Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 120 Attacks on Le Monde

The lecture hall of the Chinese Department at the University of Marseille was packed with people from all walks of life early on, including writers from the Marseille branch of PEN France, members of the Sino-French Friendship Association, and faculty and students from the University of Marseille.

Today, the delegation specially changed into Zhongshan suits and walked on the campus of Marseille University. As a coastal city, Marseille had exceptionally good weather. Standing in an open space and looking towards the sea, it was impossible to distinguish between the sky and the horizon.

"Yimin, are you ready?" Ba Jin asked in a low voice as he walked.

Liu Yimin laughed and said, "Just tell the truth!"

As we entered the lecture hall, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. A row of tables and chairs were arranged on the stage, with a podium next to it. The entire hall was brightly lit, creating a solemn and warm atmosphere.

Liu Yimin smiled and waved to the audience as Ba Jin did so. The meeting began with Ba Jin, as the head of the delegation, speaking about his creative process and giving a brief thank you on behalf of the delegation.

After the thank-you remarks, the newspaper reporters began asking questions. The question for Ba Jin was roughly, "How does it feel to be back in France?" The other members of the delegation were also given symbolic questions.

The two reporters from Le Monde exchanged glances and raised their hands to Liu Yimin: "Mr. Liu, from the delegation visiting France, have you heard of a film called 'The PLA Occupies Paris' since you came to France?"

Liu Yimin was taken aback. In fact, not only Liu Yimin, but everyone in the delegation was also stunned. Using this movie as a question was malicious.

In 1974, France produced a film called "The French Army Takes Over Paris" in response to the May 1968 events. The film depicted the rise of a powerful Eastern nation, which sent 600 million soldiers to land in France. The French general fled in disarray and entered Paris without any resistance.

As expected, the saying goes: no one can occupy Paris before France surrenders.

After entering Paris, the People's Liberation Army did not commit any offenses and maintained strict military discipline, thus subduing the French who were preparing to flee in panic.

However, the strict military discipline and rigorous management made these "romantic" Frenchmen extremely uncomfortable. So they began to corrupt the soldiers with decadent methods and tempt and corrupt them with the sugar-coated bullets of capitalism. Finally, unable to resist the invasion of these sugar-coated bullets, they withdrew from Paris.

Many people think this is a dig at us, but in the film, we actually represent the embodiment of justice and virtue, while France is like a filthy sewer. We want to save this sewer, but it's just too stinking; justice and virtue can no longer save it.

The French deconstructed themselves by mocking themselves through comedy films.

When the delegation members saw it on the hotel television, they were greatly shocked and thought it was a slander against us.

All eyes were on Liu Yimin. The reporter's face was full of mockery, already imagining the huge uproar that the news would cause in French society, making the two of them famous in the news world.

"When my colleagues and I watched this film, we were all amazed by the level of comedy in French cinema. It is indeed an excellent comedy film."

After Liu Yimin finished speaking, the reporter pressed him again: "Do you think there will ever be a day when Chinese people set foot in France?"

"You're wrong. The Chinese have already arrived, and they're sitting right in front of you now!"

Liu Yimin's humor elicited laughter from the audience. After the laughter subsided, the reporter from Le Monde asked again, "The Chinese army hasn't come to France, but it has already arrived in South Y. Why did you send troops into South Y?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yimin said solemnly, "This French journalist, I want you to understand one thing: in mid-March, we withdrew. This was a war of self-defense. South Korea has frequently harassed our borders, attempting to occupy border territory."

Let me give you an example. It's like the Germans attacking France, the difference being that we fought back, while the Germans marched into Paris. If the French had initially repelled the Germans and then stormed into Germany to punish them, could that be considered a French strategy against Germany?

“Of course not!” the reporter in the black suit from Le Monde blurted out instinctively.

The other members of the delegation were on edge, their eyes constantly fixed on Liu Yimin, afraid of saying anything inappropriate.

"So, we call this self-defense. Although the initial outcome was different for us in South Y compared to yours in Germany. We fought our way in, and the Germans came in."

But in the end, we won, and you won too; the French became the masters of France once again.

This proves a truth: justice will prevail!

