I am a literary giant in Russia

Chapter 35 Expectation
With the official end of the first party, Mikhail, Belinsky and Nekrasov supported each other and walked out of the Panaev family's villa.

First, all three of them had been drinking. Mikhail was relatively restrained, but Belinsky and Nekrasov were already a little dizzy. At Slavic gatherings, alcohol is always present.

Secondly, the three of them ate quite a lot, and their stomachs were obviously bigger. If they didn't support each other, they would have to hold on to the wall to walk, which was more or less a bit awkward.

Ahem…

Belinsky's home was closer to Panaev's, so Mikhail and Nekrasov worked together to send the critic, who was rarely able to relax, to his new wife.

At this point in time, Belinsky had just gotten married at the age of 32, which is actually a bit late in later generations, let alone in today's Russia.

The reason for this, of course, is that Belinsky was a poor man. Just a year ago, Belinsky was still lamenting to Panayeva that he would probably be a bachelor for the rest of his life. Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. One of Belinsky's fans began to write to him, and after a few exchanges, Belinsky became friends with his fan.

Just as Belinsky's newlywed wife was about to take him to bed, Belinsky, who was a little dazed, suddenly grabbed Mikhail's hand and said solemnly:
"Mikhail, although I don't know if this novel can pass the censors' review, I will definitely do my best to fight for you! A novel like this deserves to be seen by more people in its original form!"

"Okay, dear Vissarion, but if it really needs to be revised, that's fine, because one day it will appear in its entirety before the world."

After Mikhail answered Belinsky with a smile, he also greeted Belinsky's new wife who was looking at him curiously.

Seeing this, the other party immediately smiled and said, "Are you Mikhail? I've heard your name from Vissarion every day recently. I almost thought he fell in love with some lady at first sight!"

After playing this little joke on Mikhail, the lady quickly said goodbye to both of them and went to take care of Belinsky.

Although Mikhail and Nekrasov's homes were far away from Panaev's, they still had no intention of taking a car. Instead, they stubbornly prepared to measure the land of St. Petersburg on foot.

As the two struggled forward, Nekrasov frequently glanced at Mikhail. After looking at him countless times, he finally sighed and said, "Mikhail, when will I be able to be like you? You are talented, clever, wise, and calm..."

Mikhail looked at Nekrasov who was talking a lot: "…"

You have so many compliments that I feel embarrassed...

"My dear Nekrasov, believe me, you will have your own destiny."

Mikhail actually understood Nekrasov's current predicament.

He has no place to live, little money in his pocket, and falls in love with his aristocratic friend's wife. It would be strange if he is not anxious.

In the future, wouldn’t this be the case when the economic situation is bad, and college students are unemployed right after graduation, and have no one to rely on for support?

So Mikhail told Nekrasov in a firm tone:

"One day or another, you will be the top publisher in St. Petersburg, you will make a lot of money, and your poems will be remembered by many people."

Well, you can really seduce someone's wife...

"Then I hope things will turn out just as you say! Hahaha." As if encouraged by Mikhail's resolute tone, the drunken Nekrasov also cheered up and said, "If things are really as you say, then I should change my tune! Then I will call you a prophet! Prophet Mikhail!"

This nickname is not bad... After such a difficult journey, out of a sense of responsibility as a friend, Mikhail of course helped Nekrasov directly to his home. Otherwise, he would have been a little worried, after all, it is not surprising that a drunk man would do anything.

Especially the drunkards in Russia today, who are mainly suffering from inner pain and depression, and rely on alcohol to numb and vent their inner feelings.

Mikhail also took a look at Nekrasov's house, which was just as bad as his own.

But it doesn’t matter, once the collection of essays is published, we two brothers will be really rich!
After sending Nekrasov off, Mikhail, walking alone on the street, finally had some time to think alone. He was mainly thinking about the novel "Thirst for Sleep".

It's a little dangerous, but not that dangerous in a way. It would have been safer if it had a suspenseful ending.

After all, in Russia during this period, there was actually something that was a little contrary to common sense. That was, at least on the surface, no Russian writer was actually convicted for writing.

But the problem is that almost all of Russia's famous writers have some kind of political tendency in their works, and in addition to writing, they also personally participate in various political activities. In other words, Russian writers can almost be equated with political prisoners.

Many times, their works even become the carriers of their political inclinations.

When it comes to politics, it would be strange if the old Tsar didn't take strong action.

Therefore, the reasons for arresting writers and critics are often due to political issues.

For example, Lao Tzu was criticized not because he wrote about the miserable lives of the poor, but mainly because he participated in various activities of the Petrashevsky group at that time.

Of course, there are many plots in Lao Tzu's later works that expose the dark side of Russia, but because they are more oriented towards religious salvation and do not have overly radical political tendencies, they basically have not been hit hard again.

In short, if Mikhail had only written some works that seemed "humanitarian" at first glance, before clearly expressing his radical political inclinations and directly participating in certain radical political activities, nothing big would have happened. He would have just been attacked by some people.

Although being attacked all the time seems pretty miserable.
I don't want to be as direct as Gogol and my butcher.
Of course, things were not so good after a few years. With the outbreak of the "Spring of Nations" in 1848, the old Tsar turned into an extremely sensitive person. He did not allow anything sensitive to appear, and directly suppressed the cultural world, making it lifeless and dull.

Then again, the articles published now are certainly not very safe, but this is actually Mikhail's attempt to avoid the Tsar's iron fist while also harboring some seemingly vague hopes.

The truly bright future may still be a long time away. So, for the thousands and thousands of Vankas, Jonas and Valkas living in this era, will any of them feel a little better because of the emergence of these novels?

Will it? Probably not.

But will it? Maybe.

Who can say for sure?

Mikhail walked on this narrow path while thinking. There were damp and moldy walls on both sides. It was impossible for Mikhail to turn back, so he could only continue walking along this narrow path.

Although the distant scene is always vague and unclear,
But Mikhail kept moving forward.

(End of this chapter)