The literary era since 1979

Chapter 344: Carrying the King's Banner (Two in One)

After staying in the production brigade for a while, Shi Tiesheng took the initiative to act as a guide and took everyone around.

The mountain road was bumpy and full of potholes. Fangyan pushed the wheelchair carefully and walked in front with Jia Pingwa, Chen Zhongshi and others.

"Yanzi, you don't know what the entire Shaanxi Writers Association is talking about you when you bring up this 'roots-seeking literature'."

Chen Zhongshi paid attention to his feet, and if he found any stones, he would kick them to the side of the road.

Fangyan smiled and said, “I read some in the newspaper.”

“What you see is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Chen Zhongshi said that the entire literary world in northern Shaanxi was in chaos because of him.

Jia Pingwa added, "This is not an exaggeration. For example, the editorial department of Chang'an, where I used to work, had already prepared a whole section on literary theory to discuss 'root-seeking literature.'"

Fang Yan said: "I'm afraid this is not enough. It would be best if we could publish some novels about root-seeking literature."

Jia Pingwa said: "You have hit the nail on the head. The editorial department has asked me to write a novel about my roots."

"Really?"

"You know what? Before you proposed the term 'root-seeking literature', I always thought that the Shangzhou series I wrote was regional literature. But according to your theory, all my works during this period can be considered root-seeking novels."

"Shangzhou series?"

"Yes, it is Shangzhou."

Jia Pingwa explained that he was born and raised in Shangzhou, and Shangzhou is his hometown.

A few years ago, the dialect-written "The Grandmaster Huang Feihong" came out of nowhere, setting off a literary wave rooted in national and regional culture. Deeply influenced by it, I also turned my attention to Shangzhou, my beautiful, rich and mysterious hometown full of wildness and flavor.

Then he couldn't help but sigh, "Only my familiar hometown could allow me to write "Shangzhou Chulu" so smoothly."

"Then I'll have to read it carefully."

Fangyan smiled.

"I was a little nervous when I wrote the Shangzhou series. Many critics and editors criticized me for running out of ideas, having low taste, narrow vision and self-limitation. But now, with the publication of 'The Roots of Literature', my manuscripts have become very popular."

Jia Pingwa couldn't help but sigh, "To be honest, Yanzi, no matter what, I have to thank you very much."

"That's not enough." Fang Yan said, "At least you have to treat us to a nice meal and celebrate properly."

"Yan Zi is going to take advantage of you." There was a hint of shrewdness in Shi Tiesheng's innocent smile.

"Haha, it's okay, come and fight!"

Jia Pingwa said: "When I think of 'root-seeking literature', I feel more responsible when writing about Shangzhou now."

Fang Yan said: "Even if I pour all my passion and writing into the mountains and rivers of the mall, I will have no regrets, right?"

"This is what it feels like!"

Jia Pingwa solemnly vowed to transform Shangzhou, this magical and beautiful hometown, into the spiritual spring of his own literature, to make Shangluo culture the eternal theme of his works, and to make Shangluo literature stand out and shine in the entire root-seeking movement.

"This is a good thing..."

Fang Yan turned his head and noticed that Chen Zhongshi had not said a word since then, so he gave him an inquiring look.

Chen Zhongshi said: "Speaking of root-seeking literature, I have been reflecting on this these days."

"Reflection?"

Fang Yan, Shi Tiesheng and others looked at each other.

"Yes, I used to write about rural reform literature, but it seems that I neglected the land under my feet."

Chen Zhongshi raised his feet and stepped on the dirt road a few times, raising a light yellow sand.

Jia Pingwa frowned and said, "No, I heard you mention the legend of the white deer before."

"The legend of the white deer?"

Shi Tiesheng was very curious, and the dialect behind him raised his eyebrows with a gleam in his eyes.

"It is a folk legend circulating on Bailuyuan." Chen Zhongshi introduced it concisely.

Shi Tiesheng asked: "Is there really such a place as Bailuyuan in northern Shaanxi?"

"Of course, just southeast of Chang'an, Bai Juyi also wrote a seven-character poem specifically titled Bai Lu Yuan."

Chen Zhongshi said: "I don't care about favors, disgrace, worries or joys, I just let the market go on its own. I go east of the city to look for autumn scenery alone, and ride my horse freely on the White Deer Plain."

Fangyan said meaningfully: "Bai Juyi wrote poems for Bai Lu Yuan, so have you ever thought about writing a novel for Bai Lu Yuan?"

Chen Zhongshi nodded. "I originally wanted to write something like One Hundred Years of Solitude. Malzac wrote about the rise and fall of the town of Macondo and the Buendía family. I used 'White Deer Plain' as the background and wrote about the dirty fight between the White Deer and the two families, the revenge that goes on from generation to generation."

Shi Tiesheng asked: "Write it as magical realism as well?"

