Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 373: Isn’t Zhang Chao the protagonist of the new book launch?
"Teacher Yang, Teacher Yang, wait for me!" Gu Lin, an intern reporter from the Beijing Times, was carrying a work bag filled with a camera, laptop, voice recorder, microphone and a bunch of other miscellaneous things, and was following Yang Weihua, a senior reporter and her master, breathlessly, twisting and turning.

Yang Weihua was lightly equipped, carrying only a tripod, and walked leisurely in front. His steps were not fast, but his stride was large. With his height of more than 1.80 meters, Gu Lin could not catch up at all. He said slowly, "Who asked you to wear high heels? For us news reporters, the most important thing is to run fast!"

Gu Lin couldn't stand it any longer. She freed one hand and took off her high heels with all her heart. She ran a few steps barefoot and finally caught up with her master. She said a little aggrievedly, "I thought... I can't embarrass you..."

Yang Weihua glanced at Gu Lin's big red lips, dark eyeliner, and rosy cheeks, and asked, "Are you showing this to your colleagues or to Zhang Chao?"

Gu Lin's thoughts were seen through, and her face turned red. After a while, she said hesitantly: "Isn't this the first time I interview him..."

Yang Weihua smiled. He knew that his disciple was a die-hard fan of Zhang Chao. Even for this interview, she had begged him repeatedly before he agreed to bring her along. So he didn't want to discourage the girl. He just said calmly, "We are reporters first. You must not forget this."

Gu Lin blushed and nodded repeatedly, then asked, "Master, have you interviewed Zhang Chao before? Do you think he is easy to interview?"

Now it was Yang Weihua's turn to be silent. Of course, he had interviewed Zhang Chao before, but not exclusively. He was one of the 100,000 heavenly soldiers who besieged the Monkey King, but he was also deeply impressed by Zhang Chao's interview.

After thinking for a while, Yang Weihua said: "In most people's impression, Zhang Chao is either sharp-tongued, mean and vicious, or glib when facing the media...

But in fact, that is his strategy, not his nature. In fact, as long as you don't provoke him with malicious intent, he is much easier to interview than those celebrities and stars, and he is not perfunctory. "

There were little stars in Gu Lin's eyes, and she had an expression that said "My male god is truly a rare talent".

After a while, they walked into the most famous conference venue in the country. What many people don’t know is that the large and small conference halls here can actually be rented out, and press conferences, book signings, concerts, and even weddings can be held here.

Of course, the cost is relatively expensive. The cheapest one costs 5 yuan, and it is only for "half a day".

Lu Jinbo originally planned to rent the conference center of the Yenching Library Building, but as Zhang Chao's activities abroad became more and more prominent, he changed the venue twice in a row, and finally decided to go all in and found this place.

This may not be the most expensive event venue in Yanjing, but no one will definitely think it is not impressive enough.

Of course, you can't rent a place just because you want to. You need a letter of introduction. In the end, it was the Writers Association that stepped in to coordinate and I was able to get on the bus at the last minute.

After Lu Jinbo established his own business, his biggest characteristic was spending money like water. Whether it was the 20% royalties given to Han Han or the guaranteed fee of $1 per word given to Wang Shuo, they were all part of his marketing.

The same goes for today’s “Homeland” press conference - if we’re going to do it, we’re going to make it an unprecedented grand event!

After passing security check, Yang Weihua and Gu Lin followed the guidance of the etiquette lady, took the elevator to the third floor, and arrived at the main venue of the press conference: the small auditorium.

Although Lu Jinbo is a bit boastful, he is not crazy enough to rent a large auditorium that can accommodate 700 people, so this small auditorium with more than seats is most suitable.

In addition to more than 100 domestic and foreign media outlets, this new book launch also saw the participation of more than 300 of Zhang Chao's readers through a fan lottery on Weibo, who were invited to participate in the dialogue and book signing on site.

So when Yang Weihua and Gu Lin entered the small auditorium, it was already bustling with activity and excitement.

The two squeezed to the front row, found their own media seats, quickly set up their cameras, and then had time to look at the on-site layout of this new book launch event -

The podium in the small auditorium has no traditional settings of a long table, red tablecloth, podium, or microphone. Instead, a giant spray-painted curtain is posted on the background wall, with dark brown banyan tree aerial roots as the base, and the aerial roots are entangled with yellowed paper, rusty iron boxes, damaged diaries and other items.

