A widower's entertainment

Chapter 250 [Expected] (Subscription Request)
Beijing, "People's Literature" magazine.

The editorial department is still discussing Lin Youcheng's "Unreachable Lovers", which involves the literary nature of literary works, or the seriousness.

In fact, there is no specific concept of "serious literature" in the literary world. Many times, some literary critics give some works relevant literary styles, and they think that serious literature is more ideological. But in fact, the biggest role of the concept of "serious literature" is to form a literary contempt chain. People who read or write serious literature usually despise popular literature without hesitation.

Zhang Wei looked at Xu Huazhou, the current editor-in-chief of People's Literature, and said, "We should all be very clear that popular literature and serious literature are not two worlds separated by a river. Literature must first be readable, so literature will have popular elements. Of course, we must also admit that the essential characteristic of so-called serious literature is realism. It is often written to address real problems and express attitudes towards real problems. Therefore, it often has a clear social theme and strong ideology, just like Mr. Mao Dun's Midnight, which touches on the issue of the path of social development, has strong political significance, and is highly ideological. Serious literature faces real problems and must pay attention to human destiny, which is also where its vitality lies."

“But the name of our magazine has never been ‘Serious Literature’, but ‘People’s Literature’. We cannot deny its literary value just because its stories are popular.”

Xu Huazhou, the current editor-in-chief of "People's Literature", actually has his own opinions. He previously felt that although Lin Youcheng's "The Time Traveler's Wife" was very exciting, its style did not seem to fit in with "People's Literature".

But at that time, other editors also thought that what the former editor-in-chief Wang Meng said made sense. The magazine discovered that it needed works of different styles and could not remain unchanged.

Xu Huazhou naturally knew that "The Time Traveler's Wife" caused a huge response after it was published in "People's Literature", which also made him take Lin Youcheng's work seriously again.

After all, "The Time Traveler's Wife", like Lin Youcheng's previous "The Devotion of Suspect X", has caused a considerable impact on literature. Many novels about mystery have appeared in the entire literary world, and now there are new discussions about science fiction, which once again leads a trend in literature.

Although they are all about love, Xu Huazhou likes Lin Youcheng's work "Strange Things in the World", which won the Mao Dun Literature Prize, very much. In Xu Huazhou's view, novels like "Strange Things in the World" are the fantasy realism novel genre that truly has realistic impact and historical weight, and combines fantasy with reality.

However, it was at this time that Xu Huazhou suddenly realized that perhaps just because Lin Youcheng had won the Mao Dun Literature Prize, he thought that Lin Youcheng should continue to produce literary works of the same level as the Mao Dun Literature Prize.

"If this novel "The Untouchable Lover" was not written by Lin Youcheng, would our magazine publish this novel?"

When this question was asked, all the editors in the editorial department were surprised.

Zhang Wei was also stunned for a moment, but he soon realized what the editor-in-chief Xu Huazhou meant by this question. He lowered his head and thought carefully, and seriously recalled the novel "The Untouchable Lover". He said firmly: "We must not miss this manuscript. It has a very amazing plot design and breaks the barrier of time. It is different from "The Time Traveler's Wife", but it is also a wonderful literary work. How can we at "People's Literature" miss it?"

In fact, we should not think that literary magazines like People's Literature are absolutely and 100% serious. You should know that the love novel "Stewardess" about a sailor and a stewardess was also published in Contemporary.

In addition to literary works like "Stewardess" published in literary magazines such as "Contemporary", there are also many novels about love in other mainstream literary magazines. It can be said that since the first day of the appearance of mainstream literary magazines, they have never rejected novels about love.

This is actually what Zhang Wei thinks is the most important point. We cannot reject a novel just because it is a romance novel.

