The literary era since 1979

"Farewell My Concubine."

"Farewell My Concubine, what a good name."

Li Yaotang muttered to himself several times, his eyes always fixed on the pages of manuscript in Fangyan's hands.

Li Yaotang would read one page as Fangyan turned the page. He would then pass the manuscript paper to Li Xiaolin to read. The father and daughter were immersed in it.

Li Yaotang, who suffers from Parkinson's syndrome, would have his hands trembling unconsciously even when he was relaxing. However, he acted as if nothing had happened and was not aware of it at all, staring at Farewell My Concubine with his eyes as sharp as torches.

"Yanzi, what you write is a literature of searching for roots, right?"

Li Xiaolin looked up, her tone revealing a hint of shock.

Fangyan smiled and nodded, saying that ever since he proposed the "roots of literature", he has always wanted to write a representative work of root-seeking literature.

"Your work is indeed a representative work of root-seeking literature, with Peking opera culture, traditional Chinese opera art, and a time span of more than 60 years..."

Li Xiaolin couldn't help but sigh.

"Not only that, it also includes the mutual promotion and restraint of yin and yang and the five elements."

Li Yaotang's hands trembled slightly. "This Cheng Dieyi is the pomegranate wood. Duan Xiaolou's nickname is 'Little Stone', which belongs to the earth element. Earth gives birth to wood, so Duan Xiaolou made Cheng Dieyi successful. But metal defeats wood, so his fate is destined to be death under the sword of the Overlord."

Fang Yan said: "Your opinion is great!"

Li Yaotang praised: "This is really a wonderful article written by a master, Xiaofang, your attainments in novels have improved again."

"This is not entirely my own achievement. It is also thanks to the co-writer I mentioned to you, Li Bihua."

Fang Yan said: "Hong Kong people believe in Feng Shui, so it is mixed with Yin and Yang and the Five Elements."

Li Yaotang smiled with satisfaction, muttered "root-seeking literature" several times, and suddenly turned to look at his daughter:

"Has Harvest published any root-seeking literature in recent times?"

"Yes, and quite a few!"

Li Xiaolin said that it is not just "Harvest" that has produced a bunch of root-seeking novels that are no less impressive than Jia Pingwa's "Shangzhou Series" and Zheng Wanlong's "Strange Stories from Foreign Lands Series" in the Shanghai literary world, including "Shanghai Literature" and even the entire East China literary world.

Among them, the most famous is the "Ge Chuanjiang Series" published in "West Lake".

However, the only drawback is that although the "root-seeking literature" proposed by Fangyan has been flourishing across the country, with surging thoughts and frequent excellent works, it lacks a masterpiece like "Farewell My Concubine". Even "The Chess King" cannot carry such weight.

"It seems that you have filled the most important gap for yourself."

Li Yaotang asked: "Have you decided which publishing house you want to publish this Farewell My Concubine in?"

"I haven't thought about it yet."

Fangyan explained that the most urgent task at the moment is to prepare a national literary seminar, the theme of which is "Root-seeking Literature".

At that time, we hope to gather together the root-seeking writers who have emerged so far, as well as editors, literary critics, art theorists, etc. who are interested in root-seeking literature, to discuss together, systematize "root-seeking literature" and determine a general theoretical framework.

Just like magical realism, only in this way can "root-seeking literature" form a true literary genre.

"I didn't expect you to think so far..."

Li Yaotang looked even more surprised than when he had watched "Farewell My Concubine".

Li Xiaolin was also shocked, but after thinking about it, she found it made sense:
"Dad, I think the idea that Yanzi mentioned just now about making root-seeking literature a literary genre is quite good."

"What do you think."

Li Yaotang cast an inquiring look.

Li Xiaolin analyzed the literary trends and routes in today's literary world. More and more writers have chosen Western literary genres, and even a group of writers who call themselves "avant-garde literature" have emerged. However, there is no local genre in domestic contemporary literature that can compete with them.

Li Yaotang nodded and said, "What you said is not without reason. The starting point of modern and contemporary literature is mostly learning from the West. But when it comes to our own literary schools, whether it is the 'Shan Yaodan School' or the 'Lotus Pond School', they are all rooted in the land of China."

Fangyan smiled without saying anything and took a sip of tea.

Li Xiaolin asked: “Is this seminar organized by People’s Literature?”

"That's what I originally planned."

Fangyan changed the subject and invited Harvest and People's Literature to jointly host a national symposium on root-seeking literature. "Invite us?" Li Yaotang and Li Xiaolin looked at each other.

"Yes, since it is a national seminar, it must be open to the whole country."

Fang Yan said that "People's Literature" and "Harvest" are both the halls of Chinese literary journals, one in the north and the other in the south, complementing each other.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could jointly convene a “gathering of heroes” composed of young writers and critics from the north and the south?

"That's not a good idea."

Li Yaotang's eyes lit up. "Xiao Lin, you are the editor of Harvest. What do you think?"

"Dad, I'm just an editor, not the editor-in-chief. How can I make the decision?"

Li Xiaolin pursed her lips and said, "Whether it will work or not, it's up to you and Uncle Xiao to decide."

Li Yaotang pondered for a while and said, "I think it can be done. If it is done well, it will be a good thing in the literary world."

Fangyan went a step further and proposed to arrange this seminar before the National Congress of Writers and Artists, as an appetizer before the congress.

"You, you always come up with new ideas."

Li Yaotang said, "How about this, I will come forward and have a good discussion with Harvest and People's Literature on this matter."

"That really couldn't be better!"

Fangyan was surprised and delighted. With the highly respected Ba Lao in charge, even though the seminar had not been held, it was already half successful.

“Although I can’t write now, I still hope to do more for the literary world.”

Li Yaotang raised his shaking hand and patted his shoulder gently. "But the future of Chinese literature depends on your generation."

………………

We chatted for half an hour without realizing it, and even though we were in the middle of a conversation, we had to end it.

Li Yaotang was in poor health and was not suitable for chatting for a long time. Fang Yan and Li Xiaolin supported him while he lay on the bed to rest.

"Xiao Lin, please send it off for me."

"Eh."

Li Xiaolin followed the instructions and accompanied Fang Yan and Gong Xing all the way to the door.

"Sister Xiaolin, just send it here." Gong Xing said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, please stay."

Fangyan waved goodbye and took Gong Xing with him, walking under the sycamore trees on Wukang Road again.

I walked from the small path to the wide road, with electric poles standing on both sides of the road.

All that came into view were a few buses and a jeep, and not far away stood an old cinema.

There are billboards hanging on both sides of the square and above the door lintel. The colorful posters of "Yellow Earth" are the most eye-catching.

The ticket office was crowded with people who came to watch the show.

In addition to those who have already bought advance tickets, there are also people buying, exchanging, and refunding tickets. The place is crowded and crowded.

Ticket scalpers mingled in the crowd, shouting, "Want tickets? Tickets for The Ring!"

Fangyan looked in the direction of the voice and saw several cinema artists using ladders to replace the billboards with new hand-painted posters.

Gong Xing looked at the eerie and strange poster. At the bottom there was a line of words saying that "The Ring" would be officially released on September 9.

"Should we go and take a look that day? Invite our parents, Xiaojing, Xiaoyu and the others?"

"sure."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "How about inviting Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng as well?" (End of this chapter)