The literary era since 1979

Chapter 343: The Standard of a Great Writer
"Teacher Fang, I wrote a novel."

Zhong Acheng told the story slowly, and the content was roughly that Wang Yisheng was originally a professional chess player in the chess academy. He had enough food to eat every day and had a greasy face. Gradually, he lost his passion for chess. But after going to the countryside to join the production team, he experienced hunger, hard work and other situations, and finally picked up his love for chess.

Fangyan immediately became interested. Hey, isn’t this “The Chess King”?

"At the symposium the other day, I listened to your talk about 'Root-Seeking Literature'. I always feel that this "Chess King" is like a root-seeking novel, but I also feel that it is not." Zhong Acheng said sincerely, "I can't decide. I wonder what you think..."

Fangyan asked, "You don't think it's a root-seeking novel, is it because it doesn't describe the specific ethnic and regional culture?"

Zhong Acheng nodded repeatedly. Apart from chess, there was probably nothing in "The Chess King" that had anything to do with traditional Chinese culture.

“The scope of root-seeking literature is not that narrow. It only needs to be a treasure of Chinese civilization.”

Fang Yan smiled and said, "Just like in my film The Grandmaster Huang Feihong, martial arts and lion dance are both symbols of Chinese culture."

He stopped and turned to look at Zhong Acheng, "So why can't your "Chess King" be considered a root-seeking novel?"

This was like a loud bang to his chest, which instantly made him feel clear-headed.

"Teacher Fang, I understand!"

"Anything related to the traditional culture of the Chinese nation, whether intangible or tangible, is the root of Chinese literature!"

“This scope can be expanded further, such as regional dialects.”

Fangyan said: "Not long ago, I published a love story about a stewardess and a retired navy soldier. It was originally an ordinary love story, but because it has a 'Beijing dialect flavor' in its writing and narration, this 'Beijing-flavored novel' can also be considered root-seeking literature."

Zhong Acheng couldn't help but exclaim, "The scope is really huge, it's all-encompassing."

“Yes, it encompasses everything.”

Fang Yan said, "In fact, it is not just our country that has literary root-seeking. Countries around the world have their own root-seeking journeys, especially in third world countries. For example, Latin American magical realism itself is also based on the bizarre and mysterious ancient civilization of India."

Zhong Acheng became even more excited when he heard that "root-seeking literature" was also connected with world literature:
"Teacher Fang, can you help me take a look at this article "Chess King"?"

"Do you have the manuscript with you?"

"I have it, I have it, it's in my bag!"

"The paper is very neat, without many traces of revisions. It seems that you wrote it very smoothly."

Fangyan took it and read it. It wasn't long.

Zhong Acheng said sincerely that he spent three nights writing "The Chess King" almost in one go without changing a single word.

"Not bad, not bad, but how did you come up with the idea of ​​writing this manuscript?"

Fangyan asked about the motivation for writing.

Zhong Acheng was even more outspoken, "It's mainly for the royalties. I have a wife and children to support at home, and I'm a heavy smoker. I can't live without smoking, so this salary is not enough to support me. Life is tight, so I thought of writing novels..."

As he spoke, he even felt embarrassed and touched his nose awkwardly.

"Teacher Fang, am I too vulgar?"

"What's wrong with being vulgar? It's better to be a little vulgar. Being vulgar can make you more down-to-earth and closer to the people."

Fang Yan said happily: "I am also a layman. When I first devoted myself to literature, I just wanted to earn a job and return to the city as soon as possible."

When Zhong Acheng heard this, the psychological burden that was weighing on him disappeared and he smiled with relief.

"Okay, I'll accept this manuscript."

Fang Yan said, "As for whether it can be published in People's Literature, I can't give you an immediate answer, but I can assure you that as a work of 'root-seeking literature', The Chess King will definitely be published in a literary magazine, so you don't have to worry about that."

"Thank you, Teacher Fang!"

Zhong Acheng kept thanking him. He didn't dare to have the daydream of achieving success overnight by having his debut work published in People's Literature.

Fangyan put the manuscript into his briefcase, hummed a little tune, and walked briskly back to Gong Xing, Shi Tiesheng and others.

Shi Tiesheng asked: "Look at you, have you run into something good again?"

