Literary Master 1983

Chapter 280 "The Last Meeting"

In the news report, the host passionately stated, "At the invitation of Colombian President Bertancur and Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez, Qian Zhongshu, Yu Qie, and others led a delegation to Colombia for literary exchanges. Afterwards, they will also visit the United States to exchange ideas with a group of Taiwanese writers… This is a journey of friendship, and also the largest visit by Chinese writers since our participation in the Tokyo PEN Club in 1984!"

The United Daily News and the Times across the street also mentioned the matter a day later, publishing letters written by Yu Guangzhong and others to Yu Qie.

In the letter, Yu Guangzhong, who was nearly sixty years old, addressed himself as "my foolish brother," while Yu Qie, who was in his twenties, addressed himself as "my foolish younger brother." The two exchanged words back and forth with great intimacy, talking about everything from literary exchanges to when they would go home to visit each other.

In his letter, Yu Qie asked, "The textbooks in mainland China are being revised, and they've included a passage about Sun Moon Lake. I've been longing to visit it ever since I read it. I've heard that Sun Moon Lake is one of the eight scenic spots there, and it's known as a paradise on earth. I wonder when I'll have the chance to come and see this place?"

Yu Guangzhong bluntly stated: "Sun Moon Lake is certainly beautiful, but it is just an island and a small lake of a few square kilometers. Great rivers, lakes, mountains and rivers... all need to be found on a huge continent. Since leaving Nanjing, I have often dreamed about it, and when I wake up, my clothes are wet with tears! I have been eagerly awaiting this day!"

"Do I really have to dream about it to see it? I don't want to believe it!"

Yu Guangzhong was the head of the literature department at the Normal University and had good relationships with high-ranking figures. His words cannot be simply interpreted as a writer complaining.

At this point, all regions across the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong anticipated this meeting.

With such a heavy task, everyone became tense.

Qian Zhongshu picked up a Spanish dictionary and memorized it from beginning to end. The delegation hired a professor from Beijing Foreign Studies University who spoke Spanish to teach the members Spanish greetings all day long. At the same time, some of the accompanying diplomats were asked to brush up on the literature of various countries, especially Latin American literature.

Why do they also need to study literature?

In Latin America, it was a traditional practice to send writers and translators as diplomats. At that time, diplomats going to Latin America almost always had some knowledge of literature, otherwise they would not be able to integrate into the local high society.

Latin Americans are also very straightforward, often putting people in an awkward position; this kind of informal, unconventional atmosphere permeates the entire society.

In later years, during the Summit of the Americas, the Chilean president repeatedly interrupted the Spanish prime minister's speech, denouncing Spain as fascist and even spitting on it as "worse than a snake!"

"You're definitely plotting a coup against me!"

This is quite rare in formal international settings, and it seems a bit too genuine.

The King of Spain was also present and was so enraged by these words that he snapped back. He first used the child-descriptive term "Tú!" to address the Chilean president, who, upon seeing the president's defiant behavior, leaned forward and said:
Why don't you shut up?

Why don't you shut up?
This sentence may not resonate with Chinese people, but it became an overnight sensation in the Spanish-speaking world and was parodied in various versions.
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Before leaving, Zhang Li specially took leave from the "Dream of the Red Chamber" film crew to choose a suitable suit for Yu Qie. Chen Xiaoxu also took leave from the film crew to come and see him "one last time".

Pierre Cardin?

That French knock-off brand, you know.

Yu Qie received the clothes Zhang Li had bought for him. The fabric was a high-density weave, making it exceptionally durable and crisp.

"Why, can't it?"

"It's stuffy. Colombia is a tropical country."

Zhang Li suddenly realized that she hadn't expected this at all.

"Let's go to the department store to pick out clothes!"

Yu Qie had no choice but to go with Zhang Li. He got on the motorcycle and let Zhang Li sit in front of him.

Chen Xiaoxu was shy and embarrassed to go, so Zhang Li took the initiative to invite her to go look at clothes as well.

The two women lived together for three years. Zhang Li spent more time with Chen Xiaoxu than with Yu Qie.

After Chen Xiaoxu returned this time, she was a little awkward, probably because she hadn't seen Yu Qie for so long. She sat behind Yu Qie on his motorcycle, her small, flat chest always keeping a distance from him, refusing to come close. Her arms were also extremely thin, making Yu Qie wonder if she had the strength to hold onto him.

Yu Qie twisted the accelerator, and Chen Xiaoxu almost flew out of the car.

"You'd better stay here and not go anywhere. I'm afraid you'll fly away."

Chen Xiaoxu pouted, and instead of arguing with Yu Qie, she looked at Zhang Li with a wronged expression.

“Go, why wouldn’t you go?” Zhang Li rolled her eyes at Yu Qie and pulled Chen Xiaoxu’s hand.

Chen Xiaoxu is too strange.

She's not delicate at all; she's actually a martial artist in private, and she practices swordsmanship and all sorts of things.

The motorcycle sped all the way to Wangfujing.

