Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 293 (Additional Update) Arrogance
Zhang Chao glanced around at the audience in the small square, then looked at the confused Xu Zhiyuan and the uneasy Zhang Yueran, and then he said: "You asked me whether I am 'not afraid of being defined and polluted by this vulgar era', or 'have the confidence to define and change this era'.

My answer is that I don’t think this era is vulgar, because I have redefined and changed this era in my field. It has nothing to do with whether I have confidence or not, I have already done it. "

Zhang Chao's words plunged the scene into an even deeper silence than before.

Everyone imagined 100 possible answers Zhang Chao might give, but Zhang Chao gave the 101st one - he said he had 'redefined and changed this era', how arrogant!
Although the restrictive word "within my territory" was added, it did not weaken the huge explosive power contained in this sentence at all, and it made everyone who heard it have a buzzing brain.

The Chinese literary world has had its share of "madmen" - in the distant past there was Li Ao, who called himself "the first writer of vernacular Chinese in the past 500 years"; more recently there was Han Han, who was angry with everyone and looked down on everyone.

Although Zhang Chao has stolen Han Han's limelight in recent years and has caused more controversy than him, one of his "magic weapons" is to put himself in a relatively weak position to fight back against critics. He rarely flaunts his personal position, so he can't be called a "madman."

Zhang Chao's speech just now completely overturned people's impression of him.

But Zhang Chao looked very calm, as if he didn't think that what he said was irritating to the audience.

Xu Zhiyuan forced a smile. In his heart, he was an extremely proud man. He stubbornly resisted the assimilation of the times and insisted on elitist values. Even though he was powerless, he firmly believed that it was a very small number of people who could lead the direction of mankind.

He asked: "This is the most... shocking statement I have heard in the two years since the salon of One Way Street Bookstore opened. Why did you suddenly say such a thing?

Or, what do you think your field would look like without you in this era? "

Zhang Chao said: "'My field' is naturally the small circle of literature. I think it would be boring and mediocre without me." His tone was still flat, as if he was talking about something ordinary and natural.

Xu Zhiyuan asked: "What prompted you to make such a judgment?"

Zhang Chao asked back: "What do you think the atmosphere of literature in the new century was like before I came along?"

Xu Zhiyuan was silent for a while, then said: "Dull, declining, and gradually marginalized. - If I say this, Yue Ran may not agree. After all, the contestants of their two 'New Concept Essay Contest' did stir up some waves."

Zhang Yueran laughed at himself and said, "It can be considered as 'a ripple in stagnant water'. In fact, it was only popular for two or three years and for two or three people. Most people still followed the mediocre track and slid into the normal life.

For example, although I went to Shandong University, I studied English. Later, I went to Singapore and studied computer science. Although I have been writing all the time, I have never been sure that I can take this path.

The identity of "writer" does not give me enough sense of security to deal with life, and I will still subconsciously look for other possibilities. This is almost a mentality shared by all of our award winners in recent years.

So in the end, we are like a handful of small stones thrown into a calm lake. The moment we just touch the water is the most glorious moment, and then we sink and sink...” ("Dead Water Ripples" is a novel written by author Li Jieren in 1926, highly recommended reading)

Xu Zhiyuan said: "It's a very pessimistic, yet calm statement. But it does seem to confirm what Zhang Chao just said - I do see that you have brought literature back to the forefront of the times time and time again.

I think there is indeed such a possibility - in 10 or 15 years, when people look back on this period of history, they will name this era in the literary world the "Zhang Chao era", or use you as a symbol or label of the era.

But you brought it up so directly right now, doesn't it give people a sense of frivolity that you can't wait? Aren't you afraid of causing more controversy?"

Zhang Chao did not hesitate this time and quickly replied: "I am just stating a fact. I am neither showing off nor testing you. You can look at the group of young writers before me and the group of young writers after me, and you will find that it is already 'a new generation replacing the old'.

If I deny that this is from my influence, then I am too hypocritical. When I published those three articles on the website of "Blog China", to borrow a sentence from the cartoon, the gears of fate had already begun to turn slowly.

When I say that I have redefined and changed this era, I don't mean that I am the only one who has become the focus, but that starting from me, the ecology of Chinese literature has changed. People should not only pay attention to me, but also to them.

