The literary era since 1979

Chapter 44: Teacher and a Half
At noon, the cafeteria was filled with the strong aroma of food.

There was a long queue in front of the window. While waiting in line, Fang Yan continued to read Gu Hua's first draft of "Furong Town". At this moment, he heard bursts of discussions.

"Yanzi, have you heard?"

Gu Hua turned his head.

"What did you hear?"

Fangyan raised his head and looked.

"I heard that the institute will assign mentors to our students."

A gleam of light flashed in Gu Hua's eyes.

"heard."

Fangyan probably knew about the assignment of mentors earlier than anyone else present, and he might even be the most special one.

Li Qingquan, Xu Gang and others wanted to take away their own manuscripts of "The Secret Calculation", but until now, there has been no news.

I don’t know who I gave it to, nor do I know who my teacher is. In short, they don’t tell me, and I don’t ask, so I just wait!

In the next few days, the students were called to the office one after another, and Li Qingquan, Xu Gang and others took turns talking to them.

For example, the direction of novel writing and the genre one is good at.

After asking all 34 students, everyone knew that the rumor was true and they were indeed looking for mentors for them.

As everyone was looking forward to it, on April 4, before dinner, Xu Gang announced to everyone:

"Students, today I have good news to share with you."

"After a meeting in our institute, we decided that in order to improve your writing skills in a more targeted manner, in the second half of the semester, each student in the creative class will be assigned an industry mentor according to the direction of their creation, and receive special guidance..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire cafeteria went into an uproar.

Even though the students were mentally prepared, they showed bright and excited smiles on their faces the moment they heard the news.

Looking at the restless crowd, Xu Gang slammed the table:
"Everyone be quiet and listen to me first."

With a snap, the cafeteria suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"This time, there are groups of three to five people, as well as groups of one to two people. The basis for the instructor's assignment is entirely based on your subject matter type, creative direction and other factors."

"Now, I will begin to announce the grouping situation."

"Wang Anyi, Qu Xiaowei, Guo Yudao, and Teacher Jin Jin."

"Mo Shen, Gu Hua... Teacher Wang Meng."

"........."

As the names of the students were called out one by one, the students who were called did not feel jealous because of the difference in their instructors.

The mentors assigned to them by the institute were indeed reasonable.

For example, Wang Anyi and Qu Xiaowei's creative direction is children's literature, so they were assigned to Jin Jin, who is good at children's literature.

For example, Mo Shen and Gu Hua clearly wanted to write reflective literature, so they were assigned to Wang Meng, the editor-in-chief of Yenching Literature and Art.

After all, "Yenching Literature and Art" is the main battlefield for reflective literature.

"Jiang Zilong, Mr. Qin Zhaoyang."

"Fangyan, Mr. Shen Yanbing (Mao, Dun)."

Xu Gang looked at Jiang Zilong, then at Fangyan.

"Wow!"

For a moment, the whole room was in an uproar.

Envious glances were immediately cast towards Jiang Zilong and Fang Yan, especially Fang Yan. How could one not be envious!
Fangyan's eyes widened in shock and his fingers were clasped together.

I thought that Li Qingquan and others would find a literary master to guide me in writing a novel, but I didn't expect that they would invite such a great figure.

Even if you don’t know Shen Yanbing, you should know the Mao Dun Literature Prize, which is the highest award in the Chinese literary world to date.

In the entire mainstream literature, he is also a master of contemporary literature.

Not to mention his series of identities, including former Minister of Culture, the first senior official of the Writers Association, the first editor-in-chief of People's Literature and Literary Gazette...

This is equivalent to Monkey King becoming a disciple of Patriarch Bodhi.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa..."

Take a few deep breaths and slowly calm down.

I vaguely guessed that it was because I agreed to write a novel that the leaders of the institute went to so much trouble to find this great master to be my teacher.

It turns out that those who don’t want to make progress will never make progress!

Master Bodhi, I really want to make progress!
At this moment, General Fang became the focus of everyone's attention.

"Yanzi, why aren't you excited at all?"

Mo Shen nudged him lightly with his elbow.

"I'm so excited. How can I not be excited? I was so excited that my soul almost left my body. I was almost sent to the underworld to see the King of Hell."

Fangyan kept a straight face and even started joking.

"Hahaha!"

Tie Ning, Wang Anyi, Mo Shen, Gu Hua and other classmates laughed out loud. Although they were envious, they were also sincerely happy for him.

The corners of Fangyan's mouth curled up wildly, and he noticed from the corner of his eye that Jiang Zilong looked a little lonely, and his eyes seemed to reveal a hint of regret.

"Yanzi, you have been beaming with joy recently. Not only is your novel about to be published in Harvest, but now you can get personal guidance from Mr. Mao. Isn't it time to celebrate?"

Mo Shen winked at the others.

"Yes, I'll treat you. I must treat you!"

Gu Hua, Jiang Zilong and others immediately started shouting.

Fangyan readily agreed. Not to mention the royalties from the novel "Dark War", the drama adaptation alone would earn him one or two hundred yuan.

