Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 58 The ups and downs of life are so exciting!
Less than a month before the college entrance examination, Zhang Chao had new worries.

In the senior year of high school, all other noise in the school will disappear at this time, and almost everyone's focus is on the exam in June and the anticipation of being admitted to a university.

No matter how bright the halo on Zhang Chao's head is, it will dim in front of the sun of the college entrance examination.

He didn't know if it was an illusion - he felt that many of his classmates looked at him with a hint of mockery. But he had already gotten used to it and didn't delay what he was supposed to do.

But the unexpected happened. Song Shiyu didn't come to the grouping class that day. After class, Lan Ting said that she had a conflict with a classmate and was in a bad mood.

Zhang Chao hurriedly asked the cause of the conflict.

Lan Ting rolled her eyes at him: "It's all because of you!"

Zhang Chao: “?”

Lan Ting explained: "There was a girl in her class who made fun of you during the chat after class, saying 'No matter how well you write, you can only go to a junior college.' Shiyu got anxious and spoke up for you. You know, she is not one for quarreling. Soon she got so angry that she almost started a fight. Fortunately, the teacher came in..."

Zhang Chao: “…” He really couldn’t imagine what the other party had said to make the usually cold and quiet Song Shiyu so anxious to take action.

I can only ask Lan Ting to convey my gratitude and apology to Song Shiyu.

Lan Ting sighed and said, "Actually, I'm also worried about you going to college..."

Zhang Chao smiled brilliantly and said, "Didn't I tell you that there is always a way out when the time comes? Don't worry about me! Here, this is the 'youth love story with a happy ending' that you wanted to read. I've written it."

After saying that, he took out a thick stack of printed manuscripts.

Lan Ting's eyes lit up and she was about to take it.

Zhang Chao raised his hand, dodged Lan Ting, and said with a smile: "Three rules, you can only watch it for 20 minutes a day. I can't bear the guilt if it delays your college entrance examination."

"Miserable! Got it!" Lan Ting jumped up and grabbed the manuscript.

Watching Lan Ting's receding back, Zhang Chao felt helpless. He even knew the rumor spread among his grade that he could only get into a junior college... (crossed out) which ones were the truth, but he really couldn't refute it.

As he went further and further on the road of creation, the grudges between high school students became less and less important in his eyes. He just didn't expect that while he almost forgot about it, others had not.

But he couldn't really use the news about Hong Kong Island University to silence him, right? Firstly, he didn't really want to go, so it was just a fallback; secondly, he had been in closed-off study for almost a month in his senior year, and there was basically no news from the outside world, so it was useless to just talk about it.

Thinking of this, Zhang Chao, who had been smooth sailing and high-spirited since his rebirth, also felt a little discouraged.

However, with less than twenty days left before the college entrance examination, many universities have announced important admissions news.

First, Yanda announced that starting this year, the Chinese Department will restart the enrollment of the "Writer Class" and will also open a "Creative Master" course in writing.

燕大“作家班”的历史可以追溯到1986年，当时的燕大中文系按照上级部门指示，要招收一批优秀青年作家为本科三年级插班生。同年10月10日，文学讲习所（即鲁院）7期、8期两届学员中的50多名作家组成了燕大“作家班”第一届学员。此后，燕大中文系又于1988年和1990年分别招收两届作家班。

The members of the three previous writers' classes were all influential writers and critics in the literary world at that time. They were recruited mainly to make up for the lack of educational experience caused by the special historical period. Many graduates of the writers' classes later became the backbone of the Chinese literary world.

The "Creative Master" is a creative writing system established by the University of Iowa in the United States in the 30s, dedicated to cultivating creative writing talents.

Yenching University was not to be outdone and immediately announced the restart of the "Postgraduate Writers Class" jointly opened by the School of Literature of Yenching University and Lu Xun Academy of Literature. This "Postgraduate Writers Class" also has a strong background.

In 1988, Yanshi University submitted a report to the education department: "It is a very meaningful thing in the current graduate education work to improve some writers who have reached undergraduate level to graduate level, and combine their own work to write theoretical and practical papers to apply for degrees, so that some writers can achieve 'scholarship'..." and it was approved.

Compared with the "Writers Class" of the Chinese Department of Yanda University, the "Writers Graduate Class" of Yanshi University is more brilliant. Yu Hua, Chi Zijian, Liu Zhenyun, and Mo Yan all graduated from this class.

Then Wuhan University, Northwestern University and Nanjing University, which had opened "writers' classes" in the past, also announced their policies to resume the classes.

The biggest feature of these "writer classes" is that they have both soft and hard thresholds. One can get in based on test scores, but it also leaves flexible room for the admissions team.

For example, the policy of Yanshi University is that the threshold is "writers who have reached the undergraduate level", not "writers with a bachelor's degree". So how do we measure "who have reached the undergraduate level"? ...

Take Yu Hua for example. His highest level of education before entering school was just high school. In addition, he had studied in a dental department in Ningbo, Zhejiang and a literature workshop at Luyuan.

Naturally, the media would not miss the opportunity to get to the bottom of the matter and ask whether there is any policy basis for restarting these "writer classes".

Various universities have produced documents issued and approved by higher authorities more than 20 years ago, saying that these policies have always been in place and that higher authorities have never issued an order to cancel them, so resuming the "writers' classes" is completely legal and compliant. And the students in these "writers' classes" do not occupy the enrollment quota for the college entrance examination.

This is also the actual situation. Historically, these "writers' classes" were discontinued not because the policy expired, but because with the development of society, more and more writers have received a complete education and there is no urgent need for academic qualifications.

The key is that the "writer classes" basically require full-time work for 2-3 years. In the social environment of the literary recession in the early 90s, it was difficult for young and middle-aged writers at the time to balance study and supporting their families, so they gradually died down.

The reason why they are being re-opened is not only because of the public opinion impact brought about by the special recruitment of Zhang Chao by the University of Hong Kong, but also because writers born in the 1980s have grown up.

Although most of their creations are not serious literary works, the economic returns brought to them by commercial writing are undoubtedly greater. Compared with their predecessors of the previous generation who received the basic salary from the unit and tightened their belts to attend the "writer's class", they are much more relaxed and well-off.

Young writers who have made a name for themselves today are no longer the poor ones who used to earn 20 yuan per thousand words. Instead, they are the popular ones who can earn tens or even millions for just one book. Even the worst of them can at least have enough food and clothing.

And Zhang Chao is the biggest piece of the pie!
However, all universities have solemnly stated that the "writer class" is not for Zhang Chao, but is open to all young and middle-aged writers who meet the requirements - because some media have already called this class the "Zhang Chao Class"!

When the news got back to Changfu, not only the principal Wu Xingyu, the head teacher Lao Wang and the Chinese teacher Zhang Ting were stunned, but also the senior high school students who saw the news in the People's Daily.

Zhang Chao, who was still worrying about which college to apply for the day before, is now worried about whether to go to Yanda, Yanshi University, Nanjing University, Wuhan University, or Northwestern University; he can even choose to study for an undergraduate degree first, or go directly to graduate school...

The ups and downs in life are so exciting!

(End of this chapter)