Literary Master 1983

Chapter 240 Returning to One's Roots

October Magazine

Yu Qie's motorcycle sped into the editorial department, deliberately leaving his helmet hanging outside the door.

"Editor-in-chief, deputy editor-in-chief! Yu Qie is here! He's here to submit his manuscript!"

"That's what the intern at Yenching Normal University said."

"The sun must have risen in the west today!" Zhang Shouren exclaimed in surprise, as he hadn't received any manuscripts from Yu Qie for some time.

Just as he stepped out, he bumped into Yu Qie, who was climbing the stairs. Zhang Shouren grasped his hand and said, "You're so busy now, and we need you everywhere. You don't need to come and deliver the manuscripts yourself anymore. Just make a phone call, and I'll come and collect them... If that's not possible, you can ask Luo Yihe or someone else to come."

"No."

Yu Qie waved his hand.

You're an old man in your fifties, I'm worried something might happen to you. As for Luo Yihe, he's also physically weak and sickly. Historically, Luo Yihe suffered a cerebral hemorrhage due to overwork.

"How is Luo Yihe doing in our editorial department?" Yu Qie asked his handsome senior colleague.

"Yihe has already become the editor-in-chief of the poetry group. He has a very good eye. Everyone he thought highly of back then has now made a name for themselves! Even that Cha Haisheng... I used to think his sentences were rough and his poems didn't pay attention to rhyme, like a wandering poet, but now he's made something of himself. My judgment is not as good as his!"

Zhang Shouren said honestly. But then he added proudly, "But I made the right choice in following you. This one thing alone is enough for me to be remembered in the future!"

The entire editorial department, who had been listening intently, burst into laughter.

Without much small talk, Yu Qie handed the manuscript to Zhang Shouren.

As Zhang Shouren read, he mentioned things about the advanced training course. Now the course has ended, and most of the writers have chosen to go home. Some who happened to have published articles were kept by the magazine under the pretext of revising their manuscripts, and stayed for a while longer.

Guan Moye, Yu Hua, and a few others are still in Beijing and often visit Zhang Shouren.

Zhang Shouren was also one of the teachers in the advanced training class, and he actually admired Guan Moye very much.

"Guan Moye's basic skills are too good. When it comes to writing about people, objects, and scenery... only he writes so well, without any fancy words. But I heard that you had some conflicts with him. What exactly happened?"

"There's no conflict, just different perspectives."

Zhang Shouren glared: "This is a huge contradiction."

He added, "Guan Moye is a very stubborn person, he's a mule! You said he didn't appreciate some of the plots he wrote, which hurt Guan Moye a lot. Actually, he really wanted your approval, and many people of your generation also wanted your approval."

Yu Qie was also quite helpless: "Guan Moye and I get along very well. We just have different views on literature, but it's not a big deal."

Then, Yu Qie began to introduce the content of "Returning to One's Roots": Migrant worker Lao Liu died, and his friend Lao Zhao went through many hardships to transport Lao Liu's body back to his hometown so that he could "return to his roots". He encountered all sorts of bizarre things and almost followed Lao Liu in death.

Finally, with the government's help, Lao Liu's body was able to return home safely. However, when he arrived at his destination, he found that Lao Liu's hometown had been demolished due to the relocation of the reservoir, and the villagers had all moved away. This change not only made Lao Zhao's efforts seem futile, but also symbolized the shattering of the traditional concept of "returning to one's roots."

But is this really the case?
Old Liu is from Wanxian County, and his family is one of the millions of migrants who moved there.

The address of Lao Liu's new home was written on the dilapidated door panel of Lao Liu's house, suggesting that Lao Zhao might need to continue his journey to bring Lao Liu's ashes to his new residence.

This is where the story's brilliance lies: hope amidst despair. Moreover, this turn of events not only echoes the stories of the Three Gorges Reservoir migrants but also explores the identification of new urban residents with the image of "hometown" during the urbanization process: is it the old place that is their hometown, or is it the place where their family lives?

This is a choice that not only the Three Gorges migrants have to face, but the vast majority of people across the country have to make.

Just as Zhang Shouren was listening to this, he suddenly closed his manuscript, sighed, and said, "You write better than the root-seeking literature that rose to prominence at the Hangzhou conference. You've reached a new level. The reason you can write such articles is probably because you came to the capital from Wanxian and have settled here. Now you are both a Wanxian native and a Beijing native."

