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

Chapter 582 Cross-Strait Traditional Literature Exchange Meeting

After Liu Yimin finished reporting everything, he was about to leave when Wang Meng quickly called him back.

"Comrade Yimin, everyone's saying you have a very touching novel. Could we take a look at it?" Wang Meng asked curiously.

Wang Meng's words piqued the curiosity of the others, but Liu Yimin patted his pocket: "Unfortunately, I didn't bring it today."

Wang Meng said regretfully, "I forgot. I should have called you this morning and told you to bring it with you. Comrade Ma Shitu gave me a brief account of his touching story."

"Yimin, which magazine are you planning to publish in? We'll buy it in advance!" Xia Yan said.

"You're joking, old man. Whether it's Harvest, People's Literature, or any other magazine, which one wasn't placed on your desk immediately after it was published?"

"Haha, which magazine are you planning to publish it in?" Xia Yan asked again after laughing.

"Domestically, it is planned to be published in People's Literature and Art."

Xia Yan patted his thigh: "That's good. Show it to us in a couple of days. You definitely won't make it to the May issue, but if it's in June, there's still enough time for us to get a sneak peek!"

“Alright, since you’ve said so, why don’t we go to the Institute of Literature and Art Research together tomorrow to check on the work? Reading the manuscripts is just a side job!” Liu Yimin said.

Xia Yan chuckled: "You little rascal, you've been waiting for me here. Okay, I'll go tomorrow afternoon. Laugh it off, but you need to prepare well before the event and make sure nothing goes wrong. It's not an easy event to hold, and the writers who can come are under all kinds of pressure, so we can't neglect them."

After leaving the Ministry of Culture, Liu Yimin and Cao Yu returned to the Beijing People's Art Theatre together. Cao Yu encouraged Liu Yimin to first finish writing the script for "God's Visa": "However, the script is secondary; the work at hand is the main thing."

"Understood, teacher. When the writers from the island come over, I hope you will also go and give us some support."

Cao Yu put his hands behind his back: "Whether as a teacher or as a member of the literary and art association, I have an inescapable responsibility."

When Liu Yimin arrived at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, Zhu Lin had already left for the day. Knowing that she was definitely waiting for him at Zhu's parents' place, Liu Yimin didn't go straight back to the Overseas Chinese Apartment.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhu had already prepared the meal, and the two of them returned to the Overseas Chinese Apartment after they had eaten and drunk their fill.

Back home, Zhu Lin brought up A-Cheng's matter: "It startled me at the time. He came in and called me 'Teacher's wife,' but I didn't think there was such a person among the students at Yenching University!"

"Haha, it's an unexpected bonus. The teacher thinks highly of Acheng, and Acheng's own literary level is also quite good. In the current literary world, he is a young writer with both talent and good cultivation."

Zhu Lin said, "The little megaphone they gave us is quite useful; it's easy to speak. However, among the directors, it stands out a bit, so I'm a little embarrassed to use it."

"You still need to use it, but you must protect your voice," Liu Yimin instructed.

Ximei opened the door and found herself tidying up her things inside.

"Professor Liu."

"You've worked hard these past few days," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

After walking into the living room and letting the two little ones play in the room for a while, Zhu Lin took them to take a bath.

Liu Yimin spent some time writing the script for "God's Visa" in his study, and then carefully considered the story framework and direction of "Piglet".

It wasn't until eleven o'clock that Liu Yimin returned to the bedroom at Zhu Lin's urging. Zhu Lin lay in Liu Yimin's arms, telling him about the things that had happened at home recently.

"On their birthdays, the two little ones even got into a fight while eating cake, getting cream all over their faces," Zhu Lin said softly.

After a while, Liu Yimin sensed something was wrong, so he warned, "Zhu Lin, don't move your hands around. Just talk, oh my, where are you touching?"

"Hehe, Teacher Liu, I'm just giving you a taste of what it's like to be treated the same way you treat someone else. I'll let you experience the taste of rudeness too."

"Ha, I can't handle you anymore."

In the room, the voice telling stories came and went, sometimes sobbing, sometimes lamenting, sometimes yearning.
The next morning, feeling refreshed, the two finished breakfast and headed to their respective workplaces.

On the Yenching University campus, the banner announcing Liu Yimin's award has not yet been taken down, while the banner announcing the upcoming exchange meeting on traditional literature between the mainland and the island has already been hung up.

Yenching University's Chinese Department and the entire university were bustling with activity, with campus workers carefully inspecting school roads and flower beds, and immediately repairing any damaged areas.

As soon as the car arrived at the Chinese Department, Yan Jiayan and several senior professors spotted him: "Yimin, you've finally decided to come to the university?"

