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

Chapter 506 A Solo Pilgrimage

In the morning light, countless readers stood on the street, holding copies of the People's Daily, staring intently at the three-character name on the page. Astonished readers pointed to the report and excitedly shouted, "Deng Jiaxian! It was him! He built the atomic bomb!"

The newspaper briefly reported on Deng's deeds, only mentioning his appointment as deputy director of the Science and Technology Committee of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and his struggles, without mentioning his current health condition.

Readers only realized that Deng Lao's health was like a candle flickering in the wind after reading the supplementary article in "People's Literature and Art".

Through reading People's Literature, readers gained a detailed understanding of Deng Xiaoping's magnificent life and his dedication to serving the country. When everyone learned that Deng Xiaoping had suffered from nuclear radiation, a flood of letters of concern arrived at the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, with traces of dried tears visible on the envelopes and letters.

In June, there was only one name in China, and that was Deng Jiaxian.

Apart from his wife, no one else knew about Deng Lao's work. From the moment the news was declassified, his wife, Xu Luxi, received a constant stream of calls from relatives and friends, all asking with heavy hearts whether Deng Lao was still alive.

The supplement to "People's Literature and Art" sold like hotcakes, but the editors in the entire editorial department did not show any joy.

Wang Meng and Cui Daoyi were the first to know the contents. The higher-ups personally sent someone to deliver the manuscript, which was in an archive bag, to the editorial department of "People's Literature and Art," requiring them to print it immediately and setting a release date.

Wang Meng curiously opened the file folder, and after reading the contents of the manuscript, only one thought came to her mind—Oh my god!
The first printing of the supplement to "People's Literature and Art" was three million copies, the largest first printing of "People's Literature and Art" to date.

After hanging up the phone with the publishing office, Wang Meng said to Cui Daoyi, "I would rather never publish this article. A tragic song of heroes, a tragic song of heroes!"

“Yes, without great patriotism, fearlessness, and perseverance, how could one risk one’s life to develop the atomic bomb? How could one knowingly go to the site to inspect it despite knowing about the radiation?” After Cui Daoyi finished speaking, the office fell into a long silence.

In addition to causing a stir domestically, the People's Daily and the People's Literature supplement were also sent back to their respective countries as important intelligence.

Inside the Oval Office of the White House, uniformed Pentagon officers and CIA agents jointly briefed each other on Deng Xiaoping's situation.

"It turns out that our guess from more than a decade ago was correct. The person who made China's atomic bomb was Deng, a graduate of Purdue University, who was a good friend of Zhenning Yang. They met when Zhenning Yang visited China. At that time, the Chinese side told him that the entire team that made the atomic bomb was composed of Chinese scientists."

"Gentlemen, what I want to know is, will the development speed of China's atomic bomb slow down after Deng Xiaoping's departure? What stage has China's nuclear weapons program reached?" Reagan looked intently at the documents in his hand.

“Going from 0 to 1 is difficult, but going from 1 to 2 is easy. They have cultivated a large number of talents.” The Pentagon general closed the document in his hand.

Reagan was dissatisfied with this explanation. He twirled his pen, pondered for a moment, and said, "This may not be a bad thing for us. It could help contain Soviet influence. Our focus should remain on the Third World, competing with the Soviet Union for influence there."

Starting in March of this year, Reagan proposed a plan to compete with the Soviet Union for control of the Third World. He believed that the Soviet Union's economic strength was insufficient to maintain its influence or military power in the Third World countries, and that the Soviet Union's national strength should be depleted through low-cost economic or military aid.

Reagan rose to power as an actor, but compared to Zesheng, he was far more politically astute.

Upon hearing the news, Yang Zhenning, who was working in a laboratory at the State University of New York, packed his bags and hurriedly returned to China.

The courtyard was filled with people, all of whom were friends who had come to inquire about Mr. Deng's health.

Now, Deng Lao's health condition is no longer a secret, and Liu Yimin told them everything he knew.

“You only have a little bit of your body,” Zhang Guangnian asked.

