Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 379 Of course I forgive him!
(I really can’t let that guy appear. He almost killed me last time. And at this time he is still a minor character and has nothing to do with literature.)
"Compensate the Chinese workers, take responsibility, and make America great again!" A team composed mainly of thousands of Chinese people set out from Chinatown and marched across half of the city of Los Angeles, causing quite a stir and attracting attention.

Not only because the slogan was fresh, but also because there were quite a few black people in the team. They also wore headscarves, T-shirts with slogans printed on them, and waved large and small flags, interspersed among them.

Governor Schwarzenegger's face turned green when he saw this scene on the TV in his office.

Ever since he made his apology speech to the Chinese workers and awarded Zhang Chao the title of "Honorary Citizen of Los Angeles," things have been developing in an uncontrollable direction.

Not only black people, but many other ethnic minorities with a history of oppression also expressed their support for the Chinese workers and demanded compensation from the US government.

They all hope to tear a piece of meat from the US government through the gap opened by the Chinese.

After all, Americans owe too much blood debt to minorities in the process of establishing and building this country.

Although compensation is impossible, Schwarzenegger has become a sandwich:

On the one hand, there is pressure from public opinion. Since he apologized on behalf of the California government, it means that he must have done something wrong that year. Since he did something wrong, isn't it only natural for him to pay a price for his mistake?
His heart-wrenching apology became a noose around his neck.

On the other hand, there was pressure from within the party. Bush's Republican administration was dealing with the war in Afghanistan, the subprime mortgage crisis, and the upcoming election cycle. It was a very stressful time.

Now they have to deal with the issue of "compensation for Chinese workers". Every party leader who appears in front of the media will be asked by the media whether they support this proposal. But in fact, no matter how they answer, it will be wrong for them, and they may lose some votes. It's really difficult for them.

As the instigator and a Republican, Schwarzenegger naturally became the target of everyone's resentment. When people privately mentioned him, they changed from "big guy" to "Austrian guy".

"Arnold, what should we do? I heard that their next gathering will be in front of the state government." Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi asked cautiously.

Schwarzenegger did not answer the question, but asked: "About when?"

Garamendi took out his phone and took a look. He said, "It will be in three days. The scale will be even bigger than the one in Los Angeles. Even the Japanese, Indians, Pakistanis... will all participate."

Schwarzenegger frowned: "Japanese? Why are they joining in the fun?"

Garamendi answered in a dazed voice: "It is said that during World War II, the US government put all the Japanese in the United States into concentration camps and forced some of them to fight in Europe..."

Schwarzenegger showed an incredible expression: "You have done such a thing? Aren't you allies?"

Garamendi Khan came down and said quickly: "World War II, that was World War II, the United States and Japan were hostile to each other."

Schwarzenegger also realized that he had made a slip of the tongue, so he skipped the topic and said directly: "Then you will handle it according to the procedures when the time comes."

Garamendi was stunned: "You guys?"

Schwarzenegger said calmly, "Yes, you guys. I have already asked for leave. I am going to Hollywood to shoot Terminator 4!"

Garamendi: "...Didn't you say it was just a guest appearance? Would it take a long time?"

Schwarzenegger patted him on the shoulder and said, “I have discussed this with the director, and I agree with him that if I appear more often, the film will be more effective and the box office will be higher, so I need to go to the set in advance to adapt to the environment.

I have high hopes for you, Mr. Lieutenant Governor. I hope you can appease the Chinese people while I am away!"

Garamendi: “…”

……

“…As a writer who has experienced the cultural rift between the East and the West, I particularly appreciate Zhang Chao’s bold breakthrough in the paradigm of “immigrant literature.” He did not simplify the conflict into an East-West opposition, but used the protagonist’s schizophrenia symptoms as a metaphor for the multiplicity of cultural identity of the entire immigrant group, like fine embroidery.

