The literary era since 1979

In the early spring morning, dewdrops gently kiss the edge of the petals, and a flower path quietly unfolds before your eyes.

"Ah, it's already this late!"

Gong Xing's forehead was covered with sweat. He lay lazily on the bed and stood up weakly. "I'll go make breakfast for you."

"No need." Fang Yan put on his clothes. "You can sleep a little longer. I'll go to the company cafeteria to eat."

Then, with Gong Xing watching him, he picked up his briefcase and car keys, walked away from Shichahai in a hurry.

When we arrived at Renwenshe, there was already a long line at the cafeteria window.

The men and women all did the same thing, raised their arms high, stretched out their lunch boxes containing the tickets, and handed them into the small window together.

Fangyan finished his meal and started to greet an acquaintance passing by. At this moment, Liu Xinwu, who was sitting by the window, suddenly waved to him.

"Xinwu?!"

"It's me, it's me. I just took up my post at People's Literature a few days ago."

Liu Xinwu said, "But it's really unfortunate that you just went to northern Shaanxi and I just arrived at the editorial department right after you did."

Fangyan said: "I'm sorry I couldn't go to greet you with my colleagues in the editorial department."

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter."

Liu Xinwu smiled and said, "Speaking of which, when I start working in the editorial department of People's Literature, I will need your help a lot."

Fang Yan sat face to face with him. "You are being too polite. Of course I will fully cooperate and assist you!"

"Then I won't say thank you. It will seem strange if I say it."

Liu Xinwu said: "In fact, when my superiors asked me to be the editor-in-chief of People's Literature, I was a little panicked at first. Before this, I had never had the experience of presiding over a publication, not to mention that this time I was asked to preside over People's Literature."

Fangyan gave some sincere words of encouragement. In short, don't be scared, you have your buddies with you, you will definitely win this time!

Liu Xinwu said: "I think so too. When I think of you being in People's Literature, I feel more at ease."

While eating breakfast, Fangyan asked him indirectly about his plans and prospects for People's Literature. After all, a new official has three things to do when he takes office.

However, unexpectedly, Liu Xinwu did not intend to start a war and followed the rules.

"Right now, the situation of People's Literature is very good. I can't do anything rash. If I make a mistake, wouldn't it be a waste of the hard work of Editor-in-Chief Wang, Yan Zi and all the comrades in the editorial department? So it should be the same as when Editor-in-Chief Wang was in office. Everything should remain the same as before."

"Great idea, editor-in-chief!"

Fangyan gave a thumbs up half-jokingly.

"Hey, don't tease me. We are just friends, so it's okay to call each other by our titles at work."

Liu Xinwu waved his hand and then asked about the gains from this trip to northern Shaanxi.

"Not bad. The comrades from the Shaanxi Writers Association helped us compile a lot of good manuscripts, including root-seeking literature, regional literature, and local literature. In short, they all have a northwest wind quality to a certain extent." Fangyan suggested, "We can publish a special topic on 'Northwest Wind' in the next issue."

"Okay, I'll do as you say!"

Liu Xinwu suddenly thought of Lu Yao. "I heard from others that your trip to northern Shaanxi was mainly for his manuscript, right?"

Fangyan nodded and briefly introduced "The Ordinary World", emphasizing that there are three parts in total and he only has the first part on hand.

"Then I must appreciate it carefully."

Liu Xinwu rubbed his hands, "Since Life, Lu Yao has rarely released any works. This time, after three years of hard work, he must be showing his talent."

After breakfast, Fang Yan was pulled to the editorial department by the impatient Liu Xinwu, which immediately attracted a swarm of people from the department.

"The Ordinary World", "The Mistake by the River", and other novels, essays, and poems by writers from northern Shaanxi were all divided up.

After a while, the crowd who were passing around "The Mistake by the River" began to burst into exclamations, one after another, continuously.

"Yu Hua actually wrote a novel of hallucinatory realism!"

“I thought he would continue to stay in magical realism for a long time after writing The Seventh Night, but I didn’t expect him to come out of it so soon.”

"It must be Mr. Fang who woke him up at the Xiangshan Conference last year. Now he is truly a pioneering and avant-garde literary writer."

"This novel about police solving crimes has a lot of flavor to it, like Mr. Fang's "Looking for the Gun." I guess you received a lot of guidance when you were writing it?"

"........."

After some discussion among the crowd who were amazed by Yu Hua, they all agreed that "The Mistake by the River" should be the highlight of the next issue of "People's Literature".