But having money alone is not enough, you also need tickets.

Just as he was thinking about where to take them for a meal, Tie Ning smiled and said, "Don't think you can get rid of us with just one meal. How about this, May Day is coming soon, can you play the role of a good host and be a guide to take us to appreciate the scenery of Yanjing?" "Sure!"

…………

The afterglow of the setting sun shines on the small building on Fuxingmenwai Street.

"Sister Xiaolin, welcome!"

Wan Fang opened the door and invited Li Xiaolin in.

The two of them exchanged greetings as they walked in the corridor.

"I came to Yanjing on business, looking for someone to revise the manuscript."

Li Xiaolin said with a smile.

"Who is it?" Wan Fang asked.

Li Xiaolin asked: "Fangyan, do you know him?"

"Is it the same author who wrote The Horse Herder?"

Wan Fang looked at her and nodded: "Let's get to know him. What did he write this time? Can you lend me his manuscript?"

“Don’t worry, wait until I see Uncle Wan first.”

Li Xiaolin and she walked into the study room on the first floor.

Wan Jiabao put down the book in his hand, asked her to sit next to him in a kind tone, and talked about Li Yaotang's physical condition.

"Uncle Wan, I'm a messenger for my father this time. This is a letter from him to you." Li Xiaolin handed over the letter.

Wan Jiabao asked Wan Fang to accompany her while she read the letter by herself.

His expression became more and more solemn, especially when he reached the end.

“I remember that when Turgenev was dying, he wrote a letter to Tolstoy on his sickbed, begging him not to give up literary creation and hoping that he would continue to write novels. I am not Turgenev, and you are not Tolstoy, and I have never been lying on a sickbed.

But I want to advise you to write more, write more of what you have wanted to write for many years. You are more talented than me, you are a good artist, but I am not, you should have fewer meetings...

Leave more things for future generations, give away all the treasures in your heart, and contribute to our Chinese cultural undertakings..."

(ps: from "Random Thoughts")
"Ugh!"

After reading it, Wan Jiabao seemed to have lost his soul. He stared at the letter for a long time without saying a word, and finally sighed weakly.

Just when he was feeling extremely depressed, he heard an exclamation.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this beginning.”

"Right? This uses the time and space narrative technique of magical realism, combining the past, present and future."

"........."

"Sister Xiaolin, this article "Dark War" is really well written."

"That's right. Read on, it's even more exciting later."

Seeing Wan Fang and Li Xiaolin chattering, Wan Jiabao noticed the manuscripts in their hands and asked, "What are you two reading?"

"Dad, this is the 'Fangyan' you mentioned at home once. We are reading his new work." Wan Fang said, "This is the article that Uncle Li commissioned from Fangyan on behalf of Harvest."

"Oh, Xiao Fang?"

Wan Jiabao became interested.

"Uncle Wan, my father also wants you to take a look."

Li Xiaolin conveyed Li Yaotang's words truthfully.

Wan Jiabao took a look at it and keenly realized that "Dark War" had the potential to be adapted into a drama, and he also guessed Li Yaotang's intention.

"Your father is trying to motivate me with this."

"Uncle Wan..."

Li Xiaolin opened her mouth.

Wan Jiabao held out his hand to stop him, "Your father has good intentions. I am anxious to write a work that is no less than Thunderstorm and Sunrise. I have been thinking about it."

Then he patted the manuscript and said, "This "Dark War" is very good. It is suitable to be adapted into a drama. If it is handed over to the National Theatre..."

“Uncle Wan!”

Li Xiaolin interrupted hurriedly and said that she had obtained Fangyan's consent and handed "Dark War" over to the Shanghai Drama Theater.

"Okay, okay, I won't fight with you for it."

Wan Jiabao smiled and said, "But why didn't you ask Xiao Fang to write the script for the drama "Dark War"?"

"He said he knew nothing about drama..."

Li Xiaolin vaguely heard his hidden meaning: "Are you saying that he might also have a talent for drama creation?"

"This article clearly uses the montage technique of movies."

Wan Jiabao praised him generously, "From "Dark War", I can see a vitality of creativity. I never thought that this Xiao Fang is not only a great talent in literature, but also a rare talent in drama."

"If I asked you to take him as your apprentice, would you do it?"

Li Xiaolin half-jokingly said that the institute was looking for dialect teachers all over the world.

"Take him?"

Wan Jiabao fell silent.

After staying at the Wan family for a while, Li Xiaolin returned to the guesthouse.

I reported everything to Li Yaotang, and as expected, Li Yaotang did not agree to be a dialect teacher, but he did not object to guiding writing. As for the tutor, I had to find someone else.

Li Xiaolin called the training institute with regret.

Unexpectedly, I received this news——

Shen Yanbing wants to be a dialect tutor!
"Oh my God!"

Li Xiaolin opened her eyes wide in disbelief.

Fangyan is a unique person in the entire literary world. This young man has great literary luck!
(End of this chapter)