Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 518 Cultural Essays
"Me? I'm here with Chairman Lu for a visit, and by the way, I'm writing some travel essays or something." Fang Minghua told the truth.

"Prose travelogue? Would it be good? Would it be like Jia Pingwa's "Shangzhou Chulu"?" Cui Xinting immediately thought of something and sighed:

"I have to say that Jia Pingwa is a genius. Their Shangzhou is such a shabby place. I went there a few years ago. It was even poorer and more isolated than our Tianhan. If it weren't for his article "Shangzhou Chulu", how would anyone know Shangzhou?"

Everyone couldn't help but nod in agreement after hearing this.

Indeed, the article "Shangzhou Chulu" made Jia Pingwa famous in the literary world, and many people also knew the place called Shangzhou.

Fang Minghua took over Cui Xinting's words and said, "Commissioner Cui, Chairman Jia's article "Shangzhou Chulu" is indeed well written, but I think the article highlights the characteristics of our Tianhan."

"What are the characteristics?"

“Cultural relics from the Han and Three Kingdoms sites! They are not just cultural relics, but also history and culture! The cultural value behind these things left by our ancestors should be written about in detail!”

"Chairman Fang, can you give me an example?" Cui Xinting asked, putting down his chopsticks.

"For example, when we look at Cao Cao's "Gunxue" today, we can think of the "Three Caos", "The Seven Scholars of the Jian'an Period", and "The Style of the Jian'an Period". Some people call him the "Awakening Age" of Chinese literature. If we connect these dots, isn't it a good essay?"

"Oh, Chairman Fang, your essay writing style is very different from traditional essays," Cui Xinting exclaimed.

"It is a little different. I call it cultural prose." Fang Minghua explained: "It is mainly about tracing, thinking and reflecting on Chinese culture and history."

Cui Xinting listened very seriously, and when Fang Minghua finished speaking, he immediately said, "You spoke very well, it really opened my eyes. I will definitely read it carefully after you finish writing it.

The three of them continued their journey to Tianhan and visited an aviation factory.

The Tianhan area is a famous third-tier area, with dozens of aviation companies dotted across the entire basin. Upon closer inspection, I found that, like the 631 Institute where my sister works, their performance is relatively poor.

Of course, we also visited the historical sites of Zhang Qian's Tomb and Wumen Weir.

It was the first time that Fang Minghua heard of the ancient water conservancy project called Wumen Weir.

It is in a place called Baoyuan in the north of the ancient suburbs of the city.

When the group went in, Fang Minghua was surprised to find that it was quite large, with three entrances and four courtyards, and more than 30 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including Taibai Tower, Guanyin Pavilion, Wangjiang Tower, stele pavilions, official residences, etc. There were also many ancient steles. Fang Minghua discovered that the oldest one was from the Shaoxing period of the Song Dynasty (Emperor Gaozong of Song). However, due to the passage of time and the fact that they had just experienced that turbulent era, the inscriptions on the steles were incomplete, and many of them were obviously just glued on with cement.

There are no monks living in it but an old man named Yang, who is in charge of looking after the weir. It is said that this temple is dedicated to commemorate the original repairer of the Wumen Weir, a man named Tang Gongfang in the Han Dynasty.

He pointed to the five holes at the weir mouth where water was entering in parallel, and said with a smile, "Don't underestimate this project. It was first built in the Han Dynasty with the main function of diverting water for irrigation and flood discharge. It is still in use after being repaired throughout the dynasties.

Isn't this a smaller version of Dujiangyan?

Fang Minghua understood immediately.

Uncle Yang chuckled after hearing this and said that Baoyuan was a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many scholars were elected as officials in the imperial court. It was a famous place of learning.

"For example, the construction of Wumen Weir was started by the Han and Tang Gongfang. There is a special record in the "Reply to the Tang Gongche's Per-acre Payment" in the 10th year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty: "Tang Gong started in the Han Dynasty, dredged a small canal to irrigate the fields, and the water flowed to the bottom of the nose and returned to the river. "According to the Wumen Weir Stele and the "Chenggu County Chronicles", many famous people have built weirs in successive dynasties, such as the predecessors of weir construction: in addition to Tang Gong, there are Xue Keguang in the Song Dynasty; Pu Yong in the Yuan Dynasty; Hao Sheng, Qiao Qifeng, Gao Dengming in the Ming Dynasty; Mao Jike in the Qing Dynasty..."

Uncle Yang named many ancient people in one breath, but unfortunately Fang Minghua had never heard of many of them.

