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

Chapter 98 A Few Things About Comrade Liu Yimin

"Old Cao?"

When Zhu Lin learned that the old comrade who had refuted her last time was Cao Yu, she stood awkwardly to the side, looking flustered.

"teacher!"

Cao Yu didn't respond to Liu Yimin's words, but looked at Zhu Lin and said with a smile, "Little girl, don't be nervous. I'm just waiting for my student here. If you want to chat, I'll wait a little longer."

"We're done talking, we're done talking!" Zhu Lin hurriedly waved his hand and said.

Cao Yu asked again, "How about we come to my house for dinner? You invited him to the play last time, so he should treat you to a meal. But he's going home tomorrow, so why don't we come to my house together?"

Liu Yimin looked at Cao Yu, wondering what this teacher was up to!
"No need, no need, my house is right next door, very close!"

"Oh, a local!" Cao Yu glanced at Liu Yimin and said with a smile, "Then I won't keep you any longer. I'll have him treat you to a meal alone next time!"

Zhu Lin stood blushing to the side, watching Liu Yimin leave with Cao Yu, then walked to the window and took a few deep breaths. The news of Cao Yu taking Liu Yimin as a student had long since spread throughout the universities of Yenching University through the Chinese Department.

Anyone who enjoys reading Liu Yimin's books and poems knows him. But Zhu Lin never expected to run into Cao Yu today, the same old man he met that night. The thought of saying, "Old comrade, you're wrong," made his heart pound.

Liu Yimin got into the car with Cao Yu. Cao Yu inquired about Zhu Lin's situation, and Liu Yimin stretched his neck and said, "Teacher, your wife is still waiting at home!"

"Don't interrupt!"

After Liu Yimin told him honestly, Cao Yu nodded: "She has a good family background. I'll ask Lao Lan about this girl another day."

We haven't known each other for very long.

Cao Yu looked at Liu Yimin with a smile and said slowly, "I meant to ask how her acting is?"

Seeing Liu Yimin get the short end of the stick, Cao Yu was in a great mood.

"Old Shi, tomorrow you take Yimin to the train station. He has some things with him, so it's inconvenient for him to walk there!"

Old Shi is Cao Yu's driver; he's been with him for a long time.

When they arrived at Cao Yu's house, his teacher's wife had laid out many dishes on the table, including dumplings and baked flatbreads. The custom of baking flatbreads for the Little New Year also exists in Liu Yimin's hometown of Ru County, although the method is slightly different.

"Yimin, Lao Cao, hurry up and wash your hands and eat. We're waiting for you two!"

Wanfang isn't home today; it's just the three of them.

During the meal, Li Yuru kept putting food on Liu Yimin's plate, making him feel a little embarrassed.

"Master's wife, this is almost done!" Liu Yimin said quickly when he saw that another plate of dumplings was coming.

"This is hardly enough for such a big young man."

"Thank you, Master!"

"Don't thank me anymore, we're all family. Here are some snacks and pastries from Beijing that I bought. Take them with you when you go home tomorrow."

Liu Yimin glanced at the table beside him; the net bag was filled with several cardboard boxes, presumably all food. He looked at Li Yuru and Cao Yu, deeply grateful to them. How could he not be moved that they treated a student like family?

Cao Yu handed him the preface he had written, and told him to give it to Cui Daoyi on his way from the Beijing People's Art Theatre the next day, and that he wouldn't have to worry about the rest.

"You must remain humble and composed. Creation is something that requires sustained passion. I believe this book is just your first. I want to see your second and third books, do you understand?"

"Understood, teacher, I will definitely try my best!"

"You have a very broad perspective; keep writing."

"Hurry up and let Yimin eat. Don't forget to educate your students even when you get home," Li Yuru urged.

The next day, Cao Yu's driver, Lao Shi, picked up Liu Yimin early and brought him to People's Literature and Art Publishing House. After reading the preface, Cui Daoyi assured him that he would make sure the publisher would start printing as soon as possible.

Zhang Guangnian's preface was also finished. After reading it, Liu Yimin glanced at Cui Daoyi, because the signature on it was not just Zhang Guangnian, but also another name - Ai Qing.

“It just so happened that Mr. Ai Qing was there that day, so Lao Zhang invited him to write it together. Now it seems that everyone has the same idea,” Cui Daoyi said with a smile. Zou Huofan’s preface was followed by a long list of names, which made Cui Daoyi’s eyelids twitch.

“It’s more fun when there are more people!”

After seeing Liu Yimin off, Cui Daoyi pondered for a long time. He looked at the preface written by Zhang Guangnian and then at Zou Huofan's. He felt that a name was missing. After thinking for a long time, he finally remembered that his own name was missing.

Cao Yu bought Liu Yimin a soft sleeper, so he wouldn't have to doze off on a wooden bench.

"Goodbye, Uncle Shi!"

