The literary era since 1979

Chapter 14 The City is Full of "Horse Herders"

On the third day after the publication of "Yenching Literature and Art", Fangyan seemed to have just remembered that he had to go to the editorial office.

Even when Yang Xia and Fang Hong urged him to find out the response to the novel, he put it all behind him and just went out for a stroll because he had confidence in "The Shepherd".

The novel will definitely be a hit!

But how popular it will become is unknown.

Early in the morning, Fang Yan came to the familiar small building on West Chang'an Avenue. Unexpectedly, the office that had been empty a few days ago was now fully staffed, each holding a newspaper.

"morning!"

"Hey, Xiao Fang, I've been looking forward to your coming every day, and you're finally here!" Li Yue was the first to stand up.

Fangyan was taken aback by their sudden enthusiasm.

He felt like he had strayed into a wolf pack, and they pounced on him like wolves that had been hungry for days and surrounded him.

In his hands, he held different newspapers.

"Congratulations! Your novel has been reprinted and reviewed by the Literary Gazette!" Wang Jie's face was full of smiles.

"There is also the Xinhua Monthly." Huang Zhongguo said.

Li Yue laughed and said: "Novel Monthly even reprinted The Horse Herder on the front page, which is rare."

"Huh?" Fangyan looked confused.

"Xiao Fang is new to the literary world and may not understand the status of these newspapers and periodicals, or the significance of having his comments published in them."

Ji Xiuying explained that "Novel Monthly" enjoys the reputation of "the first selected periodical of Chinese literature", while "Xinhua Monthly" is also known as "the first comprehensive selected periodical of China".

As for the Literary Gazette, it is even more amazing.

It was founded by the Federation of Literary and Art Circles on the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China and is currently sponsored by the Writers Association. It is one of the most important and influential mainstream newspapers in the literary and art circles.

The first novel he wrote after his debut was reprinted in so many newspapers and magazines, and it was almost certain that he would win the 1979 National Excellent Short Story Award!
"That's right."

Fangyan suddenly realized that this was equivalent to becoming a millionaire just after starting a business, or winning the Best Actor award and becoming a top star just after becoming an actor.

"Well, you read it yourself. I won't read it."

Wang Jie handed over the newspaper.

Fangyan thanked him and looked carefully.

A striking headline appeared in the Literary Gazette:
"The Horse Herder and Dialect".

The editor's review gave high praise to him and his novels. The first sentence was, "Northern Shaanxi has a new dialect!"

"On the remote Loess Plateau, the literary world is also flourishing. I dare not say that the flowers here are of natural beauty, but they are cold-resistant, sad and warm..."

"Although I have no chance to meet Fangyan, I seem to see his heart. His heart is towards the humble but kind elders like himself, towards this bitter cold land that has brought up great kindness, including the children and horses there, just like Xu Lingjun in "The Horse Herder" and just like when he quoted Ai Qing's poems."

“Why do I always have tears in my eyes?”

"Because I love this land so much."

"It's rare to see the Literary Gazette use such comments and words to describe a new writer."

Ji Xiuying gave him an approving look.

"It's too praised, it's too praised."

Fangyan appears modest on the surface, but is actually arrogant on the inside.

To be honest, I give this review five stars!
"Also, you may not know that Mr. Ba, Mr. Ai, and Mr. Zeng also speak highly of you and The Shepherd."

Wang Jie looked proud of it.

After all, this is a writer she discovered herself!
"Really?!"

Fangyan was very surprised. Li Yaotang, Ai Qing and Wang Zengqi are among the few great figures in the Chinese literary world today. He couldn't help feeling flattered to be recognized by them.

"Rare, really rare."

Li Yue looked at them carefully. "Let's not talk about ordinary people. If I were to hear my work being reviewed by them, I would definitely not be as patient as you are now."

"Before I changed my name, I was called 'Fang Yan', which means rock. My father hoped that my temperament would be like rock, as steady as a rock."

Fangyan said half-jokingly.

Just when he was sharing his nickname "Yanzi" with everyone, the door of the small room suddenly opened.

"It's so lively, Xiao Fang must be here."

Zhou Yanru stood at the door.

Fang Yan said respectfully, "Teacher Zhou."

"Come with me for a moment. I need to talk to you alone."

Zhou Yanru waved.

I immediately understood the dialect and thought that the contract worker was probably in sight.

Under the gaze of everyone, he walked into the small room.

Zhou Yanru poured a glass of water. "Xiao Wang and the others should have told you just now that your book The Horse Herder was highly praised by the delegations attending the National Congress of Literature and Art, and was reprinted and commented on by major newspapers and magazines, right?"

"Ah."

Fangyan took the cup of water.

"I can tell you a little more."

Zhou Yanru sat down and said, "This is just the beginning. When the Writers' Congress is over and these delegations return to their local areas, the climax will come. There will be a wave of reprints of The Shepherd in various places. Of course, Yenching Literature and Art has also set up a commentary column for you."

"hiss."

Fangyan raised his eyebrows. Isn't this equivalent to being on the hot search list of platforms like Weibo? And it's the number one hot search!

"Also, there is the 'reflective literature' you mentioned."

Zhou Yanru said: "After The Horse Herder fired the first shot, it will spread across the country along with the spread of the novel."

"You mean, "The Shepherd" is the pioneering work of reflective literature?" Fangyan couldn't help but be surprised.

"Rather than 'the pioneering work', 'the beginning work' is more appropriate."

Zhou Yanru corrected.

"Yes, the original work."

Fangyan was surprised and happy.

