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

Chapter 237 The Mao Dun Literature Prize Award Ceremony

On March 20th, the weather in Yanjing was fine. Festive banners were hung at the entrance of the Great Hall of the People, and the art representatives attending the award ceremony filed into the Great Hall of the People.

Liu Yimin had communicated with Zhang Guangnian beforehand and placed the tape recorder on the stage to start recording. However, Zhang Guangnian told Liu Yimin that they had also prepared a broadcast and did not need to record anything else.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Yimin decided to put the tape recorder aside so he could keep it as a memento later.

Liu Yimin arrived when the venue was being set up and worked alongside the writers' association for a while.

Several comrades from the Writers' Association advised Liu Yimin not to bother, as he was the protagonist today and the stage should not be set up by the protagonist.

Liu Yimin told them with a smile that he had to set up his own stage for his performance. Zhang Guangnian walked over to Liu Yimin and patted him on the shoulder: "How are you? Feeling a lot of pressure?"

"My colleagues at the Writers' Association said I'm the main character today. How can the main character feel pressured? I have to put on a good show!"

"Haha, you little rascal, you'd better talk things out later! You're the youngest of us, and being young has its advantages and disadvantages."

"Comrade Zhang, what you said is quite philosophical."

"Hahaha!"

When it was almost time, people began to enter the conference room one after another. Many of them recognized Liu Yimin and came over to greet him.

The chief editors and some editors from several major editorial departments came. In addition to those from Yanjing, representatives from Huacheng and Harvest also participated.

Yao Xueyin pulled Liu Yimin to sit next to her. Then Liu Yimin met Mo Yingfeng and Zhou Keqin. Zhou Keqin shook hands with Liu Yimin and congratulated him.

Zhou Keqin's scarf looked very thick, hanging down her chest like a waterfall. Liu Yimin shook hands and said, "Hello, Comrade Zhou Keqin."

"Hello, Comrade Liu Yimin, I have read all of your 'Homeland Trilogy', and they are very well written."

"You flatter me. I heard you also won the 80 Short Story Award?"

Zhou Keqin nodded smugly, and then a middle-aged man in military uniform walked into the venue. He looked around the venue and walked towards Liu Yimin and the others.

The man in the military uniform is Wei Wei. After joining the army, his works became inextricably linked with the military, culminating in the nationally acclaimed "Who Are the Most Lovable People?"

Because of his experience in Korea, his works are inextricably linked to the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and Korea.

His award-winning work, "The East," is also on this subject. Centered on a heroic regiment, it tells the story of Guo Xiang, a company commander, and Yang Xue, a medic, who, after receiving an urgent order to return to their unit, join the Chinese People's Volunteer Army to fight abroad.

The two fought bravely alongside their comrades. In the end, Guo Xiang lost a leg due to injury and returned to China to become a county official, leading the people of the county in their struggle and progress.

Medic Yang Xue and countless comrades-in-arms are now laid to rest on the peninsula.

Wei Wei currently works in the Cultural Department and Political Department of the Yanjing Military Region, so he wears a green military uniform with red collar tabs, making him stand out in the crowd.

Wearing brown glasses and with a stern expression, he only smiled slightly when he walked up to Yao Xueyin: "Hello, Comrade Yao Xueyin!"

After the two shook hands, Liu Yimin stood up and introduced himself, saying, "Hello, my name is Liu Yimin!"

"Liu Yimin, I often hear your name, my fellow villager. Our hometowns aren't far apart, and the familiar accents feel so comforting!"

When Liu Yimin, Yao Xueyin, and Wei Wei spoke in hushed tones, they all spoke in the Henan dialect, and before they knew it, they seemed to have formed a small circle.

Liu Yimin said, "I really like your article 'Who Are the Most Lovable People'. I used to memorize it a lot when I was in school!"

"It's not that I wrote it well, it's that our soldiers are just so lovable!" Wei Wei said with a nostalgic look when he mentioned "Who Are the Most Lovable People," recalling his three trips to Korea and the praise he received from his instructors.

After "Who Are the Most Lovable People" was published, the instructor instructed: Distribute it throughout the entire army!

"Your novels are all good. I often recommended 'The Flames of War in Beiping' to my colleagues and leaders last year when I was in the military and political department. But currently, the most popular novel in the army is your 'Red River Valley.' My leader likes it very much too. When he came here, he said that he was looking forward to the Beijing People's Art Theatre's play and that he would go see it."

Wei Wei's superior. Wei Wei didn't say, and Liu Yimin didn't ask, but he knew who it was just by counting on his fingers.

"Comrade Wei Wei, have you been in Yanjing recently?" Yao Xueyin asked.