What young writers need most is attention. I have come this far thanks to the constant positive feedback from readers. It would be a pity if Chinese literature missed this generation.”

Xu Zhiyuan suddenly realized, "So what you said suddenly is not an impulse, narcissism, or arrogance, but a declaration after careful consideration. Are you making a declaration on behalf of writers of your generation?"

Zhang Chao did not comment, but said: "I just don't want them to go out."

He knew too well how lonely and silent the Chinese literary world was during the past 10 years without him. In these 10 years, almost all the "post-80s" who emerged and were highly expected were eventually proven to be unable to take over from Yu Hua, Mo Yan, Ge Fei, and Chi Zijian.

The reasons are complicated, but this is the result.

After his rebirth, Zhang Chao followed a life trajectory that he had never imagined, and came to where he is today with sparks and lightning. Looking back, he found that Chinese literature has changed a lot.

Han Han, who was a powerful figure in the past 10 years, has quietly left the stage under the halo of Zhang Chao. In the past year or so, neither his books nor his speeches have been mentioned anymore.

Han Han seemed to have really transformed into a full-time racing driver. Of course, people still read his blog, but it no longer caught people's attention from time to time like in Zhang Chao's memory.

In the past 10 years, Xiao Si, who has been making waves in the business world, has been squeezed to the margins by Zhang Chao, whether it is the "Zui" series of magazines or his "youth pain literature", and his sales and influence are mediocre.

Even Xing Siyuan, launched by Zhang Chao Packaging, can rely on her "young lady literature" to compete head-on with Xiao Si in the sinking market such as second- and third-tier cities and small counties.

If this continues, Xiao Si might not be able to buy the mansion of Wang Jingwei's concubine.

Instead, those who were not greatly impacted by Zhang Chao were "second-tier players" such as Zhang Yueran, Zhou Jianing, and Jiang Feng. Their readership overlapped with Zhang Chao's, or at least did not conflict with each other.

Zhang Chao almost changed the reading taste of a generation of young people, letting them know that literature can be popular but not melodramatic, sophisticated but not niche, and even triggered a wave of "pure literature" reading craze.

Young readers are the most important soil for the literary ecology. Only when this soil becomes more patient, curious, inclusive and exploratory can it nurture more outstanding writers.

The group of "Youth School" writers "brought out" by Zhang Chao, including Ma Boyong, Shuang Xuetao, Gong Wanying, Chen Chuncheng..., replaced a considerable part of the "Sprout School" writers at lightning speed.

Although they are all writers born in the 80s, they have achieved "upgrade and replacement", and their connotation and influence are no longer comparable to the past.

This generation of "post-80s" is the one that can truly continue the literary boom of the 80s - the two "80s" form a wonderful echo. But Zhang Chao also deeply feels that, except for himself, others are still being neglected or even ignored.

The previous generation of "post-80s" writers had the "New Concept Composition Competition" platform, which gave them a beautiful collective appearance; but this generation of "post-80s" writers lacks such an opportunity.

In the great literary trends in history, outstanding writers and poets often appear on the literary stage in groups, and then in a very short period of time, sweep away old customs and old forms and usher in a new era.

Now Zhang Chao is alone.

Since others were unwilling to break the window paper, Zhang Chao decided to do it himself.

The reason why he chose to come to the "One Way Street Bookstore" to participate in this salon, besides the fact that Xu Zhiyuan was his senior at Yenching University, was another important reason. This niche occasion was very suitable for him to say some "excessive words", which could then be spread slowly through this group of "literary youths" and gradually ferment.

Zhang Yueran seemed to have thought of something, and was slightly absent-minded. Among these "Mengya writers", it seemed that the only person missing was Zhang Chao - but even if there really was one, how could she say it so confidently?

Zhang Chao is different. His works, his reputation, and his influence have crushed all other writers of his time. In this context, his "arrogance" seems so reasonable.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yueran couldn't help but ask: "Why?"

Zhang Chao: “Hmm?”

Zhang Yueran realized that he had blurted out what he was thinking, and quickly said, "Why do you want to do these things for 'this generation'? You are already standing in the center of the spotlight, why do you want to share the light?

