The literary era since 1979

Chapter 105 Love Saint
"good news!"

"What great news! Come and see!"

Early in the morning, shouts broke out in the editorial office of October, echoing throughout the corridor and even the entire building.

Just because the article "Carrying out Sound Literary Criticism" published in "Wenyi Bao" was reprinted by many authoritative newspapers such as "Min Bao", it indicated that the incident of public criticism of "Bitter Love" had come to an end.

Although criticism is still present, its scope and intensity have become smaller.

This is clearly a sign of making a big deal out of a small matter!

The dark clouds and storms that had shrouded the editorial office of October and Yenching Publishing House for nearly a month were finally about to recede. Tian Zengxiang and others were jubilant, waving their newspapers and running around to tell others.

"What a big sun."

Fangyan stood at the window and looked up at the sky. It was a clear and sunny sky.

"Yes, it finally sees the light of day again."

Suddenly, Su Yu's voice came from behind.

She and Lu Yuanchi appeared at the door of the office with bright smiles on their faces, almost unable to close their mouths.

Fangyan invited them into the house and poured them tea.

Su Yu looked at him kindly, "You are the main reason why we were able to get through this storm smoothly this time."

"I'm just trying to get information and give some advice."

Fang Yan said: "The real credit goes to you and President Lu, who are willing to withstand all the pressure and take all the responsibility."

"Don't refuse. The first credit is yours."

Lu Yuanchi and Su Yu looked at each other. "We have discussed it and decided that October will hold a celebration party to celebrate the passing of the Bitter Love incident. At the same time, we will celebrate your success and your becoming a professional writer and being promoted to deputy team leader. It's a triple celebration!"

"Where's Teacher Zhang?"

Fangyan glanced at Zhang Zhonge's desk; it was empty.

"I've already asked him."

Su Yu shook his head and sighed. The editorial department and the publishing house escaped the "Bitter Love" incident, but Zhang Zhonge, as the responsible editor, could not escape. He continued to take leave and stay at home to review and reflect.

"But you don't have to worry too much about him. Once the whole thing is over, he will be able to come back." Lu Yuanchi said, "During his absence, you will continue to act as the team leader for the medium and long series."

"I understand."

Fangyan nodded and then asked about the time and place of the celebration.

Let’s eat mutton tonight at Donglaishun.

When the time came and the place arrived, as soon as I entered the restaurant, I saw the chefs in aprons standing in the yard, cutting slices of mutton with sharp knives.

One cut will make the thickness even.

As soon as the dish was cut, someone brought it to the table.

Fang Yan, Tian Zengxiang and about 30 other people all sat down in the room. When the waiter saw this scene, he came forward and asked:
"How much meat do you want?"

"One pound per person."

Lu Yuanchi called Fangyan to his table.

"Can you eat it?"

The waiter was shocked when he heard this and suggested changing it to half a catty.

"No matter whether we can eat it or not, just go for it!"

When Tian Zengxiang and others smelled the meat coming from next door, their eyes lit up and they stared at the copper hot pot smoking from the chimney.

At this time, you don’t need to add your own seasoning.

Donglaishun serves homemade sauces, including sesame paste, soy sauce, rice wine, chopped chives, chili oil, shrimp paste and fermented bean curd.

Gurgle, the hot water is boiling and steam is rising.

Fang Yan held the plate and pushed all the meat slices into the pot. Seeing this, Lu Yuanchi and others laughed, "Xiao Fang's way of eating is very generous."

"This way of eating is considered 'martial eating'."

"Oh, Takeshi?"

"That's right. Not only is it generous when eaten, it's also generous when eaten. One chopstick can pick up ten slices. It's so satisfying and enjoyable!"

As he spoke, he demonstrated his dialect to everyone.

"Haha, Xiao Fang's eating style makes me hungry just by looking at it!"

Lu Yuanchi and others smiled at each other and followed suit.

