Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson
Chapter 520 Marquez's Invitation
Chapter 520 Marquez's Invitation
In the Ministry of Education office, Liu Yimin was about to leave when He Dongchang pulled him back, asking him to wait a little longer. A short while later, the secretary brought in a list.
He Dongchang did not take it, but instead gently pointed at Liu Yimin. The secretary immediately understood and handed the document to Liu Yimin.
Liu Yimin opened the document, which contained the list of members of the Primary and Secondary School Textbook Evaluation Committee. Liu Yimin saw several familiar names in it, such as the deputy director Shen Keqi, a professor in the Physics Department of Yenching University.
Shen Keqi was not just a professor; he was also responsible for national education reform, serving as the director of the Yenching Self-Study Examination Committee, representing Yenching University in the reconstruction of Yantai University in 84, and serving as its president. He also worked with Li Zhengdao to oversee the study abroad programs for Chinese physics students in the United States. He played a significant role in the reforms of education at all levels across China during those two years.
Starting in 58, the authority to compile national textbooks was decentralized, giving local governments the power to compile textbooks based on their specific circumstances. While this was inherently a good thing, the varying skill levels of the compilers across different regions resulted in significant differences in textbook quality.
The Ministry established a committee for the evaluation of primary and secondary school textbooks with the aim of gradually taking back the power to compile textbooks that had been delegated to the central government, and implementing a system that separates compilation from review. Localities can compile their own textbooks, but the power to review them remains with the Ministry.
The list is densely packed with over two hundred people, covering the formulation and revision of syllabi and the review of textbooks for eighteen subjects in primary and secondary schools.
"Comrade Yimin, many of your acquaintances or colleagues are here. We plan to hold the first evaluation meeting at the end of this month, and the central leaders will also attend. If you have any suggestions, please compile them," He Dongchang said with a smile.
After reading the entire document, Liu Yimin placed the folder on the table: "I understand, and I will definitely do my best to fulfill my responsibilities."
He Dongchang nodded in satisfaction and got up to see Liu Yimin off from the Ministry of Education.
"Comrade Yimin, once the specific time for the meeting is set, the ministry will notify you in advance."
After leaving the Ministry of Education, Liu Yimin went straight to Yenching University. At the various gates of the university, there were many slightly confused freshmen, or students who had not yet registered, carrying their luggage and constantly asking for directions.
The senior students, both sophomores and juniors, enthusiastically helped freshmen get to know the campus or register.
"Hello, Professor Liu!"
"Okay, you guys get back to work." Liu Yimin smiled slightly at the students, then tightened the throttle again and rode towards the Chinese Literature Department.
Inside the research institute, Yan Zhen had just sat down when she saw Liu Yimin enter, and she hurriedly stood up again, not even having time to drink the water from her teacup.
"Teacher Liu!"
Liu Yimin said with a smile, "Hurry up and drink some water. You've been working hard lately."
Yan Zhen was parched from running around outside. Upon hearing Liu Yimin's words, he picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp. He then followed Liu Yimin into the office and reported to him on the number of people who had come to report for duty.
“Thirty people should have reported for duty, and nineteen have arrived so far. Eleven are still missing. According to the arrival information sent to Yanjing, they will all arrive before the fourth.” Yan Zhen took out a list from his pocket and handed it to Liu Yimin.
Some parts of the list were soaked with sweat. It's been hot in Yanjing lately, and Yan Zhen has been running around arranging accommodations, so much so that her legs are almost thin from all the running.
"Luo Yuming from Fudan University, Dai Jinhua from Beijing Film Academy, and Han Sheng from Xiamen University." Liu Yimin looked through the list of arriving personnel.
Yan Zhen said, "This Dai Jinhua used to be from our Yanda University."
"How could I not know? She was in the same year as me, tsk, she became a teacher at Beijing Film Academy right after graduating with her bachelor's degree. When Beijing Film Academy was compiling the list, I didn't see her there," Liu Yimin asked, puzzled.
Yan Zhen said, "It was a last-minute replacement. Another teacher couldn't come, so Senior Sister Dai filled in. I told you about it at the time, but you didn't pay attention."
"Oh, this is it." Liu Yimin handed the list back to Yan Zhen.
