My era, 1979!

Chapter 113 In September, the literary scene in Anhui belonged to Xu Chengjun (6.1k views, please vote!)
Anhui Literature is the earliest and longest-running professional literary magazine in Anhui Province.

Its development spans decades of historical changes, and its trajectory is clearly traceable.

In November 1950, the magazine's predecessor, "Wanbei Literature and Art," was officially launched.

It was renamed "Anhui Literature and Art" in 1952, then changed to "Jianghuai Literature" in 1956, and finally named "Anhui Literature" in 1958. It was later discontinued due to the "Four Cleanups" movement in 1965.

After several years of suspension, the magazine "Anhui Literature and Art" was founded in 1972, and it resumed publication as "Anhui Literature" in 1973. It was not until 1978 that it was officially republished as "Anhui Literature," marking the return of this long-established literary journal to the right track.

In 1979, Anhui Literature ushered in its most glorious moment since its founding, and its influence broke through regional limitations, becoming the focus of the national literary community.

The core stems from three landmark events:
First, 20% of each issue is dedicated to publishing commentary articles, making it a forum for theoretical debate.

Second, the "Thirty New Talents" initiative is leading the nation's poetry creation.

Third, the novel "The Granary" by writer Xu Chengjun was published, becoming a classic work on the theme of rural reform.
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among them,

In the July 1979 issue of Anhui Literature, a commentator named Su Zhong, under the pseudonym Li Wenqun, wrote an article entitled “A Noteworthy Tendency”. This article was regarded as the first voice of internal debate after the crackdown. It was also forwarded by He Jingzhi to the internal reference of Renri, which attracted widespread attention.

In the September 1979 issue of Anhui Literature, the debut novella "The Granary" by the famous young writer Xu Chengjun was published as the lead story. It first sparked an academic movement throughout the province, then spread to the whole country, and finally, due to its high practicality in rural reform, it was cited by the central government as an internal reference.

In its October 1979 issue, Anhui Literature became the first in the country to publish the works of 30 young poets in a special issue, many of whom were Misty Poets, which promoted the development of poetry creation in Anhui and even the whole country.

What deserves in-depth attention is the deep connection between writer Xu Chengjun and Anhui Literature.

He not only established his literary status with "The Barn", but also earned the affectionate title of "the sentimental poet" from readers for his works such as "Time", "Foxtail Grass on the Hillside", "Daily Slices", "Look", "Imagination", "Walking Towards the Light", and "Homage" in the "Thirty New Writers" series, as well as the three-line poem series "Scenery", "Affection" and "Starlight".

Initially, Xu Chengjun was listed alongside Bei Dao, Shu Ting, Gu Cheng, and others as a representative poet of the "Misty School".

Later, the poet Gong Liu published a commentary, pointing out the diversity of Xu Chengjun's creative style—the article "Salute" is a typical example of breaking through the Misty School paradigm, breaking the outside world's singular perception of him.

In the field of three-line poem creation

Xu Chengjun has created a unique situation.

Although the modern Chinese three-line poem can be traced back to the New Culture Movement, he was the first writer and poet to create three-line poems in a "systematic and large-scale" manner.

His works are characterized by a distinctive style, concise and powerful language, and profound connotations and philosophical reflections, making them a model that the poetry world strives to emulate.

This creative enthusiasm also extended to the field of education. In 1981, Fudan University took the lead in launching the "Chengjun Cup" three-line poem competition. Subsequently, the competition gradually expanded to universities across the country, directly promoting the popularization and development of the three-line poem genre in contemporary times.

It is precisely because of the depth of theoretical debate, the height of literary creation, and the discovery and cultivation of young writers.

In 1979, Anhui Literature successfully broke through the limitations of region and time, reaching its peak since its founding and becoming an important presence in the history of contemporary Chinese literature.

"Leaving today?"

Zhou Ming, with a "Shanghai" brand cigarette given to him by Xu Chengjun dangling from his mouth, smiled as he looked at the "great writer" across from him.

To be honest, he initially thought highly of Xu Chengjun, believing that the kid had potential and was willing to bet on him.

But I really didn't expect the potential to be realized so quickly.

Just look at these figures to see how amazing Xu Chengjun is.

His first novella was published as the lead story in Anhui Literature, his first novella was published in Harvest, and his first full-length novel was published in the inaugural issue of Qingming.
The poems he wrote in addition to writing novels will also be included in the "Thirty Newcomers" album.

It's important to know that he achieved this result in just four months.

