1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 163: The beginning of school and the restoration of the reputation of children's literature

The auditorium of Beijing Normal University was crowded in the morning.

Today is the opening day of the writer workshop jointly organized by Beijing Normal University and the Literature Institute.

Due to the special nature of this school, relevant leaders from both sides held a grand opening ceremony in the auditorium of Beijing Normal University.

At this time, there were about a hundred people sitting scattered in the audience, some of them were students of the writer class, and more were students from Beijing Normal University.

After learning about this, the students invited each other to come to the auditorium to watch the fun.

"Hongmei, you are here too?"

"Yes, I heard that dozens of great writers came today. This is quite rare, so I had to come and see the excitement. I even brought some books I bought before and asked them to sign them, especially Zhang Kangkang. I really like her interpretation and exposure of human nature from a female perspective."

The girl named Hongmei was holding a few books in her hands, and there was some excitement on her pretty face with a few freckles.

Just as Hongmei said, it is rare to see dozens of writers gathering together at once. It is probably the first time among so many universities in Beijing. Only the National Short Story Award can bring so many writers together.

If this gets out, the students from Peking University and Tsinghua University will be envious to death.

You know, these great writers will have to teach at Beijing Normal University for the first half of the year! Hongmei can already foresee the scene of the classroom of the writers' class being surrounded by students.

"It seems that our teacher Cheng will also take classes with these writers this time?"

"It should be. After all, Teacher Cheng also needs to improve his academic qualifications."

"That's right. Although Mr. Cheng is a very talented writer, his education level is still a bit low... Between Mr. Cheng and these writers, who do you think is better?"

"Of course it's Teacher Cheng, is there any need to ask!"

When Hongmei heard this, she said without hesitation that she was Cheng Kaiyan's little fan and the first one to get her autograph in person!

The conversation between the two was naturally also the topic of conversation among many Beijing Normal University students, and such words also fell into the ears of writers participating in this writers' workshop.

Less than ten meters away from the two of them, seven or eight men and women in shirts or Zhongshan suits with pens tucked onto their chests were standing under the podium, chatting casually.

They were all students of the writer class who came to Beijing at the end of March, and they all lived in the D School in Chaoyang District borrowed by the Institute of Literature. Although classes had not officially started, they were assigned study tasks in advance. After more than a month of getting along, they had already known each other for a long time.

Now that they have been notified that they will be studying at Beijing Normal University and even obtain a degree, they are naturally overjoyed.

In the 1970s and 1980s, when those with secondary technical schools were considered intellectuals, those with a college degree were considered high-level intellectuals, though of course they were not guaranteed a job.

"Who is the teacher Cheng that this lesbian is talking about? Why haven't I heard of him before?"

A middle-aged man in the crowd, with a purple complexion, a few pimples on his rough face, wearing a gray-black double-breasted long gown and a pair of worn cloth shoes, asked curiously.

"He is Cheng Kaiyan, who wrote "Fragrant Grass" and "Love Letters". You don't even know this great talent from Beijing Normal University. Dashan, you have read so many books in vain!"

Hearing the name, Zhang Kangkang narrowed her eyes and smiled teasingly, with a hint of yin and yang in her sharp tone. Anyway, she didn't have a good impression of Cheng Kaiyan.

"So it was him! I don't really like Love Letters, but I can't put it down. I read it five or six times. I especially love the passionate years of going to the countryside. No wonder Mr. Zhang Guangnian gave the comment "After the fragrant grass, the scars will die."

The man suddenly realized that the man's name was Jia Dashan, he was 37 years old, of medium height, and had a short haircut.

"It's good, but you're too arrogant."

When Zhang Kangkang heard his praise, she made a sarcastic remark.

"What's the matter?"

Others were a little curious.

Zhang Kangkang simply explained what happened that day, and everyone immediately understood that it turned out that Zhang Kangkang greeted the other party enthusiastically, but the other party did not respond and was rather cold, which made Zhang Kangkang think about it.

"Talented young people are like this. It's normal for them to be a little arrogant."