During his school years, Liu Yimin didn't interact much with Dai Jinhua; they were merely nodding acquaintances. His time at school was short; he was mainly close to the boys in his dormitory and Zhang Manling from Yunnan Province.
Upon hearing that Liu Yimin had arrived at the Institute of Literature, Dai Jianye and the others returned from their other offices. They had just been talking with Professors Wu Zuxiang, Wang Yao, and others about their impending separation.
"What? You don't want to leave?" Liu Yimin asked with a smile.
Dai Jianye rubbed his eyes: "It's been a year, and I'm really a little reluctant to let it go."
“I’ve been doing this for a year and a half, which is equivalent to half a master’s degree,” Li Liangrong said.
The others were about to speak when Liu Yimin said with a smile, "Alright, stop putting on this tearful farewell act. You've been in Yanjing for a year, some of you have already started families and careers. After a year apart, what? Don't you miss home?"
A low chuckle broke out from the crowd. How could they not miss home? At this age, most of them had only recently gotten married.
"The tickets have been bought for everyone, and the time slots are all between tomorrow afternoon and 9 pm. I'll distribute them to everyone in a bit." Yan Zhen took out a stack of train tickets from under the table.
"Tomorrow morning, all the professors from the Institute of Literature will come over, and we'll take a group photo. After the photo is developed, we'll send it to you individually."
Dai Jianye said with a smile, "Teacher Liu, I just remembered this! We were just about to remind you!"
"Haha, you have to forgive me, this is my first time being a deputy director!" Liu Yimin reached out and patted Dai Jianye on the shoulder.
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhen immediately prepared to inform the other professors about taking photos: "Director Xia Yan?"
"I'll do it," Liu Yimin said.
Yan Zhen meant it that way, and said with a smile, "Alright, then Director Xia Yan is in your hands."
Liu Yimin went into his office and called Xia Yan. Xia Yan readily agreed, confirmed the time, and promised to come the next day.
After explaining things to them, Liu Yimin prepared to leave the Institute of Literature and Art, when Dai Jinhua appeared at the entrance of the Institute of Literature and Art at some point.
"Professor Liu, Director Liu." Dai Jinhua looked at Liu Yimin with a smile.
"Old classmate, come in quickly, come in quickly. I just found out you're here. What's wrong with your Beijing Film Academy? Sending you to the Institute of Literature and Art to receive re-education from Yenching University."
Dai Jinhua followed Liu Yimin into the office. Dai Jianye and the others looked at each other, and asked Yan Zhen about his background.
"What? You don't want me to come?" Dai Jinhua asked.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to teach you!"
Dai Jinhua glanced at Liu Yimin's office and said enviously, "It's my honor to be able to study at Yenching University for another year. Besides, the Institute of Literature has a great reputation. I'm currently a teaching assistant, but once I go back from the Institute, I'll be promoted directly to lecturer. Although I can't compare to you, at least I'll be qualified to give lectures."
"Did the Beijing Film Academy agree to your request?"
"That's what the department head said. Of course, whether I can be promoted to lecturer depends on your evaluation. If I can produce some results, that would be even better."
Liu Yimin pondered for a moment, then added Dai Jinhua, who was currently at the Beijing Film Academy, to the cultural industry research group: "You can communicate more with the major film studios. The film industry is undergoing rapid changes, and there is a wide range of areas to study."
"Okay, thank you, Director."
"Alright, alright, stop calling me Director. Just call me Yimin."
Dai Jinhua stood up and said, "That won't do. Now that we're in the Institute of Literature, we have to address each other by our official titles, right? You're my superior now."
Liu Yimin didn't correct him anymore and saw Dai Jinhua out of the office. Dai Jinhua greeted Yan Zhen and the others warmly, and Yan Zhen called her "senior sister" repeatedly.
With Dai Jinhua's interference, Liu Yimin momentarily forgot what he wanted to do.
The next morning at nine o'clock, Xia Yan arrived at Yenching University by car, where Liu Yimin, Dai Jianye, and others were waiting inside the Institute of Literature.
Knowing that they were taking photos today, Dai Jianye and his group made sure to wash their shirts clean the night before, and wore leather shoes and slightly faded trousers, making them all look very smart.
