My era, 1979!

Chapter 114: Should a Chinese Literature Textbook Be Published? (5.4k views)

Shanghai remains as prosperous as ever.

Jin Yucheng's "Blossoms," published in Harvest magazine in 2012, won the 9th Lu Xun Literary Prize.

He vividly described Shanghai from the 60s to the 90s.

There are a few sentences from that story that Xu Chengjun still remembers.

"After the worst comes the best; this half-minute is the taste of Shanghai."

"If you don't believe it, stick your head out of the dormer window, ah night, layer upon layer of rooftops, the wailing of 'Ben Tan', the dazzling neon lights, the rolling pearls of light, the soft red for ten feet, a sea of ​​flowers."

"The radio broadcasts of the 1960s were like imperial edicts, urging people to be cautious and prudent, their elegance surpassing the bustling city. Later, the 'city lights' of Shanghai nights reappeared, with a hint of Suzhou River dampness in the wind, and the aroma of salted vegetables and yellow croaker soup lingering in the air..."

"In the 1980s, Shanghainese were clever. When opening a new small restaurant, they would dig three feet into the ground to add an extra floor, such as a mezzanine. During this period, such two-story structures were common on Zhapu Road, Huanghe Road, and Jinxian Road as well..."

Why is Shanghai so prosperous?
Some people in later generations believed that...

One of the secrets is creating a dreamlike "Shanghai life" label, making you feel that by attaching this label you have reached a higher level, and your life is filtered.

This label, similar to the "American Dream," attracts young people from other places who are unsure of their own true level to come here and use their youth to increase the value of the big city's assets.

Of course, this is just a joke. The prosperity of Shanghai is determined by national policies and its natural geographical advantages.

"On the surface, it's about food and sex; on the inside, it's about mountains, rivers, and the passage of time."

Although Shanghai in this era is simple, it is still far superior to other cities.

The overwhelming sights dazzled Xu Xiaomei.

I kept exclaiming: Big cities are really different!
This can be seen.

Many people don't realize this when they're in school or just starting out at work: real-life games are very expensive, especially in Shanghai, where most people can't afford them.

The only difference is that men tend to see reality and withdraw earlier, while women tend to have more unrealistic fantasies.

This was already evident in the 1970s, though not very noticeable, but it has become even more pronounced in the 21st century.

Fortunately, Xu Xiaomei has her brother.

The completed manuscript of "Red Silk" contains 36 words.

The author will receive a royalty of 2880 yuan after publication, which is a huge sum of money in an era when people with 10,000 yuan are extremely rare.

In Shanghai, even remittance-funded apartments can now afford to buy ten square meters.
As for other houses, there aren't many options.

After all, in 1979, there was no market-oriented commercial housing market open to the general public.

Starting in 80, the program was gradually expanded to include pilot programs such as preferential housing purchases for some employees.

In the early autumn of 1979, before the morning mist had completely dissipated, the gates of Fudan University were already bustling with activity.

Xu Xiaomei looked at everything in front of her with curiosity.

I just arrived at the school gate on Handan Road.

The four gilded characters "Fudan University" on the vermilion lintel gleamed with dew.

On the asphalt road in front of the gate, a long line of Forever brand bicycles jingled, with net bags bearing the words "Shanghai Light Industry Bureau" hanging from the handlebars, containing enamel basins and floral quilts.

This is a line of parents riding bicycles to take new students to register.

A nostalgic scene of the start of the school year leaps off the page.

"Brother, you'll be studying here from now on!"

"Yes, you should work hard in the future and try to study here too!"

"That's so difficult!"

"I still want to study fashion design!"

I want to apply to Shanghai Textile Engineering College!

Young students and parents passing by smiled kindly upon hearing this and gave the little girl a thumbs up.

"That's a good school, little girl, you have to work hard!"

"Definitely~"

When Xu Xiaomei was in Hefei, she got along well with a group of female writers, especially Hanzi, who particularly liked this lively girl. It is said that Xu Xiaomei wanted to study fashion design.