Jia Dashan smiled and didn't take it seriously, but some people developed a bad impression of the young man they had never met before.

Wang Anyi, who was standing by, frowned and glanced at Zhang Kangkang, thinking: "I didn't expect her to be so petty?"

The thoughts flashed through his mind and he turned around and stopped chatting with everyone.

He was walking around the auditorium by himself, and when he turned his eyes to the door, he found a tall young man who looked familiar walking in.

Her eyes lit up and she walked over slowly.

……

Cheng Kaiyan walked into the auditorium, but no one noticed him.

Because the students were surrounding the writers in the writer class, such as Jiang Zilon, and Ye Xin was surrounded by a group of students.

Since it was morning and the glass windows on both sides of the auditorium were open, the lights were not turned on and the auditorium was bright, but the places where the light could not reach were dim.

"Aunt and Sister Xiaoli should be here today, right? Didn't they say before that she would teach a class?"

Cheng Kaiyan found a seat near the door and sat down, waiting for the two to arrive.

After all, the conflict last night was resolved too hastily. Cheng Kaiyan estimated that the aunt and niece would continue to quarrel and make a fuss after they returned home.

"Hey! Cheng Kaiyan, do you still remember me?"

Wang Anyi jumped out from the side with her hands behind her back like a little girl, with a blush on her pretty face.

"It's you? Wang Anyi."

Cheng Kaiyan looked over subconsciously and found that it was a young female comrade in her twenties wearing a white shirt and with a petite figure. It was Wang Anyi.

"Yeah! Why are you here alone? Why don't you go over there and talk?"

Wang Anyi smoothed the hair by her ears, sat next to Cheng Kaiyan in a familiar manner, and asked.

In fact, she couldn't say that she liked or admired Cheng Kaiyan. It was more of a sense of identification as a fellow children's literature writer and a liking for outstanding opposite sex.

In addition, there are a total of 33 students in this session of the Literature Institute, among whom there are very few young people in their twenties. Most of them are in their thirties and above, and there are even fewer female comrades in their twenties.

Therefore, Wang Anyi did not have much in common with these people, mainly because the age gap was too big.

Now that there is suddenly another Cheng Kaiyan, Wang Anyi naturally prefers Cheng Kaiyan, who is also a children's literature writer and a young person in her twenties.

"They are a bunch of old comrades. Why should I, a young man, join them? They talk about their wives, children and their warm beds. What can I talk about? About dating or walking down the street? There is a generation gap!"

Cheng Kaiyan joked.

"Pfft~ What you said is very interesting. Generation gap, generation gap... isn't it just a generation gap?"

Wang Anyi chuckled, and her clear laughter spread out.

These words really touched her heart. Most of the female comrades in the Institute of Literature were in their thirties. Wang Anyi really couldn't keep up with the topics they usually talked about in the dormitory and couldn't follow the conversation.

"I heard that you are an editor of "Childhood" in Shanghai?"

Cheng Kaiyan asked casually.

"Yes, why do you want to submit your manuscript to me? Although I am studying in Beijing now, it is no problem for me to review it."

Wang Anyi rolled her eyes and asked with a smile.

This guy is the first-place winner of the National Excellent Children's Literature Award!

If Cheng Kaiyan is willing to submit her work, she will have to let Cheng Kaiyan review it even if she doesn't attend classes.

"That's not the case. I'm just asking casually. But I recently wrote a children's literature work and just submitted it to the editor Xu Dexia of Children's Literature."

Cheng Kaiyan explained frankly.

"Ah?! Why didn't you vote later? What a pity."

Wang Anyi said with regret that it might be the first time she met a young person with similar interests. At this moment, her voice was a little delicate and tender like a little girl. She asked: "Can you tell me what you write? I also write children's literature. I'm very curious."

"It's a work about pursuit and the growth of young people. It's called 'The Alchemist's ...

"Is The Alchemist's Alchemy an adventure novel like Alice in Wonderland? I will definitely read it first and learn from the works of this great talent!"

Wang Anyi nodded, repeated the name several times in her mind, memorized it, and then joked.

