Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 236: The Great Leader of the World
It took Zhang Chao more than an hour to help the director and staff sort out the key points of the work. In a blink of an eye, it was lunch time, and the simple meals that had been ordered were already prepared and distributed to the students one after another.

At this time, Zhang Chao kindly asked the live camera to switch to himself, and accepted another wave of questions from reporters. Eating is a relatively private life to some extent. Many people have their own "quirks", such as holding chopsticks with hands like chicken feet, smacking lips, and slurping soup. These do not need to be presented to the audience to avoid unnecessary controversy.

"How do you take everything into consideration?" a reporter asked.

Zhang Chao thought for a moment and replied: "It's not difficult to be all-encompassing. The basis is to do two things - the first is 'do not impose on others what you do not want others to do to you'. That is, you need to have empathy and not impose on others what you do not like.

I think it would be uncomfortable if there was a camera filming me while I was eating, because there would be rice grains stuck in the corners of my mouth and some soup spilled on the table, and it would be uncomfortable whether I was watching or being watched.

The second is "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." People should not only have empathy, but also a sense of boundaries. What I like may not be liked by others; what I am used to may not be used to by others. For example, I am used to facing the camera, but others may be nervous.

This semi-final will be live broadcasted. We informed all contestants very early so that everyone can be mentally prepared. During the meeting yesterday, we also explained the process specifically. As long as they write in the backstage, cameras and reporters will not disturb them.

At the same time, we also asked students who were concerned to register their names, and arranged them in corners when arranging seats, trying to create a safe environment for them. ..."

These words were very pleasant to hear for both the reporters interviewing and the audience in front of the screen.

Yu Hua and Shi Tiesheng, who were traveling in Shanxi, also watched this unprecedented "writing live broadcast" during their lunch break. After listening to Zhang Chao's words, Shi Tiesheng said to Yu Hua: "This kid is too old..."

Yu Hua also sighed again: "Yes, sometimes I feel that Zhang Chao is not even 20 years old. He is almost my age."

Shi Tiesheng laughed when he heard this and said mockingly, "Almost? Where do you get your confidence from? If I ask you to organize such a competition, can you do better than him? I don't believe it."

Yu Hua's face flushed, then he thought of something and calmed down again, saying leisurely, "As the ancients said, 'When the teacher is busy, the students do the hard work.' If I organize a competition, Zhang Chao will definitely help me. If he can do it, it means I can do it! There is no difference."

Shi Tiesheng said with disgust: "Shameless..."

Yu Hua said proudly: "Shame on you, Zhang Chao is also my student, no one can take him away!"

Yan Wensheng, a local writer who was accompanying them, saw for the first time two world-famous writers bickering like children. The cause was the young man who was talking calmly and eloquently on TV.

"We are both in our twenties, why is there such a big gap between them?" Yan Wensheng's heart was filled with deep doubts and a hint of jealousy.

In the past two years, when Zhang Chao rose like a comet, many young writers like him were actually a little dissatisfied, thinking that the only thing that made this "kid" better than them was luck.

But as time went by, Zhang Chao not only did not "ebb", but rose higher and higher, breaking people's expectations of him time and time again. All the "dissatisfaction" has turned into a "feeling of powerlessness" of wanting to pursue but not being able to, wanting to be jealous but having no way to do so.

Take the filming of the special documentary "Shanxi Style" for example. Every young and middle-aged writer who was selected to be in the film must be jumping for joy, feeling that they have encountered a great opportunity that will allow them to step onto the national stage in one fell swoop, and that their life destiny may have changed from then on.

However, this opportunity was created out of thin air by Zhang Chao, a "young man" who was at least 5 or 10 years younger than them. He himself had no plan to show his face in the documentary, and only had the name of the chief planner.

But who dares to underestimate this faceless chief planner?

Whether this documentary will be sold to the central or local TV stations, and whether it will be broadcast during prime time or in the middle of the night, all depends on Zhang Chao's subsequent operations.

Of course it didn't matter to Yu Hua, Shi Tiesheng and others. As far as domestic reputation was concerned, they had already made great progress; but for the accompanying writers, the difference was simply worlds apart.

They didn't even have the chance to talk to Zhang Chao directly. They had to deal with two men named Ma and Shuang under Zhang Chao. But no one thought there was anything wrong.

When Zhang Chao really came to Shanxi, the cultural department came out to receive him and he also sat at the main table. When local writers went to toast, they had to sit in the back row; but if they could toast, Zhang Chao would say a few good words for himself and show off in front of the leaders...

As he thought about it, Yan Wensheng was lost in thought. A hint of bitterness and a bit of anticipation rose in his chest at the same time. For a moment, he couldn't tell which one was hotter...

Lan Ting and Song Shiyu also had complicated emotions. They met at Song Shiyu's home and watched the live broadcast of the rematch together on the large Panasonic plasma TV that Song Shiyu's father had just bought.

