Literary Master 1978

"Lotus Pond" is a bimonthly literary magazine sponsored by the Federation of Literary and Art Circles of BD City, HEB Province. It was founded in 1979. Like many other local literary magazines in this era, its sales volume was not large and it had little influence.

In the more than four years since its publication, the editors are most proud of the fact that the magazine has published the works of Sun Li, the founder of the "Lotus Lake School", Liang Bin, the author of "Red Flag Pu", and Xu Guangyao, the author of "Little Soldier Zhang Ga".

However, there are also works by famous artists that have received average or even no response, such as those published in "Lotus Pond".

The editorial office of "Lotus Pond" is located in a public room of the Lotus Pond Park Management Office in BD City. The Federation of Literary and Art Circles borrowed it from the Park Management Office, and the title of the magazine comes from this.

The editorial office is not big, only about 20 square meters. Four desks occupy the four corners of the room. There are piles of manuscripts on the table, and there are also many in the corners on the floor.

These days, except for a few magazines that will return manuscripts to submitted authors, most magazines do not return manuscripts.

These manuscripts just sit there, no one cares. When enough is accumulated, it will be disposed of.

Even though "Lotus Pond" is just a local magazine with poor sales and average influence, who has so many literary lovers these days?

Not all, but most literature lovers have experience in submitting articles.

Moreover, literary magazines like "Lotus Pond" are very popular among literary lovers who have no publishing experience, because everyone thinks that if you submit to such an unknown magazine, the editor's requirements will be lower, and the probability of being selected for publication will be higher. Bigger.

Today's editorial department is as quiet as usual. The three editors cover three generations, old, middle and young. The oldest, Mao Zhaohuang, is responsible for the editing and review of novel-themed works.

He is tall but very thin, and his Mao suit gives people an empty feeling.

While he was concentrating on reviewing the manuscript, there was a sudden "bang" sound that startled him.

Mao Zhaohuang turned to look at the young editor next door, "Xiaozhuang, how many times have I told you. Just review the manuscript if you want. Don't be surprised. Old Mao, I am old and have a bad heart. I can’t bear to be so frightened!”

Mao Zhaohuang's tone was complaining and Xiaozhuang was a little embarrassed, "Old Mao, I'm sorry, I forgot about it after reading the manuscript."

As he spoke, he shook the manuscript and said, "You really don't blame me today. This manuscript is really outrageous. Listen to me and read it to you..."

Mao Zhaohuang has been an editor for many years, how could he not know the level of submissions by amateurs?

He was about to stop Xiaozhuang, but it was already too late.

"Little pencil, hold it in your hand

Draw pictures on the big round table

…”

Mao Zhaohuang sighed helplessly, Xiaozhuang is good at everything, but his personality is a bit weak.

You can just blind yourself with these things, why are you bringing them out to torture us?

Xiaozhuang finished reading the poem in a melodious tone, and said angrily: "Listen, listen! Is this called poetry? Isn't this just a jingle made up out of nowhere? How dare you submit such a thing?"

Mao Zhaohuang shook his head helplessly.

Like most literary young people of this era, Xiaozhuang is a serious lover of obscure poetry. In his eyes, only those obscure poems that pursue individuality are called poetry.

As for the kind of poetry he just read, seven or eight years ago, it was actually called poetry, and it could even be published in magazines.

Times have changed!

Mao Zhaohuang was sighing in his heart when Qian Yongkang, the prose editor sitting opposite him, scolded Xiaozhuang and said: "Okay, Xiaozhuang. Post less comments and read more manuscripts."

"I'll just tell you."

Xiaozhuang was a junior in the editorial department. Although his personality was a bit weak, he respected his old comrades very much and did not refute Qian Yongkang's accusations.

Qian Yongkang said to Mao Zhaohuang again: "Old Mao, let me show you something good!"

He walked over with a smile and put a magazine on Mao Zhaohuang's desk. Mao Zhaohuang glanced at the magazine and joked: "I read other magazines during work. I have to report this to the editor-in-chief."