"Don't be so serious..."

The two chatted, during which Wang Anyi reminded him of the information that Zhang Kangkang had a problem with him, and asked Cheng Kaiyan not to say that it was she who said it.

"I know, why bother with them."

Cheng Kaiyan said lightly.

The two chatted casually, and then two women arm in arm came over. They were Liu Xiaoli and Jiang Ting.

"Kaiyan! Have you had breakfast?"

The clothes Liu Xiaoli wore today were a little ill-fitting. She wore a grey sweater. She did not tie her hair into a ponytail, but let it hang loose in front of her chest, making her look as gentle as a lady.

It looks like she is wearing Jiang Ting's clothes.

Hearing her partner's voice, Cheng Kaiyan said to Wang Anyi, "Sorry, I have to leave you."

"Well, I plan to go for a walk too."

Wang Anyi looked at the young girl not far away, then turned back to the students at the Institute of Literature. "An Yi, where have you been?"

Zhang Kangkang asked.

"I met Cheng Kaiyan. I heard he wrote another children's literature."

Wang Anyi exclaimed, "It's only been a month since Love Letter was released? It's amazing that there is a new work so soon."

“Children’s literature…”

Zhang Kangkang smiled. She felt that Cheng Kaiyan was really confused. Instead of writing a good novel, she chose to write children's literature.

When others heard this, some were curious while others were disdainful.

Because the value of children's literature in this era, in the hearts of young people, in the literary world, and in the eyes of writers, is not as high as that of adult pure literature, and the status of children's literature writers is also lower.

After all, what kind of literary value can a work written for children have? Can it compare to one written for adults?
This is a prejudice in many people's minds.

……

"Finally here. I've been waiting for you for so long. Have you had breakfast?"

Cheng Kaiyan asked.

"have eaten."

Liu Xiaoli answered softly, while Jiang Ting beside him glanced at him coldly and said nothing.

This attitude made Cheng Kaiyan feel a little puzzled, and she made eye contact with her partner.

'what's the situation? ’

"I don't know. Anyway, I've already calmed down. But as for you... I don't know. Hopefully, you'll be fine."

Liu Xiaoli blinked.

I just wish for good luck?
How can I be blamed for anything other than her?

Cheng Kaiyan was full of doubts, so she decided to find a good seat for the time being. "Let's sit over there."

Jiang Ting and the other person did not refuse, and the three of them chose a seat near the window, but they had a disagreement about the seat when they sat down.

The arrangement is as follows: Liu Xiaoli sits by the window, followed by Jiang Ting, and finally Cheng Kaiyan sits at the edge.

"Aunt, can you sit in the middle? Can't I or Sister Xiaoli sit in the middle? You..."

"What's wrong with me?"

"I definitely want to sit with Sister Xiaoli!"

Cheng Kaiyan hit the ball straight.

"No."

Jiang Ting stared straight ahead, unmoved.

"why?"

"You are just prospective partners. Besides, there should be no physical contact between men and women. You must keep a certain distance for now. I don't allow anything too intimate." Jiang Ting said lightly.

"what?"

Cheng Kaiyan looked at Liu Xiaoli with a questioning look, and the latter nodded hurriedly while holding back a smile, "It's like this, we are just preparatory dating now, and only three months have passed since the one-year agreement. We will be officially dating in February next year."

As Liu Xiaoli spoke, she counted the time on her fingers.

"Is there such a thing?"

Hearing this, Cheng Kaiyan was speechless.

Only then did he remember that they were aunt and niece, and there was no overnight hatred, but he was different, he was an outsider.

He cried out in grievance: "You are deliberately seeking revenge!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ting frowned slightly. How dare this guy be so disrespectful to his elders!
The woman thought about it, then reached out and pinched Cheng Kaiyan's arm hard, leaving a red mark.

The three of them made a lot of noise, and more and more people came into the auditorium.

An old man in a black suit walked up to the podium holding a loudspeaker, and soon a voice came from the loudspeaker.