Liu Yimin's powerful voice echoed in the auditorium. Ba Jin was the first to applaud, followed by the delegation and the audience below the stage, who all applauded Liu Yimin. The applause was like the waves on the beach outside, lasting for a long time.

After the noise subsided slightly, Liu Yimin raised his hand and pressed down in the air before continuing, "I have another question to ask: If you had stormed into Germany and occupied large swathes of land, would you have retreated for the sake of peace? I think you all have the answer in your hearts, but we did retreat. We exercised great restraint in the face of war and never thought of using war to gain benefits. We hope for peace and are willing to build peace with our own hands."

But we will never compromise or concede step by step for the sake of peace to those who always try to bully us. The days of expecting us to cede territory and pay reparations simply by placing a large ship at sea are long gone.

After Liu Yimin finished speaking, he looked at the reporter from Le Monde again: "Sir, do you have any questions?"

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the two reporters from Le Monde exchanged a defeated glance. Despite having prepared numerous questions, they refrained from asking any further.

If they keep asking, they'll only embarrass themselves.

Ba Jin tapped the table: "Our delegation is visiting France as a delegation of writers, representing the exchange between the literary circles of our two countries. We hope to promote friendly communication between the literary circles of our two countries."

It means you reporters should stop making things up.

The following questions were quite formal, mostly related to the literary world or some personal questions.

As he left the lecture hall, the reporter from Le Figaro found Liu Yimin and brought him the payment for the article he had received last time. The final standard was seventy francs per thousand words, and he received one hundred and forty francs for two thousand words.

“Liu, I hope one day I can go to China and see for myself the miracle in the desert you mentioned!” said the reporter from Le Figaro. He left his name at the end, and Liu Yimin then learned that his name was Noven.

As he was about to board the bus, a reporter from Le Monde ran over and handed Liu Yimin an envelope containing a Marseille city coat of arms, apologizing for the questions asked in the auditorium.

Marseille's coat of arms features a white background with a blue cross, and the entire emblem is made of bronze, adorned with exquisite patterns. This is similar to the pins athletes exchange during the Olympics; they received similar pins in Nice as well.

Ba Jin looked at Liu Yimin and said, "Yimin, what you said just now was excellent, it really gave me a good sense of relief!"

"Yeah, that was awesome!"

After listening, they wanted nothing more than to give Liu Yimin a thumbs up on the spot. As the head of the delegation and an elder, Ba Jin couldn't say many things himself, but Liu Yimin didn't have so many reservations.

Back at the hotel, everyone started packing their luggage, as they were to catch a flight to Lyon that evening. At 7:30 p.m., Liu Yimin and his group successfully landed at Lyon Airport, where they were greeted by many people who presented them with flowers.

“It’s like watching a lantern festival every day,” Xu Chi said to Liu Yimin in a low voice. Through their “joint development,” their relationship has become increasingly close.

Led by a local reception representative, the group entered the Sava Hotel. This representative was a member of the local Friendship Association and had two daughters, one of whom was a Chinese student who was staying at her home.

They got along very well and treated the Chinese students like daughters.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Liu Yimin was immediately called over by the local Friendship Association to attend a reception. Fortunately, he had rested at the Marseille Hotel in the afternoon and was still in good spirits.

However, Mr. Xu, who was "eager to buy a color TV," was already overcome by drowsiness.

"Comrade Xu, are you up to the task of hosting the banquet?" Liu Yimin asked.

Xu Chi shook his head: "It's a bit impossible. If I can decline, I really don't want to go."

"It's Chinese food tonight, it's been so long since I've had Chinese food, are you sure you don't want to go?" Luo Sun teased.

"Then let's go eat a few bites!"

Lyon is considered a revolutionary old region in France. The Lyon Workers' Movement was one of the three major workers' movements in Europe, and two silk weavers' uprisings took place there.

At the dinner, a group of people sang "The Song of the Silk Weavers" under the leadership of the Frenchman. After the song, a Frenchman came over, raised his glass to Liu Yimin and said, "Yimin, Liu, I heard about what happened in Marseille today. I apologize for the recklessness of my colleagues. I wonder if you would be willing to be interviewed by me. I would like to interview you about your experiences and talk about some topics you are willing to discuss."

