Literary Master 1983

Chapter 262 The Mental Atomic Bomb Pierces the Defense Line

Guangming Daily is a newspaper with a special status. Its mission is to "guide the public's thoughts and culture." Therefore, it has a high level of theoretical knowledge and a group of think tanks who specialize in writing theoretical articles under different names.

Historically, this newspaper has produced numerous arguments worthy of being included in textbooks. This time, however, it has set its sights on "faith."

It states in it:

“A group of primary school students from Qianqiao noticed that the social atmosphere was turning everything towards money. The children were puzzled, so they wrote to Mr. Ba to ask him about it. Their letter quickly gained Mr. Ba’s attention. In his reply, Mr. Ba asked them to watch the movie ‘Children of Heaven’ and, if they had the ability, to read the original novel and visit the tomb of the novel’s author’s teacher’s wife, the martyr Liu Yiqing.”

"The author is a very famous one, Yu Qie, one of the most outstanding novelists in recent years. After watching the movie and reading the original novel, the children were indeed deeply moved. They went to the martyrs' cemetery to express their condolences. Later, when they were asked in class, 'What kind of person do you want to be in the future?' their answers became scientists and writers!"

"Children's thoughts are pure and easily inspired, but what adults are thinking is something our society sometimes overlooks."

The article then shifts its focus:
"What work can answer this question? Perhaps we should talk about Yu Qie's new novel 'Lurking' and the real-life inspiration for the fake marriage plot in it, Ma Shitu."

"Ma Shitu was Yu Qie's mentor, a novelist, and also an underground worker. In 1931, after graduating from junior high school, Ma Shitu followed the teaching that 'children of the same clan must leave Sichuan at the age of sixteen,' and sailed east out of the Three Gorges to begin his magnificent revolutionary career. He was admitted to the country's top universities three times, but dropped out each time. He became friends with the Flying Tigers and developed underground organizations at Southwest Associated University and National Central University..."

"Ma Shitu not only practiced what he preached, but under his guidance, his disciples also embarked on the path of striving for the happiness of the people..."

This article is quite long, listing Ma Shitu's entire life. The two accomplished writers, Yu Qie and Luo Guangbin, are also of paramount importance. Yet, this article is also quite short, because it is impossible to fully describe Ma Shitu's life with just a few words. Old Ma lived far too long.

The article caused a great stir as soon as it was published. "Lurking" was a popular novel, and there was no reader who had not read it from north to south. It caused the literary magazine "Harvest" to sell out, and post offices across the country were overcrowded with people ordering the magazine. For a whole month, Xinhua Bookstore's sales staff wrote down "the novels that most need to be printed and ordered" and it was always number one.

However, the general public is unaware that this novel references the life experiences of "Ma Shitu".

In the original novel of "Lurking," Yu Zecheng is actually composed of several people. The most important spy is General Wu Shi, who was taken to Taiwan and murdered 50 years ago. The "fake marriage" scene is a direct copy of the stories of martyrs Ma Shitu and Liu Yiqing. Some of the stories also use the deeds of Li Biguang, Liu Qingshi, and others. The two people spend a lot of time together and share the same ideals and beliefs, so it is natural that feelings will develop between them.

In the novel *Lurking*, the distinctly different female characters Wanqiu, Zuo Lan, and Cuiping are all based on the same extraordinary woman—the female soldier buried in the martyrs' cemetery.

This is truly astounding for readers!
Martyr Liu Yiqing has passed away, but Ma Shitu is still alive.

Reporters flocked to Ma Shitu, all seeking interviews. CCTV produced a talk show sponsored by Thailand's CP Group, featuring Lu Jing, the new female host of "Lianbo" (the evening news program). Lu Jing and her entire interview crew flew from the capital to Chengdu to interview Ma Shitu at his home.

Ma Shitu's home was exceptionally simple, just an apartment, and not even very large. The production crew was surprised, and Ma Shitu was also "surprised," asking them, "Who are you?"

Lu Jing said, "We are from CCTV's program team, here specifically to interview you. I am the female host of 'Lianbo' (the evening news program), do you know me?"

"Why doesn't it look like it?"

“Teacher Ma, when our female host appeared on the show, she wore a wig and a suit. What you are seeing now is the real me. I am a young woman with long, flowing hair and I like to wear skirts.”

Ma Shitu laughed and said, "It seems that you have also 'disguised' yourself for your career."

The entire production crew burst into laughter.

This talk show was indeed very popular, with Ma Shitu's witty remarks leaving a deep impression on the audience.

