Literary Master 1983

Chapter 44 The Shock of History

Bergson, the winner of the 1927 Nobel Prize in Literature, said something that is a little difficult to understand because he is a Nobel-level writer:
“People often say that social progress occurs naturally due to the social and ideological conditions at a certain period of history. This is nonsense… In fact, the shock of history is always given by a certain person.”

What this means is that in China, Mr. Qiao is the one who brought “historical shock”.

But Yu Qie did not intend to write the heroic legends of great men, but instead turned his attention to the ordinary people.

He said: "You see, this is a good aspect, it is the background of the times, but it is not what we want to write about. What I want to write about is such a small thing... There are so many people studying abroad, more and more every year. Many people do come back, but many people never come back..."

"Among them, there are two highly educated couples who have experienced their spouses going abroad and never coming back. They waited in vain, but never got the chance..."

When Luo Yihe heard this, his heart was lifted up: "So you want to write an article to criticize those who don't come back, because they abandoned their families and their motherland for fame and fortune?"

Yu Qie said, “This is not what I want to write.”

Luo Yihe was filled with righteous indignation. He exploded with anger, "Yu Qie, why don't you criticize them?"

"Because people cannot go against their own nature. I heard that when sending students abroad, even many leaders thought that the students would not come back. Didn't an entire delegation, from the leader to the members, defect before? It would make everyone very embarrassed."

"However, this plan was eventually carried out thoroughly... Luo Yihe, whether to come back or not, everyone has their own personal opinions..."

"But," Yu Qie said, "I am just recording and telling readers that these stories are happening now."

Luo Yihe was unwilling to accept this. “You can’t write about how those who studied abroad became successful while those who were loyal to love and their country ended up alone forever. That would be a hateful story! It would make people feel upset!”

Yu Qie couldn't help but laugh: "You're right, this is not what I want to write... My novels are meant to sell, and I can't deliberately make readers feel upset."

Moreover, looking back, the times actually punished the choices made by most of them - is it a curse?

"So this is the 'new realist novel'?" Luo Yihe said softly, "Yu Qie, I just hope you don't mess it up. Please write with more force!"

Then, he suddenly said very seriously, "Teacher Yu, Teacher Yu! Have you forgotten? I am also an editor..."

Luo Yihe is more serious than ever before. He has only second-rate talent in writing poetry, but as an editor, he has an intuition beyond ordinary people.

Sure enough, Luo Yihe asked Yu Qie to write an article.

He was so moved by this story that he couldn't say anything more. This might be related to Luo Yihe's own experience. He was a love-minded person and wrote many love poems to his girlfriend.

It is said that Luo Yihe's girlfriend (who later became his wife) recorded many stories about Luo Yihe, so that after his death, he lived on in the hearts of many literary and artistic young people as a "wife-doting man."

However, Yu Qie did not agree to Luo Yihe immediately. He told Luo Yihe:
This story, named "Da Saba", is only the first part of the "trilogy". There are at least two more neo-realist works to follow. In order to maintain continuity, he wants to publish them in the same publication.

"Your previous works are already very exciting, but you still want to write two more books?" Luo Yihe was stunned.

Yu Qie gave him an affirmative answer.

Sometimes a great work cannot be created by just one piece, but must be like rolling waves, one higher than the other.

Ba Lao's "Family", "Spring" and "Autumn" were all published in "People's Literature". Without any one of them, it would not form the "Torrent Trilogy" and would not establish his position as one of the top five in the domestic literary world. This requires the magazines that publish Yu Qie's works to be able to withstand the test. No matter what happens, they must publish it with a thunderous courage!

Luo Yihe's editorial office, October, has this potential, but it may not be realized because he is an intern editor and cannot make the final decision.

Luo Yihe understood Yu Qi's concerns. Without any hesitation, he found the editor-in-chief Wang Shimin and told him all Yu Qi's ideas and thoughts.

"Editor-in-Chief Wang, only if you talk to Yu Qi in person will he believe us."

Wang Shimin was indeed interested: not because of the story itself, but because Yu Qie might have the potential to create a certain literary trend, which October could not miss.

The list of commissioned authors for October is very large, and Yu Qie is among them, but he is not a big name.

But betting and being optimistic are also common things in literary magazines.

"Are you saying that he created a 'new realism' at Yenching University?"

"Yes, he comes to talk about this one or two days every week."

"Yihe, do you think Yu Qie is reliable?"

"Editor-in-chief, I don't know whether he is reliable or not, but I have been completely attracted by his story." In order to prove his point, Luo Yihe took out a letter he had written to his girlfriend not long ago.

During his internship at October, Luo Yihe read a large number of works by famous writers in a very short period of time, and he finally came to the following conclusion:
"I think that now, Zhang Chengzhi, Wang Zengqi, Shi Tiesheng, Wang Anyi, and Deng Youmei may have left behind some relatively good novels that lay the foundation for a great era of literature. Who else can be included in this list? It can be extended a little, but not too long."

Luo Yihe said, "After I watched A Moment of Romance the other day, I believe that one more person can be added to this list, and that person is Yu Qie."

He added, "After listening to Yu Qie's trilogy, I believe he has his own methodology and he can be the more outstanding one on this list."

But, Yihe, Yu Qie hasn't finished writing yet, you have been fooled and lost your way... Wang Shimin wanted to criticize Luo Yihe's recklessness, but he also saw the writers in this letter.

Some of these writers have already emerged and even become pillars of the literary world. It is obvious that Luo Yihe has the intuition to be an editor.

Then just trust Luo Yihe's intuition?

"Please arrange a meeting between Yu Qie and me. I will talk to him and make a decision. I have also been paying attention to Yu Qie, but I didn't expect you to think so highly of him. We at October have three tricks for outstanding writers. As long as we use them, we will definitely be able to attract Yu Qie."

As he spoke, Wang Shimin himself felt his heart surge, because in the introductory remarks of the first issue of October, he had written these words himself:

"We named this series of books 'October' because it shines with exceptional brilliance in human history. Its charm to the revolutionary people is not only because the rumbling of the guns on the Aurora shook the old world and announced the unstoppable revolution; but also, since 1949, the fireworks, red flags and gongs and drums of October in Beijing have become a symbol of victory and joy for the revolutionary people..."

Wang Shimin thought, yes, they originally came here for revolutionary literature.

　Luo Yihe was a great editor, but he died young. Luo Yihe's prediction actually happened. The fame that Haizi and Xichuan later gained was also promoted and supported by him. After Haizi's death, Luo Yihe spent most of his energy on collecting and arranging Haizi's poems. Now people think Haizi is greater, and I think Luo Yihe is not bad either.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)