The room is filled with fragrance and happy air.

Halfway through the meal, Lu Yuanchi stood up with his glass and said something. He talked about how the "Bitter Love" incident had passed, how everyone had united and worked together to overcome the difficulties, and even mentioned the most eye-catching dialect in the incident. It was him! It was him!
Not only meritorious, but also loyal!

"Let's applaud and congratulate Fang Yan for becoming the deputy leader of the medium and long-length novel group! Congratulations on becoming the youngest professional writer in the country!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience burst into loud applause.

When He Xin saw this scene, he felt sad. He picked up a piece of mutton, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth. It tasted bitter, astringent and sour.

I clearly didn’t add any vinegar, why is it so sour?
The thunderous applause pushed the atmosphere to a climax.

Everyone was very excited and the voices became louder.

"Now the long and medium-length group is handed over to you."

Lu Yuanchi raised his glass and said, "We must drink well."

Fang Yan clinked glasses with him, and as they chatted, the topic slowly turned to how to restore the impact and revive the reputation of "October" after the "Bitter Love" incident.

"I think everything will be fine once our third issue is published," Tian Zengxiang said. "Lu Yao's article 'Life' will surely cause a sensation in the entire literary world, and maybe even in the whole country."

“It’s a bit exaggerated, but it’s true.”

Fangyan smiled when he heard this.

“I also believe that Life will cause a sensation across the country, but one novel and one issue of the magazine are not enough to reverse the impact.”

Su Yu turned his gaze to Fang Yan, "What do you think?"

"I think if October wants to regroup, it would be best to find a subject that can set off a literary wave, just like Yenching Literature is now the main battlefield for reflective literature, and People's Literature is now the base camp for reform literature. So what kind of literary banner should we, October, raise?" Fangyan looked left and right.

"Since we are all optimistic about 'Life' and believe that it will be a sensation across the country, why not just hold high the theme of 'Life'?"

He Xin was the first to speak up and express his opinion.

"You forgot that China Youth has already held a big discussion on life. If we do this, aren't we just imitating others?"

Tian Zengxiang said this out of the blue.

It was like a bucket of cold water poured on He Xin's head. The "life" theme was abandoned and everyone started talking about war, history, spy wars, realism, and even food culture.

But no one talked about science fiction or suspense, because compared to romance, these themes are not pure literature. Like martial arts, they are classified as popular literature and cannot be accepted by the so-called high-class audiences.

Just like Misty Poetry, it cannot be published in mainstream poetry magazines.

Faced with this situation, dialects can only be developed step by step.

The first step is to liberate "love" in literature!
"love?!"

There was an uproar when everyone heard Fangyan's suggestion.

"Isn't it too frivolous for October to focus on the theme of 'love'?" He Xin frowned. "Even if it is liked by readers, it might become a joke among colleagues and even the literary world?"

This kind of concern was already anticipated by Fangyan.

So, I brought up my arguments against Zhang Guangnian, People's Literature and the editorial department of Contemporary Magazine. I thought it would take some time to convince them, but unexpectedly, most people in the editorial department of October not only did not oppose it, but were very supportive of letting love return to literature.

He Xin was confused, and Fang Yan was even more confused.

I prepared so many words, but was it all in vain?
"Yanzi, you don't know."

Tian Zengxiang poked him with his arm and said that the first issue of "October" published "The Position of Love", which was a "suicidal" thing to do, making it the first literary magazine to challenge the taboo of love.

Once published, the response was unprecedented.

The editorial department received nearly 5000 letters from readers, letting the entire literary world know about the new publication "October".

At present, "October" has taken up the banner of love concepts and literary liberation, regrouped and restored its influence, which is simply amazing!
"Iwako's idea is brilliant!"

"I vote for Iwako! I support 'love'!"

"That's right! There is a clause in the new Marriage Law that was promulgated not long ago that states that the necessary condition for divorce is that 'the relationship between the two parties has indeed broken down and mediation has failed'. This shows that 'love is the soul of marriage'. A marriage without love is a grave."