This was truly terrifying enough in the eyes of these "old people".

Not to mention that he also had time to take the postgraduate entrance exam at Fudan University and publish academic papers in the Fudan Journal.

He had heard that this paper had caused a huge uproar among the senior professors of Chinese literature in the capital, Shanghai, and Nanjing, with them debating it all day long!

This kid.

That's terrifying!

"It's time to go. I bought the tickets a long time ago. I've already stayed a few days longer than expected. If I don't leave now, Senior Brother Zhang won't let me enroll."

Xu Chengjun shrugged.

"Senior Brother Zhang?"

"You've got some nerve, kid. Someone like Zhang Peiheng is now a senior brother?"

"I'm so lucky~ I'm benefiting from your good fortune."

"I can't give you that kind of luck. Not just anyone can be Zhu Lao's student."

Zhou Ming was also very gratified when he said this, as he was the first guide on Xu Chengjun's literary journey.

Officer Liu: ? ?
After all, he was someone that Lao Zhou (Old Zhou) had his eye on. He was capable of great things. Who wouldn't say that Editor-in-Chief Zhou had a keen eye for talent?

If Xu Chengjun continues to develop as he is, he might even make a name for himself in history thanks to this kid!

"Chengjun, Su Zhong has put in a lot of effort for you. In this issue of the commentary section, he published a commentary on 'The Granary' under the pseudonym 'Li Wenqun'."

"You know what he published in the last issue? It's for your birth chart!"

"I'm so grateful for your kindness, senior! You even left a comment for me! Thank you so much~"

Xu Chengjun clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully.

"No need, I can't accept such a generous gift from the esteemed writer Xu!"

"Thank me, and please bless this issue of Anhui Literature to be a bestseller!"

"If your novel becomes popular when Chen Dengke publishes it in his book 'Qingming,' you'll be in for a world of hurt."

Zhou Ming remained defiant, his beard bristling and eyes wide.

"How about we write another article for *Anhui Literature* then?"

"I mean what I say!" Zhou Ming laughed.
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I left Zhou Ming's office.

Xu Chengjun bought a copy of the September issue of "Anhui Literature" at the Changjiang Road Post Office.

I waited in line for ages.

I heard a lot of people talking about it.

Some say this issue of *Anhui Literature* is worth reading, and others say that the author of *The Granary* is Xu Chengjun, a writer from Anhui who previously wrote *Scales* and has now become a great writer.
Some people are even discussing the plot of the previous film, "The Fitting Mirror," and speculating whether "The Barn" will be as magical as "The Fitting Mirror."

Could the barn be a "treasure trove"?
If you put a few wheat seeds in there, will it turn into a whole barn of wheat?
The serious discussion among several college students from Anhui University made Xu Chengjun feel extremely ashamed.

Some people even started discussing Xu Chengjun's status in the literary world.

"I think Xu Chengjun can be considered the most representative young writer in Anhui's literary circles."

"Still a little short, isn't it?"

"How is it bad! Although there aren't many works, every one of them is a hit! Just look at the writing style of 'The Fitting Mirror'—this person is definitely a skilled writer!"

"I don't think so!"

"Then tell me what's wrong!"

"A little worse than me~"

After he finished speaking, the college students burst into laughter, and Xu Chengjun smiled as well.

Although the queue was long, it wasn't boring at all, since everyone around you was discussing your work—doesn't that sound wonderful?
Fortunately, everyone in line knew Xu Chengjun, but no one knew what Xu Chengjun looked like.

Xu Chengjun was able to comfortably "hide" in the team, listening to the discussions about him from those around him, feeling elated.

An occasional negative review is automatically filtered out, and a "transparent" review function has been manually added.

In the end, Xu Chengjun spent 9 cents to buy a copy of the September issue of "Anhui Literature".

not cheap.

At that time, many people would buy a copy and pass it around among themselves.

As a result, in 1979, the magazine's reach and readership were several times higher than its actual sales.

Actually, he received sample copies from the magazine, but he still lined up to buy his own work. Do you understand that feeling?

Flipping through the magazine, the headline was his "Barn," and the rest were works by some not-so-famous educated youth writers, which fits the positioning of "Anhui Literature," a provincial magazine. The only one I was somewhat familiar with was a short story by Ji Yu.

It basically belongs to Xu Chengjun's unique talent.

He scrolled down and landed directly on the comments section.

The first article is Su Zhong's comment on him.