Fangyan suggested that "The Mistake by the River" be put in the next issue. The next issue of "People's Literature" will focus on the Northwest Wind special topic, and the front page will be Lu Yao's "Ordinary World". This is also the condition that Lu Yao and the Shaanxi Writers Association agreed to let "People's Literature" publish it.

"Teacher Fang is right."

Although Wang Fu, Chen Xiaoman and others have not read "The Ordinary World", the shadows of the trees, the names of the people, Lu Yao's novel, and the perspective of the dialect make them unconditionally believe that "The Ordinary World" is definitely an excellent work that is no less than Yu Hua's "The Mistake by the River".

Zhu Wei opened his mouth and was hesitating about what to say when Wang Xiaoping suddenly raised an objection:
"Teacher Fang, I think there are some problems with Lu Yao's novel."

"Problem? What problem?"

Everyone turned their eyes to Wang Xiaoping at the same time.

"Personally, I think The Ordinary World is written in a very ordinary way."

Wang Xiaoping bluntly said, "The narrative technique is mediocre and straightforward, without any drama. Although the description is very detailed, it is like "Life", lacking in literary quality, a little rough, lacking in dexterity, and although it is plain and unadorned, it does not seem to have any new ideas."

"I felt the same way. Although I was somewhat moved after reading it, it was a bit... a bit artificial."

"This manuscript is just like its name, with ordinary words and a plain plot. It is really ordinary."

"Lu Yao spent three years writing this? This shouldn't be possible!"

Seeing that the editors who had read "Ordinary World" criticized it more than praised it, those who had not read it handed over "The Mistake by the River" and took turns reading it.

The result is that, as top editors in the industry, they all praised "The Mistake by the River" and gave it rave reviews, but only a few people, such as Liu Xinwu and Chen Xiaoman, felt that the ordinary words were full of magic, simplicity, heaviness, and great sadness and truth.

But the response in the entire editorial department was generally lukewarm, and people felt that this kind of romantic realism-themed work was already outdated.

"In fact, there is a tortuous and discordant episode about this "Ordinary World." Zhu Wei truthfully reported that Lu Yao's manuscript was rejected by Zhou Changyi of "Contemporary".

"This... this... Although this behavior is reckless and reckless, the logic behind this behavior is not wrong."

Under the scrutiny of Liu Xinwu, Fang Yan and others, Wang Xiaoping still believed that "The Ordinary World" was not worthy of the front page of "People's Literature".

There are many people who hold this view. What kind of level is "Ordinary World"? Is it worthy of being on the front page of "People's Literature" like "The Mistake by the River" and "The Splitting of the Qin Dynasty"? Whether in terms of subject matter, form, quality, or content, if it were not written by a great writer like Lu Yao, it would probably be difficult to be published in "People's Literature" and would be rejected directly like "Contemporary".

Some people even stood up for the dialect, thinking that the trip to northern Shaanxi was a waste of time.

"How could it be in vain?"

Fangyan disagrees. Who says that "Ordinary World" is old? This novel is great!
"Would you consider putting such a work on the front page of People's Literature?"

"Yes, or we can do as Zhu Wei said and divide The Ordinary World into three parts, and make adjustments based on readers' feedback. If The Ordinary World can really become a nationwide sensation like Life, it won't be too late for us to make adjustments!"

"I agree!"

"I agree!"

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

"........."

Everyone was whispering to each other, and some even thought that Fang Yan had made a mistake because he was blinded by Lu Yao's fame and friendship.

Just like collecting antiques, even the most great masters can make mistakes sometimes.

It’s just that some people dare to face up to the fact that they have been pricked, while others, after getting pricked, are afraid of being embarrassed and losing face and don’t say anything about it.

"I don't think Teacher Fang made a mistake this time, nor do I think Lu Yao's new work is a failure."

Liu Xinwu frowned. "Indeed, the narrative style of The Ordinary World is very traditional, even a little outdated, and it follows the old path of romantic realism. From a purely literary perspective, there is no innovation to be desired. But based on its profound portrayal of the touching reality of life on the Loess Plateau in this era, it is still a good work. At least in Sun Shaoping, I can see the shadow of myself when I was a sent-down youth in the countryside. This story is very ordinary, but there is also a kind of heroism in this ordinary story."

Then he slapped the table and said, "That is what Romain Rolland said, 'Look at the true face of the world and love the world.'"

"Editor Liu said it well!"

