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

Chapter 63 Speaks for Worker-Peasant-Soldier University Students (Please Read On!)

Inside the dormitory, under the watchful eyes of Liu Zhenyun and the other two, Liu Yimin took out more than a dozen letters from his satchel and placed them on the table, preparing to open them one by one. The three of them were discussing their respective ideas, but fell silent after Liu Yimin entered.

I always feel that discussing how to analyze the novel "Donkey Water" in front of Liu Yimin, the original author, is like Professor Wu Zuxiang standing in front of Cao Xueqin and saying that he understands "Dream of the Red Chamber," or standing in front of Shi Nai'an and saying that he understands "Water Margin."

"Yimin, how come you received so many letters?" Li Xueqin asked, leaning closer.

“A letter from my family!” Liu Yimin said with a smile.

"Family?" Liu Zhenyun didn't believe it. How could so many people suddenly come from his family? Could this kid really have all sorts of distant relatives? He glanced at the words on the envelope and said loudly, "Yimin, I thought you were an honest man. This is clearly a letter from a reader!"

Liu Zhenyun had an expression that said, "Don't try to fool me. I've never eaten pork, but I've at least seen a pig run!"

Liu Yimin glanced at him with a raised eyelid and said slowly, "Who says readers aren't family? You have to treat your readers like family, then they'll treat us like relatives!"

Upon hearing Liu Yimin's words, the three were immediately filled with respect. This was a true writer! We only saw his success, but we didn't see his serious attitude towards every reader.

Liu Zhenyun thought to himself, "I still have a lot to learn from Liu Yimin!"

The three of them had only ever written letters to others, never received any themselves. They curiously examined the names on the envelopes, feeling incredibly envious!

"Yimin, do you need to reply to all of these?" Chen Dazhi asked.

"One reply is enough; there's no need to reply to everyone!"

"Hey, didn't you just say these are all your family members?" Liu Zhenyun asked subconsciously.

Liu Yimin said calmly, "Zhenyun, my family members are still at the editorial office of *People's Literature and Art*, and there are two sacks at *Poetry Journal*. Can I go back to both of them?"

Four sacks of reader letters? The three men gasped, their hissing sounds echoing around them; anyone who didn't know better would think they'd stumbled into a snake pit.

"If I had so many readers writing to me, I would make a bed, spread the letters on the bed board as a mattress, and sleep on it!"

Chen Dazhi picked up a letter from a reader in Tianjin, gently stroked it a few times, and then gently placed it on the table.

The letters came from various groups, including educated youth, students, and workers.

Even more shockingly, when Liu Yimin opened a reader's letter, a photo slipped out. The background of the photo looked like the West Lake, with a girl wearing a white dress standing by the railing of a bridge, holding an umbrella, only her profile visible.

Liu Yimin picked up the photo and glanced at it. "Using this to test cadres? Do they really think I'm some kind of 'pig-headed mentor'?"
The photo immediately caught the attention of the other three, especially Li Xueqin, who had been a sent-down youth in the countryside of Zhejiang Province and had a deep affection for the area. After looking at it, she said, "A typical Jiangnan woman. Sigh, it reminds me of Dai Wangshu's poem 'Rainy Alley'."

Liu Zhenyun stared at the photo and recited Dai Wangshu's poem "Rainy Alley" with a flamboyant air: "I hope to meet someone like a lilac..."

Sad girl
She has

The same color as lilac
Fragrance like cloves
Sorrow like lilac
"Lamenting in the rain, lamenting and wandering."

Chen Dazhi continued in his thick Jincheng accent, "She drifted by..."
Like a dream
Sad and confused like a dream
Drifting by in a dream

Ichiedacho Incense
A woman walked past me.

"Alright, shut up, spring hasn't arrived yet!" Liu Yimin stuffed the photo into the envelope and then looked at the other letters.

The three of them said in unison, "Winter is coming soon, can spring be far behind?"

