Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 777 "1997 has passed, and I miss it very much."

Jia Pingwa's words shocked everyone.

The predecessor of the Lu Xun Literary Award was the National Award for Medium and Short Stories. Preparations for the award began in 86, but the recommendation and selection of works only began last year, a full ten years have passed!
Now that the winning works of the first Lu Prize have been announced, it is natural that they will attract much attention.

The winning works are various literary works published in 95-96, including eight types of works, including novellas, short stories, reportage, poetry, essays, miscellanies, theoretical reviews, and translations. In addition, there are two honorary awards: the Translation Rainbow Award Honorary Award and the Prose and Miscellaneous Award Honorary Award.

Fang Minghua won the National Outstanding Theoretical Review Award for his article “Why all the fuss? — Debate between the “civilians” and intellectuals”.

He just saw that the message on his phone was from Han Shaogong, the editor-in-chief of Tianya magazine, so he didn't say anything in order not to alarm everyone.

Now that Jia Pingwa had said that, Fang Minghua had no choice but to answer: "It's nothing, actually. I just won the National Outstanding Theoretical Review Award. Let's not change the goal. Today we are celebrating Teacher Chen's winning of the Mao Dun Literature Prize!"

"Of course we have to congratulate Zhongshi for winning the award, but you can't escape either. This is a happy event for our Qin Province Writers Association, a double happiness. Minghua, should we raise a glass to you?" Jia Pingwa said.

"Yes, Chairman Jia is right, but how can we just have a toast? Chairman Chen has set up a table today. Chairman Fang, when will you set up the table?

"Okay, when do you say?" Fang Minghua knew that he couldn't avoid this matter, so he asked actively.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow!"

"Everyone here, let's come here again tomorrow and continue drinking!"

The year 1997 passed by in such a lively manner.

Today is New Year's Day, Fang Minghua and his family stayed at home without going anywhere.

Two kids, one is watching "Sailor Moon" on TV, and the other is playing Tetris with great interest.

There was a howling north wind outside. Fang Minghua stood in the living room, looking through the glass window at the somewhat dim sky and the camphor tree in the yard that was blown to one side and the other by the wind. He could not help but sigh:
"1997 is over and I miss it."

Song Tangtang, who was sitting on the sofa reading a magazine, couldn't help laughing after hearing this.

"What? Are you talking about the lines in the movie?"

This line comes from the hit movie "Party A and Party B". As the second movie produced by Shengshi Film and Television Company, it was released in mid-December under the banner of "New Year's Film" and was well received by mainland audiences.

Towards the end of the film, Yao Yuan, played by Ge You, looks at the wind and snow in the distance and the empty corridor with red lanterns hanging nearby. The contrast of warm and cold tones in the space makes it seem like time has passed and the world is past.

Ge You spoke a passage in the form of narration.

"We were both drunk and cried that day. We said a lot of heartfelt words to each other. It was an unforgettable night. A few days later, Beiyan and I had our wedding. Her parents talked to me alone and asked me if I had lied about my age. I told them that I looked older than other children since I was born."

"1997 is over and I miss it."

It instantly became a classic.

Fang Minghua went to the cinema specially to watch the movie again and couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

Time flies so fast.

It has been eighteen years since I came to this era. Both now and in the past, I have reached middle age.

Both times youth is gone.

Song Tangtang didn't notice her husband's complicated expression. She continued, "I'm going to the United States in two days. You have to take good care of yourself and the two children at home."

It turned out that "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" had been completed and was preparing to hold a grand premiere in New York and to go on a roadshow in several major cities.

Wu Tianmin is getting old, and after staying in the United States for almost a year, he wants to return to China to rest for a while as he will be filming the second Harry Potter movie next year.

Song Tangtang decided to go to the United States to represent Shengshi Film and Television to participate in a series of activities. Of course, after the end, she would also go to San Francisco to visit her cousin.

Warner Bros. also invited Fang Minghua to attend the premiere of the film as the original author and editor. Fang Minghua also wanted to go, mainly to visit Li Li and her daughter. He hadn't seen them for almost a year and missed them very much.