"Dear guests, teachers, and people from all walks of life, welcome to the fifth writer workshop co-organized by Beijing Normal University and the Beijing Literature Institute. I hereby declare the opening ceremony officially begin."

"Now, please invite Mr. Sha Ting to give a speech at our opening ceremony!"

Bang bang bang~
There was warm applause in the auditorium.

A short old man walked up to the stage. He was thin, wearing an old black felt hat and holding a black cane. He looked like an old country teacher.

But he spoke very humorously, starting from reminiscing about the past and present of the Institute of Literature, and continued talking about the specialness of this session and his expectations for the students.

In addition, the teaching model and teaching plan of the writer class were also introduced. They are exactly the same as those for college students. Classes are conducted according to the timetable, and the teachers hired are all famous experts and scholars.

The people invited can be roughly divided into four types:

Leaders in the literary and art circles, university professors and researchers from the Academy of Social Sciences, famous figures and writers from all walks of life.

For example, Mr. Qi Gong, who taught calligraphy and Dream of the Red Chamber, Jiang Ting, who taught foreign literature, Wang Meng, who was very good at writing, and Chen Huangmei, who taught Records of the Grand Historian...

At the end of the ceremony, each person was given a small notebook called "Reference Books for Literary Studies", which listed nearly two hundred books, including literary works by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin and Mao, famous works of Chinese classical and modern literature, and famous works of Western classical literature.

After the ceremony, the writers’ class officially began that afternoon.

The first lesson is Jiang Ting’s “Foreign Literature Appreciation Class”. The reason is that if Chinese literary creation is to go global, it must have sufficient understanding and familiarity with the creation and appreciation of foreign literature, and criticism is necessary.

"Cheng Kaiyan, please tell us what you think of André Gide's work The Narrow Gate."

Jiang Ting stood on the stage and called out the names expressionlessly.

"I haven't seen it, so I don't know." Cheng Kaiyan shook her head.

"Stand and listen."

"But teacher, you haven't started the class yet."

"Go stand at the back."

So Cheng Kaiyan stood in the back for a whole class. After observing, he roughly understood why Jiang Ting did this. One reason was to teach him a lesson, and the other was to strengthen classroom discipline.

Some people were frightened by Jiang Ting's strictness and dared not even speak in class for fear of being called on to answer questions.

"Comrade Kaiyan, this teacher is pretty, but she's too fierce and cold. I don't know how you've offended her. You'd better pray for the best."

After class, Jiang Zilong pulled Cheng Kaiyan aside and said.

"It's okay. The teacher just wants to establish his authority and classroom discipline."

Cheng Kaiyan explained.

"By the way, you are writing a new work, 'The Alchemist's Adventures of Shepherd Boy'?"

"Ah."

"I'll ask all my classmates to support you. It's children's literature. I want to see how you write it. It should be different from what those children's writers write, right?"

Jiang Zilong is mature and steady, the oldest and the most famous, so he is the squad leader.

"Different."

Cheng Kaiyan sighed and wondered when the status of children's literature would be established!

After saying goodbye to Jiang Zilon, I went to the cafeteria to eat in the afternoon, but the food was not bought, but made by Liu Xiaoli.

Jiangcheng Song and Dance Theater will rest for a few days before returning to Jiangcheng. If nothing unexpected happens, Liu Xiaoli will stay at Jiang Ting's house during this period.

"Try it, how about it?"

Liu Xiaoli looked at Cheng Kaiyan expectantly and asked.

But Cheng Kaiyan was thinking about something, and said casually: "It's very good, but a little salty."

“Is it salty?”

Liu Xiaoli took a bite and her face turned red. It was indeed salty.

"Aunt, what do you think about me writing a paper on children's literature theory?"

Cheng Kaiyan suddenly spoke up and said that he wanted to restore the reputation of children's literature!

"Of course! Kaiyan, you finally want to make progress."

Jiang Ting perked up and spoke immediately.

She couldn't help Cheng Kaiyan with creative work, but Jiang Ting was quite capable in literary theory research.

(End of this chapter)