Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 227: The competition is about numbers
Tao Yushu was reading the newly published "Shanghai Literature", which was formerly known as "Shanghai Art and Literature". Lin Chaoyang's "Qiu Ju Goes to Court" was published in this magazine.

She pointed the magazine to Lin Chaoyang because of an article in the magazine titled "On the Narrow Nationalism of "The Chess Master"."

"The Chess Master" was just published in "Yenching Literature" at the beginning of this month, and in just over half a month, "Shanghai Literature" published a review article on the novel. This efficiency can be said to be very high.

However, the content of this review article is hard to describe. Just by looking at the title, you can tell that it is not a good thing.

“…The novel’s overemphasis on personal heroism in the fight against the Japanese invaders obscures the complex historical background and social contradictions of the time, and also simplifies the in-depth discussion of the causes and impacts of the war.

The conflicts and contradictions set in the book are often about national independence and national honor, which is justified in specific historical contexts. However, some expressions are obviously too emotional, intentionally arousing the narrow national sentiments in the readers' hearts and causing them to fall into a paranoid perspective with lack of judgment.

……

In the context of Sino-Japanese friendship, the content of "The Chess Master" is obviously out of date, and the multidimensionality and complexity of history cannot be summarized in a novel. We should examine the experiences and contributions of different groups, and a single nationalist perspective may not be conducive to a comprehensive and objective understanding of history.

Putting aside the narrow nationalist tendencies of criticism will help us appreciate the works while maintaining rational thinking about history and respect for other nations, and promote a more open and inclusive social atmosphere.”

The article "On the Narrow Nationalism of "The Chess Master"" is not long, with only about 2,000 words in total. The author criticizes the novel from a lofty and rational perspective.

Moreover, the author's level is not bad. Although the butt is crooked, it cannot be said that it is completely farting. It also seizes some weaknesses in the plot of "The Chess Master" to make a fuss.

Tao Yushu was furious after reading the article, but Lin Chaoyang acted calm and composed. She couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you angry?"

"I'm angry, but it's useless to be angry. It's obvious that the person who wrote this article had ulterior motives. He seems to be aloof, fair and rational, but in fact he is changing the concept and playing word games."

"So let him slander "The Chess Master" like this?" Tao Yushu asked unwillingly.

"I had anticipated this situation when I was writing the novel. We can't control their hands and pens, so don't think too much. As long as more people read the novel and more people can empathize with it, the fallacies and heresies of this group of people will naturally fall apart."

Listening to Lin Chaoyang's words, Tao Yushu nodded silently.

But she was still a little upset, so she pulled Zhang Dening together to criticize the article.

"The Chess Master" was published in "Yenching Literature". Now that "Shanghai Literature" has published such a negative review of the novel, Zhang Dening is a little angry.

"What kind of person is this! Narrow-minded nationalism? He's really good at changing the concept. Why doesn't he say this is patriotism?"

“And what does this sentence mean, ‘a single nationalist perspective may not be conducive to a comprehensive and objective understanding of history’?
So we, the Chinese people who were invaded, cannot express our own opinions on the war? We have to speak from the Japanese perspective, right? "

The two became angrier as they talked, and this comment also attracted the attention of several other writers.

In the early days of reform and opening up, there was a surge of reflection in the cultural community due to the comprehensive negation of the lines and ideas that had been adhered to in the past.

Many people think they are seeing the world with open eyes, and not only do they worship foreign things, but they also devalue their own things to the dust, and their weird ideas are endless.

There are many supporters of this trend of thought in the literary world. If you ask those who participated in this writers' conference, they also have many dissatisfactions with the country and its policies.

But regarding the article "On the Narrow Nationalism of The Chess Master," everyone has a unanimous opinion that there is something wrong with the historical and cultural tendencies of the article.

But no one can say that they did it on purpose. If you criticize it from this perspective, people will turn the tables and say that they were only discussing the facts and you were exaggerating.

"Damn it!" Zhang Dening looked at the magazine with his eyebrows knitted together. "We can't let them be so rampant. I have to write two reviews to compete with them."

Tao Yushu immediately responded: "I'll write it."

Zhang Dening nodded and looked at Li Tuo again, "If you don't write a novel, you can write a review, right?"

Li Tuo is now much more comfortable writing reviews than writing novels. He patted his chest and said, "No problem, I'm familiar with this."

Zhang Dening looked at the others again, "Everyone who has ideas, please help write them down. This time we are going to have a debate with Shanghai Literature. I don't believe that we can't put down their arrogance!"

Many people responded and it was not difficult for them to write a review.

I just read the article, and the attitude is really uncomfortable. I have been getting along well with Lin Chaoyang these days. It is definitely not convenient for Lin Chaoyang to write a response to this article himself, so it is better for everyone to come out and compete.

When it comes to literary debates, sometimes what counts is the number of people involved.

Seeing that Zhang Dening had stirred up everyone's hatred of the enemy with just a few words, Tao Yushu's anger subsided a lot. He came back and said to Lin Chaoyang, "I really didn't realize before that Dening is quite protective of his shortcomings."

After chatting for a few words, Tao Yushu spread out the manuscript paper and began to write quickly. She wanted to criticize the article in "Shanghai Literature".

The train headed north, and after returning home, the two rested for a night. Lin Chaoyang got up early to go to work at the library, while Tao Yushu continued to write her article at home.

The next day, she took the written article to Yenching Literature. She wanted to try to get the article published in the next issue of the magazine.