With the support of Liu Xinwu, Fangyan overcame all objections and decided to put "Ordinary World" on the front page of the next issue of "People's Literature".

Some people still wanted to dissuade him: "But Teacher Fang..."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "I know you are anxious, but don't worry. I have my reasons for doing this."

Zhu Wei added: "Yes, Mr. Fang plans to cooperate with China Central Radio and Television to launch a radio drama of the novel before it is published."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar, and everyone stared at Fangyan with wide eyes, watching the radio drama of "Ordinary World". Is this possible?

…………

It was already afternoon when we arrived at China Central Radio and Television.

Before visiting, Fangyan made an appointment with the radio station's arts department in advance.

At this moment, Director Zhou led the editors of various columns of the Literature and Art Department and waited at the entrance of the building early to welcome them.

"This is the director of the News and Newspaper Digest program..."

"This is Comrade Ye Yongmei, the person in charge of the station's 'Long-running Broadcast' program."

"Nice to meet you."

Fang Yan shook hands with them one by one, then turned to Director Zhou and said, "I am really sorry for disturbing you by coming here this time."

"No way, how can it be a disturbance?"

Director Zhou greeted with a smile, "It should be what we asked for. Thank you very much, Mr. Fang, for sending us such a good manuscript."

Ye Yongmei and others deeply agree with this. Although radio stations still dominate the country today, with the increasing popularity of televisions across the country, the rise of television stations is unstoppable. In time, they will definitely replace radio stations. If China Media Group wants to defend itself from the siege of numerous television stations and compete with TV dramas, the only option is probably radio dramas.

Novels such as "The Hidden Corner", "The Dark War" and "Once Upon a Time in China" written in the Cha Cha dialect have helped radio stations in Liaoning Province, East Guangdong and other places to set new records in listening.

Under the crowd's heated gazes, Fang Yan took out the manuscript of "Ordinary World" from his briefcase, but did not submit it immediately.

Director Zhou's tone was full of anticipation: "I wonder what novel Teacher Fang wants us to collaborate on this time?"

Fang Yan said: "There are two in total. One is the "Major Crime Squad" series which is currently being serialized in "Mystery World"."

Upon hearing about the "Serious Crime Unit", Ye Yongmei and other editors of the "Long Serial Broadcast" were overjoyed. Once "Serious Crime Unit" was published, it immediately became popular all over the country. If the trilogy of "Infernal Affairs", "Lost" and "Listen to the Wind" set off a nationwide spy war craze, then "Serious Crime Unit" is the leader of today's police and gangster detective novels, leading the entire trend of police and gangster criminal investigation literature, and thus won the first Golden Shield Literature Award.

This is a literary award established by Woodpecker, the only large-scale public security legal literature journal in the domestic public security system!
If the CCTV could adapt "Criminal Investigation Team" into a radio drama, the ratings would not only be high, but terrifying!
"And the other one?"

Director Zhou's eyes were fiery and he rubbed his hands.

"This one is not mine, but Lu Yao's new work."

Fangyan smiled.

At first, Director Zhou, Ye Yongmei and others were disappointed when they heard that the novel was not in dialect, but when they heard that it was Lu Yao's work, they suddenly became excited. You know, Lu Yao's "Life", whether it was a radio drama or a movie, had caused a huge response.

After a brief exchange, Fang Yan handed over the manuscript of "Ordinary World":

"Here are some of my reflections on the novel I wrote. I hope they can help you write your radio script."

“This really couldn’t be better!”

Director Zhou was so happy that he assigned the task of adapting "Ordinary World" and "Serious Crime Squad" into radio dramas.

Ye Yongmei borrowed the manuscript of "Ordinary World" temporarily and arranged for several young people from the "Long-running Broadcast" program to copy it word for word. She then turned her attention to the review written by Fang Yan for "Ordinary World". She saw that it was clearly written:

"I personally believe that this world belongs to ordinary people. The world of ordinary people is of course an ordinary world, but it will always be a great world. As a worker in this world, I will always regard the world of ordinary people as a sacred God created by me... No matter how many difficulties, pains, or even misfortunes there are in life, don't be afraid, face them with a smile, but we still have reason to be proud of the land and years we live in... The best way to eliminate fear is to face it, and persistence is victory!"

"........."

Just this one sentence immediately made her feel fond of and amazed by "Ordinary World".

What kind of novel did Lu Yao write to deserve the unstinting praise in dialect? (End of this chapter)