The literary era since 1979

At night, the moon and stars are rare.

With a "rustle", Gong Xing opened the bathroom door, changed into pajamas, and walked out with footsteps.

The yellow light from the desk lamp shone on Fangyan's face. At this moment, he was carefully checking the bill and signing it.

"The water is ready for you, go wash up."

"Wait a little longer, until I finish processing these."

"Hey, why are there so many houses' information?"

Gong Xing came to the table and was surprised to see the dense information about the house.

"Old Mike told me that real estate in the United States is a great investment opportunity right now, and asked me if I was interested?"

Fangyan smiled. The US economy has been gradually recovering these years, especially with the federal government launching a series of policies to encourage home purchases. The real estate market has ushered in a great boom. Taking advantage of this favorable situation, he plans to take action in advance in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

"If you were in ancient times, you would have been a big landowner."

Gong Xing pushed him gently.

"In addition to investment, I am considering coming to the United States again in the future. We need a place to stay."

Fang Yan said, "We can't always stay in the hotel or trouble Mike's family again, right?"

Gong Xing nodded: "That's true, but we don't come to the United States many times a year, so is this house just going to be empty?"

"Of course not. America has 'squatters' rights'."

Fang Yan explained briefly, "I've thought about it. The house in Hong Kong will be given to Yao Ming's family to take care of, and Japan will be entrusted to Yui who has already returned to China. As for the American side, Ruoxue and Lizhi will move in."

Gong Xing was surprised. "This is a good idea. Ruoxue and the others won't have to spend money to rent a house outside."

Fang Yan said, "Not bad, right? Not only can they help take care of the baby, but it can also save them some money."

“This is what they deserve.”

Gong Xing agreed with this. After all, Bai Ruoxue and Li Zhi had been diligently translating "Artificial Intelligence" and "The Ring" for him.

"Not only that."

Fang Yan said, "I have discussed this with Jason. If I can sign with Random House, my translation assistants must also receive subsidies!"

Gong Xian smiled brightly, and then found something Zhang could understand among the pile of bills, "You also bought a car?"

"Second-hand, bought specifically for Yaoming, Lizhi and the others."

Fang Yan said: "In the United States, not having a car is like not having legs. You can't live at all, especially since Ruoxue's school is in Berkeley."

As he spoke, he looked at Gong Xian with a gentle look, "If you want, I can also get you one from Qionghai."

"But please don't. I don't know how to drive, so it's useless to buy it."

Gong Xing pursed his lips and said, "You should come and pick us up."

Fangyan saw through the situation but didn't say anything. He picked up the remote control and turned on the TV. The Olympic women's volleyball quarter-finals were being broadcast.

"Yanzi and I's visa application deadline is coming soon." Gong Xing asked, "When are we going to go back?"

"You don't have to watch the closing ceremony, but you have to watch the women's volleyball finals. Our Chinese women's volleyball team has made it to the finals."

Fangyan shook his sore wrist.

"That's true, ah!"

Gong Xing screamed and was picked up by him, holding her waist.

Fangyan smiled and strode towards the bathroom.

"Put me down and stop making trouble. I've already washed myself."

Gong Xing put his arms around his neck.

"But why do I feel like it's not clean enough?" Fang Yan said, "No, I have to wash it again!"

The water in the washbasin faucet was turned to the maximum.

A huge column of water gushed out and hit the wide drain, surging and unstoppable.

After a long while, a hand appeared and turned off the faucet.

Tick, tick.

There are tiny drops of water hanging on the faucet, which look crystal clear and shiny under the light.

...............

August 8, women's volleyball finals.

This game was not only watched by Fangyan and others, but also by people from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and even overseas Chinese.

Especially in Hong Kong, the streets were almost deserted. Either the companies gave their employees day off to watch the movie, or they simply organized viewings during working hours.

In Hong Kong where the volleyball level is not very high, the Chinese women's volleyball team can enjoy idol-level treatment. The efforts of the older generation of Hong Kong sports people in the women's volleyball team have contributed greatly to this. For example, last year, the "Super Cup" with unprecedented popularity in the history of world women's volleyball was specially established at the Hung Hom Sports Stadium.

The organizer is the old man from the Huo family.

The reason for holding this "Women's Volleyball Super Cup" is that Hong Kong fans want to cheer for the Chinese women's volleyball team before the Los Angeles Olympics.

As a result, the Chinese women's volleyball team lived up to expectations and staged a "triangle battle" with the Japanese team and the American team.

The three top teams played a game every night, and all three games were played to five full innings. Every game was packed. The Chinese women's volleyball team reversed the situation in both games, which shocked the whole of Hong Kong. Therefore, the Chinese women's volleyball team has always been the favorite and beloved daughter of Hong Kong citizens. Table tennis and other sports cannot be compared with it.

The radio department and television department of Hong Kong Radio were both busy broadcasting, and they were in a state of panic and had a lot of fun.

