The literary era since 1979

Chapter 88: The lights are still on after midnight

On March 3, the sun shines into the small building of the publishing house.

The entire October editorial office was empty at this time.

The editors of various groups all went out to various parts of the country according to the commissioned articles plan before the New Year. Only the dialect section was left, so he postponed his plan to go to northern Shaanxi.

"His."

After opening the envelope, Fangyan, along with the spread of "Huaxia Youth", has shown signs of becoming popular all over the country.

The letters received were not only about "The Great Qin Splitting", but also included bold letters expressing love poems.

There are also many who confide their inner distress, confusion and grievances, and completely treat him as a confidant and life mentor.

For example, a girl from Anshan named "Chen Xiaoxu" also attached a poem, "Three years have passed since autumn in my dream."

"Because I'm afraid you'll lose me in the colorful crowd,
That's why I became so pale and weak.

Because there are so many things I want to whisper to you.

So I can only remain silent..."

A young girl's love is always expressed in poetry, and she smiles in dialect.

I kept this letter from Lin Daiyu.

Just when I was thinking about how to reply to her, I heard Uncle Dong's voice coming from downstairs.

"Teacher Xiao Fang, your phone is ringing!"

"coming!"

Fang Yan hurried downstairs. When he answered the phone, the smile on his face froze instantly. Chen Xiaoman's crying voice echoed in his ears.

When they rushed to the hospital, Shen Shuang was pacing back and forth at the door of the ward, her face so gloomy that water seemed to drip out of it.

"Brother Shen, what's going on?"

"Thank God, we managed to save him."

Shen Shuang forced a smile and said, "Come on, follow me in."

Fang Yan shook his head and said, "Let the teacher rest for a while. I won't go in and disturb you."

"That's what Dad meant."

Shen Shuang patted his shoulder and said, "When you come, I'll take you to see him right away."

Fangyan's heart skipped a beat and he walked into the ward anxiously.

"Dad, Yanzi is here."

Shen Shuang moved lightly and called softly.

Shen Yanbing's already old face became even paler, his eyes were dim, and his withered hands were shaking in the air.

"Teacher, I'm here."

Fangyan held back her tears and grabbed his hand.

"I read what you said in Huaxia Youth. Well said!" Shen Yanbing looked at the ceiling with lifeless eyes. "You have such awareness and dreams. It's worth it for me to accept you as my disciple."

"Teacher, it is my honor to study beside you!"

There is a crying tone when speaking in dialect.

"I have nothing left to teach you."

Shen Yanbing said: "You are now a mature writer, full of creativity, able to handle a variety of topics and genres, and have a unique personal style. Given time, you will surely become a great writer. What you lack now is only life experience. Let time cultivate you."

Then he asked faintly, "Have you finished writing "Lush"?"

"It's written. The first draft is already written."

Fangyan answered excitedly.

"Okay, I'll publish it in People's Literature then."

Shen Yanbing said weakly: "It's a pity that I may not have the chance to see your excellent works in the future."

"Dad, please don't say that. It will be fine."

There was a hint of sadness in Shen Shuang's tone.

"If I am discharged from the hospital in April, by October, it will be exactly half a year, and I can finish writing my memoirs by myself."

Shen Yanbing said helplessly: "What a pity, what a pity."

Fang Yan was ready to take over the task, but Shen Yanbing didn't want to delay him, so he handed the burden of the memoir to Shen Shuang and made all the preparations in advance, including recordings and materials.

Based on these things, the unfinished part can be completed quickly.

Shen Yanbing said slowly: "The name of the memoir is "The Road I Traveled"."

"Yes, Dad!"

Shen Shuang agreed with tears in her eyes.

"I still have some specific details to tell him about the memoirs." Shen Yanbing turned his head to Fang Yan, "I wrote two letters before, one of which is to be sent to Comrade Guangnian and others in the Writers Association. Please go there for me now."

"Teacher, I'm going right away."

Fangyan's heart sank. He wiped away his tears and stood up.

The Writers Association had just been reorganized and restarted, so it only had a temporary office location, which was on Shatan North Street, together with the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, squeezed into rows of wooden houses.

