A widower's entertainment

Chapter 314 [Further Discussion] (Please Subscribe)
Just like Cheng Hong's feelings, Lin Youcheng's latest publication, "The Reader," has also caused countless readers heartache.

This bold love, which was considered unconventional by the world, left them speechless and dumbfounded, and also caused them great heartache.

There's no way around it; Lin Youcheng's novel "The Reader" is just too special. Its delicate narrative presents a love story that transcends age and the weight of war crimes, exploring humanity, morality, and redemption. It's profound and moving, so how could it not drive literary youths who love literature and yearn for love crazy?

Compared to the discussions among literary critics in literary journals, the discussions among young people who love literature in reality are much more intense and passionate, and many readers want to write to Lin Youcheng to express their innermost secrets.

Perhaps it was because they also had secrets in their hearts, perhaps because they had liked women older than themselves when they were young, just like Jiang Xia, or perhaps they simply wanted to share their thoughts on the novel with Lin Youcheng. As always, many readers wrote letters to the People's Literature magazine and addressed them to Comrade Lin Youcheng.

Although it was 1990, the letters were still a direct feedback from the reader to the author.

Looking at the huge pile of letters from readers, Zhang Wei from the editorial department of People's Literature magazine couldn't help but exclaim, "It has to be Lin Youcheng again! His book, The Reader, has once again sent readers into a frenzy of letters."

The editor on the other side, upon seeing these letters, laughed and said, "There's nothing we can do. Lin Youcheng's 'The Reader' is just too amazing. Our magazine has received a lot of letters, all discussing Lin Youcheng's 'The Reader'."

Zhang Wei was well aware that Lin Youcheng's "The Reader" was truly impactful, saying, "Several publishing houses are now interested in publishing Lin Youcheng's novel."

Putting aside Lin Youcheng's previous reputation and status, as well as his influence in the novel publishing industry, the novel "The Reader" alone is enough to make literary publishers scramble to publish it. In particular, there are already pirate publishers eager to publish Lin Youcheng's "The Reader," and some are even subtly promoting it as Lin Youcheng's first large-scale, innocent love story.

Clearly, just like the later novel "Ruined Capital," it was precisely because of its explicit and immature content that pirated copies of the book became extremely popular.

However, sometimes misleading advertising, like using a naive and inexperienced person as a front, can backfire and lead to losses. For example, Mo Yan's novel, whose title was suggestive, ended up causing trouble for many publishers.

"Lin Youcheng's 'The Reader' is truly amazing. I've read it over and over again. It's such a novel that it's hard to put into words. I have to admire how profound Lin Youcheng's depiction of human nature is. People keep secrets because of shame, yet they are also trapped by those secrets, but by upholding those secrets, they retain a sense of dignity. In my opinion, it's absolutely on par with 'Atonement'!"

Zhang Wei nodded when he heard his colleague's words. He had also watched it several times and was full of admiration.

"However, Director Zhang, some readers have written to criticize Lin Youcheng for writing about a fifteen-year-old boy having a relationship with a thirty-six-year-old woman. I've heard that some senior writers seem to have opinions about Lin Youcheng's novel."

Hearing this, Zhang Wei wasn't particularly surprised. Lin Youcheng's novels had been controversial and criticized before. His previous novel, "The Devotion of Suspect X," was controversial, and his novel "Strange Tales of the Human World," which won the Mao Dun Literature Prize, also had some discussions about the protagonist's rejuvenation. Not to mention the novels "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "The Untouchable Lover," which, although they received strong reactions, also had some controversial voices.

Of course, these controversial voices cannot be changed, or rather, they do not affect the novel's ability to resonate with readers.

After all, literary works will naturally have different readers and different opinions.

Those older writers had opinions about Lin Youcheng's works, but from a human perspective, it's unclear what the reasons might be.

Zhang Wei looked at the editor colleague who had said those words and said very calmly, "Literary works should be discussed, there's no need to worry about it."

The editor who said that nodded in agreement. He knew this too. After all, compared to the overwhelming criticism that some writers receive when they publish their works, which is practically a siege, Lin Youcheng's views were just a few scattered opinions. The more mainstream views in the literary criticism world have already been published in the reviews of various literary journals.

