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

Chapter 274 Husband-protecting maniac, don't argue, you can't win!

At Yanjing Station, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin, each carrying a large suitcase, boarded the train with the crowded passengers.

After squeezing through the crowds several more times, they finally managed to put the suitcase into the carriage, and the two stood at the door of the compartment, panting heavily.

Hearing the train police urging them to go into the compartment and not block the aisle, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin quickly went inside.

Because it was the starting station, the two of them went into the compartment first. A little later, two retired cadres came in.

Zhu Lin stuffed the suitcase under the bed and asked Liu Yimin with a smile, "Teacher Liu, do you think I bought too little? Should we buy some more when we get to Ru County?"

"That's enough. Too much would be tiring to carry. My family doesn't run a supply and marketing cooperative, why would we buy so much!"

Liu Yimin's arms were sore from carrying those two large boxes upstairs.

"I don't think it's enough!" Zhu Lin leaned against the carriage, frowning as he thought carefully.

Two elderly cadres nearby quietly observed the young couple. They looked like a married couple, but the woman addressed the man as "teacher."

He thought to himself, "What strange people."

As the train left Yanjing, the low-rise houses along the railway line became more sparse. Zhu Lin was still holding his notebook, carefully considering whether he needed to buy anything else.

An elderly cadre standing nearby couldn't help but introduce himself as Huang, and began to slowly inquire about everyone's destination.

The two retired cadres chatted enthusiastically, and then the retired cadre surnamed Huang asked Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin where they were going.

"go home!"

"Oh? Where are you from?"

"From Rucheng." Clearly, the other person hadn't heard of Rucheng, so Liu Yimin said, "Luocheng!"

The two then realized what was going on, and as they chatted, they indirectly began to inquire about the relationship between Zhu Lin and Liu Yimin.

Liu Yimin glanced at Zhu Lin and said, "This is my girlfriend. She's planning to go back to Henan Province to meet my parents!"

"Oh—" The two nodded, but were still wondering why the woman called the man "teacher."

However, feeling embarrassed to ask further, Zhu Lin interjected, "I am Teacher Liu's fiancée!"

"Young comrade, why do you call this man 'teacher'?" Huang, the cadre, finally couldn't help but ask.

"Well, because Professor Liu always speaks very reasonably. Besides, he really is a teacher. This time next year, Professor Liu will be Professor Liu!"

Zhu Lin took out an apple from his bag and enthusiastically invited the two of them to try it.

The two took the food but didn't eat it. They put it aside, laughing and saying they would eat it later.

He began praising Liu Yimin incessantly, and after learning that he was a professor at Yenching University, he praised him even more enthusiastically.

After a while, perhaps tired of praising, one of the veteran cadres took out a magazine from his bag, lay down on the bed, and began to read.

Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin also started reading, but Zhu Lin's mind was clearly not on the book. He would glance at the scenery outside the window from time to time, wondering where they were.

"Old Tian, ​​take a look at this novel, it's called 'Triumphant at Midnight,' isn't it written in a way that's completely out of touch with the spirit of the times!"

The retired cadre surnamed Huang handed the People's Literature magazine to the retired cadre surnamed Tian and pointed out the parts that did not conform to the spirit of the spirit.

"Writing it like this completely weakens the image of the hero. Furthermore, the part about some soldiers receiving breakup letters is utter nonsense. This writer, who usually writes well, has written something utterly absurd this time!"

The retired cadre surnamed Huang was spitting as he spoke. Zhu Lin gently nudged Liu Yimin, who smiled and then continued reading his book as if nothing had happened.

The retired cadre surnamed Tian, ​​who was in the upper bunk, looked at what had been pointed out and said, "You can't see the problem just by looking at this. Let me look at it from the beginning!"

"Putting everything else aside, this kind of writing is simply unacceptable. It tarnishes the image of heroes, weakens their significance, and even depicts some negative aspects of military life..."

Has he ever served in the military? Does he even know what it's like in the military before writing this? That's just wishful thinking!

The retired cadre surnamed Huang spoke vehemently, while the retired cadre surnamed Tian was slightly more rational. Huang wanted Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin to speak, but Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin acted as if it were none of their business and occasionally showed affection for each other.

He thought to himself, "How can I entrust the country to these young people? Sigh, what a worrying next generation."

His throat was dry from talking, and he was about to pick up the apple to eat when he realized he had missed it; the apple was already back in Zhu Lin's hand.

Zhu Lin expressionlessly put the apples into the bag, gave Liu Yimin a smug smile, and curled the corners of his mouth.

Want more? Dream on!
Next, he picked up his notebook and began to read aloud some directives concerning literary and artistic works and the work of literary and artistic workers.

