The literary era since 1979

Chapter 46 Tiesheng, ah Tiesheng

Afternoon, Ditan Park.

"In the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Jiajing followed the advice of his ministers and decided to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth separately. He built Fangze Altar, also known as the Temple of Earth, here. Later, the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Earth were the places where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to heaven and earth and prayed for peace and prosperity for the country..."

Fangyan could be regarded as a qualified tour guide. He introduced the place incessantly, and Tiening, Wang Anyi and others listened with great interest.

People strolled in the quiet and deserted Ditan Park.

After walking for a while, they stopped to rest. Tie Ning and Wang Anyi took out the prepared peanuts and biscuits from their bags and distributed them to everyone.

Fangyan was peeling the flowers, and suddenly he noticed out of the corner of his eye a man sitting in a wheelchair under an old locust tree, staring blankly.

"Do you know that person?"

Tie Ning followed his gaze.

"I guess so. I'll go over and take a look."

Fangyan got their consent and came forward to greet them: "Hello, do you remember me?"

"you……"

Shi Tiesheng looked her up and down for a while and said, "Oh, it's you!"

Fang Yan smiled and said, "It's me, long time no see."

"It's been a long time indeed. It should have been more than half a year. I thought you would never appear in Ditan again."

The reason why Shi Tiesheng still remembers the dialect is that he has stayed in Ditan Park for so long, but not many people are willing to talk to him.

"I don't have time recently. I'm busy with school."

"You are college students?"

"No, I'm taking classes at the Literature Institute."

"Literature Institute! I've heard of it, I've heard of it!" Shi Tiesheng's eyes lit up, "So, you are a writer?"

"Nice to meet you. My name is Fangyan, Fang means direction and Yan means language." Fangyan took the initiative to extend his hand.

"Are you the one who wrote "The Horse Herder" in that dialect?"

Shi Tiesheng saw him nod, and excitedly shook his hand a few times, "My name is Shi Tiesheng, Shi means stone, Tie means steel, and Sheng means life. I like both of your novels very much!"

"Your name suits me very well."

Fang Yan said: "My previous name was 'Fang Yan', 'Yan' means rock. Both of our names contain the character 'stone', and we are both of the earth element."

Shi Tiesheng smiled bitterly, "It's still different. My stone is smelly and hard, and no one cares about me."

"I don't think so. Your name is really good. It lives like stone and steel. It reminds me of Pavel Korchagin."

Fangyan noticed that he was always depressed, and even when he smiled, it was uglier than crying. Tiesheng, Tiesheng, you have to stand up!
Shi Tiesheng was stunned. It was the first time he heard someone interpret his name in this way and link it to "How the Steel Was Tempered".

A little warmth inexplicably emerged in my heart.

The two started talking about literature and gradually became familiar with each other.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Shi Tiesheng asked what his original motivation was for writing.

Fangyan pondered for a while, "To tell you the truth, I started writing in order to return to the city, to reunite with my mother, my sister and my younger sister. I returned to the city to make money and reputation for my family. It can be said that writing has changed my destiny."

Then he smiled and said, "Do you think it's very vulgar and has nothing to do with the great and pure motives you imagined?"

"No, I have similar ideas as you. I write for my mother and my family." Shi Tiesheng said in a firm tone.

"Have you written anything?"

Dialects are very curious.

"I'm currently thinking about a novel titled 'A Corner Without the Sun.'"

Talking about this, Shi Tiesheng became more interested.

The story is roughly about three disabled young men who were thrown into a corner to die, and suddenly met a sunny and cheerful healthy girl. They all liked this girl, but because of their own disabilities they dared not confess their feelings, and in the end they could only silently wish her to find happiness.

"It's a rare, very rare topic. Are you willing to submit your manuscript to Yenching Literature and Art?"

Fangyan touched his chin.

"Yanjing Literature and Art?"

Shi Tiesheng was very surprised.

I introduced myself in dialect. I won't pretend anymore. I am the editor of Yenching Literature and Art. I'm going to be honest. I like you and your manuscript.

"Can my novel be published in Yenching Literature and Art?"

