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

Chapter 304 O. Henry Short Story First Prize
At the Beijing People's Art Theatre, the play "Triumph at Midnight" was being performed on stage, and Liu Yimin was sitting in the audience with Zhu's father and mother.

"Triumph at Midnight" has been performed at the Beijing People's Art Theatre about five times, and every performance has been sold out. Every time the performance ends, the audience is always filled with sobs.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhu usually have nothing to do. Since Zhu Lin wasn't home, Liu Yimin brought them over to visit.

Ouyang Shanzun sat to the side, arms crossed, a smug look on his face.

After the play ended, Liu Yimin saw Zhu's father and mother off at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, and then returned to the theatre himself to meet the actors with Ouyang Shanzun.

Because of the young age of the characters in "Triumph at Midnight," many young actors from the Beijing People's Art Theatre had the opportunity to perform.

Entering the backstage area of ​​the Beijing People's Art Theatre, one finds it filled with young actors. Yang Lixin and Pu Cunxi lead the way, greeting Liu Yimin with smiles.

Yang Lixin and Pu Cunxi have already had many opportunities to appear, but the other young actors are different; they are particularly enthusiastic when they see Liu Yimin.

If actors like Yu Shizhi want more roles that suit their age, then younger actors naturally hope that Liu Yimin will write more works that fit their age.

"Hello, Professor Liu!"

"Hello, Professor Liu!"

"Hello everyone!"

Liu Yimin followed behind Ouyang Shanzun, responding in turn.

After meeting with the actors, Ouyang Shanzun and Liu Yimin walked out of the backstage area. Ouyang Shanzun asked Liu Yimin if he had any suggestions.

"Director Shanzun, I'm good at writing scripts, and you're good at directing, so I won't say anything more. I think our rehearsal is better than that of the Zhan You Drama Troupe. I haven't seen the General Political Department's rehearsal, so I won't offer my opinion!"

Ouyang Shanzun did not follow the script finalized by the Zhan You Drama Troupe completely during rehearsals, but instead incorporated many of his own ideas.

Although the changes were minor, they added a lot more depth and realism compared to the performance by the Zhan You Drama Troupe.

In addition, the performances of the Zhan You Drama Troupe were heavily influenced by model operas, and the actors' movements were sometimes stiff and rigid.

Ouyang Shanzun said with a smile, "You screenwriters are responsible for writing the script, we directors are responsible for presenting the script, and the actors are responsible for performing the director's ideas. We are all indispensable roles."

Recently, Swiss plays like "The Visit" have been performing more and more frequently due to their popularity with audiences. Our own plays cannot lag behind; we cannot allow foreign plays to dominate the stage of our Beijing People's Art Theatre.

"You're really trying to get me to write the script in a roundabout way!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

"Haha, you get it!"

"I heard that the Drama Revitalization Award has been established?" Liu Yimin asked.

Ouyang Shanzun laughed a few more times: "It was jointly established by the Ministry of Culture and the Drama Association. All the preparations were just completed in September. We still have to thank you for this!"

The directors from several theater troupes, including those from the Shanghai Art Theatre and the Tianjin People's Art Theatre, mentioned this when they came to learn from you last time. They were very grateful to you!

"This is what we should do!"

"When the first awards ceremony is held, all the winners will have to treat you to a meal. If anyone doesn't, I'll scold them on your behalf. You should never forget the source of your blessings!"

Ouyang Shanzun was very happy when the topic was brought up. On the day the Ministry of Culture made the announcement, several directors from the Beijing People's Art Theatre and Yu Shizhi went out to a restaurant to celebrate for a long time.

Ouyang Shanzun stood at the entrance of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, watching Liu Yimin leave, and sighed that this motorcycle was truly something else.

In the blink of an eye, it disappeared around the street corner, and the roar of the engine filled the air; everyone could tell by their ears that someone was coming on a motorcycle.

On October 12th, the crew of "Triumph at Midnight" returned to Yanjing from Northeast China. On the train, Zhu Lin looked anxious, constantly peering out the window, trying to guess where the train was.

Li Jun thought that Zhu Lin's body couldn't take the long time sitting in the hard seat, so he suggested that Zhu Lin be changed to a hard sleeper.

Zhu Lin blushed and waved her hand, quickly saying that she didn't need it.

Wang Yan teased from the side, "Old Li, you're really getting old. Comrade Zhu Lin is thinking about Yimin! The young couple just got married and are in the midst of their sweet romance. Let's drag them out to film a movie."

"I've been gone for over half a month, how could I not miss it?"

Li Jun suddenly realized and quickly said, "If I had known, I would have brought Yimin to the Northeast too, so he could see the big forests and silly roe deer there!"