Liu Yimin shook his head: "The higher-ups have already issued a critical condition notice to Professor Xu Luxi. Nuclear radiation is just too destructive to people."

"Ugh!"

Zhang Guangnian said sadly, "Born in 24, more than ten years younger than me. Heaven is jealous of talent. It shouldn't be like this. It shouldn't be like this."

The courtyard was filled with sighs of sorrow. People gradually stood up and left. Once everyone had left, Ximei came over and asked Liu Yimin a few questions.

In the afternoon, Xie Zhonghou visited again, carrying roast duck and sausage he had bought from Dashilan.

"Old Xie, I thought you were gone?" Liu Yimin said in surprise.

Judging by the time, Xie Zhonghou has been in Yanjing for more than ten days.

Xie Zhonghou smiled and handed the things to Ximei: "I'll write whether I go back or stay here, so I'm staying a few more days. I came to say goodbye to you; I'm leaving tomorrow."

"So, what are your thoughts after watching for half a month?" Liu Yimin asked.

Xie Zhonghou said, "There are so many delicious foods on the mainland. I've almost gained three pounds. I want to try everything. The food tastes just like home. Even after being away for decades, my stomach still tastes like the mainland stomach."

"Haha, what do you want to eat? I'll have Ximei make it for you. If you don't know how, I'll go to the street and buy it for you." Liu Yimin pulled him to sit in the shade under the eaves.

"No need, no need, you can just make roast duck at home. Besides food, I actually have other thoughts, let me tell you about them."

Xie Zhonghou not only learned about the current policies on the mainland in detail, but also went deep into the hutongs and factories to communicate, gaining a greater understanding of the overall social landscape.

"The mainland is undergoing a transformation, and this transformation process is very painful. In particular, balancing the interests of all parties is extremely difficult. I have spent a long time in Hong Kong and am very familiar with the situation in Shenzhen."

The country is undergoing reforms, and individuals' thinking is changing, with increasing understanding of foreign countries. However, on the other hand, just like on the island, many people on the mainland want to work and live in the US and the West. Yimin, I hope I haven't offended you by saying this?

“No offense, but you’re telling the truth. This is a problem that’s hard to avoid. The economies of the US and the West are doing well, and they attract labor and talent from all over the world,” Liu Yimin said.

Seeing that Liu Yimin didn't mind the issue, Xie Zhonghou went on to say more. He was very worried about this situation, believing that talent is the engine of a country's development, and without the engine, development would be slow.

"In the face of the general trend of history or the objective laws of development, individuals do not play a major role. Talented people may leave, but they will certainly return. Just like the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, even without my articles, the window for dialogue would gradually appear."

We can't keep everyone, but it's enough if we can help those who stay or return to do their jobs well.

Xie Zhonghou frowned and pondered for a while: "That's right. Even the United States can't retain all its talents. I saw the reports about Deng Jiaxian and the novel you wrote. He was truly a great man. The mainland's defense equipment is developing rapidly. The island has so much money. They took so many people away back then, but they didn't achieve anything significant."

Xie Zhonghou knew very little about the dedication of mainland scientists, or the dedication, responsibility, and collective power that mainlanders often talked about.

He is Chinese, but he has become a Chinese person with a Western mindset.

"Collectivism can concentrate resources to accomplish great things. Our Chinese culture has always been a collectivist culture. Whether it was the Xinhai Revolution, the Northern Expedition, or the later New China, collectivism played a powerful role. In fact, the island as a whole is also collectivist, but you have not made good use of collectivism."

Liu Yimin didn't discuss things in such depth with Xie Zhonghou. The two chatted over roast duck and sausage until four o'clock in the afternoon, when Xie Zhonghou got up to leave.

“When I return to Hong Kong, I will send your letter to Gu Jian and the publishing house. The publishing house will definitely expedite everything for you. I believe that your novel will be in the bookstores on the island in less than half a month.”

"Thank you for your hard work. I'll take you there tomorrow."

"No need, no need, Xinhua News Agency will send me away directly," Xie Zhonghou quickly said.

"Okay." Liu Yimin waved goodbye.

