1979: Literary Master, Starting from the Return of Educated Youth

Chapter 42 "Scars" are destined to be short-lived!
He discusses the novel "High Mountains" and its author Chunfeng with his classmates every day, and he didn't expect to meet them here today.

"It's a pleasure to meet you today. I've heard of your pen name for a long time, and today I can finally ask you in person."

Liu Zhenyun stood up enthusiastically, stretched out his arm across the table, and shook hands with Xu Yuexin again.

Xu Yuexin also stood up, shook hands and motioned him to sit down: "We are all friends, there is no need to be polite."

"Hey, then I'll continue to call you Brother Xu."

Liu Zhenyun was very excited and asked, "Brother Xu, I would like to ask you, what was your state of mind when you wrote such a popular work as "High Mountain"? "

“I just wanted to write something different.”

Xu Yuexin smiled slightly and spoke concisely.

Before he published "The Wreath Under the Mountain", "Scars" was the mainstream in the literary world, and there were many works with the same themes and plots as "Scars" in major publications.

With Xu Yuexin's writing skills, it would be a piece of cake to publish something similar.

The problem is that he feels that works like Scars are destined to have a hard time maintaining long-term vitality. Moreover, when there are a lot of similar themes, it is difficult to achieve eye-catching results by following the trend.

It is precisely because of this that Xu Yuexin finally chose "High Mountains" as his debut work.

At the table, Wang Chaoyin, Chen Jiangong and Liu Zhenyun vaguely sensed the deeper meaning behind his answer after hearing it.

"Eliminate the complex and simplify the three autumn trees, and receive the new February flowers with different standards."

Wang Chaoyin nodded slightly and said in an approving tone, "Works like 'High Mountains' have led innovation and are an important factor in the good development of literature in our country in the past two years."

"You can't open a magazine or newspaper and see Scars everywhere."

As the editor-in-chief, the tendency of his words was very obvious and resonated with everyone present.

"After the publication of Scars, there were so many novels similar to it."

Chen Jiangong said in a serious tone, "Team Leader Wang, what do you think?"

“I quite agree.”

Wang Chaoyin smiled bitterly and said, "For every ten submissions I receive now, at least eight are scar literature."

"I'm not saying that the literary quality of some of them is really worrying. They are overly immersed in personal emotional expression, and the overall style is too dull and dark."

"But many publications still like to publish this kind of stuff."

Liu Zhenyun weakly asked, "Will this situation last long?"

Chen Jiangong hissed and fell into deep thought.

Although Chen Jiangong and Wang Chaoyin agree that scar literature is too prevalent and has many problems, he is still unable to confirm how long this situation will last.

Maybe they can prosper for a few decades?
Just like Han Yu of the Tang Dynasty, later generations praised him for reviving literature after eight dynasties of decline. This also means that during this period, the country's literary undertakings declined for eight dynasties.

In view of this, Chen Jiangong was very unsure and could not give an answer.

At this time, Xu Yuexin made a statement.

“In two or three years, the tide of scar literature will recede.”

Xu Yuexin said with great certainty, "In essence, it is a kind of literature that lacks long-term vitality."

After he mentioned this, Wang Chaoyin recalled the last interview: "I remember you said this in front of the journalists..."

“Well, I still hold this view.”

Xu Yuexin's face was as heavy as water. He analyzed in an orderly manner, "With the rapid growth of our country's economy, more and more people will focus on the new achievements made in social development and the new problems that arise in development."

"Novels like Scars are full of personal emotions triggered by the past era. They are out of touch with the times and will only gain less and less resonance." "If readers don't like to read it, it will naturally die out in the end."

Growth, development...

These two words were like a heavy hammer, hitting the heart of everyone present.

After all, literature and social changes are inseparable.

As Xu Yuexin said, the ultimate fate of literature that is out of touch with the times will be to be abandoned by the public.

So the question is... In the coming new era, what types of literary themes will be able to take the lead?

Wang Chaoyin, Chen Jiangong and Liu Zhenyun really want to know the answer.

"Well, Brother Xu, what topics do you think will be more promising in the next two years?"

Liu Zhenyun asked humbly that he really wanted to produce excellent works like Xu Yuexin and Chen Jiangong in front of him, so as to have a place in the literary world.

"Reform and Opening-up literature is a subject that is bound to last forever."

"Since the congress last year, all aspects of society have taken on a new look. From rural areas to cities, from fields to factories, to party and government agencies, many gratifying changes have occurred."

"As reform and opening up continue to advance, there will be more and more similar progress in society. It is possible to write a good work by picking any aspect as the subject matter."

Xu Yuexin said without hesitation.

From the classic work "The Record of Director Qiao's Taking Office" in the late 70s to the later "In the Name of the People", they all belong to the broad category of reform and opening-up literature.

As long as you are willing to work hard on this subject, there is great hope of achieving results.

"Yes, thank you, Brother Xu. Your point of view is indeed insightful."

"I have to remember this."

Liu Zhenyun repeatedly thought about Xu Yuexin's instructions and pondered them carefully.

"I agree with Lao Xu's point of view."

Chen Jiangong agreed, "Besides the literature of the Reform and Opening-up Movement, what other topics do you think are good?"

"Historical themes. Our country has a 5000-year history, and there are countless dynasties and figures worth writing about."

Xu Yuexin said confidently, "If we further explore it, the three long-lasting unified dynasties of Han, Tang and Ming are the most interesting ones to write about."

"And in essence, history belongs to the category of culture. When material prosperity occurs, the demand for culture will increase accordingly, which will increase the demand for excellent historical works in society and provide a realistic soil for the development of literary works on this theme."

"What Lao Xu said makes sense. Historical themes are a rich mine."

After hearing this, Chen Jiangong murmured, "It's just waiting for us to discover and mine it."

Wang Chaoyin fell into deep thought.

Historical theme?

After hearing what he said, it seems that the prospects are bright and there is a lot to be done.

Like Chen Jiangong and Liu Zhenyun, Wang Chaoyin listened carefully to Xu Yuexin's analysis throughout the whole process, and felt that something was lit up in his mind.

In the past few years, many historical figures and dynasties have become the objects of destruction, and authors were once silent about historical themes and dared not touch them.

Is there anything with more room for development than a field that has been blank for more than ten years?
Xu Yuexin has good vision!

Wang Chaoyin thought excitedly.

(End of this chapter)