Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 420 Harming others without benefiting oneself

In this era, there was no need to spend as much money on such events as in later generations, with all the fancy ceremonies. Lin Chaoyang roughly calculated that it would cost at most two thousand yuan.

For ordinary people, this may be the income of working for three or four years without eating or drinking, but for Lin Chaoyang it is nothing.

You pay the money yourself, and Li Tuo and the Literary Association will do the work. It's better to make it clear from the beginning to avoid conflicts in the future.

Seeing that Lin Chaoyang was firm and didn't seem to be pretending, Li Tuo said, "That's fine. Let's get the budget together in the next two days. The award ceremony is less than half a month away, so we have to hurry up."

After he left, Lin Chaoyang told Tao Yushu about the upgrade of the salon's specifications.

“Do we need to pay for it ourselves?”

"It's not much money. Firstly, it avoids possible conflicts in the future. Secondly, the scale has expanded and I have accumulated some connections, which may come in handy in the future."

Tao Yushu understood that Lin Chaoyang must be thinking about her again. She couldn't help but feel a sense of security and relief in her heart. It was really good to have someone to rely on.

After a few days, Li Tuo would bring people to Lin Chaoyang's house from time to time to talk to him about the preparations for the salon.

Several of the main participants were very excited and came up with ideas from time to time, which were then rejected one by one by Lin Chaoyang.

When these people get excited, they tend to think wildly and their ideas are usually great, but they have no possibility of being implemented. In the end, a few of them became dissatisfied and complained after being hit by Lin Chaoyang.

But the salon has to go on, because Lin Chaoyang is the financial sponsor now.

Today is the day of the National Excellent Short and Medium Stories Award Ceremony, and Lin Chaoyang was invited to attend.

After years of development, the influence of the National Excellent Short and Medium Novels in the country has reached an extremely high level, and it can almost be called the first award in the literary world.

As for the Mao Dun Literature Prize, it has only been held once, after all. It has a great influence, but in the minds of writers, editors, publishers and readers, it still lacks substance.

The conference was as grand as ever, with hundreds of literary heavyweights from all over the country attending the event.

As soon as Lin Chaoyang entered the venue, he was spotted by Zhang Guangnian, who pulled Lin Chaoyang aside and prepared to question him.

"Boy, what do you mean?"

Lin Chaoyang looked confused, "What do you mean?"

"You are still playing dumb in front of me!" Zhang Guangnian was furious at his expression. "Your salon has been making a lot of noise in Yanjing City recently. Do you think I don't know?"

"What's wrong with Sharon? Is he bothering you again?"

Zhang Guangnian was so angry when he saw his stupid and dumb attitude, "Just keep pretending! We worked so hard to organize an award, but now you have stolen all the limelight."

Seeing that he was not letting go, Lin Chaoyang could only say, "What you said is wrong. I just want to treat everyone to a meal. If the Literary Association wants to treat you, you can do it!"

Of course, the Writers Association also invited writers to dinner, and both the specifications and standards were higher than those of Lin Chaoyang's family, but unfortunately, their influence was not as great as his.

The reason is actually very simple. When writers come to participate in the award ceremony, whether it is the award ceremony, symposium, or dinner, it is all official procedure.

Although it is a joy to win an award, the atmosphere at these events is overly formal and sometimes even has an oppressive political element.

In contrast, at the gathering at Lin Chaoyang's house, everyone was a creator. They gathered together with similar interests, talked about everything without restraint, and the atmosphere was relaxed and happy.

Plus, having just won a prize, I felt even more pleased.

Compare the two and make a judgment.

Zhang Guangnian felt depressed when listening to Lin Chaoyang's words. He understood the logic behind it, but he still couldn't help getting angry.

"Look at you, such a big leader, how come your heart is as small as a needle's eye?"

Lin Chaoyang's ridicule caused Zhang Guangnian to glare at him. The old comrade suddenly asked, "Your cultural salon is getting bigger and bigger, why are you still talking about the Yanjing Literary Association?"

"You are still picking on this!"

Zhang Guangnian snorted coldly, and the look in his eyes probably meant: Just pick it!
"Li Tuo contacted me about this. I'm just a cook."

