Literary Master 1983

Chapter 268 Shanghai Stock Market Paper Prices
It turns out that this novel had spread from Shanghai to the Xisha Islands, then to the United States, and finally reached Antarctica, the last continent to be visited by humans.

In the 1980s, there were only 135 permanent residents and a little over a thousand temporary residents in the entire Antarctic, with the exact number depending on the weather and season.

Last year, while Yu Qie was receiving the Akutagawa Prize, China also held the groundbreaking ceremony for its Great Wall Station on George Island in Antarctica. The research station has only 38 members, but it is precisely because of these 38 members that Yu Qie's novels have reached every region with human civilization. With a loudspeaker, even penguins and their eggs can hear the stories Yu Qie has written.

This is definitely something to celebrate!

Yu Qie was quite excited after reading the letter. He was about to write a reply, so he called over Gong Ying, who was running errands: "Go and get a needle and an alcohol lamp."

Gong Ying asked, "What are you going to do?"

Yu Qie took the letter to Gong Ying to read. After reading it in a few seconds, she immediately understood: "You want to put your bloody handprint again. Yu Qie, you have so much blood. You did the same thing when you encountered the letter from Xisha last time."

“What do you know? This is romance!” Yu Qie said.

Before long, the three women all came to watch the commotion, and they brought Yu Qie what he needed. The alcohol lamp was stuffed with cotton swabs, and the alcohol was filled to one-third of the container. When lit, it immediately burst into a burst of red and blue flames, along with a strange, pungent smell of alcohol—it smelled bad, yet somehow it was also quite fragrant.

No wonder the Russians were short of alcohol and mixed it with water. It smells like this, and it's not like it's not unusable as a staple drink.

"Is it a new needle?" Yu Qie asked.

“It’s new. I went to the store specifically to buy it. It’s in a box, and the box is in a cabinet. It’s never been opened,” Gong Ying said honestly.

These days, due to limited resources, hygiene is sometimes not taken into account. Despite repeated orders from the government, many rural health clinics still reuse the same injection needle multiple times—if someone with a virus comes along, everyone else will be in trouble.

Yu Qie dipped the needle in high-proof alcohol to disinfect it, then repeatedly heated it over an alcohol lamp until it was red-hot. After the needle cooled slightly, he suddenly jabbed it into his thumb. "Chua!" A drop of blood gushed out. He pinched his finger and squeezed the small drop of blood into a larger one, then pressed his fingerprint onto the reply.

The bright red handprint pressed on the white paper was truly shocking. Only then did Yu Qie begin to write a reply.

The finger that was poked was the left hand, but the one who wrote the letter was the right hand. Gong Xue found a handkerchief and wrapped it around Yu Qie's thumb. While looking at Yu Qie's finger, she found it a bit funny and sighed, "You poke your finger every time you reply to a letter. No matter how many fingers you have, you can't poke them all."

Gong Ying nodded emphatically. Gu Zilinuer, however, thought differently. She rested her chin on her hand, watching intently, and instead said, "Teacher Yu is quite bold."

"You women in Xinjiang province love being bold and unrestrained, don't you?" Gong Ying said meaningfully.

“Of course, who wouldn’t like it?” Guzilinur said without any attempt to hide her feelings.

“Yuqie, Yuqie! I’m talking to you,” Gong Ying said.

Yu Qie rolled his eyes at her and waved his hand: "Alright, you're writing a letter, Comrade Gong Ying. Don't interfere with a writer's work."

He held up the letter: "Here are thirty-eight members of the expedition team who have experienced the polar night. Apart from the penguins, I am their most trusted comrade. Spring has arrived in the Southern Hemisphere, and it's time to welcome the sunshine."

Gong Ying gritted her teeth and snorted, no longer speaking to Yu Qie. She didn't want to leave either, so she sat on the edge of Yu Qie's bedside until evening, as did the other two.

After finishing the letter, Gong Xue asked, "Yu Qie, when are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow, or maybe the day after tomorrow."

