Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 290 One general’s incompetence exhausted the three armies!
Fang Minghua went to work the next day. Not long after making a cup of tea, he heard a knock on the door.

"Please come in."

Then he saw Bai Miao walking in with a smile.

"Brother Bai, I haven't had any happy events recently, so don't ask me to treat you." Fang Minghua said jokingly.

"Minghua, look at what you said, it seems like I have nothing to do with you except treat you." Bai Miao said and sat down on the sofa.

"Let's get down to business. Our editorial department will soon be competing for the position of editor-in-chief. I think you already know about this, right?"

"It's not too early. Before the Chinese New Year, the Provincial Writers Association held a chairman's executive meeting and finalized the matter. It was only then that I found out what happened. Do you have any ideas?"

Bai Miao shook his head: "I'm not even a deputy editor, so why do I have the nerve to compete for the chief editor? Minghua, we all think highly of you! I hope you can compete for this position."

"You?" Fang Minghua heard that there seemed to be something in Bai Miao's words.

Bai Miao didn't answer and went straight to open the door.

They are all from the editorial department, including Zhao Wuchun and Zhang Yanqian from the poetry group, Zhang Wenke and Pan Yang from the novel group, and Bai Xuefeng from the theory group. They are basically the backbone of the editorial department.

"What's this? Isn't Deputy Editor Wang like this too?" Bai Miao said.

"Yes, Bai Miao is right. Isn't our "Yanhe" known as a small "People's Literature"? But look at the current "People's Literature". Since Wang Meng became the editor-in-chief, the content of the magazine has undergone earth-shaking changes!" Instead of using a dull writing style, we became the leader of avant-garde literature! Look at us again, we still have lifeless faces. If this continues, our "Yanhe" writers are not worthy of carrying shoes for others!"

Speaking of this, Bai Miao emphasized: "The problem is that his acting style is conservative, just like the recently retired Editor Zhang. If he becomes the editor, what is the difference between him and Editor Zhang? "Yanhe" is still the same "Yanhe" "River", but not the "Yanhe" we expected!"

"How can the new journal be as influential as Yanhe?" Bai Miao curled his lips.

"You guys came to my office all of a sudden, and people who didn't know it thought I was forming a clique."

"Everyone, sit down, sit down," Fang Minghua greeted with a smile, and asked Zhang Yanqian to pour tea for everyone.

That's right.

Ah

"To be honest, we are not saying that deputy editor Wang is not good. He has been an editor for nearly 30 years and works very seriously. The problem is."

There were actually several people standing outside the door, and they all came in all of a sudden.

"Yes, Deputy Editor Wang has publicly announced that he will compete for the position of editor-in-chief."

"Isn't it right? Isn't he going to organize "Novel Review"?" Fang Minghua was a little surprised: "He was also the editor-in-chief in the past."

Wang Yu is one of the three deputy editors in the editorial department, mainly responsible for literary criticism. He is in his early fifties.

The speaker was very excited. His name was Zhang Wenke. He graduated from Qin Normal University and had been working in the editorial department for eight years. He was the backbone of the literary criticism team.

"Deputy Editor Wang, Wang Yu??"

"People's Literature" is sponsored by the Chinese Writers Association and founded in October 1949. It is a national-level literary journal born with New China. It plays an important role in the contemporary literary world and is regarded as a "national journal."

The first editor-in-chief of "People's Literature" was the famous writer Mao Dun, who was also the first chairman of the Chinese Writers Association.

But in the early 83s, faced with the sudden rise of a number of magazines such as "Contemporary" and "Harvest", the quality of manuscripts also declined, and the reputation was not as good as before. Wang Meng was appointed editor-in-chief of "People's Literature" in July 7. It took a lot of trouble to take office. It is said that a leader of the Central Propaganda Department initially disagreed. Finally, after repeated communication and coordination, Wang Meng finally took office.

Wang Meng took office in a low-key manner, but worked in a high-profile manner. He first carried out personnel reforms in the editorial department. The older generation of writers on the original editorial board withdrew, and a group of middle-aged writers such as Ru Zhijuan, Xu Huaizhong, Chen Rong, Huang Zongying, Jiang Zilong, etc. became the new ones. Member of editorial board.

Then there is the reform of the magazine's philosophy of "People's Literature", advocating dominance, inclusiveness, diversity, bold innovation, and leading the literary trend.

Under his initiative, Liu Sola's "You Have No Choice", Xu Xing's modern novel "Variations on No Theme", Can Xue's "The Cabin on the Mountain", Ma Yuan's "Ancient Songs of the Himalayas", Mo Yan's "Explosion", Hong Feng's "The Flow of Life".
"People's Literature" began to shine again, and Wang Meng was indispensable.

Now "Yanhe" is facing the same dilemma as "People's Literature".

"Editor Fang, you have this ability! Since you became the leader of the poetry team, our poetry column has been very popular with readers. This is an example!" Zhao Muchun from the poetry team also interjected: "I heard Bai Miao say that Liu Sola was The article "I Have No Choice" was originally intended for you and submitted to our "Yanhe", but I didn't expect Editor Zhang to reject it! As a result, "People's Literature" took advantage of it."

"Yes, I get angry when I mention this!" Bai Miao continued:

"If you had become editor-in-chief earlier, would this novel have been successful? Look, when it comes to avant-garde literature in the literary world now, apart from the "The Sun Also Rises" you published the year before last, this novel by Liu Sola was published in "People's Literature", isn't this the best propaganda?!"

"Also, it's true that Li Tianfang, as the leader of the novel team, is very optimistic about it but dare not publish it. If you have such courage, why would you ask Editor Zhang for permission? Just publish it!"

have to.
Even Li Tianfang was blamed.

"Bai Miao is right, one general is incompetent and will kill the entire army!"

"Editor Fang, just do it!"

Seeing everyone's excitement, Fang Minghua was not in a hurry to express his position.

"I know everyone's opinions. I will seriously consider it. Whether I will compete for the position or not, I will give you a clear answer in the next two days."

Zhao Muchun wanted to say something more, but Bai Miao stopped him with his eyes and said:
"Okay, Editor Fang, you think about it carefully, I won't disturb you anymore."

Everyone left the office and dispersed. Zhao Wuchun did not rush back to his office, but called Bai Miao.

"Bai Miao, let's go and find a place to smoke."

The two then went up to the fourth floor. At the end of the corridor was a rooftop. Many smokers hid here to smoke out of fear of being told by a lesbian in the office.

Zhao Wuchun threw Bai Miao a "narrow version" of the Monkey King, and the two began to smoke.

"Say Bai Miao, didn't you tell me at the beginning that we must persuade Editor Fang to participate in the competition this time? Why didn't you let me say it in the end?" Zhao Muchun asked.

Bai Miao smiled: "What's there to say? Editor-in-chief Fang has decided to compete for the position, why are we still chattering?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuchun hurriedly asked: "Editor Fang agreed? Why didn't I listen to him?"

"Based on my understanding of Minghua, if he doesn't agree, he will reject us on the spot and will never be sloppy." Bai Miao leisurely blew out a smoke ring.

"But today he didn't refuse, but he said he would seriously consider it. In fact, he had already decided in his heart."

"Then why didn't you say it?"

"He feels that the editor-in-chief is not powerful enough." Bai Miao said lightly.

(End of this chapter)