"Let's not talk about The Marriage Law, let's talk about movies. Look at The Horse Herder written by Yan Zi, how popular it is now, and the recent Love in Lushan Mountain. You can imagine how sensational it would be if our October magazine launched a special feature on love literature!"

"Yes, yes. I also heard that Romance on Mount Lushan and The Shepherd were both nominated for this year's Hundred Flowers Awards. Is that true?"

"........."

Watching them discuss "The Horse Shepherd", Fangyan was very surprised.

"Don't be surprised. When writing a review of The Horse Herder, of course I have to look through movie magazines to see how the reviews are written."

Tian Zengxiang smiled and said, "Of course I paid attention to the news about The Shepherd. Congratulations, The Shepherd has been shortlisted."

"Hundred Flowers Award?" Fang Yan raised his eyebrows.

"It's not the Hundred Flowers Awards, it's the first Golden Rooster Awards, which was just established and held in Hangzhou. It seems that you are nominated for the Best Screenwriter Award."

Tian Zengxiang recalled the past with a drunken head.

"Really!"

Fang Yan looked around and found that even Lu Yuanchi and Su Yu were discussing love and literature, and realized that the matter was settled.

Just because of all he has done, in the future Wikipedia and Baidu Encyclopedia might give himself a title related to romance novels.

It is impossible to be the "Father of Romance Novels".

It has now belonged to Zhang Henshui, who wrote "The Golden Age".

“Pure Love King” and “Pure Love Warrior”, forget it!
Either he is called "the godfather of contemporary romance novels", or "the love saint", er, "the second saint in romance novels"...

Of course, there is already a vague trend in public opinion.

After all, the movie "The Horseman" is indeed extremely popular.

Audiences across the country shared their thoughts on the film in various forms including reviews, poems and letters, while government agencies and state-owned factories across the country also organized their employees to book out theaters to watch movies.

The patriotic education activity of "The Horse Shepherd" is promoted nationwide, and naturally, the noodle factory where Fang Hong works must also implement it.

"Look at you! Look at you!"

"You were told to find a way to date Fang Hong, but how come a boiler operator like Han Yuemin got there first?"

Father Lu pointed at Lu Dacheng and said angrily that he was a good person but failed to live up to expectations.

"Dad, I also wonder why Fang Hong would rather like Han Yuemin than me. What on earth does she like about him?"

Lu Dacheng shrank his head in frustration.

"You...you idiot!"

"Dad, how about I find some people to scare Han Yuemin and let this kid know what will happen if he steals my girlfriend?"

"Shut up! How could you do such a thing!"

"I like Fang Hong." Lu Dacheng shouted, "For her, I can do anything!"

"You're talking nonsense, you like it!"

Father Lu scolded you and said that you were just greedy for her body and you were a cheap person.

"I am cheap, don't you..."

Lu Dacheng muttered to himself, he was so active in matchmaking between him and Fang Hong, wasn't he also coveting Fang Hong's younger brother?
"Ahem, use your brain more often in everything."

Father Lu plans to arrange more night shifts for Han Yuemin and reverse his working hours with Fang Hong so that they can reduce the time they meet.

"Also, the factory is now launching a self-help action to develop the 'tertiary industry' and also supports employees to 'take a leave of absence without pay' and find their own way out. To put it bluntly, it is to reduce the pressure on the factory to pay wages. After all, with so many temporary workers, one person's job has to be done by two people, and three people's meal has to be eaten by five people. What will happen if this continues?"

"You mean to suspend Han Yuemin from his job without pay?"

"Yes! We need to find a way to suspend him from his position without pay, and then we can find a reason to remove him from the official staff."

Father Lu said, "He is a man who doesn't even have a job. He is not a good match for me. I don't believe that a family like Fangyan would be interested in him."

(End of this chapter)