The literary era since 1979

Chapter 73 The teacher is seriously ill
December 10th, Nanluoguxiang.

Under the locust tree at the door were standing Han Yuemin, Su Ya, Fang Yan and others. Fang Hong looked around but still could not see her brother.

"Why hasn't brother come back yet?"

Fang Yan was flipping through the comic book of "Havoc in Heaven" out of boredom.

Fang Hong shook her head and laughed, "This Yan Zi said he wanted to go to the cinema to watch "Lush Mountain Love", but after we finally got everyone together, he disappeared."

Compared to them, Han Yuemin was more nervous.

The next movie we are going to watch is "Lush Mountain Love", which is an unprecedented love-themed movie and also features the first screen kiss.

It's like a bolt from the blue!

From the moment of its premiere, it has captured the hearts of countless young men and women.

"Lush Mountain Love" has become a must-see movie for young couples. If you haven't seen it, you can't be considered a couple.

Han Yuemin couldn't help but feel excited as he was about to watch such a movie with Fang Hong. This was the first time in his life.

"Yanzi, please come back soon."

"I don't know what I'm going to do tonight without you."

Just as he was looking forward to it, Aunt Wang's loud voice echoed in the alley: "Fangyanjia, answer the phone!"

"I'm coming!"

Fang Hong ran over in a hurry.

Nowadays, people use public paging phones to make phone calls in the alleys, and there is a public telephone station every three or four alleys.

As soon as Fang Hong answered the phone, she could tell the caller was speaking in dialect:

"Can't come tonight?"

"Is it okay? Are you coming back for dinner tonight?"

"........."

"Okay, I got it. I'll tell mom. And remember to come back early in the evening."

"Sister, that's it for now. I'm hanging up now."

After hanging up the phone, Fangyan turned around and walked back to the ward.

I had originally planned to visit Shen Yanbing this afternoon to discuss my transfer to October, but I didn't expect to run into this -

Shen Yanbing had a low fever and was unconscious in bed.

Fang Yan noticed something was wrong and immediately called Shen Shuang and sent her to Yanjing Hospital, where he saw Shen Yanbing lying on the hospital bed with a thin oxygen tube inserted in her bulging nostrils and an IV in her left hand.

Compared to the coma when he was first brought in, he is now much more awake.

After a while, the nurse took away the tube and the director gave medical advice, requiring the patient to stay in the hospital for rest and not to see visitors during this period.

Fangyan nodded repeatedly and saw them out.

"Come and sit."

Shen Yanbing pointed at the chair and said, "It's the same old problem. Emphysema, frequent wheezing, lack of oxygen. Just breathe some oxygen and it will be fine."

Fangyan picked up the thermos and silently made ginseng slices for him according to the doctor's instructions.

"Where are Shen Shuang and Xiaoman?" Shen Yanbing asked.

"Maiheng is still at home. Brother Shen and the others need to go back. They will be back as soon as they are settled."

Fangyan placed the cup on the bedside table and sat down.

Shen Shuang and Chen Xiaoman are not young either, both in their fifties. They have to take care of both the elderly and the children. They have limited energy and their bodies cannot take it.

So he discussed with Shen Shuang and decided to take turns to take care of her. He, the disciple, would take care of her during the day, and her family would come to take care of her late at night.

“This is too hard for you.”

"Teacher, please don't say that. I am doing the hard work for you. This is what I should do."

"That won't work either. It won't delay your work." "No, not at all."

Fangyan told the truth and reported the situation to the editorial department. Zhou Yanru approved the leave without saying a word.

As for when to visit the editorial office of October, we will decide after Shen Yanbing recovers.

"Wang Meng, Su Yu and others have asked me for my opinion on transferring you to October."

Shen Yanbing spoke in a calm tone.

"You also think I should go to October?"

When Fangyan heard this, he realized that the teacher also agreed to transfer him from "Yenching Literature" to "October".

The reason is very simple. It is not only because of the significance of the journal "October", but also because compared with "Yenching Literature", although "October" is a newly established publication, its size and scale are no less than those of large-scale literary journals such as "Harvest" and "Contemporary". "Yenching Literature" is only a magazine under the jurisdiction of the Yenching Federation of Literary and Art Circles and is completely unable to achieve this level.

Even though it carries the banner of reflective literature, the upper limit of "Yenching Literature" is only the lower limit of "October".

"It doesn't mean that you can't make progress if you continue to stay in Yenching Literature."

Shen Yanbing said slowly, "But if you can participate in the establishment of a journal from the beginning, and then grow it, you can grow with it and accumulate experience and abilities in various aspects. Then, when the time comes, if you are transferred to host any magazine, you will be able to take charge on your own."

"Teacher, I understand."

The dialect can feel the intention of the training.

Shen Yanbing nodded with satisfaction, then asked him to bring paper and pen, helped her stand up, and prepared to write a letter.

"Teacher, you are still receiving an IV drip."

Fang Yan said, "How about you dictate it and I'll write it down?"

"Alright."

Shen Yanbing felt weak all over and had no choice but to agree.

The first letter was written to the Writers Association.

"Dear comrades, in order to promote the creation of novels, I will donate my royalties of 25 yuan to the Writers Association as a fund to set up a novel literary prize to reward the best novel each year..."

I know that I will not recover from my illness, so I sincerely hope that our country's social and political literature will prosper."

Fangyan's heart sank and he finished writing with a grim face.

As for the second letter, Shen Bingyan had to write it herself no matter what, even though her right hand was trembling and didn't obey her commands.

It is unknown what was written.

All we know is that at the end of this letter, he wrote the three words "Shen Yanbing", and on the letter to the Writers Association, he signed it with the two words "Mao Dun".

Shen Yanbing solemnly warned, "Put these two letters away carefully. When Shen Shuang and Xiao Man come later, you should give them to them. Tell them that they can only report it after I die, and not hand it over while I am alive."

"Okay, teacher."

Fangyan nodded solemnly.

"It must be submitted after I die!"

Shen Yanbing seemed worried and emphasized again: "Anyway, I will die and know nothing. If these two wishes can be fulfilled, it will be the glory of my life."

Fangyan didn’t know what his other wish was, but as for the Mao Dun Literature Prize, he would do his best no matter what.

After signing these two names, Shen Yanbing said with a smile: "This is also my last and most meaningful signature."

"Teacher, please don't say that."

Fangyan handed over the ginseng slices soaked in water and the medicine.

"Birth, aging, sickness and death are all inevitable."

Shen Yanbing showed an open-minded smile, "But don't worry, even if I have to die, I will wait until your "The Fission of the Great Qin" is published in "People's Literature" and until I finish writing my memoirs. Otherwise, I will die with regrets."

　Thanks to Huangzu Feixue for the 100 starting coins.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)