Liu Yimin carried his things into Yanjing Station. The wind in the square made him shiver, but he felt much better once he entered the station. After waiting for about half an hour, he boarded the train home after being announced over the loudspeaker.

On the train, Liu Yimin found his berth according to the number on his ticket. An elderly man was already lying in bed with a black briefcase on it.

When the old man saw Liu Yimin, he frowned. Why was a young man taking a sleeper berth?
At this age, it's impossible to be at the level of riding in a soft sleeper berth. Only bureau-level cadres, or division-level cadres over fifty years old, are qualified to ride in such a berth. Apart from that, it's only for some leaders' bodyguards and attendants.

Liu Yimin was followed by an elderly comrade, who was quite plump. They were in a soft sleeper compartment.

Liu Yimin lay down on the bed, and the passing flight attendants saw him and cast surprised glances. Then they checked his ticket, and only left after seeing that there was no problem.

"Young man, which unit are you from?" the elderly man lying in bed asked.

"I'm from Yenching University!"

"A teacher from Yenching University?"

"student!"

"Ok?"

Liu Yimin didn't answer further. When it was time to eat, he went to the dining car. The elderly man lying on the bed exclaimed, "How could a young man buy a sleeper ticket!" The chubby elderly man was wiping his glasses, breathing on the lenses before quickly taking out a handkerchief to wipe them. Putting on his glasses, he glanced at him and said, "Don't let his youth fool you, he came in a car!"

"A car?" The elderly man lying in bed immediately sat up.
"Yes, it's a ministerial-level official vehicle!"

"Ministerial level...ministerial level..." the old comrade on the bed kept pondering.

When Liu Yimin returned, he saw that the old comrade who was lying in bed was no longer lying down, but sitting there.

Liu Yimin was surprised, but he didn't intend to chat with them. Instead, he leaned against the carriage and started reading a book.

After getting off the train in Luocheng, I transferred again, this time in a hard seat. After more than an hour of this ordeal, I finally returned to Ruxian.

The small station was still the same. The snow by the low wall was stained black by coal dust. Scattered passengers hurried by. Liu Yimin spotted Liu Yiguo on the platform at a glance.

"Big Brother!" Liu Yiguo's current clothes and spirit are completely different from when he went down the coal mine; he even looks a little fatter.

Liu Yiguo helped Liu Yimin tighten his military overcoat, took the net bag, and said, "Yimin, oh dear, you have such good eyesight, I didn't even see you. Come on, let's hurry home, your parents are getting impatient, why are you so late?"

"Something came up at school," Liu Yimin said without going into details.

"Come on, get in the car, let's go home for the New Year!"

Liu Yiguo tied the net bag to the main beam and carried Liu Yimin on his back, saying happily that he kept telling him about the recent events that had happened in the county and the brigade.

"Brother, how's it going at the mine?"

"I did a good job, and the leaders took good care of me. Plus, I went to junior high school, so I'm literate and it wasn't difficult for me to learn. The mining bureau is a good place. They gave us oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and other supplies for the New Year, which we could use at home."

Liu Yiguo smelled of coal, but the melanin deposits on his skin caused by years of contact with coal were slowly fading. On the way back, the coal trucks had left many potholes on the road, which turned into puddles after the snow. The black puddles emitted a foul smell, and the two of them had to get out and walk around every now and then.

Fortunately, they met Tian Qingping, who was driving a tractor back to the commune from the county. The tractor was carrying fertilizer that the commune had purchased from the county supply and marketing cooperative.

"Yimin, how's Yanjing? Did you go to Tiananmen Square?" Tian Qingping asked, glancing back every now and then as he drove.

"You went to Tiananmen Square. Beijing is very big. How are things at the commune?"

"The educated youth settlement here has been disbanded, and all the educated youth have gone back. But I'm still in the commune, working at the grain depot. Today, the tractor driver had a family emergency, so I came to pick up fertilizer. I just happened to run into you. I'll unload the fertilizer at the commune in a bit, and then I'll take you back!"

"No need, Qingping, you can just ride your bicycle!"

"Stop dawdling! If the commune director knew it was you coming back, he'd probably fight me to see you off. I've read all your articles; they're very well written. Director Yang of the county revolutionary committee even made all the students memorize your 'Ideal' so they could go to university like you."

Tian Qingping excitedly said that the county and commune had paid special attention to Liu Yimin, a talented person who came from the local area. The cultural center had written several book reviews and poetry reviews on Liu Yimin. They also included some anecdotes about his time with Liu Yimin at the cultural center. Unexpectedly, they were published in a provincial magazine.

This greatly excited the curator, Lao Zhang, who encouraged everyone to dig deeper into the stories about Comrade Liu Yimin.

The acceptance rate was unusually high. They studied Liu Yimin and his novels.

