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

Chapter 335 A Clash Between Chinese and American Playwrights
Back at his apartment, Liu Yimin hadn't even sat down to rest for a moment when Wei Wei called.

"You're finally home! I've already made three calls. Are you alright?" Wei Wei, in the Yanjing Military Region office, breathed a sigh of relief and asked tentatively.

Liu Yimin, lying on the sofa, said, "I'm sorry to have worried you. It's nothing, we just chatted casually. I'm just asking you to do more for the military's cultural and artistic propaganda."

Wei Wei glanced at his watch. They had been chatting for three or four hours. This was no longer just a casual chat; it was more like they had known each other for a long time.

As a veteran cultural leader within the military, he knew that the superior must have given some instructions, but since Liu Yimin didn't say anything, he wouldn't ask.

"You need to contribute more to military literature and art. With such a good writer, you need to cover everything from east to west, north to south, and center, including politics, military, civilians, and academia. If you need any help from me, just let me know. Yimin, the military has its own unique characteristics, so when you write about deeper things, you must grasp them."

Besides this, the script for "The Acacia Tree in the Minefield" has been given to Commander Wei. Commander Wei wants to add some romantic elements to the script, since it's about a "love tree." What do you think?

Liu Yimin sat up from the sofa, took a deep breath, and said in a strong voice, "Please tell Commander Wei that this doesn't need to be corrected. I know he saw the success of 'Triumph at Midnight' and how linking 'beautiful love' with 'cruel war' could be so moving."

But the outpouring of emotion shouldn't be limited to just one path. The 'love tree' on the battlefield represents love, but it's not merely romantic love; it also symbolizes love for one's country. These young people, yearning for love, lived their lives to the fullest yet acted without hesitation—that's what truly moves us.

Hearing the change in Liu Yimin's tone, Wei Wei knew there was no way to change it now. If it were the drama troupe's own scriptwriter, that would be one thing, but the problem was that every drama troupe was vying for this script.

Wei Wei said, "Okay, I'll tell him directly in a bit. If there's anything that needs to be revised, I'll have him communicate with you directly. Do you know who my favorite character in this novel is?"

"Liu Guozheng!"

"how do you know?"

“I like it too. It’s about a rural soldier who wants to bring honor to his family through university. His transformation from cowardice to bravery is a journey of so many emotions. No one is born daring to rush into a minefield,” Liu Yimin explained.

Wei Wei said, "I was also born into a poor family. I know what kind of status a college student has in a poor family. He shoulders the task of bringing honor to his family and even his clan."

Liu Yimin knew, of course, that even in the 21st century, when academic qualifications are devalued, the emergence of an ordinary undergraduate student in a rural village was something that the village would be proud to talk about.

After ending the call, Wei Wei immediately called Regiment Commander Wei. When Regiment Commander Wei heard that Liu Yimin had not changed his ways, he looked troubled.

Commander Wei tentatively asked, "Old Wei, what do you think about the troupe making the changes themselves?"

"Wow, you're quite something, Commander Wei! You've learned how to revise the script. You can revise it, that's your crew's right. But if you revise it and Comrade Liu Yimin doesn't acknowledge it, I'd like to see where you put your old face then."

I remember when the Beijing People's Art Theatre adapted Lao She's script, Lao She left the theatre silently after reading it, without even going backstage. Are you, Director Wei, planning to make Comrade Liu Yimin look bad in front of all the leaders?"

Wei Wei crossed his legs and sneered with a half-smile.

Commander Wei's face immediately turned sour, but he still said in a hard voice, "Old Wei, just say what you want to say, why are you being so sarcastic? I know you're from the same hometown, there's no need to put on a show of hometown sentiment here. Let me tell you the truth, I really... am not changing this script!"

Wei Tuan's words softened at the end.

Wei Wei scoffed: "Oh, why don't you make some changes, Wei Tuan? Maybe if you change it well, you can become the Minister of Culture of the General Political Department!"

After Wei Wei finished speaking, Wei Tuan immediately hung up the phone. Unexpectedly, the phone rang again, and Wei Wei said, "If there's anything that needs to be changed, communicate directly with Yi Min. Don't treat this place like a switchboard!"

"Alright, alright, I was worried you'd spread rumors!" Wei Tuan hung up the phone again.

After calming down, Commander Wei reread the script, picked up the phone and called Liu Yimin. They talked for about forty minutes, during which Commander Wei did not mention changing the plot at all.

