Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 142 He is about to make a mistake!

Yu Hua has been a little annoyed lately.

Just two days after the start of the semester, Quan Yongxian from the class came to apply for a leave of absence. I told him that the "Writers Graduate Class" is special and that you cannot apply for a leave of absence.

As a result, the next day, Quan Yongxian submitted an application for withdrawal from school.

Yu Hua privately discussed the situation with Quan Yongxian, who was also very frank and said that the script "The Cliff" he and Zhang Chao had written together was about to be filmed, and he would be a screenwriter on the crew.

Quan Yong first came to Yenching and even attended this "Graduate Writers Class" in order to pave the way for his transformation into a screenwriter.

Now that such a good opportunity is in front of him, and he is working with the top TV drama director Zheng Xiaolong, he would rather give up his studies and go to Harbin to join the crew.

Yu Hua worked for a long time and finally agreed to let him take a leave first, and try to take as much time as possible to come back to class every week. If he really couldn't do it, he could go through the procedures of dropping out.

Less than two weeks after he dealt with the Quan Yong incident, he was called to a meeting by the Writers Association again.

When we arrived at the venue, we found that it was a closed-door meeting. Only a few vice chairmen, such as Wang Meng and Wei Qining, who was a full-time political worker, were present. Cao Wenxuan from Yanda and Zou Guangming from Luyuan were also present.

As soon as Yu Hua sat down, a thick magazine opened to a specific page was placed in front of him.

Yu Hua picked it up, took a look at it, then put it down again, saying with a smile, "I don't understand English very well. But the photo of Zhang Chao on it is quite good - he seems to be giving a lecture?"

At this time, Wei Qining said in a deep voice: "Before Zhang Chao went to the United States, did you do ideological work for him? Did you tell him the precautions for visiting and studying abroad?"

Yu Hua said vaguely: "We chatted once, and introduced some of my life and study experiences when I went there last year. It can't be said to be ideological work. People went to the United States to discuss work."

Wei Qining knocked on the table and said, "How can you not do it and not talk about it? When participating in such activities and accepting interviews, it is best to report in advance. He is rashly accepting the interview now. What if he is tricked?
He, this is going to make a mistake!"

Yu Hua protested: "The IWP quota was given by Yanda, how come this responsibility falls on me?"

Cao Wenxuan said, "Zhang Chao's situation at Yan Da is special. He doesn't have a specific class, he just attends classes as an extra. So of course this job is done by Yan Da Normal University - Lu Yuan also has a responsibility."

Zou Guangming from Luyuan also said: "Although his student status is in our Luyuan, he has been entrusted to your two schools for training. He has not appeared in Luyuan this year."

Yu Hua was anxious and wanted to refute, but Wei Qining said, "Stop arguing. The three people who went this time, Chi Zijian and Liu Heng are old comrades, so there shouldn't be any problems. Zhang Chao is still young, and we are afraid that he can't control himself."

Yu Hua asked, "Did Zhang Chao say anything outrageous?"

Wei Qining said: "I asked someone to translate it, you can all take a look." Then he distributed several stacks of manuscript paper to everyone present.

Yu Hua quickly finished reading it and said, "Didn't he speak very well? And he didn't touch on any sensitive topics, did he?"

Wei Qining said: "If it didn't happen this time, what about the next time? So I suggest that you should fill this work loophole as soon as possible. You should criticize Zhang Chao and educate him."

Yu Hua was also stubborn. He threw the manuscript away and directly refused: "Since there is no mistake, what is the need for criticism and education? This is not the 1980s. The New York Review of Books is a very influential journal. Zhang Chao's appearance in it is not only not embarrassing, but also brings honor to our Chinese literature.

How am I supposed to do his job? I can’t even do it this well in an interview myself—and the New York Review of Books wouldn’t even bother to interview me.”

Wei Qining said: "Don't confuse us, we are talking about two different things."