Just thinking about the taste of roe deer made Li Jun and Wang Yan's mouths water.

The actors in the crew were filming in Northeast China, and they hunted a lot of wild game. The budget for food was not much, but everyone was covered in grease.

"Director Li, Director Wang, I mainly miss my calico cat!" Zhu Lin quickly said.

"Hahaha, I miss cats, I really miss cats!" Li Jun and Wang Yan exchanged a glance and said with a smile.

Not many actors went to Northeast China this time. Some, like Feng Xiaogang, had already finished filming on the front lines.

There were a few extras, Zhu Lin and Zhu Shimao, and the rest were crew members.

Upon hearing "We've arrived in Yanjing, the capital," Zhu Lin jumped to his feet, pushed through the crowd, and headed for the door.

Li Jun said with a smile, "It's so good to be young!"

"What? Don't you miss your wife?" Wang Yan said.

Li Jun laughed and said, "Hehe, the thought is true, and the fear is also true!"

As soon as Zhu Lin stepped off the train, she saw Liu Yimin waiting on the platform. She called out "Teacher Liu" and rushed over with a smile, throwing herself into Liu Yimin's arms.

Passengers around them clicked their tongues in disapproval as they watched the scene unfold, observing the two with amusement.

When Li Jun and Wang Yan came down, Zhu Lin was still in Liu Yimin's arms.

Upon seeing the railway police approaching, the two quickly explained to them, "They are a young married couple, and they haven't been having any illicit affairs!"

Li Jun looked at Zhu Lin, who had already gotten up from Liu Yimin's arms, and teased with a smile, "Comrade Zhu, weren't you missing Sanhua at home? What's going on?"

"Directors, please stop teasing my son Zhu Lin. He's easily embarrassed!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Zhu Lin blushed, tugged at the hem of her clothes, and lowered her head without saying a word.

Liu Yimin inquired about the filming situation in Northeast China with Li Jun and Wang Yan. The two said that the filming did not go too smoothly, but it was completed successfully.

“Yimin, you’re really missing out if you don’t go to the Northeast! The pheasants and roe deer there are absolutely delicious!” Wang Yan said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Lin immediately panicked and looked behind her. She had bought a pheasant in Northeast China and brought it back, but she had forgotten to take it when she came downstairs.

Zhu Shimao lifted the cage: "Comrade Zhu Lin, it's here, I've brought it down for you!"

"Thank you very much!"

"You are welcome!"

Liu Yimin said to the group, "Directors, comrades, we'll be leaving now!"

"Row!"

The two walked hand in hand to the outside of Yanjing Station, got on their motorcycle, and sped away. Zhu Lin had one arm around Liu Yimin's waist and the other carrying a cage containing a live pheasant. The cage was covered with a fertilizer bag, leaving only a hole for the pheasant's head to breathe and feed it.

The pheasant peered into Yanjing from its burrow, its pupils filled with growing fear.

He only closed his eyes after Liu Yimin stabbed him in the neck.

"Teacher Liu, these are mushrooms. The mushrooms from Northeast China are so fragrant. I heard that the Flying Dragon in 'Tracks in the Snowy Forest' is made from these mushrooms!" Zhu Lin sat to the side picking up mushrooms, smiling as he looked at Liu Yimin, who was plucking feathers from a pheasant.

"It shouldn't be this thing!" Liu Yimin threw the pheasant into the basin of boiling water and began to pluck its feathers.

"what is that?"

"It looks like a type of pheasant, called a hazel grouse!"

Zhu Lin soaked the mushrooms in his hand in water, then squatted down to help Liu Yimin pluck the feathers: "Teacher Liu is so knowledgeable!"

"Your flattery is really clumsy!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Zhu Lin smiled and said, "Can it be worse than Feng Xiaogang's filming?"

"You've only been in Northeast China for a little over half a month, and you already speak with a strong Northeastern accent!"

After exchanging a few playful banter in the kitchen, the two began cooking. Liu Yimin chopped the chicken into pieces, cleaned it, and then put it in a clay pot to stew, adding several spices and mushrooms.

Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin sat and chatted while waiting. Zhu Lin slowly recounted his experiences in Northeast China to Liu Yimin.

As she was talking, she fell asleep because she was too tired. Liu Yimin smiled and carried her into the bedroom.

After the stew was cooked, Liu Yimin woke her up. She ate her fill in a daze and then went back to sleep in the bedroom.

Yenching University, the Chinese Department's shared office. Eight people sat in one room, similar to a literary editorial office, except each person had a large table.

On the brown-lacquered table were various teaching materials. On the blackboard in front of the office were the teaching progress of each professor and the teaching plan of the Chinese Department.