The retired cadre surnamed Huang lay down on the bed with a dark expression, and the air in the entire private room became extremely cold.

As evening approached, the two went to the dining car for dinner. The car was a mess, and they kept stepping on other people. Stepping on someone's foot was fine, but they were afraid someone might be sleeping under a chair and they would step on their hand.

"Comrade, two bowls of noodles, please!" Liu Yimin said.

While eating, Zhu Lin said indignantly, "That old comrade is such a stubborn old man. He made such a good novel sound like it's worthless. Teacher Liu, don't listen to him!"

"I won't listen!" Liu Yimin laughed and reached out to tidy Zhu Lin's hair.
After a while, the other person also came to the dining car to eat. When they saw the two of them, they snorted and sat down to eat.

After Zhu Lin finished eating, he also snorted in response.

After some more commotion, they returned to the sleeper compartment. Liu Yimin originally wanted Zhu Lin to sleep on the lower bunk, but Zhu Lin insisted on resting on the upper bunk.

This time when I went home, I wasn't as tired as usual. Maybe it was because I was in a different mood, and I didn't fall asleep until very late.

The next morning, just as the first light of dawn appeared outside, the train carriages became lively as the train entered Henan Province.

As dawn broke, the cadre surnamed Tian began to express his views. He had finally finished reading the novel "Triumph at Midnight" last night and into the evening.

"This is a very realistic novel about frontline warfare. The protagonist's story is very touching. I finished reading it last night, and as I lay in bed, I kept thinking, 'These are the most lovable people of the new generation!' As for the author's attempts to downplay the heroic image and smear the troops, I feel that still needs to be examined!"

The words were phrased very tactfully, perhaps out of fear of displeasing the official surnamed Huang.

"That's easy for you to say. I think this author is good at using euphemisms and misleading the reader!"

Zhu Lin sat up from the upper bunk and said, "Hey old comrade, don't make a mountain out of a molehill all the time! The higher-ups have said that we should support artists to create boldly. I think you're the one who's going against the spirit of the higher-ups."

We didn't argue with you yesterday, not because we were afraid of you, but because we were afraid you would get hurt!

Zhu Lin dragged out the last two words very long, like he was singing.

He continued, "Comrade Liu Yimin's works have stood the test of time and the people, proving that they are deeply loved by the masses. His two works, 'Red River Valley' and 'Mountains High and Rivers Long,' have received praise from central leaders. Comrade Wu from the United Front Work Department has said that literary and artistic creation is a matter for literary and artistic work, and those of us who don't understand it shouldn't interfere!"

Liu Yimin smiled and leaned out, giving Zhu Lin a thumbs-up.

Then he saw the other party looking at Liu Yimin coldly. Liu Yimin smiled and said, "Old comrade, calm down. Little Zhu, everyone can express their own opinion. Don't argue with an old comrade. Lie down and get some more sleep!"

Zhu Lin responded and prepared to lie down and rest.

The other party seemed to think that Liu Yimin was easier to talk to, so he took half a step forward, ready to argue with Liu Yimin.

"Old comrade, my verbal skills far surpass those of my students. Are you sure you want to have a debate?"

Zhu Lin peeked his head down from the top bunk again.

"I won't argue with you young comrades. Even if I win, it won't be a fair victory!" The other person was taken aback, then snorted, turned around and sat on the bed, no longer speaking.

Zhu Lin said to the cadre surnamed Tian, ​​"Triumphant at Midnight is a very good novel. I estimate that it won't be long before everyone is discussing it. Old comrade, you're absolutely right, I admire you!"

"Young comrade, you're quite eloquent for your age!" The retired cadre surnamed Tian looked at Zhu Lin with admiration.

"I'm nothing compared to Professor Liu, whose eloquence is far superior. One-on-one debate isn't his forte!"

"Oh?"

"He is skilled at debating with a group of scholars!"

Liu Yimin kicked the wooden plank of the upper bunk, and Zhu Lin chuckled and stopped talking.

However, judging from the shaking of the bed, this girl was trying to suppress her laughter.

Due to time constraints, the train kept stopping and starting after entering Henan Province, and it wasn't until evening that it arrived in Luocheng. After waiting for several hours, I finally managed to buy a ticket.

Early in the morning, Comrade Liu Yimin arrived in Rucheng, the city where he was born and raised, with his girlfriend from Yenching.

As soon as they got off the bus, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin were spotted by Li Lanyong. Li Lanyong pointed at Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin, who were carrying suitcases, and said, "Uncle Fuqing, Brother Yiguo, Yimin and his beautiful girlfriend are over there!"

