Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 253 The Youngest Judge

That night, after Zhang Dening left, Lin Chaoyang asked Tao Yushu, "Have you really considered going to Yenching Literature?"

Tao Yushu looked at him with a puzzled look on his face, "Didn't you support me before? Why do you disagree now?"

"It's not that I disagree. Being an editor is also a job related to your profession. Of course I support you.

Recently I've been listening to Yanda students talking about assignments, and I'm closest to those in the Chinese Department.

After graduation, that group of people all want to stay in Beijing, join the Writers Association, or work in publishing houses or magazines. They think they can realize their literary ambitions while doing related work. It seems too idealistic.

Literature has become a popular subject in recent years, not because of its own success, but because of changes in the social environment and the outbreak of years of repression.

After a while, people's enthusiasm has dropped, and they have returned to rationality and utilitarianism. The sacredness of this job has also disappeared, and it may be worse than those jobs that they looked down upon in the past."

After listening to Lin Chaoyang's words, Tao Yushu's eyes showed a thoughtful look, "What you said makes some sense."

"But for now, I don't consider this job as my lifelong career. I just like this job more than working in a government agency."

Lin Chaoyang nodded slightly, "It's good that you have this awareness. I just hope that you can like your work and feel a sense of accomplishment from it."

His words touched Tao Yushu's heart. She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder, saying softly, "I understand that work is also a part of life. We must experience happiness and joy."

"That's right." Lin Chaoyang put his arm around her waist with a gentle expression.

After the winter solstice, the temperature in Yenching became lower and lower every day. The temperature in the library was comfortable and the atmosphere was quiet, making people feel drowsy in the afternoon.

After lunch, Lin Chaoyang wrote a new novel for a while and then felt sleepy, so he wanted to take a nap on the table.

Less than a minute after he closed his eyes, the elevator arrived at his floor and he had to get up.

I thought it was a book request card sent downstairs, but it turned out to be a note.

After taking a look at the note, Lin Chaoyang went downstairs and saw Li Tuo and Zhu Wei waiting at the front desk.

It was cold outside, so Lin Chaoyang pulled the two of them to a corner inside the library entrance and asked, "What do you want from me?"

He was asking about Zhu Wei. If Li Tuo wanted to find him for something, he could just come by himself and would not drag Zhu Wei along.

The two of them came together, so it could only be that Zhu Wei had something to ask him.

"Chaoyang, do you know about the essay contest held by our magazine?"

Zhu Wei is the editor of China Youth. In April this year, the 8th issue of China Youth published a notice that "this magazine is organizing a short story essay contest for the May Fourth Youth Literature Award."

The editorial department collected literary works from readers and opened a "Novel Collection" column.

The essay solicitation campaign will last from the 1981th issue in 13 to the 1982th issue in 12. China Youth is a bimonthly magazine, lasting for one year. In the "Essay solicitation novels" column of each issue, it will select and publish excellent novels recommended by the editorial department.

Lin Chaoyang knew about the essay contest organized by "China Youth". He occasionally flipped through literary magazines and read the articles published in them. The essay contest has been held for half a year and more than a dozen novels have been published, including many excellent works.

Since 1978, various literary awards activities have flourished in the domestic literary circles. There are only two national awards activities, but there are dozens of literary awards activities organized by newspapers and periodicals.

With so many awards being given out, literary enthusiasts are participating enthusiastically, but for people in the industry, it is inevitable that they feel aesthetic fatigue.

"Yes, it has been going on for a long time, right?"

Zhu Wei said: "Yes, it started in July, and it has been almost half a year now. Are you interested in being a judge?"

Lin Chaoyang was a little surprised by Zhu Wei's sudden invitation.

Things like awarding prizes require preparation, and the judges are basically determined long before the awarding ceremony. How can you invite judges only after half a year of holding the event?

Seeing Lin Chaoyang's puzzled expression, Zhu Wei had to explain the reason.

It turns out that the articles published in their essay contest are equivalent to the shortlisted ones. They are first recommended by the editorial department, and then the judges will select the winning works from the shortlisted works.