"Zhang Chao is becoming more and more...old-fashioned!" After hearing another steady and calm answer from Zhang Chao, Lan Ting wanted to admire him, but when the words came to her lips, they turned into "disgrace".

But soon, she murmured absentmindedly, "Is this still the Zhang Chao who made a promise to us in the studio that he would never change for a hundred years?"

Thinking of the situation at that time, a look of loss flashed across Lan Ting's face.

Song Shiyu glanced at her best friend and sighed, "Yes, at that time, Zhang Chao only seemed a little more mature than us. At most, he was an adult with some social experience, and the difference between him and a high school kid.

But now, I think he is almost like my dad... mature and stable." After saying that, she quietly stuck out her tongue. It turned out that she saw her father holding a teacup and came to the living room with her peripheral vision, and quickly changed the "derogatory words" she wanted to say.

When Song Tiancheng heard his daughter say this, he just laughed and said, "You mean to say 'smooth and worldly', right?"

Seeing Song Shiyu blushing, Song Tiancheng continued, "Zhang Chao is not as simple as you think. He is very strategic when facing the media. Sometimes he speaks without leaking anything, sometimes he is tough and decisive, and sometimes he seems frank and sincere. Sometimes he even deliberately shows weakness and sets traps for others...

Often, what people think of him is just the effect of the interview he prepared. What does he really think? I am afraid only he himself knows. "

Song Tiancheng runs his own media company. With years of experience, he is naturally not as superficial as the two girls think.

Lan Ting turned her head and asked cautiously, "Uncle, are you saying that Zhang Chao is pretending?" Song Shiyu heard it and turned to her father curiously.

Seeing that the two children had misunderstood, Song Tiancheng quickly explained: "Of course not. I said, this is a strategy when facing the media. The nature of the media is to achieve the desired effect, and they will do whatever it takes.

If Zhang Chao had just answered the questions like a test paper, he would have been eaten to pieces by the reporters and editors. In front of the camera, whether it is "joy", "excitement", "pain", "sincerity", or even "anger", they are just tools to better express himself and protect himself.

I don't know how Zhang Chao can do this at such a young age? This is only possible when bombarded with extremely high-intensity media information. Generally, only those old stars in Hong Kong and Taiwan have similar experiences.

I think if Zhang Chao can't write novels anymore, he should just change his career and open a public relations company. He can provide public relations solutions to mainland celebrities and resolve public opinion crises. Maybe he can make more money than writing books..."

Lan Ting's face changed when she heard this, but she didn't dare to refute Song Tiancheng, her elder, so she could only mutter, "How could Zhang Chao not be able to write a novel? You don't know how much inspiration he has, it's like he doesn't need any money..."

Song Tiancheng looked at the two fully grown and graceful girls with some regret and confusion, and said leisurely: "You two... Zhang Chao... Alas..."

Both girls understood, but couldn't say a word. They could only turn their heads away with red faces and pretend to be calm while watching TV.

Among all the people watching the live broadcast, Zhang Chao's parents may have the purest emotions.

At noon today, they invited seven or eight relatives and friends to a party at home, ostensibly to celebrate Comrade Zhang Weiguo's 50th birthday. "Hey, Lao Zhang, didn't you just celebrate your birthday last month? Why is it your birthday again today?"

"Last month was my lunar birthday, and this month is my new lunar birthday. Doesn't that make sense?"

"That's not right. Didn't you have sex once earlier this month? What day was that?"

"The beginning of the month? The beginning of the month... That's my wife's birthday!"

"Then tell me clearly, is it the new calendar or the lunar calendar?"

"I...I can't remember clearly..."

"Ha, you and your parents-in-law's birthdays are so neatly put together!"

"What do you care about me... How can you call Minato the birthday of a scholar?"

Everyone burst into laughter, and the house was filled with a happy atmosphere.

In fact, everyone knows that every time Zhang Chao’s parents entertain guests, it must be because their beloved son Zhang Chao is going to appear on TV. As the saying goes, “If a man does not return to his hometown when he is rich and powerful, it is like walking in fine clothes at night.”

However, the invited guests did not object. For one thing, Zhang Chao's parents only enjoyed the process of watching their son appear on TV. They did not show off or boast, and they even started to sell their own "education experience."

Secondly, Zhang Chao is a kid that everyone has watched grow up, and now he has made a difference, and everyone is happy to see it. The key is that Zhang Chao's track is too far away from ordinary peers, and even the most narrow-minded relatives can't hate him.

Uncle Zhang Chao joked, "Brother-in-law, you're inviting more and more guests. I'm afraid this big living room won't be able to accommodate them all. Do you want Xiao Chao to buy a big villa?"

Just as Zhang Weiguo was about to speak, his wife slapped her brother on the head and said angrily, "You're talking nonsense just because you drank some cat urine. We can't even live in this house anymore, so why live in a villa? You're the one who sweeps the floor and plasters every day?"

"Please hire a babysitter!"

