Writer 1979: Writing for the People

The article "My Distant Qingping Bay," published in the magazine "Yanhe," was revised by Xu Lu and is only half the length of "Receiving the Precepts."

Therefore, everyone's reading speed is much faster than before.

When the readers sitting at the bookstore entrance finished reading, they all looked up at the same time, their expressions clearly showing that they hadn't quite grasped what was happening yet.

No, this article is actually completely different from the usual "educated youth literature".

People have read enough of the usual educated youth literature; they can tell what it's about even with their eyes closed.

But this time, it completely broke out of everyone's expectations: instead of writing about the grievances of the educated youth or criticizing reality, it wrote about the warmth of human relationships on the barren Loess Plateau: Captain Zhang's kindness and open-mindedness, Zhang Qiao'er's innocence and naivety, and the villagers' simplicity and honesty.

It depicts the interdependence between people and cattle, and between people and the land, excavating the brilliance of humanity amidst the backdrop of suffering, giving educated youth literature a warm and empathetic dimension for the first time.

It also lets everyone know that educated youth literature can be written in this way!

It did not shy away from the poverty of Qingping Bay—heavy farm work, food shortages, and poor transportation—but it did not describe the "bitterness of poverty," but rather the "vitality within poverty."

An old man sang folk songs while herding cattle, and Zhang Qiao'er saved up her grain coupons to go to Anxi City to see a movie. The villagers were poor but did not complain, and they suffered but did not lose heart. They lived steadily on the loess land.

It is not about "glorifying suffering," but about depicting the vitality of ordinary people in dire straits and the selfless kindness between people.

This understanding and compassion for the underprivileged is so precious in today's literary world.

The crowd fell silent; they hadn't expected such an article to have such a profound impact on them.

I never expected that an author I had never heard of could write such a special and heartwarming article.

They all stared intently at the name "Xu Lu," memorizing it firmly in their minds.

They remembered this author!

His articles are really good!

……

On June 1st, before going to work, Chen Zhongshi casually brought along a sample copy of the latest issue of the magazine that the magazine had just sent him.

He has an article published in this issue, which I plan to read carefully when I get to the museum.

Although he himself had read the original text countless times while writing it.

  

But the thought of the article being published in a magazine makes me feel a little different.

At that moment, he was the deputy director of the cultural center in the suburbs of Anxi City. As soon as he entered the center, he saw a young man named Xiao Wang holding a copy of "Yanhe" and greeting him.

"Good morning, Director Chen!"

I read your article published in *Yanhe* this week, and it's really well-written! I wish I could one day submit my articles to *Yanhe* like you have.

"Haha! Keep up the good work, you'll definitely have a chance in the future."

Chen Zhongshi encouraged him, his face full of smiles.

After all, who wouldn't be happy if their own writing was recognized by everyone?

"By the way, Director Chen, who is that Comrade Xu Lu? Do you know him?"

Xiao Wang asked again, and Chen Zhongshi, whose smile hadn't stopped, looked completely bewildered. He had just received the magazine that morning and hadn't even turned the page yet, so he had no idea who this "Xu Lu" was!

"I don't recognize her. What's wrong? Who is this?"

"It's nothing. This Comrade Xu Lu is also an author. There are two of his articles in today's issue of Yanhe. I think they are quite well written!"

I just wanted to ask you who he is and what articles he's written so I can find them when I get back.

I see……

Chen Zhongshi nodded, not taking the matter to heart.

He then walked towards his office, and just as he sat down, another staff member from the office brought him some materials.

Then it was exactly the same!

First, she praised his article for being very good, and then she asked him about "Xu Lu".

Chen Zhongshi shook his head again, but this time he remembered the name.

Xu Lu...

He was genuinely curious about what kind of two articles Comrade Xu Lu had written that had left such a deep impression on these people in the library.

He flipped through the table of contents, skipped his own piece "Zao Lin Qu", and soon saw the name in the "Newcomer Recommendation" section.

"Receiving the Precepts", "My Distant Qingping Bay"...

He silently read the titles of the two articles, and then began to read them.

His expression then changed continuously, from curiosity at the beginning, to surprise, and finally to shock!

Oh, my old man Bai, my land, my distant Qingping Bay…

Twenty minutes later, when he finished reading the last paragraph of the article, he was completely absorbed in it and couldn't tear himself away.

He now fully understood why, in the short time he had just arrived, two people had come to him asking about the author named "Xu Lu"!

Because these two articles are really well written!

Whether it's "The Novice" or "My Distant Qingping Bay," what people feel in them is not hostility or accusation, but beauty!

A long-lost feeling of beauty that I haven't been able to experience through words in a long time!

Even though the author did not omit the suffering of the people of Qingping Bay on this land, everyone still felt that beauty.

The emotional connection between people and the land, and the vitality of ordinary people in dire straits, is so moving.

As a creator, Chen Zhongshi knew better than anyone else the "outrageous" nature of these two articles.

Both articles, from beginning to end, contained no accusations, no criticisms, and absolutely no "education"...

According to mainstream literary standards, such articles are garbage and only serve to waste paper.

But at this moment, Chen Zhongshi couldn't help but wonder, is this kind of article really bad?

Does such writing truly have no value?

The answer is self-evident!

When he opened his own essay, "Jujube Grove Song," again, he suddenly lost interest.

Compared to Comrade Xu Lu, his article is utterly insignificant.

The two of them are no longer on the same level.

We don't know who the other person is, or what works they have written before.

The person who can write two articles like these shouldn't be a newcomer!

Curious, Chen Zhongshi took out paper and pen and began writing to the editors of "Yanhe" to inquire about the background of this Comrade Xu Lu.

If possible, he would even like to meet the other party and have a good chat!

He believed that it would greatly help his creative work!

At this moment, there are many people like Chen Zhongshi doing the same thing, including many well-known writers!

Immediately, everyone was asking who this Comrade Xu Lu was.