The literary era since 1979

"The child has been weathered,
Grab the stars for him and take him back to his hometown.
Moon, moon, hey! Moon~"

After the song was over, the Yi children walked to the front of the stage in unison and bowed deeply.

“Bravo!”

"Clap clap clap!"

There was applause and cheers.

The sound was so loud that it almost blew the roof of the entire auditorium off.

Gu Jianfen saw all of this. As the composer of "Jade Plate", she was overwhelmed with emotion and raised her chin unconsciously.

Wang Meng, Zhang Guangnian, Li Yaotang and others attended the meeting on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, the Writers Association, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and other departments, and they also applauded at this time.

"Xiao Gu, you did a great job on this piece of music."

"Mr. Ba, this is not entirely my credit."

Gu Jianfen attributed the credit to the dialect used in the lyrics. "He approached me and asked me to write an opening theme song for the World Science Fiction Convention, and specifically requested a children's chorus with a sci-fi universe background. This really stumped me. I thought about it for several days but couldn't come up with a clue. In the end, he hummed the tune for me according to the lyrics, and I was able to create a work like 'Jade Plate' that is different from any of my previous styles!"

"This is called 'mutual learning and common progress'!"

Ma Shi Tu said with emotion: "The lyrics are well written, the music is well composed, and the kid sang very well too!"

"And the name is not bad either. Jade plate, with jade falling into the plate, represents the country."

The wrinkles on Zhang Guangnian's face turned into ravines of happiness.

"Another name is also very good, like Qu Yuan's "Asking the Sky", asking the moon."

Wang Meng could not help but recite: "People today cannot see the moon of the past, but this moon once shone on the ancients. This moon has shone on China for five thousand years."

Li Yaotang agreed very much. He took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. The clear and innocent child's voice, accompanied by the passionate drum beats, seemed to fall on his heart and tear glands. An inexplicable and heavy sense of history made him cry uncontrollably.

"This kid really has arranged a lot of unexpected new things for this World Science Fiction Convention!"

Ma Shi Tu couldn't stop smiling.

“We don’t know how many surprises there will be.”

Wang Meng said that after the opening ceremony, Fang Yan must be caught and interrogated thoroughly.

As they were talking, the people in the first row looked back and saw Fangyan in the second row having a lively conversation with Asimov, Heinlein and others.

"Fang, this is the first time I've heard a children's chorus with such a melody."

Asimov couldn't help but wonder, "Why do I always feel a surge of power surging from my body when I hear the sound of drums?"

Heinlein, Jason Epstein and others also cast inquiring glances, their eyes seemed to say, "Me too!"

The dialect explanation said that in order to compose the music for "Jade Plate", Gu Jianfen not only studied the sacrificial music of the Sichuan and Shu regions, but also deliberately combined the composition rules of war songs when designing the drum beats. Therefore, the whole song is not only full of ritual and sacredness, but also particularly powerful.

"I see."

Everyone present looked as if they were being taught a lesson.

"In fact, countries and regions around the world have had primitive beliefs and worships for nature and the sun and moon throughout history."

Fang Yan said: "For example, the Celtic Druidism, the Germanic Norse mythology, the mythological epics of ancient Greece and Rome, and of course, China is no exception. The sun and the moon have witnessed the changes in Chinese history and the long history of mankind from ancient times to the present."

"We Chinese people have worshipped the sun and the moon through moon worship and sacrifice, and have used poetry and songs to express our emotions through the moon."

"From far away to near, from mysterious to unveiled, the silver light scattered by the moon has been illuminating us from the Stone Age, the Slave Age, the Feudal Age, the Modern Age, all the way to the present in the new century. Just as we look up at the moon, sometimes we think of the moonlight of the ancients, sometimes of the flow of history, the inheritance of civilization, the ideals of the future, and the mysteries of the universe..."

Zhu Lin, Gong Xing, Mike and others listened quietly, and when they recalled the chorus just now, they gained more insights and feelings.

"As for the added sound of the war drums, it is equivalent to the vibration of a rocket launching into space. Our human journey is to the stars and the sea."

Fang Yu said in a serious tone: "This drumbeat represents the determination to explore the moon, the ambition to explore the universe, and the ambition to journey into deep space."

“That’s really great!”

Heinlein applauded.

"Fang, after listening to your explanation, I wish I could listen to "The Jade Plate" again right now."

Jason Epstein spoke for the thoughts of most of those present.