Qian Yongkang smiled nonchalantly, "Then you have to be able to find talents!"

There are four desks, one for each of the three editors, and one for the chief editor. The chief editor of "Lotus Pond" is Xu Guangyao, the author of "Little Soldier Zhang Ga".

His editor-in-chief is only part-time and does not work.

"What do you want me to see?" Mao Zhaohuang asked jokingly.

Qian Yongkang opened the magazine, "Look at this!"

Mao Zhaohuang's eyes followed his fingers, "One of the notes on reading a novel...Xu Lingjun".

"Xu Lingjun!" Mao Zhaohuang sighed unconsciously, "His comments are rare."

He said something and looked at it involuntarily.

"A few months ago, I read Comrade Mo Yan's short story "Folk Music" published in "Lotus Pond"... The writing style of the novel is somewhat European, with some traces of imitation, but it is basically realistic.

The theme has an artistic supremacy, and the atmosphere is well set off, which is better than many things written by fledgling writers.

The most successful thing about the whole novel is the image of the little blind man, which gives people an ethereal and ethereal feeling.

…

Recently I read his article "Black Beach", which vigorously revealed the buzzing and dark black beach, and pointed the finger at those social scum who tried to muddy the water.

…”

The article was not long, occupying only two pages, but Mao Zhaohuang became more and more surprised as he read it. After reading the article, he stood up excitedly.

"Mo Yan, this silly boy, got lucky!"

Seeing him like this, Qian Yongkang smiled and said, "I think you are happier than the author Mo Yan!"

"He can be regarded as the author trained by our "Lotus Pond", shouldn't he be happy?" Mao Zhaohuang said with a smile.

"Not only were they trained by us at Lotus Pond, but most importantly, they were trained by you, Lao Mao." Qian Yongkang complimented, and then said with emotion: "Being favored by Xu Lingjun, and even writing a special comment to praise, Mo Yan will I’m afraid I’m going to become famous!”

Mao Zhaohuang nodded happily and agreed with his statement.

Xu Lingjun is not that old, but his reputation and status in China have already surpassed that of ordinary young writers. Mao Zhaohuang remembers that he has now become an editorial board member of "People's Literature".

Look at the list of names on the editorial board. Which one is not a well-known figure in the Chinese literary world?

In the Chinese literary world, there has always been a precedent for seniors to support their juniors, and there have even been good stories about it.

Mao Zhaohuang believes that Xu Lingjun’s affirmation of Mo Yan must be of great significance in his creative career.

He was thinking this, and he didn't know if Mo Yan had read this article. He couldn't wait to tell Mo Yan about it.

It's too slow to write a letter, so I have to make a phone call.

So Mao Zhaohuang said hello to Qian Yongkang, went out and rode his bicycle all the way to the office of the BD Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and used the phone here to call Mo Yan, who was in the army.

Mo Yan was born in rural Shandong and joined the army in 1976. His biggest wish in the army was to be promoted. To this end, he made a lot of efforts, but he still failed to achieve his wish.

By the end of 1979, he was already 25 years old. According to the army's regulations, there was no hope of promotion after the age of 24.

Unable to work and unwilling to return to his hometown, he fell into confusion at that time.

After much deliberation, Mo Yan turned his attention to writing because the army had an incentive policy.

If a soldier publishes an article in a provincial newspaper, he can be credited with third-class merit. If you can publish an article in a military newspaper, you will become famous instantly.

He has been writing this for two years, writing one article after another, but he has never been published by a publication.

It was not until 1981 that Mo Yan's contribution to "Lotus Pond" attracted the attention of the editor Mao Zhaohuang, who wrote to him inviting him to revise the manuscript.

A month later, the short story "Spring Rain and Night Falling" was published in "Lotus Pond". This was Mo Yan's first publicly published work in his life.

The following year, under the guidance of Mao Zhaohuang, Mo Yan published several works such as "Ugly Soldiers", "For Children", and "Snowflakes".

