Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 324: The Conflict between Han Han and Xiao Si (Second Update)

Faced with this difficult problem, Zhang Chao said confidently: "Well... this is just 'worrying about nothing'."

Reporters: “……?”

Zhang Chao asked, "Do you know "The 15th Year of Wanli"?"

The reporters looked at each other in bewilderment. Although some of them had definitely read it, only one young reporter timidly raised his hand and said, "It's... a history book by Huang Renyu."

Zhang Chao nodded and asked, "Why did you read this book? You should know that this is a very academic book. Although it combines narrative and analysis and is quite readable, it is indeed far from ordinary people and the journalism industry."

The young reporter answered subconsciously: "I watched "Things about the Ming Dynasty"..." As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he covered his mouth.

Zhang Chao said with a smile: "'Those Things About the Ming Dynasty' is serialized on Tianya and is very popular recently. You are not the first person who read 'The 15th Year of Wanli' because of 'Those Things About the Ming Dynasty'.

Recently, Zhonghua Book Company has reprinted "The 4th Year of Wanli" four times, and sold 3 copies in three months - in previous years, it only sold more than 15 copies a year.

Therefore, "online literature" is not the opposite of "traditional literature" - it can even make people pay attention to those "corners" that have been ignored in the past. The "rediscovery" of "The 15th Year of Wanli" is not an isolated case -

Many readers who have read Jin Hezai's "The Legend of Wukong" have reread "Journey to the West". Discussions on historical time travel literature on forums are becoming more and more rigorous, and quoting "Draft History of Qing Dynasty" or "Ming Shilu" has become commonplace.

This cross-media text dialogue is reshaping the entire spectrum of classical literature. In terms of dissemination and acceptance, it has become a vast plain that is difficult for the general public to bypass when entering the field of literature or even history. "

After Zhang Chao answered this question, the entire press conference fell into silence again.

Zhang Chao waited for a while, and seeing that no one asked any more questions, he said, "If everyone has no questions, let's..."

"I have more!" A reporter sitting in the last row raised her hand. She was a young female reporter. She stood up hurriedly and asked, "Actually... I... I still want to know why you didn't participate in the selection of the "Mao Dun Literature Newcomer Award"?
Is it just to avoid suspicion? If you are not awarded the Mao Dun Newcomer Literature Prize, would it be a pity? "

Zhang Chao thought about it, and finally said in a more cautious manner: "First of all, it is indeed to avoid suspicion. After Ms. Tie Ning became the chairman of the Writers Association, she announced her withdrawal from the selection of the "Mao Dun Literature Award".

Although I don’t hold any official position, I am closely connected with the Weibo platform. Between winning an award and Weibo, I chose Weibo in a very vulgar way.

As for whether or not I have regrets...if many people feel that it is a regret, then neither I nor the "Newcomer Award" have any regrets. "

Zhang Chao's answer was a bit confusing. Everyone thought about it for a long time before they realized it.

Isn’t this just secretly saying that he is the “uncrowned king”?

It's just that everyone can accept it...

The press conference ended successfully, the reporters left, and Zhang Chao returned to the meeting room of the Writers Association. The main leaders of the Writers Association watched the entire process behind the scenes.

The "old writer" who complained to the reporter was Liu Heng. At this moment, he said to Zhang Chao with a smile on his face: "Your trick really works! As expected, they came in droves."

Zhang Chao said modestly: "It's mainly because you are willing to sacrifice yourself..."

Liu Heng waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about this. It was indeed me who was more opposed at the beginning. I was not acting. I just showed my true attitude again.

I have to say that your data is so convincing... "Online literature" is actually just a superficial manifestation of the changes in the literary carrier. The reality that we really have to admit is that you are indeed changing the entire literary ecology."

However, Tie Ning said with lingering fear: "Xiao Zhang, you are too ruthless... The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Cultural Research Institute will probably come to question you tomorrow."

When Zhang Chao blurted out "I kneel down and hope others don't have knees either" at the press conference just now, the leaders behind the scenes were all sucking their teeth - we are all in the same circle, and the more we don't know the source of the words, the more cautious we should be when responding.

Zhang Chao said, "Haven't I always been a little jerk? It's okay, just let them come after me."

They chatted for a while, and Zhang Chao saw that it was getting late, so he said goodbye and left the Writers Association.

