Literary Master 1983

Chapter 241 Printing Plant Strike

The issue date of "October" is the 10th of each month, while the issue date of "People's Literature" is in the latter half of each month, sometimes a few days earlier.

This time, Wang Meng personally urged the publication of the magazine. He contacted the Xinhua Printing Factory in Yanjing and said, "We want it published on the 9th. If the October issue is also published on the 9th, we will publish it on the 8th. In short, it must be published earlier than the October issue, even one day earlier is fine."

Zhang Shouren and Su Yu had anticipated this. They came to Xinhua Factory to discuss the matter: "No matter what, our 'October' cannot fall behind 'People's Literature.' Yu Qie sent us the manuscript. If we are not the first to publish it, it would be too unfair to us, and it would be too unfair to our Teacher Yu."

The leader of Xinhua Printing Factory at that time was a man named Gao Fucheng. He was the factory director of Xinhua Printing Factory in Yanjing and had an influence on Xinhua Printing Factory all over the country. Since he joined the factory in the 1960s, he had supported the production lines of other local factories and provided some technical backbone and management guidance.

This old man even provided guidance to printing factories as far away as Albania and Hanoi, Vietnam.

In short, he was a big shot in the state-owned publishing system. He was determined not to help either of them and to publish both at the same time. The binding expert at Yanjing Xinhua Publishing House was a female cadre named Wang Huai. She asked Director Gao, "People's Literature has the highest level and the most publications. Their editor-in-chief is also a high-ranking leader. Shouldn't we listen to People's Literature first?"

Director Gao said, “Su Yu, the editor-in-chief of ‘October,’ was the former vice president of the Education Committee. She was in charge of selecting textbooks. She started working in the 1940s and has worked as a cadre in Yanjing City, the Education Department, and the Workers’ Committee… She has done it all. This is her last job. Wang Meng was only promoted because of the younger generation of cadres. Are you going to offend Su Yu?”

Wang Huai was dumbfounded: This guy is not someone to be trifled with.

Yes, anyone who can become the head of a national-level publication must be quite capable. They might get promoted to a higher position someday. Is this something we should get involved in?

The group at the Yanjing Xinhua Printing Factory decided to print everything, regardless of the consequences. The circulation of "October" was about 600,000 to 700,000 copies, sometimes reaching over a million when there were more articles. "People's Literature" had a circulation of more than twice that of "October." Together, they would need to print at least two million copies of the magazine within a week.

This is a big project!

Yu Qie's "Returning to One's Roots" is a novella with over 80,000 words. Based on the magazine's print count of 1600-2300 words per page, it would be over thirty pages. At that time, printing paper was divided into several grades, namely "letterpress paper," "newspaper," and "wooden paper."

"Daolin paper" is the best, generally used only for printing professional journals, study documents, etc., and can maintain its toughness for forty or fifty years. Ordinary magazines and newspapers used in everyday life use the first two types of paper; for example, *People's Literature* and *October* magazines happen to use this precious Daolin paper!

Then, a new problem arose.

After a batch of pulp and ink arrived, they ran out; there was no more pulp. The Yanjing Printing Factory searched everywhere for supplies from other units, and took a day off. During that day, the factory's frontline workers were able to read the first ten pages or so of "Returning to One's Roots."

They expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the direction of the story: because this part happened to be in the middle of "Getting Home," where Old Zhao was forced off the bus, and when he went to pay the bill for the meal, he discovered that the compensation money in his hand was counterfeit, and he broke down...

What about behind?
Gone.

When the pulp and ink arrived, the workers read a new story while printing: Old Zhao found a pit and buried the dead Old Liu, then jumped in to commit suicide, but failed and burst into tears...

How could Yu Qie write such a despicable plot?
What does he think of us working people?
Old Liu was one thing, but he was already dead from the start, leaving only an empty shell! Old Zhao was such a kind person, why did they have to torture him like this by writing a story?
In addition, the printing factory split into two shifts to rush the production, and there was no overtime pay, so they immediately went on strike: We don't accept this story, let Yu Qie explain.

Old Zhao deserves a good ending!

A college student who read the whole story said, "The story ends with an open ending. Old Liu was cremated, his house was flooded, and Old Zhao took his ashes and went to find his new home! Actually, this is a neutral, or even positive, ending... Yu Qie is talking about something bigger. He is exploring where our home is."

But anger and discontent burned in everyone's hearts: I don't understand open endings, you have to give Old Zhao a good ending. Find him a wife, give him a big house to live in, make sure he's well-fed and clothed.

"What? A strike?"