Xia Yan patted Yi Zhongtian on the shoulder: "Good, leave the Institute of Literature with high spirits. The Institute of Literature is the flower, and you are the seeds of the Institute. Now we are scattering you across the vast land of the country, hoping that you can all take root, sprout, and bloom into literary flowers that contain Chinese culture."
Xia Yan spoke for about ten minutes, and Liu Yimin glanced at his watch: "Chief, it's time to take the photos."
"Alright, comrades, let's go take a picture." Xia Yan gestured for them to go.
Liu Yimin and Xia Yan stood in the middle of the crowd, leading the trainees from the Institute of Literature and Art to shout the slogan "Go Institute of Literature and Art!" to the camera.
The shutter clicked, and the first cohort of teachers trained at the Institute of Literature and Art officially completed their year-long training program. Liu Yimin and Xia Yan presented them with certificates of completion from the Institute of Literature and Art.
Dai Jianye and his colleagues held the red-covered certificates and took individual or group photos one by one.
"You can take the camera," Liu Yimin said. Seeing them run outside, Liu Yimin added again, "Don't miss your afternoon train."
"Don't worry, Teacher Liu."
Xia Yan walked into the Institute of Literature and Art, shook hands with the second batch of training teachers who had already reported for duty, and asked them some questions about their lives.
After everything was finished, Xia Yan walked into the office and asked, "How was it? Don't you feel like your child has grown up?"
"Hey, that's a good analogy. I don't even have a child that big," Liu Yimin joked.
“Although I’m not in the Institute of Literature and Art, I am here. How’s the work at the institute going lately?” Xia Yan asked.
“Everything is going smoothly. This is the latest compiled teaching material, this is the latest research paper, and this pile is the progress of Xinhua News Agency’s research projects.” Liu Yimin pointed to the documents on the table.
Xia Yan didn't look through it, but said, "It's good that you know what's going on."
Xia Yan discussed the management issues of the Institute of Literature and Art with Liu Yimin. With more and more people, various rules and regulations need to be improved. A makeshift team won't do.
Xia Yan explained everything to Liu Yimin, from research project application review to financial approval system, for his reference.
“The Institute of Literature and Art has some regulations, but they’re not comprehensive enough. We need to improve them,” Xia Yan said.
"Okay, I understand."
Upon hearing this, Xia Yan nodded in satisfaction and got up to leave. Liu Yimin accompanied him for a while on the campus of Yenching University, where freshmen were carrying their issued military uniforms and preparing for military training.
Military training for university students was officially reinstated a few years ago, and Yenching University's military training has always been very strict.
Later, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there was a regulation requiring freshmen to undergo a year of military training, which was determined by the special historical context.
"Alright, that's enough for now," Xia Yan said with a smile.
Liu Yimin waved goodbye and saw Xia Yan off. He then walked around the Weiming Lake alone before returning home.
After Dai Jianye and the others finished taking photos and returned to the Institute of Literature, Liu Yimin checked the time and took them out for lunch, where each of them drank about three bottles of beer.
"Professor Liu, when you have time to visit Fudan University, be sure to look for me," Li Liangrong said, shaking Liu Yimin's hand.
Yi Zhongtian said, "When we arrive at Wuhan University, I will definitely do my best to be a good host."
Liu Yimin leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, chatting with them like a friend. At Liang Yong'an's suggestion, everyone clapped their chopsticks and sang "Young Friends, Let's Meet Again."
Ah, my dear friends
Who will create the miracles?
It depends on me, it depends on you.
We need to rely on the new generation of the 1980s.
As the farewell song played, the group left the restaurant. Their luggage was already packed; they went back to their dormitories, picked it up, and set off.
"Comrades, we'll meet again someday!" Liang Yong'an said with a smile as he put a cigarette in his mouth.
Dai Jianye said, "Shanghai is not far from Wuhan, we'll come visit you when we have time!"
"Now that you've arrived in Henan Province, we'd like you to experience the culture of the Central Plains."
Their tickets had different departure times, so their departure times were also different. The group hugged and said goodbye at the dormitory entrance.
After returning to the Institute of Literature, Liu Yimin rested on the sofa for a while. At 2:30, he got up to go to class.
"Yan Zhen, I have a class this afternoon, and I won't be coming to the Institute of Literature after class. You can handle the matters at the institute," Liu Yimin said.