"No, I went out of town and haven't been in Yanjing since the beginning of the year. I just got back!"

As they were chatting, Liu Yimin felt someone poking his back, just like the student behind him gently teasing the student in front of him in class. Liu Yimin turned around and saw Wan Fang and Li Xiaolin smiling at him.

"Two senior sisters? You've come too?" Liu Yimin asked with a smile.

“What? Can’t we come? Yimin, ‘The Kite Runner’ was published in our journal Harvest, and we were the ones who submitted it,” Li Xiaolin said to Liu Yimin.

"I thought it wasn't you, Senior Sister, who came!"

Wan Fang smiled and said, "Yi Min, how are the preparations going?"

"That's fine, Senior Sister!" Liu Yimin said softly to Wan Fang, "I'll just play a supporting role!"

Li Xiaolin whispered to Wei Wei, Yao Xueyin, and the others in front of him, asking them to contribute articles. They all nodded in agreement, saying they would definitely send suitable articles to *Harvest* magazine.

Wei Wei asked Liu Yimin in surprise why he called the two of them "senior sisters".

He worked in the military and government and had some interactions with people in the Writers' Association, but not many.

"You're Mr. Wan's student?"

Liu Yimin nodded, and Wei Wei smiled and said, "Then it will be more convenient for me to go to the Beijing People's Art Theatre to watch plays in the future!" Then Wei Wei asked Li Xiaolin how Mr. Ba Jin was doing.
"My father is in good health, but he needs to go to the hospital to recuperate from time to time. He often goes out on visits, which makes his body too tired!"

Some editors also tried to solicit articles from the other authors, but seeing that the venue was getting more and more crowded, they realized it was no longer a good time and felt it was a pity that Harvest had beaten them to it again.

On the podium, Chen Huangmei patted the megaphone, and the entire venue fell silent. A piece of inspiring music then began to play.

"Respected leaders of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, leaders of the Writers Association, fellow writers, and fellow editors."

Today is a good day. The selection of the first Mao Dun Literature Prize has captivated the literary world and touched the heart of Comrade Mao Dun himself. Out of his love for the nation and socialist literature, Comrade Mao Dun donated all of his lifetime's royalties. Let us express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Mao Dun. Furthermore, the Writers' Association will ensure that this donation is used effectively. Currently, the prize money will be funded by the interest earned from this donation.

As the opening remarks faded, enthusiastic applause filled the hall. Next came the speeches from various leaders, who, in addition to offering congratulations, also offered guidance on literary creation, providing direction from their own perspectives and positions.

It is believed that the establishment of the Mao Dun Literature Prize will encourage literary and artistic workers to create more works, promote the prosperity of socialist literature, and pave the way for future development.

"Comrades, at the Lu Xun Literary Prize award ceremony last year, a comrade's speech sparked a heated discussion. This comrade boldly predicted the arrival of reform literature."

All eyes turned to Liu Yimin, and Wan Fang whispered from behind, "Junior Brother, everyone's watching you!"

"Yes, it's Comrade Liu Yimin. He also won the Mao Dun Literature Prize this year. Last year, people didn't think much of it, but after a year of development, there are more and more literary works like this. I believe there will be even more of these kinds of literary works in the future."

After the leaders finished speaking, the formal awards ceremony began. Accompanied by rousing music, Liu Yimin and the others slowly walked onto the stage.

The winners of the Mao Dun Literature Prize and their authors are as follows:
"The East," authored by Comrade Wei Hongjie.

Volume Two of "Li Zicheng" was written by Comrade Yao Guansan.

"The Kite Runner" is written by Comrade Liu Yimin.

"Xu Mao and His Daughters," by Comrade Zhou Keqin

"Ode to the General" by Comrade Mo Yingfeng.

Let's give a warm round of applause to welcome our five comrades to the stage to receive their awards!

Zhou Yang, Xia Yan, Zhang Guangnian, and others presented awards to everyone in turn. Each person held an award certificate, a medal, and a prize of three thousand yuan.

A prize of three thousand yuan is not just a little bit ahead of other literary awards in China, it's far ahead, leaving no other awards in sight.

The total donation of 250,000 yuan, plus the interest earned every three years thereafter, supported these prizes and allowed the company to barely move forward.

Later, as prices rose, the prize money reached 5,000 yuan when Lu Yao won the award in 1988. In the 21st century, it reached 50,000 yuan. Then, Li from the port donated 5 million yuan, raising the amount to 500,000 yuan.

Xia Yan patted Liu Yimin on the shoulder and said, "Good lad, you stand out quite a bit among these five!"

There were five people. Yao Xueyin's hair was already snow-white, and the others were not young either. Liu Yimin was standing there, and people would believe that he was a young man who came to present flowers to the award winners.