"Director Zhang, do you think there's something going on with Lin Youcheng writing a love story like 'The Reader' this time? This work is really different, quite daring."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei had a thought that it was about the relationship between Lin Youcheng and Xie Shuhua. However, he felt that the matter had nothing to do with the novel. He shook his head and said, "What situation is there? Everyone knows Lin Youcheng's imagination and talent."

"That's true. Comrade Lin Youcheng's creative talent is undeniable. From the pure love story of 'Under the Hawthorn Tree' to the murder methods in 'The Devotion of Suspect X,' and every novel after that, each creation is quite brilliant and completely different! I really admire him!"

"That's right. Just like this episode of 'The Reader,' it's not just about love, but it covers multiple dimensions and even touches on legal and moral issues, as well as thoughts on dignity. It's amazing."

"I think the most impressive thing is Lin Youcheng's portrayal of the psychology of a fifteen-year-old boy. The love encountered in adolescence is something that can never be forgotten in this lifetime. The Reader realistically and delicately reproduces the hidden feelings of every boy for a mature woman."

"Yes, and the most impressive thing is Lin Youcheng's writing about human nature. I feel that the reason why the male protagonist Jiang Xia doesn't explain is because of the pressure from the people around him in society, as well as his own pride and weakness. This aspect is also described quite brilliantly!"

"Absolutely right. There's so much to explore in Lin Youcheng's novel. You can't blame anyone. The feelings of a fifteen-year-old summer aren't enough for a promising young man to confess in court to a relationship with a civil war activist. I haven't read her work in years. And she is guilty, she has blood on her hands, but she was just an executor... We can forgive his cowardice, and we can forgive Yang Ju's stubbornness. Sigh, that's what makes Lin Youcheng so remarkable!"

……

Clearly, the editorial team had unwittingly veered back to the main topic and started discussing the brilliance of the novel "The Reader" again.

It's not just literary circles that are discussing it; even veteran comrades in Tianjin are watching Lin Youcheng's "The Reader."

……

In a room on Beicheng Street in Tianjin, Xie Zelin was reading Lin Youcheng's latest novel.

"Old Xie, what are you looking at so intently?"

When Zhang Aiqin returned home, she saw her husband Xie Zelin still engrossed in reading a magazine, looking very serious. She couldn't help but ask him a question.

Upon hearing this, Xie Zelin took off his reading glasses, looked at Zhang Aiqin, and said, "Lin Youcheng's newly published novel."

Hearing Xie Zelin's words, Zhang Aiqin frowned slightly. She knew about the matter between Lin Youcheng and her daughter, and she also knew that Xie Zelin had previously gone to Beijing and met with Lin Youcheng. Lin Youcheng had said that everything would be discussed after Xie Shuhua graduated from the Lu Xun Academy of Literature's graduate program. Her thoughts were quite complicated. Although she worked in a state-owned store, she knew how famous Lin Youcheng, this great writer, was. However, the thought that Lin Youcheng was the father of six children still troubled her. "He's published a new novel? No wonder I've heard people mention it."

Although Zhang Aiqin hadn't read much literature, she had overheard some comrades discussing Lin Youcheng's new novel at the state-run store, and casually asked, "What story has he written this time?"

Xie Zelin paused for a moment, glanced down at the People's Literature magazine in his hand, and said, "A love story between a fifteen-year-old boy and a thirty-six-year-old woman."

These words immediately made Zhang Aiqin's expression turn very serious. Her face darkened, and she said, "What kind of love is this that he's writing!"

"With such a large age gap, that fifteen-year-old is still a child! How shameless!"

Zhang Aiqin was already bothered by the age gap between Lin Youcheng and Xie Shuhua, so when she heard Xie Zelin say that Lin Youcheng's latest novel was about the love between a fifteen-year-old boy and a thirty-six-year-old woman, she naturally couldn't accept it and was even a little embarrassed and annoyed.

