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

Chapter 378, "The Acacia Tree in the Minefield," Premiere

The women's volleyball team members received their theater tickets from Yuan Weimin one by one, their faces filled with emotion.

Yuan Weimin said, "This is Comrade Liu Yimin's support for us. I think Comrade Liu Yimin also wants us to learn from the spirit of scientists and soldiers, to be indomitable. No matter what difficulties we encounter, we must always keep one goal in mind, which is—to achieve victory!"
Comrades, our training from now on will have only one goal: victory!

Just as Yuan Weimin finished speaking and dismissed the women's volleyball team members, and was about to head upstairs, the phone at the dormitory manager's window rang again.

Yuan Weimin stopped in his tracks, instinctively feeling that the phone call was related to him.

After the dormitory manager answered the phone, he poked his head out of the window and saw that Yuan Weimin was still there, so he quickly waved and said, "Comrade Yuan Weimin, it's for you!"

Yuan Weimin quickly walked to the window, took the phone, and leaned against the wall to avoid the wind blowing in from outside: "Comrade Liu Yimin, is that you?"

"Coach Yuan, how did you know?" Liu Yimin asked with a smile.

Yuan Weimin said happily, "I just received the theater tickets you sent. I guessed you would call."

"I'd like to invite my comrades to see a play. I wonder if you have time?"

“We just finished a meeting at the Sports Commission. The leaders there encouraged us, hoping we would learn from our mistakes and strive to win the championship next year. Comrade Yimin, thank you for not changing your attitude towards us because of our failure,” Yuan Weimin said with a look of shame.

Liu Yimin said, "Coach Yuan, why are you being so indecisive? Are you going to go or not?"

“Let’s go, let’s go! These tickets are so rare, we might as well go! Even though we failed, the comrades should take a rest,” Yuan Weimin said.

"Okay, let's do it this way. Come to the courtyard for dinner the day after tomorrow afternoon, and then we'll go see a play together."

"Okay, same as always, we'll prepare the ingredients."

"All you need to do is bring your mouths; I'll treat you to a meal."

After hanging up the phone, Yuan Weimin tightened his coat and went upstairs.

"Was that Comrade Liu Yimin who just called?" the dormitory manager asked curiously.

"Correct!"

"Comrade Liu Yimin is really something! I love reading his novels too. When I'm bored, I flip through them and I learn a lot!" After saying that, the dormitory manager sat back down on the bench.

Back in his dormitory, Yuan Weimin didn't rest. Instead, he took out his materials and began to review the failure and summarize the lessons learned.

At the Overseas Chinese Apartment, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin were having dinner. Zhu Lin was thinking about how to encourage the women's volleyball team members the day after tomorrow.

"Sister-in-law should be about to give birth, right?" Liu Yimin said after calculating the time.

Zhu Lin said with a smile, "It should be around the middle of December. Last time I wrote to my sister-in-law, she told me that she had a lot of morning sickness after getting pregnant. Luckily, she teaches at a school. If she were working in a regular job, she really wouldn't be able to make it."

Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin discussed going to the department store in the next couple of days to buy some more things and send them back. Winter is coming, and it's time to get some more winter clothes for Liu Fuqing and Yang Xiuyun.

The next day, upon arriving at Yenching University, Yan Jiayan approached Zhu Guangqian and Liu Yimin, hoping that each of them would write an article recommending the textbook and send it to various schools along with the textbook.

“If we write it ourselves, it won’t be as credible as if the users wrote it. Professor Yan, why don’t you find professors from Tsinghua University to write it? Tsinghua was the first to use our textbooks, so their words are very persuasive,” Liu Yimin said, sitting across from Yan Jiayan and offering him advice.

Zhu Guangqian chimed in from the side, "That's what I think too. We're just like matchmakers, and our self-praise isn't very convincing!"

Yan Jiayan thought Liu Yimin's idea was good, but then he was troubled: "But who should we ask to write it!"

"Professor Feng Zhi and Professor Qian Zhongshu are both quite knowledgeable in foreign literature. Having them recommend us would definitely be helpful. In addition to Tsinghua University, we should try to acquire Beijing Normal University as soon as possible. They have the strongest Chinese department besides Yenching University. Using these two schools would be very representative."

Yan Jiayan said with a smile, "Professor Zhu, Professor Liu, I'll leave the matter of finding Professor Qian Zhongshu to you two. I'll contact Beijing Normal University to jointly organize a lecture and promote the textbook to the faculty and students there."