During this period, the editorial department is actively contacting respected seniors in the literary world to serve as judges. Considering that these seniors are relatively busy, the editorial department intends to set up a jury first so that everyone will have sufficient time to participate in the selection in the next six months.

It is possible to squeeze out time to read dozens of short stories in half a year.

After listening to Zhu Wei's explanation, Lin Chaoyang smiled modestly and said, "I am not qualified enough to be a judge."

"Qualifications for being a judge are only one aspect. Literary literacy and literary achievements are the most important. Although you are young, your works have always had a huge influence. You being a judge is something we are eager to have."

There was some flattery in Zhu Wei's words, but most of them were from his heart.

In terms of age alone, Lin Chaoyang is indeed too young among the writers, but in the past few years, he has demonstrated his talent and creative ability with many works, which has been recognized by the literary community.

Li Tuo also advised: "Chaoyang, I think you should be a judge. This is not only for yourself, but also for the fairness of the award. There is no formula for outstanding literary works, and each judge has different reading tastes. You are young, which is precisely an advantage. You can put forward different opinions from those elders."

Zhu Wei agreed: "Li Tuo is right, this is also an important reason why we invited you."

He then revealed several famous artists who were invited, including Ding Ling, Feng Mu, Wei Junyi, Wang Meng, Liu Xinwu...

Among them are respected predecessors such as Ding Ling and Feng Mu, as well as middle-aged forces such as Wang Meng and Liu Xinwu.

"And you are the representative of young writers in the literary world." Zhu Wei said to Lin Chaoyang sincerely.

Lin Chaoyang smiled bitterly when he heard this. "Why do you say that if I don't participate in the award, it seems that I will let down our group of young writers?"

Zhu Wei laughed and said: "This is your influence!"

After some conversation, Lin Chaoyang found it hard to refuse the offer and accepted the job of judge.

The next morning, Zhu Wei came to the library again and brought Lin Chaoyang a letter of appointment and a complete set of "China Youth" magazine from 81.

There is no pay for being a magazine judge these days, and the judges cannot spend their own money to read the magazines, so the editorial department prepared magazines for the entire year of 81 and 82 for the judges, and magazines published later will be sent to them one after another.

After get off work in the evening, Lin Chaoyang returned home with a thick stack of magazines. Tao Yushu asked, "Why did you buy so many magazines?"

"I didn't buy it. It was given to me as a gift."

Lin Chaoyang told Tao Yushu about China Youth inviting him to be a judge. Tao Yushu said happily, "Ding Ling and Feng Mu are both judges like you. What are you not satisfied with?"

"I'm not ungrateful. When someone invites you, you should be polite, right?"

"Hypocrisy!" Two days later, it was the weekend, and the couple went to Mianhua Hutong to visit Lin Erchun and his wife.

During the conversation, Tao Yushu mentioned the fact that Lin Chaoyang was a judge. Lin Erchun and his wife didn't know much about judging awards. They only knew that the other judges were in their fifties and sixties, and only their son, who was in his twenties, was on par with them.

"Can this award be published in the newspaper?" Zhang Guiqin asked.

"It will be published in magazines, not newspapers," Tao Yushu replied.

"Is there Chaoyang's name?" Zhang Guiqin asked again.

"should have."

"Then buy me one when the time comes."

Tao Yushu smiled slightly, but in fact she had already guessed what her mother-in-law was thinking.

In the afternoon, the two returned to the Overseas Chinese Apartment. Lin Chaoyang changed his clothes and wanted to lie on the bed for a while, but Tao Yushu was studying in the study with a book in his arms.

"You're about to graduate, why are you still studying?"

"It's the last final exam, and I don't want to do too badly."

This is probably called idol burden.

Seeing his wife's diligence and hard work, Lin Chaoyang gave up the idea of ​​taking a nap, sat opposite her, and concentrated on writing his novel.

