Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 333 This is a violation of organizational principles!
As the saying goes: There is no first in literature. Artistic aesthetics vary widely, and writers have different aspirations for their works, so it is difficult to make writers generally accept a certain colleague, let alone "bow down to him".

After Mo Yan won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012, Liu Zhenyun said, "The fact that Mo Yan won the prize shows that there are at least ten people in China who could have won the prize." There was a hint of unconvinced in his words.

The two are still good friends.

But the Swede Ma Yueran did it.

Ma Yueran is a famous Swedish sinologist, translator, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Humanities, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Academy, professor and dean of the Chinese Department of the School of Oriental Languages ​​at Stockholm University...

Of course, for Chinese writers, his most important identity is one of the 18 lifetime judges of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

As the only Nobel Prize judge who knows Chinese, he has been committed to discovering and recommending Chinese writers to be included in the Nobel Prize in Literature selection range for many years. For example, Cao Naiqian gradually gained widespread attention in the Chinese literary circle after his high evaluation.

For Chinese writers, not winning the Nobel Prize in Literature has always been a collective demon. This demon has tormented Chinese writers for 30 years, so much so that any slight disturbance will cause an uproar.

Ma Yueran once said that if Shen Congwen had not died in May 1988, he would have been the winner that year. This made Shen Congwen, who had faded from people's sight for a long time, popular again.

Later, Lao She's son said that his father Lao She failed to win the Nobel Prize because of his death, which successfully aroused a sigh of emotion - until 2017, when the 50-year confidentiality period of the Nobel Prize nomination list expired, everyone looked through the archives and discovered that Lao She had never been nominated.

All these reflect how "crazy" the Chinese people and the literary community were about the Nobel Prize in Literature.

So even though everyone was dissatisfied and disdainful after Mo Yan won the award, before that, let alone winning the award, even just getting a nomination would have been announced in the media, wishing that everyone in the world would know.

Some people often cite Li Ao's words "If you don't sell out your motherland, you won't win the Nobel Prize in Literature" to prove the unfairness of the Nobel Prize. However, they don't know that when Li Ao was nominated, he mentioned it on many shows with a smile on his face. Even the cover of the reprint of "Yanjing Fayuan Temple" has "Nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature" printed on it.

It was only after he didn’t win the award that he became “aloof”.

All we can say is that the direction of public opinion and national mentality change over time, and no one knows what will happen in the future.

As a lifetime judge who holds the final voting rights for the Nobel Prize in Literature, Ma Yueran has naturally become the "emperor" sought after by the Chinese literary world. Just two years ago, the most authoritative media in China interviewed him with the title "When will a Chinese writer win the Nobel Prize in Literature?"

Aren’t what the “emperor” said the “imperial edict”?
It is no wonder that the literary criticism community had to urgently organize itself to give "high praise" to Zhang Chao's works. Otherwise, once the "Emperor" gets angry, no one knows how long everyone will be criticized by the media.

Of course, Ma Yueran himself is certainly not so arrogant as to think of himself as an emperor; his interactions with the Chinese literary world are basically sincere and well-intentioned - but everyone has an overly eager heart.

Zhang Chao is the writer who has the least "inner demon" - he already knew the result, so he was very calm. It made no difference to him whether he met Ma Yueran or not - at his age, even if Ma Yueran had Alzheimer's disease, it would be impossible for him to get someone to nominate him for the Nobel Prize.

But now that the "Emperor" has brought the opportunity to me, wouldn't it be a shame if I didn't take advantage of it?
So after hearing what Zou Guangming said, Zhang Chao sighed with some regret and said, "Next month? That may not be a coincidence. I may not be in the country. Otherwise, could you convey my greetings to Mr. Ma?"

Zou Guangming became anxious upon hearing this, and quickly pulled Zhang Chao to his office, closed the door, and asked, "You just came back from the United States not long ago, and you're going out again? Are you...are you planning to immigrate?"

At that time, the country was still at the tail end of the immigration fever, and many celebrities and stars applied for immigration. The United States was the first choice, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. Those who could not go there at least got a Hong Kong identity.

With Zhang Chao's current wealth and fame, and his frequent trips abroad, it is normal for him to immigrate, and he will not be criticized. He can even appear on a TV show as a glorious deed.

That's why Zou Guangming asked this question.

Zhang Chao was startled and said quickly, "Of course not... Serious business, I need to go to Japan."