Yu Qie slowly folded the letter and extinguished the flame with the alcohol lamp cap. Without the light source provided by the alcohol lamp, the incandescent light overhead fell on Yu Qie, casting his shadow as a long, vertical figure. The table was also tilted, and the shadows fell on the edge of the bed, onto the hands and arms of Gong Xue and Gong Ying, who felt a burning pain in their fingers.

This scene left a deep impression on the actors, and they couldn't forget it for many years.

The Shanghai Film Studio had a quota for a trip to the southern border to offer condolences—it was called a quota, but it was really a selection process, inviting only those with courage and ambition. For some reason, all three of them signed up. The studio director, Xu Sangchu, was deeply moved: "You become like those you associate with. You have been influenced by Teacher Yu, and your ideological awareness has improved a lot."

Yu Qiezhen was about to leave. His last activity in Shanghai was participating in a telephone program on Shanghai Radio and Television Station. Shanghai Television Station was one of the first two television stations in mainland China to broadcast entirely in color; the other was CCTV. The name "Shanghai Television Station" was suggested by Qiao Gonglai. This station boasted the first in-depth news reporting program in China, the first column introducing international current affairs, and the first English news report, among other things…

The Shanghai TV station was once incredibly prestigious.

What are you doing at the TV station?

On behalf of the citizens of Shanghai, I send my blessings to the Great Wall Station. "Lurking" has now become a novel specifically addressing the question of "faith," with Yu Zecheng embodying unwavering faith; the spirit of "Yu Zecheng" resonates throughout the country. In the future, there will likely be many more letters written in praise of "Yu Zecheng."

Therefore, the letter Yu Qie received was not an isolated one, but just one example. The expedition team also sent fossils discovered in Antarctica, tools used by the explorers, and other materials, showcasing their achievements over the past six months to the nation.

Arranged by the TV station, Yu Qie made a phone call to the expedition team and asked them two questions.

Winter is almost here. How are things where you are?

"Teacher Yu, spring has arrived for us. We're waiting for your reply and to read the latest issue of 'Lurking.' Summer is just around the corner, and it will be daytime all the time."

I know, it's the midnight sun!

Yu Qie also asked curiously, "Why are 'penguins' also lurking? How did you figure out that they were related to penguins?"

"In Antarctica, only humans and penguins can stand and walk, so penguins are often attracted to join human groups. According to the Antarctic Treaty, humans cannot talk to penguins, and if they encounter penguins, they cannot walk with them to avoid leading them astray, but penguins can't help but join us... After reading the novel, we felt that this was somewhat similar to intelligence work, like encountering a companion whose identity cannot be revealed. Although you can't say anything, you can't help but be attracted."

Yu Qie laughed heartily: "I wish you success!"

Actually, this Antarctic research station can also be linked to Yuche.

There are two research stations planned for Antarctica: Great Wall Station, which is already built, and Zhongshan Station, located further south and in a more rugged area, which will be completed in two years. The construction of these research stations was somewhat like a leapfrog strategy, getting closer to the South Pole with each station. Zhang Guoli, the actor from Sichuan Province who played Wang Xifeng in the TV series "Dream of the Red Chamber," participated in the construction of Zhongshan Station and spent a full 140 days in Antarctica.

He was originally a dynamite soldier, skilled in directional demolition. At the time, Sichuan TV liked to film programs in dangerous locations, including the Laoshan front and Antarctica. So, they gathered a group of entertainers from Sichuan to form a documentary filming crew and went to Antarctica to shoot a documentary called "South of the Great Wall".

As a result, their research vessel encountered solid ice in Antarctica, which tore the ship apart. Researchers from other countries suggested abandoning the ship and running away, but Zhang Guoli jumped in and shattered the ice, returning alive. He was awarded a collective first-class merit and an individual second-class merit.

It is known that Wang Xifeng is Xue Baochai's cousin, so in the future, a temporary member of the scientific expedition team will become Yu Qie's brother-in-law.

