1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

"Then print another 100,000... no, 200,000 copies."

After thinking about it for a while, Su Mao decided to take a gamble. She felt that with the current popularity of "The Herdsman", she should be able to sell all 200,000 copies.

Zhang Shouren was also shocked. He did not expect that Su Mao thought so highly of Chen Weidong's "The Herdsman" that he would print an additional 200,000 copies at once.

"Will the second part of 'The Horseman' be released together this time?"

"Send it out. Send the whole thing out this time, try to squeeze it out and add more layout. If that doesn't work, cut some sections from this issue and put them in the next issue."

"I understand, I'll go and inform them right away."

"Comrade Shouren, wait a moment."

Su Mao stopped Zhang Shouren, asking, "Have you been in contact with Comrade Chen Weidong recently?"

"I sent him a sample copy before the last release and wrote him a letter."

"Now that 'The Wrangler' is doing so well, I think you should tell him the good news."

Su Mao said meaningfully.

"Okay, editor-in-chief."

As Zhang Shouren left, Su Mao's words echoed in his mind. It wasn't until he arrived at the publishing house that he understood what the latter meant. She wanted him to connect with Chen Weidong and ask him if he had any new works recently.

Thanks to the publisher's overtime work, 200,000 copies of the "October" magazine were printed in just two days. Normally, proofreading and typesetting would take a week.

The editorial department of "October" had just notified Xinhua Bookstore, which immediately took away the 200,000 copies of the magazine and began distributing them not only in Beijing but also to various provinces and cities.

……

Ningbo.

Yu Hua returned to his dormitory and lay on his bed, feeling exhausted. The tooth extraction had left him with sore eyes, tired hands, aching back, and sore legs. He wished he could work at the cultural center, where he could go out every day to stroll around and collect folk art, and earn a salary.

I ate a quick bite, then took out the copy of "October" that I had just bought and started reading it.

"This is fucking awesome!"

If I could write articles like that, I'd be able to get into not only the cultural center, but probably even the city's writers' association.

Yu Hua felt envious for a long time, and at the same time remembered the name "Chen Weidong". Then he read it again, intending to study the article carefully to see if he could learn something from it and maybe turn it into his own.

……

Mo Yan put Hegel's "Logic" and Marx's "Capital" back on the bookshelf, picked up two new books, found a seat, and leisurely began to read.

He absolutely loved his job as a librarian; it was even more enjoyable than being a class monitor. He could read as many books as he wanted every day—it was practically tailor-made for him.

He seems to have read "October" last year. "Flying Apsaras," "Sketches from the Cowshed," "The General in the Small Town"... these works are all well-written.

Opening the first page, I read "The Horse Herder," by Chen Weidong. I hadn't heard of him before; he must be a new author.

This went on for most of the day, and by the time Mo Yan looked up again, it was already dark.

"Well written! Chen Weidong!"

Mo Yan glanced at the author's name again, memorizing it. He wanted to learn from him and hoped to become a writer like Chen Weidong in the future.

……

As the reprinted magazine was distributed throughout the country, more people came across "The Herdsman." At a time when "scar literature" was all the rage, the appearance of an article like "The Herdsman" immediately sparked discussion.

First, the literary review section of Guangming Daily published a commentary on "The Herdsman": "The Intellectual's 'Grassland University'".

"Xu Lingjun's experience is a microcosm of many intellectuals under specific historical conditions, but the novel's profundity lies in the fact that it does not indulge in the accusation of suffering, but focuses on portraying how the working people saved a soul on the verge of collapse with the most simple kindness."

Guo Yuzi's words, "You are a teacher," and Li Xiuzhi's bowl of steaming noodles—these details transcend the symbol of rectification (not a typo) and become a reflection of the brilliance of humanity.

The novel teaches us that intellectuals can only truly achieve spiritual reshaping and a return to values ​​by connecting with the masses.

Following this, the Literary Gazette also reviewed "The Herdsman": "Reconstruction on the 'Scars' - A Review of the Aesthetic Pursuit of the Novel 'The Herdsman'".

"As a new work in the lineage of 'Scar Literature,' 'The Herdsman' clearly attempts to transcend the mere display of suffering. Author Chen Weidong transforms the imagery of the grassland into a symbol of a spiritual home, attempting to construct a poetic space of redemption beyond the narrative of governance."

However, does this "poeticization" weaken the cruelty of history? Is the swift mitigation of Xu Lingjun's suffering by the warmth of the herdsmen a narrative compromise? These questions warrant further discussion. Regardless, the novel's persistent portrayal of the return to humanity provides a new emotional dimension for reflection on literature.

Because "The Herdsman" was first published in the north, the reviews in the southern newspapers came a little later, but not by much. Just half a month later, "Magic City Literature" took the lead in speaking out and published a review of "The Herdsman" in its debate column: "The Tension Between Idealized Narrative and Historical Truth".

"The character of Li Xiuzhi embodies all of author Chen Weidong's beautiful imagination of working women: resilient, innocent, and full of vitality."

Her appearance was like something out of a fairy tale, instantly changing Xu Lingjun's tragic fate. While this "lifeline-like love" is undeniably touching, it also raises questions: in extreme circumstances, is emotional redemption sufficient to sustain reflection on history? The novel's heartwarming ending, to some extent, caters to the public's expectation of "good deeds being rewarded," but perhaps it also simplifies the complexities of historical reflection.

Following this, some local literary magazines also began to participate in this great discussion. For example, "Xin Gang" published six commentary articles in two consecutive issues, praising "The Herdsman".

However, Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House held a different view, publishing four or five articles in a row criticizing "The Herdsman" for deviating from the satirical and critical spirit of scar literature.

Articles were also published in journals such as Yalu River, Shuofang, and Hebei Literature and Art, with "The Herdsman" directly sparking a nationwide discussion.

As time went on, some editors, critics, and celebrities also began to get involved.

Xie Yongwang, who served as the editor of the theory group of the Literary Gazette of the Writers Association and the novel group editor of the People's Literature Publishing House, published "In the Face of Harsh Life - After Reading Chen Weidong's Novel" in the Literary Gazette, and rated "The Herdsman" as "the best novel of 1979".

Yan Gang, an editor of the *Wenyi Bao* (Literary Gazette) and a writer, also stepped forward, publishing "The Herdsman and Chen Weidong" in *October*, highly praising "A Chen Weidong has emerged from the grasslands!"

……