Literary Master 1983

Chapter 418 The battle begins
The Shen family took Shen Congwen's ashes and some of his clothing and boarded a train. Shen Congwen thus had two graves, one in Babaoshan Cemetery and the other at the foot of Tingtao Mountain, facing the Tuojiang River.

Half of Shen Congwen's ashes were scattered into the clear waters of the Tuojiang River that flows around the city, while the other half was buried directly in the soil of the cemetery.

Granddaughter Shen Hong left a message: "Accompanying my grandfather's ashes, nestled close to the mountains and waters, are the flower petals that my grandmother collected. Grandma stood on the Rainbow Bridge, watching my father and me sail down the Tuo River in a boat, leaving a beautiful ribbon of flowers behind us, drifting from Shuimenkou to the foot of Nanhua Mountain..."

Upon hearing these words, Yu Qie could only sigh deeply.

Shen Congwen's voice and smile seem to still be in Yu Qie's mind, but unfortunately he is no longer here.

This proves once again that it's impossible to achieve lasting fame simply by writing novels. Even writers must delve into the struggle for the right to speak.

Other comrades accompanied them, and they hoped that Zhang Zhao could do something for Shen Congwen.

Zhang Zhaohe said, "I will collect all the letters he wrote over the years and compile them into a manuscript."

“This is a good thing!” Yu Qie said.

The "Shen Congwen Family Letters" compiled by Zhang Zhaohe reveals another side of "Shen Congwen," which helps Shen Congwen reverse his current terrible reputation.

Behind Shen Congwen's tombstone is an inscription chosen by Zhang Zhaohe: Unyielding and unconventional, yet compassionate and yielding; his writings are as brilliant as stars, his character as pure as a child.

This sentence summarizes Shen Congwen's agonizing and contradictory life.

To be able to write such words, one must naturally understand Shen Congwen very well.

Yu Qie went around to the back of the tombstone and looked at it. He was very satisfied with the inscription. He asked Zhang Zhaohe:
"You've forgiven Elder Shen?"

Zhang Zhao shook his head quietly, without saying the words "I don't forgive him." Instead, he said, "When he died, I didn't actually say a word."

Ugh!
This means I will never forgive!

Those who heard this were very sad.

Yu Qie didn't say anything more and continued south. Suddenly, news came from the capital that the Secretariat of the Writers' Association was holding a meeting to discuss the establishment of a prize for long novels.

This is what later became the "Lu Xun Literary Prize".

Currently, there are only short story and novella literary awards in China, and there is no award for long-form literature.

Wang Meng contacted Yu Qie to ask if he supported the award... After receiving Yu Qie's consent, Wang Meng hoped that he could go to Shanghai to visit Ba Jin on behalf of the Beijing Writers Association.

"The main issues in the Chinese literary world are those in Beijing and Shanghai. If we both agree, things can get done."

Wang Meng said, "You are the vice president of the Beijing Writers Association, so it's best if you do this."

Yu Qiedao: "I agree in principle, but where will the prize money for the Lu Xun Literary Prize come from? Do you have the money?"

“We have no money, but we can rely on government funding.”

"What if the government refuses to provide it?"

Wang Meng said confidently, "It's impossible not to give it to us. Next year is the once-in-a-decade National Day, and we're planning to hold a grand literary event, combining the third Mao Dun Literature Prize and the Lu Xun Literature Prize—a gift to our motherland!"

Row!
The timing of this event is a bit inconvenient...

Yu Qie declined the second half of his train ticket and went to Shanghai alone. He spent two days handling the matter, and Ba Jin readily agreed.

As expected, bad news came: Wang Meng did not get the money.

This is because the prize money required for the Lu Xun Literary Prize far exceeds that for the Mao Dun Literary Prize.

The prize money for the Mao Dun Literature Prize has increased to 3,000 yuan in recent years, and it is awarded for novellas.

Long novels naturally require more prize money. Starting from 78, a number of long novels have been produced in the past decade... If we were to select three to five novels like the Mao Dun Literature Prize, the prize money alone would amount to tens of thousands of yuan!

Not to mention more judges, a larger venue... everything requires money.

A single award can drain the Mao Dun Literature Prize of all its operating funds.

Thus, the prestigious Lu Xun Literary Prize was cancelled. It was at least five years before it was actually conceived.

The Writers Association has turned its attention to the third Mao Dun Literature Prize and decided to hold a major event for it. The selection scope includes novels written between 82 and 86, and the goal is to finalize the list of winners by the beginning of next year.

Ba Jin was still a judge, and this time it was his turn to call Yu Qie to ask, "Would you be willing to serve as a deputy judge?"

"When?"

"After you came back from Laoshan."

"This is bad timing; I need to get home to take care of my child."

