Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 277 The world has only one stone

Everyone in the classroom looked towards the door upon hearing this, and first saw Liang Siqiao, who looked frightened, and then the tall boy behind her.

Lan Ting stood up from her seat, waved excitedly at the boy, and shouted, "Come in, Zhang Chao!"

The two words "Zhang Chao" instantly set off the whole audience like dynamite, and everyone stretched their necks, hoping to verify whether it was true or not.

"Zhang Chao?"

"Which Zhang Chao?"

"Who else could it be? It must be Zhang Chao!"

"Why did Zhang Chao come to Xiamen University?"

"I heard that Lan Ting was his high school classmate."

"Didn't the department also say they wanted to invite him to give a lecture?"

"Stop chatting!"

"Look, he's coming in!"

Amid the discussions of the crowd, Zhang Chao said "Sorry, please let me pass" twice to Liang Siqiao in front of him. Only then did the other party react and stiffly made room for Zhang Chao so that Zhang Chao could squeeze into the classroom.

There were actually several rows of classmates standing in front of Zhang Chao, but at this moment he was like Moses parting the Red Sea. He just took one step forward, and a passage leading to the center of the classroom opened in front of him.

As Zhang Chao walked through the crowd, he could almost feel those gazes turning into tangible rays, burning the skin on his face.

There is shock, confusion, admiration, jealousy, fascination, and even fear...

It was just two or three seconds, but in the minds of Zhang Chao and everyone else, it seemed like several minutes had passed. It was not until he stood next to Lan Ting and shook hands with Professor Lin Danya that the applause began to flood, from a trickle to a torrent of applause.

Wang Zhenxu, who was standing in the center of the venue, was the most embarrassed at the moment. He blurted out, "It's you!?" but was quickly drowned out by the applause, and no one noticed his surprise.

If someone didn't know the whole story and just saw this scene, they would think that the thunderous applause was for him. But he knew that not a single applause belonged to him.

It's not that Wang Zhenxu hasn't seen book signings and lectures by great writers, and he himself is somewhat famous in school, but compared with Zhang Chao, he is nothing.

The young man in front of him was a few years younger than himself. He was wearing ordinary casual clothes and did not have the morbidly delicate face of many Japanese idol writers. But from the noise in the classroom, the students' love for him was far greater than his.

At this moment, he could neither stand nor sit down, like a duck standing precariously on the edge of a cliff in a storm.

After waiting for the applause to die down, Lan Ting said, "Zhang Chao will come to our school for a visit next week and give a special lecture to everyone. This time he will come to Ludao in advance.

I introduced him to our salon today, and he was quite interested and wanted to participate. ”

Zhang Chao took over and said, "I was looking up some information in our Xiamen University Library this afternoon, and I didn't see Lan Ting's text message informing me that the salon had moved to a new location, so I'm late. Sorry!"

A student asked curiously, "Aren't the libraries of Yenching University and Yenching Normal University bigger and more comprehensive?"

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "Xiamen University's library has two kinds of information that cannot be found in Yenching University and Yenching Normal University libraries."

"Which two?" Everyone's curiosity was aroused.

Zhang Chao said: "First, the manuscripts, notes, and teaching plans left by Mr. Lu Xun when he taught in the Chinese Department of Xiamen University, especially the first draft of "Outline of the History of Chinese Literature", can only be seen in Xiamen University."

"That's right!" everyone agreed.

Lu Xun's teaching experience in Ludao was not a pleasant one, as he left for Guangzhou after only four months. However, he still left many traces and achievements. For example, the best piece in New Stories, "Forging the Sword" (also known as "The Ruler Between Eyebrows"), was written during this period.

"What about the other thing?" a classmate asked.

Zhang Chao controlled his expression, as if he was trying to hold back a laugh, but he still tried to speak in a calm tone: "The second thing is the articles my father wrote when he was studying in the Chinese Department of Xiamen University, especially the graduation thesis. This can only be seen in the Xiamen University Library."

Everyone was surprised by this answer, and after a moment’s pause, they suddenly remembered that Zhang Chao’s father was their schoolmate. Suddenly, joyful laughter filled the entire classroom.

A classmate asked mischievously, "How's the writing?"

Zhang Chao frowned and thought for a while, then gave an ambiguous answer: "It has a very contemporary flavor!" He then added: "You'd better not check it."

Everyone laughed again.

With just a few words, Zhang Chao narrowed the distance between himself and his classmates. He was no longer the high-ranking and untouchable star writer, but just a peer of the same age as himself and the son of an alumnus.