"It doesn't cost money to hire a babysitter? Besides, how can you order someone around when you have hands and feet?"

"A nanny only makes a few bucks. I heard that Zhang Chao can earn a lot in a year..."

"Zhang Chao's money is his own!" Zhang Weiguo interrupted his relatives' discussion in time. If the topic gets to the specific amount, it will be difficult to end. However, they are old comrades after all, so in order to keep the atmosphere cool, he patted his chest and said confidently: "Even if I want to buy a villa, I have to pay for it myself!"

Everyone looked at Zhang Weiguo in confusion, and his brother-in-law poured cold water on him, saying, "Brother-in-law, I'm telling you, with your monthly salary of just over 1000..."

Zhang Weiguo raised his head and said mysteriously: "Just wait and see..."

Thinking that he had already written half of the manuscript, his heart warmed up again. He quickly took a sip of wine to calm his excitement.

In front of the TV screen, more parents and students who had no direct relationship with Zhang Chao once again saw the refreshing "New Concept Essay Contest" directly from the live broadcast and Zhang Chao's interview.

Without the utilitarian purpose of direct admission to prestigious universities, the competition fell into an unprecedented low, but it also ushered in a complete rebirth.

In fact, since the first session, the probability of obtaining a direct admission or independent enrollment quota has been extremely low. So what is the purpose of participating in the competition? To gamble like a gambler with a probability close to zero, or to "just participate"?
No matter how you put it, it is difficult to balance this mentality, and the status and significance of the competition are becoming increasingly blurred. The final result is that the influence of the competition is getting smaller and smaller, and even scandals such as "plagiarism of award-winning works" and "old contestants using the name of guidance to have sex" have occurred.

Zhang Chao's reforms have freed the "New Concept Composition Competition" from utilitarian entanglements and returned it to the essence of writing, making it a truly grand gathering for young people who love literature.

The significance of cheating and plagiarism has been reduced to a very small level. After all, winning an award only gives you a chance to “show up” and a few hundred yuan in royalties. Whether you can continue on the path of literature, after all, requires long-term persistence.

"We need this competition! I (my child) will also participate next year!" became the common voice of many viewers.

Unknowingly, Zhang Chao quietly added fuel to the fire of Chinese literature.

By 2 p.m., contestants had finished their works one after another and stood up to hand them over to the staff.

Every student who was about to leave the stadium looked back every few steps, reluctantly walked out of the venue, and finally turned back to stare. The director also accurately grasped the "emotional point" of this moment and decisively cut the camera to capture the most subtle emotional fluctuations on the students' faces.

The writing atmosphere that Zhang Chao created for them far exceeded their best expectations of "writing". Most of them, while writing, had already forgotten that they were participating in a competition.

There are no rivals in their hearts anymore; or rather, the only rival is their love and demand for literature.

Walking out of the venue, the sky in Shanghai in July is as blue as a piece of emerald. The grand sunshine is shining on everyone. The breeze blows on the face, the cicadas chirp leisurely, and the warm smiles of loved ones are right in front of you.

"It is conceivable that many of the young people who come out of this competition will become the backbone of literature in the future." In the judges' meeting room, a large-screen TV was playing the scene of contestants who had finished the competition walking out of the venue one after another. Chi Zijian sighed as she watched.

Han Shaogong nodded and agreed: "In fact, whether a person can embark on the path of literature depends on the starting point. If the starting point is highly utilitarian, then writing is just a tool for him. Once the purpose is achieved, the tool will be discarded."

This made Li Qigang of New Sprout magazine's face twitch - was this referring to the previous "New Concept Essay Contest"? He was not sure, but he did not dare to ask.

Han Shaogong had been a judge for the first competition and was very familiar with Li Qigang. When he saw Li Qigang's unhappy face, he knew what was going on and comforted him, "Old Li, don't think too much. We did a good job in the first competition..."

Not only did this sentence fail to comfort him, it made Li Qigang even more upset - the first session was very good, so does that mean the subsequent sessions would not be good?
Su Tong, who was also a judge of the first session, quickly responded, "Look forward, look forward. At least our magazine dares to make bold reforms! I think this year's format is completely feasible. It is non-utilitarian, relaxed, interesting, and has a great influence!"

Han Shaogong said: "I think the nature of the competition has begun to change. The previous 'New Concept Essay Competition' was really just 'writing an essay'. But starting from this session, although there is still a 'proposition', both the form and content are more inclined towards 'writing' rather than 'writing an essay'.

I think this kind of writing competition has surpassed the 'Ye Shengtao Cup' and the 'Yuwen Daily Cup' and is the 'world's best competition' for young people's writing! "

At this time, the chairman of the judging panel, Alai, finally spoke up: "Since this is the 'World's No. 1 Contest', then the one who wins the first prize must be the 'Greatest in the World', right?

Zhang Chao has such a good foundation, we judges must also convince the people of the whole country!"

(Two chapters in one)

(End of this chapter)