Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 99 Zhang Chao, why don’t you apologize!

November 2004, 11, Shanghai, New Sprouts Magazine.

Zhao Changtian, Li Qigang and others were sitting in the conference room with serious expressions. On the conference table in front of them, manuscripts were neatly stacked high, and some were placed on the floor.

Li Qigang asked the editor Xu Minxia next to him, "Is that all? Have you finished the statistics?"

Xu Minxia nodded and replied, "That's all. After counting, there are 4755 copies in total."

The conference room was as quiet as a grave. What does 4000 pieces of writing mean? The number of submissions received in the first New Concept Essay Contest was slightly more than this. The number of submissions in the second contest increased 20 times to more than 8.

Last year, New Sprouts magazine received more than 40 preliminary manuscripts, enough to fill up the entire conference room, leaving no room for people.

It only took one year for me to fall from the peak to the bottom.

The only universities still cooperating with New Sprouts are a few Shanghai-based and southern universities such as Fudan University, Xiamen University, Wuhan University, and Sun Yat-sen University. Northern universities such as Yanjing University have almost all withdrawn.

The universities that remain no longer have any preferential policies for first prize winners, and they are just honored with a place in the name list. It can be said that the "New Concept Essay Contest" has completely lost its appeal.

Xu Minxia herself was the winner of the first prize of the New Concept Essay Competition, and was directly admitted to the Chinese Department of Fudan University. After graduating last year, she came to work at the New Sprout magazine.

When she came, it was the sixth submission period, and she still remembers the bustling and exciting atmosphere.

Zhao Changtian said slowly, "Not only has the number of preliminary submissions dropped to the level of 1999, but our magazine sales are also almost back to the level of 1999. Last year we were able to sell more than 30 copies per month. What about now? Qigang, tell me what you think."

Li Qigang said: "Except for readers who subscribed to this year's magazine last year, our retail sales are shrinking every month and now it is less than 2 copies."

Zhao Changtian said, "What about the subscription situation next year? Tell us about it."

Li Qigang said helplessly: "Although the subscription has not yet ended, it seems that it is less than one-fifth of this year's..."

The editors all gasped. They had expected this situation, but they didn't expect it to be this bad. But it's not surprising if you think about it carefully. Every work participating in the "New Concept Essay Competition" must be accompanied by an application form.

The registration form is printed in the "New Sprout" from May to November every year, and must be cut out and attached to the letter. Therefore, the decline of the "New Concept Essay Competition" will inevitably lead to the decline of the sales of "New Sprout".

Zhao Changtian sighed and said, "The magazine is now at a critical juncture of life and death. How can we revive it? I hope everyone can give their opinions."

A young editor hesitated for a while and said, "Why don't we talk to those universities again..."

Li Qigang interrupted rudely, "How can we talk? I just received a call from Professor Ni of the Chinese Department of Fudan University this morning. He and several other professors and writers are withdrawing from this year's preliminary round of judges, and some of the semi-final judges who had promised to come to us may not come."

Zhao Changtian said self-deprecatingly: "There are only more than 4000 copies. We can review them all in our own editorial office. There is really no need to trouble others."

Xu Minxia bit her lip, seeming to want to say something but stopped herself. Zhao Changtian saw it and encouraged her to speak out boldly.

Xu Minxia hesitated for a while before speaking: "I think that although the competition has encountered setbacks, after so many years of hosting, it has also accumulated some of the most valuable wealth. If we use it well, maybe we can turn the tide."

Li Qigang asked doubtfully: "Wealth?"

Xu Minxia continued, "Yes, the most valuable asset of our competition is the authors who come out of here. Han Han, Xiao Si, Jia Jun, Yue Ran... Although none of them may have as much influence as, um, 'that person', but when added together, it's different.

If we can ask them to speak for the magazine and the competition, or even participate in the competition process, such as presenting awards to the winners, we can re-boost the influence of the competition - if we have influence, we have everything!
As long as we can get through this low point, there will definitely be a turnaround ahead!"

Zhao Changtian agreed, "Xiao Xu got the point! We were too obsessed with this before, always thinking that the solution lies in colleges and universities. In fact, the key to solving the problem lies in our own hands. We can give this method a try."

Li Qigang said: "Then I will contact them right away. I believe they will appreciate our friendship and say a few words for us. As for the media, we will also fight a good battle to turn things around!"

After the meeting, Zhao Changtian sat alone in the meeting, smoking a cigarette and muttering in a low voice: "Influence... influence..."