Lin Chaoyang sold out Li Tuo without any loyalty, but unfortunately Zhang Guangnian didn't buy it at all.

"Come on. Li Tuo is still at your beck and call. Are you treating me like a three-year-old kid?"

Lin Chaoyang cried out in injustice, "He was really the one who arranged this."

"Then let me ask you, where is the salon held?"

"my home."

"Who paid for it?"

"It's my money."

Zhang Guangnian pointed at Lin Chaoyang's nose and said angrily, "You still dare to say that he was the one who made the decision?"

Lin Chaoyang was speechless. There was nothing wrong with Lao Zhang's logic, but he really felt wronged. Everything was arranged by Li Tuo and the others, and he spent money but still had to get scolded.

"Then what do you mean?" Lin Chaoyang asked finally.

Seeing that he had compromised, Zhang Guangnian immediately said, "Our Cultural Association will be responsible for holding the salon next year."

The "our Writers Association" that Zhang Guangnian mentioned is of course the National Writers Association.

Lin Chaoyang couldn't help but look at him with disdain when he heard this. "You are the leader of the Literary Association after all. Can you play a good role? If you try to steal the credit from your subordinates, people will laugh at you!"

Zhang Guangnian was immediately furious, "Bullshit! Didn't we organize the award? Did you host the salon because of us? Our literary association organized the salon for you, paying for it and doing the work. Is that wrong?"

Lin Chaoyang argued: "You can't say that. Our cultural salon is purely a personal activity."

"You let the Yanjing Literary Association participate in your personal activities?"

Lin Chaoyang remained silent after hearing this. The old comrade was really good at finding faults in others.

"If the Yanjing Literary Association can participate, then we can participate. Otherwise, no one should participate."

Zhang Guangnian boasted that he had grasped Lin Chaoyang's weakness. He was very proud of what he said, and was certain that Lin Chaoyang would not abandon the Yanjing Literary Association. Unexpectedly, Lin Chaoyang nodded happily, "Okay, then the Yanjing Literary Association will not participate next year, and you guys should not participate either."

"Eh?"

Zhang Guangnian was filled with surprise and stood there for a few seconds, unable to wrap his mind around what was going on.

Looking at his expression, Lin Chaoyang suddenly felt relieved.

He was just about to find a place to sit down when Zhang Guangnian pulled him back.

"what?"

"No...you...I..."

The smug smile shifted from Zhang Guangnian's face to Lin Chaoyang's. He asked briskly, "Anything else you need?"

Zhang Guangnian stared at Lin Chaoyang unwillingly, wanting to argue a few words, but he couldn't think of any reasonable words for a moment. He could only watch Lin Chaoyang calmly find a place to sit down.

Seeing that the award ceremony was about to begin, he had no choice but to let the matter go.

It's another award ceremony this year. The organizers are still the Writers Association and People's Literature. The members of the jury are basically all old people, with only a few individuals changing. However, the winning writers are a new batch.

A total of 18 works were selected for this year's National Excellent Short Story Award, 7 of which were from People's Literature. Among the award-winning writers, there are many famous writers of later generations.

For example, Li Guowen, Shi Tiesheng, Liang Xiaosheng, Jin Ying, Zhang Wei and so on.

Among them, Zhang Wei's "A Pool of Clear Water" and Li Guowen's "Notes on the Dangerous Building" were edited and reviewed by Tao Yushu.

In addition, 20 outstanding works were selected for the National Excellent Novella Award. It is worth mentioning that in this year's awards, one person won two awards again.

But it was different from what Lin Chaoyang won back then. This time, this person won two awards, one for short and one for medium.

Liang Xiaosheng won the National Excellent Short Story Award for his short story "Father" and the National Excellent Novella Award for his novella "There Will Be a Blizzard Tonight", making him the biggest winner of this awards ceremony.

After the award ceremony, there was a symposium held by the Literary Association in the afternoon. Lin Chaoyang did not plan to attend and prepared to leave, but did not want to be pestered by Zhang Guangnian again.