Back in the courtyard house, Liu Yimin went to his study and looked at the manuscript he had just finished writing.

Liu Yimin's novel, titled "The Pilgrimage of One Man," is an adaptation of a British original.

This novel tells the story of the friendship between two old men. When one of them learns that his old friend is ill, he decides to walk to visit him.

The protagonist of the original story, Harold, walked for 87 days, covering 627 miles, to visit his old friend. He firmly believed that as long as he kept walking, his old friend would have hope of living.

What began as a journey to visit an old friend turned into a journey of redemption. Harold and his friend were once workers at the same factory, but while working there, the friend took the blame for Harold and left town. Years later, a farewell letter shattered Harold's life.

During his journey, Harold thought of his deceased son and his wife, with whom he had long been separated due to estrangement. While walking, he confronted his inner world and cleared up his misunderstandings about his wife.

His wife, who was worried about his sudden departure, looked at old photos of the two of them at home and realized that she still loved him deeply.

After seeing his old friend one last time, Harold was taken home by his wife.

This novel, about friendship and love, topped the UK bestseller list upon release and has sold over 800 million copies worldwide. It went through three printings within three months of its publication in China and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize that year.

Without grand narratives or deliberate attempts to depict disaster, it won the favor of countless readers with its warmth.

In China, there is a similar low-budget film called "Crossing Shaoguan," which tells the story of an old man riding a tricycle with his grandson to visit his sick old friend. Although the story is not as profound as "The Pilgrimage of One," it still moved many viewers.

Liu Yimin internalized the novel as a Chinese story with traditional Chinese cultural elements, setting the protagonist as a retired worker from a state-owned factory, with the location between Shanghai and Beijing, and the time between 85 and 86.

It internalizes traditional Chinese culture, the dynamics of father-son relationships, and the interactions between husband and wife. It also witnesses the development and changes from Shanghai to Beijing through the perspective of an old worker, as well as heartwarming and interesting stories of his interactions with residents of different cities.

International readers can gain a better understanding of traditional Chinese culture through this novel. The elements of friendship and love will not pose a reading barrier, and the novel is also suitable for adaptation into a heartwarming film.

Liu Yimin believed that the publication of this novel would definitely make it a bestseller worldwide, adding to his status in world literature.

If mainland China wants to lead the development of Chinese literature, it must continuously produce outstanding works that can stand out on the world stage.

Liu Yimin checked the manuscript over and looked for any typos or inappropriate parts.

By the time the revisions were finished, it was already evening.

Zhu Lin quietly entered the study, hugged Liu Yimin from behind, rested his chin on his shoulder, and gently shook him a few times: "Teacher Liu, are you finally finished writing?"

"It's finished, about 250,000 words." Liu Yimin nudged Zhu Lin with his head.

Zhu Lin picked up the manuscript: "Let me see. I estimate that many middle-aged and elderly readers will be moved to tears when they read this article. At their age, it is the time to fondly recall friendships. With so many state-owned factory workers in the country, a single transfer order can send them to all corners of the country. It will be difficult to see them again when they get old."

Zhu Lin is right. There are many people in Yanjing who left their hometowns to participate in the construction of the capital and stayed here. Among them, some workers gave up their worker status for various reasons and returned to their hometowns to farm.

Zhu Lin was so engrossed in watching that he didn't even come out for dinner.

At eight o'clock, Zhu Lin finally came out of the study and asked Liu Yimin with a smile what he was talking about with Liu Yu and Liu Lin.

“I told them both to learn from you.”

"What to learn?"

"What an insatiable thirst for reading!" Liu Yimin joked.

Zhu Lin gently wiped the rice grains from Liu Yu's mouth with a tissue: "It's rare that the two of them can eat so ravenously now without needing to be fed."

"Eat up!" Liu Yimin threatened Liu Yu.

Liu Yu was much more mischievous than Liu Lin; he didn't take ordinary threats to heart at all, and just kept pouting and making faces.

"We won't feed them anymore when they're a little older. Take it or leave it," Liu Yimin snorted.

