Literary Master 1978

The newspapers and periodicals room of Yanda Library has a constant flow of readers all year round. Most of them are teachers and students from the school. Most of the students bring lunch boxes and textbooks, and the teachers each hold a water glass, which is easy to identify.

As soon as Lin Chaoyang entered, he noticed a middle-aged woman. The Lenin outfit she wore was a bit old-fashioned, but it gave off a calm temperament unique to intellectuals.

Lin Chaoyang walked over and knocked on the table. The middle-aged woman looked up at Lin Chaoyang and nodded knowingly.

The two of them left the newspaper room and came to the door of the library.

"Hello, I am Lin Chaoyang, you are..."

"We wrote by letter. I am Li Xiaolin from Harvest magazine." Li Xiaolin stretched out her hand to Lin Chaoyang.

When "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit" was submitted to "Shanghai Literature and Art", Li Xiaolin was still the editor of "Shanghai Literature and Art". Later, she followed her father, Mr. Ba Jin, to "Harvest" to participate in the re-publication. During this period, she wrote to Lin Chaoyang twice.

Lin Chaoyang smiled and said: "Welcome to Yanjing!"

After exchanging a few words, Li Xiaolin took the initiative to talk about "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit".

Lin Chaoyang had previously published "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit" in "Shanghai Literature and Art" under the pen name "Wang Qinglai". Although it was not as widespread in the literary circles as "Scar" and "Wrangler", it was still quite popular among readers. Welcome and favorable review.

"I wrote to Li Guowen a few days ago, and he also mentioned your novel, which he praised very highly."

In his early years, Li Guowen was famous for his short story "Reelection", which satirized bureaucracy. Later, he encountered misfortune and stopped writing for a long time.

He only resumed writing in 1976. In the 1980s, he won the first Mao Dun Literature Award for his work "Spring in Winter".

"I don't have much creative experience, and there are still many immature places in the novel."

If someone wants to praise you, you must be polite, Lin Chaoyang said.

"Don't be so modest. I actually agree with what Li Guowen said in his letter."

Li Xiaolin talked about Li Guowen's views on "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit". He believed that the novel written by Lin Chaoyang was inspected by superiors and started with the harm caused by the team's efforts to clean up the "capitalist tail" on the private land. It started with civilian women. Qiu Ju accepts her death and goes in and out of public institutions to seek justice as clues.

The content of the novel has both the depth of realism and a touch of folk legend. Although I thought it was simple when I first read it, I found it endlessly memorable and thought-provoking when I read it again.

When an editor comes out to compile a manuscript, how can he not be polite?

Li Xiaolin's compliments made Lin Chaoyang feel sweet in his heart. He was afraid that he might have offended Li Xiaolin, so he asked: "Why are you looking for me this time..."

"It's still about the manuscript. I used to write letters to communicate. It just so happened that I came to Yanjing to compile the manuscript this time, so I came to visit you specially to see if you have any recent works."

"Oh, that's it!" Lin Chaoyang said in a deep tone, "I have been writing a novel recently."

Li Xiaolin's eyes lit up when she heard this, "Medium-length novel? What is it about? How much has it been written?"

Her tone sounded impatient.

Although "Harvest" has just resumed publication not long ago, since its resumption in January this year, the first issue of "Harvest" has included Zhou Erfu's "Morning in Shanghai" (Part 3), Chen Baichen's "Song of the Wind" and other masterpieces , Liu Xinwu, who has become famous because of scar literature in the past two years, also published a short story "Waiting for Decision" on it.

The first issue of the re-publication was initially heard, and in the second issue last month, "Harvest" published "Red Magnolia Under the Big Wall" by Cong Weixi. Once the novel was published, it caused a huge response in the southern literary world, and also "Harvest" 》 has been pushed to the forefront.

The trend of scar literature in China started with "The Head Teacher", and the style was relatively euphemistic. Especially by the time of "The Wrangler", the concept of the work has broken the limitations of typology and brought scar novels to a new level.

But Cong Weixi's "Red Magnolia Under the Wall" also tells the tragic experience of the protagonist during the buzzing period, and the style is much more direct. The prison life and bloody killings presented shocked many readers.

The unique style has made "Red Magnolia Under the Wall" popular among many readers, but it has also aroused pressure from relevant parties.

"Harvest" has Ba Jin at the helm, and despite the recent turmoil, it has managed to stay on the Diaoyutai River without worrying about manuscripts, but no publication will reject good manuscripts.

