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

Chapter 553 Wins the Mao Dun Literature Prize Again
In the study, when Li Xuejian heard that Yu Shizhi wanted him to meet at the factory the next day, he stood up excitedly and said, "Professor Liu, thank you so much. You are my mentor."

"Don't talk about talent scouts or anything like that. Just do your job well at the Beijing People's Art Theatre and don't give people anything to talk about," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

"I certainly won't let you down."

"Come, sit down and let's chat some more." Liu Yimin pulled Li Xuejian to sit down, and after chatting for half an hour, Li Xuejian got up to leave.

Liu Yimin picked up the things he had brought: "You don't need to bring these things anymore, just come directly."

“These are just local specialties, they’re not worth much,” Li Xuejian quickly said.

Liu Yimin took out the Moutai liquor from inside: "When did Moutai liquor become a local specialty of your Shandong province?"

Li Xuejian stammered a few words, feeling embarrassed. Liu Yimin stuffed the things into his hands: "Old Li, you don't need to use this trick here. You have strong professional skills. Even if you don't join the Beijing People's Art Theatre, you will still have a place in other drama troupes."

I'm a retired soldier; I strive to become a people's artist, not just a money-making actor.

"I understand, Professor Liu!" Li Xuejian left the Overseas Chinese Apartment with her things. Despite the cold wind, her face was still flushed. She should have just brought some local specialties; why did she inexplicably slip in a bottle of Moutai?
Zhu Lin and Liu Yimin stood on the balcony, watching Li Xuejian's back. Zhu Lin said, "Comrade Li Xuejian is a good actor. I could tell he was a good actor when I went to see a performance at the Yanjing Military Region last time. I never thought we would become colleagues."

"Haha, Director Zhu, maybe you'll have the opportunity to work together again in the future."

"Of course, since we're all in the same theater, there's bound to be such an opportunity."

Zhu Lin turned and went back to the living room, where Liu Yu and Liu Lin were fighting over a walnut windmill. Liu Lin, being the older brother, kept letting Liu Yu have her way, which gave Liu Yu the upper hand. Zhu Lin separated the two, stipulating that they each play for a while and were not allowed to fight over it.

“You two stop fighting. We’ll go see Grandpa and Grandma in a few days, and they’ll make one for each of you,” Liu Yimin said.

Zhu Lin looked at Liu Yimin: "Teacher Liu, there are still three days before the holiday starts. Shall we just board the plane then?"

"Of course, I'll go back early and spend more time with my parents."

"it is good."

Now that airplanes issue letters of introduction, Liu Yimin no longer needs to contact the Chinese Literature Department; he can simply stamp it himself and board the plane.

Back in the bedroom, Zhu Lin found a few outfits and asked Liu Yimin to iron them after dropping her off the next day: "These outfits can't be ironed at home, I'll wear them when I go home for the New Year."

"Okay, go to sleep now!"

Zhu Lin gently patted Liu Yimin's waist and said playfully, "You're really strong!"

Liu Yimin was stunned. How could they misunderstand this? It seems he'll have to put in a lot more effort tonight.

Outside, the wind howled; inside, the wind whipped up clouds and crashed against the shore.
The next day, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin did not go to practice driving early in the morning. Instead, they leisurely got up and ate breakfast at eight o'clock.

Xi Mei smiled and glanced at Zhu Lin: "Sister Lin, these are your favorite braised eggs. They were braised last night, so they're perfect for eating today."

After finishing his meal, Zhu Lin drove to work. When he arrived at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, Zhu Lin carefully reminded Liu Yimin not to ruin his clothes by ironing them.

"Don't worry, I know what's going on."

After thinking for a while, Liu Yimin decided to go to the Xidan laundry and dry cleaning shop to have Captain Jia iron his clothes. Captain Jia had been doing this for more than ten years, so his work must be top-notch.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, the laundry shops are getting busier, but compared to department stores, they're still relatively empty. After all, these days not everyone comes to state-run laundry shops for washing and conditioning; most people just wash their coarse cloth clothes at home.

Zhu Lin's clothes are made of very good material, and she also has a leather trench coat that needs some care.

Upon entering the dry cleaner, Liu Yimin waited for a long time before it was finally his turn. While chatting, Liu Yimin asked if there was an ironer named "Yan Guanying".

"That brat Old Yan is ironing clothes in the back. A lot of people have been looking for him lately. He's got horns and causing trouble, and the son of a bitch has even become a writer." Someone nearby laughed and cursed.

Liu Yimin asked with a smile, "Where is he?"

"He's working in the back. If you want to find him to iron, just walk straight ahead. He's the ugliest one."

"Row!"

Liu Yimin carried the clothes inside and soon saw Captain Jia diligently ironing them. There was also a book and the Beijing Evening News in the rest area next to him.

