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

Chapter 215 It’s time
"People usually like to talk about poetry collections or essay collections, and they always keep them separate. Of course, there are some that are put together, but not many. I remember a publishing house that used to put Mr. Lu Xun's poems and essays together!"

Liu Yimin looked at Cui Daoyi: "Senior brother, that's Mr. Lu Xun!"

Cui Daoyi chuckled: "I think it's fine!"

"Publishing is about exploring more publishing possibilities. I've thought about it, and putting essays together into a collection is actually not a simple matter. Unless you're writing essays simply for the sake of writing essays, writing down your daily reflections."

Yimin, your essays are about the major events you've experienced. A full collection of your essays is still a long way off, as is a collection of your poems. But readers in literary and poetry circles have long hoped for both a collection of your poems and essays. Placing your poetry and essays together successfully fulfills that wish.

Li Shu echoed Cui Daoyi's words and explained from the side.

Readers have indeed been requesting Liu Yimin to publish a collection of poems for a long time. The first time I attended an internal party at the National Medical College, a student wrote me a note asking about it.

Later, whenever I met readers or attended poetry gatherings, people would always ask me about it.

A collection of poems put together from a few pieces—let alone others, even Liu Yimin himself would laugh his head off; he would become a laughing stock in the poetry world.

Liu Yimin thought for a moment and said, "Let's talk about this after I publish a few more essays, Comrade Lao Li. We'll have many more opportunities to cooperate in the future!"

"Alright, let's talk about it later!" Li Shu said with a smile.

Liu Yimin looked at the sky and saw it starting to darken again, and said, "It seems like the autumn rain will never end!"

Li Shu walked to the eaves and looked at the withered yellow ginkgo leaves in the yard, which were stuck to the ground with rainwater. He suggested, "Yi Min, you have to be careful in the rain. Don't let the leaves get into the drains and clog them!"

Cui Daoyi also said worriedly, "This autumn rain might suddenly turn into a downpour!"

"Okay, I'll tidy it up properly when the time comes! I also need to find someone to re-forge the bluestone slabs, otherwise the yard will be slippery when it rains!"

The courtyard of the siheyuan is paved with bluestone slabs. Over time, some parts have been worn so smooth that they are easy to slip on when it rains.

Find a carpenter to reforge it with an iron rod, and it will last for several more years!
“Yimin, let me find you one. There’s an old stonemason in our courtyard who knows some stonemasonry. He’s retired and has nothing to do, so he does odd jobs to supplement his income!” Li Shu said.

"Alright, Old Li, thank you so much for helping me out. Senior brothers, you can stay a little longer, I'll treat you to a meal. Of course, it's raining so we won't go out, but I just learned how to make shredded pork noodles, how about you try it?"

Cui Daoyi and Li Shu also didn't want to stay alone in the room, so they both ran into the kitchen to lend a hand.

Both of them can cook a little, but Liu Yimin doesn't know much. He learned how to make shredded pork noodles from Zhu Lin. Cui Daoyi simply said, "Let's just eat noodles with soybean paste. I think your shredded pork noodles are pretty much the same as noodles with soybean paste."

Liu Yimin said with a smile, "Senior brother, come here!"

"Okay!" Cui Daoyi made noodles with soybean paste, and Liu Yimin went to get some eggs, fried one egg separately, and also stir-fried a plate of meat.

"Yimin, you don't have a meat and egg ration, where did you get this meat from?" Li Shu asked curiously.

"I bought them at a premium, but once you get to know them, it's still easy to buy them! Some are pigs raised by nearby production teams, slaughtered to make money! In short, meat coupons aren't scarce anymore!"

After cooking, it was still raining quite heavily in the yard, so the three of them ate in the kitchen.

"It's great to have a telephone installed; you won't have to run around aimlessly if something happens!" Cui Daoyi said enviously.

"This phone number isn't for my own use, it's for all of us," Li Shu said with a smile.

"There aren't many courses for third-year Chinese literature majors, are there?" Cui Daoyi asked.

"There are significantly fewer classes now. The department wants to encourage students to take initiative, so I expect there won't be many classes left by senior year. Many journalism students in the Chinese department are now going to work for major newspapers, emphasizing practical experience. As for us literature students, we're either thinking about writing something or planning our future!"

Li Shu exclaimed, "Another batch of precious talents is about to be born. When that happens, all the major institutions will be fighting tooth and nail to get them from Yanda University!"

"Many journalism graduates have already been recruited by some state-run media outlets!"

After finishing their meal and chatting for a while, seeing that the rain had subsided considerably, the two said their goodbyes and left. As Li Shu was leaving, he said, "Yimin, if the stonemason is coming to work, I'll call you in advance!"

"Okay, just pay me the wages in advance, and I'll pay the old man later!"

"no problem!"

