Literary Master 1983

Chapter 71 The Two of Us

Historically, in order to get good manuscripts, Zhang Shouren often had long conversations with authors all night long: "If you were to die tomorrow, what would be the most touching thing in your life?"

After the author gave the answer, Zhang Shouren said, "I only want this from you, I don't want anything else."

After the manuscript is commissioned, he will help the author screen the letters, tell the readers' attitudes, and handle the subsequent adaptation matters. He is also an essayist and a translator of Russian and English literature, and can be called an editor saint.

Therefore, there are very few novels that can be difficult for him, but Yu Che's novel did it.

Zhang Shouren didn't want to waste any more time, so he said honestly, "To be honest, I don't think it's as attractive as Dasaba. The story isn't that new, but it's simple enough to be published in October... And I don't know what to change. It's too complete."

Wang Shimin slapped his thigh and said, "Isn't it good to be complete? Yu Qie is a 'quick shooter' when it comes to writing novels. It's not that he just writes fast, his novels are very complete... He is especially good at mobilizing readers' emotions. Every one of his novels has scenes that make people cry."

Yes, Zhang Shouren nodded, "It's the same with 'The Two of Us'."

"The highlight of the story of "The Two of Us" is the process of two generations who originally did not get along well with each other gradually developing affection and understanding, and eventually becoming like family members - Yu Qie, how did you come up with this theme?"

Yu Qie said: "After the college entrance examination was resumed, many young people came to Beijing for the first time, and many old Beijingers came into contact with students from other places for the first time. I observed this and wrote it down."

Zhang Shouren asked: "Why are they female students and childless old ladies?"

"Because these two are both relatively weak in literary creation - I wrote this article to arouse readers' attention to out-of-town students and lonely elderly people, so I had to use a relatively fragile female image."

What is "The Two of Us" about?
Because the female student Xiao Ma did not get any accommodation assigned by her internship unit, she pooled money together and came to live in the old lady's house.

At the beginning, many conflicts arose, between young and old, between outsiders and locals...

Winter turned into spring, and after a few months, Xiao Ma's unit allocated her a better dormitory. The two were about to separate, but by this time they had already developed a family bond.

"Really moved away? Really emptied out? Really emptied out...just like that?"

Xiao Ma emptied not only her things, but also the old lady's heart.

Zhang Shouren also expressed his appreciation for Yu Qie's plot design:
At the end of the novel, the old lady's health is getting worse and her mind is not so sharp, but when she walks to the door, she will suddenly shout:
"Pony? Pony—"

Zhang Shouren said: "This plot made me realize that their love was real. At the beginning, it was Xiao Ma who needed to borrow the old lady's house to live in, but at the end of the story, it was the old lady who needed Xiao Ma. The two of them completed the exchange of their relationship."

However, Zhang Shouren still found some problems, which had nothing to do with the story, but were mainly some common sense things.

He said, "Yu Qie, you wrote the rent price too high. How can it be more than ten yuan a month?"

"How much is it?" Yu Qie asked.

"Twelve yuan for half a year. I know that some actors from the Beijing Film Studio rent houses in Yanjing... Now it only costs eight hundred yuan to build a yard for a whole family. I think you get too much in royalties and you don't know the price of things anymore."

Hey, who would have thought that I could rent a house for half a year for only 12 yuan? And it’s in Yanjing.

After Yu Qie left, Zhang Shouren read the novel again and asked Wang Shimin, "Did you really write it in one month?"

"Can I still lie to you?"

"It's incredible." Zhang Shouren exclaimed.

This was the first collaboration between Zhang Shouren and Yu Qie. Zhang Shouren went through the entire process of publishing a manuscript in "October". He wrote a review report and read it seriously at the meeting of the novel group.

"This novel is full of sincere emotions, showing the warmth between people, and also taking care of certain social issues. It is not only an artistic achievement, but I believe it will also arouse the society's attention to lonely elderly people..." "So, Yu Qi's manuscript was sent to our October?"

Many hands were raised.

"Okay, pass!"

------

In mid-March, Yu Qie asked for leave from school. He wanted to represent the young writers of Yenching University to visit the front line to express his condolences. The people from Military Literature and Art came again to confirm his itinerary.

The Economics Department of Yan University now has a new dean, Hu Daiguang, who teaches two courses at the school: "Keynesianism" and "Econometrics."

He also compiled the earliest textbook on "Western Econometrics" in mainland China. Last semester, he graded Yu Qie's paper on the "dual track system" and gave him a full score.

I have to say that although Yu Qie has many identities, he has done very well in his student career.

Upon contact, I discovered that Hu Daiguang was also from Sichuan Province.

Why are there Sichuan troops everywhere?
"You're going to visit the front line?"

"There is such a thing."

Hu Daiguang said: "We have produced many writers at Yanda University, and they have achieved great success. Now you are also a great writer."

He was somewhat happy, and suddenly asked Yu Qie: "What is the 'shock therapy' that you wrote about in your paper last semester?"

"It means to liberalize everything, not regulate anything, cut spending, and let the market adjust freely."

"Your concept is very new and vivid. I haven't heard anyone else talk about it before."

Damn it?

Yu Qie remembered that the term "shock therapy" was not coined until the mid-1980s.

This economic policy was proposed by an American named Sachs, who was later hired as Bolivia's "national teacher". The implementation of the policy caused great social turmoil in the short term, just like a person in shock waiting to die, leaving life or death to fate, so it was called "shock therapy."

This policy was effective in the small country of Bolivia, but it was eventually implemented again by Big Brother’s boss’s boss, resulting in a human tragedy and a direct halving of the country’s gross national product.

Later, two conclusions were drawn: one is that shock therapy cannot be used in large economies; the other is that it cannot be used in planned economies. Both debuffs are present, and even gods cannot save us.

In 84, China was at a critical juncture in whether to adopt a single track, dual track, or derail. The economics community debated this issue every day.

Hu Daiguang continued, "Your idea is very interesting, but the paper is not very detailed. I think it can be discussed in more depth... Since you are going to the front line now, this is a big deal, so I won't delay you."

"But when you come back, take this paper a step further and I'll see what you think."

Yu Qie said: "I do have some ideas, but my research level is not good enough and I am afraid I will be laughed at."

"Don't worry about that. I'll help you perfect it. It is said that during the Korean War, the U.S. military landed in Incheon. It was first discovered by a secretary named Lei. Although he couldn't lead troops in battle, he was able to see it, which showed his talent."

　The rent prices are taken from an interview with actress Shen Danping. At that time, there was such a thing as renting a house. The old lady was really beautiful when she was young.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)