Zhu Guangqian and Liu Yimin agreed and walked out of Yan Jiayan's office. Zhu Guangqian said with a smile, "Let's go to the Gaozhi Building. It's been a long time since I've been to Zhongshu's place!"

"It's cold on the motorcycle, please find me another military overcoat."

After getting dressed, Liu Yimin led Zhu Guangqian to the Gaozhi Building. On the way there, Zhu Guangqian saw several acquaintances.

They went upstairs, knocked on the door, and Yang Jiang opened it. Upon seeing Zhu Guangqian and Liu Yimin, Yang Jiang warmly invited them in.

The building also had heating, making it warm and cozy. Qian Zhongshu was sitting in his study writing something.

"Guangqian, Yimin, you two sit down. I'll go make you some tea." Yang Jiang led them to the study and then turned to find some tea leaves.

Qian Zhongshu said in surprise, "Didn't we just meet yesterday? You miss me already?"

"I haven't been to Kochi Building in a long time. Let's see if I can stay here too," Zhu Guangqian joked.

"Your Yandong Garden and Yannan Garden at Yenching University have much better facilities than ours. Tell me quickly, what brings you here?"

Liu Yimin said, "Professor Qian, I apologize for bothering you today. The textbook is to be promoted to other universities. Professor Yan asked us to write it ourselves, but if we write it ourselves, wouldn't that be like Wang Po selling melons and praising her own wares? So we wanted to ask a highly respected professor to write it, and Professor Zhu and I both thought of you at the same time."

Yang Jiang poured tea for the two of them and said, "I've read your textbook. The content is very detailed, yet it doesn't make it too difficult for undergraduates to understand. I think it's a good textbook. Zhongshu, you should help me with this!"

Qian Zhongshu, who had been leaning back in his chair, sat up straight, took a sip of tea, and said, "My talented daughter has already said that I will help with this."

"Thank you, Professor Qian and Professor Yang," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

While Qian Zhongshu was writing the letter of recommendation, Zhu Guangqian and Liu Yimin chatted with Yang Jiang. In the middle of the conversation, Qian Zhongshu's daughter, Qian Yuan, returned and, after hearing what the three were saying, quickly joined in.

"Professor Zhu, Professor Liu, the Foreign Languages ​​Department at Beijing Normal University is asking me to compile an English textbook, but I don't have any ideas yet. Could you share your experiences with me?" Qian Yuan asked humbly.

Liu Yimin quickly waved his hand: "You guys teach English, we teach literature textbooks. We're completely unrelated. We can't offer any experience."

Zhu Guangqian chimed in, "We understand English, but we don't understand English teaching."

Qian Yuan believes that although the two are different, they both involve the collection of data and have something in common.

"Professor Qian Yuan, I think English textbooks should be tailored to the grade level they are used in and what abilities they should focus on developing for students in that grade. Is it reading? Or listening and grammar? Once this is clear, the textbooks can be compiled step by step according to the proportion of each part."

"Furthermore, when using English materials, we should select the good and discard the bad. The articles we introduce should be in line with the actual situation in our country," Liu Yimin suggested.

Qian Yuan agreed, and while everyone was discussing, Qian Zhongshu had already finished writing the letter of recommendation. Zhu Guangqian took the letter, glanced at it a few times, and smiled, "Comrade Zhongshu, the more I look at your handwriting, the more charming it becomes!"

"Old Zhu, don't try to drug me. Your textbooks are good; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to write them. When Professor Feng Zhi came back, he said that the textbooks ultimately did not disappoint Professor Yang Hui's hard work," Qian Zhongshu said.

After Yang Jiang invited them to have lunch at the apartment, Liu Yimin and Zhu Guangqian left the Gaozhi Building.

On the way, Zhu Guangqian said, "Comrade Yang Jiang's cooking skills are getting better and better. She rarely cooked before, but it seems she has learned a lot of good cooking skills now."

"The braised pork is really delicious, with a strong southern flavor. I put a lot of effort into making it."

Back at Yenching University, Yan Jiayan handed the letter of recommendation to Yan Jiayan, who was so happy that his mouth stretched from ear to ear: "The first batch of one thousand copies is expected to be printed on December 1st. We'll keep enough for our own use, and the rest will be used for promotion."

"How's the contact with Beijing Normal University going?" Zhu Guangqian asked.