There is a large square bulge in the center of the curtain, covered with dark red corduroy of a very high texture. It must be the title of the book that has been kept secret.

On both sides of the rostrum are the landscape of San Francisco's Chinatown and a sci-fi-like layered memory fantasy; there is always a figure with black hair and a white windbreaker looming in the background.

The center of the rostrum was completely empty, without any tables or chairs, but there were several rows of rice densely planted in the front row - of course, they were models. But they were so realistic that everyone present suddenly remembered:

It’s autumn now, so the rice in my hometown should have been harvested, right?

Gu Lin was a little excited, but also a little confused. She asked her teacher, "Didn't I hear that Zhang Chao's new book is a science fiction novel? Why is the setting so rustic?"

Yang Weihua had no idea what Zhang Chao was up to, so he could only say, "The event is about to start, and we'll know what's going on."

At this time, the lights in the audience seats suddenly dimmed, and several sets of spotlights and atmosphere lights specially arranged on the rostrum were turned on, with warm tones as the main color, mixed with a little light, giving the arranged venue a strong sense of "hometown".

Without being reminded, everyone in the audience closed their mouths on their own accord, and hundreds of pairs of eyes were fixed on the stage.

After a while, a beam of spotlight hit the right side of the rostrum - which was the entrance to the stage - and a small black head poked out, then quickly shrank back.

Everyone heard the following "quarrel" from the speakers at the scene:

"There are so many people, so many people, you go first!"

"You go first! You just pretended to be a hard egg again!"

"You are a man, you go out first!"

"You're my aunt, and you're older than me, so you go first!"

"coward!"

"Little ghost shit!"

"Are you doing something like that?"

"Si'er!"

"idiot!"

"What a ghost fire! You're forcing me to pay!"

Readers and reporters were all confused. The people who said these words were all children, both boys and girls. The oldest one looked to be no more than ten years old. They all spoke with a strong rural accent. Although many of the words were incomprehensible, it seemed that they were not good things.

What is Zhang Chao doing?
Just when everyone was puzzled, another black head popped out from the stage entrance, but this time it did not retract. Instead, after hesitating for a moment, it arched its head forward and revealed its body.

The spotlight shone on her, and everyone could see that she was a young girl, no more than 13 or 14 years old. Her hair was black and tied into two thick braids. Her face was a healthy wheat color, and she had a smile on her lips, but it was a little unnatural.

It was obviously the first time that the girl was stared at by so many people. There was a look of fear in her eyes. Then she looked towards the stage entrance and seemed to get some encouragement. She gradually calmed down.

She introduced herself in unstandard Mandarin: "Hello everyone, my name is Liang Ximei, and I'm from Shilei Village in Guizhou. It was... it was Brother Zhang Chao who asked us to come to the capital to take a look."

After saying that, he carefully moved forward a few steps, and behind him "led" out a little boy who looked only seven or eight years old - round head, round eyes, and seemed a little frightened - he was the first one to stick his head out, and then retracted it.

Perhaps it was Liang Ximei's encouragement that led him to introduce himself in a childish yet loud voice: "Hello everyone, my name is Wei Enze, and I'm also from Shilei Village. Brother Zhang Chao said that only by showing me the world can I become a man!"

After that, he carried Liang Ximei forward a few steps, and then another little head appeared on the stage. This time it was a little girl, who was only six or seven years old. She no longer had a frightened expression, and said in a baby voice: "Hello everyone, I am Wayne Hua. My brother is here, and I am here too. I took a plane yesterday and flew in the sky..." The child had never seen such a big scene. Although she was not frightened, she was a little at a loss. She had long forgotten what she had just prepared, and casually told the thing that left the deepest impression on her in the past two days.

Wei Enze quickly turned around and covered his sister's mouth and said, "Don't talk nonsense! Follow me!"

Wayne Hua nodded repeatedly before Wayne Ze let go of her hand.

The cute gesture caused laughter from the audience.

Everyone knows by now that Zhang Chao brought the children from Shilei Village where he had been "secluded" for two months!

Especially Wayne Ze and Wayne Hua, aren’t they the brother and sister in the post pinned to the top of the “Our Way to School” website? Their journey to school through mountains and rivers has made countless people around the world feel distressed and shed tears.

It is said that the donations received by Shire Village have not only built a cable bridge, installed a suspension ladder and guardrails for the road, but even the dilapidated school was renovated during the summer vacation.

