Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 592: It is a great pleasure to have friends coming from afar.

Butler is really coming.

One month later, he received a letter from the organizing committee of the World Chinese Literature Award, saying that his work "Fragrant Mountain" was shortlisted for the Best Short Story Award of the first Chinese Literature Award, and they hoped that he could come to Xijing, China to attend the award ceremony on April 4.

It was of course a great pleasure that his novel was shortlisted, and Butler also wanted to see this somewhat mysterious oriental country, so he accepted the invitation.

But he was worried about one thing.

I don’t understand Chinese.

There is no direct flight from San Francisco to Xijing. I heard that I have to transfer in Yanjing or take a train. I am worried that something unexpected might happen due to language barriers and unfamiliarity with the place.

So he thought of Li Li, who had translated works for him before, and specifically found Li Li to tell her about his concerns.

Li Li told him not to worry, Chinese people are very friendly to foreigners. If you are still worried, I can ask my classmates at Yenching to pick you up at the airport and arrange for you to go to Xijing. Once you arrive in Xijing, the organizing committee staff will naturally give you the necessary help.

Butler expressed his gratitude and quickly got the visa.

Nowadays, it is very troublesome for Chinese to go to the United States. Their qualifications need to be examined, and it is common for visas to take a year or two to get approved. However, it is very simple for Americans to apply for visas in China. Moreover, Butler's visit to China was an academic invitation, so it did not take long.

Today, Butler departed from San Francisco International Airport and flew to Yanjing. Li Li drove to the airport to see him off.

"Mr. Butler, I wish you a pleasant journey and a safe journey."

"Thank you, Ms. Li, thank you for your help." Butler looked grateful.

In this way, Butler embarked on his journey to China.

At the same time, Luo Fu and Qi Jun from Taiwan and Xixi from Hong Kong also rushed to Xijing by various means.

For the organizing committee, arranging vehicles and personnel to welcome authors from all over the country, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas, has become the most important task in the past few days.

Especially for Butler from the United States, Fang Minghua arranged for Zhang Yanqian to hire a student majoring in English from Xi'an Foreign Studies University to accompany him during this period.

"Find a boy, not a girl." Fang Minghua also specifically reminded.

Fang Minghua himself did not arrange to pick up these authors at the station or the airport, but today he took the initiative to pick them up at the train station.

Because of Shi Tiesheng who came this afternoon.

It is reasonable and logical for you to welcome it.

Fang Minghua stood at the exit of the train station, watching the passengers pouring out. Until fewer and fewer people came out, he finally saw a young woman pushing a wheelchair. A man wearing glasses was sitting in the wheelchair with a travel bag on his knees. It was Shi Tiesheng and his wife Chen Ximi.

Shi Tiesheng has a problem with his legs, which makes it inconvenient for him to go out, so it is natural for his wife to come and take care of him.

Fang Minghua walked over with a smile, greeted him, and picked up the travel bag on Shi Tiesheng's legs.

"Minghua, I didn't want to come in the first place. In my current condition, going out would only cause trouble for others." Shi Tiesheng said.

"Look at what you said. I would be unhappy if you didn't come." Fang Minghua said with a smile: "Besides, Xida is my sister-in-law's alma mater. Don't you want to accompany her back to visit?"

"I thought so too. Since Ximi was transferred to Yanjing, she has been taking care of me and has hardly left Yanjing. This time I came to Xijing, on the one hand to attend the ceremony, but more importantly to accompany Ximi to relax."

"Okay. I remember you came to Xijing in 84 and visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda but didn't climb up to take a look." Fang Minghua said.

"Can I climb up the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in this state?!"

"Of course you can. I'll get a few friends to take turns carrying you up there!"

The three of them chatted and laughed, and when they arrived at the parking lot, Fang Minghua carried Shi Tiesheng on his back and slowly put him in the back seat. Then he folded the wheelchair and put it in the trunk, and this time they drove to the hotel.

"Tie Sheng, sister-in-law, I'll arrange a room for you. I've called the hotel's room manager. If you have any difficulties, just call the room attendant. I've been busy these days, so I don't think I'll have much time to spend with you. I'll be free after the ceremony, so please come to my house."

"Minghua, you take care of your business. We're fine." Chen Ximi said quickly, "You've been working hard lately."

"Haha, it's hard work, but isn't it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar?" Fang Minghua said with a smile, "To be honest, I have to go to the station to pick up a friend from Yanjing tonight."

"Who?"

"Haizi, and Xichuan who came with him." Fang Minghua said. Fang Minghua really wanted to pick up Haizi.

Fang Minghua personally drove to pick up the two of the 23 authors who came to Xijing to attend the party.

After driving Shi Tiesheng and his wife to Tangcheng Hotel and making arrangements, they drove to the People's Theater on Beida Street, where the first World Chinese Literature Award ceremony would be held.

I discussed the preparations with the staff of the evening party preparation group, then found a random restaurant on the street to eat a bowl of Qishan臊子面. Then, seeing that it was almost time, I drove straight to the train station.

Soon, Fang Minghua saw two men walking out side by side in the crowd.

They are Haizi and Xichuan.

Fang Minghua’s first impression was that Haizi had gained weight.

Without the long hair and untidy beard, he looks much more energetic.

Xichuan hasn't changed much, he's still gentle and elegant.

Fang Minghua walked up to them and gave each of them a hug without saying a word.

Then he smiled and said, "It must have been a hard journey, right?"

"Why is it so hard? This is the most comfortable trip I've ever taken, sitting in a sleeper berth." Haizi said.

Ouch.

Haizi was an introvert and rarely spoke even when he was with friends.

But today he took the initiative to speak.

At least it shows that your mental state is better.

Fang Minghua led the two of them to the parking lot. This time he did not talk about his personal life, but took the initiative to talk about the award event, especially poetry.

Talking about poetry is of course a topic that Haizi is interested in.

"I read the five shortlisted poetry collections, and my favorite is Yang Lian's "The Sun and Man," said Haizi.

"Because it is a long collection of poems?" Fang Minghua asked back.

"Correct."

Fang Minghua and Xichuan both laughed when they heard this.

Although Haizi's short poems are the most popular among readers, such as "Facing the Sea, Spring Blossoms", "Spring, Ten Haizis", "Summer Sun", etc., Haizi's favorite is his own long poems.

"Sun", "But Water, Water", "Land", etc.

"Hey, Minghua, do you think Haizi's poetry collection can win an award?" Xichuan interrupted.

Fang Minghua didn't answer, but Haizi said, "I don't think so. Yang Lian's "The Sun and Man" and Gu Cheng's "Gu Cheng's Selected New Poems" are also good."

Among the five poetry collections shortlisted this time, except Luo Fu, who is a senior poet, the others are all poets active in the 1980s.

Haizi, Yang Lian, Gu Cheng and Yu Jian. The poetry collection he participated in is called "Naming a Crow".

It is said that Bei Dao, who was in the United States, originally planned to send the Chinese manuscript of his poetry collection "Old Snow" published in the United States. However, he felt that he had already submitted the essay "The Visitor from Poland", so he did not send this poetry collection.

There are Misty Poems and Poems that belong to the Third Generation” (Yu Jian’s “Naming a Crow”), as well as poetry collections like Haizi’s that do not belong to any school.

Fang Minghua smiled after hearing this.

"I think it's okay."

On the evening of April 4, the first World Chinese Literature Award ceremony was grandly held at the Xijing People's Theater.

(End of this chapter)