Having dealt with this matter, Yu Qie had very little time left in Shanghai. He had stayed in Shanghai for over two months, during which time the Shanghai Film Studio arranged for several actors to serve him. Before leaving, Yu Qie treated these actors, as well as Xie Jin and others in Shanghai, to dinner. Everyone discussed recent developments. Needless to say, Yu Qie was about to speak when Xie Jin announced he was directing another film, *Hibiscus Town*, and the male lead had been chosen to be "Jiang Wen," one of Yu Qie's henchmen.

Yu Qie asked, "How did you come up with the idea of ​​casting Jiang Wen as the male lead?"

Xie Jin said, "I admire him very much. In our current entertainment industry, there are many male actors with thick eyebrows and big eyes, who are upright and righteous, but there is a lack of people with a roguish charm. Jiang Wen is a very thick-skinned person. He agrees to play women, emperors... and he takes the initiative to do so. I think he is different from others!"

Yu Qie couldn't help but say, "Jiang Wen even wants to play Yu Zecheng! Can you believe it?"

Xie Jin laughed and said, "Jiang Wen is from the Beijing Drama Troupe. They are thinking of adapting the story of 'Lurking'. The director of the troupe is Jiang Wen's mentor. Maybe Jiang Wen will really be able to play Yu Zecheng in the future."

Jiang Wenyan plays Yu Zecheng?

You fucking don't understand the basic principles of audio tapes!
The scene was too beautiful for Yu Qie to bear.

As far as I remember, although the film *Hibiscus Town* was very popular back then, it didn't become very well-known later. Instead, the story of Jiang Wen being caught cheating on his wife on set became widely circulated. It was from this film onwards that Jiang Wen was labeled a "mature woman enthusiast," and his subsequent girlfriends were either married women or French beauties…

For the first time ever, Gong Ying thanked Yu Qie, because she had landed the role of Ji Gong. At that time, it wasn't common for women to drink alcohol, but Gong Ying actually drank a whole glass and sincerely thanked Yu Qie.

Perhaps because she had spoken her mind, Gong Xue's younger sister became more assertive. On the last afternoon of Yu Qie's stay in the staff dormitory, she urged her older sister, Gong Xue, to get into bed with her blanket. Yu Qie had arrived in September when Shanghai was scorching hot, but now it was almost winter and the weather was getting colder, yet Yu Qie was still using the same blanket as before.

There's no central heating in the South.

Gong Ying was puzzled: Why didn't Yu Qie ask her to add more clothes and blankets?

Has their partnership come to an end?
Gong Xue was persuaded and went with Gong Ying, each carrying a brand new quilt. After knocking on the door for a while, they found Yu Qie had finished packing and was about to run away.

"You're leaving tonight? To the capital?" Gong Ying was dumbfounded.

“I bought a house in Shanghai, right on Wukang Road, which is very close to Mr. Ba’s house.”

"Then what are you doing?"

"Move all my things from the dormitory to Wukang Road. The Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Arts sent a truck, and I'll move them there tonight. Ba Jin and his family will also be coming to help soon. But I really have to go back to the capital. Next time I come to Shanghai, I'll just stay in my own house."

The two sisters insisted on taking Yu Qie there. Unexpectedly, the commotion was so large that it alerted the entire staff dormitory building.

Teacher Yu is leaving; he's leaving us!
Whether it was the actors, the art designers, the prop masters, the screenwriters... they all lined up to bid farewell to Yu Qie.

"Woo!"

A truck from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Literature and Art stopped here. Li Xiaolin and Li Tang got out of the truck, along with a little girl named Duanduan. Li Tang is Ba Jin's son and works in the Cultural and Historical Office of the CPPCC. He has not achieved much in literature, but he has inherited Ba Jin's character and has never used Ba Jin's name to make money.

Although he was much older than Yu Qie, Li Tang had great respect for Yu Qie, even a bit of admiration for him: "Teacher Yu, we've come to pick you up."

Li Xiaolin laughed and said, "What do you mean, Teacher Yu? Just call me Yu Qie, or Comrade Yu. You're being too formal."