The two of them put the matter of changing the plot out of their minds and tacitly avoided mentioning it.

When Zhu Lin returned home that evening, he learned that Liu Yimin had gone to see Qian Lao and kept asking him what the two had talked about.

There were no secrets between Liu Yimin and Qian Lao, but there were still some things he didn't tell her.

"I never imagined that Professor Qian, a scientist, would also be so knowledgeable about literature and philosophy. He was truly erudite!" Zhu Lin exclaimed after hearing this.

"Professor Qian is using a different approach to guide the country's scientific strategy. It's a strategic issue, not a formulaic one. Besides, our dad is a professor of science and engineering, but he also likes literature!"

Zhu Lin rubbed his back, looking slightly weary: "My dad was crucial to my literary enlightenment, but well, his influence is probably limited to that. You've seen what he's written. My mom often says that if he had focused his energy on his profession, he would have become a scientist long ago."

"You're siding with reason, not with your own people!"

"I have to tell the truth, but of course I wouldn't dare in front of my dad, I have to take care of his pride."

After Zhu Lin finished speaking, he squinted at Liu Yimin and said, "Teacher Liu, you wouldn't be a traitor trying to curry favor with me, would you?"

Liu Yimin felt insulted and pushed Zhu Lin down, slapping her hard several times: "Am I that kind of person? You are the one I love most!"

Zhu Lin turned around, ready to pounce, but immediately shut up when she heard the last sentence. She smiled and hugged Liu Yimin's neck, saying, "Teacher Liu, let's have a long meeting and try our best!"

"We haven't eaten yet!"

"We still have things to do after dinner!"

On the first day of the new semester at Yenching University, Liu Yimin arrived at the school on his motorcycle. Students he hadn't seen for the entire winter break braved the cold northwest wind and chatted in various corners of the campus.

Seeing this scene, Liu Yimin shook his head. Last year, he could still join in the fun with the college students, but this year he could only hug the old professor and wish him a Happy New Year.

"Professor Wu, how was your Spring Festival?" Liu Yimin asked warmly.

“You’re doing great. You’re in the newspapers, in the magazines, and even in this movie theater. I can hear you everywhere I go. Shouldn’t I be happy?” Wu Zuxiang and Liu Yimin hugged, their laughter echoing throughout the office building.

Professor Sun Yushi walked up to Wang Yao and respectfully greeted her, "Hello, teacher!"

"Hello Professor Wu, hello Professor Xie, how was Yimin's New Year?"

Every now and then a new person would walk into the office and greet everyone in turn.

Liu Yimin placed the roasted peanuts he brought from home in the middle of his desk and said, “Professors, please try these roasted peanuts made by my parents. They are all homegrown and each one is round and plump.”

Each professor reached out and grabbed a handful, munching on them noisily, shaking their heads as they ate, saying, "This is the fruit of reform and opening up!" "Yimin, you're teaching third-year students again this year, are you feeling any pressure?" Wu Zuxiang asked with concern.

"Of course there is pressure, but with all the professors sitting around giving me advice, I'm sure I can speak with confidence and composure." Liu Yimin took the teaching philosophy for the Chinese department that Wu Zuxiang had written during his winter break from his hand.

"Haha, actually, our students at Yanda University, even though they enter the third year a year earlier than the second year, don't necessarily have a higher level. Plus, it's basic content, so there's definitely no problem, it's just a little tiring. But Yimin is so young, what's wrong with adding a few more classes? I think even a full week of classes wouldn't be a problem!" Zhu Guangqian happened to be passing by the office door and interjected.

"Professor Zhu, are you praising me or insulting me?"

Zhu Guangqian smiled and said, "Of course I'm praising you. You're a good comrade who's young and energetic. Take on more responsibilities!"

After a while, Yan Zhen, a junior, walked to the office door and quietly said "Report!" Then she went straight to Liu Yimin and said, "Professor Liu, you called me!"

Liu Yimin grunted in acknowledgment and handed the lecture notes to Yan Zhen: "These are lecture notes on Western modern literary thought. Take a few students to the mimeograph room to have them printed and distributed!"

"Okay, Professor Liu, the students have been excited ever since they found out you were going to teach us before the winter break. I just ran into a student who asked me about this semester's schedule! We all feel that one class a week is not enough, and we're planning to ask Professor Yan Jiayan to give us a lecture!"

Yan Zhen flipped through the lecture notes and said excitedly.