Because of Scars, Lu Xinhua became the first person in scar literature. Then, isn’t he the first person in reflective literature?
His name will also be in future textbooks! "Although The Horse Herders has brought about this wave of reflective literature, in order to keep the wave going, there must be a series of reflective novels to maintain it. As the author of the 'first work', you must play a leading role."

What Zhou Yanru meant was, write your novel quickly!

"Don't worry, I've already promised Wang Jie."

Fangyan promised solemnly.

"Xiao Wang also told me that she has asked you to write three manuscripts." Zhou Yanru advised, "Don't rush to finish it. The quality of a novel is not the quantity. 3 ordinary works are not as good as one "The Shepherd". You should understand what I mean, right?"

"Yeah." Fangyan nodded.

"I thought so."

Zhou Yanru said that as a scar novel, "Loess Plateau" did not need any changes, but "Yenching Literature and Art" was making every effort to promote the wave of reflective literature, so it was simply changed into a reflective novel.

After all, "Loess Plateau" has the shadow of "reflection".

"I'm OK."

Fangyan agreed without hesitation.

I fired the first shot in reflective literature, but I cannot go back in history and mix it up with scar literature. I have to draw a clear line between them.

Zhou Yanru smiled with satisfaction and took out the manuscript of "Loess Plateau" from the drawer. The two discussed how to revise it.

Although this article is original in dialect, I read so many local novels and watched so many movies in my previous life. It's like reading 300 Tang and Song poems. Even if I can't write poems, I can recite them, and inspiration keeps coming.

"Okay, let's change it like this!"

This is what Zhou Yanru said the most, with the surprise in her eyes growing stronger and stronger. "Just like before, you will revise the manuscript in your old position from now on."

Fangyan opened his mouth and said, "Teacher Zhou, I want to ask..."

"Do you want to ask about the contract workers?"

Zhou Yanru interrupted him knowingly.

Fang Yan nodded and said, "How did you discuss it with Mr. Li and Mr. Wang?"

"Have you really decided to come to Yanjing Literature and Art?"

"Think about it!"

"In fact, compared to our editorial department, you can have a better place to go." Zhou Yanru said, "Just based on The Horse Herder, you can definitely get a job at the Cultural Center, and it's a permanent job. If you don't want to go to the Cultural Center, you can write a few more works of quality like The Horse Herder, and you may not be unable to be recruited by the Writers Association as a professional writer."

"But I am interested in literary editing."

If Fangyan didn't know that contract workers could be converted to regular employees, he might have wavered, but now, he has no hesitation at all.

After all, no matter how good it would be to work in a cultural center and become a professional writer, no one knows when that will happen. His current goal is to find a job back in the city.

The contract worker of "Yanjing Literature and Art" can bring him back!

"You won't change?"

"I will never change!"

"Well."

Zhou Yanru's face suddenly turned serious when she saw his statement. "Now, Comrade Fangyan, I am officially informing you that after our collective discussion, we have unanimously agreed to recruit you as a contract worker for the editorial department of Yanjing Literature and Art for a period of one year, which will be renewed every year..."

"Thank you, Teacher Zhou!"

Fangyan stood up excitedly. Got it!
"Don't thank me. It's the organization's cultivation and my personal performance."

Zhou Yanru pressed down her hand and gestured for her to sit down.

Fangyan suppressed her excitement and heard her talk about various details of contract workers, such as the standards of salary and benefits.

Just like in today's state-owned enterprises, there are two types of workers: skilled workers and apprentices. In the first year of work, one is an "apprentice."

The monthly salary is generally around 18 to 22 yuan. After three years of learning the skills and becoming a full-time employee, the starting salary will reach 36 yuan.

Then you have to work longer and get a salary increase every few years.

Every time the price goes up, it’s a few dollars more.

Of course, this is for workers. It won’t take that long for an editor to become a full-time employee.

"I believe that with your ability, you are qualified for this job. When the quota for your application is released, we can process your conversion and make you a formal member of our company."

Zhou Yanru took out the recruitment form she had prepared.

Fangyan was not in a hurry to fill in the form, but asked when he would start working.
"We have to wait until all necessary procedures are completed."

Zhou Yanru said it would be done before the New Year and asked him to come to work after the New Year.

"I understand. Thank you, Mr. Zhou."

Fangyan picked up the pen and filled it out carefully.

"Please fill it in slowly."

Zhou Yanru smiled and said, "If you don't understand anything, you can ask me."

Then he took a sip of water. "You need to prepare for the next two days. The Literary Gazette wants to interview you and our editorial department. The theme is 'Reflection on Literature.'"

Cooperate. I will cooperate however you want me to!

Fangyan grinned, smiling as brightly as he could.

In the following two days, "The Horse Shepherd" was promoted wave after wave, and major literary magazines paid close attention and actively reprinted comments.

For three consecutive days, even the editor-in-chief of the Literary Gazette took to the stage and published a commentary article under the pen name "Mu Yang" titled "In the Face of Harsh Life - After Reading a Novel in Dialect."

Veterans in the literary world have also begun to support their juniors.

"Ode to Patriotism - Ding Ling and Others' Comments on The Horse Herder", "Exploration of Simple Beauty - Comic Comments on the Dialect Novel The Horse Herder", "On The Horse Herder and Reflection on Literature"...

With the help of major newspapers and magazines, dialects became popular, and the concept of "reflective literature" also became popular. Along with "The Shepherd", they became popular from Beijing to all parts of the country and became popular all over the country.

There is also "Yanjing Literature and Art", whose sales have skyrocketed, especially in the old cities.

People rushed to buy it and circulated it, making it difficult to get a copy.

For a time, paper became expensive in Yanjing.

　Thanks for the 500 Qidian coins for lurking around and watching the show every day.

　　I would like to ask readers to collect, read and invest in this book.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)