Factory Director Gao was startled and ran to dissuade the printing factory workers, but they refused to listen: "Let Yu Qie come! If Yu Qie doesn't come, we won't print."

"We need Yuqie!"

"Let Yu Qie speak to us!"

Got it!
Since Director Gao couldn't control the situation, he quickly contacted People's Literature and October, asking them to come and get Yu Qie out of the predicament.

They've gone on strike!
Wang Meng and Zhang Shouren were also surprised when they found out. The next day, they each set off from the magazine office and took a taxi to Gulou Street early in the morning, where they bumped into each other at the entrance. Zhang Shouren angrily said, "Wang Meng, what have you done!"

Wang Meng felt wronged: "Are you being reasonable? His novel is clearly part of the same series as the previous two. It's a 'new reality' series, his version of 'town roots-seeking' literature, his 'recognizing one's ancestors.' We, People's Literature, even changed the publication date just to serve him. What more do you want?"

Actually, there was another reason why Wang Meng insisted on getting involved. Because the "Way Out" series of novels was Qiao Gong's favorite, not only Wang Meng knew this, but many others knew it after Qiao Gong shook hands with Yu Qie and praised the novel.

Wang Meng's promotion was an indirect consequence of this series of changes; he was obligated to publish the novel in *People's Literature*. Otherwise, *People's Literature* would fail to represent the people, which would be a grave dereliction of duty on his part.

Yu Qie pushed open the door and, after roughly understanding what had happened, finished his classes that day and rode his motorcycle to the Yanjing Printing Factory under the starlight.

The printing factory went on strike!

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. When the standalone edition of "Garland Under the Mountain" was published, the people at Xinhua Film Studio were also outraged after reading it. They immediately went on strike, demanding that Li Cunbao change the ending of "Liang Sanxi." This wasn't the first time they had done this!

Some people say that mainland readers are of higher quality than Hong Kong people, who send authors razor blades and dead rats... That's because mainland printing factory workers are state-employed. If your writing makes people depressed, you won't even get to the publication stage; they'll just go on strike and shut down your work.

A person's name, the shadow of a tree.

Although the printing workers said that Yu Qie had written some painful plots, they immediately became nervous and polite when they actually saw him. The factory organized a speech on the spot, set up a stage, and let Yu Qie take the microphone to speak. Everyone could clearly see that it was really Yu Qie speaking.

The workers gathered around, some sitting on the ground in the front row, others standing in the back, all their eyes fixed on Yu Qie, filled with hope and confusion...

Yu Qie said, "I am Yu Qie, the real Yu Qie!"

He straightened the microphone cord, holding the microphone with one hand in a rather dashing manner, while the other hand was casually tucked into his pocket, appearing very relaxed.

Factory Director Gao provided Yu Qie with a stool, but seeing that most of the people below were standing, Yu Qie kicked the stool aside and stood up to talk as well.

"I've been busy writing my novel and taking exams lately... I forgot to mention that I'm a university student studying knowledge and culture, similar to your younger brothers or even older distant relatives. If I make any mistakes, I really hope you can forgive me." "I may have some talent in certain things, but I don't understand many things yet. Society is very complex."

Upon hearing this, many people's expressions softened. Although they were still standing and staring as before, the atmosphere suddenly felt less tense.

This is a genius I've watched grow up, my own good child...

At this moment, Wang Meng and the others arrived late, shouting, "Protect our Yu Qie! Protect our Yu Qie! Don't let him get beaten up!" Upon arrival, they found Yu Qie surrounded by a crowd in the center, making it look like a high-ranking official was on an inspection tour.

Wang Meng was jealous: "What are you doing here, Brother Yu? Weren't you here to explain? Why are you giving a speech? This isn't a book signing."

Zhang Shouren said, "Who in the world doesn't know you? I don't believe there is a Chinese person today who hasn't read one of Yu Qie's novels."

Wang Meng: "I also write novels, how come I've never encountered this kind of thing?" He even had a hard time squeezing in. He felt like all the air in the factory had been sucked away. The entire ceiling had a kind of mist rising from people's breaths, and the glass was also stained.

He asked a worker, "Could you give me a seat? I need to go to the front to see the view; I can't see Yuqie anymore."

"You can't see it! I can't see it either! Why should I let you have it!"

“I am, I am… Wang Meng.”

"Who is Wang Meng? What does that have to do with me!"

Wang Meng was turned away.

Zhang Shouren found it very interesting. He pursed his lips and thought to himself: The "stream of consciousness" you wrote is the real abstraction. The printing factory workers will never read it in their lives.

Finally, under Director Gao's arrangement, the two successfully squeezed to the very front. The stage was dazzling, but the audience below was completely dark; given this difference in lighting, Yu Qie had no chance of seeing them.