Soon, a press release titled "New Concept Essay Competition: Passing on the Torch, Seeking Innovation" spread among the media, with Shanghai as the center. This press release is heartfelt:

【…This year, the New Concept Essay Contest suffered an unprecedented blow. However, the “New Sprouts” were not discouraged and continued to reflect and summarize. We always believe that as long as we do not forget our original intention, the New Concept Essay Contest will continue no matter how difficult it is…】

[…What we need now is for the public to be a little more tolerant of us; and for the young people who love literature to trust us again;…]

[…We hope that every young person who leaves the New Idea can come home often…]

The final summary is particularly convincing:

[…After all, the New Concept Essay Contest is only seven years old, it is still a child! ]

A single stone stirs up a thousand waves. In less than a week, more than a dozen young writers who became famous in the New Idea Competition also voiced their support for the New Sprout magazine and the New Idea Writing Competition. After harvesting a wave of sympathy, some media began to point the finger at Zhang Chao, believing that Zhang Chao had become famous by criticizing the New Idea Competition, but in the end, he happily studied at Yan University and Yan Normal University, and even "became" a disciple of the great writer Yu Hua, gaining both fame and fortune.

Other young literary men and women lost a stage to showcase themselves. Although the New Concept Essay Contest is still being held, it has lost all media attention without the gimmicks of direct admission to universities or admission with lower scores.

What literature lacks most right now is attention! ?

A participant of the 6th New Concept Essay Competition who does not want to reveal his name and has a strong sense of justice posted a message on the Internet, comparing Zhang Chao to the "Voldemort" among young writers, claiming that in many literary enthusiasts' groups, no one wants to mention Zhang Chao's name, and only refers to him as "that person" -

[…If it weren’t for “that person”, this year’s Chinese literature would have at least three to five rising stars—I might be one of them. But now, who still remembers who won the first and second prizes in the sixth edition…]

[… “That person” smashed the pot after he had eaten his fill. What kind of character is this? ]

[…The “New Concept Essay Contest” and “New Sprouts” did not murder Chinese literature. “That person” is the real executioner! ]

[…There is something fishy going on! There is something fishy going on! There is definitely something fishy going on!]

The post was reprinted by many media outlets.

A few months later, the public opinion against Zhang Chao was rampant again, and all reporters wanted to interview him to see how he would respond. However, Zhang Chao played guerrilla warfare with everyone. He disappeared after class every day, and it was difficult for his classmates to find him. He did not respond to any interview emails sent to his mailbox.

This silence caused many critics who were not familiar with Zhang Chao's style to celebrate.

"Zhang Chao is scared!"

"Zhang Chao, why are you feeling guilty?"

"Zhang Chao, why don't you apologize!"

But most media outlets that had dealt with Zhang Chao did not follow up.

Li Lie of the New Yanjing News advised his colleagues who were ready to make a move: "This kid must be up to no good, don't show up and act like a fool."

It was not until mid-December that Zhang Chao, who had been silent for nearly two weeks, suddenly agreed to interview requests from multiple media outlets at the same time and borrowed the media center of the School of Journalism and Communication of Yanshi University to hold a press conference.

The press conference was scheduled after Zhang Chao finished his afternoon get out of class. More than 20 media outlets arrived on time and filled the venue. Zhang Chao did not keep them waiting for long and soon appeared in front of the camera—but he was accompanied by his "class teacher", Yu Hua.

The reporters were all confused. Did Zhang Chao really want to "apologize" and bring a "parent" with him to calm the situation? However, the necessary procedures still had to be followed.

"Some people say that your ability to study at Yanda and Yanshi University is also a shady admissions scam. What's your response?"

"May I ask how you feel about being called the 'Voldemort' of youth literature?"

"What do you want to say about the current situation of the 'New Concept Essay Contest', a place that nurtures new literary stars?"

"Will you apologize to the New Sprout magazine and the young literary people?"

"Other young literary people are still struggling, but you, a fellow student, are enjoying the youth and fame you have exploited from them. Can you feel at ease?"

……

Zhang Chao raised his eyebrows. He had less contact with the media after entering university, and he was a little uncomfortable with the feeling of being slandered by the whole world.

But he quickly adjusted himself and began to answer the question:

"First of all, I want to clarify one thing for Yanda and Yanshi University again - I was not a high school student who was "specially recruited" to study in the university through the college entrance examination. I was a student of the "Third Senior Seminar for Young and Middle-aged Writers" of Luyuan Academy, and I was assigned to study in these two schools as a writer. So I am afraid that someone has misunderstood the "shady dealings" -

It is not a misunderstanding of me, Luyuan and Yanda Normal University, but a misunderstanding of his own talent. However, this "unnamed and righteous classmate" has made great progress in his writing, which is worth celebrating.

Secondly, regarding the question about "New Sprouts" and the "New Concept Essay Competition", I would like to ask my teacher Professor Yu Hua to answer it. "

Then he walked aside. The reporters were confused. Although Yu Hua had been a judge in the previous two competitions, how could he answer this question for Zhang Chao?
Yu Hua came to the microphone and said in his unique relaxed tone: "Some time ago, "New Sprout" magazine invited me and Zhang Chao to participate in the selection of works for the '7th New Concept Composition Competition' as the director and judge respectively. After careful consideration, Zhang Chao and I both accepted the invitation.

This weekend, Zhang Chao will serve as a judge and represent me to go to Shanghai to select the contestants who can enter the semi-finals. As a writer who has achieved results, I believe Zhang Chao will be able to do this job. "

The reporters were all stunned and forgot to ask questions for a moment.

(End of this chapter)