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

Chapter 265 Professor Liu's Loud Cries

In mid-October, the Chinese Department of Yenching University posted a notice that two academic classes would be held simultaneously on October 30, and students could freely choose which academic class to attend.

Liu Yimin, a student from the Chinese Department of Yenching University, Class of '78, lectured on "The Impact of Western Literary Thought on Indigenous Literary Thought, and the Perseverance and Absorption of Indigenous Literature."
Chinese Literature Department lecturer Chen Guoan taught a course entitled "A Comparison of Classical and Modern Literary Works - 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'";
After showing Liu Yimin's topic to Teacher Chen, Yan Jiayan had no choice but to follow Yan Jiayan's advice and change the topic of the lesson.

If we're talking about literature from the seventeen years after liberation, that is, literary works from the ten-odd years following liberation, we really can't compete.

Seventeen years of literature is a course that students regularly study. They hear it all the time, so who would want to hear you give a special lecture on it?

So I quickly changed the topic and sought guidance from some senior professors, adding a lot of very interesting content.

The Chinese department deliberately downplayed the competition in its announcement, but the students still talked about it with great enthusiasm.

College students love to join in the fun and spread the word, so the excitement in the Chinese department gradually became known throughout the university.

Since the announcement, students have frequently gathered around the small blackboard outside the Chinese Department building, pointing and discussing it, and casually asking which one their classmates are more interested in.

Aside from occasionally attending a class in the Chinese department, Liu Yimin didn't pay much attention to this matter, focusing instead on earning money to buy a motorcycle to improve transportation conditions.

Zhu Lin is busy rehearsing and finalizing the script, hoping to premiere it as soon as possible.

Li Jun from the August First Film Studio contacted him. Li Jun is currently directing "Wolf Smoke Over Beiping," and the crew is actively preparing for location scouting.

Through his speech at the meeting, Wei Lian successfully moved closer to the director and became Li Jun's assistant director.

Li Jun sought out Liu Yimin to show him his film, "Xu Mao and His Daughters." After filming, Li Jun returned to the August First Film Studio and began editing the film; the first version was now complete.

The Beijing Film Studio's "Xu Mao and His Daughters" is about to be released, and after Wang Yan returned, he also took Liu Yimin to see it.

Li Jun probably knew about Liu Yimin's relationship with Wang Yan, and also knew that he had gone to see it. He wanted to bring Liu Yimin over beforehand so he could give his opinion on who took the better film.

Another reason is to deepen his relationship with Liu Yimin, since they are both screenwriters and directors. Moreover, there is a high probability that Liu Yimin's works will be adapted into movie scripts, so building a good relationship is definitely the right thing to do.

In the film screening room of the August First Film Studio, after watching the movie, Li Jun looked at Liu Yimin expectantly, hoping he would tell him which one was better.

No matter how you look at it, Liu Yimin seems a bit cruel to Li Jun.

I got up very early, but arrived late.

After considering his words for a moment, Liu Yimin said, "Director Li, I know this movie is like your son. You and Wang Yan each have your own merits. Your shooting approaches are actually different, and your narrative styles and casts are different, so there's really no way to compare them."

The Beijing Film Studio released its film earlier, which put the August First Film Studio at a disadvantage. Let's leave it to time and let the audience decide which film is better.

Li Jun snorted angrily, then said helplessly, "Then let's listen to you and leave it all to time to see. Let history tell the story!"

After leaving the screening room, Li Jun showed the cast list to Liu Yimin. Liu Yimin glanced at it and said, "Professionals should do professional things. You're more professional than me at filming. You take the lead!"

When Li Jun heard the screenwriter say this for the first time, he was briefly stunned before putting his arm around Liu Yimin's shoulder and saying, "You have such a broad mind. If all the leaders were like you, that would be great!"

Before leaving, Liu Yimin told Li Jun that he would take people to visit their TV series filming location when he had time.

"Just let me know before you come. Yimin, who are you bringing?"

"He's also a director!"

"It can't be someone from the Beijing Film Academy, can it? They don't allow people to come here!"

"No, she's a director from the Beijing People's Art Theatre. She wants to see how TV dramas are filmed!"

"That's no problem."

That evening, since the August First Film Studio was close to the Overseas Chinese Apartment, Liu Yimin went directly to the Overseas Chinese Apartment to stay.

In late October, Lu Yao's novel "Life" was officially released as a standalone book, and People's Literature Publishing House sent a sample copy to Liu Yimin on Lu Yao's behalf.

I was immediately delighted when I saw Lu Yao's "Life". It not only has Liu Yimin's preface, but also Lu Yao's own preface.

The above describes how her novel was submitted to several magazines but no one wanted it, how Liu Yimin and People's Literature recognized its value, and the help Liu Yimin gave her in the later novel "Life".