Watching his back disappear at the end of the corridor, the small conference room suddenly fell silent. Zhang Kangkang said to Tie Ning: "This kid... this kid..." What kind of person is this kid? In the end, she still didn't express her opinion.

Gao Hongbo said: “I don’t know if this “Mao Dun Newcomer Literature Award” can create some momentum - at least for now, the effect is pretty good.”

Tie Ning still smiled gently and said, "Do you feel that being led by such a 'young boy' is a little...hard to accept?"

Jiang Zilong took a puff of his cigarette, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, and then said: "If I say I don't feel uncomfortable, I'd be lying. To be honest, I found it incredible the first day he came in - no matter how famous he is, how could they let a young boy participate in such a serious matter as award judging? It's simply against the will of heaven!"

Liu Heng asked with a smile: "What happened next?"

Jiang Zilong exhaled another puff of cigarette and continued, "Later... the young man was actually quite modest and down-to-earth. The various opinions he gave were very pertinent, neither flattering nor deliberately opposing to attract attention. Everything he said was well-reasoned and well-founded.

Especially those numbers he listed... those numbers..."

Several chairmen and vice chairmen nodded silently. During the planning process of the "Mao Dun Newcomer Literature Award", Zhang Chao proposed a variety of new data-based concepts - "reader portrait", "acceptance spectrum", "generational evolution"... which completely refreshed everyone's existing ideas about literary evaluation.

What was the award mechanism like in the past?
Writers associations and publishing houses in various places submit writers or works, which then enter a long review process (sometimes up to a year), followed by standard discussions and secret ballots...

Eventually, it inevitably evolved into sitting in a row and sharing fruits.

After Zhang Chao introduced online social platforms and visual data into the selection mechanism, on the one hand, it divided and restricted the power in the hands of the judges, but on the other hand it also liberated the judges, giving them sufficient reasons to shirk those favors that came to them.

Such a system certainly has loopholes, but it did produce unexpectedly good results when it was first implemented.

For Tie Ning, this is the first groundbreaking "big thing" she has done since she officially took office as chairman!
Although Ba Lao had been bedridden for more than 10 years and she had actually been in charge of the work for many years, she still felt it was unbearable when the burden was really placed on her shoulders. This was not a local writers' association where she could just lie down and muddle through. She had to face almost a "mess" - the authority of the writers' association was weakened and there were constant disputes; the traditional book market was shrinking and the status of literature in cultural life was weakening; the world's recognition was extremely low and Chinese literature was marginalized as a whole; there was a serious gap in the echelon of young writers, and successful writers often regarded the system as a constraint...

Tie Ning still wants to do something practical, and the team she leads is also ambitious. The "Mao Dun Newcomer Literature Award" is an attempt to do so without changing the existing situation.

And Zhang Chao is the best "handle"...

However, Wang Meng warned them that although Zhang Chao was not a rebellious young man, he was not a good kid who could be manipulated at will by the authority of the system. Whether they wanted him to do something or take advantage of the situation, they had to discuss it with Zhang Chao.

Otherwise, if we enter into a confrontation with Zhang Chao, the Writers Association will probably be the first to be unable to bear it...

After the press conference, Zhang Chao’s speech on the "Mao Dun Literature Newcomer Award" was also reported and interpreted by various media from various angles.

The popularity of the "Mao Dun Newcomer Literature Award" has once again rushed to the center of public opinion and triggered a variety of chain reactions.

First of all, let’s look at the “protagonists” of the press conference – online literature writers.

They and most people originally thought that the establishment of a separate "Internet Literature Newcomer Award" was just to serve as a foil and create momentum for other traditional novel, poetry, and prose newcomer awards. But after hearing what Zhang Chao said, their sense of mission was suddenly aroused!

This is Zhang Chao, not just some random literary critic who gave him some cheap praise - Zhang Chao directly put himself in the position of an "online literature writer" to clear everyone's name and cheer everyone on.

Moreover, the data they presented were more shocking than the last, and the online writers were all stunned: “Are we so awesome?”

At the suggestion of Zhang Chao, Qidian Chinese Network held an "Additional Chapter Day", proposing that all online articles add an additional chapter on that day to give back to readers; at the same time, the monthly votes cast on the "Additional Chapter Day" would also be doubled.

Those online writers who were not nominated but are very famous were not too disappointed. After all, writers like Xuehong have already earned over a million a year and do not really care about the gains or losses of an award.