Title: "The Granary: Reality and Poetry in the Cracks of Time"—A Review of Xu Chengjun's "The Granary"

Wow, Old Su is really something! Just by looking at his name, you can tell he's singing praises!
"The article 'The Granary' was published as the lead article in the September issue of Anhui Literature. I noticed its unusualness upon first reading it. It lacked the mournful cries of scar literature and the impassioned slogans of reform literature. Instead, it solidly conveyed the 'sense of turning point' in rural China in 1979 through just a few grains of wheat that had leaked and a few scratches in an adobe granary in Fengyang, Anhui. Xu Chengjun's work is much like the jujube wood scale he describes: the scale marks are fine, the scale beam is heavy, it can weigh the grain, and even more so, it can weigh the weight of the era."

"While many works are still lingering in the 'scars,' 'The Granary' has already taken on the earthy flavor of Fengyang and set a new benchmark for reform literature. It proves that literature does not need to attract attention with shouts, nor does it need to convey power with slogans. By weaving the times into the details and hiding the warmth of people's hearts in the words, it is natural to 'see thunder in silence.'"

Xu Chengjun was a sent-down youth, yet he didn't write about the personal joys and sorrows of returning sent-down youth; he understood the policies, but he didn't write his work as a "policy interpretation." He simply squatted in the fields of Fengyang, picked up the stories from the granary, and wrote them solidly and warmly. "The Granary" is such a work: it doesn't try to steal the limelight or follow trends, but only follows the seasons of the times, yet inadvertently, it has become a "mud monument" recording this era.

Future readers, when rereading literature from 1979, might remember the mud-brick granary, the jujube wood scale, and the storekeeper named Xu Laoshuan in "The Granary"—they are small, but real; earthy, but alive. And this is precisely the most precious aspect of literature.

Surprisingly, the comments that followed were not from Zhou Ming, but from Lu Yanzhou.

He mainly praised the song from the perspective of narrative techniques, which differs slightly from Su Zhong's comments.

It is clear that the two had coordinated their statements before making the announcement.

"In the wave of transformation in Chinese literature in 1979, Xu Chengjun's novella 'The Granary' was like a plump wheat seed that fell into the soil of reform literature. He simply used an adobe granary in Fengyang, Anhui as the center, and with solid details, vivid characters and restrained narrative, he drew a spiritual map of rural China during the period of transformation."

The most ingenious narrative choice in "The Barn" is undoubtedly the compression of grand historical themes into a mud-brick barn. This building, where "wheat can sprout even when it leaks," is never a static backdrop, but rather a narrative container full of symbolic meaning.
The success of "The Granary" largely stems from its de-symbolizing character portrayal. The protagonist, Xu Laoshuan, is neither a "pioneer hero" who shouts for reform nor a "conservative villain" who clings to old rules, but a "real person" full of contradictions.
When *The Granary* appeared, we witnessed the most authentic power of literature. It doesn't need to be detached from life, nor does it need to feign profundity; simply by being rooted in the land and close to people's hearts, it can sprout new shoots that touch the soul within the context of the times. Xu Chengjun uses an adobe granary to tell us: the best reform literature is never about 'reform' itself, but about the people involved in reform, their choices, and the warmth of their hearts. This granary, filled with grains of wheat and its weathered marks, will ultimately become a solid, earthy marker on the map of Chinese literature in 1979.

The third article is by Zhou Ming. There are only three articles in total. Zhou Ming's evaluation is more objective, pointing out some shortcomings of Xu Chengjun's "Granary".

For example, "the work's macro-level presentation of the reform background is somewhat limited, some plot developments are a bit shallow, and it relies too much on the single image of 'granary' to carry the theme of the times. The portrayal of other groups in rural areas is relatively weak, which to some extent limits the breadth of the theme."

Xu Chengjun looked at him with disdain after reading it. "Where else can I lay the groundwork for a novella? Do you think I'm writing a web novel?"

Zhou Ming had explained this to him: a work cannot be all praise.

There has to be some negative feedback!
If he were to provide the evaluation, he would narrow down the negative aspects to a manageable level.

Zhou Ming: It's my duty to do this!
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The September issue of Anhui Literature has only been on the market for three days.

The wooden door to the editorial office was almost dented from the knocking of newspaper vendors.

As Zhou Ming stepped into the office with a cigarette dangling from his lips, Zhang Qiming slammed a stack of orders onto the table: "Old Zhou! Look, the Wuhu Supply and Marketing Cooperative wants to order an additional five hundred copies!"

"Wow, is the sun rising in the west over Wuhu?"