This creative concept resonates with me, but "Homeland" gives it a more universal philosophical meaning - when Gu Feng encounters himself in different time and space in the fragments of memory, isn't this the spiritual portrayal of every modern person in the wave of globalization? "

"...Oh, you said that we had conflicts before - I want to make it clear that it was not a 'conflict', but just some 'differences'. To be more precise, we are both novelists writing at the spiritual crossroads of our respective nations.

In a way, Zhang Chao’s hometown, Fuhai, is the Bosphorus of China. From the seventh to the thirteenth century, it was the most prosperous port in the world and even had the first mosque in China.

So it's not surprising that he has such cultural touch. Between us, we can use an old Chinese proverb to express it, that is -

"Only after a fierce fight can two people become good friends."

Looking at the author of "Homeland" sitting on the stage and talking about her "good friend", Ferit Orhan Pamuk, Madeline couldn't help but sigh at the absurdity of this world.

Just two months ago, Zhang Chao and Pamuk were enemies who were passionately exchanging insults in the media across the Pacific Ocean. Zhang Chao actually suggested that he invite Pamuk to participate in some seminars of "Homeland" on his behalf.

This would have been ridiculous enough.

But what was even more ridiculous was that Pamuk actually agreed, and was very happy about it. There wasn't even a hint of resistance on the phone.

When did these two people "bury the hatchet"?

But in any case, it is a great joy for Random House that Pamuk agreed to participate in the promotion of "Homeland" - although the appearance fee of last year's Nobel Prize winner is not cheap, compared with the attention he has attracted, the money is worth it.

Moreover, this also consolidated the relationship between Random House and Pamuk - the American edition of Snow, the only novel written by Pamuk after 2000, was published by Random House.

It is said that he is about to finish a new novel, and publishers all over the world want to get his copyright. Now he can take this opportunity to have a "close contact" with Pamuk, which is undoubtedly a godsend. But Pamuk, who was sitting on the stage, had different thoughts in his mind. But when he received Madeline's call, he almost jumped for joy to accept the invitation - of course, when he finally spoke, he still maintained the reserve of a great writer, and his tone was light.

He also urgently needed an opportunity to completely ease the tense relationship between himself and Zhang Chao.

Previously, Zhang Chao was "arrested" by the police in Japan. After Pamuk learned the news, he immediately expressed his support for Zhang Chao, which sent a signal of reconciliation.

Although it was finally proved to be a "misunderstanding", it was enough to dispel Zhang Chao's hostility towards him.

As expected, Zhang Chao later responded to his goodwill and expressed his gratitude through his girlfriend Kiran Desai. Zhang Chao's idea was also very simple. He and Pamuk did not have any irreconcilable hatred. Since Pamuk had given in, Zhang Chao's choice was of course to forgive him!
However, critics and columnists in the media still tease Pamuk about this from time to time, which makes him very annoyed. However, by standing up for "Homeland", he can completely solve this problem and get a generous reward from "Random House" at the same time, which is really the best of both worlds.

Besides, he had a secret little idea:
His "Museum of Innocence" is almost finished, but it will probably take another one to two years before it is officially published.

Not all Nobel Prize winners in literature can maintain their popularity all the time. Sometimes their shelf life is indeed, as Zhang Chao’s harsh criticism said, “only 12 months.”

Although every winner will claim that the award will not change his or her creative attitude, Pamuk knows that this is a lie - the long numbers on the bank card, the exclusive parking spaces with names painted on them in the university parking lot, the high-end residences that suddenly grow around the body... these are the reality of life.

After winning the award in 2006, five of his works entered the top 5 of the bestseller list, and Random House even printed an additional 30 copies of Snow.

The quote for accepting business interviews and attending business events also increased from a mere few thousand dollars to 30 dollars for 5 minutes - although this price only lasted for half a year, it tasted so sweet!

If the sales of the new novel are not as good as expected, even a great writer like him would find it difficult to adjust his mentality.

So how to warm up for his new book to be published in a year or two became a problem he had to consider.

Supporting "Homeland" is undoubtedly a good idea - Zhang Chao is a hot young writer worldwide, his ability to create topics and market books is obvious to all, and the quality of his works is top-notch.

