Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 760: Everyone has their own stormy days, but when the clouds clear, the moon will appear

Fang Minghua stayed in Los Angeles for another two days and then returned to San Francisco.

At the same time, Jiang Wen and Wang Shuo were also leaving, but they were going to New York, so everyone said goodbye at the airport.

"Are you going back to China soon?" Wang Shuo said to Fang Minghua.

"Yes, I have been in the United States for three months and am preparing to go back," Fang Minghua replied.

Wang Shuo sighed and said, "Alas, I don't know when I can go back."

"Don't worry, it won't take long." Fang Minghua patted his shoulder and said, "There's a line in the Water Margin: Everyone has experienced storms and heavy rains, but when the clouds clear and the moon appears, everything will vanish."

"Thank you, I hope you can bring good luck to me." Wang Shuo said with a wry smile.

"Let's go!" Fang Minghua turned and walked towards the security check.

He was right. Wang Shuo returned to China after staying in the United States for less than a year.

It's a pity that he has run out of ideas and can only rely on his old reputation or make fun of others or talk nonsense online to attract readers' attention.

After Fang Minghua returned to San Francisco, he prepared to return to China.

Li Li's mother will be here to take care of her for a while, so he is relieved. Although Li Li is reluctant to leave, she knows that Fang Minghua's life and work focus is still in China and Xijing, and this will always be his temporary harbor.

However, I have no regrets about choosing this kind of life.

This time, Li Li drove Fang Minghua to the airport, and the two were reluctant to part in the waiting hall.

"Lili, I will try to come to San Francisco again to accompany you and Xinxin at the end of this year," Fang Minghua said.

"No need. You haven't spent the New Year in China for two years. Your aunt and uncle will definitely blame you. Just stay home and my mom and I will take good care of Xinxin. Besides, my cousin said she will come to the United States to see me because of her movie in the second half of the year."

Li Li said gently, and helped Fang Minghua straighten his collar: "Let's get on the plane. Time is running out."

"Okay!" Fang Minghua hugged Li Li and then dragged the suitcase into the customs channel.

"Bye-Bye!"

Li Li didn't leave until Fang Minghua disappeared.

After an eleven-hour flight, Fang Minghua returned to Yanjing, but he did not rush back to Xijing. Instead, he stayed at the Yanjing Hotel.

The 3rd World Chinese Literature Award Ceremony is about to be held, and Bai Miao calls him to come back.

The ceremony was not held in Xijing but in the Great Hall of the People in Yanjing.

This is Bai Miao’s suggestion.

He believes that the Chinese Literature Award jury meeting and award ceremony do not need to be fixed in Xijing. Like the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards, the venue should be changed to a different city for each session. This will not only expand the influence of the Chinese Literature Award, but also boost the literary atmosphere of the city, achieving a win-win situation.

Fang Minghua adopted his suggestion, so this year's award ceremony was held in Yenching, and the best venue was of course the Great Hall of the People.

This is a sacred place. After the reform and opening up, part of it has been opened to the public. It is also the place where people can rent venues to hold concerts, weddings, etc.

Of course, it is not something that can be rented casually. It has to undergo strict review, taking into account the nature, scale, impact, etc. of the event. However, this is really not a big deal for the Chinese Literature Award Jury.

Fang Minghua got off the plane at 8:30, and Shengshi Group’s Yanjing office sent a car to take him to Yanjing Hotel.

He had just checked in and had not had time to eat breakfast when Bai Miao knocked on the door and came in.

"Minghua, you are finally back. I heard your novel is selling well in the United States." Bai Miao said with a smile. Fang Minghua paid for all the expenses during his two trips abroad, but he told some friends that he was going abroad for the publication of his novel.

Hearing Bai Miao say this, Fang Minghua replied, "Okay." He quickly turned the topic to the selection of the Chinese Literature Award.

"How are preparations for the awards ceremony going?"

"Everything is ready. I'm looking for you now to go to the Great Hall with me to see the layout." Bai Miao said.

"I haven't had breakfast yet." Fang Minghua said.

"Hey, the hotel's breakfast service is over. Buy a steamed bun on the way and eat while walking."

Me! @#￥%
Fang Minghua had no choice but to go downstairs and leave the hotel with Bai Miao.

The Yanjing Hotel is less than two kilometers away from the Great Hall of the People, so the two did not take the subway but simply walked there.

Arriving at the Great Hall of the People, we went in through the side door and went up to the third floor. As we walked, Bai Miao explained, "The Great Hall has eight halls that can be rented out: the Macau Hall, the Press Conference Hall, the Small Auditorium, the East Hall, the Central Hall, the Scenic Hall, the Banquet Hall, and the 10,000-person Auditorium. This time we rented the Small Auditorium, which is where the Mao Dun Prize ceremony is held."

The small auditorium is on the third floor. Although it is small, it can accommodate nearly 800 people. Fang Minghua followed Bai Miao in and saw that the venue had been decorated with a new look. A banner above the podium read "The rd World Chinese Literature Award Ceremony".

Fang Minghua has been to this place before.

The second Mao Dun Literature Prize award ceremony was held here that year.

"Important national media such as People's Daily and Guangming Daily have been invited to this award ceremony, and CCTV will broadcast it live. In addition, some foreign media organizations stationed in China, such as the Associated Press, Reuters, and AFP will send reporters to report on the scene. News of our award ceremony will soon appear in newspapers in New York and London." Bai Miao said excitedly.

"Good, good, thank you for your hard work." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Should we at least keep the Mao Dun Literature Prize to a minimum?" Bai Miao said in a low voice.

The two laughed.

The 1997rd World Chinese Literature Award Ceremony was held at 3:21 p.m. on March , in the Great Hall of the People. The entire venue was packed with authors of shortlisted works, jury members, invited guests and celebrities from the capital's literary circles gathered together to celebrate the Chinese literature festival.

Finally, the winners were announced, and the authors of five works including the best novel and novella took turns to go on stage to receive their awards and give their acceptance speeches.

The most eye-catching award was that South African female writer Nadine Gordimer's latest novel, "No One with Me", won the Best Novel Award.

Despite the long journey, the elderly man in his seventies first flew from South Africa to Hong Kong, and after a night's rest, he took an Air China flight to Yanjing. On the podium, the old man looked excited and spoke fluent English.

Seven years ago, she went to Stockholm, Sweden to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, and now she is honored to stand on the podium of the Yenching Great Hall of the People again.

“China is an ancient country with a 5,000-year-old civilization. It has produced a large number of excellent literary works such as The Book of Songs and Chu Ci. Now Chinese literature has burst into new vitality and is once again being recognized by the world through the Chinese Literature Award.”

There was warm applause in the meeting hall.

The Best Novella Award was won by "Survival" written by You Fengwei, which was later adapted by Jiang Wen into "The Devils on the Doorstep".

Best Short Story Award: Chi Zijian's "The Cowshed in the Misty Moon"

The best essay award was won by Zhang Chengzhi's "Desolate Heroic Road".

Taiwanese poet and essayist Yang Mu's poetry collection "The Proposition of Time" won the Best Poetry Award.

After the award ceremony, Fang Minghua stayed at the Yanjing Hotel for another night, preparing to rush back to Xijing early the next morning. He was already eager to return home.

Unexpectedly, an uninvited guest came in the evening - Feng Xiaogang.

(End of this chapter)