"Wasn't it Xu's novel 'Scales' that won over the hearts of the people of Wuhu? Nian Guangjiu is now a symbol of Wuhu!"

"This kid's literary stronghold in China is Anhui, and within Anhui, his strongholds are Fengyang and Wuhu."

Lin Xiuying was using a red ribbon to tie up readers' letters: "That's right! Yesterday the post office delivered three sacks of letters. One reader said that after reading 'The Granary,' he dug out his old account books overnight and wanted to compete with Xu Laoshuan in keeping 'missing wheat accounts'!"

She pointed to the crooked handwriting on the letter, "Look at this sentence, 'There are sprouts at the bottom of my granary, can't we grow 500 catties of them too?' Xu Chengjun has made all the readers want to become 'farming champions'!"

Li Jianguo's fingers moved so fast on the abacus that they left afterimages; the sound of the beads clattering drowned out the cicadas chirping outside the window.

"Last month, the print run was only 8,000, but in just three days, it has increased to 15,000! The printing plant just called to say that they are almost out of ink."

"They asked us to print two fewer pages of ads to make room—I suggested cutting the 'Call for Papers' section, but they weren't happy about it!"

He suddenly pushed the abacus aside and pulled out a bag of Shanghai milk candy from the drawer.

"Try them all! This was exchanged by the supply and marketing cooperative with the subscription fees from 'Granary' magazine. They said we helped them make 'educated youth themes' popular, so they have to give us a 'sales bonus'!"

Zhang Qiming, still clutching the unopened milk candy, suddenly slapped his thigh: "The other day, Old Zheng from the Writers' Association came to borrow a magazine, saying that their canteen chefs were discussing whether to melt down the key or keep the copper lock for Old Xu, and they even forgot to serve him food!"

He had barely finished speaking.

Just then, Old Zhang from the gatehouse burst in carrying a half-full sack of magazines, mud splattering from his trousers into Zhou Ming's enamel mug.

"Editor-in-Chief Zhou! The Hefei Evening News is asking to borrow ten sample copies. They said their reporter wants to write an article on 'Reform in Grain Coupons' based on 'The Granary,' and they also asked if Xu Chengjun could be their consultant!"

Zhou Ming, his eyes crinkling with laughter, said, "Advisor? Let them settle their newspaper subscription fees first!"

Lin Xiuying said with a smile, "Comrade Chengjun is about to go to Shanghai to pursue his master's degree. Does he still have time to be their advisor?"

"That's right, this kid is really amazing, he got into Fudan University without making a sound."

Old Zhang suddenly remembered something, grabbed the phone, and started shaking it.

"Hello, is this the printing press? Print another three thousand copies! And make the 'Reader Feedback Section' bigger, so that there's room for all the reader letters."

"Also, have them send two more boxes of ink. If Li Jianguo keeps this up, the ink will overflow the ceiling!"

Lin Xiuying: "There's more good news! The provincial supply and marketing cooperative said they'd send ten jin of new wheat to our editorial department, saying that 'Grain Warehouse' has increased their grain sales by 20%, and we should taste the 'sweetness of reform'!"

The whole room burst into laughter.

Looking at the mountain of orders piled on the table, Zhou Ming suddenly sighed, "If I had known Xu Chengjun's article would be so popular, I should have included a 'granary tour ticket' in the magazine. Maybe the granary in Xujiatun would become a celebrity's former residence!"

"Come on!"

Zhang Qiming was covered in sweat. "If this trend continues, we'll all have to work as volunteers at the printing factory."

"Li Jianguo's calculations are so meticulous, they're practically sparking with fire!"

Li Jianguo looked up and said seriously, "Why don't we talk to Xu Chengjun and ask him to write another 'Granary 2'? Just write about Xu Laoshuan growing corn, and I guarantee that the fertilizer from the supply and marketing cooperative will sell out!"

Even the postman passing by outside couldn't help but peek out the window and ask, "Comrade, have you won the lottery?"

"It's even better than winning the lottery!"
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In September 1979, the literary scene in Anhui clearly belonged to Xu Chengjun.

Following the publication of "The Granary" and Su Zhong and others' articles on "The Granary".

At the Youth Entrepreneurship Conference, Hanzi, Yan Zhen, Chen Dengke, and others who became acquainted with Xu Chengjun published reviews in literary magazines in Anhui Province and even across the country.

This has resulted in a rare consensus within Anhui's literary circles.

This also sparked a nationwide discussion about "The Barn".

In her commentary on the development of contemporary literature published in Harvest, Hanzi specifically mentioned Xu Chengjun's "The Granary".