Winning the award in his early twenties broke the record for the oldest winner of the Mao Dun Literature Prize in its inaugural edition, a record that has remained unbroken ever since.

Zhou Yang said, "Among the five people receiving awards on the podium, he is the youngest!"

This quote is from Bai Juyi's poem written when he became the top scholar in the imperial examination at the age of 27: "At the place where names are inscribed below Ci'en Temple, I am the youngest among the seventeen."

Zhang Guangnian laughed from behind, "Yimin, keep up the good work!"

Then the group shook hands with the others to encourage them, with Zhou Yang repeatedly referring to Yao as "Old Yao," as he and Yao Xueyin were only two years apart in age.

After returning to his seat, Yao Xueyin spoke first. He spoke with deep emotion about the creation of the first volume of "Li Zicheng", mentioning the encouragement from his teachers and the support from everyone at the time. He then talked about the hardships of writing the second volume of "Li Zicheng" and thanked Comrade Mao Dun.

The Mao Dun Literature Prize is both an encouragement and a spur. Volume Two is not yet finalized; I will continue to revise it, striving to make it better and more substantial.

This book should not only have an impact domestically, but also internationally!

Humility tinged with arrogance!
Wei Wei stepped onto the stage and recounted his decades-long literary career, connecting his military life with his creative work.

Patriotism is the main theme of my writing. Through my words, I want the whole society and the people to feel the deep love our soldiers have for their motherland. In my heart, there is only one theme in literary and artistic works: serving the people.

Liu Yimin was the third, and this time his speech was not as low-key as his speech at the Lu Xun Literary Prize.

He then proceeded to recount the creation of "The Kite Runner" and his experience of gathering inspiration in Aba, mimicking the cat's movements.

Winning the literary prize should not make me complacent. On the path of literature, I must continue to maintain a humble and steady approach, continue to grow, and continue to create better works. The standard for judging whether a work is good or not is whether the people like it.

Encouraged by Mr. Mao Dun, I went to Aba, which led to the creation of "Mountains High and Rivers Long" and "Red River Valley." Mr. Mao Dun was both an elder and a teacher to me.
In Aba, I witnessed our cadres bravely stepping forward to protect the property of herders, and I saw the happy lives of Tibetans on the grasslands after liberation. My teacher, Cao Yu, said during rehearsals at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, "China is the common home of all our ethnic groups, and this common home needs our joint efforts to protect it."
】

In the hospital room, Mao Dun, his eyes half-closed, listened to the broadcast, then opened them and smiled as he looked out the window. Wei Tao was peeling fruit beside him, the horseshoe-shaped clock on the table ticking away.
Cao Yu sat in his office with a faint smile on his face, his hands behind his head, gently rocking his chair.

"I come from the countryside, and I still have a rustic air about me. Receiving this literary award didn't bring me joy, but rather shame and unease. I feel there are better works than mine, and I will continue to work hard," Zhou Keqin said.

Among the several works, Zhou Keqin's work is quite remarkable because it is the only work of scar literature, and a typical work of scar literature.

In stark contrast to the fact that works of "scar literature" dominated the short story and novella literary awards, these works constituted the majority.

The novel vividly portrays Xu Mao's selfishness, the tragic lives of his daughters, and a variety of other characters in a very—tragic way!

The awards ceremony concluded with a summary by Zhou Yang, who urged the literary and artistic community to adhere to the "double hundred" policy (letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend) and boldly develop literary criticism. He encouraged literary diversity, ensuring that writers feel both fulfilled and socially responsible.

Liu Yimin's medal was being played with by Wan Fang and Li Xiaolin, while Zhu Lin walked over with a camera and kept snapping photos.

Zhu Lin was brought in by Liu Yimin early in the morning, but she had been sitting in the back. When it was time for her to speak, she nervously walked to the front, pretending to be a reporter, and took the opportunity to take several photos.

"Xiao Lin, come take a picture of us and Yi Min!" Wan Fang said to Zhu Lin, then pulled Li Xiaolin to stand next to Liu Yi Min.

Li Xiaolin looked at Zhu Lin curiously, and Wan Fang whispered something in her ear. Li Xiaolin teased, "Yimin is really riding high today!"

Cui Daoyi came over, took a camera, and took a few pictures of the group. Then, many people came over to take group photos.

After seeing Zhou Yang off, Xia Yan and Zhang Guangnian also came over and took a few pictures. Li Xiaolin boldly joked that they were having fun with the people.

Xia Yan pulled Li Xiaolin aside to ask about the health of Mr. Ba Jin. After chatting for a while, they left in a lively atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)