I am a literary giant in Japan

"Dazhong, a supplement published by Beichuan."

Ishida Yasujun read the magazine in his hand several times. The recruitment advertisement page on it was too fancy and seemed a bit inconsistent with the tone of "Kitagawa" at first glance, but when he looked closely, he felt that the two were completely integrated.

In the past, when he read these literary magazines, he would subconsciously skip over these things. But after reading them carefully several times, he actually felt that the design of this advertisement was quite interesting!
It’s the supplement “Da Zhong”, how come I’ve never heard of it?
"Yes. This is a supplement that I asked the company's general manager to design. Although it is published under the name of Beichuan's supplement, you can completely treat it as an independent literary magazine."

Kitagawa Hide nodded.

After the “initial test”, he began to consider how to help these grassroots literary creators out of their predicament.

After much deliberation, the next step is to let Beichuan follow the example of a certain magazine next door and start the path of Internet e-reading. Another option is to create a supplement, borrowing the traffic of Beichuan, but focusing on more mainstream popular literature.

For a long time, popular literature and its sub-category of detective literature have been suppressed by pure literature.

Under the propaganda of countless literary giants and many professors in the academic world, the Japanese people have basically developed the concept that "only pure literature is orthodox literature and mainstream literature, and other literature is heretical and a literary product for the purpose of making money."

In this atmosphere, even though there are only a limited number of top pure literature magazines and only a handful of pure literature writers make their debut each year through major newcomer awards, there are still countless newcomers who flock to this most crowded track.

Japan's pure literature developed rapidly in the postwar era, but this also accelerated its mutation and death.

The biggest drawback of this model is that writers such as Keigo Higashino and Shunji Iwai, who were originally supposed to make a living by writing popular literature, are now rushing to the track of pure literature.

The end result is obvious.

Keigo Higashino wasted half of his life, and if Shunji Iwai had not written a book called "Love Letter", he would probably have died again and again on the road of pure literature.

Popular literature is a newborn with a very high ceiling, and it is also a track that is more suitable for ordinary writers.

After all, the path of pure literature is indeed difficult to walk, and it requires extremely high writing skills and knowledge from the creator. It is not something that ordinary people can do.

In addition, popular literature will also produce a product that is more in line with the Internet era - Japanese light novels.

This is also one of the ultimate areas that Hidetoshi Kitagawa wants to enter.

Of course, he won't tell these things to Ishida Yasujun for the time being.

He now only wants to recruit this capable and ambitious young man, believing that with his solid background, he will have no problem gaining a foothold in the editorial department of Dazhong.

After hearing the information about "Mass", Ishida Taijun felt mixed emotions and was a little hesitant for a while.

He really needs a job, and it would be best if he could work in the editorial department of a magazine publishing house or a newspaper.

But the place he wanted to go most was Kawade's study.

Secondly, he is also willing to consider Beichuan Entertainment.

Next, he would turn his attention to the newspaper - not considering the second-ranked Xinwenxiang, which was Mr. Beichuan's mortal enemy, and he would not surrender to the enemy!

After all, his pursuit has always been to become the second Kitagawa Hide and his dream is to become a pure literature writer.

From Mr. Beichuan's introduction, it seems that "Da Zhong" lives up to its name and focuses on popular literature.

“I know that you have a certain obsession with pure literature. This is not a bad thing. On the contrary, I think your current achievements are due to its existence.

However, you also have to understand that the essence of popular literature and pure literature is both literature. There is no good or bad, strong or weak. It does not mean that popular literature necessarily lacks literary quality, or that pure literature necessarily cannot be a bestseller.

Isn’t my novel the best counterexample? "

Kitagawa Hide patted his shoulder gently and stuffed the two magazines back into his hands.

“Think about it carefully. You can have both work and dreams.

It depends on how you choose and how you do it. "

Kitagawa Hide knew that Ishida Yasujun needed some time to think and make a decision. After all, he had just suffered a disaster and his emotions were still unstable.

Moreover, this is one of the watershed moments in his life. If he agrees to it too quickly, Kitagawa Hide will begin to doubt his ability.

After watching Kitagawa Hide leave, Ishida Taijun felt that the energy he had lost seemed to have recovered some.

He lowered his head and remained silent, thinking carefully about Beichuan Xiu's words, and then thinking about his experiences and what he wanted along the way.