On the way back, Cui Daoyi noticed that Li Shu was not in high spirits and comforted him, "Old Li, didn't Yimin say that there will be many more opportunities for cooperation?"

"Ugh!"

Li Shu was very efficient. The next morning, the other party called to say that they would come over if the weather was clear in the afternoon, but would not if it rained.

The other party also brought an apprentice, and the two of them did the work on the entire courtyard for a total of ten yuan.

Liu Yimin went to Yenching University in the morning and gave several sample copies of "The Kite Runner" to a few professors.

Yan Jiayan chatted with Liu Yimin for a while. Just as Liu Yimin was about to leave, Professor Xie Mian walked in and, seeing Liu Yimin, said cheerfully, "Yimin, what are you doing here?"

Liu Yimin smiled and gave Xie Mian a copy of "The Kite Runner." Xie Mian smiled and said, "Truly a gem of the Chinese Department. Professor Wu Zuxiang was just praising Yimin next door!"

"Is Professor Wu next door? I'll go and deliver a copy to him later!" Liu Yimin brought plenty of supplies this time.

Xie Mian sat down: "Yimin, what's your opinion on the debate between the Returning School and the New Poetry School?"

Liu Yimin was already preparing to leave, but he had no choice but to sit down again: "Professor Xie, which aspect are you referring to?"

Yan Jiayan poured a glass of water for the two of them and said, "I don't think Yimin has said much. Lao Xie, I think Yimin has the demeanor of a great general!"

Xie Mian did not refer to the young poets as "obscure" but rather as "new poetry": "Actually, I think new poetry is very beautiful. It boldly integrates some Western elements and innovates in form. I think it is a very good attempt!"

"Old Xie has been tirelessly advocating for new poetry. Have you read the articles he published in the Guangming Daily? Old Xie is really amazing!" Yan Jiayan said, leaning back on the sofa.

"I have read Professor Xie's article 'Facing the New Rise,' and I personally agree with some of the points raised. Neither novels nor poetry should be stagnant, but rather a flowing stream that keeps moving forward. We should support innovation!"

Liu Yimin added, "Essentially, some of my poems are also modern poetry. The content we express has changed, so the form naturally changes as well!"

Xie Mian smiled and said, "Your views coincide with mine, but I rarely see you comment on poetry."

"My energy is limited!"

Inside the office, Xie Mian continued to discuss the dispute in more detail.

Liu Yimin looked at Yan Jiayan and said, "Although I didn't comment, people have commented on me quite a bit, hahaha!"

Hearing Liu Yimin's dissatisfaction, Xie Mian said, "Some comrades have indeed gone a bit too far!"

"Professor Xie, I don't think there's an either-or relationship between modern poetry and so-called classical poetry. It's different from the debate between classical and vernacular Chinese. Even within classical and vernacular Chinese, it doesn't prevent them from coexisting. Classical poetry has its merits, and so does modern poetry. We should learn from each other's strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses. Of course, we can criticize what's not good. Discussion can promote progress, but biased attacks are not acceptable. Nobody can tolerate insults that border on personal attacks!"
Professor Yan, tell me, am I wronged? I didn't say anything, and a bunch of people started cursing at me!

Yan Jiayan said seriously, "It's not that whoever shouts the loudest is right!"

“Yes, these young people also made mistakes!” Xie Mian said.

"Professor Xie, you must have been there during the Youth Poetry Recital, right? You must have read Comrade Ai Qing's lecture notes. To be honest, Comrade Ai Qing showed them to me beforehand!" Liu Yimin said.

"So what did you think at the time?"

"I knew right away that this would cause a controversy!" Liu Yimin laughed.

Xie Mian: "Hey, to be honest, I didn't expect it to be that serious!"

"As a member of the poetry community, everyone has the right to express their views on poetry. I think modern poetry has its merits, but of course, there are also instances of formal alienation that result from the deliberate pursuit of novelty. Just like the avant-garde writers in France, many good works have emerged, but there are also those who deliberately pursue form and sensory impact on readers, resulting in a lack of distinction between primary and secondary elements."

Xie Mian and Yan Jiayan began to think, while Liu Yimin walked out of the office with a smile.

After a while, Xie Mian said, "It seems Yimin is a bit angry!"

“Even a clay figure has a bit of temper; I actually like that kind of person—reasonable and measured! Old Xie, to be honest, it's not appropriate for you to discuss this with Yimin!” Yan Jiayan said.

Xie Mian: "I'd like to hear the opinion of the young man who's considered the best!"

Liu Yimin went next door and met several elderly professors. Liu Yimin smiled and handed them his books.

Wu Zuxiang was smoking when he saw Liu Yimin handing him the book. He stubbed out his cigarette and took it with both hands: "A few days ago, I asked the Chinese literature students to write comments for the class assignment. I wonder how everyone's assignments are going these days!"

"My roommates are scratching their heads trying to write it; the requirements are so strict that they have to revise it several times!"

