1979: Literary Master, Starting from the Return of Educated Youth

Chapter 17: A high-end game with all the bosses
"The interview format is rather serious, with the interviewee providing one-way information to the interviewer. If the reporting can be changed to a casual conversation between a few friends, the effect will be better."

"Compared to serious dialogue, casual chats will not arouse readers' resistance, but will make them feel more involved, and the ideas they want to convey will be more easily accepted by others."

In later generations, many interviews with celebrities are conducted in the form of chats among several people, and everyone has the opportunity to speak.

With more angles to speak, no matter what ideas the audience originally holds, they can find something that fits their own ideas, and accordingly they are more likely to be attracted. At this time, the interviewee's ideas will have more opportunities to be spread.

This method has not appeared in the current era. Xu Yuexin has considered this and wants to be the first person to try it.

After hearing Xu Yuexin's point of view, Wang Chaoyin thought about it and felt that his idea was very advanced and reasonable.

"I see what you mean. It's a subtle move, right?"

Wang Chaoyin said with a look of deep understanding, "I support your idea. I will go and do the work of the comrades at the People's Daily."

"You are the one being interviewed, and they should respect your request."

"As for the content of the interview, it will definitely revolve around your article "High Mountains". The core is the writing style, and of course we can extend many things from the writing style. If we want to achieve a publicity effect, we still have to rely on the extension part."

"Scar literature is popular in the market right now, but we still want to bring something different around your work."

Something different?

What Wang Chaoyin said coincides with what Xu Yuexin considered when he first created the work.

From the advent of scar literature in 1977 to the book "Scars" in 1978 officially naming the genre, countless novels with the same theme have appeared in between.

To put it bluntly, the works are highly homogenized. Xu Yuexin wrote "The Wreath under the Mountain" in order to create a more popular novel through new themes and writing styles.

He also went through a lot of thinking during the writing process.

If I could spread the results of my thinking through interviews, it would undoubtedly add fuel to the already high popularity of "High Mountains", make the pen name Chunfeng even more famous, and bring me new material and reputational benefits.

“The style of “High Mountains” is to celebrate the sublime, not to shy away from darkness, and while looking back, it prefers to look into the distance.”

"By extension, it is nothing more than the author's creative philosophy and the resonance between his writing style and the times."

Xu Yuexin introduced in an orderly manner and showed his ideas to Wang Chaoyin.

“You’re absolutely right, this is exactly what we want.”

Wang Chaoyin affirmed, "If we hold the talk show according to your suggestion, we will have to invite other people besides the journalists."

"I will inform you of the candidates later. If you have any ideas, tell me and we will seriously consider them."

While explaining the arrangements to Xu Yuexin, Wang Chaoyin was also wondering.

Wang Meng had previously helped him confirm that Xu Yuexin was undoubtedly a newcomer.

And he is so experienced and sophisticated that he can even put forward his own ideas in the promotion of works. The key is that they make sense and are very convincing.

Today, Wang Chaoyin finally believes that some people are born to pursue a career in literature.

……

A few days after the conversation with Wang Chaoyin, a list of candidates for the interview was sent to Xu Yuexin.

Wang Meng, Wang Chaoyin, and a reporter from People's Daily planned to have a casual interview at Wang Meng's home three days later.

Xu Yuexin read the telegram in his hand and truly felt the gathering of elites of this era.

Wang Chaoyin is the future deputy editor-in-chief of People's Literature Magazine.

Not to mention Wang Meng.

Xu Yuexin said he had no idea about the list and agreed with it completely. In his reply, Xu Yuexin only said "OK".

Telegrams were charged by the word, so in that era people were very frugal with words when sending telegrams.

After paying the 7-cent telegram fee, Xu Yuexin went home from the street telegraph office and began to imagine what he would talk about with Wang Meng, a literary giant, after meeting him.

……

Soon, the day for the casual talk arrived.

Xu Yuexin went to Wang Meng's home according to the address provided by Wang Chaoyin in the telegram.

Wang Meng's house was allocated in Xicheng, which was a cadre building of the Municipal Writers Association, with a small garden.

When Xu Yuexin arrived, Wang Meng, Wang Chaoyin, and reporters from People's Daily were chatting in the garden around a small stone table with teacups and kettles on it. The garden door was open.

"Yue Xin, welcome here. We are talking about the novel "High Mountain"."

Wang Chaoyin was the first to stand up and walk towards Xu Yuexin, greeting him loudly.

Behind him, two middle-aged men came over. One of them, who was wearing glasses, smiled amiably at Xu Yuexin: "Comrade Chunfeng, I have heard of your great name a long time ago."

"Just like Chao Yin said, very young and very good."

According to the previous understanding of the middle-aged man with glasses, the young person Wang Chaoyin mentioned should be around 30 years old. If he is younger, it would be very difficult to write a work like "High Mountains".

Now that they met, he realized that Xu Yuexin looked only about 20 years old.

The young are truly to be feared.

The middle-aged man with glasses thought happily, feeling delighted that a new young talent had emerged in the literary world.

When Xu Yuexin walked in, Wang Chaoyin introduced him to the middle-aged man wearing glasses: "This is Comrade Wang Meng, Vice Chairman of the Municipal Writers Association."

Then came another one.

"This is Li Renchen, a reporter from the People's Daily. They have all read your book."

Well, this reporter is also a future big shot. Does that mean today is a meeting for all the big shots?

Xu Yuexin thought as he listened to the introductions and shook hands with both men in turn.

"Hello, Chairman Wang. Nice to see you here."

"I'm glad to see you, too. The Garland Under the Mountain is so famous, who wouldn't want to meet the author?"

Wang Meng always had a smile on his face, giving people a feeling of being bathed in spring breeze.

"Hello, reporter Li. Thank you for coming all the way here."

"Comrade Chunfeng, your book is very good. It is so fascinating to read."

Li Renchen spoke in a very capable tone and shook hands firmly, which also left a deep impression on Xu Yuexin.

"Thank you for your praise. I came here today hoping to make progress through communicating with you."

While exchanging pleasantries, Xu Yuexin, Wang Chaoyin, Wang Meng, and Li Renchen sat down at the stone table and entered today's topic, "I hope you two will give me some advice."

"We should communicate with each other and make progress together. In some aspects, we still need to ask you for advice. For example, regarding the novel "The Wreath under the Mountain", you are the author, and only you know the answers to some questions."

Wang Meng personally poured tea for Xu Yuexin, and waved his hand when he put down the kettle, saying, "For example, when we were discussing your book just now, we were very interested in your creative mindset. What kind of mindset made you choose the military theme, and the current style of writing that praises heroes and does not avoid ugliness?"

(End of this chapter)