"A lecture will be given on December 5th in the large lecture hall of the Chinese Department at Beijing Normal University. The Chinese Department of Beijing Normal University specifically requested Yimin to give the lecture. Their students and professors are all required to attend."

Back in his office, Liu Yimin sat down, drank some water, and thought about what he should say. Since the goal was to promote Western modern literature textbooks, he should talk about Western literature.

"Yimin, time for class!" Wu Zuxiang knocked on the door and called out, holding a teacup.

Wu Zuxiang was teaching a third-year class, while Liu Yimin was teaching a second-year class. The two of them, carrying textbooks and teacups, arrived at the teaching building and headed to the first and second classrooms respectively.

Liu Yimin entered through the back door; Yu Hua and Shi Tiesheng were both there. He learned that Yu Hua had practically dragged Shi Tiesheng there from his house.

"It's so cold, don't let Tiesheng catch a cold!" Liu Yimin said helplessly.

Yu Hua flicked his middle-parted bangs and said, "Comrade Yimin, don't worry, I've prepared a blanket for Tiesheng."

Shi Tiesheng huddled up in a ball, his teeth chattering: "Comrade Yimin, I'm not cold!" Of course he was cold!

After finishing his lecture, Liu Yimin pushed Shi Tiesheng to the office building to warm themselves by the fire for a while before letting the two of them leave.

In the Chinese Department office building, several professors from the Chinese Department were very interested in the two of them and pulled them aside to ask them all sorts of questions.

Yu Hua amused several professors in the Chinese department, who hadn't seen a new face in the department's office for a long time.

The north wind howled, and winter had arrived. Liu Yimin hadn't seen the sun in Yanjing for a while; dark yellow clouds covered the sky, as if a heavy snow was about to fall.

Inside the courtyard house, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin had prepared plenty of ingredients in the living room, waiting for the women's volleyball team.

At 3 p.m., the women's volleyball team, led by Yuan Weimin, arrived as scheduled.

"Comrade Yimin, Comrade Zhu Lin, have you prepared such a lavish spread?" Lang Ping asked, looking at the plates of meat rolls and skewers.

"There's not much good food in winter, too few vegetables, so we can only make sure to have more meat."

Yuan Weimin said, "We are a defeated general, and we are sorry to have troubled you."

"Not at all, one failure is nothing to worry about. A true hero makes a comeback!"

A group of people sat in the main room eating hot pot and chatting. Yuan Weimin summarized several lessons learned.

First, the newcomers lacked confidence as they took on key roles; second, the opponent reverted to fast-paced attack tactics, causing frequent vulnerabilities in our team.

When talking about the banquet held by the ambassador, his wife, and fans after the defeat, which was no different in scale from the previous victories, Yuan Weimin couldn't help but shed tears again.

Inside the courtyard house, the women's volleyball team members felt more relaxed than ever before. After dinner, they read books, listened to music, and had a great time.

Lang Ping joked, "Comrade Yimin, how about treating us to Fengzeyuan Restaurant after we win next year? I only saw your article 'The Legendary Manager' after we returned to China, and I was drooling while reading it last night."

“Going now is fine too!” Liu Yimin said with a smile.

"That won't do. We need to leave something to look forward to, and we'll eat it again after we win," the other female volleyball team members said.

“If you win the Olympic gold medal, then it won’t be my turn anymore; you’ll have to attend the state banquet,” Liu Yimin said.

China has not yet won an Olympic gold medal. China's first gold medal in sports history was won at the 1984 Olympics.

In the men's free pistol slow fire competition, Xu Haifeng won the gold medal with a score of 566, achieving China's first-ever Olympic gold medal. International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch personally presented him with the award, calling it "a great day in the history of Chinese sports."

China won a total of 15 gold medals at this Olympic Games.

Yuan Weimin also got interested and joked, "We'll eat at the state banquet, and we'll also eat at Fengzeyuan, which you've invited."

It was almost time, so after taking a photo in front of the bare ginkgo tree, everyone walked together to the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

As before, the women's volleyball team members waited until most of the other players had entered before going in themselves.

The audience only knew that Liu Yimin had invited the women's volleyball team to watch a play, but they didn't know when it was, and no one recognized them throughout the entire performance.

Led by Yuan Weimin, the women's volleyball team members sat in the front row, watching the play intently and silently absorbing its spiritual strength.

The entire performance was arranged just like the premiere, including soldiers rushing onto the stage waving red flags and the final chorus.

