Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 364 The Roots of Literature
The applause at the symposium was thunderous and continuous. Everyone present gave the warmest applause to Lin Chaoyang for his wonderful speech. Many young writers were excited and their eyes were full of admiration when they looked at Lin Chaoyang.

Finally, after two or three minutes, the applause in the banquet hall died down.

Zhang Guangnian, who had been observing the situation at the meeting, breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help feeling a little resentful towards Lin Chaoyang.

We asked you to speak so that you could talk about your views on rural-themed novels and your creative experience. Where did this stick go?

He admitted that what Lin Chaoyang said just now was very good. If it was compiled into a manuscript and published in a magazine, it would probably be a wonderful article.

However, some of the views in Lin Chaoyang's speech are obviously incompatible with the official concept of literary creation.

This national symposium on the creation of rural-themed novels was organized by the Federation of Literary and Art Circles in conjunction with the Literary Gazette and People's Literature, and it had a strong official flavor. In such an occasion, Lin Chaoyang's speech seemed somewhat inappropriate.

But it was Zhang Guangnian who invited the person here, and it was he who asked for the speech, so what could he say?

Even if your teeth are broken, you have to swallow them!
Not only does he have to swallow it, he also has to say it tastes good.

"Haha! Comrade Chaoyang just talked about some of his insights on creation..." After the applause, Zhang Guangnian, the host of the meeting, came out to control the situation. He pressed his hand to suppress the sporadic and continuous applause.

"However, the focus of our meeting is still on rural-themed novels. We can put aside thoughts about ethnicity and culture for now and focus on more specific creations. Comrade Chaoyang, can you talk about this point?"

As Zhang Guangnian spoke, he looked at Lin Chaoyang with a meaningful look in his eyes.

I'll give you another chance. Speak carefully and stick to the topic.

Facing Zhang Guangnian's eyes, Lin Chaoyang didn't feel any psychological burden. I said I wouldn't speak, but you forced me to speak.

“Comrade Guangnian said we could talk about specific creations.

Then let me continue with the original question: what is a rural area?

I think we should use a different word - local.

This word may more accurately describe the emotions we want to express, because hometown represents not only the present but also the past, and it is a museum of our national history.

Even a beam, a building, an eave or a rafter of a farmhouse may have shadows of the Han, Wei, Tang or Song dynasties.

The traditional culture condensed in the countryside, slang, unofficial history, legends, folk songs, supernatural stories, habits and customs, etc. can better show the natural appearance of life.

They may have been recorded, or may never be included in the norms, but they lurk under the earth's crust, supporting the earth's crust - our national culture..."

Zhang Guangnian was annoyed. He originally wanted to ask Lin Chaoyang to continue the conversation, but he didn't expect that this kid was like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, and the more he talked, the more he strayed from the topic of this meeting.

No, it cannot be said to be a deviation, but rather a complete negation.

This is like when a host invites guests to dinner, and the guests not only complain that the food is not tasty, but also overturn the table and cook a table of dishes for the host.

Zhang Guangnian felt worse than if he had eaten a fly. He endured it several times, but finally he couldn't help but interrupt Lin Chaoyang's impassioned speech.

He interrupted a pause in Lin Chaoyang's speech and said with a laugh: "Comrade Chaoyang's speech is practical and pertinent, combining his own creative experience and feelings. Thank you Comrade Chaoyang for your speech."

As Zhang Guangnian spoke, he led the applause, fearing that Lin Chaoyang would continue speaking.

Everyone present also clapped. The applause was polite, but more of it was a sincere recognition of Lin Chaoyang's speech.

Especially those young writers, they felt that Lin Chaoyang’s speech was really to their liking and it completely guided everyone in a new direction for literary creation.

Over the past few years, the trend of ideological liberation advocated by the domestic cultural circles has caused many people to lose themselves in the blind pursuit and worship of Western culture.

It is true that there are many people who admire Western culture and literature, but this does not mean that everyone is completely worshipping foreign things and forgetting their ancestors.

On the contrary, it is precisely because many people actively or passively lack a systematic understanding of their national culture and are disappointed with the historical development process over the past period of time that they turn to Western culture unwillingly, trying to find a fulcrum in it that can be used for themselves and their nation.

Lin Chaoyang's speech directly pointed out the core shortcomings of the current development of Chinese literature and even culture, which made the young writers present feel as if the clouds had been cleared and the sky was blue, and their eyes were suddenly enlightened.

In any era, any country, and any nation, young people are the most passionate group of people. They may be reckless, impulsive, or do bad things with good intentions, but they are the future of the nation and the pillars of the country. They can make the strongest voice of this era.

Inspired and moved by Lin Chaoyang's speech, the young writers present shook off their lack of interest at the beginning of the meeting and were eager to talk about their ideas.

Zhang Wei, a young writer from Shandong, looked excited. He stared at Zhang Guangnian, hoping to be called on to speak.

