Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 110 The big break with the Southern Country faction!

Liang Xiaosheng didn't come back to his senses until the bell rang. He looked at Zhang Chao with a complicated look, as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end he only said one sentence: "You are right, I hope you can stick to your path. get out of class dismissed!"

After Liang Xiaosheng left, the students gathered around Zhang Chao, chattering about the views he had just spoken. Most of these students were guided by "realism" and embarked on the path of literature, so Zhang Chao's views were particularly impactful to them.

"Realism" has always been regarded as the orthodoxy of domestic literature. More than ten years later, Liang Xiaosheng was able to win the "Mao Dun Literature Award" for "The World" because of this award's favor for realistic works.

However, realism as a creative principle does seem to be at the end of its road. Apart from great writers like Liang Xiaosheng who persist in this field in China, there are almost no pure realist writers abroad.

Zhang Chao himself wanted to try more writing styles and would not be bound by realism. So it was inevitable that he would have a disagreement with Liang Xiaosheng, a great writer who loved life.

In the afternoon he rushed back to Yanda to attend classes, but there were only two periods and the classes ended before 4 o'clock.

Zhang Chao was about to go home when Cui Wenqin, the president of the Yenching University Drama Club, called him and asked him to go watch the rehearsal of the first act of "Wotou Guild Hall". Zhang Chao was surprised and asked, "You guys finished the script so quickly?"

Cui Wenqin said with some pride: "Endorsing is not a piece of cake for us Yan University students."

It was already past six o'clock in the evening when Zhang Chao finished watching the drama club rehearsal. He had to say that the backbone members of the Yanda Drama Club were still very powerful. In just one month, the lines and performances were already quite good. Of course, they could not be compared with those of the People's Art Theatre, but they were definitely the best among college students.

After rehearsal, Zhang Chao was about to go to the cafeteria to eat with his classmates in the drama club, but he received a strange phone call. Zhang Chao picked up the phone and said, "Hello, this is Zhang Chao. Who is this?"

"Good evening, I'm Yan Ju, a reporter from Southern People Weekly. Our magazine wants to do an exclusive interview with you and learn about your recent creative dynamics. When would be a convenient time?"

At this time, Zhang Chao still had a certain favorable impression of the Southern Media. After all, the "cooperation" between the two sides was quite pleasant. Zhang Chao went through his recent class schedule and made an appointment with the other party for the afternoon of the day after tomorrow.

Two days passed quickly. After class in the afternoon, Zhang Chao went to the branch of Southern People Weekly located near Communication University of China in Chaoyang, Yenching University.

A professional photo studio had been set up here. Zhang Chao first went to take a few makeup photos, saying that they were going to use him as the cover character. It took more than an hour to complete the shoot.

Next is the interview session.

Yan Ju is a short-haired, energetic and capable female journalist. After the greetings, she got straight to the point and asked Zhang Chao: "I noticed that you rarely publish new articles on your 'Blog China' account recently. The last time was nearly two months ago. What's the reason?"

Zhang Chao said: "I have been busy with my writing and reviewing work recently, so I don't have time to write some small articles. When I have more time, I will start writing miscellaneous reviews again."

Yan Ju immediately asked, "We can see that since you first became famous, you have shown yourself to be a young person who pays close attention to public affairs, and you have a strong critical spirit. It can be seen that you have your own views on this society."

Zhang Chao's nerves tensed up, and he felt something was wrong, but he still answered: "A philosopher once said that 'man is the sum of all his social relations'. I was born as a human being and cannot be separated from society, so I naturally have my own views on it."

Yan Ju asked: "Do you think you are a 'public intellectual'?"

Zhang Chao was so nervous that he was about to explode. What was Southern People Weekly planning to do? So he asked cautiously, "'Public Intellectuals'? Are you planning to...?"

Yan Ju smiled and explained, "It is like this. Our weekly magazine is going to select '50 public intellectuals who have influenced China' in the middle of this year. These 50 people include talents who are famous in many professional fields such as economics, law, history, philosophy, sociology, science, literature, art, and media, and who pay attention to public affairs.

