The literary era since 1979

Chapter 118: Created for the Working People

The next day, Fangyan went to the publishing house to report for leave, and then returned to the office leisurely.

For the first time ever, Tian Zengxiang arrived at the editorial office earlier than him, holding the newspaper in both hands, and looked up to ask him about the winners of the first Golden Rooster Awards.

He spoke in detail about the dialect and gave a general idea, but he only mentioned his Best Screenwriter award briefly.

Tian Zengxiang smiled and congratulated him: "Next time, please bring the Golden Rooster Award trophy and certificate over so that I can see what they look like."

"If you want to see it, just come to my house."

Fangyan picked up the thermos and poured water into the cup.

"Well, I haven't been to your house yet."

Tian Zengxiang said, "I'll just bring some snacks with me so I can have a drink with you to celebrate and share in your good cheer. You've had a lot of good things happen to you recently."

"Where does happiness come from?"

Fangyan blew on the steaming water.

"The cloud that weighed on our mid-length and long-length group has finally dissipated."

Tian Zengxiang handed over the "Wenyi Bao" from a few days ago.

Fangyan looked carefully and found that the newspaper not only published articles such as "On the Wrong Tendency of "Bitter Love"" and "Correspondence on "Bitter Love", but also reprinted the letters of self-criticism from the author Bai Hua and the editor Zhang Zhonge. There was no doubt that the whole storm was completely settled.

"Do you think this is worth celebrating?" Tian Zengxiang said.

"really."

Fang Yan said, "But the two of us alone are not enough. Let's wait for Teacher Zhang to come back. We can take this opportunity to hold a welcome party for him to celebrate his return."

"That's a good idea, let's do as you say!"

Tian Zengxiang slapped his thigh.

Fangyan said, "Besides this, is there any other good news for me?"

"Yes, of course, and it's good news just for you!" Tian Zengxiang said that the Literary Gazette officially published the announcement of the national outstanding novella awards.

"Yeah, it's finally going to be held."

Fangyan took another copy of "Wenyi Bao" and read it carefully.

In the early 1980s, literary awards in the Chinese literary world were mainly various "government awards" organized by the Writers Association and the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, such as the Outstanding Short Story Award and the National Outstanding Novella Award, which was also the first novella award event since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

“The selection ranges from 77 to 80.”

Tian Zengxiang pointed to the public notice column and said, "Look, your "Dark War" has been included in the preliminary list."

Fangyan glanced from top to bottom.

His own work "Dark War" ranked first on the preliminary list.

Then, from top to bottom, it was Wang Meng’s “Butterfly”, Chen Rong’s “Middle-aged Man”, Gu Hua’s “Furong Town”, Jiang Zilong’s “Pioneer”, Feng Jicai’s “Ah!”, Lu Yao’s “A Thrilling Scene”…

Most of the shortlisted writers have had an affair with Fang Xiaojiang!
When I saw the last one, I couldn't help but wonder, "Why does this book "Soil" have two authors?"

"This is called joint authorship, where two or more authors work together on a novel, and it's very common in academia."

Tian Zengxiang smacked his lips and said, "It's rare in literary works."

"The judging criteria are the same as for excellent short stories, based on the number of votes recommended by the public and the opinions of the judges..."

Reading the award details in Fangyan, I couldn't help but wonder when the Mao Dun Literature Prize was established.

After chatting for a while, Tian Zengxiang suddenly remembered something.

A few days ago, Wang Meng from "Yenching Literature" called him, and it happened that Fang Yan was on a business trip to Hangzhou to attend the Golden Rooster Awards.

"He asked you to call him back when you come back."

He reminded: "From the tone of voice, it seems to be a big deal."

"I see."

Fang Yan went downstairs and called the editorial department of Yenching Literature. After a while, Wang Meng's voice came from the phone:

"Yanzi, congratulations!"

“The Dark War was shortlisted for the inaugural Outstanding Novella Award.”

"Teacher Wang, we are happy together. Happy together."

Fang Yan said: "Congratulations on your "Butterfly" being shortlisted." "Hahaha!"

The two laughed out loud on the phone and exchanged a few pleasantries.

"Let's not talk nonsense between us."

Wang Meng was the first to stop smiling and said straight to the point: "This time I'm looking for you mainly to ask you to write an article on behalf of Yenching Literature."

"Don't worry, the next manuscript will definitely be submitted to our mother's family."

Fangyan had already prepared to repay his debt.

"This article to be published in Yenching Literature is not an ordinary article," Wang Meng emphasized, "it is a specially commissioned article."

"Special article?!"

Fangyan was shocked.

The so-called specially commissioned article is to invite a specific author to write an article with a specific content, which is equivalent to a proposition-based essay.

"Yes, there are many requirements for novel writing."

Wang Meng told the truth.

When I heard the dialect, I realized it was exactly the same as what the female postman at the train post office said a few days ago, and the content was almost the same.

Railway, medical, postal, steel, machinery, forestry and other systems are preparing to jointly launch a literary creation activity with the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Writers Association and other literary groups. The target audience can be train conductors, steel workers, doctors, nurses, postmen...

Hearing him say that he knew about this matter, Wang Meng couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Yanzi, where did you get this information?"

"What a coincidence."

The dialect explains the whole story in detail.

"This is indeed a coincidence."

Wang Meng said seriously: "This kind of literary creation task has always existed since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Generally, every few years, writers' associations and literary federations across the country will assign outstanding professional writers to complete it. It was just interrupted during that period. Therefore, this time is the first large-scale collective creation activity since the revival of the literary and art circles."

Fang Yan suddenly realized, "No wonder everyone takes it so seriously."

Wang Meng said: "It's not that we attach great importance to it, but that we attach great importance to it. You and I must participate in this important literary creation task."

Fang Yan said to himself, "As expected", the government pays professional writers such high salaries, it must not be for nothing.

This time is my first task as a professional writer.

"Of course, this kind of assignment is not mandatory and writers can refuse it."

Wang Meng changed the subject, "However, this task of creating works for the vast majority of workers is not only the job of professional writers, but also a major responsibility for us as writers."

Fangyan listened silently as he became more and more excited on the phone.

“We are all ordinary people.”

"We are all part of the working people, shining and working hard in ordinary positions, contributing to the four modernizations of our motherland, such as steel, medical care, post and telecommunications, coal mining, etc., and our duty as writers is to work on the front line of the literary construction site."

Wang Meng said firmly: "Record, write and sing praises for these dedicated workers."

"Teacher Wang, I understand what you mean."

Fang Yan accepted the task without hesitation and went to a meeting at the Yenching Writers Association the day after tomorrow to learn about the specific details, such as the deadline.

"it is good!"

Wang Meng's tone was full of satisfaction. "Not only me, but Mr. Ding Ling, Mr. Wang, and Mr. Li also have high hopes for your work. If there is anything you need help with, we will provide all the help we can."

"Don't say that. The more you say it, the more pressure I feel."

"A great man once said that people will not make progress without pressure."

"I can't promise anything, I can only say that I will do my best to live up to your expectations."

Fangyan knew very well that this activity of creating works for the workers was a grand event since the revival of the literary world.

The entire literary community across the country will probably be mobilized.

After all, all walks of life and systems of society are involved, and this is the time for the arts and literature world to shine.

"Yenching Literature" is a journal under the Yenching Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and I am a professional writer of the Yenching Writers Association.

This time, General Fang represented both the Yenching Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Yenching Writers Association, and in the name of the Imperial Guards, he launched a literary battle with the new literary armies across the country, including the Shaanxi Army, Hunan Army, Zhili Army, and Fengtian Army.

Young man! Attack!
(End of this chapter)