The Faculty of Literature at the University of Tokyo rejected him decisively.

No matter who the reason is, it's just like how Mr. Kitagawa was rejected for the Akutagawa Prize.

What did Mr. Kitagawa do at that time?
Ishida Taijun looked up and recalled.

The answer gradually became clear in my mind.

Tomoyo Kobayashi returned home feeling lost and depressed.

She bought two copies of "Wenyi" and "Kitagawa" from the bookstore, one of which was originally for Yasujun Ishida.

But after Ishida Taijun ran away, she couldn't get through to her on the phone, so she had to go home alone with the book.

"Ah, what should I do?"

After passing the “initial test”, she should immediately prepare for the next five new tests. After all, only if she passes all of them can she truly become that “0.39%”.

But now that she calmed down, she couldn't help but think of her boyfriend and the desperate look in his eyes when he received the message.

She saw all of Ishida Yasushi's excellence and pride.

Now he was deeply shocked, but he seemed powerless to do anything.

This feels really bad.

“When you feel confused and helpless, maybe you can open my book and take a look.

I have always believed that novels are the best medicine to heal people's hearts.

Some people say that "No Longer Human" is too depressing, "Paradise Lost" is too hopeless, and "Norwegian Wood" is too heartbreaking.

But after watching them, didn’t everyone choose to start a new life instead of continuing to suffer in the memories?
When you are sad, heartbroken, or lost, please read my novel.

I believe that my life, my energy, my thoughts and insights can be effectively conveyed to you through them."

Mr. Beichuan wrote these words on the title page of "Beichuan".

This is a fact recognized by all Beichuan fans.

Some of Mr. Kitagawa's books are indeed cruel, and the plots are even extremely hurtful.

But every time after watching it, what remains in my heart is only deep emotion and new expectations for real life.

Tomoyo Kobayashi took a deep breath, opened "Literature and Art", and began to read "Snow Country" calmly.

At the end of the last serialization, Shimamura and Komako, who came to the snow country of Niigata Prefecture for the second time, returned to the village and met Ye Zi again.

This was the first time the three of them officially met each other, but Ye Zi only glanced at Shimamura briefly.

"This shamisen is played really well. Who plays it?"

"It's the girl named Juzi. Although she's young, she's become very good at playing the piano lately."

"Oh?"

"Well, although she plays well, that's only true for this mountain village. Sir, do you know her?"

"No, I don't know him."

"That's no wonder. I heard that she's engaged to that old man who's been recuperating in Tokyo for a long time.

This summer, Komako worked as a geisha to earn money to pay for his hospital medical expenses. I don't know what exactly happened.

Logically speaking, the old man is very rich."

"You mean that Komako is engaged to an old man?"

"Yes, he used to be a famous weaving boss here, but I heard that his business is bankrupt now and he has no money at all.

But considering that we are engaged, I still have to do my best, but it will take a long time."

"Wait, you said they were engaged, are you serious?" "It's true. I heard they were engaged. I don't know much about it, but that's what people say."

It is very common to hear the masseuse talk about the life stories of geishas in a hot spring inn.

It is precisely because of its ordinariness that it is unexpected.

It was not unusual for Komako to become a geisha for her fiancé, but Shimamura always found it hard to believe.

Perhaps it is because it conflicts with moral concepts.

The purpose of his second visit to the Snow Country was to find Juzi, whom he had "abandoned" the first time.

But I never expected that Komako had already "turned over a new leaf", and the other party was still a sickly old man.

This made Shimamura feel really uncomfortable.

The novel does not say who the sickly old man is at this point, but Tomoyo Kobayashi's first reaction was the man that Ye Zi took care of.

as predicted.

Later in the text it was mentioned that Ye Zi's lover was the old man.

The old man paid for Juzi's redemption and also supported Ye Zi's younger brother's studies and work.

His business collapsed, he lost his money and became ill, but the two women by his side never left him.

One sold herself to earn money for his medical expenses, while the other took care of him regardless of the villagers' opinions.

The two of them had a tacit understanding and never met each other.

It wasn't until Shimamura returned that the fate of the three people deviated from their track.

"Shimamura said he would give Komako and Yoko a word of 'in vain' about this matter.