"I had no choice but to come! Professor Yan, thank you for your help. Yan Zhen definitely couldn't have done it alone," Liu Yimin said, shaking hands in gratitude.

Yan Jiayan looked at Liu Yimin with slight dissatisfaction and said, "You should have told me earlier so I could have made preparations. You kept it a secret until after you left, and only then did Yan Zhen tell me."

"Professor Yan, you've misunderstood me. It's not that I'm trying to hide anything, it's just that I'm afraid of problems. If we invite people and they don't come, and we still make a big fuss about it, wouldn't that make us look foolish?" Liu Yimin quickly said.

Wu Zuxiang said, "Yimin, I was so excited when I heard about this that I couldn't sleep all night. You've done a great job. We've already checked the list, and it seems that everyone who was invited is confirmed to come."

"Unless there are special circumstances, everyone will definitely be there, but if there are any unexpected situations," Wang Yao added.

"It's alright. If there are any special circumstances, it's beyond our control. Thank you all for your hard work, professors. We'll have to keep the guests entertained as well." Liu Yimin and a group of professors walked towards the Chinese Department building.

In the Chinese department, everyone wore an expression of both anticipation and nervousness. The most excited and least stressed were the students from Yenching University. After hearing the news, they gathered in the Triangle area every day to express their opinions, jumping and shouting.

"Yimin, we've been talking about the exchange program, but I also have to congratulate you on winning Latin America's highest literary award and the American Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Yimin, just standing here, all those awards are shining brightly on you," Yan Jiayan teased.

Wu Zuxiang asked mysteriously, "I heard we're going to invite Márquez to visit, and also to discuss the International Federation of Writers and Artists?"

Yes, there is such news.

Yan Jiayan asked eagerly, "Could we invite him to give a lecture at Yenching University?"

“I told him.”

Yan Jiayan excitedly pounded his palms: "Great! The University of Argentina is going to appoint you as a lifetime honorary professor. What do you think about us appointing Márquez as a lifetime honorary professor?"

"Professor Yan, I didn't expect you to have this idea." Liu Yimin laughed.

The history of appointing honorary professors in China is relatively short; the Central Conservatory of Music only awarded the title of honorary professor to a French musician in 1980. With this precedent to follow, Yenching University faced no procedural obstacles in its desire to appoint Gabriel García Márquez as an honorary professor.

“What are the chances you’re likely to agree? Once it’s confirmed that he’s definitely coming, I’ll report it to the school and the Ministry of Education. Marquez is a Nobel laureate in literature, so the process will definitely be quick.” Yan Jiayan stared intently at Liu Yimin.

"I don't know the probability, but I'll discuss it with him first. There shouldn't be any problems."

Wu Zuxiang asked about Marquez, and Liu Yimin gave a brief description. They walked into the Institute of Literature together, and when the people there saw Liu Yimin return, they all stood up excitedly and applauded, with congratulations rising and falling.

"Comrades, you've all worked hard these past few days. You all know the key tasks ahead. There's no need to be too nervous. Everyone should focus on their own duties. For the teachers who came here for training, the most important thing is still their own academic research."

"Teacher Liu, tell us about your experiences in Latin America!" a student clamored.

Liu Yimin gestured for everyone to quiet down: "The trip to Latin America will be very long, taking us through many countries, and the specifics are numerous and complex. However, you've all learned about the main events from the newspapers. There's also something else: you might all have the opportunity to meet some writers from Latin America."

So, you'll have to experience it for yourselves when the time comes.

If he had free time, Liu Yimin could sit here and chat with them, but he's quite busy right now and doesn't have time to talk to them much.

Liu Yimin winked at Yan Zhen and called him to come into the office together. Yan Zhen immediately picked up the folder on the table and followed them into the office.

Yan Zhen handed the folder to Liu Yimin: "Teacher, this is the confirmed list of arrivals, along with the dates. Except for Li Ao, who arrived three days early, everyone else came together."

Liu Yimin picked up the list and glanced at it: "This Li Ao always likes to be unconventional."

Yan Jiayan said, "I heard that he has a very sharp tongue on the island, and he is sarcastic and mean-spirited, often making sarcastic remarks."

"This is just how this person always is. The reason why he didn't invite Yu Guangzhong is because when Li Ao and Yu Guangzhong are together, there's no need for anyone to talk about anything else; all they have to do is watch Li Ao criticize Yu Guangzhong."

"Hahaha!" Upon hearing this, the elderly professors all stroked their beards and laughed.