As soon as she arrived at the editorial office, she saw Zhang Dening chatting and laughing with his colleagues, and he seemed to be in a good mood.

"What are you so happy about?" Tao Yushu asked.

Zhang Dening kept it a secret, "Guess!"

"Don't talk about knocking me down."

"You two are so boring, always like this." Zhang Dening complained, and then said happily: "Guess how many copies of our magazine were sold this time?"

Zhang Dening had such an expression, so the sales volume would certainly not be low. The magazine has only been on the market for more than half a month. Tao Yushu thought about it and said a number: "50 copies?"

Zhang Dening shook his head, "Tell me more."

"60 copies?"

Zhang Dening shook his head again, "Be bolder."

“It can’t be 200 million copies, right?”

Zhang Dening complained, "I asked you to guess carefully, can you please stop shouting nonsense?"

Tao Yushu smiled and said, "90 copies!"

Zhang Dening smiled with pride, "Almost. The print run has reached 90 copies, but this includes inventory." Tao Yushu asked excitedly, "Based on your past experience, how many copies can be sold in the end?"

Zhang Dening pondered and said, "Our magazine's sales have always been more in the first half of the month, generally accounting for two-thirds of the current issue's sales."

Listening to her words, Tao Yushu calculated in his mind, "Will there be 130 million copies in the end?"

"About the same, maybe a little more. The sales momentum of this issue of the magazine is obviously better than previous issues."

Tao Yushu asked: "What kind of result is this?"

“In the past two years, our magazine’s sales peaked in two issues, one in May 79, when “Little Shoes” was published.

One was the issue published in October last year, which published Wang Zengqi’s “Shoujie”. The sales of both issues exceeded one million copies, but the highest did not reach 10 million copies.

This July issue looks like it will break the sales record of our Yenching Literature."

Zhang Dening’s words made Tao Yushu very happy. What does the record-breaking sales mean?
This shows that it is popular among readers. As the most important work in this issue of the magazine, "The Chess Master" played a decisive role in sales.

Wasn’t the purpose of my husband writing this novel in order to reach more readers?

Now it seems that his goal has been achieved.

but……

Tao Yushu took out his manuscript and handed it to Zhang Dening. "I have finished writing the review. Can I publish it in the next issue of your magazine?"

"Oh, my dear Sister Tao, do you think I'm the editor-in-chief? How can I decide on such matters?"

Zhang Dening said this, but her eyes were on the manuscript. She quickly read it over and said, "Well written. Your level of writing reviews is now as good as those who specialize in literary criticism."

“So it can be published?”

Zhang Dening looked at her speechlessly, picked up the book "Shanghai Literature" on the table, took the manuscript, and said to Tao Yushu: "Wait for me for a moment."

After saying that, she stood up and left the office.

Tao Yushu was sitting there waiting, bored, and chatting casually with several other editors.

Zhou Yanru asked her, "Yushu, you are about to graduate, right?"

"After this summer vacation, there is still one semester left."

"Time flies. I remember when I first met you and Chaoyang, you were still a freshman in college." Zhou Yanru sighed.

"Yeah, graduation is coming up in a blink of an eye."

About half an hour later, Zhang Dening came back with the manuscript and the magazine, and said to Tao Yushu in high spirits, "It's done. It will be published next month."

"Great!"

Tao Yushu was just feeling happy when Li Tuo walked into the editorial office. "Hey! Yushu is here too!"

Tao Yushu greeted him, and Zhang Dening asked, "Why are you here?"

Li Tuo's novel output has declined sharply over the past year, causing his position in the editorial department to continue to decline. Li Tuo did not care about Zhang Dening's attitude and threw the manuscript on her desk.

"Send the manuscript!"

Seeing the manuscript, Zhang Dening's attitude immediately softened, "Very efficient!"

"How dare I neglect your orders!"

Li Tuo praised Zhang Dening, but his tone sounded a bit sarcastic.

Zhang Dening snorted, "Let me take a look at the manuscript first. If it's not good, I won't publish it!"

"It's okay. If you don't send it, I can send it to someone else."

After a few words, Zhang Dening carefully read the comments written by Li Tuo. After finishing reading the article, she said, "Not bad. It seems that those comments were not written in vain."

"Can it be sent?"

"I have no say, the editor-in-chief has to give his approval."

"Then why are you still pretending to be a big shot in front of me?"

"I can't decide whether to send it or not, but I can decide whether to not send it or not!" Zhang Dening threatened in a vicious tone.

Li Tuo smiled at Tao Yushu and said, "See? This is what they call the King of Hell is easy to see, but the little devils are hard to deal with!"

After the joke, Li Tuo said to Tao Yushu: "I contacted a few friends after I came back and asked them to help write something to be published in newspapers and magazines to boost Chaoyang's reputation."

Tao Yushu listened with a smile on his face and thanked him repeatedly.

"What's the big deal? That article is indeed a bit uncomfortable to read. Chaoyang is a magnanimous person and has always been unwilling to argue with others. We are not afraid. We can argue in newspapers and magazines and get paid for it."

Li Tuo is too casual and enthusiastic, which sometimes makes his friends feel burdened, but more often than not, everyone benefits from him.

Zhang Dening teased him: "At least Chaoyang's meal wasn't in vain."

"That's what we call a friend in need!"

"You gasp when someone says you're fat. Do you think this is a hardship? You really know how to flatter yourself!"

(End of this chapter)