Literary Master 1983

Chapter 432 I know I was wrong
However, despite Nie Weiping's achievement of the title "Chess Saint," his family life was far from peaceful.

Yu Qie escorted Nie Weiping home. His "home" was actually a small single room at the entrance of the alley. The corridor was full of clothes drying in the sun, and the toilet was a public restroom at the very end. When the wind blew, it emitted a stench of long-term dampness. In Beijing, such living conditions were not considered good.

Nie Weiping said with a wry smile, "Professor Yu, I'm not afraid to tell you this, but I still don't own a house in Beijing. I'm still living in the dormitory of the national Go team. The leaders promised me that if I can win the championship or runner-up in the Ing Cup, I can be allocated a house in Beijing!"

This was Yu Qie's first visit to Old Nie's house. Nie Weiping owned two houses in Beijing, neither of which belonged to him.

One room belongs to his wife Kong Xiangming's family, and the other is this dormitory room. Nie Weiping only has the right to use it.

“You’ve become a chess master, yet you still don’t own a house. No wonder your sister-in-law always felt you weren’t working hard enough. If you don’t play chess properly, you won’t have a house in the capital!” Yu Qie suddenly realized.

"Yes!"

Nie Weiping also sighed with emotion.

Although he is a "Chess Saint", he is not eligible to apply for a house because his household registration is in Heilongjiang Province, while his wife is in Chengdu. Neither of them has a registered household.

This kind of thing is very common! The Tianjin writer Feng Jicai mentioned earlier was originally scouted by "Beijing Literature", but "Beijing Literature" had already used up all its positions! On the contrary, the Heilongjiang literary magazine "Northern Literature" had available positions, and Feng Jicai worked there for two years, hoping every year that "Beijing Literature" would fill his position.

This spot is obviously highly competitive, and it's not his turn.

In the end, it was the magazine *Youth Literature* that recognized his talent, and a benefactor helped Feng Jicai by allocating a valuable spot to him. Feng Jicai finally ended his life of wandering, after many years of venturing out into the world.

He is already a very lucky writer.

"Dream of the Red Chamber" is a high-level novel, isn't it?
Hundreds of actors were nominated, but CCTV only allocated two spots. Chen Xiaoxu got one of them and also obtained a Beijing residency permit.

Zhang Li's household registration was resolved by Yu Qie through connections with the families of faculty and staff at Yenching University.

"I care more about the astronomical prize money of the Go championship than being the best in the world," Nie Weiping said. "I can buy a house without relying on the organization to allocate one for me."

"You've already become a Go master, why would you care about 400,000 US dollars? Fine!" Yu Qie stopped mid-sentence, "400,000 US dollars is indeed a lot! I hope you can get it!"

"I'm going to the restroom first, wait for me and I'll be right back."

Soon after, Nie Weiping's wife, Kong Xiangming, returned. She had short hair, looked like a tomboy, and carried fresh vegetables and pork she had bought, appearing very capable.

"Nie Weiping?"

"Nie Weiping!!"

It turned out that Kong Xiangming had seen the cigarettes and alcohol that Yu Qie had brought on the table. He assumed that Nie Weiping had been out fooling around. Kong Xiangming was furious, but because of the competition, he couldn't vent his anger on him. So he could only use the pretext of "criticism" to lecture Nie Weiping.

"Nie Weiping, have you lived up to my sacrifices for you? Have you lived up to the expectations that Go enthusiasts had for you? Have you lived up to..."

“My friend is here!” Nie Weiping said.

"Fine! This is perfect opportunity for your friend to see what you've done!" Kong Xiangming said angrily.

This was yet another series of accusations. Nie Weiping then fell silent, as if he were facing a wall.

When Yu Qie returned, Kong Xiangming realized that it was Yu Qie who had come to visit. He immediately shut his mouth and turned to scold Nie Weiping, saying, "Professor Yu is here. Why didn't you say a word? You almost made me misunderstand Professor Yu!"

Nie Weiping remained silent. In fact, he had not communicated with Kong Xiangming at all throughout the entire process.

But when Yu Qie was saying goodbye, Nie Weiping suddenly said, "I'm seeing my good brother off, so you don't need to come."

Kong Xiangming stayed obediently at home, watching Yu Qie and Nie Weiping walk away.

"Yu Qie, I'd like to ask you for some advice. How do you manage to handle relationships so well?" Nie Weiping suddenly asked.

Yu Qie wanted to share some experience, but then he suddenly thought of Gong Xue in Shanghai. He shook his head and said, "I might be close to that too. If Zhang Li scolds me or throws things, I won't be surprised at all. I really have things I've done wrong to her."