"Hey, what's wrong with you? What were the arrangements up front? Can't you see I have a ton of work to do? Why did they send you here?" Captain Jia said without looking up.

Liu Yimin said with a smile, "I'll have you iron it."

"Hey, what's wrong with you? You'll have to wait here a while longer!" Captain Jia said impatiently, looking up.

His tone and manner are exactly like Captain Jia from "Underground Traffic Station." "Underground Traffic Station" is just a dumpling made for him.

"Hey comrade, you look so familiar! I feel like I've seen you somewhere before!" Captain Jia rubbed his itchy head with his arm and asked in confusion.

"I'm standing right in front of you, look at me and see who I look like!"

“Who does he look like? I think he looks like a famous writer, what’s his name again?” Captain Jia thought for a while and said loudly, “Do you know Liu Yimin? He’s my best friend, you look about 80% like him.”

"Hiss, why isn't it a perfect resemblance?"

"Ten percent?" Captain Jia gave Liu Yimin a disdainful look, and was about to continue working when his hand suddenly stopped in mid-air and he turned to look at him: "Ten percent, you wouldn't happen to be Liu Yimin, would you?"

“Aren’t we best friends? Don’t you know us?” Liu Yimin said with a smile.

"Oh my goodness, don't tell me you really are Liu Yimin, Professor Liu, Director Liu, and Writer Liu!"

"Should I tell you that I am Liu Yimin?"

Captain Jia was stunned for ten seconds, then quickly wiped his hands on his body and grasped Liu Yimin's hand: "Professor Liu, hello, my name is Yan Guanying, you can also call me Xiao Yan, I was just joking with you!"

"Xiao Yan, don't ruin someone's clothes with the iron."

"Let me iron yours first. I'll also clean this leather trench coat for you."

Liu Yimin sat to the side, watching Yan Guanying busy with his work. Yan Guanying would occasionally look up and chat with Liu Yimin, and the conversation was all about literature.

Did you come here specifically because you read my article?

"That's good. It's commendable that she still finds time to pursue her interests amidst her demanding work schedule."

"What do you think of my writing?" "Do you really need my feedback?"

"Oh, well, don't say anything more. I'm definitely no match for you," Yan Guanying said with self-awareness.

Yan Guanying's hand speed, honed over a decade, was no joke; his professional skills were exceptional. Noticing Liu Yimin staring at him, he asked curiously, "Professor Liu, why are you staring at my face?"

"I think your appearance is quite suitable for acting," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

"Really, what kind of role do you think I'm suited to play? Could I play a secret agent who refuses to submit to the death? A heroic predecessor who shouts for his martyrdom!" Captain Jia excitedly put on airs.

Liu Yimin gave him a disdainful look, and Captain Jia said dejectedly, "I can't play an ironer while acting, can I? If I iron clothes before becoming an actor and then continue ironing clothes after becoming an actor, then I've been an actor for nothing."

“You’re suited to playing roles like traitors and lackeys, and I think you have a knack for comedy, so you could consider pursuing that path,” Liu Yimin said.

Yan Guanying sighed: "As long as I'm better than an ironer, that's fine."

"I only said it's suitable, not that it's certain. I'm a professor, not the director of the Beijing People's Art Theatre."

"Hey, aren't you the young director of the Beijing People's Art Theatre? I heard that your word carries more weight than the director's." Captain Jia said obsequiously.

"No, you're just slandering me."

Seeing that the clothes had been ironed, Captain Jia personally folded them and helped Liu Yimin put them in his bag, then took out a stack of tickets and stuffed them into Liu Yimin's hand.

"Professor Liu, these are all internal tickets from the dry cleaning shop. If you have any problems with your clothes in the future, feel free to come back; they'll be free with these tickets," Captain Jia said.

Liu Yimin looked at the colorful laundry and ironing receipts: "These are mine?"

"Of course it's yours!"

"Then how come it's in your pocket?" Liu Yimin asked with a grin.

Captain Jia said, puzzled, "Tsk, I was wondering the same thing. How did your thing end up in my pocket?"

Liu Yimin chuckled a few times and stuffed the ticket into Captain Jia's pocket: "Thanks, but becoming an actor can't be rushed, take your time!"

In the evening, Liu Yimin went to pick up Zhu Lin from get off work and happened to run into Li Xuejian and Yu Shizhi. Yu Shizhi was evaluating Li Xuejian. However, it was just a formality at this point, as Cao Yu and the other directors were very satisfied with Li Xuejian.

Yu Shizhi said with a smile, "Yimin, you've found a great talent for our People's Art Theatre! Comrade Li Xuejian has distinctive features and strong professional skills, making him suitable for playing some unique roles."

