Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 203 Peak Performance! (Fourth Update)
This question made almost all the other defense instructors, leaders, professors, and all the audience in front of the TV and computer screens frown.

"Running dog" is not a good word in any case. Even if someone uses it to express extreme respect for someone, it still makes people feel uncomfortable.

Zhang Chao had previously spoken up for Wang Xiaobo's experience in the media many times, and he chose Wang Xiaobo's novel "Wanshou Temple" as the topic of his thesis. It is normal for him to be regarded as a follower of Wang Xiaobo.

But whether he answered "yes" or "no" to this question, it would be difficult to be satisfactory. Answering "yes" would be equivalent to saying that the objectivity of his paper is questionable; answering "no" would make it seem like he was trying to cover up something.

In the classroom where the live defense was being held at Nanjing University, a classmate shouted loudly: "Teacher Wang also said that he would not ask tricky questions - this old man is very bad!" This caused everyone to laugh, but also made them look forward to Zhang Chao's answer even more.

Zhang Chao took a sip of water, slowed down, and thought for a while before speaking: "If I remember correctly, the four characters 'Menxia Running Dog' were first used by Zheng Banqiao in the Qing Dynasty. He liked the poems of Xu Wei in the Ming Dynasty very much, and once carved a seal called 'Xu Qingteng Menxia Running Dog Zheng Xie'.

Xu Wei is one of the "Three Talents of the Ming Dynasty" along with Jie Jin and Yang Shen. He is a master of both poetry and painting, and is naturally worthy of admiration. As for Zheng Banqiao, there is no need to say more. He is one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou. There are more legends and anecdotes about him than Xu Wei. He considered himself a "running dog of the school", but this did not affect his artistic achievements and artistic independence.

After saying this, he used the ancients to save himself. Now answering "yes" or "no" doesn't matter much. Such solid information and quick response also opened the eyes of the audience.

Zhang Chao continued: "For me personally, if we compare Wang Xiaobo's rough fate on the road of literature to a coin, then I am the other side of it. Compared with Mr. Wang Xiaobo who didn't even know where to open the door to the literary world, I am obviously too lucky.

So when I was writing my thesis, I often wondered, if he could become famous at a young age like me, or if I encountered repeated setbacks like him, what changes would occur in our creations?

Unfortunately, fate cannot be assumed. The roads we have walked, the people we have loved, the books we have read, the tears we have shed... have shaped us and our creations. In the end, I can only say that for writers, there is no good or bad fate, only works - our works are our fate.

So if you ask me how I view Wang Xiaobo's works, I can only say that he lived a legendary life of his own. Whether he continued to be unknown or became famous after his death, it is an insignificant footnote compared to his works.

Having said that, I must confess to him - I shouldn't use his fate as a weapon to attack the ills of the literary world. This will only make people misunderstand him more deeply, thinking that he is another Van Gogh or Kafka.

This is really a mindless and boring analogy. Mr. Wang Xiaobo opposed "boring" in his creations throughout his life. I let the public impression of him fall into the trap of "boring", which is indeed a sin that should be repented.

Wang Xiaobo has repeatedly conveyed some sincere and beautiful ideas through his novels, telling us not to be numbed by vulgar life, not to succumb to ignorant traditions, and to have the wisdom, courage and sense of humor to dissolve secular disciplines.

"A lackey" is actually a humorous expression. From this perspective, I am willing to be Mr. Wang Xiaobo's "lonely dog" - although even if he were still alive, he might not care. "

After these words, all the professors, teachers, and leaders at the defense site were moved. Zhang Chao's answer completely surpassed the routine of ordinary graduation thesis defense. After fully demonstrating his solid academic foundation and rigorous argumentation thinking, Zhang Chao was "emotional" near the end.

Many college students who were watching the live broadcast couldn't help but applaud in front of the screen.

Several defense instructors looked at each other, and Wang Anyi said, "Let me ask the last question - Zhang Chao, as the first graduate of the New Century Writers Class, what do you think is the value of the Writers Class to your writing?
Now many universities have set up "writer classes". Please talk about it based on your own two-year learning experience. "This question is much easier. Zhang Chao smiled and said: "As early as 50 years ago, Professor Yang Hui, the head of the Chinese Department of Yan University, said that "this major will not train any writers." Almost everyone also believes that writers cannot be trained - including myself.

I, and my predecessors in the 80s, were undoubtedly writers before we attended the "Writers' Class". Our writing impulse, writing style, and even writing skills were not learned from the "Writers' Class".

However, "it is impossible to cultivate writers" does not mean "writers do not need to be improved". The most important thing about the "Writers' Class" is that it provides a space for continuous communication and collision between writers, writers and scholars, and writers and ordinary college students.

This kind of continuous, long-term and profound life experience cannot be provided by any other short-term study courses. My graduation project at Yanshi University is the product of this collision.

Now Yanda, Yanshi University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, and even Zhongda and Northwestern University are all opening "writers' classes". I am now worried about one problem - there are too many classes and not enough places for writers. What should we do? "

This one sentence caused laughter to break out at the scene and in front of the screen.

Zhang Chao continued: "Teacher Chi Zijian once said in an essay that writing is a process of constantly eroding oneself. When a writer's life experience is exhausted, his creative life also comes to an end.

I hope that the 'writers' classes' you hold can provide writers with richer, more interesting and more unique life experiences, and allow the process of our erosion to last longer and longer. ..."

After saying this, Zhang Chao looked at the teachers in the audience sincerely.

Professor Qian Liqun, the head of the defense team, discussed with several other teachers in a low voice, and communicated with the two experts sent by the ministry to listen. Finally, he wrote a few words on Zhang Chao's defense form and said:

"After review by several instructors on the defense team, they unanimously determined that Zhang Chao's paper met the requirements and passed the defense, and he was approved!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone, including Zhang Chao, felt relieved!
Although Zhang Chao was not surprised by the result, he still couldn't help but feel excited. A bright smile appeared on his face. He bowed deeply to the audience and the camera lens and said loudly: "Thank you teachers, thank you everyone! Thank you!"

The leaders and teachers at the scene all applauded spontaneously.

In another classroom, Lei Liang, who was monitoring the backend data of PPS, was even more excited than Zhang Chao who had passed the defense. At this moment, the number of simultaneous online users of PPS had reached "480 million", 180 million more than the previous highest record of the entire site!
The PPS server had been unable to support the system for a long time, and finally crashed completely at the moment when Zhang Chao bowed. The audience in front of the computer looked at the frozen screen, and many of them smacked their lips and made "tsk" sounds.

Among them was Yu Hua, the head teacher of the "Writers Graduate Class" of Yanshi University. He looked at the frozen screen, touched his head, and said to the teaching assistant next to him: "Ask Zhang Chao to come quickly. We can't let Yanshi University take all the limelight!"

(End of this chapter)