Xie Zelin wasn't surprised by his wife's reaction. He was also shocked when he first read the novel, especially since he was a teacher. Such a plot was naturally quite impactful. However, he also knew that Lin Youcheng's writing was very realistic, because fifteen or sixteen-year-old boys are full of curiosity about things in bed, but they are always ashamed to talk about these things.

Xie Zelin was deeply moved after reading Lin Youcheng's novel "The Reader".

Although the story is about love, it is not just about love. The decision made by the woman named Yang Ju really shocked him. What shocked him the most was that the woman's sense of shame for being illiterate surpassed everything, including freedom and life. This really impacted him.

Hearing his wife Zhang Aiqin's words, Xie Zelin was able to speak up for Lin Youcheng, saying, "It's just literary creation."

"Literary creation?"

Thinking of her own daughter, Xie Shuhua, who had also fallen for someone fifteen years her senior, Zhang Aiqin felt a mix of emotions and asked, "What happened to those two?"

What was the ending?
Xie Zelin felt very heavy-hearted when he thought about the ending of "The Reader," and said, "That woman committed suicide in the end."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Aiqin's expression changed instantly. She opened her mouth, but for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Committed suicide?
Why did he commit suicide?

Zhang Aiqin looked at Xie Zelin with a serious expression and tentatively asked, "How... how could he have committed suicide?"

Xie Zelin naturally noticed Zhang Aiqin's expression, and fearing she was overthinking things, he quickly smiled and said, "It's just literary creation. The woman had worked as a prison guard and executed one of our comrades. After the victory of the Liberation War, she was tried and may have reflected on her actions, feeling that her sins were too heavy, so she chose to commit suicide."

When Xie Zelin said this, he was also thinking that Yang Ju's suicide might have been because her lover's tape recording was the driving force behind her passion for learning, and her lover's indifferent and disappointed expression was the final blow that led her to suicide.

Hearing Xie Zelin's words, Zhang Aiqin breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the two people had chosen to commit suicide because of their large age difference.

However, after hearing Xie Zelin's words, Zhang Aiqin still felt that the ending of Lin Youcheng's story was too tragic, and couldn't help but say, "No matter what, living is the most important thing. How can you just commit suicide! The third brother in his story wanted to live, but he couldn't survive."

Xie Zelin naturally knew that Zhang Aiqin was referring to Lao San from "Under the Hawthorn Tree." He had also read Lin Youcheng's debut novel, and the neighborhood committee had even organized a screening of the film, which they all watched. They were so moved that they cried buckets of snot and tears.

Xie Zelin looked at Zhang Aiqin and suddenly asked, "What do you think if our daughter really gets together with Lin Youcheng?"

Zhang Aiqin was taken aback when Xie Zelin suddenly asked her this question. She frowned slightly and said, "Why are you asking me this? What about you? What are your thoughts?"

Xie Zelin looked at the magazine in his hand, and then thought of Lin Youcheng's novel "The Reader". After a long silence, he said, "He is really talented."

Although she didn't answer, Zhang Aiqin understood the implication and said, "He's a great writer, so naturally he's talented. Otherwise, my daughter wouldn't like him. But being a stepmother to six children, it's not a good thing no matter how you look at it."

"What will people say about our family! That our own woman would willingly become a stepmother to a widower with six children—"

Zhang Aiqin's subsequent words turned into a sigh, leaving everything unsaid.

Upon hearing Zhang Aiqin's words, Xie Zelin thought of some worldly opinions, shook his head, and said, "What others say or think is not the most important thing. What's important is that being a stepmother is difficult. This path is not easy at all. She has not thought about this matter properly at all."

Xie Zelin didn't agree with Xie Shuhua being with Lin Youcheng, but he was more concerned about Xie Shuhua's future. As for other people's opinions, they were naturally less important than his daughter Xie Shuhua's future path.

"But you know her personality; once she's made up her mind, she'll never change it."

Zhang Aiqin looked at Xie Zelin and said, "With her personality, even if she knows that being a stepmother is not easy, she won't give up. Besides, how could she not know that it's because she likes that Lin Youcheng?"

Xie Zelin fell silent for a moment after hearing Zhang Aiqin's words.

Yes, in the end it's because of liking, it's because of—love!
(End of this chapter)