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

Chapter 338 Textbook Project Compilation
After seeing it clearly, Lan Tianye and Zhu Lin were stunned on the spot. It was only after Liu Yimin urged them that they came to their senses and hurriedly walked towards the backstage. In their haste, they even went to the wrong place.

Zhu Lin angrily slapped his head and gave an awkward smile, a scene that made the other directors and senior officers around him laugh.

Backstage, Liu Yimin greeted the actors, but Lan Tianye and Zhu Lin seemed distracted.

"Comrades, the performance was excellent. Comrade Yang Lixin, especially you, gave a superb performance. All the audience members were cheering for everyone. This applause is not for me, but for everyone! Special praise to Comrade Yang Lixin, who sacrificed a lot for this play."

"Alright, enough talk, everyone take off your makeup and go back to rest!" Liu Yimin shook hands with everyone and said a few simple words.

Lan Tianye said, "What Yimin said is exactly what I wanted to say. Alright, everyone, let's disperse!"

Liu Yimin patted Zhu Lin, who was still a little dazed: "Comrade Zhu Lin, being absent-minded will result in a pay cut!"

"Yimin, the commander is looking for you. Go quickly, don't keep him waiting too long!" Lan Tianye urged.

Liu Yimin nodded: "Okay, Director Lan, you've done a great job arranging this, thank you so much!"

"Oh, this is the first time I've heard that. Just assign us, master and apprentice, more work in the future. My bonus and subsidies all depend on you."

"No problem, no problem!" Liu Yimin waved his hand and left the backstage area.

Lan Tianye teased Zhu Lin, "This guy gets really quick when it comes to serious matters!"

Zhu Lin smiled without saying a word, wondering what the leader wanted to talk to Liu Yimin about.

As Liu Yimin approached the office door, the guard smiled kindly at him and opened the door for him, inviting him inside.

Cao Yu, who was standing next to him, was chatting with the old leader, and the teacup on the table was steaming.

"Comrade Yimin, please sit down! Comrade Jiabao was just praising you; he's very satisfied with your student!" the old leader said with a smile.

After sitting down, Liu Yimin looked at Cao Yu and said, "I've met a good teacher!"

"Alright, you two, stop with your teacher-student sentimentality here. Comrade Yimin, these are some declassified documents. You can take them back and look at them. But please note that no one else can see them except Comrade Zhu Lin and Comrade Jiabao, and you must keep them confidential after you've seen them."

If I don't let Comrade Zhu Lin see it, he'll get suspicious, and I'm not going to be the bad guy. Scientists often face misunderstandings from their families because of the secrecy surrounding their research and development!
Comrade Jiabao, on the other hand, is one of our veteran literary comrades, so I won't say more about him.

After the old leader finished speaking, Cao Yu said, "Lord Yun, you two chat, I'm going out for a walk!"

Cao Yu had barely finished speaking when he reached the door.

Seeing this, the old leader didn't stop them. After the door closed, he said to Liu Yimin, "Your teacher has such a strong sense of secrecy. You can look at these materials for two days, and after two days, call me and I'll have the security secretary pick them up!"
I was originally planning to have my secretary bring it to you today, but I heard there's a new play airing, so I thought I'd come and join in the fun. Well written, well-directed. If you'd like to visit the base, I can have someone take you there, but what you see and who you meet isn't up to you.”

"Is it really possible?" Liu Yimin asked rhetorically.

"Of course, Comrade Yimin. The higher-ups trust you. We know your past, and Comrade Wu has also said that you are a trustworthy and good comrade, a good literary and artistic worker! Our judgment will not be wrong!"

The old leader patted Liu Yimin on the shoulder, then stood up and prepared to leave.

"Please rest assured, sir, I will write it carefully!"

"it is good!"

As he went out and went downstairs, he saw Miller. The old chief whispered to Liu Yimin, "This must be the American playwright you were arguing with!"

Liu Yimin nodded: "He's a playwright, but he's not one of our comrades!"

Miller glanced at Liu Yimin and said calmly, "Young man, see you when 'Death of a Salesman' comes out!"

Ying Ruocheng, standing beside him, translated helplessly without telling Miller who was narrating!
Liu Yimin escorted the old leader downstairs. Zhu Lin was standing at the door. When the old leader got into the car, he saw Zhu Lin and greeted her.

Several directors stood at a distance, seemingly wanting to ask something, but Cao Yu scolded them and sent them away.

Cao Yu yawned at Liu Yimin: "It's getting late, you and Xiao Lin should go back quickly!"

"Okay, teacher, you should get some rest too!"