"I got a good manuscript." Fang Yan was beaming with joy. "Of course, it's not as good as the one we came up with, 'The Intouchables'."

"Yanzi, I think you are too happy too early."

Shi Tiesheng joked: "Don't forget you said you would meet Jia Pingwa, Chen Zhongshi and others at Qingping Bay."

…………

Yanchuan, Qingping Bay.

The place where Shi Tiesheng went to work in the countryside was just such an ordinary small mountain village in northern Shaanxi.

The journey was long, so Fangyan asked Gong Xing to take good care of Shi Lan, while he pushed Shi Tiesheng's wheelchair to this place.

There are very few trees, so few that there are only a few trees of any kind on any mountain, and there are even no trees as thick as a bowl.

"Only when digging a new cellar or making a coffin, one or two trees are put down." "If someone can make a coffin with thin cypress boards, everyone will admire him, and the news will spread within a radius of dozens of miles..."

When he arrived at the village, Shi Tiesheng immediately opened up and started to introduce things excitedly.

Even though this is not the place where he cuts in line, Fangyan can still feel a sense of familiarity.

In sight, the children who went into the mountains to look for wild vegetables returned to the village one after another. The older ones pulled the younger ones, and the younger ones pulled the younger ones. Each of them carried a small basket in their arms, filled with bitter herbs, amaranth, garlic, etc. Some even picked up cow dung.

They followed the herd of cattle, chattering and making a lot of noise.

Shi Tiesheng suddenly found a familiar face in the crowd and shouted, "Leave the child!"

Liu Xiao'er was stunned and looked up and down at the man who called him by his nickname. He felt like he had seen him somewhere but couldn't remember where.

Shi Tiesheng introduced himself, "I'm Brother Tiesheng, the one who raises cattle in the team!"

"Brother Tiesheng?!"

Once reminded, Liu Xiaoer finally remembered Shi Tiesheng and was surprised and delighted.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Shi Tiesheng asked in a confused manner, "Is the Qingping River still flowing?"

"It's flowing!" Liu Xiaoer laughed.

"Is my red bull still alive?"

"Here! Old man."

Shi Tiesheng had no idea what that vigorous red bull would look like when it got old.

"Does your grandfather still like to sing?"

"One day's price, just singing."

"Are you still singing 'Going West'?"

"Sing."

"What about the "Job Hunting Song"? "

"Anything."

"Don't you sing when you're sad?"

"Huh?! Who said that?"

As they walked, everyone watched Shi Tiesheng, Liu Xiaoer and other children chatting about village affairs, talking and laughing.

Shi Lan looked around and said, "This is the Qingping Bay described by my brother."

"This is also the root of your brother's literature."

After saying this, Fangyan asked Liu Xiaoer whether he had seen Jia Pingwa and others.

Liu Xiaoer replied, "There are several strangers in the village today. They are over there at the brigade! I'll take you there!"

When we arrived at the brigade, we saw Jia Pingwa, Chen Zhongshi and others standing at the door, obviously they had been waiting for a long time.

"Yanzi, you guys are finally here!"

"Yes, Pingwa and I have been thinking about whether we should pick you up at the village entrance."

"..."

Looking at their impatient expressions, Fangyan knew that they were eager to explore "root-seeking literature".

After all, although the domestic literary world is "flourishing", the most brilliant ones are no longer serious literature and pure literature.

Especially pure literature, from scar literature to reflective literature, has begun to decline since its rise and has entered a bottleneck period.

As for local literature, reform literature, and educated youth literature, these literary genres have already developed and matured, and it is difficult for them to have new breakthroughs, unlike the vibrant popular literature that can bring a refreshing feeling to people.

Various topics have been written about to death, and continuing to create will only be plagiarizing others.

As a result, some people began to turn their attention to foreign countries, such as "magical realism".

This is also why Fang Xiaojiang’s “Root-Seeking Literature” immediately attracted the attention of countless writers across the country and was sought after once it was reported.

I am like a guiding light of Chinese literature, once again pointing out a broad road leading to a new world for Chinese writers.

All "great writers" or "literary masters", without exception, either led literary trends, such as the vernacular movement, or were iconic figures of a certain literary genre or literary group, or were the founders of a literary school.

Obviously, General Fang has already touched the edge of becoming a "great writer".

(End of this chapter)