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

Chapter 551, "The Founding Ceremony," submitted.

Sitting in the car, Zhang Guangnian saw the bitter look on Tang Dacheng's face and couldn't help but point out, "Old Tang, you're the secretary of the Writers' Association Secretariat. There are some things you have to shoulder. And there are some things that require consulting your superiors, which you must do."

Every position will encounter problems that are difficult to solve or decide upon within the scope of one's job description. The most important thing is to identify the problem and find the right person to solve it—this could be yourself, a subordinate, or a leader.

Zhang Guangnian understood Tang Dacheng's difficulties, but he didn't approve of him making a non-stick pan. Tang Dacheng was the secretary of the Writers' Association, and Wang Meng was the deputy secretary, but since June of last year, Wang Meng had become a leader in the Ministry of Culture, thus becoming Tang Dacheng's superior.

After hearing this, Tang Dacheng seemed to be deep in thought. He then told Zhang Guangnian about his predicament, saying that the burden of the Writers' Association was making him feel suffocated.

Liu Yimin focused on driving and didn't interrupt. Zhang Guangnian's words sounded like he hadn't said anything, but in fact, he had said everything.

Handle what you can handle yourself, and if you can't handle it, go to your superiors. But going to your superiors doesn't mean you're not responsible.

After listening to Zhang Guangnian's words, Tang Dacheng prepared to draft a rough list of the delegation to the Writers Association for exchanges in South America and submit it to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Ministry for decision.

The current chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles is Zhou Yang, but due to criticism of “spiritual pollution” a few years ago, his health has deteriorated again, and he is no longer in charge of the specific work of the Federation.

However, since his current term has not yet ended, he is nominally still the chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles. At next year's National Federation of Literary and Art Circles work conference, Cao Yu will be officially elected as the chairman of the Federation.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Culture, the three immediately found Xia Yan, who was busy with work. The waiting room at the entrance was packed with people, resembling a bustling market.

Zhang Guangnian found Xia Yan's secretary, whispered a few words, and told the secretary the purpose of their visit. The secretary glanced at the three of them and nodded, saying, "I'll talk to Old Master Shen about it after this is over."

"it is good."

Zhang Guangnian pulled Liu Yimin and Tang Dacheng to the end of the corridor and chatted quietly, mainly to sort out the contents of the report so that Xia Yan could quickly understand the purpose of their visit.

“Yimin, you can give your report later. Explain your ideas to Comrade Xia Yan, and I'll add anything that needs to be added,” Zhang Guangnian said with a smile.

Tang Dacheng did not hesitate this time and declared, "Yimin, on behalf of the Writers' Association, I support you!"

"Thank you both. I'll speak for you then!" Liu Yimin said.

The three had only been chatting for ten minutes when the door to Xia Yan's office opened, and Liu Yimin saw Liu Peiran walk out.

Liu Peiran paused for a moment when she saw Liu Yimin, then walked over and asked curiously, "Yimin? Are you here to ask for funding? That can't be right, our institute has always had enough funding!"

"Director Liu, talking about funding is so vulgar. There's something about the Writers' Association that I'd like to report to Elder Shen," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Liu Peiran said, "Comrade Xia Yan isn't in a good mood, so you should be careful. It's almost Chinese New Year, and this office has turned into a vegetable market. To be honest, I wouldn't be happy either."

Before they could exchange more than a few words, Xia Yan's secretary immediately waved to them, signaling them to come in. Liu Yimin and the other two immediately headed towards the office, while Tang Dacheng unconsciously gripped the documents in his hand tightly.

Liu Peiran said admiringly, "You guys cut in line! We've been waiting all morning, the people behind us are going to have to grit their teeth."

As they walked, Liu Yimin inquired about the box office performance of "Brotherhood of Blades" and "The Overseas Chinese". Liu Peiran smiled and said, "Brotherhood of Blades and The Overseas Chinese were first released in Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asia, and the reviews were very good, and the box office was also good. The Overseas Chinese is especially popular in Southeast Asia, and the box office is currently nine million US dollars."

"If I don't achieve results, I'll have to beg for funding with my back straight."

"Why?" Tang Dacheng asked casually.

Liu Peiran patted his back: "Our backs are too straight, we can't bend down!"

"Liu Peiran, Liu Peiran, I thought you had a herniated disc!" Zhang Guangnian joked.