Liu Yimin briefly recounted the feud between Yu Guangzhong and Li Ao. After finishing, Liu Yimin felt there was still one thing to do: he needed to have the Writers Association collect information on the island's writers and hand it over to the writers or professors involved in the reception.

Xia Yan has already selected the exchange participants, such as Zhang Guangnian, Jiang Zilong, Qian Zhongshu, Feng Zhi, and Wu Zuxiang.

In addition to literary exchange activities, related visits were also arranged to show them the beautiful landscapes of the motherland.

“Professor Yan, the literary exchange activities will mainly be held in our Chinese Department, so we need to prepare our classrooms. Also, we need to get the school to agree to provide us with all the vehicles in the school's fleet.” Liu Yimin looked at Yan Jiayan.

“Okay, I’ll call the school bus team in a bit. The principal has already said he’ll fully support us,” Yan Jiayan said.

Liu Yimin then instructed Yan Zhen to find a group of people to form a conference affairs team to help with conference arrangements and venue management, and to take on the important task of picking up people.

“Okay, teacher, don’t worry,” Yan Zhen quickly replied.

Yan Jiayan said, "According to the Ministry's arrangements, we will not be staying at the guesthouse of Yenching University, since the conditions are not good. We will be staying at the Yenching Hotel."

"The Yanjing Hotel is fine too," Liu Yimin said.

After the others left the office, Liu Yimin went through the relevant meeting arrangements again by himself.

After Yan Zhen left, she came back in and poured Liu Yimin a cup of tea. She asked cautiously, "Teacher Liu, Acheng came by and said that you have accepted him as your student?"

"Is that so? He's here?"

"He came, then left again after a while. His novel is going to be adapted into a movie, and he's currently busy adapting the screenplay. His screenplay last year was also considered a strong contender for awards. Compared to him, I, his senior, am truly ashamed."

"Haha, Yan Zhen, he writes better than you, but he's also older than you. Don't compare too much. Maybe you can write a better novel than him in the future," Liu Yimin comforted him.

"Okay, teacher, I'll go out now. Please call me if you need anything."

"it is good!"

In the afternoon, Xia Yan came to the Institute of Literature to inspect the work. After listening to Yan Zhen's report, Xia Yan said, "The conference organizing team are unsung heroes. Yan Zhen, you must organize them well. Also, maintain good communication with Yenching University and the Department of Chinese Literature. If anything happens, be sure to coordinate and resolve it promptly."

"Mr. Shen, I've checked it, and there are basically no problems. The arrangements made by the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Writers Association are also very good. All the departments have done their best, so there shouldn't be any issues."

After Yan Zhen left, Xia Yan smiled and glanced at Liu Yimin. Liu Yimin immediately understood and handed the manuscript of "God's Visa" to Xia Yan.

"Mr. Shen, if the activity funds are insufficient, I hope the ministry can allocate the money as soon as possible," Liu Yimin said.

Xia Yan glanced at the manuscript: "Funding is not a problem, 50,000 yuan should be enough, if all else fails we can get money from the Writers Association."

Liu Yimin felt it wouldn't be enough, and they would definitely have to get more money from the Writers' Association. But thinking that Xia Yan and others would be participating, he wasn't worried about the funding.

"Now we're just waiting for them to arrive!" Liu Yimin said.

Xia Yan was reading the manuscript. Liu Yimin went to teach a class to the second-year students. When he came back, he hadn't finished reading it yet, so he sat in the large classroom of the Institute of Literature and gave another class to the teachers who came for training.

It wasn't until almost the end of the workday that Xia Yan finally walked out of the office, satisfied: "When I return to China, I must find a way to meet He Fengshan, that nameless hero who saved countless lives!"

“He often goes back to China, so there might be an opportunity at any time.”

Xia Yan did not return the manuscript to him, but instead took it to the Ministry of Culture for others to browse.

As soon as he got off work, Liu Yimin couldn't wait to go home. After being away from home for a month, he couldn't get enough of holding his two little ones.

When they got home, the two were playing hide-and-seek. When they saw Liu Yimin, they pulled him to join them.

"Are you all hidden? I'm coming for you! If Dad finds you, you'll get a spanking!" Liu Yimin shouted.

"Hidden!"

Upon hearing this voice, Liu Yimin nearly burst out laughing and immediately grabbed Liu Yu from the direction of the sound.

"Dad, how did you find me?"

"Hahaha, guess!"

Less than two minutes later, Liu Lin, who was hiding under the table with his butt sticking out, was also found.

When Zhu Lin returned and saw this harmonious scene, he laughed and said, "Slow down, don't fall."

With the meeting about to begin, Li Ao arrived in Yanjing ahead of schedule.

(End of this chapter)