1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 9 The Second Synthesis Path

There are always some wonderful people in the capital.

Li Tuo is one of them.

He has written novels, criticisms, and the film script "Li Siguang".

Just like the appraisal of treasures and identification of cultural relics in later generations, in the cultural circle of the capital at that time, works that were not recognized by society and had "dangerous" tones would flow to Li Tuo through various channels, asking him to appraise them and then recommend them to various editors.

Li Tuo was therefore given the nickname "Tuo Ye".

In addition, Li Tuo was extremely handsome, so handsome that he was famous for it, and the female director Zhang Nuanxin was completely bewitched by him. It was said that when they were in love, the tone of her voice when she called him "little brother" could not be sweeter, just like the little girl in the Grand View Garden calling Jia Baoyu.

So if you want to judge whether a girl likes you, just listen to whether she pinches you or not.

There is no concept of private space in this era. People are very close to each other. There is no need to say hello. They will come when they say something.

Li Tuo's home is in Dongdaqiao. To the north are Sanlitun and the Workers' Stadium. It is only a few bus stops away from Xidamochang Hutong. Jiang Xian and Zhao Zhenkai can arrive there by bike in less than half an hour.

"Master Tuo." Leaving the car, Zhao Zhen hurried into the house, and Jiang Xian followed him in.

The house was in a mess, with books piled up everywhere on the table, and manuscripts and waste paper scattered all over the floor.
The quilt on the bed was not made.

Sure enough, handsome men don’t like to fold their quilts.

"Which one?"

Zhao Zhenkai called out a middle-aged gay man with slightly curly hair from the manuscripts on the table.

Zhao Zhenkai greeted him, introduced Jiang Xian again, and then talked about Jiang Xian's manuscript, praising him all the time.

"That manuscript is really good. As soon as I read it, I brought him here immediately. Please give it your approval."

Li Tuo was working at his desk on a novel he had recently conceived, a short story called "May You Hear This Song" which was extremely explicit and involved something that could not be mentioned.

After hearing Zhao Zhenkai's comments, he had to put his writing aside for the time being.

“How many words are there in the novel?”

"Short story, about 10,000 words."

"Bring it here, I'll take a look."

He moved the unfinished manuscript on the table to make some space, and Jiang Xian took out his own manuscript and spread it on the table.

"The Chess King?" Li Tuo read softly as he looked at the title of the novel on the homepage.

"I have been unemployed at home since I returned to the city. A few days ago, I took a short job digging earth at the Qiansanmen construction site. My co-workers played chess when they had free time, so I followed them. I didn't win many games, but I got to know a chess master, Zang Guozhu."

"Zang Guozhu?" Li Tuo thought for a moment, "I know him. His nickname is Ruyi. He is the old triple champion of our Beijing chess competition. He played a game of chess with me more than ten years ago. Is he in good health?"

"Fortunately, he can still carry six bags of cement in one breath. In fact, this novel of mine is based on him."

Hearing Jiang Xian say this, Li Tuo immediately became interested, "Then I'd like to take a closer look. Please take a seat."

After explaining this, he lowered his head to look at the manuscript, and was soon attracted by the text and narrative style of "The Chess King" and immersed in it.

When he looked up again, it was almost noon. The sunlight outside the window sprinkled onto the table. The paper of "The Chess King" sparkled in the sunlight. The paper fibers were transparent and bright, glowing an amber-like luster. The manuscript that Li Tuo had just moved away now looked so unsightly and hideous under the shadow.

"Master Tuo, have you finished reading it?" Zhao Zhenkai asked.

Li Tuo seemed to be still unsatisfied. He squinted his eyes, stared at the last page of the manuscript, and smacked his lower lip.

“Such writing is surprising and admirable.”

"You're too kind." Jiang Xian said modestly.

This compliment made Zhao Zhenkai feel proud and honored. "If this article "Chess King" can be published, it will shock the literary circles in Beijing."

"More than that." Li Tuo praised generously, "In my opinion, this article "The Chess King" is much better than the article "Scars" in Wenhui Daily."

Jiang Xian didn't dare to respond to this question. There were too many things behind "Scars" that went beyond literature.

Let's get back to the point. "Master Tuo, do you think there are any problems with publishing this manuscript?"

Li Tuo naturally knew what Jiang Xian wanted to ask.

Holding his chin, he thought: "Although the general environment of the manuscript is a special period, it does not deliberately describe persecution. It even reads somewhat humorous and lighthearted, feeling a bit like "Border Town"."

"Border Town" is Mr. Shen Congwen's representative work and has a very high status in the history of modern literature.

Jiang Xian had sufficient assurance and confidence in "The Chess King", so after hearing this comment, he just smiled politely.

Li Tuo noticed his expression and saw that he remained neither humble nor arrogant despite his praise, just like the words under his pen. The slight doubt in his mind that he was writing for someone else disappeared in an instant.

“How’s the ending tune?”

"Food and clothing are the basic needs of human beings. Since the beginning of human existence, we have been busy with this every day. But we are confined to this, and finally we are not quite like human beings." Li Tuo read the ending of "The Chess King" again, "It's very good to write it this way, very bright, and there is definitely no problem with the tone."

"The Chess King" actually has two endings.

One is written by Jiang Xian: "People still need something to be alive."

There is another darker story: Wang Yisheng was willing to give up joining the provincial chess team and volunteered to stay in the region because he believed that "eating well is better than anything else."

Which one is better is a matter of opinion, and for Jiang Xian, it is not that important.

"As long as it can be published, I can revise it from beginning to end to make it bright!"

Zhao Zhenkai held his forehead with one hand.

I was almost pissed off to death by Jiang Xian.

Li Tuo couldn't help laughing, "I think this level is just right now."

The more you drink the tea, the weaker it becomes; the more you talk, the more excited you become.

Li Tuo patted his chest and assured Jiang Xian not to worry and leave the publication of "The Chess King" to him.

"Please leave me your address."

"The medical school will do."

It would be inappropriate to stay and eat for free.

The two men said goodbye to Li Tuo, pedaled their 28-inch bicycles, and rode westward to the grinding factory.

"Should you choose a pen name?" Zhao Zhenkai suddenly suggested halfway through the journey.

"Pen name, do you have a pen name?"

"I took two before, but I don't want to use them anymore. I want to get a new one. How about we take one from each other?"

"Don't bother me."

"Get up."

"Burp~" Jiang Xian burped, "Look, you are a southerner, but you live in the north every day, and your poems are full of images of the sea and islands. Bei.dao, do you think it's okay?"

"Bei Dao?" Zhao Zhenkai's eyes lit up, "Very good."

"I'll just use my real name. Besides, it's the father who names his son. It would be inappropriate to name him the other way around."

".Fuck you." The poet, who was known for his elegant manners, couldn't help but swear.

Jiang Xian stood up on the 28-inch bicycle, kicked his feet hard a few times, and rushed forward with lightning and thunder. Suddenly, there was a dripping sound in his ears.

"A second synthetic route has been revealed:"

"【Children of the Compound】+【Heretical】=Novel "???""

(End of this chapter)