I have read "Homeland" and was also deeply moved by the book's description of the Chinese concept of "homeland", so it is not against my will to praise it.

Pamuk even felt a little envious of Zhang Chao. The launch ceremony of Zhang Chao's "Homeland" held by Random House was held at the "Chinese Theater" in Hollywood, a landmark building on the Walk of Fame. It not only hosted the Oscars ceremony, but also served as the venue for many blockbuster premieres.

The "Handprint Square" at the entrance of the "Chinese Theater" is a symbol of the status of Hollywood stars. It is difficult to leave your handprints there without a certain status.

In Pamuk's memory, no "serious literary writer" has ever been treated like this. Even after he won the Nobel Prize, he mostly received invitations to events from universities, literary institutions, libraries, and television stations.

He never dared to imagine that he could hold his own new book launch in a venue like the "Chinese Theatre"!
On the day of the launch ceremony, the scene was star-studded. Countless celebrities, both big and small, came to join in the fun, hoping to take advantage of the popularity of this Chinese writer. Even Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who were filming "The Forbidden Kingdom", took time out to come and suggested that Zhang Chao make a cameo appearance in the movie.

But Zhang Chao actually refused!
Someone would refuse to act in a Jackie Chan movie! And he's Chinese!

The first batch of 70 copies of "Homeland" were sold out within two days. Random House immediately announced that it would print an additional 70 copies to meet market demand. This is the United States, not China, and "Homeland" is not "Harry Potter". It is a serious work of pure literature. It is simply a fantasy that 140 million copies can be sold in such a short period of time.

But it just happened!

It is said that many Chinese families in the United States have already regarded "Homeland" as a must-read for the family. These "Chinese" not only bought the English version of "Homeland", but also bought the Chinese version of "Homeland" from China through various means for comparison reading, and regarded this novel as an enlightenment book for the culture of the motherland for the second and third generations of immigrants.

This also makes Pamuk envious. Although he is proficient in English almost to the level of a native speaker, he always insists on writing in Turkish, but it is almost unheard of that Turkish Americans would buy his books in this way.

But Zhang Chao did it!

As a Nobel Prize winner, the world's leading novelist and the most important writer in contemporary literature, Pamuk does not need to envy JK Rowling's first print run of 1200 million copies of "Harry Potter 7" because the two are not on the same track.

But I can't even convince myself that I am not jealous of Zhang Chao at all - after all, more than half of Zhang Chao's works are in the category of "serious literature", but their publicity and sales are completely at the level of commercial bestsellers.

This made him a little unbalanced.

So it was with such mixed feelings that Pamuk made the following concluding remarks at the "Homeland Readers Meeting" in New York: "I am sitting here today not as a senior to comment on Homeland. You all know what consequences this will bring..."

There was a good-natured laugh at the scene. After all, readers who could come here all knew about his "past" with Zhang Chao.

Pamuk also laughed and continued, "I have to admit that Zhang Chao has created a literary miracle - after actively throwing himself into the center of the whirlpool of public opinion, he still maintains the purity and sharpness of a writer in his heart.

In Istanbul, we are used to looking at the Bosphorus with two eyes - seeing both Asia and Europe; seeing both the spires of the Ottoman Empire and the ruins of the Byzantine Empire.

Zhang Chao, on the other hand, has an even more special ability—he sees the most flashy, noisy, and crowded surface of this era, as well as the loneliest, most desperate, and most stubborn souls of this era;
He enjoys the wealth, fame, status and temptations given to him by the world, but he is lonely and suspicious in spirit, dissecting reality, history and himself with a pair of scalpel-like eyes.

In my culture, we believe that true enemies share the same homesickness. I understood his homesickness from this book.

It is said that he is only 23 years old now? My God, this is really a treasure God has given to literature. Maybe he can reach a place that none of us can reach.

By that time, I’ll probably be dead, but I’ll still be excited about it!”

……

While Pamuk was making his affectionate speech, the protagonist he was praising had already walked down the plane's gangway at Narita Airport. In front of him were two rows of welcoming teams, and the occasion was equally unprecedented.

(End of this chapter)