1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

"Sister Mei."

"Xiulan, why are you out shopping so late?"

When Ma Mei saw Wang Xiulan come in, she immediately stood up and greeted her.

"I'm not buying anything, there's just something I'm unsure about. I'm hoping you, with your extensive knowledge, can help me take a look."

"What is it? Let me show you."

Ma Mei asked curiously.

"Someone recently delivered an envelope to our house containing a magazine, which I can't understand. Could you help me check if they delivered it to the wrong address?"

"That must be it. In our alley, apart from a few students, very few people subscribe to newspapers."

Ma Mei nodded, took it and looked at it: "Oh my, it's still 'October'."

"Is this pretty impressive?"

Chen's mother was not quite sure about this, so she looked at Ma Mei.

"This is a literary magazine. Although it was only established last year, it is the editorial department of our Yenching Publishing House, and it is quite famous."

"The Herdsman, Chen Weidong?!"

Ma Mei paused for a moment upon seeing this, then looked up at Chen's mother, "Xiulan, this wasn't written by your Weidong, was it?"

"It seems so. I'm not entirely sure though. I did hear him mention it before, saying that he had successfully submitted a novel to a publication, and then today someone mailed this magazine to our mailbox. That's why I'm asking you to take a look."

Ma Mei knew perfectly well that Wang Xiulan had come today to show off and prove that her husband Weidong had indeed changed.

"Of course, Xiulan, you're going to enjoy a life of leisure from now on. With such an excellent son as Weidong, and Jianguo being so sensible and filial, you'll have plenty of good days ahead."

"Haha, it's not as exaggerated as you say. I don't hope for anything else, I just hope they can live their own little lives peacefully and healthily."

I'm going to stop chatting with you now; the pots and pans haven't been washed yet.

Watching Wang Xiulan's retreating figure, Ma Mei felt a strange sense of envy. At their age, wasn't this what they longed for?

Unexpectedly, after a few years in the countryside, Chen Weidong actually turned over a new leaf.

……

The next day, rumors began to circulate in the alley that Chen Weidong had become a writer and that his novel had been published in the magazine "October".

Meanwhile, the latest issue of "October" magazine has appeared in major Xinhua bookstores in Beijing. As for other provinces and cities, it is being rolled out one by one, but initially it is only circulated in the vicinity of Beijing and Tianjin.

……

Yenching Publishing House.

"Xinwu, what are you looking at? You seem so engrossed. Let's go eat together."

"I'm reading a short story in 'October.' You guys go eat first, I'll be there in a bit."

Liu Xinwu smiled and declined, saying that since he published his short story "The Class Teacher" two years ago, it has been regarded as the starting point of scar literature and has aroused a lot of discussion. Fortunately, he finally settled down safely. He was transferred from "October" to "People's Literature" as an editor, and this year he joined the Writers Association and served as a director of the Writers Association.

It could be said that one article changed his life.

Perhaps because he had worked at "October" for a period of time, he has always paid close attention to this magazine.

He bought a copy as soon as it was released and was immediately captivated by the story of "The Horseman" on it.

Unlike previous works of "scar literature," "The Herdsman" does not contain any descriptions of that period, but it does not directly aim to awaken moral reflection in society by showing blood and tears like his "Class Teacher," nor does it directly depict the tearing apart of family relationships like Lu Xinhua's "The Scar."

It doesn't dwell on assigning blame; in fact, the novel downplays the impact of this period, glossing over it and instead focusing on finding a spiritual way out for the victims through the love between Xu Lingjun and Li Xiuzhi, as well as the friendship among the herdsmen.

It also provides an answer: suffering is not the end, but the starting point for rebirth through this experience.

It broke away from the mainstream narrative mode of previous "scar literature" where "intellectuals accepted the reformation of the working people".

"The Herdsman" imbues this model with "emotional voluntariness." Xu Lingjun's transformation is not achieved through admonition, but through Guo Yizi's respectful remark, "You are an instructor," and Li Xiuzhi's warmth with a bowl of hot porridge.

However, The Herdsman did not completely abandon the literature of the wounded, but continued the humanitarian concern of the literature of the wounded, but cleverly transformed the trauma into a land sentiment and ethical warmth.

Although Liu Xinwu did not finish reading the rest of the story, the first half of "The Herdsman" alone is enough to show that it is a work no less than "The Class Teacher" and "The Wound".

"It's a pity I can't read it all in one go!"

"Xinwu, aren't you going to eat? There won't be any food left. What novel has you so obsessed with?"

"You can take a look; it's quite well written."

Who wrote it?

"Chen Weidong is probably a newcomer, but his stories are quite profound and original."

"Then I'd like to see just how good it is."

Faced with Liu Xinwu's recommendation, the colleague also became curious and picked up the magazine to read it.

Then, as if infected, "The Herdsman" spread throughout the entire publishing house in an instant, and some people even rushed to the editorial office of "October" magazine, eager to see the rest of the story as soon as possible.

"The Herdsman" not only spread rapidly through Yenching Publishing House, but also spread wildly in universities and colleges.

At Peking University, Liu Zhenyun looked at "The Herdsman," silently crumpling the manuscript in his hand into a ball. He stared at the three characters "Chen Weidong" for a long time but still couldn't figure out who this great writer was.

In a factory in Yanjing, Shi Tiesheng read "The Herdsman" again and felt that the deep wounds in his heart had healed a lot.

He had read quite a few works of literature about trauma in the past, but the more he read, the more distressed he became, as if his old scars were being torn open and re-examined.

But The Herdsman doesn't do that. Instead, it tells him through love and friendship that the past is the past, and we should live in the present and continue to look forward to the future.

"How about I give it a try?"

Suddenly, an idea popped into Shi Tiesheng's mind and took root.

After finishing work that day, he returned home, took out paper, and began to write.

……

Editorial Department of "October".

Zhang Shouren hurriedly arrived at the editor-in-chief's office and gently knocked on the door.

"Editor-in-chief, we just received a letter from the publisher saying that the latest issue of the magazine is sold out and asking if we should reprint it?"

"Sold out?"

Su Mao looked up in surprise. She knew that this issue of "October" had printed a total of 100,000 copies, and now it was completely sold out.

"Yes, Xinhua Bookstore also sent a letter saying that their branches in surrounding provinces and cities also want the latest issue of the magazine."

"Do you know why?"

"It should be related to 'The Herdsman'. Recently, the editorial department has received many letters, all asking about the second half of the story."

Zhang Shouren said happily that he had thought he valued "The Herdsman" very much. When it was released a few days ago, he estimated that it would take at least ten days to half a month to sell the 100,000 copies. However, he did not expect "The Herdsman" to be so popular and sell out in just three days.

……