In addition, he also wrote about the two of them going to the park to dig bamboo together. Liu Yimin immediately thought of this big mouth. Wasn't this a clear case of admitting guilt without being asked?
However, after the book was published, instead of anyone criticizing Liu Yimin, people talked about it as a beautiful story of friendship between writers.

Many people therefore feel that writers are just like them, not something lofty and unapproachable, but rather flesh and blood.

This is probably a typical example of how even a fart from a "celebrity" smells good.

Many people later began to fabricate stories about park managers personally going to the park to get the money back for the bamboo. In fact, they did come, but not to ask for money.

Instead, he told Liu Yimin that if there was no more bamboo in the future, he should just come to them and dig it up openly and honestly.

“We understand. In the past, there was nowhere to buy them. If there were, Comrade Yimin, you wouldn’t have gone out to dig up bamboo in the freezing cold.”

Liu Yimin smiled and saw the visitor off, then turned back to his study and wrote a warm letter to Lu Yao.

While everyone was praising the story, a young man from Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, saw an opportunity.

After Yu Hua's father saw that Yu Hua had received another rejection letter thrown in from outside the wall by the postman, he advised him to focus on becoming a dentist.

Yu Hua did not lose confidence. Instead, he dusted off the email, carefully tore it open, and began to read it.

After reading it, he said to his father, "You've made progress. And I now know where the problem lies!"

"Where?" Yu Hua's father asked, then shook his head: "You've said this so many times, but I still think it's not good enough. Being a dentist is such a good thing!"

"No, it's because talented horses are common, but discerning judges of horses are rare. Now I've found my discerning judge." After saying this, Yu Hua picked up Lu Yao's "Life," turned to the preface, and showed it to his father.

"Look, this guy surnamed Lu wrote something similar to mine, maybe even slightly better. Why did he get it published while I didn't? You see, what's missing between us?"

"What's missing?" Yu Hua's father looked at it for a long time but couldn't figure out what was missing.

"It's all thanks to Comrade Liu Yimin, the talent scout! If it weren't for Comrade Liu Yimin, this guy surnamed Lu wouldn't have been able to publish. I'm not sending it to the magazine anymore; I'm sending it to Comrade Liu Yimin and asking him to recommend me!"

Yu Hua's father looked at his confident and slightly arrogant son, whose long hair made him furious. A gust of wind blew by, and he looked like a lion dog at the door.

"Would they recommend you?" Yu Hua's father thought it was highly unlikely. "Dad, you don't understand. We writers appreciate good works, of course they would! They're leaders among young writers now, and people like them love to mentor the next generation!" Yu Hua felt the probability of them not recommending him was almost zero.

Yu's father retorted sarcastically, "I didn't see any mutual appreciation, only literary disdain. You say 'Life' is just as good as yours!"

"They're pretty much the same anyway. Never mind, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. You don't understand literature!"

After saying that, Yu Hua ran into the house and began writing a letter to Liu Yimin, while comparing it with the preface in Lu Yao's "Life".

He muttered to himself, "It's just stealing bamboo together. If I can get the manuscript approved, I'll even steal bamboo from the Forbidden City with you and plant your whole yard with bamboo!"

However, the letter was written in an extremely humble tone, and he wrote about how reading Liu Yimin's novel inspired his literary dreams.

After reading it, I thought to myself that Comrade Liu Yimin would be moved to tears upon seeing this letter, and would probably help me submit the manuscript to "People's Literature and Art".

That night, Yu Hua held the letter in her bed and had a sweet dream. In her dream, she was standing in the middle of a crowd, and everyone was holding their books and congratulating her.

The legendary Comrade Liu Yimin is currently trying to find words to praise himself.
Unfortunately, I couldn't hear what was being said in my dream. When I tried to hear it clearly, I strained too much and woke up!
I rubbed my face this morning, looked at the manuscript, and laughed out loud: "Sweet dreams, a good omen!"

Early on October 30th, Liu Yimin rode his bicycle towards Yenching University. The autumn wind was chilly, and Liu Yimin shivered on the bicycle.

Yesterday it rained all day and the sun finally came out today, but the air is still filled with moisture on the streets.

Liu Yimin first went to the Chinese Department and met Professor Chen, who was teaching the same class. The two smiled at each other, as if they weren't competing against each other.

Led by Yan Jiayan, the two walked towards the large classroom.

Yan Jiayan said with a smile, "Our department should also hold regular classroom competitions in the future to encourage everyone to learn from and surpass each other, so that the quality of classes can be improved. Don't feel pressured to set a good example for the school!"

Upon arriving at the large classroom, there were two classrooms on either side. The three of them first passed by the classroom where Liu Yimin was giving his lecture. Liu Yimin nodded to them, smiled, and went inside.

Teacher Chen and Yan Jiayan glanced inside discreetly. Teacher Chen already knew they had lost; the room was packed to the brim.