Finally, we saw Zhu Lin's letter, which Cui Daoyi had marked as a reply. Upon opening it, we found two pages filled with neat handwriting. In the letter, Zhu Lin stated that he was a worker-peasant-soldier college student who had never taken the college entrance examination, but wanted to share his views on the exam.

No wonder Cui Daoyi chose to reply to such a letter; it was because his perspective was so unique. Since the resumption of the college entrance examination, worker-peasant-soldier students and students admitted through the college entrance examination have been clearly separated in schools. The two groups, while not exactly enemies, at least kept their distance from each other.

Those who graduate through the national college entrance examination (Gaokao) look down on worker-peasant-soldier college students, believing they lack real skills. Coupled with constant newspaper criticism of various "bloodline-based" arguments that hinder the Gaokao and the relaxation of political vetting policies, this group is currently under immense pressure.

[Respected Comrade Liu Yimin:]
Hello, I am a worker-peasant-soldier college student who did not take the college entrance examination. We are college students during a special period in the country's history. Since the resumption of the college entrance examination, my classmates and I have heard all sorts of opinions, and I have decided to share my own views.

The worker-peasant-soldier university program was an experiment, or rather a trial, undertaken by the state after the suspension of university admissions. It involved selecting outstanding and capable young people from the front lines of agriculture, industry, and the military to attend university. The process combined public recommendation, leadership approval, and university review; it wasn't without examination, and academic ability was a crucial factor. These worker-peasant-soldier students from the front lines were often more hardworking, more resilient, and, most importantly, possessed deep frontline work experience and a strong sense of national responsibility.

Many might disagree with me, but I was also a sent-down youth. Between the local commune members and us sent-down youth, who could endure more hardship? I think it was the local commune members. On the positive side, outstanding frontline workers, through university courses, could become skilled frontline workers, filling the gaps in frontline technical staff and playing a vital role in national development. Many worker-peasant-soldier university graduates became pillars of their respective organizations after graduation.

While the overall situation is positive, some issues, such as prioritizing personal interests over public duties, have inevitably arisen. Many capable young people have been deprived of learning opportunities, which I believe is why the resumption of the college entrance examination was welcomed by everyone. The competition is fairer, but also more intense, increasing everyone's motivation to strive for excellence, which is beneficial for the country in cultivating higher-level scientific and technological talent.

Whether they were worker-peasant-soldier college students or students admitted through the national college entrance examination, they were all important forces in the country's modernization drive. It is unfair for society to only criticize worker-peasant-soldier college students, and judging them solely by their background is also unfair to other students.

Our great leader told us that we should adopt a scientific analytical attitude when looking at problems, neither absolutely affirming nor absolutely denying them.

After a moment's thought, Liu Yimin wrote a reply, which roughly encouraged worker-peasant-soldier college students and college students who had taken the college entrance examination to correctly view the historical significance and historical responsibility they had undertaken, to put down their burdens, to go into battle lightly, to study scientific and cultural knowledge diligently, and to contribute to the country's modernization, etc.

Finally, let me add: [May our future be even brighter than our past, and may every dream come true!]

After replying, Liu Yimin found another small note in the envelope, which discussed the story of Pan Zhiyou, a male educated youth in "College Entrance Examination 1977," who did so much for Chen Qiong, a female educated youth. He wondered if Chen Qiong would return to Pan Zhiyou's side after graduating from university.

Liu Yimin only replied with six words: "Comrade, what do you think?"

The ending itself is open-ended, leaving plenty of room for interpretation.

You want me to tell you? I don't even know myself!

感谢天下纵横有我大佬的三百点币打赏，感谢书友20180612083652658大佬的1300点币打赏；感谢书友20221218170901668大佬900点币的打赏，感谢书友20230711121533922大佬900点币的打赏。

Today's showdown is between the three rivers! I hope everyone will support us and keep reading!
(End of this chapter)