Back to 80: My Literary Life

The next morning, as soon as Fang Minghua returned to his room after breakfast, Song Tangtang knocked on the door and came in. Wearing a 65-style military uniform, he still looked dashing.

It seems whiter than what I saw last year?

"Fang Minghua, do you have any plans today?" the girl asked.

"I plan to go to the "October" magazine first." Fang Minghua briefly told Song Tangtang about his submission.

"I don't know if "October" is willing to publish it." Fang Minghua finally said.

"I've read your novel. You wrote it well, so it should be fine." The girl said, "I replied to you a letter, have you received it?"

"No." Fang Minghua shook his head: "I guess I have already come to Yanjing after you sent it."

"Oh, the letter contains my understanding of your novel. Do you think it is right?" Song Tangtang sat on the bed opposite Fang Minghua and began to talk.

Crazy, love, gun, dream

Fang Minghua listened carefully, and a look of appreciation slowly appeared on his face.

After the girl finished speaking, Fang Minghua said with a smile: "You understand it right, that's what I mean. Have you read stream-of-consciousness novels?"

"Actually, I have never heard of stream of consciousness, but I have read a novel with a very similar writing technique to yours." Song Tangtang said.

"It was written by a writer from Xiangjiang and it's called "The Opposition"."

"Have you also watched "The Fallout"?!" Fang Minghua was a little surprised.

One of the masterpieces of the Hong Kong Sunglasses King, "In the Mood for Love" is adapted from "The Fall"!

However, few people have read this book these days. After all, it was published in Hong Kong, except for some books collected in university libraries.

Song Tangtang seemed to see Fang Minghua's doubts, so he said, "My mother is a professor in the Chinese Department of the People's Liberation Army's Xijing Political College. I like to go there to read."

I see!

Fang Minghua understood.

"Let's go." Song Tangtang stood up.

"what?"

"Go to October magazine"

"I can go alone. I heard from Meng Hongxia that you will return to southern Xinjiang in two days. It is not easy to come to Yanjing. You should take a good look around. Tiananmen and the Summer Palace are both good." Fang Minghua declined.

Song Tangtang shut up Fang Minghua directly with one sentence: "My grandma's home is in Yanjing, and I often visited it when I was a child."

"Okay, you come with me."

The two of them left the guest house. The weather was good today. Yesterday's yellow sand sky finally stopped. The sun rose from the east and the whole city was bathed in the morning sun.

The "October" magazine was located near Madian Bridge on the North Third Ring Road. The two of them took a bus and rushed there. When they arrived at the editorial office of the magazine, they were received by a thin middle-aged man wearing glasses. His name was Deputy Liu. Editor-in-Chief.

"You are Comrade Xiao Fang, sit down, sit down." Chief Editor Liu poured a cup of hot tea for each of them and asked with concern: "Are you coming to Yanjing to attend any seminar?"

"No, I was invited by the General Political Department Repertory Theater to watch their play "Youth."" Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Xiao Fang, your novel "Youth" is really well written. After it was published, it caused a strong response in the society. Our editorial department received a lot of letters from readers. We also opened a column to discuss your novel."

"Thank you, Editor Liu. I wonder if you have received the new novel "The Sun Also Rises" I sent you?" Fang Minghua asked tactfully.

Editor Liu was talking clearly about "Youth" just now, but when Fang Minghua mentioned the newly written novel, he immediately hesitated. He pondered for a moment and said:

"Xiao Fang, I originally planned to write you a letter. Now that you are here, let's talk face to face. Your new novel is composed of four stories. They are all very well written, but when they are intertwined, they seem... It’s a bit messy. What our editorial department is suggesting is that you break it into four independent short stories and polish them, and we can publish it!”

ah?

When Yu Hua received a call from the editor-in-chief of "Yanjing Literature", he was invited to go to Yanjing to revise the manuscript, but he was only asked to change the ending to be brighter.

And you asked me to just split the novel into four parts!

Split into four separate novels?

What's the point? How is it different from ordinary realist works?

"Sorry, Editor Liu, if I go by what you said, I think the essence of the novel has been lost." Fang Minghua refused.

"That Xiaofang, we can't publish it."

Since they couldn't reach an agreement, Fang Minghua planned to leave. Editor Liu returned the manuscript to him and sent him out the door enthusiastically.

