My era, 1979!

Chapter 88: Seeing the Heart in the Details, Finding Light in the Everyday (410, Seeking First Subscription)
Ru Zhijuan!
In the latest issue of *Shanghai Literature*, Ru Zhijuan published a commentary on *The Fitting Mirror* under her real name: "Reflections on Reading *The Fitting Mirror*: Seeing the Human Heart in the Subtle, Finding Light in the Ordinary."

The gist is as follows:
"I first met Xu Chengjun in the canteen of the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles guesthouse. He didn't talk much and sat in the corner. Even when he ate, he carried a small notebook with him. Whenever someone talked about something he found interesting, he would quickly jot it down, the pen scratching on the paper as if he were collecting the scattered starlight in life. At that time, I felt that this young man had a sense of awe for life and a light in his eyes that could see through the ordinary days—and later, after reading his book 'The Fitting Mirror,' I was right."

Reading "The Fitting Mirror" for the first time is like holding a piece of polyester fabric just taken from a counter—warm to the touch, yet upon closer inspection, it possesses a heartwarming quality. Xu Chengjun understands so well how to conceal innermost thoughts within the mundane. These details weren't written out of thin air; they clearly show him crouching in a corner of a department store, observing countless Chunlans, Sister Wangs, and Xiao Mas, meticulously sewing the heartbeats hidden beneath their work jackets and the desires locked within their ration coupons into the lines of his writing.

I often say that good literature should be able to reflect the heartbeat of ordinary people under the grand backdrop of the times. The most moving aspect of "The Fitting Mirror" is precisely this respect for the "human heart." Chunlan is not a symbol to be disciplined; that dusty fitting mirror is not some illusory phantom, but a mirror in her heart, reflecting the longing she dared not speak aloud.

I yearn for beautiful clothes, and I yearn for a self that is not worn down by "rules". This yearning is as clean as a brand new piece of polyester in the store, without a trace of the filth of "selfish desires".

The era depicted by Xu Chengjun is not a cold, impersonal display of slogans and systems; it possesses warmth. Beneath the sweltering heat of late summer lies the coolness of a glass counter; within Director Wang's sternness lies a steadfast commitment to order; within Xiao Ma's shouts lies a yearning for vibrant days; even the red ribbon his mother threw into the stove reflects a generation's cautious pursuit of "beauty." These characters are not inherently good or bad, but simply represent the earnest way of living within their era. This is precisely the tolerance that literature should possess—not labeling people, but allowing readers to see themselves, to see the ordinary people around them, in the words.

Some say this work "magnifies personal desires," but to me, it's clearly about the most basic aspects of human nature. Which girl doesn't love to look pretty? Which girl doesn't harbor some hidden thoughts? Xu Chengjun doesn't portray these thoughts as monstrous floods, but rather as loose threads in a fitting room mirror, light and shadow on a floral fabric, or questions on the back of a photograph—gently saying, "These all deserve to be seen." How wonderful! Literature should be such a mirror, reflecting those overlooked, hidden, yet most authentic aspects of the human heart.

The beauty of *The Fitting Mirror* lies in its quiet, unassuming nature; like a gentle spring rain, it quietly nourishes the reader's heart. May author Xu Chengjun continue writing with this reverence for life, finding light in ordinary days and planting warmth in the depths of people's hearts. The realm of literature should, after all, accommodate these genuine, tender, and radiant thoughts.

Other editors at the Shanghai Literature magazine exclaimed that they couldn't stand it after reading it!
Sis, do we really need to fawn over a new author like this?!

Ru Zhijuan: What do these young people know! I'm betting on the future!

Do you know how many copies of this issue of "Harvest" he sold?

This time they're really inviting me to contribute!
In fact, there are clues to why Ru Zhijuan was able to support Xu Chengjun during this period. As a female writer, Ru Zhijuan's novels adhere to the principle of seeing the big picture from small details, reflecting the changes of the times from the perspective of life, portraying the characters' personalities through the relationships between them, expressing their emotions through their words and deeds, and skillfully using detailed descriptions to portray the characters' mental outlook.