Nie Weiping naturally guessed what it was about. But he wasn't surprised; he just said enviously, "You have Zhang Li and Chen Xiaoxu, both of whom truly love you, and they're smart! They know their limits!"

"They may blame you, but they will absolutely protect your reputation, not to mention scolding you in front of your friends without even knowing the facts. I am, after all, a chess master. Although I can't get a local residency permit or buy a house, I am respected wherever I go."

"Why should I be scolded like this?" Although Nie Weiping was speaking to Yu Qie, it sounded more like he was asking and answering himself.

Yu Qie kept his mouth shut and didn't utter a word. He was a little afraid to answer Nie Weiping.

However, Nie Weiping made up his mind: "I want a divorce, to be honest, I want a divorce."

As soon as he said that, he felt a sense of relief and even laughed: "It's no fun living like this. It's kind of you to see me like this! But I really want a divorce!"
-
At the end of August, the judging committee, led by the Secretariat of the Writers Association, held another meeting.

This time, a democratic vote was held on "Yu Qie joining the judging committee," and the result was, of course, a pass.

Everyone expressed their sincere welcome.

Liu Baiyu said in a high-profile manner: "Teacher Yu, you couldn't find the time before, but now you've changed your mind. I think it's the grand literary event that attracted you! This is because we did a good job!"

He most welcomes Yu Qie to participate in the selection.

Among everyone, Liu Baiyu is the only one who is both a referee and an athlete... which is somewhat awkward. Now that Yu Qie has also taken on the role, he is no longer afraid of being gossiped about.

Others also gathered around to congratulate him.

Yu Qie said, "I really came here because of 'literature'!" He emphasized the word "literature" with a hidden meaning: "I want to offer suggestions for the selection and also express my views!"

“Of course! Professor Yu has made it to the final round of the Nobel Prize competition, so your opinion is certainly insightful!” Li Duo gave a thumbs up.

Subsequently, the Secretariat voted on where to hold the "reading session." More than twenty judges formed a reading group and were required to allocate three months to read the novel in batches.

This requires a good place for regular gatherings. There are many options: Beidaihe, Hangzhou, Wutai Mountain... all places with famous historical sites.

“Reading novels in a place like this is naturally very efficient, and voting is also very fair,” said Ma Feng, former head of the Shanxi Provincial Writers Association.

"I think Wutai Mountain is the best."

“Wutai Mountain won’t do!” Cheng Huangmei shook his head.

Why not Mount Wutai?

“Last year, Shi Tiesheng and others went to Wutai Mountain to participate in the ‘Yellow River Literature Conference’. They were in a car accident on their way to Wutai Mountain, and more than 30 people almost died… Although they were not seriously injured in the end, I think there’s something wrong with this place, so don’t go there,” Cheng Huangmei said.

Shi Tiesheng, in a wheelchair, was climbing a mountain when he was involved in a car accident and suffered serious injuries. The author who was with him recalled that "his head was broken and bleeding profusely." Fortunately, Shi Tiesheng was tough; after being taken down the mountain and bandaged, he was completely fine.

Yu Qie also said, "Most of our writers are from the capital this time. This place is too far from us, and it's not easy to travel back and forth."

Therefore, Mount Wutai was naturally ruled out, and Beidaihe had been visited too many times recently, so there was really nothing to see. After much discussion, everyone chose Dengzhou.

It's a coastal city with plenty of food, drinks, and entertainment options. Moreover, September and October are still in summer and autumn, making them one of the few months on the northern coast where you have a chance to see clear seawater.

"I've been to Dengzhou. The average summer temperature is very low, not much different from Beidaihe! Beidaihe only has such a great reputation because it's close to the capital!"

Liu Baiyu's ancestral home is in Qingzhou, which is not far from Dengzhou, so I know a little about him.

Upon hearing his words, everyone became hopeful, and the matter was settled.

Yu Qie also shared his opinion: "I saw a very good novel, recommended by my editor Zhang Shouren. He said this work could be China's 'Human Comedy,' and the author could be China's Balzac."

"Who?" Cheng Huangmei was stunned for a moment.

“Lu Yao. Ordinary World,” Yu Qie said.

"This... won't do!" exclaimed Ma Feng, one of the judges.
He had some exchanges with the Shaanxi Writers Association, which was located nearby, and knew that "Ordinary World" was actually in a rather awkward situation.

From a later perspective, one of the major events in Shaanxi's literary scene between 85 and 88 was that a young man named Lu Yao wrote novels while holed up in a coal mine, and he succeeded!
However, this is not the case now. Ma Feng said, "Zhang Wei's 'The Ancient Ship,' Ke Yunlu's 'Night and Day,' Lu Tianming's 'The Sun of the Sanna Highlands'... any of these novels seems to be more anticipated than 'Ordinary World.'"