At this time, the blind student Cao Wenxuan discovered a bright spot and suddenly asked a crucial question: "I seem to remember that Zhang Chao has not yet joined the Writers Association, right?"

Joining the Writers Association is a one-level process. To become a member of the National Writers Association, one must first be a member of the provincial-level Writers Association. Zhang Chao did not join the Fuhai Writers Association when he was in Fuhai. After coming to Yanjing, everyone thought he was still young, so they did not rush him to join. Wei Qining sighed and said, "Don't I know this? This is also a work loophole! It must be filled... Xiao Yu, Xiao Cao, you two divide the work. Fill these two loopholes."

At this time, Vice Chairman Wang Meng, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said: "Is it a loophole? I don't think so!"

The meeting ended in a very unpleasant atmosphere. Wei Qining finally made a harsh statement that if Zhang Chao said things he shouldn't have said or made mistakes he shouldn't have made during an interview in the United States, the higher authorities would urge Yan University and Yan Normal University to punish him, and there was a possibility that he might even be expelled!

After Yu Hua returned, he struggled for several days and still hadn't figured out how to call Zhang Chao. As a result, before he could make the call, he was called to a meeting of the Writers Association.

The same people attended the meeting this time, and in front of them was still an American magazine, but the English title on the cover was easier to recognize - "The New Yorker".

Yu Hua didn't even bother to look at him, and asked directly, "What did Zhang Chao say this time?"

Unexpectedly, Wei Qining's attitude became much gentler. He said to Hua and Cao Wenxuan: "Zhang Chao didn't say anything. He is a journalist who wrote about his two-week travel experience in the United States. It caused quite a stir in the United States..."

Cao Wenxuan asked: "Good or bad?"

Wang Meng smiled and said: "If the response was bad, would Lao Wei talk to you in this tone? I asked my friends in the United States, and the response was not just good, but great! Now American readers say that Zhang Chao showed the rational and wise side of Chinese youth, and his observations on the United States are not only detailed and in-depth, but also insightful.

The American cultural community has called Zhang Chao the 'Chinese Wave' of literature, a reflection of the improvement of China's soft power."

Weiqinin added: "Random House, the largest publishing house in the United States, has announced that it will publish a novel about American life by Zhang Chao - note, not a translation of an old work, but a new novel.

The significance of this is not limited to ‘cultural export’, it is also a successful ‘cultural implantation’.”

Yu Hua then asked: "Then... criticism and education?"

Wei Qining waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about criticism and education now. We should call it a friendly reminder. We still need to emphasize the principled issues. But don't scare the young comrade. By the way, I heard that the weather there is quite cold in October. As a class teacher, you should pay more attention to him."

Yu Hua: "..."

This time, Yu Hua also did not have time to call Zhang Chao to give him a "friendly reminder" and once again sat in the small meeting room of the Writers Association.

What was in front of him was no longer just one magazine, but more than a dozen periodicals, including newspapers and magazines. The most eye-catching ones were The New York Times and Time magazine, especially Time magazine, whose cover was Zhang Chao's face, which was a little too young for the title of "famous writer."

Wang Meng was a little excited and kept muttering: "I said, that's not a loophole. Don't treat Zhang Chao as a child..."

Before Hua could speak, Wei Qining said, "The leaders now attach great importance to the public attention Zhang Chao has attracted in the United States. They want us to summarize our successful experience and make good use of this opportunity..."

Yu Hua listened to him patiently and asked, "What about 'friendly reminder'?"

Wei Qining said: "Well, now it's not 'kind reminder', it's called 'active help'. Zhang Chao has shown strong principles in all interviews. Not only did he not let anyone lead him astray, but he also successfully united a group of writers from various countries, as well as American journalists...

Ask Zhang Chao if he has any inconvenience in his life in the United States? We can mobilize local overseas Chinese to provide help. If he has more media activities, we can help him with the funding as appropriate.

Xiaoyu, you did a great job this time!"

Yu Hua: "..."

(End of this chapter)