Literary Master 1983

Chapter 45 International Students

After the publication of October, three disturbances occurred.

One time, the original leader of the publishing house was transferred to the Central Propaganda and News Agency, and then the new leader demanded that October strengthen its "position" awareness, advocated strict management of October, and stopped publishing controversial articles.

Editor-in-chief Wang Shimin mobilized all his connections and asked the entire team to pretend to change jobs and publishers, and finally the leaders compromised.

One time, scar articles caused controversy. The status of such articles had not yet been established, and there was a great risk in publishing them. Wang Shimin and a man named Zhang Zhong'e, by adding the name of "learning and reference", published some high-risk articles in disguise.

Another time, the publishing house was short of pulp. Paper was allocated by the state according to plan, and the publishing house had only a quota of 1200 tons of paper for the whole year. Wang Shimin insisted on getting 120 tons of paper, accounting for 10% of the company's total paper consumption, and he was given priority supply.

Unfortunately, even with such courage and connections, October never waited for the work or writer that would make it a masterpiece.

The entire editorial board is eager to change this embarrassing situation.

Therefore, when Luo Yihe came to see Yu Qie again, he already had the editor-in-chief's special authority with him.

As an editor, Luo Yihe said to Yu Qie: "Teacher Yu, we will meet on Friday. I will introduce you to our editor-in-chief Wang Shimin. Editor-in-chief Wang also wants to meet you very much. He praises you highly and says that you are the hope of our literary world..."

Of course Yu Qie didn't believe this: "Luo Yihe, please stop talking nonsense... Why is it Friday, and not tomorrow or today?"

"Because I want to give you time to date... Didn't you get two tickets to the TV room? Take them with your partner and watch it. I heard that the first episode of The Man from Atlantis will be shown tomorrow."

Luo Yihe said, "Joining our October magazine brings many benefits, including various tickets and literary salons. In the past, we participated as audiences, but now we are the organizers behind those activities."

In other words, I can often go to the movies, watch plays, etc.

Since there were very few cultural and artistic activities during this period, the benefits offered by Luo Yihe were indeed very attractive.

Isn’t this a time when watching TV can become a couple’s activity?

"Teacher Yu," Luo Yihe said in a deep voice, "Our magazine October was founded before the Plenary Session of the Reform Conference, so it should be a symbol of the beginning of an era. We have the courage to be the first to set an example - we all think so!"

After that, he did not delay Yu Qie any longer, but waved his hand and said, "See you on Friday. Now, I won't bother you anymore."

"Luo Yihe, what about you? What are you going to do?"

"Teacher Yu, I'm going to have a relationship too. I already have a partner." Luo Yihe said with a smile.

------

"Zhang Li, Zhang Li?"

Yu Qie arrived at the door of the guesthouse, stated his identity, and stood outside the door shouting loudly.

"Come out, let's watch TV!"

Zhang Li put down Dream of Red Mansions and said, "Hey, here I come~"

As Zhang Li stepped on her shoes to open the door, she was thinking about the things in the book:
Why did Daiyu call Xiren "good sister-in-law"?

Xiren has taken care of Baoyu since he was a child. When Baoyu gets married in the future, Xiren will definitely be his roommate.

So isn't Lin Daiyu exclusive in love?

If Lin Daiyu can accept Xiren, she can accept Baochai even more, but Baochai cannot accept it. In the end, does she want to be "Bao's second wife" or the only wife? What should she do? Alas, "Dream of Red Mansions" is too complicated, so let's not think about it.

When she opened the door, she saw, "Wow!" Zhang Li exclaimed softly, "Did you dress up today?"

Yu Qie was wearing a woolen coat, revealing a red wool scarf - the one Zhang Li had given him. His coat was tailored to fit him well, with neat and straight shoulder lines, and double-breasted buttons that shone with a low-key metallic luster, which was both calm and clean.

The collar was slightly raised, of course, to block the wind, but, wow! It was quite unique.

Zhang Li's eyes lit up: "You even had your hair cut, parted 3:7, like a picture book walking out of the pages!"

Yu Qie smiled and said, "I'm going to meet someone in a couple of days, so I've dressed up to look more formal."

"So it's not for me," Zhang Li said disappointedly, "Then who are you meeting?"

"Wang Shimin. Editor-in-chief of October."

"You can even be on October?" Zhang Li asked in surprise. Although she didn't read many novels, she knew the reputation of October.

The advisory team behind the TV series "Dream of Red Mansions" that is currently being prepared is very luxurious, which is a grand event in the literary and art circles. Many of them are also literary masters.

Zhang Li also passively learned about the magazine "October".

"It's October!" Yu Qie said, "My manuscript has been picked up, and I'm in contact with them... Hey, it's so boring to talk about this, let's go watch TV."

The TV room where "The Man from Atlantis" is played is located at the bottom of the Study Abroad Building and entry is by ticket.

Like many universities in China, Yanda also has a special building for international students, with a total of two buildings near the south gate of the school.

In order to promote international students' understanding of Chinese culture, nearly one-third of the students from the Chinese Department of the class of 78 were selected, and most of them were local people from Yenching University.

Because they usually go home on weekends, this can also leave some space for international students to share with their roommates.

Zhang Li was very curious about everything about Yanda University. She asked Yu Qie about everything about Yanda University. However, the first thing she asked was about the international students:
"Yu Qie, why are there so many foreigners in Yan University? Aren't you afraid of being seen?"

"What is there to see? We have many foreigners in Yanda, so everyone is used to it."

"Ah! There are white, black, and brown ones... It's scary! If they were back in Chengdu, these people would be rounded up and watched, and then the police in hats would come and tell us not to gather in groups to watch foreigners!"

Yu Qie said: "I heard from Luo Yihe... a friend who helped us. He talked about something. He said that these foreigners not only look different, but also have different personalities, but we thought they were all the same."

"Tell me what's different!"

"This is what I heard from Luo Yihe - it is said that after these foreigners come to China, they receive training and study every day, and when it comes to fighting, they are even better than us Chinese! But they all have their own way of doing it, which is very interesting."

"Are they still engaging in class struggle?" Zhang Li asked in surprise.

"Four years ago, in order to support Cambodian refugees, international students organized a student assembly, then united to raise donations, and posted small posters everywhere in the school, with their names and fingerprints signed..."

Zhang Li was puzzled: "Yu Qie, what's the difference between this and us? Isn't it the same?"

Yu Qie shook his head: "Don't worry, when it comes to the actual action, the international students will have their own national characteristics..."

(End of this chapter)