You are in the field of literature. Together with you are Master Li Ao and Ms. Long Yingtai from Taiwan, and Wang Shuo, a writer from Yenching University... Your Undercurrent Collection has sold more than 70 copies, making it the best-selling collection of essays in recent years. Your inclusion is a symbol of our weekly's openness, inclusiveness, and youthfulness. To be included in this list, one must have an academic background and professional qualities; second, one must make suggestions to society and participate in public affairs; and third, one must have a critical spirit and moral responsibility. We think you have the qualifications."

As he spoke, he gradually raised his chin, as if being selected for this list was a great honor and affirmation for Zhang Chao.

Zhang Chao resisted the urge to get up and leave immediately - in fact, he knew that at this point in time in 2005, being selected for such a list would still have more advantages than disadvantages for him, and he asked himself if he would be stupid enough to get involved in the mess that followed -

But once he is labeled as such, he often cannot help himself and is swept along by public opinion. This is not something he can decide by his own will.

As Yan Ju was talking, she noticed that Zhang Chao looked a little strange, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Do you have any objection to this list?"

Zhang Chao said: "I have no problem with these seniors on this list, but I have my problems with this list. I don't want to be one of the '50 public intellectuals who have influenced China'. You can replace me with anyone you want."

Yan Ju didn't expect Zhang Chao to refuse such a "crown" and asked hurriedly: "Why? This is a kind of affirmation of you!"

Zhang Chao thought for a moment and said, "You want to pull intellectuals from the margins of a market-dominated society back to the center of public attention. This attempt itself goes against the universal law of social development. Since it is a public affair, it should be returned to the public...

To put it bluntly, the reason for selecting these fifty people is to satisfy some people's impulse to be a "philosopher king". Others may have this impulse, but unfortunately, I don't have it. So, don't put this hat on me, don't put this label on me. "

After he finished speaking, Zhang Chao stood up and said to Yan Ju, "I'm sorry, I didn't know this would be the topic of today's interview. Let's end it now. If we continue, it will be embarrassing for everyone."

Yan Ju's face turned pale. She didn't expect Zhang Chao to refuse so directly and straightforwardly, but she still said unwillingly: "We have already decided who to choose for our weekly magazine. If you don't want to, we will put your name on it."

Zhang Chao said with a fake smile, "Then let them go. But if you do, I will also use my own method to 'discard' this list - if you don't believe I have this ability, you can ask your colleagues in the Southern Department."

After saying that, Zhang Chao took off the microphone and left without looking back.

As soon as he got home, Zhang Chao received a call from Li Lie, asking him what was going on and how he had pissed off Yan Ju. She was now a popular reporter at Southern People Weekly and had considerable influence.

Zhang Chao roughly described the process of the incident. Li Lie said, "I know this list. It is an important special topic that their weekly magazine has been planning for half a year and is going to be published in the issue on the first anniversary of their founding. Everyone at the Yangcheng Group headquarters attaches great importance to this matter..."

Two days later, Chen, the editor in charge of coordinating with him at Southern Metropolis Daily, called Zhang Chao and asked about the falling out between Zhang Chao and Yan Ju. After Zhang Chao told him about the whole process, Chen sighed and said, "This matter has become a big deal now. I told you last time that the 'Chinese Literature Media Award for Most Promising Newcomer' that was going to be given to you this year may have to be replaced."

Zhang Chao said nonchalantly, "So stingy? Then let's change someone. I can save myself the trouble of asking for leave to go to Guangdong Province. It's quite troublesome to go back and forth."

In fact, the reason why Zhang Chao said such harsh words that day was because he knew very well that "not refusing firmly is the same as not refusing firmly". If he had shown any hesitation, he would have been arranged clearly and he would not be able to explain himself.

Judging from the current reaction of the Southern Group, this list of fifty people should not be the media behavior of "Southern People Weekly", but a kind of collective will, a very important public opinion deployment.

It would be worth it if I could stay away from them now, even if it meant a complete break with the Southern Country faction.

(End of this chapter)