The literary era since 1979

In the two weeks after the West Lake Conference, newspapers and magazines such as "Literary Review", "Contemporary Writer Review", "Writers", "Shanghai Literature", and "Harvest" published literary theories, novels, and even conference minutes on "Root-Seeking Literature".

It is equivalent to adding fuel to the already raging debate.

Soon, it was attacked by many writers, editors and critics from the opposing camp, who refuted it in newspapers and criticized it almost to the point of being completely worthless.

The two sides often report on the issue in large volumes and on large pages, with sharp confrontations that attract the attention and discussion of a large number of readers.

On the contrary, Fang Yan, the founder and leader of the group, seems to have not taken any action except publishing an article titled "Root-Seeking Literature and Cultural Awakening" and "Root-Seeking and Comparative Literature in China and the United States" in Harvest and Wenhui Daily respectively.

But in fact, he and Li Xiaolin invited Li Yaotang, a great Buddha who can be regarded as one of the "Three Pure Ones" in the literary world.

In the supplement of "Harvest" with a special topic of root-seeking literature, a special review entitled "How to View "Root-seeking Literature"" was written. For a time, the root-seeking faction became very popular, just like when two armies are facing each other, the defending side finally receives reinforcements and begins to turn from defense to offense.

Han Shaogong, Jia Pingwa, Zheng Yi, Tie Ning, Wang Anyi and others were firing on all cylinders, and the scale of the debate expanded again.

As the venue for the West Lake Conference, East China is also one of the main battlefields for the debate on root-seeking literature.

Fangyan did not indulge in Gong Xing's gentle love all the time. He hurriedly wrote an article for the literature section of Xinmin Evening News.

"Crack, crack."

There was a faint sound from the joints of the fist.

Gong Xing lazily got up from the bed, with a few faint red marks on the skin of his arms that had not yet faded.

"So, you're going back the day after tomorrow?"

"If you are reluctant to let me go, then I will stay in Shanghai for a few more days."

"Go! Go quickly! I've never seen anyone as bad as you!"

Gong Xing glanced at the costumes on the cabinet, his cheeks flushed and his face burned hot.

During the days Fangyan was in Shanghai, she played the role of Thirteenth Aunt in the studio during the day and in bed at night, just to satisfy her own desire for her body.

"I'm just kidding you. Even if I don't want to go back, I'm afraid I can't."

Fang Yan turned his head and said, "The agency has urged me to return to Beijing as soon as possible."

Gong Xing frowned, his tone showing a hint of uneasiness: "Is it still about searching for the roots of literature?"

"Not only this matter, the Fourth National Congress of Literature and Art will be held in a while, and I have to go back and prepare."

Fang Yan walked to the bed and sat down, putting his arm around her shoulders.

Gong Xing leaned over and rested his head in his arms. The couple snuggled up to each other and whispered to each other for a while.

Just at this moment, it started raining outside the window, and the raindrops gently hit the glass, making a "patter" sound.

"Shall we be romantic again?" Fang Yan smiled.

"Bah!" Gong Xing spat in shame, "You're just being mean, but you use such a polite word as 'romantic'."

Fangyan shook his head and said: "That's wrong. The so-called romance is that I am responsible for being slow and you are responsible for..."

Gong Xing paused, and his brain, which had been tainted with dialect, immediately became clear. He rolled his eyes and said, "You just love to make trouble!"

Fang Yan pinched her chin and said, "I admit that I am the one who messed with her, but I am not the one who pestered her."

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, the windows were making crackling sounds, and the heavy rain seemed to be about to break the glass.

Thunders roared one after another and lightning flashed in the sky. It was like a strong wind sweeping away fallen leaves and rain smashing banana leaves.

…………

Unlike Shanghai, Yanjing is filled with yellow sand, blocking out the sun and the sky, like a city of quicksand.

The Forbidden City's Meridian Gate, Corner Tower, and Beihai White Pagoda are looming in the yellow sand, as if covered by a layer of orange-yellow "filter".

From Fangyan back to Yanjing, and then to work at Renwenshe, this happened every day. It was clearly daytime, but the sky was once as dark as night.

"Cough cough."

Fangyan took off his mask, cleared his throat, and patted the dust off his clothes.

When I entered the editorial office, I thought it would be deserted as usual, with no one around, but I didn't expect it to be packed and extremely busy.

"Teacher Fang, you are finally back!"

Zhu Wei was the first to notice it. He shouted out loud with joy, which immediately alarmed the entire editorial department.

Wang Fu, Chen Xiaoman and others were overjoyed. Fangyan vaguely guessed that it might be related to root-seeking literature, and it turned out to be true.

Zhu Wei reported the situation truthfully. Now the entire Yenching literary circle, and even the entire literary world, has become a mess.