"Haha, I wish you a successful report. I have to go back to the factory to arrange my work." Liu Peiran hummed the theme song of "The Overseas Chinese Sons and Daughters" and swayed away from the Ministry of Culture.

Entering Xia Yan's office, they found him holding a hot towel on his head. Upon seeing the three of them enter, he pointed to the sofa and groaned as if in pain, causing the three to exchange uneasy glances, unsure whether to speak.

"You three, don't stand there, sit down quickly," Xia Yan said wearily, taking the towel off her forehead to wipe her face.

Liu Yimin took a breath and recounted the story of Song Xilian and Bai Xianyong. Xia Yan remained silent and listened as Liu Yimin continued.

"At the time, I told Song Xilian that if he really had any concerns, I would invite him to visit the mainland in my name. But then I thought, inviting one person is the same as inviting a group of people; it just means spending more on food and accommodation," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Tang Dacheng chimed in, "Growing one sheep is the same as growing a flock of sheep."

"Old Tang's words may not sound pleasant, but that's essentially what he meant. Besides, forming a group makes us more influential, which is convenient for us to do united front work in the arts and culture field across the Taiwan Strait." Zhang Guangnian felt that Tang Dacheng's description was a bit off, so he quickly added a few more words.

Xia Yan held a teacup in her right hand, while tapping the rim of the teacup with the lid in her left hand at a very regular rhythm, her brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing.

Liu Yimin glanced at Zhang Guangnian and Tang Dacheng, and the three of them remained silent, waiting for Xia Yan to think.

The room was quiet, the clock on the desk ticking away. After a long while, Xia Yan slowly uttered a few words: "It's a good idea, but we need to consider the reaction of the authorities on the other side. Will it arouse their vigilance and tension?"

“Therefore, we need to find a way to downplay the official tone,” Zhang Guangnian said.

Tang Dacheng said, "Then it can't be our Writers' Association that makes the invitation; it can be made by the PEN Center or some research societies."

Xia Yan placed the teacup on the table, stood up, paced back and forth, then sat down again: "I support this matter, but we need to report the relevant situation to the members of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Yimin, have you told your teacher?"

"No." Liu Yimin quickly shook his head.

Xia Yan said with a smile, "In the future, you can talk to Lao Wan about these things. He is a member of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Besides, in the future, well, Lao Wan should take on more work for the Federation of Literary and Art Circles. He can't always stick to his little plot of land of drama and the Yanjing Federation of Literary and Art Circles."

Zhang Guangnian had some guesses when he heard this. The Federation of Literary and Art Circles had a lot of work to do, but there was no one in charge right now, so many things were done in a illegitimate and improper manner.

Liu Yimin felt Zhang Guangnian give him a meaningful look, but he pretended not to understand anything.

Xia Yan got up, picked up the phone, and discussed her opinion with Cao Yu. Cao Yu expressed his full support on the other end of the phone and suggested inviting them under the name of the "Institute of Literature and Art".

"Old Shen, the Institute of Literature is an institute under Yenching University, so it doesn't have such a strong official aura. Also, if it's an invitation from a private institution, it's best to use this name. The Institute of Literature studies traditional culture, so invite them under a name like 'Traditional Culture Symposium'."

My opinion is that I agree!

Xia Yan said, "Okay, I knew you would agree. However, this is a very important matter. I suggest that the Federation of Literary and Art Circles office prepare a report to solicit the opinions of the comrades in the Federation."

“Old Shen, I don’t recommend it. The fewer people who know, the better. It’s better to report directly to the higher-ups. If they approve, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles won’t get involved. Just hand it over to the Institute of Literature and Art Research to handle. That way, there will be less interference from people and things in between.” Cao Yu stated his thoughts directly.

Xia Yan held the microphone and thought for a minute before finally agreeing with Cao Yu's opinion. However, before reporting to his superiors, he decided to inform Ba Jin, who lived in Shanghai, about the situation.

"You three go back first. I'll let you know if there's any specific news. Yimin, you stay here."

Tang Dacheng quickly said, "There's another matter, which is the issue of the delegation to South America. Many comrades have expressed their desire to go, and it's very difficult for us to prepare the list."

"Well, you guys can draft a list and send it to me. I'll personally select the best ones. Around six people would be ideal, and we should choose one veteran who can represent the Chinese literary world. I'll make the selection."

Hearing Xia Yan say this, Tang Dacheng's anxious heart instantly relaxed, and he followed Zhang Guangnian out of the office.