"It seems you have some knowledge of the literary scene in Shaanxi Province?" Yu Qie slowly turned his head and said.

Ma Feng realized that Yu Qie seemed to be protecting Lu Yao and that this wasn't just a casual remark, so he immediately lowered his voice: "I certainly have no problem with him. I'm just saying that the Shaanxi literary scene is not happy to see Lu Yao rise to prominence, because Lu Yao happens to be the most typical Shaanxi writer and has written the most typical Shaanxi novel."

"This is not what the Shaanxi literary scene wants the whole country to see!"

This statement is a bit convoluted, but its essence is still related to the experimental literature that has become popular in recent years. Simply put, Lu Yao's novels are too rustic, lack innovation in subject matter, and are somewhat unpresentable.

If he were from Beijing or Shanghai, the local literary circles wouldn't care; unfortunately, Lu Yao was in the Shaanxi Provincial Writers Association, which was "the most self-conscious era for Shaanxi's literary circles" (the editor of "Contemporary"), and he desperately needed to get some trendy hairstyles and crave external recognition.

Lu Yao's stories, the characters he portrays, and the values ​​he embodies are so incredibly relatable to people from Shaanxi—it's utterly authentic. This became his Achilles' heel.

Is that wrong too?
Yu Qie realized that very few members of the judging panel had actually read "Ordinary World." It seemed this was indeed a mistake.

"When you read Balzac's works, you feel like a clumsy peasant woman trying to start a fire. She's trying to light the firewood, but it's damp and won't light, filling the room with thick smoke that makes you want to just leave. Then, 'bang!' the firewood is lit, and the flames illuminate half the sky!"

Yu Qie mentioned this literary review about Balzac. Then he said, "Ordinary World is such a novel! I can say frankly that I think this book deserves at least the Mao Dun Literature Prize, and everyone can take my words and spread them publicly."

"If anyone has a different opinion, let him come to me. We can discuss it."

Among the judges, some found Yu Qie utterly unreasonable, while others appreciated his outspokenness. One literary critic, Cai Kui, the executive deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine *Literary Review*, slapped his thigh excitedly and grasped Yu Qie's hand:

"Professor Yu, I originally wanted to recommend the book 'Ordinary World'! But I'm just a nobody, and the deadline is so tight... I was afraid this gem would be overlooked! It's so good to have you speak up for me!"

Yu Qie clasped his hand tightly and smiled at everyone, saying, "I quickly found my first comrade-in-arms."

After Cai Kui started, several other writers expressed their approval of "Ordinary World." Yu Qie looked at the remaining people and said, "Putting everything else aside, at least 'Ordinary World' should be read at least once. Otherwise, I have objections to excluding it."
-
This anecdote, which occurred within the judging panel, spread informally throughout Beijing's literary circles. One of the judges, Zhu Shengchang, happened to be the deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine *Contemporary*. Upon hearing Yu Qie's high praise for Lu Yao, he was immediately furious.

He wasn't angry because of Yu Qie, but because it was Contemporary magazine that rejected Lu Yao's manuscript, and the rejection process was very messy.

How ugly is it?

Lu Yao was so angry that he fell ill.

This was bound to be punished! And now the punishment has come.

Although Yu Qie is young, he is not someone the other members of the judging panel can afford to offend. Even Cheng Huangmei, the most senior member, understands this. Yu Qie could easily ruin Cheng Huangmei's reputation built up over many years with a single poster.

He is facing a Nobel Prize race, and although his chances are slim, with only a one-in-five chance, reaching this point is a first for the Chinese.

Newspapers and public media naturally wanted to protect Yu Qie's reputation; he was practically invincible, and even if everyone else joined forces, they couldn't do anything about him.

If Lu Yao were to complain to him, he would act like Yu Qingtian again...

That's simply unimaginable!
Zhu Shengchang returned to the newspaper office and asked, "Who was the editor who was in contact with Lu Yao at the time? I need to speak with him. Please have him come to me immediately."

Soon, a round-faced young man with a buzz cut entered. His name was Zhou Changyi. He looked somewhat like Ouyang Fenqiang from *Dream of the Red Chamber*, and upon inquiry, it was confirmed he was from Sichuan Province. After exchanging pleasantries with Zhu Shengchang for a while, he took the initiative to ask:

"What does Editor Zhu want with me?"

"Someone's causing you trouble," Zhu Shengchang said succinctly. "Is it the manuscript you rejected from Lu Yao?"

"I know I was wrong to reject the manuscript." Zhou Changyi stopped smiling and started sweating profusely.

(End of this chapter)