"The students in the refresher course are all talking at length about what kind of literary movement, what kind of literary school... Now even an honest man like Shi Tiesheng has started writing avant-garde experimental novels. He writes about 'Pastor Zhan' one minute and 'original sin' and 'destiny' the next! I thought you would also try to be innovative, since you are here to teach them literary theory, and you should be more good at these things. I didn't expect you to have already transcended the level of theory."

The Three Gorges Project was discussed and approved in 84, but for the next ten years it was constantly delayed and stalled, with scholars from all sides expressing their opinions. Geological impacts are certainly one of the factors that have prevented its progress, but the most crucial factor is probably "culture".

Constructing this project required creating a massive reservoir, essentially forcing hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people to leave their homes. This was something traditional morality would find difficult to tolerate. What is considered a monumental achievement today was highly controversial at the time.

Zhang Shouren clearly thought of this: "You wrote about the Three Gorges Project because you are from Wanxian. You didn't write about your attitude because you are from Wanxian. So, you want to record this thing that will happen in the future, but you also want to leave the answer to the readers to think about."

Yu Qie nodded: "This is what I want to stay for. I'm not qualified to answer this kind of question." The story's prototype takes place in the early 21st century, so it differs significantly from the 1980s. The biggest inconsistency lies precisely in the issue of immigration and relocation, because at this point in the story, the dam hasn't been built yet, but it's already completed. However, Yu Qie deliberately didn't change this one thing; he wrote it this way on purpose.

"Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots" has become a novel that, assuming the dam is completed, is undoubtedly more forward-thinking.

As Zhang Shouren read this novel, he sometimes laughed heartily, sometimes wept with sorrow, and sometimes couldn't help but sigh deeply. The editorial staff were all drawn to him. The editor-in-chief, Su Yu, asked, "Old Zhang, what novel has Yu Qie written this time? It's making you so flustered!"

Zhang Shouren gestured for everyone to look at Yu Qie's manuscript: "You'll understand after you've read it!"

Then, what had happened to Zhang Shouren also happened to other people in the editorial department. Luo Yihe from the poetry group was drawn over to read Yu Qie's novel. He was the most innocent and naive of them all. When he read about Old Zhao being repeatedly tormented and looked down upon by passersby, and contemplating suicide, he couldn't help but cry out, "This novel is so heartbreaking! Yu Qie, why did you write this kind of novel?"

Seeing that Lao Zhao's situation had taken a turn for the better, with the help of kind people and the government, Luo Yihe said, "This is our real society. It's not all bad people, nor is it all good people. Some are black, and some are white."

Does "Returning to One's Roots" really lack any literary elements?

No, it's just that it's written very naturally, and the average reader wouldn't notice. People like Zhang Shouren understand this very well. He was so excited that he wrote the peer review report overnight, in which he explained:
"What I remember most is a group of robbers who boarded the bus and demanded that everyone hand over all their valuables... Everyone obediently handed over their valuables, but Old Zhao was unwilling to give up the 500 yuan compensation for the deceased Old Liu. Under the questioning of the robber leader, he confessed that Old Liu had already died. The robbers were moved and let the whole bus go."

"As a result, as soon as the robbers left, the people in the car immediately kicked Lao Zhao out, and once again, Lao Zhao, the migrant worker, was all alone carrying the dead Lao Liu on his back."

"The only one who can empathize with Lao Liu is Lao Zhao, a fellow migrant worker; the only ones who can empathize with Lao Zhao are bus drivers, sanitation workers, and low-level local police officers… In 1879, the Frenchman Maupassant used the Franco-Prussian War to write this story: 'The righteous are often the lowly butchers, the ungrateful are often the scholars! The patriots and compatriots are not the noblemen, but the prostitute 'Boule de Suif'!' This story shocked the French literary world. For over a hundred years, countless people have adapted similar plots, but Yu Qie is the one I've seen use it most genuinely and naturally…"

"It makes me almost believe that this is about to happen! It must have really happened!"

"Yu Qie, a theory teacher in the School of Literature, did he not write any theoretical works that were particularly sharp? Really not? We say there are three levels of understanding: seeing a mountain as a mountain, seeing a mountain as not a mountain, and seeing a mountain as a mountain again... When writers from Shanghai connect rural life with the creation Bible and show off their skills, Yu Qie has already reached the last level! His stories have no literature, but in fact, they are literature everywhere."