Liu Yimin raised his glass and clinked it with his, saying, "It's a pity we only have less than a day in Lyon tomorrow; we have to fly back to Paris this afternoon!"

“I can wait for you in Paris. My name is Pierre Assouri.”

Pierre Assouli is about the same age as Liu Yimin, and like Yu Jiajia, he is a young journalist eager to make his mark.

Pierre felt that if he could conduct an exclusive interview with Liu Yimin, it would definitely generate a significant buzz.

Liu Yimin sized him up; Pierre was not only a writer and journalist, but also an editor and a judge for the French Prix Goncourt.

The Goncourt Awards differ from those in China. They have a jury of ten members, and a new jury is automatically formed only if one member passes away or is over eighty years old.

"If we can meet in Paris, we can talk again!" Liu Yimin didn't give Pierre a definite answer.

Pierre didn't show any disappointment. Instead, he turned to Liu Yimin and asked for an article about the resumption of the college entrance examination in China. He wanted a detailed discussion of the impact of the resumption of the college entrance examination on Chinese society, the current university student population in China, and so on. The payment was over 100 francs per thousand words.

Liu Yimin shook hands with Pierre and said he would write it for him as soon as possible.

Xu Chi walked over and asked, "Yi Min, what are you two talking about? You seem to be having a great time?"

"Old Xu, we have another job!"

Xu Chi quickly waved his hand, rubbing his eyelids, and said, "I can't take it, I can't take it!"

"Then I'll decline? One hundred francs per thousand words!"

Xu Chi pointed at Liu Yimin with his finger, then sighed and said through gritted teeth, "I'll make myself suffer a little more!"

Liu Yimin was a beneficiary of the resumption of the college entrance examination. In addition, he had written "The College Entrance Examination in 1977". When Pierre commissioned him to write an article, Liu Yimin had a basic idea in mind after just one thought.

The next day, everyone visited the factory where the silk weaving workers' uprising had taken place. After the visit, it was already afternoon. Back at the hotel, Ba Jin was interviewed by two local female reporters.

After the interview, I boarded the plane back to Paris.

On their second day in Paris, they would travel to Châteauroux. Ba Jin had attended high school in this city and had a deep affection for it. In Châteauroux, Liu Yimin and his companions were invited by the deputy mayor to give a speech at the city hall. A local friend presented Ba Jin with a gift, which he greatly appreciated, but unfortunately, he couldn't find it after returning to Paris.

On May 10th, their trip to France entered its final countdown. Everyone was excited after boarding the plane, as it meant they wouldn't need to travel far for the next week and could relax in their Paris hotel.

After five more days in Paris, they can go home.

“Going abroad is like this. Everyone thinks it’s a good job, flying around in the sky and feeling very honorable, but in reality it’s a tough job,” Ba Jin said to Liu Yimin and the others.

"I've arrived at the Paris guesthouse, I'm going to get a good night's sleep," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

“Yimin, you really need to rest. Also, you mentioned the French journalist interviewing you, you could consider that. Since the French are so interested in you, we should let them know more about you.” Ba Jin said, recalling what Liu Yimin had mentioned after their last trip back from Lyon.

"Teacher Ba, I'll listen to you," Liu Yimin said. He secretly wondered if Pierre would find Paris.

After the plane took off, everyone fell silent. Liu Yimin glanced at Xu Chi next to him; Old Xu had already closed his eyes and started to doze off.

Inside the Flammarion publishing house, Massey Dani sat bored at his workstation, fiddling with the francs in his hand, his eyes fixed on the telephone on the corner of the desk, fantasizing about receiving a call about publishing collaboration the next second.

As a newcomer, the number of authors I can collaborate with is very limited. Even if I do find an author, they are usually those with extremely poor sales.

Watching his colleagues constantly making and receiving phone calls, a frustrated Massey Dani got up, got a cup of coffee, and returned to his workstation. He took a sip and glanced at the newspaper on the table.

After a while, he looked again at the young man in the newspaper. Two days ago, his colleague came back and told him that the young man was too arrogant and not a good business partner at all.

Upon seeing the news in the newspaper that the delegation had returned to Paris, Marseille Dani took a deep breath. He had a feeling that if he went, he would definitely succeed.

(End of this chapter)