Everyone in the classroom was talking and laughing, which made Wang Zhenxu, who was in the center of the room, look like an outsider.

Wang Zhenxu, who couldn't stand this atmosphere, shouted: "Are you here to chase stars or to discuss issues? If this salon turns into a fan meeting, then I'll leave first!"

After that, he waited for the students to take their seats and start again.

Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, although everyone stopped laughing and making noises, no one responded to his words. The whole classroom fell into a strange silence. Everyone looked at Wang Zhenxu with strange eyes, as if to say:

"Is this good? Otherwise, you can go first..."

Of course Wang Zhenxu couldn't really leave, he hadn't fought Zhang Chao for 300 rounds yet! He could only bite the bullet and continue his own words, saying to Zhang Chao: "What did you mean by that sentence just now?"

Zhang Chao was stunned and said, "What did you just say? - 'You'd better not check' - Oh, I was joking with my classmates."

Wang Zhenxu said angrily: "Not this sentence, move forward!"

Zhang Chao thought for a moment and said, "Uh... 'very contemporary' - this is a fair assessment. He wrote well, but it was written almost 30 years ago after all, and it doesn't conform to modern academic norms."

Wang Zhenxu almost exploded on the spot, but he still restrained himself and said, "I mean what you said before you came in!"

Zhang Chao's eyes were blank for a moment, and he said, "I... I seem to have forgotten." He was not lying. As soon as he came in, he communicated intensively with his classmates. For a moment, he really forgot what he said at the door.

Wang Zhenxu instantly understood the magical skill of Bai Ye, Teacher Fang and others who had faced Zhang Chao before - take a deep breath, exhale slowly, don't rush, don't rush - and said, "You said that when the Japanese people introduced young writers to you, I was not included. I want to ask, who are these 'people'?"

"Oh! I remember now!" Zhang Chao clapped his hands, suddenly realizing, "That's exactly what I said. Uh, I really haven't heard of you! 'You all' are the main literary editors of Kadokawa and Shogakukan. I've met them all and talked to many young people who are interested in Japanese literature, but I've never heard of the name 'Wang Zhenxu'."

The students in the classroom all snickered. If any other writer said that he had a chat with the editor-in-chief of Kadokawa and Shogakukan, it would be bragging. But Zhang Chao was different. Moreover, he used the word "see" instead of "see" or "visit", which was very puzzling.

Wang Zhenxu endured and managed to utter a few words: "My pen name in Japan is 'Toshin Akiyoshi'. I won the silver medal and the reader's award for "This mystery novel is great!"

After saying this, he straightened his chest. Although this award is not the most famous literary award in Japan, it is a good starting point for new literary talents to emerge. This is also the reason why he dared to speak out his contempt for Zhang Chao and other Chinese "post-80s" writers.

In addition to the Naoki Prize awarded for popular novels, and the "Edogawa Ranpo Sho" and "Orthodox Mystery Award" specifically awarded for mystery novels, "This Mystery Novel is Great!" can be regarded as a more important mystery and crime novel award in the second tier.

The prosperity of Japanese literature and the emergence of new talents are actually largely due to the support of a large number of literary awards that are segmented and organized in a hierarchical manner. Once a new talent wins an award, sales and royalties will immediately soar.

In this way, at least in the next one or two years, you don't have to worry too much about livelihood issues, and you can turn to full-time writing. In the end, there is a great chance that you will become a professional writer.

But Zhang Chao didn't care what Wang Zhenxu thought. He just said "Oh" again and said honestly: "'Dongshan Zhangliang'? Silver Award? ... Uh, I really haven't heard of it. Sorry!"

Wang Zhenxu finally couldn't help it, and instantly suffered internal injuries, and his heart was bleeding. He asked unwillingly: "Are you deliberately belittling me?"

Zhang Chao waved his hands and said, "Don't get me wrong. I'm telling the truth. They really didn't mention you, nor did they mention the four words 'Dongshan Zhangliang'. But I have a question that I'm very curious about, but I don't know if I should ask it or not."

Wang Zhenxu paused, hesitated for a while and said, "Ask." Zhang Chao showed a confused expression and asked, "Although you are a naturalized Japanese, you usually use the Chinese name 'Wang Zhenxu', right?"

Wang Zhenxu nodded, feeling uneasy in his heart.

Zhang Chao asked: "Why did you use the Japanese name 'Toshin Akiyoshi' as your pen name? Don't you have confidence that you can become famous in the Japanese literary world with your Chinese name?"