So after some thought, everyone recommended Shanghai Textile Institute to him.

That is, the future China Textile University – Donghua University.

This girl clearly remembered it.

"Alright, alright! Once you've mastered it, I'll have all my clothes designed by future great designers!"

"No problem, bro! Fudan University is so lively!"

"School is about to start, which is the busiest time of the year for the school."

In 1979, the registration of new students and the return of returning students in the fall semester mostly occurred in early September. As a key university, Fudan University kept pace with the national mainstream in its educational development.

The start date for the new school year is set for September 5th.

This is also because there is no adjustment to the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays at this time, so the start of school is relatively fixed and will not be too early or too late.

Although it is not yet September, students from Shanghai and other relatively large nearby cities have already arrived at Fudan University to register.

Xu Chengjun found it quite novel.

While responding to Xu Xiaomei's endless questions, he looked around at the vibrant and historic campus.

The sense of intersection and division between time and era is very strong.

Occasionally, Fudan University students wearing Fudan badges would greet Xu Chengjun and Xu Xiaomei, asking, "Excuse me, which college are you from? Do you need any help?"

Xu Chengjun smiled and waved his hand.

The young men and women who were rejected didn't feel embarrassed.

She even secretly turned around to look at Xu Chengjun.

Some even whispered among their companions, "This junior is really good-looking."

"Yeah, she seems a bit different from the male classmates around her~"

"I wonder which college they're from?"

"I think it's from our foreign language department~"

"What, so you can take advantage of your proximity to get the moon first?"

"No way, don't talk nonsense! Students in the foreign language department usually dress up a bit!"

Although with the advent of AI, the status of less commonly spoken languages ​​is now lower than that of dogs.

However, it is still a very prestigious profession in this era.

After all, it provides an opportunity to interact with foreigners.
However, regardless of major, in this era, any college student is a treasure.

This kind of thing happens a lot along the way; people of any era can't do without those who are obsessed with good looks.

To be honest, the Xu family has really good genes.

The three brothers have all grown into very pleasing young men.

Xu Chengjun, in particular, was wearing a brand-new Dacron shirt, dress pants, and leather shoes, with a slightly long and neatly styled side part.

He has a somewhat refined scoundrel-like feel to him.

What's most unique about him is his maturity beyond his years and his sharp temperament that seems out of step with the times.

It's truly eye-catching.

Xu Xiaomei, who was standing next to her, was also extremely beautiful.

She was wearing a dress she had made herself using the polyester fabric that her second brother, Xu Chengjun, had brought back.

It's also very eye-catching.

Walk to the bulletin board at the school gate.

The area in front was crowded with people, and the registration points for each department were written in calligraphy on yellowed kraft paper.

The Chinese Department is located in Room 103 of the First Teaching Building, the Mathematics Department is in a bungalow next to the Third Dormitory, and the Chemistry Department has a small beaker mark next to its sign.

A boy in a blue work jacket stood on tiptoe, searching for his name on the list.

The girl with braided pigtails clutched her curled-edge acceptance letter and quietly asked the teacher wearing reading glasses about the pronunciation of "dormitory".

Those were English words I had just learned from the radio.

Xu Xiaomei smiled and said, "Brother, are you going to report here?"

"No, this is for undergraduate registration. I'll take you to the educated youth building for temporary accommodation in a bit, but first I need to ask my senior about the registration procedures. I'll also take you to visit him."

Xu Chengjun himself also has problems.

He will be teaching a semester's worth of courses to first-year students when school starts.

So he doesn't know how he should report on it when the time comes.

He also didn't know whether he would be living with graduate students or undergraduates for the next six months.

Does this sound confusing?
It's really a mess.

Very messy.

However, this is not due to human mismanagement, but rather the "pain of reconstruction" following historical destruction.