There was a melee among the avant-garde, root-seeking and conservative groups. Each group held two guns in their hands, with the black muzzles pointing at the other two groups.

In some criticisms that claim to be official, mainstream and orthodox, "root-seeking literature" has gradually become a derogatory term, and has been labeled as "backward", "outdated" and "retro". Any journals and newspapers that have published novels and theories of "root-seeking literature" are also regarded as accomplices in the evil, and in the past few weeks, they have been criticized from all sides.

Either it was a phone call or a letter, in short, a huge amount of public pressure came towards Renwenshe.

"Director Fang, you have found some peace and quiet in Shanghai, but you have exhausted us."

Yu Deli came closer, with a hint of displeasure in his sour tone.

Zhu Wei retorted: "You can't say that. Although Mr. Fang is in Shanghai, his pen is not idle. Didn't he write several articles in newspapers and magazines to share the firepower for us?"

"That's right. Besides, Yanzi also made great efforts in the article where Ba Gong commented on 'Root-Seeking Literature' and 'West Lake Conference'."

Chen Xiaoman argued with reason.

Looking left and right, Fangyan found that the debate was not only outside the editorial department, but there were also constant disputes within People's Literature.

People like Lu Shuyou and Yu Deli, who support avant-garde literature and admire Western literary schools, have had complaints about the literary roots-seeking movement since its inception, but they have always kept it secret. Even when People's Literature held the West Lake Conference, they openly and covertly opposed and questioned it.

Unexpectedly, once the debate in the literary world broke out, conflicts within the editorial department also exploded.

"Director Fang, I think there is nothing wrong with promoting root-seeking literature."

Lu Shuyou asked, “But isn’t it a bit inappropriate to push root-seeking literature to such a high level?”

"The heights were given by others. We just held a meeting in West Lake. We never thought of elevating root-seeking literature from the beginning."

Fang Yan said: "It is to summarize the trend of literary root-seeking in this year and provide a new idea for contemporary literature."

Lu Shuyou said: "But will this backfire? Will it mess up the direction of current literary creation?"

"How can we know if it's chaotic or not if we don't try?" Fang Yan said, "Since avant-garde literature can try out various techniques of Western literary genres, why not give root-seeking literature a chance to tap into the soil of Eastern culture?"

Lu Shuyou said: "I am afraid that the source material of root-seeking literature will tend to be remote, primitive, and wild ethnic regions."

Just as the atmosphere in the editorial department was becoming increasingly tense and dignified, Wang Meng appeared in time, clapped his hands, and tried to smooth things over:

"Okay, okay, whether it's root-seeking literature, avant-garde literature, or foreign literature, as long as it's beneficial to our Chinese literature, it's worth supporting. This is also the purpose of this literary congress..." "Director Lu, let time and practice test whether root-seeking literature is good or bad."

Fangyan said no more and stretched out his hand.

"Then let's wait and see!" Lu Shuyou took the situation into consideration and shook hands with him.

"Clap clap."

Wang Meng clapped his hands again, and then called Fangyan to the office alone.

As soon as the door was closed, the two of them talked in tacit understanding about the results of the West Lake Conference, especially the official birth of the root-seeking literature genre.

"In short, whether it is right or wrong, let's see it with our own hands."

Fang Yan said, "I'll have to go find Zhong E and ask when the latest issue of Contemporary will be published."

Wang Meng blurted out, "Around November 11th."

"Have you asked?" Fangyan asked in surprise.

"I just came over from Editor-in-Chief Qin."

Wang Meng said, "He even praised you in front of me, saying that you would rather 'offend' Comrade Xiaolin and Harvest than hand over such a good manuscript of Farewell My Concubine to Contemporary. I don't know how to thank you." He took a sip of water and said, "No matter what, when you return to the publishing house, I must thank you on his behalf, and I will also invite you to dinner at Dongxing Building in the name of the Contemporary editorial department."

"Watching Farewell My Concubine in exchange for a meal?" Fangyan joked.

"You can eat as many meals as your stomach can hold."

Wang Meng said: "Of course, Editor-in-Chief Qin also revealed a good news to me."

After asking Fangyan, I found out that the Literature Institute wanted to upgrade its level and directly upgrade from a "Lecture Institute" to the "Lu Xun Academy of Literature".

"The ministry has already approved it and will incorporate the College of Arts into the higher education system."

Wang Meng said: "The admissions standards, examination methods, school system, teaching plans and facilities should all be formalized, not only for writers, but also for editors and literary organization workers. We should cooperate with universities to jointly run several training courses, and graduates can also receive diplomas."

Fangyan's eyes lit up, "You mean..."