"That was my original plan, but now I want to combine magical realism with root-seeking literature. What do you think?"

Chen Zhongshi looked left and right.

Jia Pingwa said: "This idea is quite bold! It is also difficult to write!"

Fang Yan said: "But once it can be written, it may be a family history novel that is no less important than Dream of the Red Chamber."

As he spoke, he fixed his eyes on Chen Zhongshi. "For a writer, what he dreams of all his life is probably to spend a period of his life, devote his heart and soul to writing a work that is worthy of himself and can stand the test of time, so that when he stops writing, he can't help but feel that he has 'no regrets in his life'."

"Yanzi is right. This is what I have been wanting all my life!"

Chen Zhongshi said: "Before I die, I want to write a book that can be used as a pillow for my coffin. Then I will die without regrets."

Fangyan smiled and said, "Isn't such a work..."

Jia Pingwa joked: "You are so good, Yanzi. You have already signed up for my Shangzhou series and Lu Yao's "Towards the Big World", and now you have set your sights on Zhong Shi's "White Deer Plain". You really want more."

"And my new work!" Shi Tiesheng said with a smile, "He has bought us all."

"Hahaha."

Seeing them burst into laughter, Gong Xing looked at Fang Yan quietly and smiled sweetly.

Chen Zhongshi said: "But Yanzi, although we are adding fuel to the fire of root-seeking literature, you still have to start the most fierce fire yourself."

Jia Pingwa nodded in agreement, "We all came out of paper and pen, so we must not lose points!"
Be energetic!
Shi Tiesheng holds the same view. Since Fang Xiaojiang has set the first fire of root-seeking literature, he should be the one to carry this banner.

"I have a science fiction novel to write right now. After I finish this one, I will think about root-seeking literature."

Fangyan was also very clear about it.

Any literary genre not only needs the support of a theoretical system, but also requires a large number of works, especially masterpieces.

Just like reform literature, it began with the pioneering work "The Record of Director Qiao's Taking Office" and flourished with the masterpiece "The Splitting of the Great Qin".

If root-seeking literature wants to be famous throughout the country, or even spread abroad, it must have at least one masterpiece that is at the top level for people to admire!

…………

He stayed in northern Shaanxi until the end of the month before returning to Yanjing.

This trip was really fruitful and we returned with a full load.

After sending Shi Tiesheng and Shi Lan back to Yonghegong Street, it was already dusk and the sky was gradually darkening.

Fang Yan and Gong Xing left their luggage and other things at their house in Shichahai, and immediately delivered the gifts to Han Yuemin's home.

The usually empty yard was now filled with stools and benches, with a table in the front with a color TV on it.

"Iwako! Xiaoxiang!"

Fang Hong came out of the house, surprised and happy. Gong Xing was very surprised, "Sister, what is this?"

Fang Hong said that these seats were reserved in advance by the neighbors because a TV series called "Blood Ties" was recently broadcast and attracted a large number of people.

"The one starring Yamaguchi Momoe and Miura Tomokazu, right?"

Gong Xing and Fang Yan looked at each other and suddenly realized.

The general content of this Japanese drama is that the innocent and kind-hearted Oshima Sachiko was unfortunately exposed to biochemical radiation in her father's laboratory and developed blood cancer. She needed constant blood transfusions. It turned out that her parents' blood type was not compatible with hers, but her boyfriend Mitsuo Sagara's blood type matched hers.

Oshima Sachiko's special blood type then led to the mystery of her life experience.

It can be said that "Blood Ties" is the pioneer of melodramatic Korean dramas, with such routines as "hospital substitution", "brother-sister love", "incurable disease" and "desperate love", which have been copied and borrowed by many family ethics and sad TV dramas in later generations.

For audiences these days, this is the first time they have watched such an explosive TV series.
For the first time, I learned that there is an incurable disease like leukemia in the world.

It was also the first time I knew that it was possible to determine whether children were biological children based on their blood types.

The ratings naturally rose rapidly, comparable to "Temptation of Going Home", "Desire", "My Fair Princess"...

"Yes, it's Yamaguchi Momoe."

Fang Hong said jokingly: "It is the Japanese '小樰'."

Gong Xing pursed his lips and said, "Sister, please stop making fun of me."

Fang Hong said: "How can this be a joke? You are the 'Yamaguchi Baihui' of China."

"Cough cough!"

Fangyan pretended to cough a few times and shifted the topic to the drawing board in her hand.

"Since Blood Ties became popular, many people came to the store to ask if we have the same clothes as the male and female protagonists."

Fang Hong said: "I plan to design it and then give it to Yuemin to do."

Fang Yan asked, "What about your work in the Dream of the Red Chamber crew? Are you busy?"

"Busy! How can I not be busy!" Fang Hong shook her head and laughed, "After I finish this, I will continue to work on the costume design for Dream of the Red Chamber. I must come up with 15 sets of design drawings within 48 days."