"Comrade Yu, Comrade Yu..." Li Tang blushed and stammered. He then corrected himself, saying, "I do literary criticism, and I just started publishing my work this year. I'm also a writer. How can I call Teacher Yu by his name directly?"

Another minor writer who sees Yu Qie as an indescribable ancient god.

Li Xiaolin's expression was complicated as she patted her older brother on the shoulder.

Yu Qie bid farewell to everyone. Gong Xue and Gong Ying could only throw their blankets onto the truck.

Yu Qie said, "I appreciate your kindness, but one bed is enough. I'll treat you to a meal next time I come to Shanghai."

Yes, we could only send up a blanket. So it was naturally my sister's turn to shine.

Gong Ying loosened her grip on the blanket slightly, then suddenly saw the writer Yu's face—exactly the same as when she first ordered her around two months ago. Back then, she'd found it annoying, but now it felt quite different. Just as Wang Anyi had said, she'd fallen in love with the character "Yu Zecheng" after reading the novel, and Yu Zecheng was, in fact, a projection of Yu Qie's personal ideals. Gong Ying couldn't help but exclaim, "No, we have to take them all up!"

She had long been a fan of the novel "Lurking".

Gong Ying desperately threw the blanket upstairs. The car, carrying Yu Qie, moved to his new home.

In November, the final issue of *Hidden* in *Harvest* magazine was published, causing a sensation throughout Shanghai's literary scene. The novel was only available through Xinhua Bookstore and a very few privately owned bookstores, leading to a shortage of copies in Shanghai. Yu Zecheng's final fate became a hot topic among young literary enthusiasts; everywhere, the discussion revolved around the name "Yu Zecheng."

Readers experienced a tremendous emotional rollercoaster, having just witnessed Yu Zecheng and Cuiping's permanent separation, and barely having time to catch their breath, when they then saw Yu Zecheng flee to Hong Kong to become a wealthy businessman, only to return more than thirty years later. These thirty-plus years passed in the blink of an eye, naturally filled with many hardships, yet these hardships became mere twists and turns in the process of their reunion.

In the original timeline, whether Yu Zecheng was dead or alive was a topic of heated debate among fans. Now that Yu Zecheng has survived, how he maintains contact with the organization in Hong Kong, whether he is a pure businessman or still in hiding, are questions that readers are eager to know.

They read the novel over and over again, but couldn't find any credible evidence. Interpreting "Lurking" has become a popular academic pursuit these days.

Li Ziyun of Shanghai Literature and Art wrote an article that same day entitled "Yu Zecheng is still in hiding," pointing out: "After Yu Zecheng faked his death, he could fool the Kuomintang for a while, but he can't fool them forever. Station Chief Wu has lost his influence, and there must be people here to help clean up the mess; Yu Zecheng's business is growing bigger and bigger, and he has exported a lot of equipment. It is impossible for him not to keep in touch with the mainland!"

Upon seeing this, Ba Jin jokingly remarked, "What's the difference between this and 'Dream of the Red Chamber'? Since we're studying 'Lurking,' let's call it 'Lurking Studies,' a study specifically dedicated to 'Lurking.'"

Li Xiaolin suggested, "How about calling it 'Yu Xue'?"

Ba Jin waved his hand and said, "No, Yu Qie has written too much. This Yu Xue is neither pleasant to hear nor very general. It would be better to call it Qian Xue, at least the name sounds better."

In the following month's issue of Harvest magazine, Li Xiaolin actually wrote an article titled "The Process of 'Lurking'," which, more than a decade later, actually became a field of study. That is to say, the study of when "lurking" became a field of study has itself become a field of study in literary history.

Regardless, a week later, the standalone book "Lurking" was also published by Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House, with an initial print run of 300,000 copies. The difference between this standalone book and the serialized version was that it had been completely redesigned and revised. People quickly discovered that the truth was hidden in the very beginning, which was simply a genius innovation.

(End of this chapter)