"The 'Stele of the Immortal Tang Gongfang' erected during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty records: 'In the second year of the Xinmang reign (AD 7), Tang Gongfang was a county official. He met an immortal and his whole family became immortals. The idiom 'If one person attains enlightenment, all his family members will ascend to heaven' comes from this," Grandpa Yang said at last.

Is this really true? Fang Minghua and the others were very surprised.

"Of course, it's just a historical legend. Our Tianhan area has a long history and culture, especially from the Han and Three Kingdoms periods, with many relics. It's a pity that no one promoted it or wrote it down." Grandpa Yang was quite regretful.

"Old Yang, you don't have to be sentimental. Comrade Fang Minghua is preparing for the cultural history of Tianhan, so I brought him here specifically to take a look." The one who spoke was a deputy county magistrate named Hu from Chenggu.

No matter which county Fang Minghua and his team went to, the local government would send a county leader to accompany them.

"Really? Writer Fang, then you must include Wumenyan in it!" Uncle Yang was surprised and happy.

After visiting Wumenyan, Fang Minghua accepted a banquet hosted by local county leaders at the county guesthouse. In the afternoon, he returned to the city government guesthouse. It was already dark, and he was just about to take a shower and rest when he heard someone knocking on the door.

He went to open the door and saw a tall and burly man standing at the door. "Director Wu!"

"Chairman Fang!"

It turned out to be Wu Jianye, the director of Chenggu Winery.

After the two shook hands, Fang Minghua asked Wu Jianye to enter the room, poured him a cup of Longjing tea that he had brought with him, and the two started chatting.

"Chairman Fang, when did you come to Tianhan?" Wu Jianye asked.

"I've been here for a week and I plan to go back to Xijing tomorrow." Fang Minghua told the truth.

"Look at you, you came to Tianhan without telling me? Fortunately, I learned the news today and drove here immediately. It would have been too late if I had been any later." Wu Jianye said with a smile.

"Director Wu, you are now the head of the factory, and you have so many things to do. I don't have anything important to do in Tianhan, so I'm just taking a look around. I'm sorry to bother you to look after me so late at night." Fang Minghua said.

"Your coming here is a big deal! I have to thank you very much. Since the broadcast of "Desire", there has been an endless stream of people coming to our factory to conduct research and place orders for wine. Chenggu Tequ has finally squeezed into Yanjing City. It's not easy." Wu Jianye said with emotion.

"It's mainly because the quality of your wine is good enough," Fang Minghua said.

"The quality of the wine is good, but publicity and promotion are also important. Chairman Fang, I have made up my mind. If Shengshi Film and Television continues to make TV series, our winery will also advertise!"

"What a coincidence. We are currently planning to film a TV series based on Chairman Lu's Ordinary World."

"It's great that "Ordinary World" is going to be made into a TV series! This book is so touching. It will definitely be great when it's made! I'll contact Mr. Song tomorrow to advertise!"

The TV series hasn't even started filming yet, but someone is already buying advertising space

The two chatted for a few more words, and Wu Jianye asked again, "I heard from County Magistrate Hu that you are here to visit and investigate some enterprises this time?"

"That's mainly Lu Yao, Chairman Lu. I'm just here to have fun." Fang Minghua replied with a smile.

"Then please come to our winery tomorrow to have a look! Which room does Chairman Lu live in? I'll go and invite him!"

There was no other choice, so Fang Minghua had to take Wu Jianye to the room next door where Lu Yao lived.

Lu Yao was also a straightforward person. Seeing that Fang Minghua and Wu Jianye had a good relationship, he agreed.

What does it matter if I go back a day later or earlier?
It’s not difficult to write one more company.

Xu Yue had no objection either.

He promoted his magazine "Chinese and Foreign Documentary Literature" along the way. No matter what, his reputation has spread!
At night, Wu Jianye did not return to the county town, but stayed in a guesthouse with his driver, preparing to return with Fang Minghua and others the next morning.

The next day, Wu Jianye invited Fang Minghua and the other two to take their car back to Chenggu. This time, the city leaders did not accompany them.

However, when they arrived at the county, County Magistrate Hu still accompanied the two to visit the winery and various workshops. At noon, the county leaders hosted a banquet for them at the county guesthouse.

Fang Minghua was completely drunk along the way.

After dinner, we rested in the county guesthouse.

Fortunately, at Fang Minghua’s strong request, we didn’t drink alcohol in the evening, but we did prepare some activities after dinner.

Dance!

"Chairman Fang, Chairman Lu, Chairman Xu, let's not go to the dance halls in society. They are too chaotic! Let's go to the guesthouse. There is a ready-made dance hall here. Find a few waiters to dance with you for a few songs. It can help you digest your food." said County Magistrate Hu.

Ok
There's drinking and dancing wherever you go.

(End of this chapter)