“The department has its own considerations. Professor Wu’s classes are excellent, so shouldn’t we increase the number of classes? What about Professor Sun and Professor Wang? If you go to find them all, how will the other teachers be able to teach?” Liu Yimin said with a stern face.

Liu Yimin's words poured cold water on Yan Zhen's enthusiasm. He stammered a few words and quickly went to work.

Wu Zuxiang said with a smile, "This kid says such things in front of us, doesn't he respect the old comrades?"

"Yan Zhen is a promising young man in his junior year. Of course, he is far behind Yi Min, who is only the top liberal arts student in the prefectural committee."

The senior professors got really into talking about which students had potential, and the best student they identified would most likely be invited to stay at the university.

Yan Zhen is capable, but her chances of staying at Yenching University are slim. So she went to Hunan Normal University as a teaching assistant, and like Liu Yimin, she pursued graduate studies at the university where she was teaching.

“Yimin, now that everyone’s starting to print textbooks, I think you need to find a way to improve your lecture notes, get them approved, and print them as textbooks. Otherwise, just lecture notes are too limiting,” Wu Zuxiang suggested.

"Professor Wu, I've been thinking about that too. But the textbooks can't be rushed, and I don't have anyone to use them. How about you professors lend me a few graduate students?" Liu Yimin said with a troubled expression.

Sun Yushi joked, "Aren't you a graduate student yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zuxiang laughed and said, "Haha, no problem at all. It's a good opportunity for them to learn from you. You can use my two whenever you want!"

"Mine is fine too!"

Liu Yimin thanked them one by one and noted them down, planning to talk to Yan Jiayan about this matter next time and apply for funding for textbook compilation.

Textbooks and lecture notes are not the same thing; this is a systematic project!
Today was the first day of school, and Yan Jiayan had a lot to do. He spent half the day in a meeting at the school office, and only Wu Zuxiang, who arrived earliest, got to see anyone else.

In early March, with the premiere of "Green Book" fast approaching, Liu Yimin rode his motorcycle quickly to the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

I greeted the staff of Beijing People's Art Theatre as I walked into the theatre's rehearsal room.

Inside the rehearsal room, not only were Lan Tianye and Zhu Lin sitting below, but the first three rows in the middle were almost full of people.

Liu Yimin walked to the front row, and Xia Chun immediately waved to him, signaling him to sit down.

Ying Ruocheng, who works as a director, screenwriter, and translator at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, turned his head and introduced Liu Yimin to a foreigner next to him.

"Ying, I know him!"

Cao Yu asked, "Mr. Miller, do you know this student of mine?"

Sitting next to Ying Ruocheng was Miller, hailed as one of the three great American playwrights of the 20th century, who brought his most famous work to the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

“Mr. Wan, you forgot that I live in New York. I was also invited to sit in the audience at the awards ceremony, but I didn’t know he was your student at the time. I was in the audience and witnessed the talent of your student.”

Cao Yu chuckled smugly and said to Liu Yimin, who was walking over, "Yimin, this is Mr. Miller. He arrived in China yesterday. He is very interested in 'Green Book,' so I brought him along."

"Hello, Mr. Miller!" Liu Yimin said, extending his hand generously with a smile on his face, but his tone was very calm.

"Young man, you are great!"

"Mr. Miller, you are very good too!"

Miller's words clearly carried an elder's and instructor's tone, and Liu Yimin's reply was neither too soft nor too hard, which made Ying Ruocheng, the translator next to him, pause for a moment, not knowing how to translate it!
“Teacher Ying, I can understand English!” Liu Yimin said.

So Ying Ruocheng had no choice but to translate for Miller. Miller leaned back slightly, carefully examined Liu Yimin, and said with a hint of helplessness, "You're just like your teacher!"

Cao Yu said to Liu Yimin, "Sit down!"

Miller recounted with a smile his first visit to China in 78, accompanied by Cao Yu as the host, and how he thought he was very famous in China.

At that moment, Cao Yu went straight to the point and said, "You're an American playwright? I've never heard of you!"

This left everyone present feeling quite awkward.

After Miller finished speaking, he added, "You're just like your teacher; you're not very good at taking care of the guests' feelings."

“Mr. Miller, my teacher knows the importance of telling the truth. To deceive you out of consideration for your feelings is not the way to treat a guest. The Chinese advocate honesty and openness!”

Cao Yu, sitting beside him, remained silent, but his upper body was ramrod straight as he surveyed the surroundings, exuding an air of superiority.

what--

(End of this chapter)