Comrade Zhang's attitude softened a lot this time. His original intention was to let the National Federation of Literary and Art Circles participate in the cultural salon, rather than to cause a lose-lose situation with the Yenching Federation of Literary and Art Circles, which would have been a loss for everyone.

But Lin Chaoyang's attitude was unexpectedly firm, and he did not intend to let the Cultural Association participate in the cultural salon again.

Zhang Guangnian thought that it was his attitude just now that made Lin Chaoyang unhappy, but Lin Chaoyang said:
"It has nothing to do with attitude. Old Zhang, the salon was originally an activity we organized spontaneously, and it has nothing to do with the Cultural Association.

This year's event is bigger, and Li Tuo asked the Yenching Literary Association to come because we are short of manpower.

Your words today reminded me that cultural salon is a spontaneous activity, and it would be easy to distort it if you officials get involved.

So, let’s just run our own business from now on, and don’t fight over it.”

After saying this, Lin Chaoyang left the venue without waiting for Zhang Guangnian's reaction.

Zhang Guangnian looked at his back, feeling depressed.

If I had known this would happen, I would have rather not mess with this guy.

This is a big deal!

Two days later, there were more unfamiliar faces coming and going in Xiaoliubukou Hutong starting from early in the morning.

The neighbors living nearby all know that at this time every year, the great writer Lin would host a dinner party at his home. It has become nothing strange.

There were some curious young people standing on the roadside wanting to catch a glimpse of the writers.

There are more than 30 award-winning writers this year, and almost all of them came to Lin Chaoyang's house today. Lin Chaoyang's house has been full of guests since morning. He was very busy while greeting everyone and preparing meals.

After the writers arrived, they gathered in groups of three or five. Some stayed in the house, some wandered in the yard, and some ran to the kitchen to help Lin Chaoyang.

Everyone was chatting and laughing, and the whole yard was filled with a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

Because Tao Yushu was pregnant, Lin Chaoyang didn't let her work, so she stayed with a few guests to chat.

By the time the meal started, Lin Chaoyang was already sweating profusely from his busy schedule. Everyone stood up and toasted him as the host with a glass of wine.

Lin Chaoyang drank the wine and said with a smile on his face: "Everyone sit down, eat and drink as you like, don't be polite."

"I definitely won't be polite, I'm just worried that the food and wine you prepared aren't enough." Lu Wenfu joked and everyone burst into laughter.

He won the National Outstanding Novella Award this year for "Gourmet".

Although the winners of the National Excellent Short Story Award are different every year, Lin Chaoyang has so many guests that he can name a lot of familiar names, so the atmosphere of the salon is naturally good.

Of course, in addition to acquaintances who have attended the salon more than once, there were more guests who came for the first time today.

Over the past five or six years, this gathering at Lin Chaoyang's home has gradually become the focus of attention in the literary world at this time of year.

Among the writers who came today, especially the young writers who have never been here, many came with the mood of making a pilgrimage.

They really wanted to see what this famous cultural salon in the literary world was like, and whether Lin Chaoyang's cooking skills were as amazing as the rumors said.

They were extremely excited when they came today, but when they arrived at Lin Chaoyang's house, they found that apart from a bigger yard and a better house, there seemed to be nothing special.

Until more and more writers gathered in the yard, they greeted each other with a smile on their faces when they met, chatted about topics of common concern, and talked about their own creations. They gradually immersed themselves in such a relaxing and beautiful moment and forgot themselves.

As for Lin Chaoyang's craftsmanship, it is indeed extraordinary, especially in such a pleasant atmosphere, which adds a bit of beauty.

Everyone was intoxicated by the beautiful scenery, fine wine and delicious food.

Until the end of the banquet, Li Tuo arranged for a group photo in the courtyard, and everyone stood up with a reluctant look on their faces.

A crowd of people stood under two plane trees, some were a little drunk, some were sober and smiling, and all had happy expressions on their faces.

In mid-spring, the tender buds of the plane trees in the courtyard are growing into green leaves. The spring breeze is blowing across the sky above the courtyard, and the branches and leaves are swaying, showing the vitality of spring.

(End of this chapter)