Zou Guangming breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Japan? They are going to give you another award? Are you anxious about this?" The literary world knows that there are countless literary awards in Japan. He also heard that Zhang Chao's "Glory of Criminal Police" sold well there, so he asked this question.

Zhang Chao said: "It's not to receive an award - it's to visit." He then briefly talked about Professor Iizuka Yoshio's wish to invite a delegation of young Chinese writers to visit Japan, and even hinted at his "complaints" about the procedural and stereotyped visits of past writers' delegations to Japan.

Zou Guangming was able to hold important positions in both the Luyuan Academy and the Writers Association, so he naturally had a keen mind to "hear the strings and understand the elegant intentions". He immediately asked: "Professor Iizuka didn't mention this to the Writers Association - and what does this have to do with whether you can meet Mr. Ma Yueran?"

Zhang Chao said with a bitter face: "Professor Iizuka was very happy when he knew that we started the "Mao Dun Literature Newcomer Award". He hopes that all nominated young writers can be included in the interview list.

As for me, I don't have the mobilization and organization ability to make this interview a success. So the current verbal agreement with Professor Iizuka is that I will take Ma Boyong and a few other writers with me in September. It's better than just giving them a blank check!
As for time, it would take at least ten days or half a month to go back and forth, plus all the preparations, I really don’t have time to see Ma Yueran.”

Zou Guangming frowned and said, "The writers' group's visit to Japan is an important foreign-related event in the cultural sector. It has to go through layers of approval, from determining the content of the event, approving the event process, issuing event funds, to actually making the trip. It will take at least half a year!
How can you be so careless? What are you doing? "

Zhang Chao said innocently: "It's just a company team building!"

Zou Guangming: “…” Damn it, I shouldn’t have asked earlier!

Zhang Chao was not finished yet, he counted on his fingers: "I count as one; Ma Boyong from "Tide Culture" has been nominated, Shuang Xuetao has been nominated..."

Zou Guangming couldn't bear to hear this, and quickly interrupted, "Alright, alright! Stop counting! I know about this. I'll go to the Writers Association later and talk to Chairman Tie Ning about this. We should find a way to have this kind of activity organized by the Writers Association.

We will consider Professor Iizuka's opinion, but please don't act rashly!"

Zhang Chao then put down his hand with a smile and said to Zou Guangming, "I knew that Dean Zou would have a way! It was you who found the documents and gave the idea for me to enroll in Yan University and Yan Normal University at the same time!" Zou Guangming's face turned serious and he said, "Do you still remember that you are a student of Luyuan? By the way, if you have nothing else to do recently, come and give a few classes to the students in the advanced research class?"

Zhang Chao's face suddenly fell and he declined repeatedly, "I'm still young and my words don't carry much weight. It's not appropriate for me to teach the older brothers..." According to Zhang Chao's experience, students in the advanced research class are rarely under 35 years old. The fact that he was able to enroll at the age of 19 was a miracle that cannot be replicated.

Zou Guangming snorted, then said: "I see you are doing well in classes at Xiamen University, and you even published a book. What's its name? - "The Sound of the Egret Island Tide"?
I think you are quite suitable for teaching, and I will publish a book based on your lecture notes in the future - "Listening to the Tide in Bali Village." "

Zhang Chao's face almost turned bitter, and he murmured: "Balizhuang is not near the sea..." Luyuan is not like Xiamen University. Xiamen University has a group of young people in the class, while here there are a group of old hands. Xiamen University has paid classes and arranged expert dormitories (although I don't live there). Luyuan's classes are probably a contribution to his alma mater, and he has to drive here every day...

At this time, there was a knock on Zou Guangming's office door, and then a young woman with an oval face and long hair pushed the door in and said to Zou Guangming: "Dean Zou, everyone has filled out the form..."

Zhang Chao's eyes widened: "Zhang Yueran? Why are you here?"

Zhang Yueran was also a little surprised to see Zhang Chao, but he was not too surprised when he thought about the seminar on his work being held in the conference room on the second floor this morning. He said, "Yes, I am a student of the seventh advanced research class."

Zou Guangming took the form from Zhang Yueran and said with a smile, "We have intentionally tilted the quota towards new and young writers in this advanced research class. In addition to Yueran, Zhou Jianing is also here.

In addition to the two of them, there are also Jiang Feng, Lu Min, Zhou Jin..." (They are the students of the seventh class in 07)
Zhang Chao waved his hands repeatedly with a headache and said, "Okay, okay, stop counting!" What is retribution? This is it!
Zhang Yueran didn't know what happened before, and asked curiously: "What are you doing...?"