Fang Yan said: "Oh, that's really hard work!"

"It's hard work, but it's worth it. No matter what, we have to make a good film of Dream of Red Mansions! We can't let the audience all over the country down!"

Fang Hong's tone was firm.

Dialect smacking his lips, all the later filming of "Dream of Red Mansions" have this attitude, and it is not that one Dai is worse than the other.

I thought Li Shaohong's version of "Dream of the Red Chamber" was extremely bad, but I didn't expect there was a master who wrote an even worse version than hers.

The good reputation that Hu Mei had accumulated from dramas like "Yongzheng Dynasty", "Emperor Wu of Han" and "Qiao Family Courtyard" was all ruined by "A Dream of Red Mansions Part One". It turns out that the more famous a work is, the sooner it should be filmed. There is a reason for this.

While he was thinking about this, neighbors nearby came to the yard one after another.

Some were sewing, some were holding enamel cups for tea, and some were just holding bowls of rice, eating while watching.

At this time, the theme song "Thank You" sung by Yamaguchi Momoe was broadcast on TV.

Although those present did not understand Japanese, some of them followed suit and sang along, "Wata Xilu, this one Wa Na."

After delivering the gifts, Fang Yan and Gong Xing returned home. The couple closed the door and lay on the bed watching "Blood Ties".

"Why, you want to learn a foreign language too?"

"Think about it, maybe it will be useful in the future."

"How about I teach you?"

"You're so busy, so don't do it. I'll ask Ruoxue and Yoko for help."

"It's okay. They teach during the day and I teach at night. Let's learn the first word today, Yamedie..."

…………

It’s March on earth, flowers are blooming and butterflies are dancing.

Gong Xing felt weak all over, but he still got up early as usual and practiced Taiyi boxing in the yard.

Then, he took a long-spouted watering can and watered the flowers and plants in the flowerbed. The petals and leaves were covered with crystal raindrops.

In the bright sunshine, her face was as beautiful and rosy as Gong Xing's.

Fangyan looked through the window for a while, then put the unfinished book "Artificial Intelligence" on the table into his bag and walked out of the house.

"It's a rare Sunday, so let's not light a fire at home today. Let's go out for dinner."

"Okay!"

Gong Xing smiled and said, "Why don't we pack up our breakfast and go directly to Nanluoguxiang? That would be a good opportunity to bring gifts to our mother and Yan Zi."

This time Fangyan did not drive the Citroen CX20, but rode a motorcycle instead, and then sped to Nanluoguxiang.

As soon as the roar of the engine was heard in the alley, Fang Yan jogged all the way from home to the old locust tree at the door.

"Brother! Sister-in-law!"

"swallow!"

Gong Xing touched her head and said, "It seems like you have grown taller."

"Hehe, just a little bit." Fang Yan straightened her back, "Sister-in-law, what good things did you bring me from northern Shaanxi this time?"

"You look so impatient. Come into the house first."

Fangyan strode into the lobby and saw that the TV was still on, playing the first episode of "Blood Ties".

Gong Xing let out a light exclamation, feeling both surprised and suspicious.

Yang Xia explained that this was all thanks to the VCR and blank videotapes sent by Han Yuemin. With this equipment, she no longer has to worry about missing out on a show while catching up on it, as she can rely on the videotapes to watch the replay.

"I'll ask my brother-in-law to bring me one from eastern Guangdong someday."

Fangyan said: "If there is anything new, I will send you one too."

Yang Xia smiled and said, "I don't want any of these gifts. The gift I want most is a big fat grandson."

"I, I'll go to the kitchen to get a bowl for breakfast." Gong Xing's cheeks turned slightly red and he walked away quickly in embarrassment.

Seeing that her brother and sister-in-law were in trouble, Fang Yan's eyes rolled and she said cleverly:

"Brother, please do me a favor!"

"What's the deal?"

"Can you take me to get my ID card when you have time?"

"ID card?!"

Fangyan raised his eyebrows and found out after asking.

Now notices have been posted at the entrances of alleys and news has been published in newspapers that a pilot program will be carried out in Yanjing, Tianjin, Shanghai and other places to begin issuing the first generation of resident identity cards. However, this generation is very easy to forge because it uses printing and photographic copying technology.

"Our teacher said that maybe when we take the college entrance examination, we will have to use our ID cards."

Hearing Fang Yan's words, Yang Xia's attention was immediately drawn to "college entrance examination" and "identity card".

Fangyan secretly gave a thumbs up and said, "Okay, let's find some time tomorrow and go do it together as a family!"

After breakfast, I returned to my old room and wrote the first draft of Artificial Intelligence while thinking:

Which work can deserve the title of "the masterpiece of root-seeking literature"?
(End of this chapter)