It is said that Zhang Chao's wonderful book "One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones" also originated from a story he told to these children...

But why bring these kids to this new book launch? Shouldn’t they have brought them here for the “Star Chaser” launch?

Everyone was still a little confused, but the children on the stage had already walked out in groups like little mice holding their tails in their mouths -

"Hello everyone, my name is Liang Housheng..."

"Hello everyone, I am Liang Dianniu..."

"Hello everyone, I am Wei Zecheng..."

"Hello everyone, I am Wei Changming..."

"Hello everyone, I am Liang Guangnian..."

……

In a short while, there were eleven children standing on the podium.

Most of them were dressed simply, but they were all clean; their skin was varying shades of wheat color, but their eyes were as bright as stars in the night sky.

The clusters of rice ears in front of them were in amazing harmony with their clothes, skin color and gaze. With the help of ambient lighting, it seemed as if they were bringing everyone to that small village and terraced fields deep in the mountains.

Gu Lin's eyes were wet. Before she could take out a tissue to wipe them, she heard people in the audience starting to applaud.

Soon, the applause gathered into a storm, rolling up waves to hit the walls and vaulted ceiling of the small auditorium - and this special architectural structure made the surging applause seem unusually loud and distant.

Now it was the children on the stage's turn to be confused. They didn't know why hundreds of people suddenly started applauding them, so they were a little overwhelmed.

The younger children looked at the older ones, and the older ones looked at the even older ones... The oldest, Liang Ximei, had nothing to look at and could only look towards the stage entrance, as if there was some magic there.

But this time she didn't get the response she wanted.

The applause lasted for nearly 3 minutes before it gradually died down. At this time, many people at the scene realized that the corners of their eyes were wet for some reason; looking around, they found that they were also wiping their eyes.

“It’s so nice to see these kids…”

"I donated 100 yuan to them! That's my food allowance for a week!"

"Not only can they go to school, but they can also come to Yanjing. That's great!"

"Zhang Chao is such a jerk. He's so sentimental right from the start..."

“These children are so beautiful…”

"Yeah, so cute!"

"Cute? Not cute at all, they're all...cool?!"

……

There were all kinds of comments in the audience, chattering and discussing. For many people, these children represent the softest part of their hearts that has been touched, the initial understanding of the colorful lifestyle of this land, and a ray of concern that will always be on their minds.

Now these children are standing in front of us so healthy and lively, how can we not feel moved and shed tears?
But soon they quieted down because they saw the beam of the spotlight hit the stage entrance again. A tall young man walked briskly to the center of the venue and stood with the children.

To readers and journalists, he is a magnet that firmly attracts their attention;

For the children on the stage, he is a reassurance; the children calm down whenever he appears.

Wei Enze was the bravest and most familiar with Zhang Chao, so he immediately said, "Brother Zhang Chao, you finally came out!"

Zhang Chao touched Weinze's head lovingly, then took a step forward and said, "Thank you all for coming to my new book launch today. For a writer, it is indeed a bit flattering that the work can be so anticipated -

Especially for someone as low-key as me!"

The audience burst into laughter. If the young man on the stage is "low-key", then the suona is probably the only "high-profile" instrument in the world.

Gu Lin stared at Zhang Chao on the stage with such fascination that she almost forgot to press the shutter of her camera. It was only when Yang Weihua poked her with a pen that she woke up from her dream. However, she still murmured to herself, "How can he be so humorous... Oh, he is very humorous..."

Yang Weihua: “…” He already regretted bringing this apprentice here.

But for him, he was also a little excited at the moment. As a senior reporter of the entertainment and cultural news section of the Beijing Times, he had participated in countless new book launches. He originally thought that Yi Zhongtian's "Taste of the Three Kingdoms" copyright auction held at the Yanjing Media Center was already grand enough.

But compared with Zhang Chao's scale, momentum and ingenuity today, it all seems vulgar and money-minded.

Zhang Chao waited until the laughter died down before continuing, "Everyone may be curious about why I brought these children to Yanjing to attend my new book launch. In fact, although today's launch is to announce the news of my new novel, the protagonist is not me -

It’s them.”

As he spoke, Zhang Chao spread his arms. More than a dozen children stood on his left and right, like feathers of varying lengths, as if they had given him a pair of wings.

(End of this chapter)