He has been writing his new novel for several months and it is still not finished. He has indeed been a bit slack in the past six months and he needs to hurry up.

On the eve of New Year's Day, Tao Yushu completed the last exam of her four years in college. Five days later, the results came out. She was still the top student in the Chinese Department of Yanshi University, and she also won the first place in her thesis defense.

On the second Thursday after New Year's Day, Yanshi University held a graduation ceremony in the school auditorium. Lin Chaoyang went there specially to witness Tao Yushu's speech as a representative of outstanding graduates.

After the graduation ceremony, before Tao Yushu had the chance to share his feelings about speaking on stage with Lin Chaoyang, or to talk to his classmates, he was notified by the department to collect his assignment letter.

Coming out of the office building, Tao Yushu had a calm expression on her face. Her destination after graduation had already been decided, and today was just a formality.

But it’s different for others. Some are happy while others are worried after getting the dispatch certificate.

"Yushu, where have you been?" The classmates surrounded Tao Yushu and asked with concern.

“I’m from the Federation of Literary and Art Circles.”

Tao Yushu showed the dispatch certificate to everyone, and everyone looked at the unit on it with envy.

"Yenching Literature" is a comprehensive magazine sponsored by the Yenching Federation of Literary and Art Circles. She was assigned to the Federation and then arranged by the Federation to work in the magazine.

"The Federation of Literary and Art Circles is such a great organization!"

"I also wanted to go to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, so why did I get assigned to a newspaper?"

"Just be content. At least you're doing a job related to your major. I'm assigned to be a teacher at the university near my home. It would be great if I could stay on as a teacher!"

"You're dreaming. Do you think you're Yu Shu? The one who always gets first place in the exams? You haven't even taken the postgraduate entrance exam, and you still want to stay in school!"

"We study Chinese, why are we assigned to the Foreign Affairs Bureau? I can't even speak fluent English."

……

The students were making a lot of noise when they just learned about their assigned jobs. Most of them were dissatisfied with their assigned jobs. This is normal, as everyone thinks there is a mountain ahead.

Tao Yushu was assigned to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, which was seen as a powerless and unemployed government office in later generations, but in the eyes of today's college students, it is a very good job.

After her classmates surrounded her and praised her with envy, they started discussing the assignments of others. They made a commotion at the entrance of the building for a long time, and some classmates went to have a farewell dinner.

The graduation ceremony has been held and the assignment certificates have been issued. Starting tomorrow, everyone will leave the school one after another.

At the last lunch, the students ate, drank, sang, and cried...

As a family member, Lin Chaoyang could not empathize with their feelings, but he could understand the sadness and reluctance that came with the friendship accumulated over four years of college at the moment of separation.

In the evening, after finishing their meal, the students said goodbye to each other reluctantly. Some of them were already drunk and unconscious, and had to be sent back to school by their classmates.

Tao Yushu also drank some wine and was still sober, but Lin Chaoyang still let her sit in the back seat while he rode the motorcycle.

"It's been four years in a flash. I still remember the first day of my freshman year."

Tao Yushu waved goodbye to his classmates while sitting on a motorcycle, his face full of melancholy and nostalgia.

Lin Chaoyang chuckled and asked, "You only remember the first day of school? You don't remember the day I sent you off? I have been a widow for half a year just for you!"

The originally sad and melancholy atmosphere was completely destroyed, and Tao Yushu hit him angrily.

"When I got back, I saw you jumping around!"

"You don't see the sadness I hide in my heart."

"The more you talk, the more outrageous it gets!"

Tao Yushu said with disdain, but his arms were around Lin Chaoyang's waist.

The wind in Yanjing in January was very cold. She hid her head behind Lin Chaoyang. His back was very broad and thick, protecting her from the wind and rain.

"When do you plan to report?" Lin Chaoyang asked her while driving.

"Tomorrow."

"So fast?" Lin Chaoyang was surprised.

"It's okay to be idle."

Lin Chaoyang applauded Tao Yushu in his heart.

Okay, okay, as expected of you!

(End of this chapter)