I have no desire to get involved in this mess.

Being a judge means you can't participate in the selection process. And it wastes a lot of time; judges have to attend special reading groups, read through all the novels in the selection pool, and finally choose a few!
Although the travel expenses and meals were reimbursed, and there was an extra daily allowance, Yu Qie was already quite comfortable with the money.

Yu Qie also said, "It seems too early for me to be a judge. Besides, this is not my ambition right now."

"What are you going to do?"

"Win the Nobel Prize in Literature."

Yu Qie's words didn't sound serious; they sounded like a grumble he made after Shen Congwen's death.

Buffett didn't take it seriously: "Being a judge too early and winning the Nobel Prize too late? That makes no sense."

He had already seen the news in the newspaper that Yu Qie went to Phoenix Mountain to see Shen Congwen off.

"I never imagined you and Shen Congwen were such good friends!" Old Ba exclaimed. "I've come three times to invite you to be a judge. Your vision, your talent... I don't want to appear jealous or envious of your abilities among the judges!"

"I really don't have that plan."

Shortly after, Buffett called a second time:

"Yu Qie, do you think this judging panel isn't up to par, or are you afraid of wasting time?"

Once things have been said to this point, it's hard to refuse.

Just as Yu was about to make time, a major event occurred two days later.

In distant Stockholm, Göran Malmqvist, a Swedish "China expert," announced that another Chinese writer has reached the final round of the Nobel Prize race.

Who is it?
In theory, any Chinese writer could be a potential candidate.

Göran Malmqvist felt he hadn't revealed any "secrets," but the international media knew that this person was Yu Che, and the betting companies also knew.

Yuqie, entering the finals for the first time, immediately saw his odds rise into the top five, a respectable ranking. He was up against either established Spanish-language masters like Vargas Llosa, or the only hope for hundreds of millions of people in certain language families—languages ​​that had never even won the Nobel Prize in Literature before.

At this time, Yu Qie had already arrived at the Yunnan Provincial Headquarters and was about to transfer to a vehicle to go to the front line. The higher-ups were thrown into disarray by this sudden news and were unsure whether or not to send Yu Qie to the front line.

Going would be good, but what if he gets shot? It could escalate into an international incident.

Not going would disappoint the soldiers and would also be a stain on Yu Qie's life—it would shatter his image as a tough guy.

Xian Yunqiang, a reporter from the PLA Pictorial, was Yu Qie's accompanying photographer. He and his superior, Qiu Shu, received instructions from their superiors to tell Yu Qie the whole story.
The goal is to ensure that Yu Qie understands the spirit of the speech, but also to prevent him from developing any negative feelings.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to go to the front lines rests with Yu Qie himself.
-
Xian Yunqiang and Qiu Shu met Yu Qie at the outpost, complaining the whole way.

Xianyunqiang said, "They've come all the way to the front lines, yet we're the ones persuading them to go home. This makes it impossible for me to do my news work, and it's also disgraceful for Teacher Yu."

Company Commander Qiu Shu said, "Teacher Yu was a real man who killed special agents in Colombia back then! He might not even be able to come home."

"Not necessarily? That's the Nobel Prize! China's first Nobel Prize! Something comparable to ten Olympic gold medals... If he dies, then everything is over."

"Even Professor Yu might not win the Nobel Prize, right? I've heard that the Nobel Prize is biased against us! Several writers have been nominated, and then their applications were rejected without a trace."

“Because they’re all dead!” Xianyun shook his head. “The Nobel Prize isn’t awarded to dead people, even if they were the greatest writer or the greatest scientist of their time!”

Company Commander Qiu immediately understood why "the higher-ups wanted to persuade Yu Qie to withdraw."

If he could win the Nobel Prize, it would be incredibly important for people of this era.

At this moment, Xian Yunqiang added, "Teacher Yu has reached the final round. He either wins now or he won in the future. Teacher Yu is so young, he will definitely live to see this day."

As they talked back and forth, they increasingly felt that this job was going to offend people.

After persuading Yu Qie to resign, the higher-ups will definitely want to protect Teacher Yu's honor. Who can we blame?
It was naturally these few people.

Oh shit!

Upon entering the outpost, the two men saw Yu Qie making a "human flag" on the pole—his hands were braced against the iron pole, his body almost parallel to the ground.

This requires immense core strength to accomplish.

Yu Qie's "performance" quickly won the soldiers' favor, and he instantly became a darling. A group of people surrounded him, wanting to pinch his arm muscles.

The 4th Company of the 15th Reconnaissance Battalion is currently stationed at Laoshan Front, ready to fight the Vietnamese on the mountain at any time. The tallest man in the company is the squad leader of the first squad. The soldiers clamored for Yu Qie to arm wrestle with this squad leader, and he was decisively defeated by Yu Qie.