Liu Yimin got on his motorcycle and drove Zhu Lin away from the Beijing People's Art Theatre. On the way back, Zhu Lin asked the leader why he wanted to see him.

"We'll talk about it when we get back!"

Once home, Liu Yimin explained the whole story to Zhu Lin and opened the documents that the old commander had sent.

"You have to keep it a secret after you read it!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Zhu Lin said impatiently, "It's a secret, I'm very tight-lipped!"

Liu Yimin opened the document, which had indeed been declassified. For example, historically, it was Qian Sanqiang who approached Deng Jiaxian to ask if he was willing to join the country's secret research project.

The document states that after a nationwide search, the leaders of a certain research institute located Comrade He Weiguo, a researcher working at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Most of the other researchers entered the research and development work of state secret projects through this method.

He Weiguo – Nuclear Power for the Nation!

The two stayed up until midnight before Liu Yimin finally said, "Go to sleep, you have to go to work tomorrow!"

“Let me look at it a little longer, Teacher Liu. It’s not like you don’t go to work!” Zhu Lin’s eyes were glued to the document.

"I can sleep at work, can you?" Liu Yimin patted Zhu Lin's waist and urged him on.

Urged by Liu Yimin, Zhu Lin reluctantly left the study, took a shower in the bathroom, and returned to the bedroom to lie down on the bed.

As soon as I lay down, Zhu Lin's hand rested on mine: "Teacher Liu, let's have a meeting!"

Liu Yimin gave him a light kick: "Who's afraid of who!"

Zhu Lin chuckled, and the two hugged each other.

After finishing his business, Liu Yimin prepared to go to sleep.

Zhu Lin leaned over again: "Let's have another meeting!"

"..." "Teacher Liu, if we don't work harder now, my sister-in-law will have given birth in a few months!" Zhu Lin said with distress.

“It’s normal for your older brother to get married and pregnant early. Zhu Lin, we’re not competing for the first to arrive, but for the longest to come!” Liu Yimin said earnestly.

Zhu Lin hadn't felt the pressure from his parents before, but once his sister-in-law got pregnant, he couldn't sit still any longer.

Zhu Lin placed her left hand on Liu Yimin's shoulder and gently lifted his chin with her right hand: "Teacher Liu, you wouldn't... well, you haven't been to Mom's house enough lately. Let's go for pigeon soup and turtle soup tomorrow."

"Just you wait, you'll be finished if I don't stab you!" Liu Yimin suddenly opened his eyes. He would rather die than be humiliated!

Yan Jiayan, from the Chinese Department of Yenching University, was very pleased to learn that Liu Yimin had the idea of ​​compiling textbooks. For several years, there had still been a shortage of textbooks for various professional courses.

It's not just Yenching University's Chinese Department that's lacking textbooks; Chinese departments in various universities are facing a shortage. Yenching University's Chinese Department encourages teachers to compile textbooks, but there are always gaps in their coverage.

Furthermore, there's a difference between textbooks compiled solely for use at Yenching University and those sold to other schools. Textbooks compiled by the Chinese Department at Yenching University are generally only for their own use, but if they are well-compiled, they can be sold directly to other schools, generating additional income for the department. This also significantly enhances the department's influence at other universities.

For subjects like Professor Liu Yimin's, textbooks are particularly scarce. Shandong University has established the American Literary Thought Research Association, but it has yet to compile any textbooks.

Western literary thought is currently very popular. If the Chinese Department of Yenching University could compile it, it is estimated that half of the Chinese departments across the country would come to Yenching University to buy textbooks.

"Yimin, I'm so glad you think this way. Tell me, what kind of support do you need?" Yan Jiayan said happily.

“It’s all about people and money. I’m planning to ask Professor Wu and Professor Wang’s graduate students to help me with research, so I’ll have to give them some subsidies! Buying Western textbooks for reference will also cost money. I plan to categorize European and American literary thought by country, so the cost of buying materials should be considerable,” Liu Yimin said.

"Yes, buying textbooks involves foreign exchange! The school library received a batch of books; go check if there are any you need. I can allocate three thousand yuan to you first. If foreign exchange is needed, I'll find another way. You'll need to allocate more funds for subsequent expenses. In short, the department will fully support you!"

After Yan Jiayan finished speaking, he looked up at Liu Yimin seriously and said, "Yimin, this is your first time in charge of a project. You must be careful with the accounts of the textbook compilation expenses. We are a public institution, and financial matters are very important."

I know you don't lack this money, but remember, I'm talking about keeping accurate accounts. You need to be able to clearly explain where every single expense went, understand?