Speaking of Lao Zhang, Liu Yimin will have to visit them at the cultural center another day; there won't be a chance today!
When they arrived at the commune, the production team that was supposed to collect the fertilizer had already sent people to wait there. A group of people quickly unloaded the fertilizer, and Tian Qingping drove the tractor to take Liu Yimin back to Maiji Production Team.

Liu Fuqing and Yang Xiuyun happily invited Tian Qingping to eat at their home. Liu Yiguo not only used his meat ration to buy meat but also collected some meat coupons. Yang Xiuyun killed a chicken, which had just been plucked and was now hanging from the rafters.

As Liu Yimin ate his meal, people around him kept asking how things were in Yanjing and whether he had visited the old man's memorial hall.
"Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Qingping, you'll all have the chance to go to Yanjing in the future!"

The four men wore happy expressions, but they knew in their hearts that leaving the city was extremely difficult. The most likely candidates were Liu Yiguo and Tian Qingping, but when would they be able to represent their country in Yanjing?
I never even dared to dream of getting a letter of introduction and going to Yanjing on my own!
Before Tian Qingping left, Liu Yimin took out a box of pastries and some small items he had bought from his net bag and handed them to Tian Qingping. When Tian Qingping refused, Liu Yimin put them on the tractor without saying a word.

"Qingping, you said I was being long-winded, but aren't you the same? If it weren't for you, would I be able to rest in the supply and marketing cooperative's dormitory? If I didn't get enough rest, how could I have gotten into university?"

Tian Qingping patted Liu Yimin on the shoulder and suddenly said sadly, "Actually, it's my fault. I should have thought of this back in '77. Otherwise, you would have been in college long ago!"

"In '77, the scores weren't released. Even if I passed, no one would know I was number one. It wasn't nearly as glorious as '78. Besides, it's not your fault; it was just bad weather. Please tell your brother thank you for me!"

"Alright, I'm off then. I'll try the food from Yanjing and see if it's any good!" Tian Qingping happily swung his arms and cranked the tractor. The loud engine noise quickly disappeared at the brigade intersection.

Back home, Liu Yimin handed a cigarette to Liu Fuqing: "Dad, you often smoke dry tobacco, how about trying this cigarette?"

"These cigarettes aren't cheap, are they? Why are you wasting your money?" Liu Fuqing didn't recognize the brand Peony, but in his simple understanding, cigarettes were expensive and not something people like them could afford; only commune cadres smoked cigarettes.

"Dad, it won't cost much, just smoke some good stuff." Liu Yimin then took out a scarf and shoes from his bag and handed them to Yang Xiuyun, who happily put the scarf around her neck.

"Brother, here's a watch for you!" Liu Yimin handed the watch to Liu Yiguo.

Liu Yiguo said in a simple and honest manner, "Why would you wear a watch, brother? That kind of watch is for people like you."

Before Liu Yimin could speak, Yang Xiuyun said, "Eldest brother, take this. It's a token of the second brother's affection. Didn't you give the second brother a watch back then? Now that you're a cadre, you should have a watch. When I went to your workplace last time, I saw that everyone else had one except you. Your father and I even said we wanted to get one for you, but we didn't have the ration coupons."

"Yeah, big brother, you spent several months' salary on that watch back then. Now I'm writing and I have money. This isn't even as expensive as writing one of my novels. You can keep it. Hurry up and find me a sister-in-law."

In a sense, Liu Yimin's watch and Liu Yiguo's watch are not of the same value. Liu Yiguo usually lives frugally, but when he learned that Liu Yimin had become a writer, he borrowed money to buy him a watch, which moved Liu Yimin deeply.

Liu Yimin said with a smile.

When the word "sister-in-law" came up, Liu Yiguo took the watch with embarrassment, saying that having a watch would make finding a partner much easier.

Yang Xiuyun and Liu Fuqing had long wanted to have a grandson. It was hard to find one before because they were working in the coal mine, but now that they were officials, they should hurry up.

Liu Yiguo turned his head and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, forcing a smile as he said, "Don't think about writing all the time. Look at your hands, they're all a bit swollen. You'll never earn enough money."

"Brother, I understand. These are things my teacher and his wife asked me to bring for you. Please try them. They've been very good to me in Yanjing, so you don't need to worry about me at home!"

That evening, a group of people found themselves drawn to Liu Yimin's house. Liu Fuqing brought out a lot of firewood and set it up in the middle of the yard for everyone to keep warm. The group stood around the fire, listening to Liu Yimin tell them about the latest happenings in Yanjing.

"Old Liu, Xiuyun, you are truly blessed. Yimin has made a great career of himself!" Li Lanyong's father, Li Dashan, said with a smile from the side.

"My dad named me with the character '福' (fortune) in my name!" Liu Fuqing said proudly as he handed out cigarettes to everyone, while Yang Xiuyun grabbed a lot of peanuts for them to eat.

(End of this chapter)