The old system has collapsed, and a new system needs to be built under the multiple pressures of rapidly restoring enrollment, meeting social needs, and adapting to reform and opening up.

The shortcomings in systems, faculty, and resources compounded each other, ultimately leading to the widespread perception of chaotic management in higher education at the time.

This situation gradually improved after the 1980s with the introduction of the Higher Education Law, the replenishment of teachers, and increased resource investment.

On the road leading to the dormitory area, the dappled shadows of the plane trees fell on the red banner that read "Welcome New Students." The edges of the banner were glued to the tree trunks and swayed gently in the wind.

Several senior students in gray Zhongshan suits carried wooden signs that read "Chinese Department Welcome Team" and helped freshmen carry canvas bags printed with "Serve the People".

He muttered to himself, "Go this way, Dormitory 3 has just been renovated, it's much better than the leaky dormitory we lived in last year."

Xu Chengjun smiled, recalling that in his past life, it was often the time when he graduated that the school would have a subway line or a basketball court built.
Based on experience, it's highly likely that the school you attend will become even better after graduation.

This is a common perception among students across generations.

Occasionally, a professor would pass by pushing a bicycle, with thick stacks of various books strapped to the back seat. After the bicycle bell rang, he would smile and say to the students gathered together, "Be on time for the first class of the semester, don't be late."

In the open space in front of the canteen, a makeshift porridge stall was steaming. Next to a large aluminum bucket was a stack of rough porcelain bowls. A cook wearing a white apron was scooping rice porridge with a large iron ladle and calling to the students in line, "Take your time, everyone gets some."

A freshman squatted under a sycamore tree, holding a bowl and drinking porridge with tea eggs cooked by his mother. Looking up, he could see teachers wiping blackboards in the windows of the teaching building. White chalk dust fell in the sunlight, like a handful of fine snow.

In the distance, by the basketball court, several boys were assembling newly bought basketball hoops, the blue packaging paper from the factory still stuck to the metal backboard.

They would stop every now and then and look towards the school gate.

Seeing Xu Chengjun bring Xu Xiaomei over, he would deliberately strike a cool pose.

The students passing by whispered among themselves.

Today, we will have classmates from Yunnan and Heilongjiang provinces who are returning from the "Old Three Classes" period. They bring their luggage and their own unique stories, and together with them, we will step back into the classroom this autumn.

This is also a unique mark of the times.

The college entrance examination was only reinstated in 1977, and 1979 was the third year after its reinstatement. The admission process, such as setting questions, admission standards, and verification of candidates' qualifications, was still being adjusted through trial and error.

In 1978-1979, there was a phenomenon of "mixed enrollment of recent graduates and previous graduates (such as educated youth sent to the countryside and those currently employed)," resulting in a wide range of age and educational backgrounds among the candidates, which posed a huge challenge for schools in class assignment and adapting the teaching schedule.

The fog gradually dissipated, and the sunlight illuminated the campus.

The fountain pen at the registration desk glides across the registration form, the sound of bicycle bells echoes through the tree-lined avenue, and occasionally someone asks in Mandarin with a local accent, "How do I get to the library?"

Xu Chengjun is curious about universities in this era.

Xu Xiaomei was curious about this university era.
-
The plane trees below the office building of the Chinese Department at Fudan University are shedding their autumn yellow leaves.

Xu Chengjun took Xu Xiao to the educated youth building to check in, and then immediately went to Xianzhou Hall (the building of the Chinese Department).

Xu Chengjun looked incredibly dashing with his canvas bag slung over his shoulder.

My feelings about coming here this time are completely different from the last time.
Xu Xiaomei behind him clutched the hem of his clothes, her braid still stained with soot from the train station.

As soon as he stepped onto the stairs, he heard a somewhat familiar voice from the second floor: "Xu Chengjun! If you had come two days later, I would have gone all the way to Fengyang to catch you!"

Xu Chengjun looked up and saw that it was Wang Shuizhao.

He was visibly shocked: "Professor Wang, do I owe you any money?"