"Professor Yan, I understand!"

"Good, go write an application and I'll approve the funding for you!"

After Liu Yimin left, Yan Jiayan thought for a moment, his eyes flickering, and felt that it was not very safe for Liu Yimin to rely on a few graduate students to do research.

In later generations, many professors had their textbooks written by graduate students to meet their professional title evaluation requirements. Once compiled, these textbooks, aside from filling a library, were basically just left to gather dust in a corner.

But now, Liu Yimin can't do that, and the graduate students can only be asked to do some data collection work.

Back in the office, Wu Zuxiang and Wang Yao gathered several graduate students under their supervision and asked them if they were willing to do the job.

Several people nodded vigorously. Compiling textbooks is a good thing, of course we should do it!

Liu Yimin stood before them and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, I will provide subsidies to everyone involved in the project according to the school's regulations. Also, once the textbook is compiled, I won't keep this honor to myself; it's all thanks to everyone!"

"You all need to work hard under Professor Liu's guidance. If anyone doesn't do a good job or doesn't work properly, I won't let you off the hook!" Wu Zuxiang warned. Some of these graduate students were even older than Liu Yimin, and they were afraid that Liu Yimin wouldn't be able to keep them in check.

"Everyone, please register your names!" Liu Yimin asked them to write down their names and submit them to the department for record-keeping.

After registering, Liu Yimin applied for a private office from Yan Jiayan and went inside with several people.

"This office will be where everyone works from now on!"

The office, about thirty square meters, looked like it hadn't been used in a long time; some slogans were still pasted on it. The file folders on the desk were covered in dust, and the blackboard read: "Research on Revolutionary Theory and Literature, Department of Chinese Literature".

"Everyone, clean up the classroom. If you can't manage it all, go ask some juniors and sophomores to help. Be careful!"

"Okay, Professor Liu, the few of us are enough!"

Liu Yimin returned to his office and began writing a funding application, outlining the background, purpose, general content, personnel assignments, and timeline for the funding request.

The estimated budget is 8,000 yuan, mainly for purchasing materials, and the timeframe is one year.

"Five people? Isn't that a bit too few?" Yan Jiayan said. "Should we send some of my graduate students to you as well?"

“Sure, Professor Yan, the more the merrier. I plan to first list the major European countries and the United States, and have them work in groups to collect data, and then coordinate the whole process!” Liu Yimin told Yan Jiayan about his plan.

Yan Jiayan nodded in agreement: "That's right. It's easier to sort out one country at a time. Europe may seem to have many countries, but in reality, there are only a few! However, the formation of literary thought involves many factors, so we need to sort it out carefully."

As Liu Yimin was about to leave, former director Yang Hui walked in. He looked very unwell, emaciated, and sickly.

"Professor Yang!" Liu Yimin tried to help him up, but Yang Hui dodged him.

“Yimin, I’m not at the point where I can’t walk anymore! I heard you’re planning to compile textbooks. I’m volunteering to be your soldier. Will you take me?” Yang Hui asked directly.

"Huh?" Liu Yimin looked at Yan Jiayan next to him, who shook his head, indicating that it had nothing to do with him.

Yan Jiayan helped Yang Hui to the sofa and said, "Teacher, you should rest more!"

"My body is what it is, resting won't help, I have to get busy!" Yang Hui said.

Yan Jiayan tried to persuade him for a few times without success, and said helplessly, "Yimin, ever since you got 'One Hundred Years of Solitude,' Professor Yang has been studying several major schools of Western modern literature."

"Professor Yang, of course I'm willing! You be the director of the editorial board, and I'll be your soldier!"

Yang Hui waved his hand: "I'll be your soldier. The Chinese department will eventually need you young people to take the lead. I'll be your deputy. And there's Old Zhu. He lectured on Western literature and aesthetics in the 1940s. The three of us, along with a group of students, will definitely be able to compile a textbook suitable for our country!"

Liu Yimin wanted to say something, but Yan Jiayan stopped him: "Yimin, you took the lead in setting this up, and since you'll be teaching this course in the future, you should have Professor Yang and Professor Zhu as your assistants!"

"Alright, then I'll take advantage of your power this time!" Liu Yimin laughed.

After a while, Zhu Guangqian walked in with a smile, and Yang Hui laughed and said, "Look, this old fellow always has to let me take the lead!"

Zhu Guangqian said with a smile, "Who told you to be the old director? You have more face than me. Yimin, when are we going to start? I'll use this textbook to rethink Western aesthetics. The ones I wrote before were too outdated!"

(End of this chapter)