There is a famous scene in the show.

The host wanted to film Ma Shitu's home to emphasize his frugality as a government official, but Ma Shitu instead directed the host to interview the empty walls. He said, "I have a flag here, do you see it?"

The female host, Lu Jing, was stunned: "I didn't see anything except the wall."

Ma Shitu suddenly had a "hacking revelation" and slapped his forehead: "Oh, I remember now, I gave this flag to Yu Qie. It's a red flag with five stars drawn incorrectly."

The host would naturally ask, "What kind of flag was this originally? Why are the stars drawn wrong? Why did you give it to Yu Qie?"

Ma Shitu then sat down on the sofa and began his recollection: "When the Republic was founded, news came from the capital to the closed Zhazidong Concentration Camp. At that time, the underground party members imprisoned in the camp were still suffering inhuman torture. Among them was one of my students, Luo Guangbin, who could be considered Yu Qie's senior brother."

"To inspire everyone to maintain hope for life and confidence in their cause amidst the cruel torment, the group, relying on their imagination, embroidered this flawed red flag in the cave..."

After telling the story, Ma Shitu pointed to the wall and said, "There is a flag here. Although it is no longer in physical form, it lives on in my heart."

Reporter Lu Jing was silent for a moment, then said, "Perhaps people are like that too."

Ma Shitu nodded:
“There is a line in Yu Qie’s novel ‘Lurking’ that is spoken by Yu Zecheng to Cuiping. Yu Zecheng says that our story cannot be forgotten and must be passed down from generation to generation, from son to grandson, from grandson to great-grandson… In this way, although our bodies perish, we will actually live on in the real world.”

"Isn't this like the poem written by Mr. Zang Kejia: Some people are dead, yet they live on; some people are alive, yet they are actually dead."

These words resonated deeply and were undoubtedly the climax of the entire interview.

Yu Qie had a television in his dormitory, and he watched the entire program on TV.

Old Ma really knows how to make a show!
Ma Shitu's achievements as a novelist aren't particularly high, but he's really suited for television programs. He hasn't wasted decades in teahouses; even at his age, he can still completely fool the CCTV production team. And he loves to say things that are sure to be outrageous, suddenly uttering something truly remarkable.

Subsequently, People's Literature once again serialized Ma Shitu's novel "The Song of Qingjiang".

This novel, first published by People's Literature Publishing House in 79, has now been republished, riding the wave of popularity of "Lurking." The novel tells the story of Ma Shitu's underground Communist Party life and his separation from his eldest daughter before their reunion. It recounts many heroic figures, making for a thrilling and inspiring read. Influenced by the popularity of "Lurking," Luo Guangbin's "Red Crag" has also been reprinted. Because both novels depict underground Communist Party life and portray a group of vivid and compelling main and supporting characters, some literary critics believe that "Lurking" is a spiritual successor to "Red Crag."

This view was strongly opposed by Li Duo, editor-in-chief of "Beijing Literature and Art," who commented: "Let the sword fall on my head! To be honest, in terms of artistic creation, 'Lurking' is much better than 'Red Crag.' I respect Mr. Luo Guangbin, but these two books are not works of the same level!"

Qian Zhongshu, the vice dean of the Academy of Social Sciences, also read the serialized articles of "Lurking". He did not like to express his opinions publicly, but he said in a conversation with a friend: "There are very few literary works that can be learned from by later generations in terms of 'Red Crag', but 'Lurking' is different. It has created a new literary school. In terms of achievement, we cannot put the old man behind the young man, let alone the grandfather and great-grandfather!"

The editorial department of Harvest magazine. Li Xiaolin received the manuscript written by Yu Qie, and after reading it, he was troubled.

Should we send it or not?

If it's not released, readers will have to wait another two months.

Once again, Harvest magazine is breaking with tradition by altering its publication schedule for a period of time specifically for a single novel.

Harvest, the magazine that serialized "Lurking," is a bimonthly publication, released every two months. If a story is particularly long, it can be serialized for more than half a year. This is unbearable for readers who are easily angered.

Since the first issue was published, the entire editorial department of Harvest has been under tremendous pressure. Readers have been urging them to submit their manuscripts, and specifically urging Yu Qie to submit his. Li Xiaolin described this as a "happy problem." Now, Yu Qie's second manuscript has been received by the Harvest editorial department.

How about we imitate "October" magazine? Change from a bimonthly to a monthly publication?
no no!
The success of "October" was due to the entire publishing house relinquishing its resources, while "Harvest" was a last-minute decision, which is very unprofessional.