Then came Platoon Leader Tang from the second platoon. He was originally a heavy machine gunner and was from Shandong Province. Platoon Leader Tang was extremely burly, and when he stood up, he was even a little taller than Yu Qie, but a size thinner.

He also tried to arm wrestle with Yu Qie, lasting longer but eventually losing.

Having defeated several elite soldiers in succession, Yu Qie was extremely excited. He took off his shirt, revealing his well-built muscles, and struck a bodybuilder's pose. The soldiers were all impressed and lifted him up!
Yu Qie said, "After this battle, when you come to the capital, I'll treat you to a meal! I'll give you a grand welcome back!"

"Don't be afraid of the people coming. Even a hundred of them can't defeat me!"

Tang, the platoon leader of the second platoon, said, "You beat me, and according to our rules, I should be the one to drink the penalty wine... But not now, we have to go up the mountain at any time."

"So you'll come to the capital to find me? I keep my word!" Yu Qie looked at this Platoon Leader Tang. "I have plenty of Moutai and red wine in my room, drink as much as you want!"

Everyone laughed.

Xianyun and Qiang, who came to persuade Yu Qie to quit, were also influenced and thought: If Yu Qie joined the army, he would definitely be a popular guy.

He's called a professor, but he doesn't look like one at all.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yu Qie followed them out of the outpost and to a secluded place.

Qiu Shu said, "Teacher Yu, do you know what kind of relationship we have with our neighbors now? Is the conflict going to end, or will the standoff continue?"

Without hesitation, Yu replied, "I know the conflict is about to end. Maybe this month, maybe next month, at least in the next few months."

Xianyunqiang and Qiu Shu were taken aback: because this judgment was accurate.

The conflict in the South China Sea in March was brief, but it was reported in the news for a long time. Any Chinese person who watched the news would have thought that the conflict would continue for a long time.

Qiu Shu asked curiously, "What did you base your judgment on?"

“Both sides.” Yu Qie held up his first finger. “From our perspective, the conflict has become something unnecessary for both sides.”

“I went to Laoshan in 84. A year later, my teacher Ma Shitu came to find me. It was during the National Day holiday. He came to Beijing for a meeting, voted, and wrote many biographies of veteran cadres. Then he told me that the army might have to endure some hardship for a while.”

Yu Qie recalled: "Sure enough, I saw the news on TV: they were going to downsize."

"Vietnam is even more direct. Two years ago in December, I saw news in the United States that Vietnam was willing to negotiate at any time, at any level, and in any place to normalize relations. If both sides are focused on economic development and downsizing, then there is no way they would have the mindset to fight a major war."

Xianyunqiang asked, "And what about the other side?"

Yu Qie laughed and said, "I have a novel that started by taking advantage of Big Brother's nuclear leak. Big Brother was too busy to take care of itself, and I didn't hear them worry about the Soviet Union for a single day while I was in Britain. They thought the Soviet Union wouldn't be able to cause any trouble for ten years."

"Back home, I also saw Soviet TV dramas on CCTV... How does this seem like a sign of war going on?"

Xian Yunqiang and Qiu Shu listened quietly, drenched in sweat.

It felt like Yu Zecheng himself was standing in front of them; no wonder this man could write "Lurking".

However, Yu Qie was somewhat overly optimistic. His prediction of the end date was also too absolute.

Just as the Korean War ultimately resulted in "the world's longest armistice negotiations," the two sides often engaged in small-scale but highly intense conflicts from time to time in order to secure better terms.

Vietnam is not united either; its hawks are exerting their influence.

Qiu Shu explained, "At the beginning of last year, while soldiers from both sides were exchanging gifts and listening to each other's radios in front of their positions, the Vietnamese side changed its tune and launched a fierce battle in the Nara area of ​​Laoshan."

Xian Yunqiang nodded repeatedly. He was in Laoshan at the time and witnessed the whole thing. Xian Yunqiang added, "We know you won't be visiting the rear, and you have to go up the mountain, so you'll face great danger."

Qiu Jie began, then hesitated before continuing, "So, Professor Yu... your Nobel Prize nomination is fantastic news that has thrilled the entire nation. We've come here to..."

Yu Qie roughly understood what they meant and was about to reply.

Suddenly, the sentry post sounded the alarm, and the radio of the 4th Company of the reconnaissance brigade, who had been arm wrestling with Yu Qie, crackled to life: the Vietnamese had come down the mountain.

Qiu Shu had no time to persuade Yu Qie and immediately went back to organize the battle.

Xianyunqiang hung up his camera, ready to accompany the army to film combat operations—he had been doing this kind of work for the past two years.

When the battle began, the propaganda machine was activated.

(End of this chapter)