Asimov added: "I wonder if the song 'Jade Plate' will be released as a vinyl record, music tape or album?"

“I have considered this.”

Fangyan said that he was planning to cooperate with the local audio-visual publishing house in Sichuan and Shu to record "Yu Pan" sung by Yi children again.

"When the tape comes out, be sure to send me a copy!"

Asimov smiled and said, "It would be best if there were two versions, one in Chinese and one in English!"

Seeing the anticipation in everyone's eyes, Fang Yan agreed one by one.

After the "Yu Pan" program, Yang Xiao invited the leaders of Sichuan and Shu to come on stage to give a speech. Because real-time translation was required, the speech was not long.

After a while of blabbering, the World Science Fiction Convention was officially opened amid warm applause!
The opening ceremony came to a successful conclusion, and the audience below the stage formed into streams and left towards different exits.

Volunteers are deployed at each exit, who are responsible for maintaining order in each area and also for explaining each exhibition area.

Many guests, tourists, media, and editors of science fiction magazines gathered in front of the popular science exhibition representing Chinese science and technology.

Cloned fish, hybrid rice, artemisinin, the Galaxy-1 supercomputer, the Yanjing Electron-Positron Collider...

There was also a group of people who came specifically to the rest area for everyone to take a break and couldn't wait to flip through the special issue of "Science Fiction World". Most of them came for "The Matrix" in the dialect version, but their attention was soon attracted by novels by other Chinese science fiction writers.

Asimov, Heinlein, Jason Epstein and others are also among them.

Fang Yan was called over by Wang Meng, and at this moment he was standing "obediently" in front of big guys like Li Yaotang, Zhang Guangnian, and Ma Shi Tu.

"You wrote this lyric very well. What's good about it is that it describes the Chinese people's feelings towards the moon in a very full and vivid way."

"Hey, as long as you are satisfied."

Fangyan grinned.

“I think Ask the Moon can definitely be a program for the Spring Festival Gala.”

Wang Meng's proposal was immediately unanimously agreed upon by everyone present, and it was decided to be performed as soon as possible rather than later during the 1989 Spring Festival Gala.

The only drawback is that the Spring Festival Gala, as a grand event watched by ordinary people across the country and even Chinese people around the world, emphasizes the themes of "reunion" and "harmony", while "Asking the Moon" is more inclined towards "questioning", "philosophical thinking", and "exploration" and "seeking knowledge" of the vast universe.

"The word 'jade plate' is taken from the elegant name for the moon in traditional Chinese culture. It is more aesthetically pleasing and can make people think of 'full moon' and 'reunion'. It is more in line with the core theme of the Spring Festival, 'family reunion'. What do you think, Xiaofang?" Li Yaotang said kindly.

Since he asked in this way, Fangyan naturally agreed.

Furthermore, they solemnly promised to revise the lyrics to better fit the theme of "family reunion".

After temporarily separating from Wang Meng, Li Yaotang and others, he walked straight towards the rest area.

It was not known whether it was a coincidence or whether Gong Xing, Zhu Lin and the others did it on purpose, but a group of people stood quietly at the door, as if they had been waiting for a long time.

"elder brother!"

Seeing his little sister running over excitedly, Fang Yan couldn't help but laugh, "You haven't changed at all, as impetuous as Yang Paifeng."

"Just now I saw you being called away by Mr. Ba and Teacher Wang, so I didn't go over to disturb you."

Gong Xing walked over slowly and handed over a cup of Tianfu Cola. "This is something Yan Zi prepared especially for you."

"Yo!"

Fangyan raised his eyebrows.

"Hey, you just talked for so long, I was afraid you might be thirsty!"

Seeing that her sister-in-law was silently pushing the credit to herself, Fang Yan understood what she meant.

Fang Yan touched her head, grinned, and nodded to Zhu Lin, Su Ya and the others.

After a while of chatting, the topic quickly turned to the Hugo Awards ceremony to be held tonight.

"Fortunately, your novel The Three-Body Problem was shortlisted for the Hugo Award for Best Novel this time, otherwise our hosts would be a little embarrassed."

Su Ya took a sip of Tianfu Cola.

Fangyan has also heard people like Yang Xiao, Yao Haijun and others express the same mentality and thoughts as hers, and in fact, it is understandable.