Li Xuejian bowed slightly to Liu Yimin: "Professor Liu, thank you!"

"Don't mention it, I'm just doing you a favor. Look, Dean Yu is very pleased with you!"

Li Xuejian took a few steps forward, and Liu Yimin pulled Yu Shizhi aside and said, "Today I went to the dry cleaner and met someone. He has very distinctive features and is suitable for acting in comedies or playing traitors and lackeys. He's also a semi-insider in the entertainment industry. He just published an article in the Beijing Evening News. If you need someone like that, go and take a look. His name is Yan Guanying, and he works as an ironer at the Xidan dry cleaner and dry cleaner."

“Okay, I’ll go take a look when I have time. But does an ironing worker have acting skills?” Yu Shizhi questioned Yan Guanying’s ability to portray different characters.

"Dean Yu, you've made another elitist mistake. Actors still need to study when they're acting. Amateur actors might be better at portraying ordinary people."

"Haha, that's true, I'll go check it out tomorrow."

So Yuzhi brought Li Xuejian into the rehearsal room and had him perform a scene. Several directors, including Ouyang Shanzun, watched from the side. After the performance, they all applauded and approved it.

Li Xuejian hadn't retired from the army yet, but he was about to. The Beijing People's Art Theatre promised him that they would hire him immediately after he left the army.

Yu Shizhi even took Li Xuejian to the Beijing People's Art Theatre's canteen for a meal and gave her a detailed introduction to the theatre. At first, Li Xuejian was worried about not being able to stay at the theatre; now, the theatre is worried about not being able to retain Li Xuejian.

As Zhu Lin finished get off work, he looked at Li Xuejian and Yu Shizhi and said, "Let's go home. Teacher Shanzun and the other directors are very satisfied and are afraid that other theaters will try to lure them away."

"Come on, Zhu Lin, show off your driving skills. I won't be able to accompany you tomorrow, so drive carefully."

Zhu Lin hesitated for a moment, then forced himself to say, "Okay!"

On the way back, Zhu Lin was a little nervous, but having experienced rush hour, he became increasingly bold.

The next day, Zhu Lin drove out, and not long after, Liu Yimin drove out of the Overseas Chinese Apartment and followed behind Zhu Lin, worried that something might happen to her.

Aside from a few minor mishaps with parking, the journey went smoothly, which put Liu Yimin at ease.

On his way back, Liu Yimin stopped briefly at People's Literature and Art. For a considerable period after Wang Meng took up her post at the Ministry of Culture, Liu Yimin also served as the editor-in-chief of People's Literature and Art.

In January, another editor, Liu Xinwu, who was transferred from "October," took office, and Liu Yimin, an editorial board member, came to meet him.

Liu Xinwu's most famous work is "The Class Teacher," which ushered in the era of "scar literature." Later, he became enthusiastic about studying "Dream of the Red Chamber," but his views on the subject have been questioned by many.

Upon entering the People's Literature and Art magazine, Cui Daoyi excitedly ran over to Liu Yimin, exclaiming, "Yimin, congratulations! Congratulations!"

"What's there to be happy about, senior brother!"

Cui Daoyi said happily, "We just received news that your name is on this year's Mao Dun Literature Prize list. The winning work is 'A Pilgrimage of One.' What a pity, what a pity, you published it in 'Harvest.' It would have been great if it had been published in our 'People's Literature and Art.'"

We submitted your "Dust Settles Down," but unfortunately, your submissions were competing against each other, and the judges ultimately placed their bets on "The Pilgrimage of One Man."

"Comrade Yimin, I've long admired your name. Welcome to our People's Literature and Art. Please take good care of me in the future. I've just taken office and my work needs your support right now." Upon hearing the voice, Liu Xinwu rushed over from his office.

"Editor-in-Chief Liu, rest assured, I will definitely cooperate with your work."

“It’s not just cooperating, it’s us, we’ll work together to get the job done!” Liu Xinwu held Liu Yimin’s hands tightly.

Liu Xinwu plans to continue employing the members of the previous editorial board of *People's Literature and Art* whom Wang Meng hired. Wang Meng's achievements during her years in charge of *People's Literature and Art* are undeniable.

Furthermore, Wang Meng was promoted, not retired. You disbanded the editorial board right after she was promoted. Aren't you just making things difficult for the department leaders?

"Comrade Yimin, congratulations! You've won the Mao Dun Literature Prize for two consecutive years. If it weren't for the rule that you can't win it consecutively after a one-year gap, I think your name would be on the list every year."

Liu Xinwu pulled Liu Yimin into the office and asked him what he thought about the future development of "People's Literature and Art".

Cui Daoyi handed Liu Yimin a cup of tea: "Old Liu, you don't need to ask. Yimin is definitely a standard-bearer of realist literature!"

(End of this chapter)