"Xiao Fang, we didn't reach an agreement this time. You are welcome to continue to contribute next time."

"If there is a suitable one, I will, bye!"

The two said goodbye politely.

After leaving the magazine door, Song Tangtang, who had been silent just now, asked: "Fang Minghua, what should you do now? Why don't you try another magazine? Anyway, there are many in Yanjing."

Fang Minghua looked at the cars passing by on the street, pondered for a moment and shook his head: "The success rate of just bumping into each other like a headless fly is not high. Go back to the guest house and think about it first."

"Why are you going back to the guest house? The weather is nice today. I will take you around Yanjing. Don't worry, I think your novel will definitely be published!"

"Why?"

"Because you are Fang Minghua."

Ah?

More confident than myself?

However, Fang Minghua is not too worried. Wasn't "The Ordinary World" also rejected n times?

"Okay, let's go shopping. Where are we going?"

"Tiananmen, visit the Forbidden City, and then we go boating in Beihai Park!"

"All right."

The two got on another bus.

After getting off at the Chang'an Street East bus station, the two of them walked to Tiananmen Square.

At this time and in this era, there were still very few tourists, and the square seemed very wide. There were more young people sitting on the ground, concentrating on reading books. There was also a group of students who looked like students in a circle. In the middle, there was a girl with long hair who was reciting loudly. A poem of:

I am your new ideal

Freshly freed from the cobwebs of myth;

I am the germ of the ancient lotus under your snow quilt;

I am your smile hanging with tears;

I am the newly painted snow-white starting line;

It's the crimson dawn

is gushing;

——Motherland!

"Motherland, My Dear Motherland" written by Shu Ting.

Fang Minghua stood aside and listened quietly for a while.

"How was your recitation?" Song Tangtang asked standing nearby.

"It sounds pretty good."

"Well, I like this poem very much." Song Tangtang said again.

"Why?"

"Full of love and strength!"

Ah?

Fang Minghua couldn't help but turn his head and look at Song Tangtang beside him. At this time, the sun just shone on the side of her face, adding to the bright light.

The two walked around Tiananmen Square and then bought tickets to enter the Forbidden City.

Fang Minghua had visited the Forbidden City several times before he came to this era. At that time, there were people everywhere, but today there are obviously far fewer people.

Ahead was the Meridian Gate Square. He found a group of people gathered in the center of the square, and walked forward out of curiosity.

He was a little surprised when he saw what he saw. I saw a small black car with a red flag parked in front, and a sign beside it with large calligraphy written on it: "As long as it does not affect the work of our office, the audience will be charged 50 cents for one ride!"

The business actually reached the Forbidden City!

I don’t know whether it’s because the fees are too high or because cars are so valuable in the eyes of ordinary people. There are so many people watching, but no one dares to go up and experience them.

"I didn't come to the Forbidden City last year. I guess it was just launched this year." Song Tangtang said at the side: "How about, Fang Minghua, let me take you around?"

"Forget it, it's too ostentatious."

"That's fine. When I return to Xijing one day, I'll borrow Brother Red Army's big red flag and take you on a tour of our ancient city!" the girl said with a smile.

"Okay. It's a deal!"

The two of them chatted and laughed while walking around the Forbidden City. When it was twelve o'clock at noon, they went out and found a restaurant on Chang'an Street to eat noodles with soybean paste, and then went to Beihai Park.

Song Tangtang didn't go anywhere, so he went straight to the boat rental office by the lake, rented a small boat, and the two of them rowed one after the other.

"When I was a kid, I was at my grandma's house, and my favorite place to go boating was here." Song Tangtang said while rowing, "I also like to sing this song," and then she started humming softly:

Let's paddle together

The boat pushes away the waves

The beautiful white pagoda is reflected in the sea

Surrounded by green trees and red walls

"Fang Minghua, let's sing together."

At this time, Song Tangtang was not as cool as when she was in southern Xinjiang. She was as happy as a little girl who had just eaten candy.

Thanks to mailie0210, drinking tea and walking around with birds, and Ax King level 6 (eliminated) for the reward.

Thanks to Fat Boy Elf, Book Friends 150213204836927, Think Too Much 666, Sanletang, Xianzhou Old Master, Unbeatable Invincible Little God Cat, Book Friends 20170429063802636 for their monthly votes