After the chorus ended and all the audience members left, the women's volleyball team members slowly stood up.

Yuan Weimin stood on the stage, took the microphone, and shared his feelings about watching the show, as well as the spirit of forging ahead.

"Damn it, I don't believe that winning a gold medal is harder than detonating an atomic bomb!" Yuan Weimin's last words were resounding.

Liu Yimin couldn't help but be the first to applaud; those words were quite to his liking.

After Yuan Weimin finished speaking, Liu Yimin saw them out through the main gate. Yuan Weimin told him that he would officially set off for the Chenzhou training center in December to begin training in preparation for the Olympics.

"Goodbye, Comrade Yimin!" Yuan Weimin held Liu Yimin's hand and gave him another hug.

The rest of the female volleyball team members shook hands with him one by one to say goodbye, smiling and saying that they must eat at Fengzeyuan next time.

After seeing them off, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin walked back to the courtyard house. The wind was too strong that night, and the two were tired, so they didn't go back to the Overseas Chinese Apartment.

After the textbook was completed, the compilation office was taken over by the department, and with fewer routine tasks, Liu Yimin went to the Yenching University office less often.

As December arrives, the most anticipated film in the market has arrived. At the film purchase event held in mid-November, 800 copies of "Acacia Tree in the Minefield" were sold, nearly 400 fewer than "Triumph at Midnight".

Originally, the number of copies of "Triumph at Midnight" was just over a thousand, but the film market was so hot that China Film Group sold a second batch of copies, selling a total of about 200 more.

Since its release at the beginning of the year, "Triumph at Midnight" is still among the most frequently shown films in theaters.

The film "Acacia Tree in the Minefield" made a lot of money for the August First Film Studio. In addition to the profit of about 400,000 yuan from China Film Group, there was also a reward of 200,000 yuan from the Film Bureau.

On the morning of December 1st, Liu Yimin, together with Yan Jiayan, mailed textbook samples to various universities at the Chinese Department of Yenching University. In the evening, he accompanied Zhu Lin and his parents to the cinema to watch "The Acacia Tree in the Minefield".

It had been a long time since I'd gone out with Mr. and Mrs. Zhu, and the two elderly people were in high spirits. Ever since Zhu Lin got married, he always says that Mr. and Mrs. Zhu seem to have aged much faster.

The entire movie theater was silent until the opening scene showed the successful capture of the high ground, at which point the theater erupted in cheers.

When the scene shifted to a battle scene imagined by several college student soldiers, the audience in the theater burst into laughter.

Cinema staff reminded everyone to maintain order and not to disturb other viewers, but few people complied.

However, for a considerable period of the segment, there were no intense battle scenes, so the audience remained silent.

Everyone carefully followed the perspective of several college students to view the battlefield, observe the frontline soldiers, and also observe their own psychological transformation.

After a fierce battle, witnessing the sacrifices of the soldiers and the heroic deeds of the heroes, the audience's mindset shifted once again.

Zhu's mother and some audience members had red eyes, and Zhu's father comforted them in a low voice.

“These soldiers are the same age as our children!” Zhu’s mother said sadly.

When Zhu Lin saw the familiar soldiers charging on the screen, he couldn't help but grab Liu Yimin's arm tightly.

In the movie, a wounded soldier hums "The Moon Song": "When I guard the border of my motherland, I often gaze quietly at the moon; she is like my mother's smiling face, no matter how troubled I am."

Connecting the wounded soldier with his mother, no audience member could remain unmoved; the entire movie theater was filled with sobs.

As the movie ended, someone shouted, "Let us observe a moment of silence for the fallen soldiers!"

The audience in the movie theater stopped moving and observed three minutes of silence before leaving the theater one by one.

The projectionist didn't change the film because the next showing was also "Acacia Tree in the Minefield".

Learning from the experience of the previous film "Triumph at Midnight", cinemas are showing "Acacia Tree in Minefield" back-to-back.

"Mom and Dad, drive carefully on your way back!" Zhu Lin said with concern.

"Don't worry, we'll be home in less than twenty minutes. You two should go back and get some rest." Zhu's mother waved her hand and sat on the back of Zhu's father's bicycle, like a couple who had just started dating.

"Let's go back too, Teacher Liu!" Zhu Lin took Liu Yimin's hand and walked to the motorcycle.

As soon as they left, the entrance to the movie theater was surrounded by people again.

(End of this chapter)