He himself knew clearly why he was not shortlisted for the preliminary round - after all, the values ​​of a book like "The Way of the Ascending Dragon" were really weird. If it really attracted attention, let alone winning the award, he might not even get the "Newcomer Award".

The establishment of this kind of award is undoubtedly a proud thing for all online writers.

Next are the writers who were “accidentally” nominated.

The first is Ge Liang, who is studying for a doctorate in Chinese in Hong Kong. When he learned that he was shortlisted for the "Newcomer Novel Award", he was stunned. Although he has been immersed in literature for many years, he has only really embarked on the road of writing in the past two years.

Moreover, he is in Hong Kong. "The Mysterious Crow" and "The Fish Forgotten in the River and Lake" published last year, and "Seven Sounds" published this year were all published by publishers in Taiwan or Hong Kong. Although he has won some awards, he is still an unknown person overall. There is not even a decent paper studying his works. How come he was nominated?

However, Ge Liang was not "flattered", he just shared the matter briefly on his blog. But deep down, he still felt a little "throbbing" - after all, it was the "Mao Dun Literature Award"!

No ambitious Chinese writer would be content to remain dormant on the cultural margins. Such a nomination immediately gave him the confidence to return to the cultural center.

The second person is Li Juan, who was on the grassland. She was following the herder Zakbai’s family to the town to buy daily necessities. On the way, she saw countless text messages on her mobile phone which suddenly had a signal, congratulating her for being shortlisted for the "Newcomer Essay Award".

At this time, Li Juan was holding a large snakeskin bag in one hand, and her other hand was numb from the vibration of the mobile phone. Her eyes were also dazzled, and she couldn't digest the news for a long time.

This is the "Mao Dun Literature Award" - although the word "newcomer" is added in the middle. Even if she is "quiet as a chrysanthemum", she can't resist the temptation of these words.

Zakbai's mother came over from behind and patted her on the back: "What's wrong? Are you suddenly stupid?"

Li Juan quickly put away her phone - she couldn't tell the simple herdsman woman about her happiness, but she was extremely excited in her heart - on the one hand, this was the "Mao Dun Literature Award", and on the other hand, Zhang Chao was involved in the organization and review of this award...

Thinking of Zhang Chao's advocacy for herself at the "National Prose Symposium" last year, Li Juan felt that she had an "obligation" to win the award...

But if I really win the award, I will definitely have to go to Beijing to receive the award... Going to Beijing to receive the award, I will have to meet many, many people and say many, many polite and humble words... If I say something wrong...

Among all the finalists, Han Han and Xiao Si were undoubtedly the most surprised and conflicted - especially after they heard that it was Zhang Chao who proposed to extend the time to 1999 and that he himself withdrew from the selection.

Neither of them could be sure whether this was a "conspiracy" by Zhang Chao against them.

After the age limit was relaxed, they were undoubtedly shortlisted for the preliminary round - to be honest, Han Han and Xiao Si were the most dazzling stars among the group of "youth literature writers" who came out of the "New Concept Composition Competition".

If you tie Jiang Feng, Zhang Yueran, Zhang Jiawei, etc. together, they are not as popular as these two. If the timeline is normal, Han Han will be in the public opinion field, and Xiao Si will be in the publishing market, and they will be flying through their lives with sparks and lightning...

Then we met as film directors.

But, this is if...

With the emergence of Zhang Chao, he controls the public opinion field with his left hand, publications with his right hand, and the film and television industry in his arms. Now he is also getting involved in online social media.

Han Han and Xiao Si's starlight helplessly dimmed.

However, both of them also have their own careers - Han Han's racing skills are getting better and better, and he has become the main driver of the team; Xiao Si's "Best" series of magazines, although the sales volume is not as good as the "Youth" series, but it still has its own place and is considered a leader in the second echelon.

It would be too embarrassing to ask them to participate in the selection of the "Mao Dun Newcomer Literature Award" now - this is an award that "Zhang Chao does not participate in"...

It was difficult for the two people, who were very proud, to accept this kind of "honor".

But he couldn't declare his withdrawal either - because Zhang Chao had already declared his withdrawal, and if he declared his withdrawal again, some people would laugh at him and say, "You think you can withdraw?"

This tangled feeling directly made the two of them feel a little bit upset, and at this moment they both received a strange call...

(End of this chapter)