Yan Jiayan accompanied Teacher Chen to the classroom where the lecture was being given. There were about fifty students sitting inside, and a group of young teachers behind them in support.

"Professor Yan, please find a place to sit. It's spacious inside!" Teacher Chen said with a smile after calming himself down.

"Well, I have some things to take care of at the department, so I'll head back first."

The cheers from next door were deafening, and the teachers here were not to be outdone, clapping even more enthusiastically than the students.

"Hello teachers and students, this is my first class in the strict sense. Thank you all for coming!" Liu Yimin bowed.

Someone shouted "Stand up!" and then, except for the professors who were there to listen to the lecture, all the students stood up and shouted in unison, "Hello, Professor Liu!"

Then the students sat down neatly. Some of them who didn't have seats simply sat on the floor, while others stood at the back.

This is quite a show of power! At this moment, the weight and significance of the (associate) professor title are maximized.

Liu Yimin began writing today's topic on the blackboard. Liu Zhenyun whispered to Li Xueqin, "Do you think Yimin likes this scene?"

Li Xueqin said, "I believe no man could resist this opportunity!"

Zhang Manling said, "Be brave, no one can refuse!"

"This scene is just like our division commander giving a pre-battle pep talk; his voice is so passionate." Li Lanyong's blood was starting to boil!
"Today we are talking about Western modern literary thought and Chinese modern literary thought. In fact, not only literature, but also our daily life, clothing, food, housing and transportation have been influenced by the West since the reform and opening up."

The student in the last row wearing bell-bottoms and jeans is a typical example!

"Hahaha!" The classroom erupted in loud laughter, and the student in jeans in the back row blushed slightly.

"Let me first give a brief overview of current literary thought in China. Everyone is familiar with it, so I will just give a brief overview."

When a country interacts with other countries, they inevitably influence each other. Who will be influenced more? The culturally stronger party will influence the weaker party more. For example, in the history of the Chinese nation, there have been instances where the Central Plains dynasties were defeated by ethnic minorities. However, the ethnic minorities who entered the Central Plains, or even those who had not yet entered the Central Plains but had only become powerful, gradually began to learn Han culture.

For example, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty adopted Han culture, and the Qing Dynasty, which is closer to us, is another example. This is because Han culture was the dominant culture.

When we began our reform and opening up and started exchanging ideas with the West, who was the dominant culture? Was it us or the West?
When we began to introduce Western science and technology with a learning attitude, it was self-evident which side was dominant.

The professors and students listened attentively; some agreed with what they heard, while others felt uncomfortable.

"Some people say, isn't our five-thousand-year-old Han culture a dominant culture? The West has only been around for so many years. Yes, the West has only had writing for so many years. In this regard, you can read Professor Gu Hongming's lectures on the Chinese spirit."

Our culture is excellent, but a dominant culture is influenced by many factors besides culture itself, such as technology, military, and economy—too many to list.

A Westerner once proposed a concept called cultural imperialism, which states that some countries influence other countries through cultural products and ideas, and can even achieve a stronger effect than military manipulation.

Therefore, I not only want to discuss the impact of literary thought on indigenous Chinese literary thought, but also its influence and some consequences.

The concepts that Liu Yimin used were unfamiliar to many people, and below was the rustling sound of notes being taken. Liu Yimin also gave many examples to help everyone better understand those terms.

"The West now has stream of consciousness, avant-garde literature, magical realism, and other literary ideas. We won't talk about the others today; let's talk about these three first. We might even integrate them, perhaps into one or two, because some of them, when traced back to their origins, might be from the same branch!"

Liu Yimin then discussed several literary categories and their specific forms of expression. Stream of consciousness has begun to have an impact on domestic writing, avant-garde literature is also emerging, and magical realism is the least familiar to most people.

There was no more discussion below; everyone was listening calmly.

"The above are the effects of integration. In short, our writers have also started to write in this way."

Upholding tradition means preserving our own Chinese heritage, our own valuable traditions, and we must hold onto them! In writing good literature about our own country, I've always believed that truth is the most powerful force. Realist literature is ever-evolving; truth can be partial, holistic, or selective, leading to an overall untruthfulness…

"Besides the positive effects, there are also the negative ones. When the West influences us with its dominant literature, will we denigrate our own culture in order to embrace this culture?"

Could it be that some people, in order to cater to Western aesthetics, write literary works that conform to Western perceptions and thus shape our own image?

The students and professors below all shook their heads. When Liu Yimin asked again, "Are you really not sure?"

Some people started to look confused. Liu Yimin smiled and said, "If you all think it doesn't matter whether it's there or not, then let time tell. Next..."

Before anyone knew it, Zhu Lin also ran into the classroom, quietly came up, and changed Liu Yimin's cup of tea, which contained dried sea buckthorn!
After talking non-stop, my mouth was already dry!

(End of this chapter)