"The station said that the number of people watching on TV alone exceeded 225 million."

Luo Qirui stared at the screen intently.

Li Bihua was restless, folding her arms, "After all, it's a battle between the Chinese and American women's volleyball teams, a strong competition."

"How's your manuscript for Farewell My Concubine going?"

Luo Qirui saw the American team call a timeout and turned around, "I heard that Fang Sheng and his team will be returning to Hong Kong at the end of the month."

Li Bihua sighed, "I wrote several drafts, but only one draft suits my taste. I don't know if it will be acceptable to him."

"Don't think like that." Luo Qirui encouraged, "I know your talent and ability very well. They are no worse than those of men!"

Li Bihua shook her head and laughed: "Fang Sheng is not an ordinary man, he is a special man!"

Luo Qirui quickly changed the subject: "The director and his team are going to pick up Mr. Fang at the airport. Do you want to go with them?"

Before Li Bihua could speak, her attention was quickly drawn to the resumed game.

This time, the Chinese women's volleyball team did not disappoint the people of the country. They easily swept the host American team with a score of 3-0, achieving the record of winning the world championship for five consecutive times in the World Cup, World Championships and Olympics, and creating a miracle in the history of world volleyball.

The women's volleyball team naturally cried with joy, and the audience also had tears in their eyes.

Fang Yan, Gong Xing and others got the chance to take a photo with the Chinese women's volleyball team as they wished, and returned home without any regrets.

At the entrance of Los Angeles International Airport, Bai Ruoxue, Mike, Li Zhi and others came to see them off.

"In the United States, you and Li Zhi will take care of each other. If you have any problems, ask Luo Dian and Old Mike for help."

Fang Yan said: "Those few recommendation letters I left for you may not be of much use, but they are better than nothing."

"Teacher Fang, please don't say that." Bai Ruoxue thanked him repeatedly. Fang Yan asked, "Is there anything else you want me to convey to Mr. Bai?"

Bai Ruoxue shook her head and suddenly felt the corner of her clothes being pulled. She turned around and saw that it was Fang Yan.

Fang Yan reluctantly said, "Sister Ruoxue, we are leaving now. Please come and see me when you come back."

Everyone waved goodbye, and Fangyan and his friends then boarded a flight to Hong Kong. Outside the window were white clouds that looked like a flat carpet.

…………

As soon as we got off the plane and arrived in Hong Kong, we were met, as expected, by people from Hong Kong Radio including Li Bihua and Luo Qirui.

Fangyan greeted them politely, and when it was Li Bihua's turn, she said bluntly:
"Mr. Fang, I have some thoughts about the novel Farewell My Concubine. Can we find some time to talk about it?"

"Then let's talk on the way. I also want to discuss this with you."

"it is good!"

Li Bihua followed him into the car, sat next to him in the back driver's seat, and then took out the outline and opening that she thought she was most satisfied with from her bag.

Fangyan also handed over the manuscript he had drafted in the United States for exchange.

Along the way, the two of them watched quietly for a while, until Li Bihua couldn't hold on any longer.

The ending that Fangyan presets is that after Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou meet again after a long separation, Cheng Dieyi commits suicide by drawing a sword while singing "Farewell My Concubine" again.

Compared with this, what I wrote is simply inferior and is simply not worth looking at.

Not only did Cheng Dieyi not commit suicide, but he became more and more successful and became the behind-the-scenes artistic director of the Peking Opera troupe visiting Hong Kong for exchange. Although he was no longer the glamorous "star" on the stage, but the "little old man" who was whispered about by reporters off the stage, he also lost a finger.

However, it is better than the lonely Duan Xiaolou, who has been living a precarious life. He can neither sing nor play the role of Overlord.

When people reach middle age, things and people have changed. In the past, it was Cheng Dieyi who begged Duan Xiaolou to be his "Yu Ji", but now it is the other way around, and it is Duan Xiaolou who makes it clear that he wants Cheng Dieyi to be his "Yu Ji", but Cheng Dieyi has seen through it and "took every possible means" to stop Duan Xiaolou from continuing to make it clear.

A person cannot live without being crazy, and Cheng Dieyi just wants to be "Yu Ji" in the play for the rest of his life.

"It seems that you still write about Cheng Dieyi as a male."

Fang Yan looked at the "rotten girl" in front of him and said helplessly: "It's still a story about two men and a woman."

Li Bihua nodded. "Mr. Fang, I noticed that when you were writing Cheng Dieyi, you used a male perspective before playing Concubine Yu, but after playing Concubine Yu, it became a female perspective, and it became a story of two women and a man..."

"This gender change actually comes from three turning points." Fang Yan held up two fingers.

"What is it?" Li Bihua asked.

"That is the castration of Cheng Dieyi by outsiders."

"But Cheng Dieyi is not a eunuch?"

"No, no, no, first of all, it's physical castration."