You know, many people still need to borrow a lighter from others when they smoke, even if they have a lighter in their pockets. "

Zhang Yueran's words were just like her novels, she was very good at using clever metaphors, and this sentence made the atmosphere in the audience inexplicably relaxed. Everyone was relieved from the pressure of Zhang Chao's huge words and information, and laughed at the same time.

Zhang Chao said: "You want me to tell the truth? Because I feel too bored, I am always alone."

Xu Zhiyuan and Zhang Yueran were both stunned: "Just because of this?" They thought Zhang Chao was going to say something earth-shattering again, but it turned out to be just such an ordinary sentence.

Zhang Chao nodded and said, "It's not as complicated as you think. I want more people to stand in the spotlight on this stage, whether they are walking with me or walking against me.

I don't mind if someone pushes me to the side of the stage, as long as I don't continue to be dead."

Xu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "This seems a bit difficult." Then, as if he had discovered something, he said excitedly, "My interpretation is that this is actually an outburst of a sense of mission in your life consciousness. You feel that you have to take on something for this era, and you want to lead 'this generation' forward, right?"

"No!" Zhang Chao said firmly: "Brother Xu, don't give me value! I said, I am just stating an objective fact. All my literary creation and media communication are based on myself.

As for the consequences of these actions, most of them were not my original intention, and I could not have predicted them. But since they have already happened, I will not deny it, but you can't hold me responsible."

Xu Zhiyuan, Zhang Yueran, and the audience in the small square: “…” What kind of remarks are those of a scumbag.

Zhang Chao further added: "As I said before, history is a river, rolling forward day and night. Don't try to use the 'era' as a 'slice' of history to restrict your thinking.

Whether I am there or not, this generation will move forward, but the direction and speed may be different. In the future, I will live and create with my self as the starting point, just like I have done in the past.

I am just telling you the existing facts, but I don’t want to judge for you whether it is good or bad, fragrant or smelly, let alone “lead you forward” - I am not a donkey pulling a cart. ”

There was another round of laughter on the field. At this moment, everyone was completely relaxed, but at the same time, their inner excitement remained unabated.

They vaguely felt that Zhang Chao had opened a door, but they had no idea where the door opened or how to enter.

Xu Zhiyuan thought much more deeply. He realized that Zhang Chao's speech today must have been brewing for a long time and he just expressed it on this occasion. His questions, which he thought were smart and profound, became the handle for Zhang Chao's views.

In the past, he was always used to misinterpreting the guest's words in a "value-added" way to convey his own views to the audience or viewers. Today, Zhang Chao's strong ability to control the situation completely turned the tables.

Now he knew how the salon guests he had talked to before felt - why some of them simply remained silent after listening to his questions.

It turned out that it was because he was really frustrated - but this time he felt that his frustration was valuable. He even didn't mind being more frustrated if it could elicit more "truths" from Zhang Chao.

However, time was limited, so he could only hurry to wrap up the salon, so he asked a very common question: "Almost all the people sitting here today are young people who love literature. As the most shining young writer of this generation, do you have any advice for them?"

Zhang Chao laughed and said, "'Advice'? Am I that gloomy?"

Xu Zhiyuan said: "That's 'experience sharing'. What experiences in your life do you think are worth learning from for the young people present here?"

Zhang Chao heard this, and his "forty years" of life experience quickly flipped before his eyes like a book. Finally, he sighed and said, "If there is anything, it is to advise everyone not to replace "social experience" with "reading experience", not to believe in any collective illusion created by any literary work, and not to regard coming to "One-Way Street" as a means of escaping reality.

Today, no book can truly describe our era - the flattening of communication levels in the context of the Internet, the amplification of personal discourse power, the elimination of illiteracy in the traditional sense, the acquisition of knowledge has become easier than ever, and the experience of emotions has become unusually difficult...

Being a leaf floating down the river is more valuable than being a stone sinking to the bottom of the water and taking a long time to turn over and move forward.

After Zhang Chao finished speaking, everyone fell into silence and contemplation again. In this conversation, although Zhang Chao still had a sharp side, he rarely showed a lot of warmth and kindness.

Only Zhang Chao himself knew that this conversation was just the beginning, and the "world" that was beginning to sprout in his heart had not yet been engraved on the ideal map.

(10,000 words double update completed, please give me a monthly ticket!)

(End of this chapter)