Lin Chaoyang's remarks just now could be said to be a glimpse into his true heart, which made him feel like he had found a close friend. He now had a lot to say but had to get it out.

"Let's let Comrade Lu Yao talk now!"

Zhang Wei couldn't hide his disappointment when he heard the name Zhang Guangnian called out. Someone beside him also sighed heavily. He turned his head and saw that it was Li Hangyu, a writer from Zhejiang.

The two looked at each other and smiled in tacit understanding.

Lin Chaoyang was finally suppressed. Zhang Guangnian saw that the writer's speech had aroused his emotions, and he felt a little complicated for a moment. After thinking it over, he chose the candidate who was least likely to make mistakes.

Lu Yao is from Shaanxi. His nationally popular novel "Life" tells the life choices of a rural youth Gao Jialin and is full of rural complexes. Lu Yao's speech should not go off the mark.

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. I had prepared some content for my speech, but after listening to Chaoyang's speech just now, I feel that what I have in mind is still too superficial..."

As soon as Lu Yao opened his mouth, Zhang Guangnian felt something was wrong. Just speak your mind, why do you always mention Lin Chaoyang?
“…As Comrade Chaoyang said, our contemporary Chinese literature should have its own modernist ideas.

This proposition should not be based on blindly "taking things" from Western modernism, but should be based on our own national culture and rooted in our hometown.

I don’t believe the whole world should raise Australian long-haired sheep…”

In the past two years, Australian long-wool sheep have been widely promoted in China because of their large wool production and good wool quality. Lu Yao used "Australian long-wool sheep" to metaphorically represent the modernist ideas in today's literary world.

We cannot kill all sheep breeds in the world just because the "Australian long-wool sheep" has many advantages.

His speech can be said to echo Lin Chaoyang's argument. Although he did not pay so much attention to national culture, their views were consistent in being wary of "Western modernism" and attaching importance to local culture.

Lu Yao's words also won the recognition of many writers present.

"The above are just my personal feelings. Please feel free to criticize and correct me."

After Lu Yao finished his speech, warm applause rang out in the banquet hall again.

Zhang Guangnian felt increasingly depressed because he found that the theme of this meeting was deviating further and further from the original intention of the Literary Association.

Everything was going fine at the beginning, but after Lin Chaoyang's speech, the atmosphere and theme of the meeting spiraled out of his control.

After Lin Chaoyang and Lu Yao's speeches, many writers present became excited and it was obvious that they extremely agreed with their views. Zhang Guangnian knew that continuing to let everyone speak at this time would only continue to promote this atmosphere.

He glanced at his watch and saw that there were still twenty minutes until lunch time.

Zhang Guangnian decisively chose to suspend the meeting. "Haha, I see there are still 20 minutes until lunch time. Everyone must be tired after the whole morning meeting. Let's take a break now. This is the end of our morning meeting. After the lunch break, we will continue at 1:30 pm."

There were still twenty minutes before lunch, and Zhang Guangnian thought that everyone would take this time to go outside to smoke and exercise, but as soon as he announced the lunch break, many people actually gathered around Lin Chaoyang and surrounded him.

This unusual situation attracted the attention of many people in the venue. Some people ran over to join in the fun, resulting in twenty or thirty people surrounding Lin Chaoyang.

"Comrade Chaoyang, your speech just now was so good!"

"That's right. Looking at the development of our literary and even cultural circles in recent years, the problems you mentioned do exist, and this situation must attract our attention."

"'The root of literature', this concept proposed by Comrade Chaoyang is very good! It points out the direction for our contemporary literary creators!"

“It should be the ‘root of national culture’. We Chinese writers should look for our own ‘roots’ and have a new understanding of our nation and national culture.”

……

Everyone was talking around Lin Chaoyang, and he couldn't get a word in.

His speech just now not only aroused everyone's inner sense of national and cultural identity, but more importantly, it pointed out a core issue that everyone must face in creation.

That is, the more people tend to lean towards Western modernism, the more confused they will become sometimes, because in the end everyone will find that what they write is completely out of touch with the context of their own lives.

The enthusiasm made everyone keep expressing their opinions and feelings, but they completely ignored the protagonist Lin Chaoyang.

He was surrounded by everyone and couldn't get a word in. He could only listen to everyone's endless chatter and interpret his remarks in various ways, with helplessness on his face.

Li Tuo, who was sitting next to Lin Chaoyang, noticed his predicament and stood up and shouted loudly: "Everyone, everyone, calm down first..."

At his loud call, his enthusiastic colleagues stopped talking and looked at him.

"It seems that everyone agrees with Chaoyang's speech, but it's time to eat soon, and it's not a good idea for us to just sit around like this.

I think it would be better if we had a meeting this afternoon. After the meeting, we can use the venue and let Comrade Chaoyang explain to us his understanding and feelings about the concept of "the root of literature."

As soon as Li Tuo finished speaking, he immediately won applause from everyone present, and they all expressed their agreement.

(End of this chapter)