Although there was little response or attention, the publication of many novels brought Mo Yan to the attention of the army leaders. His application for promotion was finally approved, and he was transformed from a soldier to a platoon-level cadre.

This year, Mo Yan has successively published several works such as "Cotton Selling Road", "Folk Music" and "I Am a Sheep". The local magazine "Lotus Pond" is still his main battlefield.

He sometimes wonders when his works will be published in top magazines such as "People's Literature", "Harvest" and "Contemporary"!

Mo Yan felt that God seemed to hear his inner cry. A few months ago, he actually received a letter from an editor of "People's Literature".

Mo Yan could never forget the name of this comrade editor - Tao Yushu. He had never met Comrade Tao Yushu, but in his imagination, this editor must be as compassionate as the Guanyin Bodhisattva in the temple.

His new work "Black Beach" was published in People's Literature this past September. Mo Yan still remembers the joy he felt when he saw his work in the magazine that day.

From 1979 to 1983, after four years of hard work, his works finally appeared in the "People's Literature", the highest palace of Chinese literature. Mo Yan felt that his life had finally ushered in spring.

But the publication of "Black Beach" was different from what he had imagined. The novel did not arouse much discussion or response. Mo Yan's dream of becoming famous all over the world did not come true. He returned to reality. He still needs to write conscientiously. Go down.

"Mo Yan, did you hear what I said?"

Mao Zhaohuang's distorted voice came over the phone, and Mo Yan came back to his senses. The past experiences just now appeared in front of him like a revolving lantern, making him unable to control his mind.

"I heard it! Teacher Mao, I heard it!"

"You should pay attention to this matter. A writer like Xu Lingjun would not easily write a review. I remember that he only wrote one or two review articles before, which caused a great response.

His appreciation for you is enough to bring you to the attention of the literary world, which is not only of great significance to your creative career, but can also change your life.

You can't relax and keep working hard! "

Mao Zhaohuang's voice on the phone was old and earnest, with a hint of cordial expectation.

Mo Yan couldn't help but think of the first time he received a letter from Mao Zhaohuang, the time when Mao Zhaohuang guided him in revising the manuscript, and the time when Mao Zhaohuang took him to Baiyangdian to collect works...

Tears filled his eyes unknowingly, "Teacher Mao, I understand, I will write well! Thank you for your encouragement. I will never forget your help."

Mao Zhaohuang's happy laughter came, "Silly boy, I think you are too happy and confused. You have to thank Xu Lingjun, he is the biggest helper to you."

"You are the Bole who discovered me, and he is the general who led me to the battlefield."

Listening to Mo Yan's words, Mao Zhaohuang laughed loudly and joked: "Are you thanking us or are you praising yourself?"

Mo Yan, who had long been filled with joy and excitement, was somewhat incoherent, but fortunately Mao Zhaohuang didn't care.

At this moment, he was happier than Mo Yan. Seeing this young man he had discovered being valued by a literary celebrity was also an affirmation of his vision and past training.

He encouraged Mo Yan a few more words, and the two ended the call.

After hanging up the phone, while Mo Yan was still immersed in the huge surprise, someone called his name.

"Mo Yan, there is a letter for you!"

Mo Yan came back to his senses and ran to get the letter. Seeing the signature on it, he couldn't help but get excited again.

It was written by editor Tao Yushu.

He couldn't wait to tear open the envelope, and after unfolding the letter, he saw the beautiful and elegant handwriting.

"Comrade Mo Yan:

Hello. It has been more than half a month since the publication of "Black Sand Beach". The editorial department has received many letters from readers talking about this work. Generally speaking, there are more praises than criticisms. I think this is good news for you.

I recently found your previous works published in "Lotus Pond" and read them. The improvement is obvious. I hope you can keep up the good work.

If you have a finished novel, please send it to me. I believe that as your creative level continues to improve, it will become easier and easier to publish. I wish you can write influential works as soon as possible.

In addition, Comrade Xu Lingjun published an article in "Yenching Literature" to evaluate your work, which is another good news.

Handshake!

Tao Yushu

October 7, 1983"