Yan Zhen immediately agreed; the only issue he needed to handle was the accommodation of the trainees who were arriving one after another.
On September 5th, the South American publisher finally arrived in China. Three representatives from the publisher came to take this opportunity to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Chinese book market.
The person in charge is named Thiago, a name that is very common in various South American countries.
“Dear Professor Liu, this is a letter that Mr. Márquez asked me to give to you.” Thiago smiled and took a letter out of his bag, handing it to Liu Yimin.
Liu Yimin opened the letter and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the words. Márquez had written it in English, not Spanish. If it had been in Spanish, he would have had to find someone to translate it.
The CIA was right; Márquez's English was indeed poor. It was clear that he wrote this letter with great difficulty, and there were several typos and grammatical errors.
Mr. Liu,
I am Gabriel García Márquez, and I am delighted to learn that South American Publishing House is going to publish your work. Impoverished South America needs more literature to enrich our spiritual world.
Your words are pure and righteous, filled with deep affection for the people who suffered under colonial aggression. Your literature is warm and touching; the story of the elderly Chinese man's journey of over a thousand kilometers brought tears to my eyes. Your works move readers more deeply than mine, using the most accessible methods to create the greatest works. My words may cause readers pain, but your words can awaken long-dormant love.
There is a lack of literary exchange between China and South America. I hope that one day you can come to South America, and I am willing to serve as a bridge for literary exchange.
Liu Yimin put the letter away, and Thiago said, "Mr. Márquez would like to invite you and your Chinese counterparts to visit South America. I wonder if you have the time?"
“If the opportunity arises, I would also like to visit South America and meet Mr. Márquez,” Liu Yimin said with a smile.
Thiago didn't press further. Instead, he unfolded a map of South America in front of Liu Yimin and gave him a detailed introduction to the South American book publishing market.
"Professor Liu, I believe your work has great potential for publication in South America in both Spanish and Portuguese. In South America, magical realism is very popular with readers, thanks to a large number of South American writers such as Gabriel García Márquez."
The novels *Beloved* and *Dust Settles* have enormous sales potential. Furthermore, South America cannot do without *The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry*; barren lands need love to heal.
"You want the whole of South America?" Liu Yimin asked.
“Yes, dividing South America into individual countries wouldn’t be convenient for you,” Thiago said with a smile.
"Okay, what's your royalty split?"
Thiago pulled another document out of his bag: "Liu, the royalty split for 'Beloved' and 'The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' can be 18%, and the rest 15%. What do you think?"
“Twenty percent uniformly,” Liu Yimin said.
Thiago swallowed hard: "Okay!"
"Hmm?" Liu Yimin felt like he had sold the product too late, but then he thought that the royalty split was considered high even in Europe.
Liu Yimin was waiting for the other party to haggle, but to his surprise, he agreed immediately.
Thiago thought Liu Yimin had a question: "Liu, is there anything else you want to ask?"
“No, no, it’s a five-year term. I hope you can uphold the principle of honest and trustworthy cooperation,” Liu Yimin said, extending his hand.
Thiago said, "Don't worry, we will definitely do a good job of promoting your literary works in South America. When you come to South America one day, you will see your readers everywhere."
After the contract was signed, Thiago was very happy and asked Liu Yimin about other well-known Chinese literary works besides those by Liu Yimin.
“Our country has the Mao Dun Literature Prize and the Lu Xun Literature Prize. You can take a look at the works listed there. I can also help you contact the China Writers Association; perhaps they can give you some good advice,” Liu Yimin said.
Thiago smiled and said, "Professor Liu, thank you very much."
At noon, Liu Yimin treated them to lunch. After they left, Zhu Lin looked at Liu Yimin curiously: "Teacher Liu, did you finish your discussion?"
"All right!"
"So fast?"
"I also think it's pretty fast. I'm still a little unaccustomed to meeting such a straightforward person," Liu Yimin said.
"Haha, maybe they're in a hurry themselves."
After Zhu Lin finished speaking, he carried Liu Yu and Liu Lin into the room. It was too hot outside, and the foreigners had scared Liu Yu and Liu Lin so much that they didn't dare to speak.
(End of this chapter)
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