He was so proud and impressive in school for a few days. His son-in-law was featured in the People's Daily X, and it was Comrade Ba Jin who spoke for him in the interview.

All the previous discussions in the school, as well as those who sighed, "The merchant woman knows nothing of the sorrow of losing her country, and still sings the song of the back garden across the river," all shut up.

Not only the People's Daily, but also the Semi-Monthly Talks, which is known as "China's No. 25 Magazine" and is affiliated to the New X News Agency and was published on May 5 this year, also published an interview with Jiang Xian. The reporter was Wang Dajun, a reporter for Xinhua News Agency in Japan.

In this interview, what impressed Professor Zhu the most were undoubtedly the last two sentences of the entire manuscript.

"China does not provoke trouble, but it is not afraid of trouble either. No one can dictate to the Chinese.

We always adhere to the principle of being friendly and cooperative with our neighbors, but we will never be humble. We advocate equality, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation.”

After reading it, Professor Zhu was so full of energy that he wanted to throw the "Banyuetan" and "People's X News" on the faces of those guys that day.

From the People's X Newspaper to the New X Agency, they are all praising his son-in-law. Such authoritative media have recognized Jiang Xian. Who do you think you are, gossiping there?

Doctor Liu prepared a table full of cabbage, and Professor Zhu happily put away the chessboard.

"Jiang Xian, have a few drinks with me today."

"Yes, Dad."

The whole family is enjoying themselves.

In the blink of an eye, it was the last month of 1980.

On December 12rd, the 3th issue of People's Literature was finally published.
(I have something to do today, so I won’t be able to update more in time. I will start to update tomorrow.)
(End of this chapter)