Liu Lin scooped rice into his mouth with a spoon, looking at Liu Yimin as if to tell him how well he was doing.

"Eat quickly!" Liu Yimin couldn't help but say.

"Yes, Dad, I can eat by myself."

"Okay, you're amazing. Teach your sister how to use a spoon in the future."

As the two little ones grew older, Ximei's life became much easier. Liu Yimin no longer considered hiring another nanny; he was simply waiting until this time next year to arrange for Liu Yu and Liu Lin to attend the affiliated kindergarten of Yanda University.

Lying in bed that night, Zhu Lin was still thinking about the novel "The Pilgrimage of One Man," feeling that her father would definitely love it.

“Call Dad tomorrow and ask him to take a look at the manuscript. A father-in-law should have some special privileges!” Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Zhu Lin laughed and slapped Liu Yimin on the back: "Alright, alright, let Dad enjoy the privilege of seeing the manuscript in advance tomorrow."

The two chatted by the bedside for half an hour. Zhu Lin kept talking about the relationship between the novel's protagonist and his wife, and gradually it started to veer towards her and Liu Yimin.

“The estrangement between husband and wife comes from a lack of communication, or ineffective communication. Most of the time, communication is ineffective, and sometimes after lying in bed for a long time, you don’t even want to talk to each other, to the point of being disgusted with each other. Teacher Liu, we won’t end up like that, will we?” Zhu Lin looked up at Liu Yimin.

Liu Yimin put his arm around Zhu Lin's shoulder: "No, let's try to be a model couple in the new era."

“Good, a model couple of the new era.” Zhu Lin pressed her head even closer to Liu Yimin’s chest.

The next morning, Zhu Lin called his parents and invited them over for dinner that evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhu were a little puzzled, thinking that something was wrong.

After finishing his meal, Liu Yimin hurriedly went to Yenching University for class.

As times have changed, the route connecting the city center and the suburbs has become increasingly congested, with bicycles and motorcycles crammed together. People's clothing has become more colorful and varied in style, no longer the uniform gray-blue work clothes of the past.

Traffic police officers were frantically blowing their whistles to direct traffic. Liu Yimin, on his first day of class, saw that there were too many people on the main road, so he turned around and rushed into the alley, taking a side road to reach Yenching University.

A banner reading "Learn from Comrade Deng Jiaxian" was hung on the teaching building of Yenching University. This was not unique to Yenching University; Tsinghua University next door did the same.

Regardless of Deng's contributions, he had deep ties with Yenching University and Tsinghua University. He graduated from Southwest Associated University. His teacher was a professor at Tsinghua University at the time. After the major reorganization of departments and faculties, his teacher was transferred to Yenching University and served as its vice president.

The classroom for second-year students in the Chinese Department was packed with students, all holding copies of the People's Daily and the People's Literature Supplement, looking at Liu Yimin with eager expressions.

Seeing this, Liu Yimin stopped lecturing and instead started talking about what they wanted to know.

"The novel 'The Birth of a Nation' and the article 'Deng Jiaxian' are closely related. By reading these two novels, readers can gain a deeper understanding of my country's nuclear weapons program. The story of the protagonist and his wife in 'The Birth of a Nation' has a prototype, but it is not entirely a prototype."

Deng Xiaoping's health was not optimistic, yet he was still offering advice and suggestions for national defense, paving the way for the future. We often say that when a person dies, everything is extinguished, and after death, all things are empty, but that's not entirely true.

An immortal cause makes an immortal individual. The spirit of Deng Xiaoping and countless scientists will be remembered by countless Chinese sons and daughters throughout the long river of time. Students, the banner hanging in front of the building is correct; we must learn from it.

Westerners believe that collectivism destroys the individual, but in reality, scattered individuals cannot achieve great things; only by working together towards a common goal can one accomplish what no individual can. Western defense was not developed by a single person.

Liu Yimin took a supplement of "People's Literature and Art" from a student; it was covered with his thoughts and reflections.

"That's good, students. You must study hard and learn from this spirit of scientific research."

(End of this chapter)