But now that my wife has gone there, I can't leave again. More importantly, my parents will have complaints if I don't spend the New Year in Xijing for two consecutive years.

We can only wait for the second half of the year to find an opportunity. Now hearing his wife say this, he turned around and looked at her: "Don't worry, the child is grown up and can take care of himself."

"You, as a father." Song Tangtang said angrily and said nothing more.

After New Year’s Day, Song Tangtang boarded a flight to the United States alone, carrying her suitcase.

The Spring Festival in 1998 was relatively early, with New Year’s Eve falling on January 28th. The children had an early holiday and went to their grandparents’ house as soon as they had the holiday.

At the end of the year, the Writers Association had a lot of things to do, with various meetings, reports, and summaries all in a rush, and soon it was New Year's Eve.

This year's Spring Festival, since Song Tangtang was in the United States, Fang Minghua did not spend it at home. She took her two children directly to her parents' house on New Year's Eve.

My brother-in-law Liu Jianjun is still studying for a doctorate in the United States and will not graduate until this summer. There is only my younger sister and niece at home. Fang Minghua is with the two children, and the house becomes lively all of a sudden.

Make dumplings and eat New Year's Eve dinner
Since 94, the setting off of fireworks and firecrackers has been banned in the area within the Xijing city walls, which naturally reduces the fun.

However, this year's Spring Festival Gala program was still good.

Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao contributed the sketch "The Prince and the Postman", which was also the last time the two appeared on the Spring Festival Gala stage.

The crosstalk "Sitting Back and Enjoying the Fruits of One's Own" by Niu Qun and Feng Gong was full of laughter. The two people's identities kept swapping and reversing, full of ridicule and irony. Unfortunately, this was also the last time Niu Qun appeared on the Spring Festival Gala stage.

The skit "New Year Greetings" performed by Zhao Benshan, Gao Xiumin and Fan Wei

"I came down because of corruption! The mouse is the cat's mistress - he is willing to sacrifice his life to make money."

In the song category, Xie Xiaodong and Fan Xiaoxuan sang "Health Song" together and sang and danced on the stage. Their daughter Ruirui and little niece learned to jump and dance in front of the TV.

Fang Minghua’s favorite song is “See You in 98” sung by Faye Wong and Na Ying. Both of them are at their peak in terms of appearance and voice.

Just listening to this cheerful song, Fang Minghua felt a little sad.

The song contains hope and vision for the future.

But unfortunately, this era of flourishing flowers has ended.

Despite its flaws, its merits outweigh its disadvantages.

Of course, we still have to greet each other on New Year’s Eve. Now it is very popular to send New Year greetings via text messages, whether it is via pager or mobile phone.

The era of postcards is over.

And those yellowed photos, old letters, faded Christmas cards, slowly only exist in the lyrics.

The Spring Festival is a busy time, especially for Fang Minghua as she has not spent the Spring Festival in Xijing for two years. She needs to spend more time with her parents and visit relatives.

In addition to wishing New Year's greetings to his father-in-law and mother-in-law - Song Tangtang's father and mother, Fang Minghua also specially bought generous gifts and went to Li Li's parents' home to visit her father.

Li Li's mother has been taking care of Li Li and her daughter in the United States, and now only her father is left at home.

Li Li's father already knew about his daughter's relationship with Fang Minghua. Although he was a little unhappy, he could do nothing about it.

The matter has been settled. His wife has gone to the United States to take care of their daughter and granddaughter. What else can he say when he sees Fang Minghua?
The two of them had a pleasant meeting and chat.

Before leaving, Li Li's father said to Fang Minghua: "I will retire next year, and then I will go to the United States to visit Li Li and stay for a while. I went to the University of California, Los Angeles as a visiting scholar for half a year in 1985. I think the climate in Los Angeles is good and suitable for living."

"Uncle, you are right. The climate in Los Angeles is mild and sunny all year round. You must be very comfortable living there." Fang Minghua said quickly.

But he was muttering in his heart.

It seems that buying a house in Los Angeles should be put on the agenda.

(End of this chapter)