Shi Tiesheng couldn't help but wonder if the person in front of him was speaking the same language, or if he was a liar. But then he thought, what was there in him that was worth being deceived? But he still found it incredible, like a dream.

My own novels have been published. "The Fate of Love" and "Half an Hour for Lunch" were both published in "Hope" magazine.

However, "Hope" is only an internal publication of Northwestern University. Its level and status are probably not even comparable to those of local literary magazines.

Not to mention Yenching Literature and Art, a first-class journal that caused a sensation across the country last year and is now the main battlefield for reflective literature. I really couldn't have imagined that "The Corner Without the Sun" could be published in Yenching Literature and Art before!

"I can't say for sure, but if your story is as well written as you say, I think it's worth publishing."

Fangyan's face was full of seriousness.

"Xiao, Teacher Xiao Fang, can it really be published?"

Shi Tiesheng asked again.

"I trust my vision, but the key lies in you."

Fang Yan asked: "Do you believe you have this ability?"

When their eyes met, Shi Tiesheng felt a righteous light burst out from his eyes, warm but not dazzling, full of trust, respect, recognition and expectation, and he couldn't help but said with emotion:

"I have! Once I finish writing it, I will submit it to Yenching Literature and Art!"

"now it's right!"

Fang Yan smiled and said, "But I'm not in the editorial department recently. You can send the manuscript to the Literature Institute. Of course, you can also send it directly to the editorial department. I will greet the others."

"Thank you, Teacher Xiao Fang."

Shi Tiesheng opened his mouth and asked enviously, "Is it only if you become a writer like you that you can go to the training institute?"

"of course not."

Fang Yan shook his head and said, "The classes at the institute are all large classes. Even if you are not a student, you are allowed to sit in on the class. So there are always writers who come to take the class. If you are willing, you can also come and sit in on the class."

"If I have the chance, I will definitely go!"

Shi Tiesheng's eyes suddenly lit up.

"You are always welcome, Tiesheng, let us make progress together."

Fangyan extended his hand again.

"Well, progress!"

Shi Tiesheng held on tightly, just like a man about to fall off a cliff grabbing a rope that could pull him back to the shore, and he held on even more excitedly.

"Then it's settled. I look forward to your writing of 'The Corner Without the Sun'. This is an advance payment to you."

Fangyan stuffed the remaining peanuts in his pocket into his pocket.

"Thank you...thank you."

Shi Tiesheng held the peanuts in his hands, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Just kidding, take it and eat it."

Fang Yan was grinning when he heard the urging voices of Mo Shen, Jiang Zilong and others behind him, saying that they would miss the bus if they were late.

"I have to go now. See you next time."

"Goodbye."

Shi Tiesheng smiled brightly under the sunshine.

The three disabled people in "The Corner Without Sun" were all based on himself. He was also in the corner without sun, hoping to meet such a girl who would bring light.

Unexpectedly, he met Fangyan, and she was the girl!

No, that light!
The evening breeze blew the branches with new leaves, and the Ditan Park, which usually seemed desolate, felt full of spring to Shi Tiesheng.

After a while, Shi Lan came to pick him up home as usual.

"Brother, let's go."

Shi Lan grabbed the putter.

"Sister, this is for you."

Shi Tiesheng handed her the peanuts with a smile.

"Brother, what is this?"

Seeing his smiling face, Shi Lan was stunned. Then, seeing the handful of peanuts in his hand, she was even more puzzled, "Who gave you these peanuts?"

"A friend I just met."

Shi Tiesheng put his hand on the tire and said, "Don't push the car today. I'll do it myself. I already know what I should do."

"Oh? Ah!"

Shi Lan stood there in a daze. This was the first time she saw Shi Tiesheng push the cart back on his own initiative, and he pushed it so vigorously and happily.

Why are you suddenly so excited?
Looking at the peanuts in her hand, she seemed to have the answer.

ps: "Corner Without the Sun" was published in "Novel Quarterly", which is "Youth Literature". Although it is not as good as top magazines like "People's Literature", it is good enough to be published in "Yenching Literature and Art".

(End of this chapter)