Zou Guangming said with regret: "I wanted Zhang Chao to teach you. But he is too busy now... No wonder, times are different now..."

Zhang Yueran also felt a little regretful after hearing this, and said to Zhang Chao: "Personally, I really want to listen to your lectures systematically - especially the article you wrote on the "New Concept" site last month, "The Modernity of Chinese Literature."

Zou Guangming said quickly: "Zhang Chao feels that he is young..."

Zhang Yueran was also a smart guy. Before Zou Guangming could finish his words, he said to Zhang Chao, "Senior, everyone hopes to communicate with you more. Can you spare some time?"

Zou Guangming was very satisfied with the student's cleverness and added, "Yue Ran, Jianing, Jiang Feng, and Lu Min are also nominated for this year's "Mao Dun Literature Newcomer Award"..."

Zhang Chao then took Zou Guangming's words seriously. After thinking about it, he said to the two of them, "Okay, I'll try two classes. Don't blame me if it doesn't go well. As for the specific time - Dean, please send me the class schedule and I'll see what's convenient for you."

Zou Guangming then smiled and said to Zhang Chao, "That's it! By the way, I will talk to Chairman Tie Ning about the delegation."

After saying these things, Zhang Chao said goodbye to the two people and drove home.

After Zhang Chao left, Zou Guangming's expression became serious again. He felt that the matter Zhang Chao mentioned was a little difficult to handle.

The Writers Association is, after all, an old government agency. What does an old government agency value most? Procedures and conventions!

Organizing a delegation of writers to visit abroad is a big deal. Generally, both parties need to communicate in advance, then send a formal invitation letter, then go through the domestic approval process, apply for passports collectively, buy air tickets, and travel...

In short, what Zou Guangming said to Zhang Chao that it would take half a year for the whole trip was no joke, in fact it was an understatement.

Some activities are even finalized a year in advance - as Zhang Chao said, it is simply a fantasy to expect them to take place within a month!
However, we cannot ignore the dissatisfaction with the existing activity procedures revealed by Professor Iizuka Yoshio - after all, standing behind him are the pro-China cultural circles in Japan.

This part of the Japanese literary world began to develop in the early 50s, represented by the "Chinese Literature Research Society" and the "Lu Xun Research Society", and has long been committed to Sino-Japanese friendship. It reached its peak during the "Sino-Japanese honeymoon period" in the 80s and 90s, with large-scale mutual visits taking place almost every year.

Later, as the situation between the two countries changed, this force gradually declined, but it was still recognized and supported by domestic officials. Therefore, Iizuka Yoshio's euphemistic expression of his "emotions" by contacting Zhang Chao alone this time was enough to make the Writers Association suffer.

……

"Tsk... I was wondering why Zhang Chao was so enthusiastic about the 'Newcomer Award'! I think this won't work! We can't start this!" Foreign visits were a big deal, so of course Wei Qining, who was in charge of political work, had to participate in the discussion. Upon hearing what Zou Guangming had relayed, he immediately expressed his opposition.

Then he began to count the disadvantages of doing so: "First, we are all young people in their 20s and early 30s, and we are impetuous. What if we say or do something wrong in Japan? Who can take the political responsibility?
Secondly, where to go, who to meet, what meetings to hold... There is no rules at all, how can we prepare? Not to mention other things, it may take more than a month to complete the passport application.

Third, after this precedent is set, Japan can invite whomever it wants and send whomever it wants, without having to pass the organization’s inspection and bypassing our Writers Association. Wouldn’t that be chaos?
Based on the above three points, I firmly oppose the hasty implementation of this delegation. We still have to follow the process! "

After Wei Qining finished his remarks on "mature state affairs", the scene fell into silence, which was the effect he wanted.

Being an official in the old government office, it may be difficult to make something happen, but it is very easy to prevent something from happening - as long as you say the truth of "who can take the responsibility", most of your colleagues who are not very determined will retreat.

Especially when it comes to things like today that require breaking the routine, the effect is even better!
Even the chairman of the Writers Association, Tie Ning, hesitated.

After a long while, Tie Ning said leisurely: "Have you ever thought about how our Writers Association would deal with it if Zhang Chao really let him lead the team?"

Wei Qining frowned: "He dares!? This is a serious violation of organizational principles!"

At this time, Zou Guangming said, "It's a company-run team building, why should we be afraid? Which organizational principle says that private companies are not allowed to organize employees to go to Japan for inspection activities?"

(End of this chapter)