Entertainment Era: My Good Sister Is All Over the World

Chen Cun was about to say a name when Editor Peng covered his mouth.

"You better behave yourself!" Editor Peng glared at Chen Cun, finally understanding why Ding Bingkun had handed over the man so readily.

This kid is a troublemaker; you never know when his mouth will get him into trouble.

Editor Peng quickly apologized: "Mr. Ba, I'm sorry, he was really being a bit inconsiderate."

"It's alright, it's alright." Ba Jin laughed heartily. "Who doesn't like scandalous news? It's just that I really don't know anything about the one you're talking about."

Under the angry glares of the group, Chen Cun gave an awkward smile and said nothing more.

Finally, everyone couldn't help but look at Huang Wenbin, wondering what questions he would ask.

"Mr. Ba, I do have a small question I'd like to ask you."

Huang Wenbin wasn't particularly curious, but he was planning some things for next year and was unsure if they would violate any rules, so he wanted to ask Ba Jin: "If I publish some works that are relatively sensitive in China while in Hong Kong or abroad, will it have any negative impact?"

This question stumped Editor Peng and several of his fellow writers.

We haven't published many works domestically, and you're already considering publishing them abroad?

"How sensitive are you?" Ba Jin asked seriously.

"Of course it won't violate any principles," Huang Wenbin quickly explained. "It's just that it's aimed at the overseas market, writing things like martial arts novels, fantasy novels, and maybe even some novels with Western backgrounds."

Ba Jin narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a chuckle, "You little rascal, you're not being honest. You dare to say that? You must already have something in mind to write."

"Mr. Ba is really insightful." Huang Wenbin readily admitted, "A little over two months ago, I wrote a script for a Hong Kong director, which sold for five thousand Hong Kong dollars. Although it's not much, it's still foreign exchange. I was thinking about whether it was possible to publish the novel directly in Hong Kong or overseas to earn more foreign exchange for the country."

Ba Jin's eyes lit up, and he pointed at Huang Wenbin, saying, "Your idea is excellent."

However, this is nothing new.

As early as the Republican era, many writers published their works in Hong Kong newspapers.

After the reform and opening up, Ba Jin started the "Random Thoughts" column in Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao last year, and earned a lot of foreign exchange.

However, there has never been a novel written directly in Hong Kong or overseas.

Then he pondered for a moment, and then shook his head slightly: "There is no problem with the operation, but foreigners' reading tastes are different from ours, so it is not easy to grasp."

At this point, he looked up at Huang Wenbin and said, "I understand. It seems you're very confident?"

"I do have some ideas."

Huang Wenbin nodded: "If necessary, I can also write directly in a foreign language. My English and Japanese are both quite good. Of course, if I want to create directly, I need to strengthen my training. For the time being, I still need to find someone to translate, and then I will slowly try to write in a foreign language later."

In fact, the foreign novels he signed in were all original versions with complete translations; all he had to do was copy them down.

However, we can't say it like that directly; we still need to leave some room for interpretation.

"Okay, very good."

Ba Jin stared intently at Huang Wenbin for a long while, then clapped his hands: "Although over the years, some of my works, as well as those of Mao Dun and Shen Congwen, have been published or even reprinted abroad, there's still a barrier. If you truly have the ability to publish novels overseas, the higher-ups will be more than happy to welcome you; who would criticize such a minor issue? Just go for it with confidence."

"Thank you for your explanation, Mr. Buffett." Huang Wenbin felt a great weight lifted from his heart, and he could now make plans for next year with ease.

After chatting for a while, the nanny downstairs came up to remind us that writers from Taiwan and several foreign journalists had arrived.

Ba Jin still enjoyed interacting with young authors. He didn't ask Huang Wenbin and the others to leave, but instead had them all sit behind him.

Before long, several figures slowly walked up.

The woman walking in front was in her thirties, wearing a white sweater and looking quite neat.

"Dad, this is Ms. Li Li, a writer from Taiwan." A young man in his thirties quickly walked up to Ba Jin and introduced her in a low voice.

This young man is Zhu Hongsheng, the son-in-law of the late Ba Jin and husband of Li Xiaolin. He is currently an editor in the Literature Department of Shanghai Film Studio.

Ba Jin nodded. Someone had mentioned this writer to him last year and said they would visit him. He had even asked someone to get some of the female writer's works and read them carefully several times.

"Mr. Ba, hello, I am Li Li, from Taiwan, and currently living in the United States." Li Li smiled broadly and spoke in a loud voice, "I have come alone this time to pay my respects to you."

Li Li, whose real name is Bao Lili and pen name is Xue Li, was born in Nanjing, Anhui Province in 1948. In 1949, she moved to Taiwan with her parents. In 1970, she went to the United States to study. By chance, she came across the works of Lu Xun, Ba Jin, Mao Dun, and others in the library, and immediately felt as if she had entered a new world.

According to her own account, she felt an "overwhelming shock" from these people's books, which explains why the Taiwan authorities banned reading them.

From that time on, she longed to return to the mainland to find her roots, to find the roots of her literature.

By chance, she met Mr. Fan Yong, and with his help, she finally came to the mainland, where she befriended writers such as Liu Xinwu. Then she went to Shanghai to visit Mr. Ba Jin, whom she greatly admired.

With a kind smile on his face, Ba Jin said to her, "Please sit down. I know you; I read your work last year."

Li Li walked slowly towards the sofa, and then saw five or six young people sitting behind Ba Jin, which made her a little curious.

Ba Jin explained with a smile, "They are all emerging writers of the younger generation. I let them listen in the back to broaden their horizons. You don't mind, do you?"

"No." Li Li waved her hand and took out a recorder from her bag: "Mr. Ba, I'd like to record our conversation for future reference, is that alright?"

Ba Jin said, "Of course, what's the big deal?"

Li Li added preemptively, "Some questions might be a bit pointed, but you don't have to answer them if you don't want to."

"Here, there are no taboos, ask me anything." Ba Jin laughed heartily, completely unconcerned.

Sure enough, Li Li's questions were unusually sharp, to the point that even Lu Yao and Zhang Xianliang were somewhat hesitant to listen.

Although Chen Cun was a boisterous and lively character, he was very clever and had already pretended to be dozing off, his eyes squinting.

Zhang Kangkang and Chen Xing'er's eyes lit up; they thought this female writer was so cool and had such a strong personality.

Li Li's questions all hit the nail on the head regarding the ills of the times, and most people really couldn't handle them.

Even if Huang Wenbin knew that the future would bring development, he still wouldn't know how to answer.

Ba Jin didn't hesitate at all; he answered every question openly and honestly.

The two seemed to be arguing rather than conversing.

Li Li was like a well-prepared assassin; every word she spoke was a sharp knife, aimed straight at the vitals.

But the elderly Ba Jin was like a martial arts master, calmly deflecting all the blades.

"I only have one last question," Li Li said, her eyes gleaming, clearly at the height of her emotion. "Mr. Ba, do you think literature should be used as a tool for praising and glorifying the nation?"

This is a very direct question, and it's also a point of contention for many people in this era.

"Literature is neither a tool for praising and glorifying, nor should it be a vehicle for expressing bitterness and hatred."

After a moment's thought, Ba Jin said in a deep voice: "Literature should be a reflection of the entire era. And an era will have both a suffering side and a prosperous side."

If merely recording suffering and pain constitutes authenticity, then why is recording tangible progress considered praise and celebration?

"Be truthful about the bad side, and be equally truthful about the good side."

"If we cannot provide conclusions about the past now, then let's leave behind more real data and perspectives for the next generation to summarize and evaluate."

"Literature is just such a thing."