Once his identity was revealed, the journey was smooth sailing. After all, Shen Yanbing was the chairman of the Writers Association.

Fang Yan met Zhang Guangnian, and also met Feng Mu, Kong Luosun, Ouyang Shan and other leaders. They all cared about Shen Yanbing's health, and their faces were full of worry. "You all should take a look too."

Zhang Guangnian sighed and handed the letter out.

Feng Mu and the others read the letter quickly, their faces changed drastically, and their eyes turned to Zhang Guangnian. Zhang Guangnian immediately came up with an idea. While the letter was being forwarded to the higher authorities, the Writers Association immediately held a meeting to study the matter.

"Comrade Luo Sun, you will go to visit Mr. Mao on behalf of the Writers Association."

"it is good!"

Kong Luosun readily agreed, then stared at him meaningfully, "You are Mr. Mao's disciple, so please lead the way."

Fang Yan nodded solemnly and suddenly noticed that there was something wrong with the looks of literary giants such as Zhang Guangnian, Feng Mu, and Ouyang Shan, especially the way they looked at him.

It’s as if he is looking at the successor!

Suddenly, he understood Shen Yanbing's intention of asking him to deliver the letter.

Entrust an orphan to someone else? !
This may be the last bit of strength he can give.

…………

After returning to the hospital and bringing Kong Luosun to the ward, Fang Yan could no longer hold back and hurried to the window.

"Huh, huh."

With every breath he took, his eyes were slightly red, and he tried his best to control his emotions. His shoulders were shaking and his whole face was twitching slightly.

At this moment, a gentle female voice came from behind.

"Comrade, are you okay?"

Fangyan turned around and saw that the woman in front of him looked familiar. She looked like Sister Chang'e in Journey to the West. Her face was as cold as ice and she looked otherworldly, like a fairy who was not of this world. The only thing that was out of place was her feet, which were covered in thick plaster.

Leaning on a cane, he asked with concern on his face:

"Do you want me to call a doctor for you?"

"No, thank you."

Fangyan forced a smile.

"Pening, don't disturb others casually."

Mother Qiu supported her daughter and walked out.

"But mom, he..."

Qiu Peining looked back.

"Don't disturb him. The child is sad now. Let him be alone." Mother Qiu patted the back of her hand.

"No way?"

Qiu Pei Ning asked doubtfully, "Shouldn't he cry if he's sad? I saw that he was very stable and he was smiling at me just now."

"You're already 23, why are you still acting like you haven't grown up yet?"

Mother Qiu couldn't help but sigh, "When people grow up, they lose a lot of rights, including the right to cry in public, especially for men. Silence is their last dignity, and also the loudest cry."

Then he looked back at Fang Yan and said, "That child is just like Ruoxue. No matter what happens, there won't be any ripples on her face."

"Ruoxue?!"

Qiu Peining looked at him in silence, and thought that he, like Bai Ruoxue, might be enduring pain that he shouldn't have to endure at this age. She frowned and couldn't help feeling sad.

7 days later, at midnight.

The lights in the corridor were dim.

Suddenly, there was a sound of trivial footsteps.

Qiu Peining was awakened. She opened her eyes and saw a series of blurry figures passing by the window. One of the figures looked familiar.

"Four, five, six, seven, seven..."

Shen Yanbing was already in a state of semi-coma and semi-consciousness. Sometimes he was counting, sometimes he was thinking about the "Memoirs", sometimes he was worried about Shen Shuang's family, and sometimes he was worried about Fang Yan. His voice was getting weaker and weaker.

"Teacher, I'm here! I'm here!"

Fang Yan half-knelt in front of the bed, recalling every little thing with him, especially his protection of her, and tears filled her eyes.

"I heard from Lao Ding that when you first started the training institute, you wrote a couplet, recasting it..."

Shen Yanbing felt weak and powerless.

“It is our duty to restore the glory of literature.”

Fangyan held his hand and suddenly felt it tighten.

"remember!"

Shen Yanbing grabbed his disciple's hand with all his strength.

Then, like a burned-out candle, the flame went out.

Suddenly, they were separated forever. Fang Yan could no longer control herself. She buried her face in his body and cried like a child.

"teacher!!"

In the dark night, the lights seemed to suddenly light up.