After the two left, Xia Yan said to Liu Yimin, "Based on Lao Wan's suggestion, we can invite them for exchanges in the name of the Institute of Cultural Studies. The purpose is to protect traditional culture. You have no objections, right?"

“I have no objection. We can schedule it for April or May, when spring is in full bloom and flowers are in full bloom. It won’t be too hot or too cold,” Liu Yimin suggested.

"Sure, the trip to South America is scheduled for late February to mid-March. The Writers' Association members and dates aren't confirmed yet, but the Literature and Art Association will release the exact dates as soon as possible. Make sure you're well-prepared for this trip; you'll be working with a world-class South American literary figure." "I understand!"

As soon as Liu Yimin left the office, Zhang Guangnian and Tang Dacheng immediately looked at him. Liu Yimin explained a few things to them, and Zhang Guangnian nodded, saying, "We should prepare properly."

After leaving the Ministry of Culture, Liu Yimin went to the Beijing People's Art Theatre to meet Cao Yu. Cao Yu poured Liu Yimin a cup of tea: "Come on, have a cup of hot tea. You have a lot of ideas!"

"Teacher, I should have come to report to you first." Liu Yimin took the teapot from Cao Yu and poured him a cup.

Cao Yu raised his teacup and blew on the steam: "Actually, I don't want to get involved in this mess. But I have no choice but to raise my hand and express my opinion. But you have to remember, expressing an opinion isn't always easy. Tell me your thoughts in more detail."

“Okay!” Liu Yimin first repeated it, and then explained his purpose in doing so.

"There are actually quite a few left-wing progressive writers on the island, as well as some pro-unification writers. If their forces are not organized, they will always be a disorganized mess. Only by organizing can they play their due role. We need to understand the special characteristics of the island's society. The deeper the infiltration of the US and the West is, the more its poison will spread over time."

At this time, a force like this is needed to help do something, to strive to form an alliance of intellectuals such as writers and professors to educate the young people on the island.

Aren't you afraid it won't work?

“Teacher, let’s kill two birds with one stone. The exchange was just a side thing anyway, and it’s better to have it than nothing. On the other hand, we need to raise the status of mainland China in Chinese literature and make it the orthodox tradition,” Liu Yimin said.

Cao Yu took a sip of tea: "Alright, you've thought of that a lot."

"Is the car below your new one?"

"You saw it?"

"When I was at work, I heard everyone saying that Comrade Liu Yimin was amazing, with a Crown on his left butt and a Volkswagen Santana on his right."

Liu Yimin said with a dark face, "Who is this? He's ruining my life!"

"Hahaha, I said it." Cao Yu laughed heartily.

“Sigh, I never really wanted to drive the department’s car. But this is one I bought for Zhu Lin. Commuting to and from get off work is too tough in the wind and rain, so having a car is much better. Like right now, driving from the western suburbs, it was minus ten degrees this morning,” Liu Yimin said.

"Can Xiao Zhu drive?"

"I've been teaching it these past two days!"

After get off work, Liu Yimin drove Zhu Lin to a less crowded place to practice driving until it was completely dark before returning to the Overseas Chinese Apartment.

Once downstairs, Liu Yimin demonstrated a standard parallel parking maneuver to Zhu Lin, who shook his head repeatedly, finding the maneuver extremely difficult.

"Don't rush, learn slowly."

For the next few days, Liu Yimin was busy teaching Zhu Lin to drive, and the two of them would practice all day on weekends. Gradually, Zhu Lin was able to drive on the road, except for reversing into a parking space and parallel parking. Fortunately, there were few cars on the road and at the workplace, so reversing into a parking space or parallel parking was often not required.

Even though Zhu Lin could drive slowly to the Beijing People's Art Theatre, she didn't dare to drive alone; Liu Yimin had to sit in the passenger seat and direct her.

"Teacher Liu, I've noticed that I often panic when I turn corners, but I'm fine when I walk straight," Zhu Lin said nervously.

"Going straight is definitely easier, but you also need to watch the road carefully, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, and not go astray."

After Zhu Lin arrived at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, Liu Yimin drove back and came to pick her up again that evening. With the holiday approaching, Zhu Lin wanted to wrap up her work at the theatre and prepare to return to her hometown for the New Year.

In the middle of the trip, Liu Yimin went to the radio station building. The radio program "Youth Night Talk" had already recorded several episodes, and Yan Jiayan was recording "Water Margin".