"I agree! Lin Youcheng's "The Untouchable Lover" is really wonderful! In Lin Youcheng's writing, love is portrayed in a fantastic and poetic way. In a house facing the sea, you can listen to the tides, watch the sunrise and sunset, quietly write to you, and slowly wait for your reply. The novel uses scenery to express emotions. The two protagonists are separated by time and space, and they entrust their untouchable emotions in the same seaside cottage. It is fantastic and real. I even saw the shadow of "Wonderful Things in the World" in Lin Youcheng's novel. It is also a perfect combination of fantasy and reality."

"I also agree to publish it. Even though this novel was not written by Lin Youcheng, I was moved by it, not to mention the sophisticated, delicate and realistic writing style. I like Lin Youcheng's novel very much, and there are some words in it that I remember deeply."

"Yes, that sentence: There are three things that people cannot hide: cough, poverty and love. If you want to hide it, it will only make it more obvious. But sometimes you still want to hide it. I just sat there and cried until I couldn't cry anymore. Love is asking for trouble. These simple sentences are really well written."

"In fact, the line that impressed me the most was the monologue of the male protagonist Zhou Xian: Am I just an unrelated stranger in your eyes?"

"I also remember this sentence very clearly, as well as the other sentence: We suffer because love continues, not because love disappears."

"Yes! Lin Youcheng is really good at writing about love. He deserves to be called the master of love."

"It is a novel about people who can love each other even across time and space. The conception is very unique, the writing is beautiful, the rhythm is slow and relaxing, and it is very touching. I think our People's Literature magazine should not miss this novel."

……

Obviously, the discussion among the editors has proved that even if "Unreachable Lovers" was not written by Lin Youcheng, it would still be loved by the editors of the magazine, because what impressed the editors was not Lin Youcheng, the winner of the Mao Dun Literature Prize, but the story of "Unreachable Lovers" itself.

Xu Huazhou also nodded. He had to admit that although "The Unreachable Lovers" did not have the realism of traditional literature, its description of love was quite wonderful. In particular, this novel actually told the story of two pen pals falling in love. It was just that Lin Youcheng used his imagination to add a fantastic mailbox as a time barrier to the plot, but the essence was still about love across distance.

"It is indeed a beautiful and moving love novel. It does not adopt a strong narrative strategy, but rather whispers quietly like a deep stream. Combined with the artistic conception of 'sea', it is indeed intoxicating. What is even more unexpected is that it is a story of two heartbroken people confiding in each other and healing each other. They are pen pals beyond time and space, simple and pure. The inability to touch is not only due to the barrier of time and space, but also the inner entanglement of the characters with the past. The process of falling in love is also the process of letting go of the past."

Zhang Wei nodded repeatedly when he heard what the editor-in-chief Xu Huazhou said, and said, "That's right. The whole novel has very few dialogues, and the scenery almost reflects the characters' personalities and moods. The lonely and introverted Zhou Xian lives alone in a small house. He likes someone but dares not confess his feelings. Lin Yin's inner world is also confused and hazy, wavering between her old love and her new love. The hero and heroine, who are two years apart, communicate through a mailbox across time and space. This novel is full of romanticism. The seascape, the beach, and love are all incredibly beautiful in Lin Youcheng's writing."

Even in the future when letters disappear, this film "Unforgettable Lovers" has touched the hearts of countless people.

Not to mention that this is the era of hot letter exchanges. Since the editors in the editorial department also believe that the novel "Untouchable Lovers" should be published, there is no need for the previous dispute. The next question is naturally about the ending of the novel.

"I would like the ending to be warm and cozy. In my opinion, the conception of Lin Youcheng's novel is quite wonderful. It is a bit sci-fi, but it is so real. The plot is also very well designed. I think if Lin Yin saved Zhou Xian at the end, and the two met in front of the mailbox, which is the other ending that Lin Youcheng mentioned, I would think that would be warmer and more perfect."

"I agree with this. The best ending is that the lovers are together. Although there is no way to understand the time and space dislocation, I think the ending should be like "The Time Traveler's Wife", where the two meet again in the end, and the timing is just right."

Although some editors hoped for a happy ending, it was clear that some other editors had different opinions.