"nonsense!"

"Didn't we agree to do research on 'academic genealogy maps' together?"

Xu Chengjun's mind went blank for a moment; he'd been so busy lately that he'd completely forgotten about it.

What's a genealogy chart?

Wang Shuizhao, observing his demeanor, knew he had forgotten: "The 'academic genealogy chart' you spoke so confidently about during the interview? You've forgotten it yourself?"

Xu Chengjun chuckled sheepishly, "How could I forget?"

"I've been writing a long novel lately, and my brain is a bit overwhelmed. I'll come see you after school starts and I'm done with that~"

"Alright, alright, go find your Senior Brother Zhang now."

"By the way, I suggest you write a paper on your insights into student writing. It would be very beneficial for today's students, and it would also be beneficial for you."

Wang Shuizhao buried half of her body back, then turned back and gave him a deep look: "Maybe this can be used to make a Chinese literature textbook."

textbook?
Like Adler's "How to Read a Book"?
Like Nabokov's "Lectures on Literature"?
Or is it like Forster's "How to Read a Novel"?
Xu Chengjun felt this was something worth doing. Deleuze and Van Doren's works are widely recognized as the cornerstone of methodology and have long been used as reading instruction and general education materials.

However, this era was not yet popular in China, and its content was not entirely suitable for domestic novels.

As for Forster's book, it wasn't written until 2015.

There's a chance!
After saying this, Wang Shuizhao ignored Xu Chengjun and the other man, leaving them with the words, "Professor Zhang is inside, hurry up and go!"

Zhang Peihang left his office door wide open.

When he saw that it was Xu Chengjun knocking on the door, he immediately took out a yellowed letter and slammed it on the table.

"You've got a knack for ordering people around. You entrusted me with three things in one letter: a temporary job at the library, a dormitory bed, and I have to keep an eye on your studies—do you think I'm your housekeeper?"

"How could I dare!"

Xu Chengjun smiled and handed over the Fengyang Flower Drum score and the local specialties he had brought.

“Brother Zhang, this is an old score that I searched all over the commune to find. You can use it for your research on folk literature.”

Zhang Peiheng's expression softened slightly, and he looked at Xu Chengjun.

Xu Chengjun smiled and shrugged: "Xiaomei, quickly thank Professor Zhang."

"Your situation is all thanks to Senior Brother Zhang~"

Xu Xiaomei quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Professor Zhang. I will definitely work hard and not neglect my studies."

Although she was fearless at home, this was the first time she had met a professor who was "so big".

I was still a little reserved.

Zhang Pei glanced at her sideways, thinking to himself: This family is all rather good-looking.

He pointed to the rattan chair in the corner: "Sit down. The library matter is settled. Go directly to Director Liu Yumei tomorrow and tell her it was arranged by me. It's the social sciences section on the third floor. The work isn't heavy; it's just registering borrowed and returned books. In your spare time, you can browse the books on the shelves and study on your own."

He laughed as he spoke, because he loved everything about the house.

"Isn't this better than working three shifts in a textile factory?"

In 1979, Fudan University Library implemented a two-tiered management system of "library-group/office", setting up an office, acquisitions and cataloging group, circulation group, periodicals group, and internal archives room.

The system operates on four parallel tracks: acquisition and editing, circulation, periodicals, and internal reference materials, providing categorized borrowing and various types of reading room services for faculty and students.

Placing Xu Xiaomei in the circulation group, and also in the social sciences area, is clearly a desirable job.

Xu Xiaomei's eyes lit up, and she nodded hurriedly: "Great! Much better!"

"It's good to know."

Zhang Peiheng changed the subject, looked at Xu Chengjun, and frowned.

"Tell me, why did you only arrive at the end of August when school starts in September? Did you have so many things to do at home?"

Xu Chengjun touched his nose: "After sending my older brother back to the team, I also attended a youth entrepreneurship conference in Anhui and rushed to submit a manuscript—it was commissioned by the inaugural issue of 'Qingming,' and my first long article was published there."