According to Fang Yan, in order to allow Cheng Dieyi to join the opera troupe, Cheng Dieyi's mother cut off her son's extra sixth finger with a knife, which was equivalent to severing his attachment to maternal love. From then on, Cheng Dieyi bid farewell to his mother, and during this emotional vacuum, he was gradually filled with the love of his senior brother Duan Xiaolou.

Then, with a smile on his face, he said, "Because of the friendship between the two disciples, Cheng Dieyi admitted from the bottom of his heart that 'I am a man'. This was Cheng Dieyi's last line of defense for his gender and spiritual confirmation. But in the end, with Duan Xiaolou's help, it was twisted into 'I am a woman'."

"You mean, we are a man and a girl, and we will say goodbye here."

Li Bihua suddenly realized, "Cheng Dieyi's friendship with Duan Xiaolou has deteriorated and turned into Yu Ji's feelings for the Overlord."

“That’s cognitive castration.”

Fang Yan said: "The mother severed the mother-son relationship and pushed Cheng Dieyi into another life. Duan Xiaolou's bravery, decisiveness and domineering attitude completely alienated him psychologically. Coupled with the real eunuch Zhang Gonggong, it led to the third turning point."

Li Bihua's eyes lit up: "Mental castration! Freud said that 'castration complex' can lead to 'sexual psychological disorders'!"

Listening to her mumbling, Fangyan smiled and said, "It's almost like what you just said."

Li Bihua's tone was full of respect: "Compared with you, what I wrote is really too superficial, too narrow-minded, and too disgusting to read."

"That's not the case. There are many good points in your manuscript."

Fang Yan laughed and said, "And judging from this opening, I may not be as good as you when it comes to writing about people from a female perspective."

Li Bihua replied that she was born in a large family in Hong Kong. Her grandfather used to be a wealthy man in the countryside with four wives and a concubine. Her father was in the Chinese medicinal materials business. She had been accustomed to the complicated human relationships in this old-fashioned family since she was a child, and had witnessed the joys and sorrows of separations and reunions like excerpts. Therefore, her writing style is more delicate, sensitive, soft and melancholy, but because of this, her writing lacks grandeur and connotation.

"That's great, we can complement each other and work together!"

The dialect applauded.

During the discussion, Li Bihua gradually let go of her psychological burden and decided to speak mainly in dialect, willing to serve as an auxiliary.

Luo Qirui looked at the two people through the rearview mirror, then looked ahead. Before he knew it, he was almost at the hotel where he was staying.

Fang Yan asked Gong Xing and Fang Yan to rest in the room first, and he was invited to the radio station building by the leaders of Hong Kong Radio.

In the office area, a well-mannered man was stopped by a staff member, who yelled at him to pay compensation.

Li Bihua looked him up and down for a while, "You are Guo Chongyuan from Ming Pao, right?"

Guo Chongyuan smiled awkwardly, "Ms. Li, I..."

Before they could reminisce about the past, the staff member interrupted and said that this man came to the radio station early in the morning, threatened to look for Li Bihua, and for some unknown reason, he smashed the vase in the hall.

Guo Chongyuan looked flustered and was eager to explain the reason, but Li Bihua glanced at him and said coolly:

"Forget it, put it on my account!"

“This…this is not necessary.”

Guo Chongyuan was extremely anxious and he broke the vase on purpose in order to use compensation as an excuse to get close to Li Bihua.

Li Bihua glanced at Fang Yan, not wanting to delay important matters because of trivial matters, so she waved her hand and said, "It's settled!"

As her admirer, Guo Chongyuan keenly noticed the man next to her, and his face changed drastically: "Who is this?"

Fangyan introduced himself, "Fangyan."

"You are the dialect?!"

Guo Chongyuan was stunned and said that Jin Yong, the president and owner of Ming Pao, had wanted to find an opportunity to meet him many times, but unfortunately he never had the chance.

Fang Yan said, "Really? Then tell him that I'm free these few days and I can see him anytime I want."

Guo Chongyuan was overjoyed, "I will definitely pass this message to Mr. Cha."

After Fang Yan revealed the hotel address to Guo Chongyuan, Li Bihua waved her hand and said, "The matter of the vase is settled. You can leave now."

Guo Chongyuan was absent-minded, staring at her fingers. Seeing that she was not wearing a ring, he blurted out excitedly:

"Without a ring on her hand, she must be waiting to be married."

After these words were spoken, the situation became awkward for a while.

Fangyan looked left and right, with a smile of watching a show on his face. It turned out that this guy was here to pick up girls!

After a brief silence, Li Bihua became angry and ordered the staff to take Guo Chongyuan away. Then she apologized:
"Mr. Fang, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you."

"I think Mr. Guo is a wonderful person. The broken vase just now might not have been an accident."

Fangyan narrowed his eyes into a line.

"You said he did it on purpose?" Li Bihua asked, "What was he trying to achieve?"

Fang Yan said leisurely: "If I can meet Jin Yong someday, I'm sure he will be there too. I'll ask for you then." (End of this chapter)