As soon as Zhang Shouren finished reading the review report, everyone stood up and applauded! The sound was so loud it almost lifted the roof off.

The article "Fallen Leaves Return to Their Roots" quickly spread within a small circle. This is Yu Qie's first novel since "Little Shoes," and countless people are paying attention to his current activities.

Whether he delved into theoretical research or returned to simplicity... the result came out, and it turned out to be the latter.

Yu Qie's new novel is out!
This time it's a story about his hometown!
What? Yu Qie has written a new novel!
When Wang Meng heard about Yu Qie's new novel, she remained calm at the time, thinking it was nothing special. But after taking a look at it privately, she exclaimed: "Damn it, this has to be published in People's Literature!"
How dare Zhang Shouren steal the love of my heart?

Even if Tchaikovsky were to come back to life and try to persuade me, it would be useless! I must, right now, publish it in *People's Literature*!
This novel is clearly in the same vein as "The Way Out" and "Reunion." Both of these novels were first published in "People's Literature" in China.

"Let's look at what 'The Way Out' is about. A Southeast Asian tycoon returns to his ancestral home! This novel has the best story! What is 'Reunion' about? Several young people who went to Hong Kong to make a living end up singing 'Shuidiao Getou' in America! Old Zhao in 'Fallen Leaves Return to Their Roots' has the lowest social status and the simplest story! He encounters people from all walks of life, such as truck drivers and construction bosses... This series of stories gets smaller and smaller, but bigger and bigger!"

"It's small because the characters in the story have increasingly ordinary experiences; it's large because it represents an increasingly large group. Old Zhao is not just a migrant worker from Wanxian, but also a member of the working class, and one of the hundreds of millions of farmers who are about to enter urbanization... It must be *People's Literature*, only we are qualified to publish this article!"

How could October magazine tolerate this article being published in People's Literature?
Today's "October" is no longer what it used to be. It is not only the first publication of serious literature, surpassing the "Harvest" magazine sponsored by Ba Jin, but also influenced by Yu Qie. After the Hangzhou Conference, a series of new writers regarded it as their place of enlightenment!
People wanting to be like Yu Qie isn't just empty talk! Everyone is walking the same path Yu Qie walked back then!

Wang Meng and Zhang Shouren had a huge argument. Both were editors in Beijing and teachers at the Academy of Literature, but now they were at loggerheads. Wang Meng said, "Your *October* magazine only recently became a monthly publication, and the average quality of your work can't even compare to Yu Qie's short story! Sending it is a waste!"

Zhang Shouren retorted sharply: "The Mao Dun Prize was awarded to 'New Reality,' but who published it? 'October' was the first to publish it."

"You don't have enough pulp! Besides, Xinhua Printing Plant can't keep up with the production schedule. Do you think you can re-typeset and publish it within a week? That's impossible!"

“October” has already broken away from its own responsibilities, and we are not only cooperating with Beijing Publishing House! If Xinhua Publishing House cannot take on our task, I believe other printing houses would be very willing... We have connections with more than a dozen printing houses across the country.

"Brother Zhang, just for the sake of continuity of the work, why can't it be published in People's Literature?"

"For the sake of continuity, you can publish it here first, and then publish it on your site. You can also republish the previous articles; that's your prerogative."

"You're like a rock in a latrine, both smelly and hard!"

"You're a toad trying to eat swan meat!"

The situation escalated, eventually leading to a reckoning. Back in the era of "Scar Literature," these novels and writers were organized and created by figures like Zhang Shouren of *October* magazine, ultimately benefiting *People's Literature*. If it weren't for the sudden rise of "New Realism," this incident would have remained a permanent regret for Zhang Shouren and the original editor-in-chief, Wang Shimin.

Of the countless articles, only a very few are truly like gold; the majority are blown away by the wind and washed away by the waves.

"Returning to One's Roots" is another novel destined to be a bestseller. Whether it's the massive urbanization or the Three Gorges Dam project, any of these things can be passed down for generations. How can we just hand over such a treasure to someone else?
Wang Meng came to Yu Qie to plead for him to republish her novel in *People's Literature*. Zhang Shouren said, "Yu Qie, you have to withstand the pressure. Our magazine will take responsibility for anything that happens..."

Two top literary journals got into a huge fight over who should publish Yu Qie's novel first. In the end, both announced that they would publish Yu Qie's novel and pay him the same royalties as if it were his first publication.

(End of this chapter)