Yu Qie smiled and said, "I heard from Director Gao that everyone is not satisfied with the ending. I can understand, but just like 'The Garland Under the Mountain,' once a novel is written, it cannot be changed... From a literary point of view, this is a higher level. It cannot be written too perfectly, otherwise it will not be realistic."

"Think about the novel 'Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain' again. After Liang Sanxi died, he was compensated with 500 catties of rice. Some people were even 'missing' and their bodies could not be found, so they were only compensated with 300 catties of rice... These were young men, husbands and children, and they were only worth a few hundred catties of rice. After his novel was written, someone in the central government saw it, and today our pension standards have been raised, and the original compensation has been increased. This is the realistic significance of the novel."

"—So I can't change it." Yu Qie explained, then said, "But I can condense this novel for you all, and write a clear happy ending right here and now, just for you to see and hear, is that alright?"

The expressions on everyone's faces changed constantly as Yu Qie spoke. As soon as he asked a question, someone immediately replied, "Okay! Okay!"

Yu Qie asked again, "Will it work? Will it work?"

Everyone said it was okay.

Okay, let's start making this up.

Wang Meng was struck dumb: "What kind of monster is this?"

The story of "Getting Home" is very mature. It has the popular structure of a commercial film, which makes the strike of the printing factory workers the so-called "eve of darkness", the emotional climax. Then it climbs from the trough to the peak until the emotional transformation is completely completed.

This is another formula, but it's novel and unbeatable in mainland China today. "The Way Out" and "Reunion" also have similar emotional shifts, and ultimately readers can't forget these stories.

As a result, the subsequent plot that everyone heard became more and more positive. Just like when Lao Zhao was plunged into the abyss earlier, here Lao Zhao began to meet a "beekeeper". This couple faced difficulties no less than Lao Zhao's, but they supported each other and remained loving.

The printing plant workers are satisfied!
They listened intently, their eyes shining. They couldn't remember anything else, except that Old Zhao was wandering home with the body of a fellow worker. The hundreds of workers at the printing factory, sometimes laughing and sometimes weeping, were completely immersed in Yu Qie's narration.

"Old Zhao was moved by the beekeeper, and he carried Old Liu on his back again. The child's poem resonated in Old Zhao's heart!"

"If my hometown were a main road, I would be a car. I would drive and drive, and I would be so happy!"

"If my hometown were a big tree, I would be a leaf. I sway and sway, and I am so happy!"

"..."

"Old Zhao couldn't help but recite this poem. Beside Old Liu, he was as happy as a child..." When Yu Qie recited this doggerel, he was also as happy as a child. The complex mixture of bitterness and relief made the audience both laugh and cry. Even Wang Meng and Zhang Shouren suddenly forgot why they came here. Wang Meng took off his glasses, and tears flowed unnaturally from the corners of his eyes.

In his youth, Wang Meng first worked in the suburbs and then went to Xinjiang Province, thinking he would stay there forever. After receiving a transfer order, he had no idea that he would reach the pinnacle of his life, but the mere news of returning home was enough to excite him immensely. Yu Qie's novel brought him back to that day, so he couldn't contain his emotions.

Yu Qie then talked about the hairdresser doing makeup for the deceased Old Liu—were there hairdressers around at that time?

Undoubtedly, there were "streetwalkers" at that time. It was related to large-scale population movement. Since there were migrant workers doing hard labor, there were naturally impoverished women from other places who could not find employment and had to survive.

Yu Qie also mentioned that because Lao Liu's body had been stored for too long, it had started to smell and had to be disposed of. Accompanied by the local police, Lao Zhao cremated Lao Liu's body. Lao Zhao then carried Lao Liu's urn to his hometown, where only a desolate village remained after the flood. Lao Liu's relatives had long since moved to another province.

The story ends here, and Yu Qie begins to write another perfect ending for the printing factory workers. He says, "Do you think Lao Zhao will become a big boss? That's unlikely. Could Lao Zhao go back to start a small business and not work for someone else? That seems like it would be better not to write it at all; it makes no difference."

"Therefore, we can only jump twenty years in time and think about Old Zhao's children, Old Liu's children, what kind of life these new immigrants have. With our and your hard work, they should be very happy," Yu Qie said to the printing factory workers.

Wang Meng from People's Literature suddenly jumped up and frantically searched for a pen and a notebook.

Zhang Shouren asked him what he was doing.
Wang Meng said, "Your publication is purely literary, while mine is aimed at the general public. I want to write the ending of Yu Qie in People's Literature, so that we will both be publishing 'Returning to One' for the first time."

(End of this chapter)