Wang Zhenxu's mind exploded with a bang, and the discussions that suddenly surged out of the classroom were like the voices in his mind being materialized, forming an internal and external resonance.

His face flushed red, and after a long while, he finally said, "Using a Japanese name does make it easier for the editor to notice it. But that doesn't mean anything. Many people use pen names, and some are stranger than mine..."

"Tsk~~~" a neat sound rang out in the classroom.

Zhang Chao did not show any mocking expression, but calmly asked a strange question: "Is Mr. Chen Shunchen still alive?"

Wang Zhenxu's face turned from red to pale in an instant. He wanted to stop Zhang Chao, but he had no reason. His lips trembled twice, but in the end he said nothing and just nodded.

This name is also unfamiliar to most Chinese majors who only pay attention to domestic or European and American writers. Everyone looked at Zhang Chao in confusion, waiting for his explanation.

Zhang Chao's expression showed no emotion, and he continued, "Mr. Chen Shunchen was born in the 20s. He was a Japanese of Chinese descent, born in Taiwan, China. In the early 60s, he published his first work and won the Edogawa Ranpo Award.

Later, he won the Naoki Prize and the Mystery Writers Association Award, becoming the first mystery writer to win all three awards. He is still writing books today, probably about a hundred works, right? You are also a Chinese in Japan, or a Chinese living in Japan, so you should be more familiar with him than I am.

I would like to ask, Chen Shunchen has been a writer in Japan for nearly 50 years. Has he ever used a Japanese pen name? "

The students in the classroom were silent for a while. After digesting Zhang Chao's words, the atmosphere instantly became boiling, and the discussion was even more explosive.

"What? I thought he was so awesome?"

"Yes, yes. Just now, when I heard him talking about 'them Japanese' and 'you Chinese', I thought he could really transcend ethnicity and national boundaries."

"Haha, so in order to publish your work you have to come up with a Japanese name and lick the editor's ass?"

"If you have the ability, learn from this Chen... Old Master Chen Shunchen, who never changed his name or surname throughout his life!"

"Hey, he has changed his nationality, so what's wrong with changing his name?"

"Then why call him 'Wang Zhenxu'? Just call him 'Dongshan Zhangliang'!"

"I think it would be better to call him 'Tojo Akiyoshi'!"

……

The image that Wang Zhenxu had previously built for himself, that of being aloof and arrogant, seeming to look down on the Japanese and always claiming to have conquered Japan, collapsed at this moment.

Seeing that Wang Zhenxu could no longer hold on and was about to cover his face and run away, Zhang Chao quickly raised his hand and waved it, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then said: "Nationality or pen name, it's a personal choice, don't get involved in other things.

Let's listen to what Wang Sang has to say."

Since Zhang Chao entered the room, Wang Zhenxu's face has become a palette of colors. There are not many colors left, and now it is blue and red, changing unpredictably. But at least he is a person with strong self-confidence, and he quickly said: "It is extremely difficult for writers who are not foreigners to enter the literary world of their own country. I am also doing this for..."

Before he could finish his words, Zhang Chao interrupted him, pointed at his nose and said, "Don't take me with you, I don't have any."

Wang Zhenxu was puzzled. What does this have to do with Zhang Chao?
At this time, Lan Ting explained, "Zhang Chao has a book called 'The Vanishing Lover', which is a family thriller crime novel with a pure American background. It is sold in China and the United States at the same time. The signature on it is 'Zhang Chao', without an English name or English pen name."

Zhang Chao nodded and added, "The novel is selling pretty well." - Oh, I just found out a few days ago that the film rights to Gone Girl have been bought by 20th Century Fox. It should start filming in the second half of the year and is expected to be released next year.

The director is David Fincher and the lead actor is Brad Pitt. Please come and support us when the time comes!" (The original time-space star Ben Affleck is not available at this time)

"Wow!" exclamations rang out in the classroom. An American novel written by a Chinese not only sold well, but was also bought by a Hollywood studio and made into a movie. How could this almost magical plot happen again and again to Zhang Chao?
Tonight, whether it was Wang Zhenxu or the teachers and students present, they were all choked to the point of being unable to breathe by Zhang Chao's pretense in the short 20 minutes since he entered the room.

Wang Zhenxu knew that he had completely lost his social life in Xiamen University. When he saw Lan Ting looking at Zhang Chao with an admiring, happy, yet regretful look in her eyes, he felt that he had to struggle no matter what.

