The literary era since 1979

In the 1950s and 1960s, there was a famous literary school in western Shanxi called the "Shan Yaodan School".

The founder of the school is "Zhao Shuli" among "Lu, Guo, Mao, Ba, Lao, Cao, Zhao, Ding and Ai", so it is also called "Zhao Shuli School", or "Jinxi School". Other generals of the school include Ma Feng, Xirong, Li Shuwei, Sun Qian, Hu Zheng, etc., collectively known as "Western Li, Ma, Hu and Sun".

All of these people were born and raised in rural western Shanxi, so the articles they wrote have a strong taste of the local culture, commonly known as the "vinegar flavor."

However, nowadays, the Shan Yaodan School has declined in the literary world of western Shanxi, and has been taken up by Jia Dashan and Zhao Xin from northern Hebei.

The Jin Army these days, unlike the original "Yam Egg" faction, just like the Xiang Army, holds high the banner of root-seeking literature, shining from north to south.

As soon as they heard that Fangyan, the founder of "root-seeking literature", was coming to western Shanxi, the entire Writers Association immediately showed 120% of their enthusiasm.

Jiao Zuyao, Cheng Yi, Han Shishan and others stood at the exit of Jinyang Station to personally welcome the editorial team of People's Literature.

"Teacher Fang, I'm glad you can come to Jinxi."

"This is Ke Yunlu."

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you. We have read the manuscript you sent to the editorial department. It is excellent!"

“I feel relieved to receive such comments.”

After Fang Yan and Ke Yunlu met, Jiao Zuyao introduced himself and then introduced his companions to Zhu Wei and others one by one.

Faced with the warm treatment like a distinguished guest, Zhu Wei was a little uncomfortable at first, but gradually, he couldn't help but be moved.

People from western Shanxi are worthy of being people from western Shanxi, they are so honest!
Fangyan has the same feeling. "I am really happy to come to western Shanxi and Jinyang. This is one of the birthplaces of our Chinese nation. The written history alone is as long as 3,000 years. It was the capital of the Xia Dynasty, the Dragon City of the Tang Dynasty, the Pingcheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the former residence of the Ming and Qing Dynasties..."

Jiao Zuyao and others were very happy. Teacher Fang was worthy of being Teacher Fang. He was indeed a cultured person.

Most people from other provinces probably only have the impression that western Shanxi is a “coal capital”. In fact, western Shanxi is also the province with the largest number of ancient buildings.

Otherwise, why do western Shanxi account for 36 of the 27 locations used as game backgrounds for Black Myth: Wukong?

As the saying goes, "If you want to see above-ground cultural relics, go to western Shanxi; if you want to see underground cultural relics, go to northern Shaanxi." Western Shanxi is full of great things left by our ancestors.

"The Hanging Temple in Datong, the Little Western Paradise in Linfen, the Jade Emperor Temple in Jincheng, the Guandi Temple in Yuncheng..."

She spoke in dialect like she knew all about it, and especially mentioned Foguang Temple, a genuine Tang Dynasty wooden structure temple certified by Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin.

"Hearing you say that, I feel a little ashamed."

Jiao Zuyao said: "I didn't expect you to know more than a local like me. I'm really ashamed..."

Fang Yan waved his hand and said, "I just heard about it, but I dare not show off my skills in front of you."

"Since Teacher Fang is so interested in the ancient buildings in western Shanxi, I think we should do this."

Jiao Zuyao can arrange a sightseeing trip within the province for them.

"I'm really grateful." Fang Yan smiled, "But there's no rush. Let's get down to business first."

"That's right, business is more important."

Jiao Zuyao said that because of the arrival of dialects, the Shanxi-West Writers Association specially organized an exchange meeting on root-seeking literature.

By then, many writers, editors, reporters, critics and others from western Shanxi will come here to visit.

"That's great! Teacher Fang and I are just looking forward to seeing the style of the Jin army!"

Zhu Wei and Fang Yan smiled at each other and got into the car one after another.

Because he planned to talk about "Gu Ling" on the way, Ke Yunlu sat in the passenger seat and turned sideways.

"Would you mind telling me why we chose the name 'Gu Ling'?" Fang Yan asked curiously. "I think that counties are accumulated into counties, and counties are accumulated into the world. If counties are well governed, the world will be well governed."

Ke Yunlu said, "Workers, farmers, students, and businessmen, the social and political landscape of China can be concentrated in one county. As the saying goes, a sparrow may be small, but it has everything. I hope that through the description of the various characters and lives in a county, readers can see the social picture of this era and the pain caused by the reform. So, since the story takes place in Guling County, we might as well call it 'Guling'. What's wrong, Teacher Fang? Isn't this a good name?"

"It can't be said to be bad, but it can easily cause ambiguity."

Fangyan said: "To be honest, when I first saw the title, I thought it was a novel about archaeology."

Ke Yunlu thought it made a lot of sense and for a moment he had no way to refute it.

"Besides, the name isn't eye-catching enough."

Fangyan suggested: "Can we change it?"

Ke Yunlu gladly accepted it. "Does Teacher Fang have any good suggestions?"

"What do you think of Nova?"

"Rising star?"

“The rising star is the reformer, just like the bright star shining in the night sky.”

Fangyan said, "What do you think?"

Ke Yunlu repeated the word "Rising Star" several times, clapped his hands and said, "Good, this name is good. My novel is about reform literature, and a name with a reformist tone is just right for the topic!"

Fang Yan said: "In my opinion, your reform novel is not just ordinary reform literature, but innovative reform literature."

Ke Yunlu asked with great interest: "How do you say it?"

"Previous reform literature has focused on in-depth analysis of economic, political and other reforms, but your article has a different starting point."

Fang Yan said: "Instead, the focus is on the power struggle between Li Xiangnan and Gu Rong. In other words, Gu Rong, the local tyrant, is dissatisfied with and hostile to Li Xiangnan, who was parachuted in to take his place. Their conflict is not a struggle between new and old things, but a struggle between the new and old power structures."

"Teacher Fang, you are so accurate!"

Ke Yunlu was greatly shocked. He did not expect that he could summarize the exquisiteness of "New Star" in just a few words.

With a smile on his face, Fangyan said, in fact, strictly speaking, "New Star" can no longer be regarded as reform literature, but it belongs to the same category as "Dragon Year Archives", "My Lord's Rise and Fall", "Canglang Water", "Supreme Interests", etc., which is an officialdom novel.

But what is surprising is that manuscripts like "Rising Star" are just Ke Yunlu's appetizer.

"Teacher Fang, to be honest, this is just a prelude."

"Next, I plan to write a trilogy about Kyoto, called "Night and Day", "Decline and Glory", and "Destruction and Life". I plan to write about nearly 200 characters, dozens of families, and more than a dozen courtyards in Kyoto, from high-ranking officials to poor common people, and all walks of life, in a million words, to condense the panoramic view of our society..."

"Great! This is a good thing!"

Fang Yan and Zhu Wei looked at each other and said, "It seems that my trip to Jinxi was not in vain. I will definitely take your trilogy."

Then he said in a joking tone: "You have to give it to me whether you want to or not. This time, People's Literature and I have you in our hands!"

"no problem!"

Ke Yunlu said: "Just because you are the first person to point out the special features of my "New Star", all my manuscripts will be given to Teacher Fang!"

"Then it's a deal, haha!"

Fangyan high-fived him and laughed out loud, and the car was filled with joyful laughter. (End of this chapter)