"I have a different opinion. I think the ending should be changed. Zhou Xian did not receive the last letter from the heroine Lin Yin to stop him from going, so Zhou Xian's fate was not changed. Because he failed to dissuade Lin Yin's boyfriend in time regardless of whether he went to the coffee shop or not, because he was hit by a car, Lin Yin's boyfriend still went to the United States, and the moment Zhou Xian was hit by the car will exist forever in Lin Yin's memory. This is in line with the fate of Lin Yin later, and it is also in line with the setting that Zhou Xian did not go to Lin Yin's appointment in the end because he has passed away. In this way, when the heroine moved in the beginning of the novel, the man who helped carry the luggage could not be Zhou Xian. I think that writing it this way will make the tragedy more profound in meaning."

"Your idea is also very good. The worst mistake in love that is so close yet so far away is to try to change time to save the relationship. The one who loses is the one who loves you the most and the one you love the most. I built a house for you in the place you love the most. I died for you so I couldn't keep the appointment in two years."

The editors also had a heated discussion about the novel's ending.

However, these discussions are ultimately about the work itself, and it is because of the excellence and movingness of the work that the editors were deeply touched and expressed their own opinions.

……

Lin Youcheng had no idea that his book The Unreachable Lovers had sparked a huge discussion and controversy at the People's Literature magazine, nor did he know that during this period some editors even thought that his literary works were decadent.

Even if he knew, Lin Youcheng would not care, because such comments have actually always existed when his previous works were published. It should be from "The Devotion of Suspect X" that some people have always said that Lin Youcheng writes popular literature.

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But as Lin Youcheng has always said, what he writes is not popular literature, nor scar literature, but people's literature, written for the masses of the people.

It was several days later when Lin Youcheng learned about the opinions of People's Literature magazine on the new manuscript. Zhang Wei personally came to talk to Lin Youcheng about the ending of the novel "Unreachable Lovers". The editorial department naturally respected the opinion of the author Lin Youcheng and agreed with Lin Youcheng's adoption of a blank ending. Although the final ending was not clearly explained, the lingering feeling and abrupt ending were also quite exciting endings.

"Youcheng, I still have to tell you that after this novel is published, readers may not be able to accept the ending of your novel."

Personally, Zhang Wei prefers a comedic ending of a perfect encounter, but he also respects Lin Youcheng's opinion and will not easily let Lin Youcheng change the script.

This is also because of Lin Youcheng’s current status as a writer.

Or if a new writer comes in, the editor may make relevant suggestions, and then the author will honestly revise the manuscript according to the editor's instructions. Because in the eyes of the new author, the editor has already given suggestions for revisions, so as long as the manuscript is revised, it will definitely be published.

Just like when Yu Hua came to Beijing to revise the manuscript, the editor thought the manuscript was pretty good, but the ending was very bleak and should be bright. Later, Yu Hua said that as long as it could be published, it would be bright from beginning to end.

In response to Zhang Wei's words, Lin Youcheng smiled and said, "I don't think readers will necessarily reject it, but they are likely to discuss it."

“Not very likely, but there will definitely be a very big discussion!”

Zhang Wei immediately retorted.

In Zhang Wei's opinion, Lin Youcheng's novel "The Unreachable Lovers" will definitely cause huge discussion after it is published in "People's Literature", especially the ending of the novel will definitely be the center of the discussion.

Lin Youcheng thought about it and couldn't help but say, "There was quite a lot of discussion about the novel before."

Zhang Wei couldn't help but laugh when he heard Lin Youcheng's words.

Indeed, starting with Lin Youcheng's "Under the Hawthorn Tree", every novel of Lin Youcheng has caused considerable discussion in the literary world. It should be said that not only the literary world, but also those comrades who love literature will discuss Lin Youcheng's works.

It can be said that Lin Youcheng’s works are never short of discussion.

I just don’t know what kind of enthusiastic response and discussion Lin Youcheng’s "Unreachable Lovers" will bring this time.

Zhang Wei was actually looking forward to it.

(End of this chapter)