Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 505 Our Ideal

A few people happily left the restaurant and not long after walking along the street, they heard the sound of lively dance music coming from a venue facing the street.

Everyone bought tickets and went in. There were quite a lot of people dancing inside. Unlike previous years when most people danced three-step, four-step and other ballroom dances, there was now a noticeable increase in disco music.

The songs of disco queen Zhang Qiang are playing in the dance hall now:

Why is there an annoying autumn wind?
It blew away all your love and my feelings?

Why do you follow the autumn wind?

No goodbye, no take care
Under the strong rhythm and the crazy illumination of colorful rotating lights, a group of men and women are twisting to the music.

Like other dance halls, there was a dance floor in the middle and sofas on both sides like private rooms, but they were open. Everyone found a place to sit down first. Liao Runbo ordered a case of beer and two bottles of Coca-Cola for the two girls - this was the most popular drink in Yanjing in the past two years, beating the original Arctic Ocean.

Fang Minghua found that there were quite a few young writers who came to dance, including Chi Zijian, whom she was quite familiar with, and two other young female writers, Bi Shumin and Yan Geling, whom Fang Minghua was not so familiar with.

But I am familiar with Yu Hua, because we are both in the graduate class of Yanshi University!

As soon as he called out, all these people came over, and the team suddenly swelled to more than ten people. Liao Runbo quickly asked for a few bottles of Coke for the girls who came.

They were all young writers attending the conference, and they were of similar age. They introduced themselves to each other and soon started chatting animatedly.

At this time, the disco music ended and a slow four was played.

A man's affectionate and slightly hoarse voice came from the speakers:
I pray for love without pain
But it's hard to stop the tears
I pray to forget you who have left
But I sang the song you taught me

"Prayer of the Heart" by Zang Tianshuo.

Everyone started looking for dance partners.

Li Hongying took the initiative to invite Fang Minghua to dance with this song, and the two of them slowly danced to the rhythm of the music in the dance hall.

The lights dimmed.

The postures of some people in the dance hall became less standard and a little ambiguous, but Fang Minghua still kept his back straight and danced strictly according to the standard four steps.

"Teacher Fang, you are a very good ballroom dancer. Why didn't you go when I invited you to dance at Luyuan?" Li Hongying asked in confusion.

Fang Minghua replied: "Since you call me teacher, how can a teacher run to the dance hall with a student?"

"Old feudal!"

Li Hongying muttered.

Fang Minghua smiled and said nothing.

The two danced silently. After a while, Li Hongying suddenly said, "Teacher Fang, I am going abroad."

"Going abroad?"

"Well, after I graduate from Fudan, I will apply for a visa to go abroad." Li Hongying said, "Teacher Fang, I also told you that before attending the Luyuan workshop, I had been wandering around and visited many places, so now I am ready to go abroad to see the world."

"To the United States?"

"No, England, go to the hometown of Shakespeare."

"It's good to take a look. Will you come back later?" Fang Minghua asked again.

"I don't know. Now many people don't want to come back after going abroad." Li Hongying's tone was a little confused: "Teacher Fang, do you think I should come back?"

"This is your personal freedom. I can't choose for you, but my wife once said something that I think makes sense."

"What?"

"She said that for writers and poets, the motherland is a kind of local accent, which is their roots. It would be a very scary thing to give up the direct contact with their mother tongue. The sense of alienation brought by being far away from the motherland would make people lonely and fearful."

Li Hongying was silent for a moment, then said, "Your wife is right." "No matter what, when you get out, just live a good life and don't forget your motherland and your family and friends." Fang Minghua's tone also became gentle.

"Well, Teacher Fang, I will never forget you in my life." Li Hongying said softly.

"Ha, it's not just me. Classmates like Chen Hong and Yu Hua won't forget it, right?" Fang Minghua said half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"Yeah, I'll never forget it."

After the song, the two returned to their seats, and the rest of the people also came back one after another. After exchanging partners and dancing a few songs, everyone sat together and chatted.

Chen Hong and Li Hongying have the best relationship, and the two girls got together to chat privately.

"Hongying, where are you going after graduation?"

"I'm going abroad, to England, what about you?"

"I haven't thought about going abroad. I want to stay in Yanjing." Chen Hong said.

"Is he going to stay in Yanjing too?" Li Hongying glanced at Yu Hua who was chatting enthusiastically with Liao Runbo.

"Him? He wants to stay in Yanjing, but his family." Chen Hong sighed softly.

Li Hongying naturally knew Yu Hua's situation, but she didn't know what to say.

Yu Hua was chatting with Liao Runbo while drinking beer.

"Runbo, I heard that after graduating from the Xida Writers Class, you can take the postgraduate entrance examination. Are you planning to do so?"

Liao Runbo shook his head: "A bachelor's degree is enough. I think writing is more about personal practice."

Yu Hua nodded: "Then where are you going to stay? Xijing? Yanjing?"

"No, I want to go back to my hometown in Guangxi Province."

"Why go back?" Yu Hua was a little surprised: "The literary atmosphere in Guangxi Province is far from comparable to that of Xijing or Yanjing. Why go back?"

"My wife and children are all in my hometown, how can I not go back?" Liao Runbo said with a smile: "Besides, what I write is basically about my hometown. I am worried that I won't be able to write anything if I leave for a long time. Do you want to stay in Yanjing?"

"Well, my thoughts are opposite to yours. To be honest, I am now a celebrity in my hometown of Haiyan. When I go back on vacation, I have to attend all kinds of social events, from county leaders to relatives and friends. To be honest, I don't like this kind of life. It's different in Yanjing. There are too many capable people here. No one takes you seriously. It's good to be free to do what you like."

"Hey, what are you two talking about?" Chi Zijian, who was sitting next to Yu Hua, saw the two people whispering and interrupted with a smile.

"My whereabouts after graduating from He Runbo." Yu Hua explained.

"Where are you planning to go after graduation?" Chi Zijian was obviously very interested in this topic and leaned over to ask.

"I want to stay in Yanjing, Runbo wants to go back to his hometown, what about you? Chi Zijian?" Yu Hua asked me.

"I have the same idea as Liao Runbo. I will also go back to my hometown in Heilongjiang! I like the white mountains and black waters. Beijing is too hot and noisy in summer and I am not used to it."

Haha, she is indeed a girl who speaks her mind.

Seeing that they were all talking about this topic, the others also started talking about it.

Some want to stay in Yanjing, some say they want to go back to their hometown, and of course some want to go abroad.

For example, Yan Geling wanted to go abroad with her husband who worked in diplomacy.

"Come, we are gathered together today, and we will be separated in the future. Come, let's toast to our friendship!" Chi Zijian raised a Coke.

"Teacher Fang, you should raise your glass too." Chi Zijian urged Fang Minghua when he saw her looking a little dazed.

"Okay, come on, cheers! I wish you a bright future!" Fang Minghua also raised his glass.

(End of this chapter)