Liu Yimin's office is next to the window, where he can see the leaves outside slowly turning yellow. When he opens the window, the autumn breeze blows in gently, which is very refreshing.

Opposite the desk was Professor Wu Zuxiang, and the others were Professor Wang Yao, Professor Sun Yushi, and others.

Seeing everyone sitting at their desks reading newspapers or drinking tea, Liu Yimin knew he had come to the right place.

There's only one class a week, and unlike other professors, I don't have to supervise graduate students. I can come whenever I want, and I can skip classes whenever I want.

When he has free time, Liu Yimin is happy to sit in the office and chat with the old professor.

After all, sitting alone in the study is not a long-term solution.

As Liu Yimin enjoyed the breeze while writing his manuscript, he listened to Wang Yao reprimanding her graduate students.

After the graduate students left, Wang Yao said helplessly, "Yimin, you're so lucky, you don't have to supervise graduate students!"

"Haha, Professor Wang, actually I really want to mentor them, but the department won't let me!"

Wang Yao said with a smile, "Okay, you can bring it for me!"

Liu Yimin thought to himself, "The workplace is full of tricks."

"Professor Wang, let your eldest disciple, Teacher Qian, take over!" Liu Yimin changed the subject.

Wang Yao thought it was indeed a good idea, so she went out and called Qian Liqun from next door.

After Qian Liqun came in, he greeted everyone: "Professor Wu, Professor Sun, and Professor Liu!"

Liu Yimin nodded and made a barely audible "hmm": "Hurry up and sit down, Professor Wang has something good for you!"

Qian Liqun is a graduate student of Wang Yao and Yan Jiayan. He is older than Liu Yimin. He graduated from the Journalism Department of Renmin University in 60 and worked at the grassroots level. He was admitted to graduate school in 78, graduated last year, and stayed at Peking University. He was recently promoted from teaching assistant to lecturer.

Wang Yao asked Qian Liqun to mentor her junior brothers and sisters, and Qian Liqun naturally agreed.

Wu Zuxiang said with a smile, "Yimin's idea is good. You don't need to trouble us with the basic issues!"

Several professors were discussing which of their subordinates would help with the tutoring when a voice came from outside: "Professor Liu, you have a phone call!"

"Who?"

"Comrade Zhu Lin!"

Liu Yimin got up and went to the reception room, picked up the phone and asked, "Zhu Lin? What's the emergency?"

"Teacher Liu, the postman came over at noon with a telegram from the United States saying that the novel has won an award!" Zhu Lin said excitedly on the other end of the phone.

"What award? Which novel?"

"I'll have Teacher Wan tell you!" Zhu Lin handed the phone to Cao Yu, who said with a smile, "This is a telegram from Niki from the publishing house. 'The Green Book' has won the O. Henry Award for Best Literature!"

"is it?"

"Come over here quickly! Nikki wouldn't joke about something like this. She also sent over a royalty payment of eight thousand dollars!" Cao Yu said excitedly.

"Okay, I'll be there right away!"

Liu Yimin returned to his office and immediately tidied up his things.

Wu Zuxiang asked in confusion, "Yimin, why did you leave?"

"There's some new information at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, I'm going to check it out!"

Liu Yimin didn't go into details before getting on his motorcycle and leaving Yenching University. Nowadays, Yenching University students recognize Liu Yimin by the sound of a motorcycle; he's the only teacher who teaches on a motorcycle.

Upon arriving at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, Liu Yimin received the telegram from Cao Yu. The money order was still with the postman at the post office, and Liu Yimin needed to sign it personally.

"I heard about the O. Henry Award when I was in the United States. It's a very old literary award with a significant impact on the American literary scene. However, because it only focuses on short stories, it's not as famous as the Pulitzer Prize!"

"First place is enough to demonstrate the value of this novel," Cao Yu explained to Liu Yimin.

In the telegram, Niki also explained to Liu Yimin the importance of the O. Henry Award, and that all the winning works would be compiled into a collection for publication.

The prize money for the O. Henry Award is not high, but by publishing a collection, the author can receive an additional publishing fee.

"Jiabao, let me see the telegram!" A voice rang out from outside the door, and it was obvious that it was Xia Yan's.

"Teacher, what brings Professor Xia here?"

"Of course I called him. Such good news, I naturally had to let the Ministry of Culture know!"

"Hahaha, Yimin! What? You still want to keep this from us? Our American embassy has also received this information and just notified our Ministry of Culture through official channels!"

After Xia Yan came in, he snatched the telegram from Liu Yimin's hand and stood next to the sofa to read it.

While watching, they kept saying how good it was!
(End of this chapter)