This sparked curiosity among readers across the country about "The Barn".

"The granary uses simple language to depict the subtle scenes of the early days of rural reform. The character of Xu Laoshuan is as vivid as a neighbor, and the detailed description of the granary seems to bring the past years to the present. However, if the emotional depth could be explored further, it would be more impactful."

In his article "Some Opinions on the Current Trends in Poetry Development" published in the September issue of Poetry Journal, Yan Zhen also devoted a considerable amount of space to introducing Xue Chengjun's poetry creation.

The author highly praised Xu Chengjun's creative ability and lyrical style, and also recommended "The Granary" to readers across the country.

"Xu Chengjun's novel 'The Granary' cleverly uses the unique perspective of the granary to showcase the turbulent changes of the times. The narrative pace is well controlled, and the plot is captivating. However, it is slightly lacking in the richness of the environmental descriptions and fails to fully create the complex and diverse atmosphere of the rural areas at that time."

What surprised the literary world and readers the most was...

Even Chen Dengke sang praises to Xu Chengjun.
You weren't the one who criticized the most harshly when you published your article in "The Fitting Mirror" at the meeting?
Nanjing University professor Wu Zhengping recently published an article titled "The Artificiality in the Mud Brick Heap: The Deliberateness and Superficiality of 'The Granary'".

In short, Xu Chengjun's novel "The Granary" was able to gain popularity in the literary world of 1979 largely because of its theme of reform. It portrays an adobe granary as a vessel of the times and exaggerates farmers' private accounts as a harbinger of reform. The entire novel is filled with deliberately piled-up rustic details, yet it fails to even make sense of the most basic narrative logic.

Although the last time I criticized "The Fitting Mirror" didn't completely destroy Xu Chengjun, a newcomer to the literary world, it actually made him very popular.

But he became famous too!
Following in Chen Dengke's footsteps, he picked up the title of "a true literary critic who dares to go against the tide in the literary world."

This led him to discover a "business opportunity"!
Everything else is fake, but criticizing Xu Chengjun is definitely beneficial!
As one of the literary figures who "pays the most attention" to Xu Chengjun, upon seeing the publication of "The Granary," he gritted his teeth and decided to "go for it!"

So, no sooner had he finished issuing the order than Chen Dengke, this big-eyed and thick-browed man, betrayed the revolution?

Chen Dengke published a commentary titled "The Granary" in a special feature of Wenhui Daily.

The gist of the article is: "The Barn accurately captures the key moments of the era's transformation, and the character relationships are portrayed with subtlety, highlighting the struggles and awakenings of humanity amidst change. The only shortcoming is that some of the minor characters are somewhat underdeveloped and do not provide enough support for the overall story."

Chen Dengke is also a man of principle. He can't just criticize your "Fitting Mirror" and then rave about your "Barn" afterwards, can he?

Too deliberate!

So, it's just a little bit of a flaw!
Overall, it's a masterpiece with only minor flaws.
But what angered Wu Zhengping the most was that this guy wrote some kind of spiel at the end.
"To new member Xu Chengjun: Safeguard the 'solidity' of the granary, and even more importantly, break through the 'boundaries' of the granary."

So, you're actually from the same family?

Is Xu Chengjun one of your Writers' Association's subordinates?
Were you putting on an act for me earlier?

All of this laid the foundation for the nationwide bestseller status of "The Barn".

Sometimes, the world is a circle, and so is the literary world.

At that moment, a leader in Anhui Province was writing a report on the implementation of the "household contract responsibility system" in Xiaogang Production Team of Liyuan Commune, Fengyang County, when his secretary whispered a few words in his ear.

After a series of discussions, the September issue of Anhui Literature was sent to the capital along with the report.
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The next day, Xu Chengjun was listless after getting off the train.

He grabbed Xu Xiaomei's hand, who was looking very curious, and headed straight for Fudan University.

These days, train stations aren't exactly safe places.

"Brother, this is Shanghai!"

"This train station is even bigger than Hefei Station!"

"Brother, there are so many people!"

"Brother, this store doesn't sell things we don't have back home."

In his past life, Xu Chengjun didn't have a younger sister. Now, all he feels he needs is a pigeon coop!
On the way to Fudan University, Xu Chengjun gave Xu Xiaomei a general overview of the university.

He thought of the grandmother he chatted with at the library, and roughly felt that Xu Xiaomei's days at the library must have been quite comfortable.

Probably~
(End of this chapter)