Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 776: Mao Dun Literature Prize and Lu Xun Literature Prize announced
According to the rules of this year's awards, the 22 novels participating in the final review will be selected by 23 committee members through secret ballot to determine the final winning works, with each person voting for up to five books.

A maximum of five books will be awarded, ranked from highest to lowest in terms of the number of votes in favor, and the works must receive more than half of the votes in favor.

As required, Fang Minghua quickly filled out the ballot, put it in the ballot box, and then left the meeting room. Everyone walked outside the hotel, waiting for the final vote count.

It was very cold today, and unexpectedly there was a little snow falling over the West Lake, making the sky and the earth seem a little bleak.

"Minghua, do you think 'To Live' can win an award?" Lei Da asked, standing next to Fang Minghua.

"It's hard to say." Fang Minghua shook his head: "Just do your best and leave the rest to fate."

"I think there's a good chance you'll win. Your words yesterday really moved the judges."

Leida lit a cigarette and looked at the remaining lotus leaves on the lake:

"Ten, twenty or even thirty years from now, how will people view the works we have reviewed? Hey, Minghua, I will definitely meet Marx in thirty years. You can tell me at my grave then. Forget it, don't tell me. It's best if I don't know. Haha."

Radar finally made a joke.

Ten minutes later, the committee members were invited into the conference room again. The deputy chairman of the jury presided over the vote counting, selected the vote counters and monitors, and invited staff from the local notary office of the two committees to supervise on-site.

Soon, "White Deer Plain" topped the list of votes.

This result was not unexpected.

The literary and social value of this work is obvious to all, and some factors outside the work have been properly addressed, so those judges who were originally hesitant also voted in favor.

"To Live" actually ranked second!
This surprised Fang Minghua a little.

Is it true, as Lei Da said just now, that what I said touched the judges present?
Soon, the counting of votes was completed and Chen Benchang announced the results.

"White Deer Plain" topped the list with 22 votes in favor and 1 vote against!
"To Live" came in second with 18 votes in favor and 5 votes against.

Ranked fifth was the book "The Turmoil of Autumn", which received 12 votes in favor and 11 votes against, which is more than half of the votes in favor!
After the voting was over, there was warm applause in the conference room.

Although the list of winners for this year was not announced on the spot, it still needs to be reported to the relevant leaders of the Writers Association for review. According to the award rules, the number of winning works is four to five.

But whether it will be four or five parts will ultimately require comprehensive evaluation by the relevant leaders of the Writers Association and the jury office.

But when Fang Minghua saw that "Turbulent Autumn" was ranked fifth, he knew that there would be five works winning the Mao Dun Literature Prize this time.

It's politically correct.

After the meeting, the Zhejiang Federation of Literary and Art Circles also invited the judges to visit the West Lake, Songcheng, Lingyin Temple, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and other attractions. They returned to their units after two days of fun.

Fang Minghua was sitting in a sleeper train from Hangzhou to Xijing. Before arriving in Xijing, she received a call from Yu Hua in Yanjing, and her voice was a little excited.
"Minghua, the Mao Dun Prize has been announced, and my book "To Live" won the prize!"

"Congratulations, congratulations." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Minghua, thank you."

"Why thank me? You deserve this. Just wait for my treat."

"When will you come to Yanjing? I want to treat you well!"

"Okay, I'll call you when I come to Yanjing. I don't drink Erguotou, I want to drink Moutai." Fang Minghua joked.

"No problem, just Maotai! It'll keep you full!"

The two joked for a while before hanging up the phone.

Looking at the vast fields outside, Fang Minghua smiled.

The Mao Dun Literature Prize has been announced, and this year at least two books deserve the honor.

Also, Chen Zhongshi is relieved now, right?
Sure enough, Fang Minghua had just returned to Xijing, and as soon as she entered the house, she received a call from Chen Zhongshi.

"Minghua, are you back?"

"Just got home, Teacher Chen."

"Thank you for your hard work. Let's get together at Xijing Restaurant tonight." "Why? To celebrate?"

"Haha, I guess so. You must come."

"Don't worry, I will definitely attend such a happy event. I will pour you two more glasses to congratulate you!"

In the evening, Chen Zhongshi hosted a table of people in a private room on the second floor of Xijing Restaurant.

Mainly the leaders of the Writers Association, several vice-chairmen such as Fang Minghua, and several directors, everyone naturally congratulated Chen Zhongshi one by one.

At this time, Chen Zhongshi was also in high spirits, and his originally wrinkled face looked much more relaxed.

At this moment, the cell phone on Fang Minghua's waist vibrated. He took it out and took a look. It turned out to be a text message.

He took a glance and a slight smile appeared on his face, but he said nothing and put the phone back into the phone case around his waist as if nothing had happened.

"What's wrong? Is there any good news?" Jia Pingwa, who was sitting next to Fang Minghua, asked casually when he saw Fang Minghua like this.

"No, it's nothing."

Fang Minghua picked up the chopsticks, put a piece of food into his bowl, and said.

"Have you finished toasting?"

"Haha, I just pour it and don't drink it, it's very fast." Jia Pingwa laughed.

Everyone knows that Jia Pingwa has liver problems, so now he doesn't drink any alcohol. When encountering such occasions, he just walks around symbolically with a wine jug. Everyone is free to drink as much as they can, so they walk around very quickly.

Now it was Bai Miao's turn to toast, and the speed became much slower, especially when it came to Chen Zhongshi, how could you not drink three more cups?
The two were drinking.

"You should drink more during lunch break."

"How about a cup?"

“No, at least three cups!
"Then you have to drink with me."

"You drink three cups first, and then I'll accompany you. You can drink as many cups as you want!"

"Bai Miao, you're trying to get me drunk."

"If I could win the Mao Dun Prize, I would want someone to get me drunk!"

As a last resort, Chen Zhongshi had just picked up the wine glass and was about to drink when the pager on his waist suddenly vibrated. He took the opportunity to put the wine glass on the table and check the pager. Drinking should be delayed as much as possible.

"Zhongshi, don't cheat. We are all watching us." Jia Pingwa immediately took on the role of supervisor.

"Who said I was cheating? I was just checking the pager." Chen Zhongshi said, picking up the pager and taking a closer look, a smile appearing on his face.

"Hehe. It's a happy event, a big happy event." Chen Zhongshi looked at Fang Minghua with a smile: "Minghua, should I say it or you?"

"What happy event?! Teacher Chen, drink! Don't distract yourself!" Fang Minghua said quickly.

"Yes, yes, drink, drink," Bai Miao also urged.

"I will definitely drink this wine," Chen Zhongshi said slowly, "But, Minghua, do you want to drink a few more glasses today?"

"Teacher Chen, you're treating us today, and I can't take over your place. Can I drink next time?" There was a hint of pleading in Fang Minghua's tone.

"Hey, that's not right. What are you doing?" Jia Pingwa seemed to have discovered something fishy between the two of them.

"Zhong Shi, let me see what the pager says? Is it convenient?" Jia Pingwa said.

"Convenient, convenient, what's the inconvenience?" Chen Zhongshi took the pager from his waist and handed it to Jia Pingwa with a smile, and said to Fang Minghua: "It's not my fault, it was Pingwa who wanted to see it."

Jia Pingwa took the pager, looked at it carefully, and immediately turned to look at Fang Minghua.

"Minghua, you won the Lu Xun Literature Award!"

(End of this chapter)