"As soon as you get a chance, sign up for an editing training course."

Wang Meng said: "After all, he is a famous writer in China and abroad. Now he has founded a literary genre called 'root-seeking literature'. How inappropriate is it to have only a high school diploma? It won't sound good if you tell others about it."

Fangyan touched his nose. Although he was now a researcher at the Institute of Comparative Literature of Yenching University and a consultant to the Society of Comparative Literature, and would be a visiting professor at Yenching University, the University of Iowa and other universities in the future, his "educational background" was still "high school".

"Okay, Editor-in-Chief Qin and I will keep an eye on this matter for you."

Wang Meng said: "You should focus your energy on this great discussion of root-seeking literature."

Fangyan deeply agrees with this. Once "Farewell My Concubine" is published, the scale and extent of the entire debate will probably be escalated.

…………

Before we knew it, it was November 11th and the latest issue of "Contemporary" was released nationwide.

Ding-ling, ding-ling, the postmen ride their bicycles and deliver piles of literary magazines to every household that has subscribed.

Chen Huai'ai put on his reading glasses and, as usual, looked at the table of contents in the journal first.

If you come across a novel you like, or a writer you admire, read the magazine that publishes that author and his works.

When I took a closer look at this moment, my eyes were immediately attracted by "Farewell My Concubine" in the "Contemporary" catalog.

When he looked at the author again, he saw that he was writing in dialect, and a greedy light immediately burst out from his turbid eyes.

I don’t know how long it took, Chen Huaiai had forgotten the time, and then he heard Brother Chen Kai’s voice coming from outside the house:

"Dad! Dad? Are you in the house?"

"here I am."

"Hey, there you are. I thought you were out."

Brother Chen Kai strode in and asked, "Why didn't you answer when mom called you just now?"

Chen Huaiai lowered his head, his eyes never leaving Farewell My Concubine, "Really? Is there something wrong with your mother?"

"It's not time for dinner yet, I'm calling you to eat!"

Brother Chen Kai asked curiously, "What are you looking at? Why are you so engrossed in it?"

Chen Huai'ai smiled and said, "Teacher Xiao Fang's novel."

Brother Chen Kai was stunned. "Teacher Fang? His latest work "Song Ci, the Chief Justice of the Song Dynasty" hasn't been released yet."

“It’s not ‘Song Ci, the Chief Justice of the Song Dynasty’, it’s a great new work called ‘Farewell My Concubine’.”

Chen Huai'ai's eyebrows danced with joy: "It tells the story of the children of the Peking Opera and Peking Opera."

"No wonder you were so fascinated."

Brother Chen Kai couldn't help but sigh that although his father was a film director, he was good at opera, especially Peking Opera.

As a result, a large number of films shot are related to opera. For example, the Peking Opera film "The Heroines of the Yang Family" won the Best Opera Film Award at the 1st Hundred Flowers Awards. Another example is "The Iron Bow" which once again won the Best Opera Film Award at the Hundred Flowers Awards that year.

In addition, there are "The Wild Boar Forest", "Mu Guiying's Battle of Hongzhou", "Zhuge Liang's Mourning" and so on.

Even in his previous life, he served as the art director of "Farewell My Concubine", so it is inevitable that a saying will spread:

That is, "Farewell My Concubine" was actually filmed by Chen Huai'ai, and Brother Chen Kai was just a figurehead.

After all, "Mei Lanfang", also directed by Brother Chen Kai, does not seem to be made by the same person as "Farewell My Concubine".

"I've never seen a novel with opera as its theme that is so well written!"

Chen Huaiai praised it highly, "If I have the opportunity to make this into a movie, my life will be worth it."

Brother Chen Kai opened his mouth, unable to believe that his father gave such a high evaluation. Even "Song Ci, the Chief Justice of the Song Dynasty" was not so high!
“Farewell My Concubine does not shy away from history. Rather, it gives a very honest reflection on history.”

Chen Huaiai said: "The key is that he neither advocates any doctrine nor forces others to learn anything, nor does he want to educate anyone. Teacher Xiao Fang embeds everything he wants to express into the story, like the wind sneaking into the night, and the drizzle moistening silently."

As he spoke, he handed over the Contemporary Magazine and said, "You should also take a good look at it. Take a closer look!"

"Eh."

Chen Kai had already been hooked on reading, and when he glanced down, he saw the "Editor's Note" before the main text that read:

"Water has its source, trees have their roots. To seek the roots of literature is to pursue and display the long-standing culture of our Chinese nation and to evaluate the value of China's excellent traditional culture in the historical development of Chinese society. So, what roots should we seek, what should we inherit, and what should we discard..."

"At least, traditional opera, including Peking Opera, is a root that must be preserved!" (End of this chapter)