So why he agrees with "The Fitting Mirror" is actually simple: they all want to discuss things about people and human nature.

The poem "The Lily" provides a vivid and detailed description of this.

Most importantly, she was also a woman, as was her daughter, Wang Anyi.

When Li Xiaolin saw this comment, she was extremely annoyed: I was right first! This woman beat me to it, and she quickly posted her own commentary:
"In 1979, when literature urgently needed to break through rigid patterns, 'The Dressing Mirror' achieved a grand vision through a small entry point. It abandoned stereotypical narratives, allowing individual fates to resonate with the changes of the times, and using the glimmer of light in the mirror to illuminate the path for literature to return to 'humanity' itself. This kind of creation, which is rooted in the fabric of life and observes spiritual growth, is a vivid practice of literature responding to the call of the times, and provides a valuable narrative model for the diversified development of literature in the new era."

Subsequently, a group of writers who had met Xu Chengjun briefly in Shanghai also joined the fray. They were all either currently working on or had submitted articles to Harvest and related journals.

This has unwittingly created a small circle in Shanghai.

This proves the old saying true: You may not be part of any social circle, but you can't live without one.

Then came the friends and relatives in Hefei, who had already read Xu Chengjun's "The Fitting Mirror" and had high hopes for this short story.

The literary world needs this new force. Anhui's literary scene needs these young backbone members.

Chen Rong, Su Zhong, Liu Zuci, Zhou Ming.
Each one is more important than the last.

What surprised the literary world the most was that Wang Zengqi had stepped in! This "gentleman" was known in the literary world for his kindness and his personality was very much in line with his writing. He was not competitive and rarely took sides or stood up for others.

But this time he actually got involved himself!

Is this "Fitting Mirror" really that amazing?
It's strange that people either like this book or don't! Hey! Xu Chengjun seems to have some connections?

Two weeks later, the literary review section of the *Liberation Daily* published a commentary by Wang Zengqi:
Reading Xu Chengjun's "The Fitting Mirror" is like drinking a cup of warm tea; it's mild at first, but leaves a sweet aftertaste of life. This young man writes well, without shouting or trying too hard, simply and quietly unfolding the life of a department store. The glass counter in the late summer heat is cool and refreshing, the bamboo ruler spins smoothly in the girl's hand, and even the curve of the rolled-up cloth ration coupons is written with great skill, showing that he has truly stood, observed, and pondered by the counter.

He doesn't deliberately talk about "systems" or forcefully emphasize "awakening." He simply writes about Chunlan's hesitation when touching the cloth ration coupons and her dazed look in the mirror, letting the reader savor the nuances. This unhurried, life-like writing style is rarely seen nowadays.

Good writing should be like this. Xu Chengjun, this young man, has life in his heart and his writing reflects his personality. If he continues to write like this, he won't go wrong.

Then the "opposition" represented by Liu Xinwu was shocked. This newcomer seemed to be extraordinary.
Didn't they say he was an educated youth sent to the countryside?

How come so many people are speaking up for him!
What a coincidence! It must be a coincidence!

If that doesn't work, we have to attack!

How can young people become successful without being tempered and tested?
On July 28, Xu Chengjun went to Zhu Dongrun's home from the Federation of Literary and Art Circles guesthouse early in the morning.

This time it wasn't like that; at least it wasn't just about getting a free meal!

I'm returning to my hometown tomorrow, and I should definitely come to pay my respects to Old Master Zhu, especially since he's been telling me for the past few days that I must have a meal with him before I leave!

If you don't come, you're out!
Hey, it definitely wasn't because he won at chess that the old man got angry!

Upon entering the gate, I found that the small room was packed with people.

The aroma of scallions wafting from the kitchen, the clinking of teacups in the living room, and the hushed conversation of people filling the air with the scents of old books and food.

(End of this chapter)