Liu Fuqing and Liu Yiguo looked in the direction Li Lanyong pointed, barely glancing at Liu Yimin, but instead scrutinizing Zhu Lin.

The pink scarf fluttered in the wind; what a pretty girl!
"Stop looking around, hurry up and go greet them!" Li Lanyong chuckled and called out to Liu Yimin, "Yimin, over here! Comrade Zhu Lin, welcome to Rucheng! The people of Rucheng welcome you!"

Upon seeing Li Lanyong, the two quickly pushed their way towards them. Zhu Lin whispered, "I was thinking of buying some things at the department store in the county!"

"Comrade Zhu Lin, you've already bought enough. If you keep buying, my family will really have to open a supply and marketing cooperative!"

"Seriously, Teacher Liu, my legs are a little... a little weak!" Zhu Lin looked at Liu's father and older brother who were greeting him, and her heart started to pound.

"Father, elder brother, this is Zhu Lin!"

"Uncle, big brother, you can just call me Linlin!" Zhu Lin said hurriedly.

"Okay! Okay! Okay!" Liu Fuqing nodded and said "okay" three times. Then he said, "It's cold outside. Let's hurry home. Child, you must be exhausted from the journey!"

"We're in a soft sleeper berth, so we're not tired!" Zhu Lin said.

"Soft sleeper?" Liu Fuqing didn't know what a soft sleeper was.

“It’s the bed on the train!” Li Lanyong explained.

Liu Fuqing and Liu Yiguo took the boxes from Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin respectively and enthusiastically led the way.

On the dirt road outside the train station, Li Dashan and Tian Qingping were waiting for them, sitting on a tractor.

"Knowing that Linlin was coming, your Uncle Dashan ran all the way to the commune and borrowed a tractor!" Liu Fuqing said with a smile.

Liu Yimin greeted Li Dashan and introduced him to Zhu Lin: "This is Lan Yong's father, Uncle Dashan, who is also our village's Party Secretary!"

"Forget about being the Party Secretary, just call me Uncle Dashan like Yimin does!" Li Dashan said cheerfully.

Sitting in the car, Li Dashan asked Zhu Lin about Yanjing with a smile, while Liu Fuqing next to him occasionally chimed in.

Seeing Li Dashan keep talking, Liu Fuqing wished he could kick Li Dashan.

My son brought his girlfriend home, and you're jumping around like that!
Li Lanyong watched this scene with a silly grin. When he returned, Li Dashan simply patted him on the shoulder and said he had suffered, without saying anything else.

His parents and he accepted reality, and no one in the brigade rubbed salt into his wounds. He has been living a relatively comfortable life at home lately.

Zhu Lin answered Li Dashan's questions frankly and occasionally inquired about Liu Fuqing and Liu Yiguo's health and work.

Comrade Zhu Lin handled the situation with ease.

Li Lanyong couldn't help but give Liu Yimin a thumbs up and asked in a low voice, "How long have you guys been rehearsing?"

Liu Yimin said in a low voice, "There's no acting involved, it's all genuine!"

Then the two of them chatted with Tian Qingping, who was in front of them. According to Li Lanyong, Qingping might be getting promoted again.

"Qingping has seized the opportunity of promoting younger cadres. Everyone is advocating for it now, so it's no wonder he's been promoted so quickly!" Li Lanyong said.

Tian Qingping turned his head and smiled: "Yimin, Lan Yong told me about the self-study exam a while ago. I also want to take it and improve my education. Not only do we need to make cadres younger, but I think the requirements for education will also be higher in the future."

"We haven't even started the pilot program here yet; you'll have to take an exam to get to Beijing!"

Tian Qingping seemed to be born to be an official; few of the young cadres in the commune recognized the importance of education as much as he did.

Liu Yimin sat in the back of the truck, busy on both sides, chatting with Tian Qingping and taking care of Zhu Lin and the others.

However, Zhu Lin became more and more courageous in battle, and his words were appropriate, which made Liu Fuqing more and more satisfied.

Liu Yimin even suspected that she had rehearsed at home!

Li Lanyong and Tian Qingping were extremely envious, having found such a wonderful partner.

Besides the poor road from the county town to the commune, the road from the commune to Maiji Brigade was also bad. Liu Fuqing said to Zhu Lin, "Child, the conditions in the mountains are not as good as in Beijing, so don't look down on it!"

“It’s alright, Uncle. I did farm work when I was sent to the countryside. The conditions in the educated youth dormitories were even worse; they were earthen kilns and wooden sheds!” Zhu Lin said with a smile.

"Good boy, what do you like to eat? I'll have Yimin's mother make it for you!" Liu Fuqing said happily.

(End of this chapter)