Even if you die, you must die standing!
Wang Zhenxu put aside all distractions and said in a deep voice: "Zhang Chao, I admit that I misunderstood you and underestimated you before. But no matter how famous you are, everyone is equal in this literary salon."

Zhang Chao nodded and said, "I agree with this. --Uh, I don't think I'm being unequal to everyone else, am I?"

The students all responded “yes” with a smile.

Wang Zhenxu ignored all this and said wholeheartedly: "Since the theme of our literary salon today is "Comparative reading of the writings of the '80s generation' in China and Japan", let's get back to the topic and talk about writing.

It just so happens that you write in Chinese and I write in Japanese, and we are both born in the 80s. I want to discuss a question with you. "

Zhang Chao said: "Well, ask."

Wang Zhenxu asked seriously, "Do you think a writer should consciously maintain the coherence and consistency of the style of his works?"

Zhang Chao nodded in agreement and said, "I think you are right. The quality of a work may fluctuate for various reasons, such as trying new writing styles. But in terms of attitude, we should not treat it lightly.

After all, as a writer, most of your image traits are shaped and maintained by your works.”

After hearing Zhang Chao's answer, Wang Zhenxu seemed very satisfied, with his mouth slightly raised, and his confidence seemed to have returned to him. He continued to ask: "Then why did you write such a frivolous work as "Your Name" and even accepted a light novel award.

You should know that "light novels" are the least popular type of novels in Japan, and those who write "erotic novels" have a higher style than those who write "light novels". Because "light novels" are just a vassal of other subcultures, and cannot even be treated as an independent literary genre.

Before you wrote "Your Name", you wrote pure literature and popular literature. Although the level was not very high, it was a legitimate literary career! And you switched to writing "light novels" just for the sales and income from animation adaptations?
If this is not the degeneration of a writer, then what is it? Why are Chinese writers born in the 80s not as good as Japanese writers? It is because they are all like you, without the heart of a seeker who "lives towards death" for literature.

And I have such a heart! So even if you look down on me, in my heart, you are not worthy of being compared with me! "

Then he turned to Lan Ting and said, "Lanting, if you really love literature, you should stay away from such vulgar people!"

After listening to this, Zhang Chao looked back at Lan Ting, then sighed deeply and did not answer immediately.

Wang Zhenxu was overjoyed, thinking that Zhang Chao had been moved by his lofty and arrogant heart of seeking truth. Of course, Zhang Chao could argue that "light novels" were only despised in Japan, and this was not the case in China.

It can also be said that literature is only divided into types, not high or low; it can also be said that "light novels" are just temporarily not accepted by the traditional literary world, but they are already popular among young readers...

Anyway, no matter what reasons Zhang Chao came up with, even if the topic was pulled back to the field of literature that he was familiar with, then even if Zhang Chao had some academic skills, how could he compete with the accumulation of several years of graduate school under Professor Eizuka?
Zhang Chao seemed to be unsure and asked, "You are asking me why I wrote "Your Name", right?"

Wang Zhenxu first nodded heavily and said, "Yes." Then he raised his chin slightly, preparing to reveal a cruel smile.

But unexpectedly, Zhang Chao was the first to laugh, and his laugh was very warm, as if countless memories were flooding into his heart. Zhang Chao said:

"I wrote 'Your Name' because of my classmate Lan Ting, today's host!" Halfway through his speech, he turned back to look at Lan Ting, only to see that his old classmate's face had turned as red as an apple, her eyelashes trembling slightly, she didn't dare to show any expression, and it seemed that she would bury her head in her arms out of shame the next moment.

The whole classroom was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, and time seemed to have stood still.

Zhang Chao slowly said the rest of the words: "That day Lan Ting asked me, 'Why can't you write a youth love story with a happy ending? Are you afraid that it's too vulgar?'

So I promised to write her a youth love story with a happy ending, and it was not cliché. This story was later seen by everyone, and it was "Your Name."

After he finished speaking, Zhang Chao glanced at Lan Ting, as if asking himself if he had misrepresented the situation that day. But Lan Ting was unable to react at this moment, and she didn't even dare to look at Zhang Chao.

Zhang Chao had no choice but to say to Wang Zhenxu and everyone in the classroom: "This is why I wrote Your Name. It has nothing to do with money, or even literary pursuits. It was just to satisfy a girl's desire to see a youth love story with a happy ending!"

Are you satisfied with this answer? Are you satisfied? "

It turns out that there is only one stone in the world, Zhang Chao alone holds one stone and two buckets, and the others owe two buckets. (The chapter title was originally wrong, it was called one bucket in total, I was confused)
(End of this chapter)