Yu said, “This time we specifically bought suit shorts, not long ones. Last time I visited Hong Kong, I specially prepared a set of shorts, but because I was doing a program with Cha Liangyong, everyone reminded me not to wear shorts... so I had to find a long pair at the last minute.”

"This time, I absolutely have to wear shorts. You know how hot it is in Colombia, right?

After hearing this, Chen Xiaoxu suddenly said, "I heard that it's across the Pacific Ocean, and you have to transfer in France and the United States. Colombia is one of the countries farthest from China on Earth."

Yu Qie was stunned: "How did you know?"

This kind of information wasn't easy to obtain at that time.

Zhang Li said, "It's all your fault for mentioning Lin Daiyu in 'Lurking'. Chen Xiaoxu felt that you were promoting her, and she was very grateful to you. She even did a lot of research before you left."

Chen Xiaoxu immediately blushed and denied it, saying, "In the end, I didn't even know that Colombia is tropical, so I might as well have done nothing."

Yu Qie thought Chen Xiaoxu was quite thoughtful, and extended his hand to Chen Xiaoxu: "Thank you for your help, Comrade Xiaoxu!"

It is said that Chen Xiaoxu was a clever and shrewd person. After she went into business, she gained great favor with her customers because she "remembered the preferences and appearance of every customer with amazing skill," which provided her with a steady stream of business.

After shaking hands, Chen Xiaoxu remained silent for a moment before laughing and saying, "Yu Qie, you are quite an interesting person, unlike anyone I've ever met."

Yu Qie was quite blunt: "Well, you have a good eye."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaoxu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Zhang Li stared at Chen Xiaoxu and Yu Qie, pursing her lips and pausing for a few seconds.

The department store once held a unique place in the hearts of Beijing residents. During the planned economy era, this six-story Soviet-style building was filled with "brooms, pots, and lunchboxes," and every morning a large crowd would line up to buy Forever bicycles... It was even mentioned in many novels.

On the first floor, there is a candy counter with a clerk named Zhang Binggui who can grab a handful of candy and tell you the exact weight; he is a walking human scale.

This unique skill earned him a place in Chinese language textbooks. The writer Bing Xin interviewed him three times, and his report was even published in People's Literature.

Zhang Li and Chen Xiaoxu were intrigued by Yu Qie's words and went to buy candy from Zhang Binggui. However, they were told that Zhang Binggui had already retired, and the new sales clerk didn't have that special skill. Moreover, after being asked about "Zhang Binggui" repeatedly, the clerk rudely chased the two women away!
Zhang Li didn't think much of it and didn't want to cause a conflict, but Chen Xiaoxu couldn't hold back any longer: "Your mouth should be torn off! You're not acting like a salesperson." The salesperson didn't expect Chen Xiaoxu to dare to talk back, and for a moment she didn't react, staring in disbelief as she let them both go.

To lighten the mood, Yu Qie joked, "Actually, Zhang Binggui has another excellent quality. Do you know what it is?"

"What is it?" they both asked.

"As a salesperson, I will not assault customers," Yu Qie said.

Chen Xiaoxu and Zhang Li were immediately amused.

"Yu Qie, no wonder you're a writer, you're so funny!" Chen Xiaoxu almost laughed until tears streamed down her face.

Zhang Li laughed heartily and said, "It's more fun when you're here. Usually, it's Xiao Xu who makes me happy, but when you're here, it's you and Chen Xiao Xu who make me happy."

Yu Qie seemed to be deep in thought. He realized that Zhang Li had, to some extent, developed a dependence on Chen Xiaoxu.

This is completely the opposite of what is described in "Dream of the Red Chamber".

But it seems that's how it should be.

In this timeline, Zhang Li's role was secured for her by Chen Xiaoxu. During the Beijing rape case, it was Chen Xiaoxu, in his simple-minded way, who came to be her bodyguard. When Yu Qie wasn't with Zhang Li, it was Chen Xiaoxu who came up with ideas to make her have fun... It's hard not to develop a dependence on him.

In this original timeline, after Zhang Li and Chen Xiaoxu met, because the role of Xue Baochai was initially vacant for another actress, Chen Xiaoxu privately told Zhang Li, "I feel that I am not Lin Daiyu, maybe I am more suitable for Sister Bao."

Later, Zhang Li won the role, and Chen Xiaoxu never mentioned it again. She then experienced a series of unfortunate events, and her personality completely resembled that of Lin Daiyu.

The three of them started browsing from the first floor of the department store, all the way to the top, and then came back down. They just glanced around and didn't see anything that particularly satisfied them.

It needs to be breathable and lightweight, yet look high-end, and it can't be a fake foreign brand like Pierre Cardin—after looking at a whole bunch of options, none of them are as good as those unbranded clothes made by Hongdu Clothing Store!

Zhang Li suggested supporting domestic products, but Yu Qie didn't care and went to look at domestically made suits, only to leave disappointed.

