1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 98: The Test Questions of the Literary Master

Chapter 98: The Test Questions of the Literary Master
It is not easy to hold the Writers' Congress. As I said before -

One thing done well can lead to thousands of bald heads.

The poet Li Ji was in charge of organizing the Writers' Congress. He slept only two or three hours a day, suffered frequent heart attacks, and had to take a lot of medicine every day to support himself.

Today, a tea party.

"Comrade Ba Jin!"

"Oh? Comrade Xia Meng!"

"Hello, are you feeling well?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Ba Jin shook hands with Xia Meng with a smile.

Xia Meng smiled and said, "You are still so energetic."

The two have a strong connection. Xia Meng had previously studied Yue Opera in Shanghai, visited Ba Jin, and filmed "Dream of Spring in the Hometown", which was adapted from Ba Jin's novel "Rest Garden".

"Please sit down." Ba Jin greeted Xia Meng with a strong Sichuan accent, and from time to time he needed Li Xiaolin to explain things to Xia Meng.

"Comrade Xia Meng, are you used to everything in the capital?"

"It's quite cold in Beijing, but I'm very excited, especially seeing how much our country has changed. These days I've also watched many works by our country's filmmakers, and they are very enthusiastic about their work."

"You are too polite." Ba Jin said, "The film industry of our country is developing, and we have many people who hope that you can return to the film industry. Chairman Liao also means this, and he should have told you about it."

"."

As early as 1966, Xia Meng, who was only in her thirties, announced her retirement from the film industry due to pregnancy after starring in the movie "Winter Flowers". She resigned from her job at the Great Wall Company and went to Canada.

In the next decade or so, many giant film companies approached her and were willing to pay high prices to invite her to come back and film movies, but Xia Meng did not agree and opened a clothing factory with her friends.

However, recently, there have been a lot of voices urging her to make a comeback, including support from mainland China.

Xia Meng was silent for a while, and Li Xiaolin took out a stack of magazines and handed them to her.

"Comrade Xia Meng, these are gifts from Harvest. They are not expensive. They are some of the latest literary journals in Shanghai."

"thanks, thanks."

Xia Meng quickly put them away, picked them up one by one, and glanced through them briefly: "Harvest", "Shanghai Literature", "Story Club".
"Sister Xiaolin." Jiang Xian went to Li Xiaolin to get the manuscript she had reviewed. When he leaned in, he found that not only was Mr. Ba Jin in the room, but even Mr. Mao was there.

"Mr. Mao!"

"Ba Lao!"

Mao Dun saw that it was him and smiled at him, "Jiang Xian, I'm very happy. It's been such a short time and you've already written a long novel."

"You personally told me to do it, so I must write it." Jiang Xian smiled innocently.

At the national outstanding short story awards ceremony at the beginning of the year, Mr. Mao personally selected him and asked him to write a novel. He then wrote the 200,000-word novel "Furong Town".

"You're very good. You really listened to what I said. You young writers must write novels. 'A novel can bring you fame and honor.' Writing a novel is not a kind of fame. It is an improvement in your literary level and cultivation. You should be able to feel the effect after you write it. It's a pity that there are too few people of your generation who can write novels." Mr. Mao felt regretful and fortunate.

Unfortunately, there are too few writers of this generation who can write long novels.

Fortunately, we have Jiang Xian.

"Okay, Mr. Mao Dun, this is not the rostrum, so please don't speak anymore," Ba Jin said with a smile.

"Jiang Xian, you've come at the right time. Please tell Mr. Mao Dun about your novel, The Browning Lychee. This is a rare opportunity to get some advice from him."

Mr. Mao tremblingly picked up the cup, took a sip of hot water, and then looked at Jiang Xian with great interest.

"I have too much work to do and my energy is limited. I would like to read your novel in person, but time does not allow it. Please understand."

"I dare not." Jiang Xian said hurriedly: "I am very happy that you are willing to listen."

He grasped the key points and told Mao Dun the story of "Brown Lychees" as briefly as possible.

Mao Dun kept his eyes fixed on his face, as if he wanted to concentrate all his aging and sluggish energy on Jiang Xian's speech. Occasionally, he would turn his ear to the side in order to hear clearly his every word.

"Is there any research on this preservation method? Was it really possible in the Tang Dynasty?" Mao Dun asked curiously.

"I found this preservation method, such as sealing jars with wax, separating them from water and ice, storing them in bamboo sheaths, burying branch cuttings in the soil, and transplanting small plants, from records from the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. There is no record of it in the Tang Dynasty, but the differences in ancient technology would not be too great, so it is not impossible to achieve," Jiang Xian explained.

"Yes." Mao Dun nodded. "Go on."

Jiang Xian finished the rest of the novel in one breath, and Mao Dun gave a positive attitude. "It is a very good novel, and the An-Shi Rebellion serves as a warning.

But I want to give you another suggestion about the plot. The character of Ah Tong doesn’t have to commit suicide. Suicide has a tragic effect, but it seems a bit forced in the logic of the ending. What do you think? Think about it. "

Speaking of A-Tong, Jiang Xian felt a little ashamed.

The character of Ah Tong is a young, beautiful, cute and adorable girl in the original text. Those who have read this novel should like her very much.

As a result, in his ending, he stabbed her, which was part of the tragedy.

"It's a bit far-fetched." Ba Jin nodded slightly after hearing what Mao Dun said. He asked Mao Dun, "Can you think of a way to make it better?"

Mao Dun first looked at Jiang Xian.

"I want to hear your own ideas first. This novel is yours. We can give you suggestions, but we can't teach you how to write it."

"."

Jiang Xian stood there in a daze. He was suddenly given a test by Mr. Mao.

At the end of the novel, A-Tong does not commit suicide. How can the artistic quality be maintained or even elevated?
"Let's not disturb him and let him think about it." Mao Dun took a sip of hot tea, and his sparse hair, which had gone through many vicissitudes of life, turned silver-white and shiny.

Jiang Xian pondered for a while, then simply stood up and paced back and forth in the room.

A'tong owned a lychee forest left to her by her parents. She generously helped the protagonist Li Shande. It can be said that without her, Li Shande would not have been able to complete the experiment.

But when her lychee forest was cut down by soldiers, Li Shande did not give her any help in order to complete his mission as a lychee envoy.

How to change it?

About twenty minutes passed.

"I read."

Just when Ba Jin was about to speak up to help Jiang Xian out of the predicament.

Jiang Xian suddenly stopped.

"I've got one in mind."

In an instant, Mao Dun, Ba Jin and Li Xiaolin all looked at him at the same time.

"Mr. Mao, do you think this is a good way to change your career?"

"You said."

"A Tong originally wanted to commit suicide, but this time, I told her not to do it. I asked Li Shande to find her. The two met, but didn't talk. I let the readers think about what happened."

"."

The three of them smashed it and understood the meaning.

Mao Dun was the first to smile with satisfaction and applauded him tremblingly.

"very good."

“You gave a very good answer.”

"This sublimates the connotation of the work and expands the imagination of the novel."

After chatting for a while, Jiang Xian said goodbye and Li Xiaolin handed the reviewed manuscript to him.

"Take it back and make some simple changes, and change the ending as well."

"Sister Xiaolin, I'll give it to you as soon as possible."

"Don't be so anxious." Li Xiaolin said with a strange look on his face, "You really stole the show tonight!"

"To be honest, I was worried about you just now."

“Now it seems so unnecessary.”