Seeing that Yan Jiayan had no problems recording the program, Liu Yimin didn't stay at the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television any longer. He had another matter to attend to: the script for "The Founding Ceremony of the People's Republic of China" was finished, and he needed to hand it over to the August First Film Studio as soon as possible.

Upon arriving at the August First Film Studio, Liu Peiran looked on with surprise when she saw Liu Yimin: "Yimin, what brings you here?"

"What? Factory Manager Liu doesn't welcome me?"

Liu Peiran grasped Liu Yimin's large hand and said, "How could I not welcome you? I was just thinking that the New Year is coming soon, and you won't be coming to our August First Film Studio again before the New Year."

The August 1st Factory was distributing New Year's supplies. Truckloads of rice, flour, cooking oil, and cabbage were being hauled into the factory. Liu Yimin was overjoyed to see Feng Enhe grinning as he filled sacks with things.

The August First Film Studio made a lot of money this year. "The Overseas Chinese" was a joint production with multiple parties and earned less money, but the Film Bureau thought it was extremely well made and gave it a large reward.

With more money, employee benefits improved.

"Yimin, the global box office of 'Hachi: A Dog' is $46 million, and other copyright revenue reached $8 million. The US box office accounted for half of the global box office, all thanks to you."

"Brotherhood of Blades" is currently around 20 million US dollars, and it's estimated that it will ultimately be around 40 million. Liu Peiran pulled Liu Yimin into the office and gave him a packet of good tea to take home and drink.

"Director Liu, this tea is good, it smells good." Liu Yimin felt that Liu Peiran was being arrogant, saying that "Brotherhood of Blades" was only around 40 million.

Liu Peiran pulled Liu Yimin aside and asked when the second part of "Brotherhood of Blades" would be finished, insisting that it be given to their August First Film Studio, not the Shanghai Film Studio.

“Last time, when Xu Sangchu came to you, I knew it was definitely because he wanted the script. But Yimin, we agreed that both parts would be given to us.”

"Okay, I understand, Director Liu. I'll hand it over to you once it's finished. I always keep my word. I'm here today because the script for 'The Founding Ceremony of the People's Republic of China' is finished. Your August First Film Studio can take a look at it first."

Liu Yimin took the script out of his bag and handed it to Liu Peiran.

"Oh dear, I almost forgot!" Liu Peiran slapped his forehead. He had been too happy lately, too happy to the point of exhaustion.

Liu Peiran quickly put on his glasses and sat down on the sofa to read: "Yimin, please sit down. There is tea and books in the back. You can drink tea, read books or newspapers while I finish reading the script."

"Look." Liu Yimin sat in Liu Peiran's office chair, picked up today's newspaper and started reading. The New Year was coming soon, and the contents were a bit boring, mostly New Year's greetings or news about meetings.

When Liu Yimin flipped through the China Youth Daily, he saw an article by a reporter interviewing Li Lanyong, praising Li Lanyong as a leader in getting rich, who, after retiring from the army, worked like an old ox, leading the entire brigade to prosperity.

The photo next to it was of Li Lanyong holding a bag of sunflower seeds with one hand, and Li Lanyong's smile was particularly infectious.

Liu Yimin chuckled. He wasn't worried about selling the roasted seeds this year; the brand of wheat-flavored melon seeds would gradually spread nationwide. As long as they developed steadily, selling melon seeds alone could stabilize the entire collective's income.

Liu Peiran looked at the script, a smirk occasionally creeping across his face as he chuckled. He was especially amused when he saw the bald man shouting, "Literary and vernacular are incompetent, causing national humiliation and loss of sovereignty," and "Vietnam is incompetent, it seems I must step in," making him forget that Liu Yimin was right next to him.

When he saw the bald man's grandson reciting Li Yu's "Forty years of home and country, three thousand miles of mountains and rivers," he burst out laughing and stood up, saying to Liu Yimin, "Yimin, you're really too bad, hahaha."

"Director Liu, as the head of the factory, it's inappropriate for you to laugh like that!"

"Hahaha, oh my god, that's hilarious. The humor in the moment of panic, using humorous moments to express the bald man's defeat, really does combine the daily life of a historical figure with the character you said, bringing him to life." At this point, Liu Peiran's expression turned serious again.

The so-called critics are criticizing the fact that they've brought the bald guy to life in the story.

P.S.: One update today, I'll make up for it later. I'm heading back now, I'm so tired. I'll finish it later.

(End of this chapter)