"The inaugural issue of 'Qingming'?"

Zhang Peiheng sat up abruptly, nearly spilling the enamel mug in his hand. As a professor in the Chinese department, he must have heard about the founding of "Qingming".

What is the status of "Qingming"?

It's slightly inferior to "Harvest," but not by much.

The key is that he knows so much about inaugural issues!

What qualifications do you, a mere 20-year-old, have to publish an article in the inaugural issue?

How can I be so virtuous and capable? !

"Yes, Chen Dengke was so enthusiastic. I wasn't really keen on giving it to him; I was thinking of submitting it to *Harvest* magazine instead."

Xu Chengjun shrugged.

I didn't want to pretend, but you had to ask, senior!
Zhang Peiheng rolled his eyes: "When did you write this long novel?"

Xu Chengjun briefly recounted his elder brother's return home, as well as the creative process and writing techniques.

Xu Xiaomei, standing to the side, looked at Xu Chengjun with stars in her eyes.

Zhang Peiheng remained silent for a long time before saying, "Your elder brother is doing a great job. This novel has been published. Bring me a sample copy to take a look, and remember to send a copy to the gentleman as well."

"He admired people with integrity the most in his life."

"Then we must let the teacher and senior brother see it first."

Silence for a long time.

Zhang Peiheng stared at Xu Chengjun for a long time, then suddenly burst out laughing, "Well done, you've just been admitted to graduate school and you're already making big moves!"

Xu Chengjun has achieved success, so how could he not be happy?

He got up, took a copy of "The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons" from the bookshelf, and stuffed it into Xu Chengjun's arms: "This is for you, so you can finish it before the semester starts. I've put your graduate course schedule on the table. Don't be late—if you're late once, you'll be punished by copying a piece of 'The Songs of Chu'."

Xu Xiaomei, who was listening nearby, was astonished. She quietly tugged at Xu Chengjun's sleeve and mouthed "So strict."

Zhang Peiheng, with his sharp eyes, caught a glimpse and snorted, "Yan Caihao! Where's the spirit your second brother had during his interview? Don't let yourself go when you get to Fudan!"

Xu Chengjun took the class schedule: "Senior, how's my paper coming along?"

"Don't worry, the sir is watching, nothing will go wrong."

Zhang Peiheng paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "You can go find the teacher later and have him explain the details to you!"

"But you're also prepared that once an article is published, someone will definitely nitpick?"

“Last year, a professor criticized my paper as ‘unorthodox,’ but now it’s still used as a textbook.”

Xu Chengjun was about to say something when Zhang Peiheng pointed directly at the door: "Alright, hurry up and go to the dormitory to pack. Xiaomei lives in staff dormitory 306, and reports to the library at eight o'clock tomorrow morning!"

"what about me?"

"You? You'll be living with the freshmen; your dorm room has been arranged."

Xu Chengjun: Huh?
I really want to live with my "junior classmates"!
It's really not Zhang Peiheng's fault for not letting him go to the graduate student dormitory.

In fact, Fudan University graduate students also needed to stay in temporary housing that year.

In 1979, the national education expenditure accounted for only 2.3% of GDP, and the per capita expenditure of college students was less than 100 yuan.

Some schools cannot even guarantee classrooms and dormitories.

Fudan University is considered good.

Being able to live in the dormitory was already considered a favor by Zhang Peiheng.
Xu Chengjun was helpless, but he didn't really care. It didn't matter who he lived with; if things really got too bad, he could just rent a place later.
It is very useful.

Just after leaving the Fairy Boat Pavilion, Xu Chengjun ran into someone he "least wanted to see" these past two days.
"Comrade Chengjun, is there a letter?"

Su Manshu smiled very gently.

Xu Xiaomei found it a bit strange

Why does it feel a bit chilly in September?

(End of this chapter)