After much thought, Li Xiaolin concluded that he shouldn't rush to release it, but rather follow a normal pace.

Thus, the sequel to *Lurking* was written, immediately becoming a "nuclear-level" secret. Li Xiaolin ordered the entire publishing house to "do the work of keeping secret as if they were doing espionage," and convened a mobilization meeting for this purpose. At the meeting, someone raised the question: "When the first issue of *Lurking* was published, the paper was still at the printing press, and the whole of Shanghai had already begun to talk about Yu Zecheng's career as an espionage agent, and rumors of Yu Zecheng's fake marriage for the revolution were everywhere... Can we really keep the secret? I am particularly pessimistic."

Li Xiaolin said, "I know this is somewhat against human nature, but it is a confrontation between spiritual bullets and professional ethics. We believe in the professional ethics of our publishers and editors."

Does Li Xiaolin really believe it?

She didn't really believe it either, but she felt that leaking a little information about the novel wouldn't be a big problem. When Li Xiaolin got home, she talked to her father, Ba Jin, about it. Ba Jin said, "You actually have the second part. You must give it to me immediately and tell me about it, otherwise I will lose my appetite and feel worse than if I were dead."

When Xiao Duanduan came home from school, she said, "Mom, I'm not eating today. Can you tell me what's written at the end? If you don't tell me, I'm going to find Yu Qie."

In the evening, after dinner, Ba Jin urged her to bring the manuscript quickly. He said, "I feel like ants are crawling all over my body. I can't have peace of mind if I can't see a story for a day."

Li Xiaolin patiently persuaded Ba Jin, appealing to the magazine's long-term development, and finally convinced him to back down. "Dad, you absolutely mustn't be foolish!"

Ba Jin, who was also the editor-in-chief of Harvest magazine, thought it over and over and overcame his instincts. However, his home was the venue for salons held by the Shanghai literary and artistic circles, and a group of celebrities from the literary and artistic circles often came to his home for activities. Inevitably, news of the second part of "Lurking" was leaked.

One day at a gathering, everyone was talking about "Yu Zecheng," and with admiration, they argued fiercely about how the story would unfold. Cartoonist Zhang Leping said, "Oh dear, I really want to know, what happened to Yu Zecheng later?"

Ba Jin said, "Didn't you run away in anger before? Why are you watching 'Lurking' now?"

Zhang Leping said, "As long as I can see the later drafts, I'd be happy to let them air out for another whole day."

Cao Yu (surname Wan), the author of "Thunderstorm," was also at Ba Jin's home. He said, "Ever since I read this novel, I've been constantly worried about Yu Zecheng's fate. Knowing that there was actually a real person behind it has made me even more anxious."

Ba Jin asked, "Why?"

"Because in real history, almost none of the prototypes of Yu Zecheng had a good ending. Ma Shitu was the most resilient, but he was also separated from his wife and children. Just thinking that someone as faithful as Yu Zecheng, who was cautious in everything he did, could not escape death in the end... makes me feel depressed. I am eager to know how Yu Qie will write it."

Yes! How should "余切" be written?
To write a happy ending would contradict history; to write that Yu Zecheng was persecuted to death would shatter the impression Yu Qie had always given readers. He had always been a "happy ending" author, rarely writing tragedies.

Ba Jin was suddenly intrigued. He wasn't one to keep secrets; on the contrary, he was quite indecisive and conflicted. So he couldn't help but say, "Actually, the second installment is already finished, but we just can't release it yet."

what?
There's actually a second part to "Lurking"?
The speaker has intention, and the listener also has intention.

With "Lurking" already so popular, how can the news be kept quiet?

The next day, Li Xiaolin returned home to find more than a dozen familiar faces staring at her. These were many prominent figures in Shanghai's literary and artistic circles. They asked, "Li Xiaolin, Editor-in-Chief Li, what happened to the ending of 'Lurking'?"

Li Xiaolin still wanted to play dumb: "I don't know, Yu Qie is still writing."

“Nonsense!” said Old Ba. “Yu Qie has already finished writing.”

Li Xiaolin was dumbfounded: "Dad, what are you saying?"

Ba Lao said, "I've thought it through. I'm a reader first, and then everything else. This story is driving me crazy. I watched Yu Qie write it. Tell me quickly what happened next!"

Who were these dozen or so people? They were the artists who had originally wanted to contact Yu Qie through Li Xiaolin to hold a gathering and salon.

Li Xiaolin said helplessly, "The spiritual atomic bomb has already blown through your defenses!"

(End of this chapter)