Lin Chaoyang showed the quality of a good writer in the novel "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit". "Harvest" has just resumed publication, and what is lacking is talents like him.

"According to my idea, it should be the middle chapter. I have just written about 20,000 words. The content...is about the war in the south."

Hearing Lin Chaoyang's words, Li Xiaolin frowned, "It's not over yet? I'm afraid it won't be easy to publish if I write it down."

"There is a relative in the army at home. You can ask him to help pass it on to the higher authorities first."

No wonder he dared to write such a subject. It turned out that there was someone above him. After listening to Lin Chaoyang's words, Li Xiaolin's worries disappeared.

"Comrade Chaoyang, why don't you leave this novel of yours to us, "Harvest"."

"This..." Lin Chaoyang hesitated. Originally, he planned to give this novel to Liu Xinwu.

Last time Liu Xinwu came to him to make an appointment for a manuscript. Although the two didn't talk about death, they had developed a friendship after all, and he was very sincere. He could give him a standard remuneration of seven yuan per thousand words.

"Liu Xinwu from "October" came to see me before, and I may have to hand this manuscript to him."

Hearing this, Li Xiaolin showed disappointment on her face.

I'm late. It turns out that I have to meet in person to ask for a manuscript.

"Do you have any other ideas? Even if you haven't started writing, you can talk to me."

Editors and writers have a tacit understanding. Usually, when it comes to ideas for a certain work, as long as the two have finished talking, the manuscript will basically be handed over to the editor after it is completed, unless the publication doesn't want it, then it will be submitted to another publication.

"Idea... I really have one."

Li Xiaolin's face showed hope again, "Do you mind talking to me?"

The idea that Lin Chaoyang mentioned was before Du Feng found Lin Chaoyang. At that time, Tao Yushu kept nagging him like a little nagging.

Later, Du Feng came to him, and he temporarily put this idea aside. Today, Li Xiaolin came to him, and he remembered it again.

After all, this is "Harvest", Lin Chaoyang feels that he can still work hard.

"The story is probably..."

Since it has been mentioned, Lin Chaoyang certainly doesn't mind telling Li Xiaolin.

Lin Chaoyang spoke intermittently for nearly an hour. Li Xiaolin's expression was sometimes happy and sometimes depressed, and her mind was ups and downs in Lin Chaoyang's narration.

"Well, that's about it." Lin Chaoyang looked at Li Xiaolin and asked, "What do you think?"

Li Xiaolin recalled what he had just said, thought for a long time, and then said, "It's a good story."

"But..." She frowned slightly, "Isn't this story too bright and warm? And I feel that the ending is not strong enough."

Lin Chaoyang looked natural and asked, "What's wrong with being brighter and warmer?"

"Uh..." Li Xiaolin hesitated, and Lin Chaoyang said for her, "Not deep enough?"

"You can say that."

"Isn't the story itself deep enough?"

Li Xiaolin looked at Lin Chaoyang and felt that his creative concept seemed different.

"So, you don't pursue formal ideological and artistic qualities? What you want first is a good story that touches people's hearts?"

Lin Chaoyang nodded slightly, "As for novels, I think this may be closer to its essence."

Listening to his words, Li Xiaolin looked thoughtful and remained silent.

Wang Guowei described three realms of life in "Human Words": seeing mountains as mountains and seeing water as water; seeing mountains not as mountains and seeing water not as water; seeing mountains as mountains and seeing water as water, which is a classic.

If novel creation is also compared to these three realms, Li Xiaolin dare not say which realm Lin Chaoyang is in, but it is definitely not the realm of "seeing mountains as mountains and seeing water as water".

She has a family background in literature and has been in contact with literary predecessors since she was a child. As an editor over the years, she has also seen many authors who stick to the form and are self-enclosed.

Although she has not communicated with Lin Chaoyang much about the understanding of creative techniques, based on this sentence, Li Xiaolin can still see that Lin Chaoyang is a certain maverick in his creation.

In her impression, such a distinct personality represents not only character, but also the writer's complete confidence in his own ability.

"It's rare for you to have such insights at your age." Li Xiaolin praised.

"It's just my humble opinion, just listen to it."

"Don't say 'you' and 'you', although I'm much older than you, we are equals, so call me Sister Xiaolin."

Lin Chaoyang nodded and said, "Sister Xiaolin!"