Giving a dying person a chance to survive is futile, isn't it?
But isn't the uneasiness and jealousy in his heart a hatred of that kind of pure love?"

Tomoyo Kobayashi turned the pages one by one. Before reading Snow Country, everyone focused on the new way of writing the aesthetics of mono no aware. Mr. Kitagawa used words to write about the impact of the snow scene.

But now, she would like to focus on the complicated relationships between Shimamura, Ye Zi, Komako and the old man.

Shimamura continued to stay in a small mountain village in Niigata Prefecture.

Although she was already someone else's fiancée, Komako never stopped working.

Serve as a companion for skiing guests, accompany guests to take baths in hot spring inns, work part-time in massage parlors and music studios
It seems like there is endless work to be done and endless money to be made.

The only thing they had in common these days was that no matter how busy she was, she would come to see Shimamura.

Time passed day by day until Shimamura was ready to leave the Snow Country again.

"I want to go back."

"Why go back?"

"I feel sad. Oh, you should go back to Tokyo. I feel really sad."

"Ah, Sister Ju, he. Sister Ju!"

Ye Zi panted heavily, like a child hugging its mother to avoid something scary, and grabbed Komako's shoulders, interrupting the reluctant parting between Shimamura and Komako.
"Go back! The situation is bad. Quick!"

Komako endured the pain in her shoulder, closed her eyes, and her face turned pale.

But Shimamura didn't expect that she would shake her head decisively and say, "I'm seeing off guests. I can't go back."

Shimamura was surprised and said, "What else do you want to give me? This is enough."

"No! I don't know if you're coming."

At the end of Chapter 5, the two people who were reluctant to say goodbye were suddenly intervened by a third party, and the death of the old man broke the warmth and ambiguity.

This violent turning point made Kobayashi Tomoyo's originally calm heart instantly suspended.

It was not until she saw Komako still shaking her head to refuse, still fearing that Shimamura would never come again, and would rather abandon her fiancé's life to stay and see him off for the last time, that Kobayashi Tomoyo's heart clenched tightly.

Komako is irrational.

Komako is also rational.

She gave everything for her fiancé, but in the face of true love, she took back everything she had given.

A farewell should allow Shimamura to see who truly loves him.

But Shimamura was thinking this.

“I seem to have developed some physical aversion to Komako.

Compared to the willful girl, Ye Zi, who has always been quiet and kind, is a pure person.

That’s what I thought at the time.”

When Kobayashi Tomoyo saw these words, she actually wanted to rush over and slap Shimamura a few times - if there really was such a person.

What is he saying?
Thinking about?
doing what?
For him, a woman can abandon her dignity and everything, even the last moments of her fiancé whom she has been taking care of.

But he was thinking about the good things about another woman.

The novel continues to turn pages.

Chapter Six.

Komako's fiancé, Ye Zi's lover, the old man who never appeared in the main text but was present between the lines, who never said a word but seemed to have said thousands of words, died.

Shimamura was still in no hurry to leave.

He, Ye Zi and Ju Zi went to the grave on the mountain, watching the sunset, the falling snow, and the isolated grave.

Then he asked Ye Zi that question.

The novel ends here!
"Damn it!"

Tomoyo Kobayashi couldn't help but swear.

I don't know whether this sentence is a curse on Shimamura or on Mr. Kitagawa who broke the chapter.

Or maybe it's simply a way to vent the suppressed emotions of the past few days.

Anyway, after closing the book "Wenyi", she felt much better.

Just as Mr. Kitagawa said, when you are feeling depressed, reading his novels can somehow comfort your soul.

But when I leave the world of novels, I still feel heavy.

She looked up at the ceiling, covering her face with the magazine, feeling a little lost for a moment.

How will Ye Zi answer Shimamura?
What will happen to Juzi in the future?

Which of them will Shimamura be with?

Is their love for old men?
Is Shimamura's love for them?
Love, it is a thing that has existed since ancient times.
"Tomoyo! There's a call for you. It's from Ishida-kun!"

Outside the door, Ken Kobayashi, who was sitting in a wheelchair, shouted.

The magazine on Kobayashi Tomoyo's face slipped off in an instant, and the whole person almost bounced up.

She suddenly felt.

Love is so complicated that even Mr. Kitagawa can't explain it clearly.

But at this moment, it should be this sudden phone call to me! (End of this chapter)