Now that the Hong Kong style has spread to the mainland, wide-leg pants have suddenly become popular in domestically made suits, and the tops are also very loose, giving them a particularly retro feel... Wearing the same outfit makes you look just like Elvis Presley, the American rock star from decades ago.

Yu Qie thought it looked bad, but Zhang Li and Chen Xiaoxu thought it was very trendy.

Zhang Li asked, "Why aren't you looking at these suits?"

Yu Qie said, "This suit is copied from the design in Hong Kong. To put it bluntly, people there are relatively thinner and smaller. They deal with foreigners on a daily basis, so they need loose-fitting suits with shoulder pads and wide legs to make them look more imposing."

“I’m really muscular, which is the opposite of what I’m used to. I need to wear fitted suits, otherwise I look bulky and not very energetic.”

Zhang Li agreed with Yu Qie's words, but Chen Xiaoxu felt that Yu Qie seemed to be praising himself.

After special training, he is now as strong as an ox! Among mainland writers, the most robust Feng Jicai was originally a provincial basketball player, standing at 1.92 meters tall and playing center. Even after retiring, he probably wouldn't have the same broad shoulders as Yu Qie.

Chen Xiaoxu looked Yu Qie up and down, and couldn't help but spit lightly.

How shameless!

Yu Qie had sharp eyes. Suddenly, he noticed a window selling Saint Laurent suits. The logo almost made him think he had traveled through time—how could YSL appear in the capital city now?
Isn't this a luxury brand?

The Oriental Shopping Centre, developed by Li Ka-shing, was only completed in 93. How could there be Western luxury brands here?
Overjoyed, he went over to ask what had happened and learned that in 85, the designer of YSL came to Yanjing to develop the market and held a large-scale fashion show. These clothes were some of the clothes left over from that time.

YSL took some of them, gave some away, and the rest are here. Because they are extremely expensive, they have never sold well, even with discounts and discounts, no one buys them—and when someone finally takes a liking to them, they complain that the suit doesn't fit.

The listed price is 3,500, which is almost the price of an apartment. Only people who are over 185cm tall are eligible.

How could this possibly sell?
Yu Qie immediately tried it on, and to his surprise, it fit perfectly, though it was a little tight. When he came out of the fitting room, the small area fell silent. Everyone was stunned, staring at the imposing way Yu Qie adjusted his cuffs and his chest muscles that looked like the buttons were about to pop out.

He's so damn handsome, bursting with masculine hormones, just like a bodybuilder in a tight-fitting suit.

This year at the Spring Festival Gala, Zhu Shimao's woolen overcoat didn't exude the same grandeur as Yu Qie's.

Zhang Li didn't know what to say, she just said, "This dress is weirdly tight, but it still looks pretty good."

Chen Xiaoxu couldn't take her eyes off him: "He's just too strong."

“Isn’t it good to be a bit stronger?” Yu Qie laughed. “If someone in America tries to assassinate me, they’ll think I’m an Asian bodyguard and will never guess that I’m a writer with a pen.”

"Yours is good, yours is good!" Chen Xiaoxu exclaimed.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Zhang Li raised her eyebrows.

Once the clothes were chosen, Yu Qie asked the tailor to shorten the trouser legs, but the tailor absolutely refused, fearing that Yu Qie would try to extort him if he cut the trousers! Since the clothes didn't have pockets, Yu Qie asked the tailor to make a large pocket, and the tailor finally agreed.

Once the pocket was sewn up, Yu Qie reached in and found that he could fit a pistol in just the right amount of space, but his head could still stick out.

"Why did you make your pockets so big?" Chen Xiaoxu asked.

"Hiding things."

That evening, the three went to Dongdan to see a movie. Unfortunately, the most popular film at the time was "Children of Heaven." This film had won a major award at a film festival in the Czech Republic, and the Shanghai Film Studio was commended for it.

To protect the film industry, according to the regulations of the Film Bureau, a film can generally be shown for three months before a television station has the right to broadcast it. "Children of Heaven" has already been released for three months, and Zhang Li has already seen the film.

Chen Xiaoxu said, "You've already seen this movie at home. There's no need to spend money to watch it again."

Zhang Li retorted, "Let's watch this movie. It's related to Brother Yu."

Yu Qie didn't care at all and just watched with them.

Then an awkward thing happened: as the movie was about to end, a short clip was suddenly shown. Gong Xue introduced Yu Qie to the national audience: "The person you are seeing now is the writer Yu Qie!"

Zhang Li had seen this on TV before and didn't think it was bad.

However, the movie screen was so large that things that were difficult to understand on television became particularly clear. Gong Xue's expressions were incredibly vivid on the giant screen; every smile and frown was extremely pronounced. Even a slight tremor in her eyes could convey the immense impact that could only be achieved through dramatic crying and screaming on television…

In this situation, Gong Xue introduced Yu Qie to the audience with great enthusiasm!

Yu Qie broke out in a cold sweat: Holy crap, what's going on here?
I've seen it on the big screen before, but I didn't think it was that strange back then.

(End of this chapter)