"Being strict with them is for their own good! Look at you, I don't need to be strict with you. You're very strict with yourself and you're always making breakthroughs in your writing! Try to write a few more long pieces next time, but don't write something like an old lady's foot binding cloth, long and smelly!"

At Wu Zuxiang's request, Liu Yimin left the office.

The stonemason came to work in the afternoon. The weather was nice, and the yard was filled with the clanging and banging all afternoon. Liu Yimin bought a roast duck, and when they got tired of working, the three of them sat in the yard to eat.

Sanhua was initially frightened by the clanging noises and ran away, but it wasn't until much later that she realized there was no danger and began to frolic in the yard.

"You cowardly cat!"

As soon as Liu Yimin finished speaking, Sanhua immediately bared her teeth at him, showing that she really liked to bully those within her own circle!

After finishing their work in the evening, Liu Yimin gave the two of them extra pay, cooked dinner, and ate before going home.

Before leaving, the stonemason and his apprentice helped Liu Yimin clean up the stone dust and debris in the yard.

"The Kite Runner" has already started selling on the market. Liu Yimin attaches great importance to this novel. When he passed by Xinhua Bookstore, he even sat on his bicycle to take a look.

I only felt relieved when I saw that sales were going well.

Just as they arrived at the courtyard house, the phone rang. Cui Daoyi told Liu Yimin that he had received Lu Yao's manuscript, which Liu Yimin assumed was Lu Yao's novel.

“It’s about you, Yimin, it’s about you, this is a discussion about poetic trends!” Cui Daoyi said loudly.

"I'll go to the editorial department right away!" Liu Yimin hung up the phone.

Upon arriving at the editorial office, Liu Yimin took the literary review from Cui Daoyi. It stated that discussions about poetry should return to rationality, and carefully listed Liu Yimin's poems, expressing his own feelings.

"This is speaking up for you!" Cui Daoyi said with a smile.

“Comrade Lu Yao is far away in the Northwest, yet he still thinks of me. That’s not easy!” Liu Yimin said.

A female editor walked over, handed Liu Yimin a newspaper, and said with a smile, "Comrade Yimin, take a look. This is an article by Comrade Jiang Zilong published in the Tianjin Daily!"

The female editor, Xu Yi, was Jiang Zilong's editor. She once braved the pouring rain to visit Jiang Zilong at the hospital, getting completely soaked, and bowed deeply to apologize upon entering. This was because Jiang Zilong had previously been criticized for publishing a novel in *People's Literature*, which led him to refuse to write anymore.

Thanks to the female editor's insistence, "The Appointment of Factory Director Qiao" came into being.

Liu Yimin took it and looked at it. The first thing it said was not to always say that old writers are outdated. Even if they are outdated, they still have outdated things. Some people don't even have outdated things.

The author sarcastically refers to Liu Yimin as a poet who "bridges the past and the future" in the poetry world, and points out that those who criticize Liu Yimin only write a few lines of poetry that no one listens to, and then think they have the right to speak.

Xu Yi said that Jiang Zilong was more experienced in being scolded than you. In the past, the Tianjin Daily had fourteen pages criticizing him. When the leaders held meetings, they would criticize him throughout the entire meeting, only getting to the point in the last fifteen minutes.

He said that to deal with this, one must have a good attitude and one must refute it.

He used to write a short story and submit it every time he was criticized, which can be seen as turning grief and anger into strength. In addition, writers and poets should let their works speak for themselves.

“The sales figures for ‘The Kite Runner’ will shut these people up!” Cui Daoyi said.

"I need to write a letter to Comrades Lu Yao and Jiang Zilong to say thank you!"

Cui Daoyi said, "We will publish Lu Yao's commentary as soon as possible, in the next issue!"

When Zhang Guangnian returned to the editorial department from the Writers' Association, he saw the three of them discussing and laughed: Yimin, what do you think?

Liu Yimin laughed and said, "Of course we can't just sit back and take the insults!" He then pulled out several commentaries from his bag. He had been researching a lot of materials recently and was preparing to refute them in a targeted manner.

"Great, you were prepared!" Cui Daoyi said.

When do you plan to send it?

"After your next issue is published, I plan to submit one of these articles to 'Yanjing Literature and Art,' and the others to 'China Youth Daily' and other newspapers!" Liu Yimin said.

Cui Daoyi patted his shoulder: "I'll write one too, and publish it in the evening paper. The editors at the evening paper have been asking me to write articles!"

"Thank you, senior brother!"

"Don't mention it, it's time!"

Zhang Guangnian said with a smile, "If any of you are interested in the Wenyi Bao (Literary Gazette), you can submit your work there. The Wenyi Bao represents the Writers Association's attitude better than the Renmin Wenyi (People's Literature and Art). Of course, your submission needs to be approved!"

(End of this chapter)