It's like China's application to host the World Cup. Although the Chinese national football team, as the host, can skip the qualifiers and go directly to the group stage, they played so badly and didn't even get a single point, which was embarrassing. It would be better for them to simply not participate. The World Science Fiction Convention also has this meaning.

"You can't say that."

Gong Xing shook his head slightly. "I heard from Yan Zi a few days ago that, in fact, with the strength and talent of our Chinese writers, there is still a great chance to be shortlisted for the Nebula Award or the Hugo Award. For example, those whose novels were selected for the special issue of Science Fiction World more or less have this potential!"

“Good insight!”

Fangyan gave a thumbs up with a smile on his face.

Gong Xing rolled his eyes at him in reproach, and they exchanged glances with each other.

Fangyan then explained that the Hugo Award has a very serious limitation. That is, since English science fiction writers have an overwhelming advantage in the world science fiction community, the nominated works must be translated into English. This rule constitutes a substantial restriction on science fiction works from non-English speaking countries. Therefore, most of the shortlisted works in each session are basically from the United States, Britain, Australia and other countries. Even European countries such as France and Germany rarely have works.

What's more, as for the works of Asian science fiction writers, I have become one of the few exceptions because of my close cooperation with Random House.

"So, brother, this time you have to bring glory to our Chinese science fiction and our Asian science fiction!"

Hearing this, Fang Yan's eyes sparkled.

"Yan Zi is right. No matter what, you are the only Asian writer to be nominated for the Hugo Award twice."

Su Ya's tone was full of excitement. "It was a pity that Artificial Intelligence lost last time. This time the award ceremony is held at our home venue. And based on the quality of the Three-Body series and the Nebula Award we won in the first half of the year, I think we have a great chance this time."

"Yeah, yeah, bro will definitely win the prize this time!"

Fang Yan nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

With a cry of "Ouch", Gong Xing looked at Fang Yan and flicked his head at Xiao Mei, then smiled and said:

"Your brother is the one who hates setting flags the most."

"What is a flag?"

From the beginning till now, Zhu Lin was like air, with no sense of existence at all.

It would have been fine if she didn't make any noise, but as soon as she started telling the story she immediately attracted the attention of everyone present, and all eyes were focused on her.

Of course, dialect is also included. He looked up and down and explained the meaning of "setting up a flag" in a concise manner.

"Brother, I think your worries are completely unnecessary."

"You know again, even I'm not 100% sure."

"I, I'm not making this up. I've done some research myself."

Fang Yan looked unconvinced and said that when she went to buy Tianfu Cola, she asked many foreign passers-by along the way. Whether they were science fiction fans, media reporters, or magazine editors, except for one or two who thought that "The Ascension War" should win the best novel award, the rest voted for the "Three-Body" series.

"We can all prove this. Yan Zi did ask."

Su Ya looked at Zhu Lin on the left and Gong Xing on the right.

Fangyan didn't doubt him, but he really wanted to know the final list of Hugo Award winners, so why go through so much trouble?

After all, the membership voting of the World Science Fiction Association ended in September, and Yang Xiao, Yao Haijun and others had already compiled the results.

As an advisor to the organizing committee of this World Science Fiction Convention, it was easy for me to find out whether "The Three-Body Problem" won the award.

It was just that due to the principle of confidentiality and not wanting to lose the surprise due to spoilers, Fangyan did not follow the unspoken rules to dig deeper.

"That being said, there are always exceptions or contingencies in everything."

Gong Xing mentioned the Cannes Film Festival. Although "Farewell My Concubine" did win the Palme d'Or as stated in the program media, when it came to predicting other films, the results were not satisfactory. Many awards in the main competition unit had nothing to do with the program media's predictions.

“But it’s still more likely to win than the nomination for Artificial Intelligence.”

Su Ya hooked her hands on Zhu Lin's shoulders and winked, "Don't you agree, Sister Zhu Lin?"

Zhu Lin responded as if he had just woken up from a dream, then lowered his head in panic, avoiding Fang Yan's gaze.

The more she dodged, the more curious Fang Yan became, and he asked Gong Xing in a low voice:
"How is this going?"

"It's not clear in just a few words."

Gong Xing said that after the Hugo Awards ceremony, he wanted to take her to Hong Kong for development.

Fangyan was very surprised. He noticed that her face was haggard and her eyes were lonely. She was no longer as charming as she used to be. He couldn't help but say with emotion:

"Sure! I welcome you with open arms!" (End of this chapter)