My era, 1979!

Chapter 35 Preface to Sending Xu Sheng to Fengyang
“I haven’t published it yet, there’s no need to talk about it now.” He added a spoonful of vinegar to Chen Jianguo’s bowl. “I heard that Harvest magazine is currently serializing The Legend of Tianyun Mountain? Editor-in-Chief Zhou said that the manuscript was almost rejected.”

The spicy soup rippled in the bowl, and the chatter among the crowd was lively and harmonious. This was his first group of friends of the same age since arriving in Hefei.

Discussing the realities of literature with cultural figures of that era in 1979 gave him a sense of accomplishment.

After all, these things were just things that professors talked about in modern and contemporary literary history back then, and now they've become topics of conversation at the table, and he still has the opportunity to participate in them!
To be honest, it felt a kind of unreal comfort!

He recalled when he first arrived in Bengbu, clutching his food coupons and hesitating for a long time at the street corner, unable to even afford a bowl of oil tea; he recalled Su Zhong tapping his pipe at the manuscript revision meeting and saying, "Writing requires knowing how to bend over"; he recalled Deputy Director Wang stuffing the vermicelli into his drawer and saying, "Your father has backbone."

For a moment, I was even a little dazed.

"Come on, let's have a toast." Xu Chengjun picked up his enamel mug. "Thank you all for your help these past few days. If I cause trouble in Shanghai, I'll have to come back and rely on you all!"

His eyes were smiling as he bumped his cups against each other.

"Don't expect me to do anything good." Zhai Ying held the jar up the highest. "If I really get into trouble with those old scholars from Fudan University, I'll write a commentary and make them unable to lift their heads."

Everyone laughed.

Xu Chengjun looked at the faces in front of him.

Chen Jianguo's meticulousness, Zhai Ying's outspokenness, Ma Shengli's warmth, and Qian Ming's honesty.

I was quite moved.

When Master Zhang came over to collect the bowls, he saw Xu Chengjun putting grain coupons on the table and quickly waved his hand, saying, "What are you doing, Xu Qingqing? Editor Chen just handed them in!"

"Don't do that." Xu Chengjun shoved the grain coupons into his hand. "What's the point of making him pay? Take mine, and return the coupons to him next time you come!"

"I'm leaving." He waved, his canvas bag swaying on his shoulder. "I'll send you postcards when I get to Shanghai. They'll say 'Spicy Soup misses you.'"

The wind carried Zhai Ying's laughter and scolding: "Don't make any typos, or you'll embarrass us Anhui intellectuals!"
Editor Chen whispered a warning: "Zhai Ying!"

The wind is blowing.

These two seem interesting?
Xu Chengjun had just finished packing his luggage for tomorrow's departure, especially the handwritten train timetable from Hefei to Shanghai and a simplified map of Shanghai city. In these days, traveling was not only difficult due to the high cost and various restrictions, but also because he was truly "unfamiliar with the place" when he arrived in a completely new area.
Then they heard Qian Ming turn over on the opposite bed, and the wooden bed creaked and groaned.

“Chengjun,” Qian Ming said to Xu Chengjun, “I’ll take you to the station tomorrow morning.”

"No, didn't you say you were going to catch the early bus back to Xujiatun?" Xu Chengjun waved his hand and put the folded shirt into his bag.

"We don't need to send gifts because of our relationship."

"It won't make a difference if it's just two hours. Apart from Xu Laoshi, no one in the entire Xujiatun village has ever left the province; this is a long trip."

Qian Ming sat up. "But I should go back too. I've been out for so long, and there are still things to do with the team. Let me tell you about your situation."

He paused, then said somewhat guiltily, "Actually, I wanted to wait for my college entrance exam results. I felt anxious staying in Hefei."

Xu Chengjun laughed, took out a piece of fruit candy and threw it over: "You've all studied so hard, who can do better than you? You're sure to get in."

If Qian Ming's work ethic were up to par in later generations, he would be considered a top student. In those days, the college entrance exam was relatively easy, so the chances of getting into Beijing Foreign Studies University were quite high.

Who knows, I might have to befriend this kid in the future!
The candy wrapper rattled in Qian Ming's hand: "I hope so. Remember to write to us when you get to Shanghai."

“I can’t forget it.” Xu Chengjun gazed at the moonlight outside the window. “Don’t just wait for news, read more books. The college entrance exam is just the beginning.” Qian Ming suddenly lowered his head and laughed, his shoulders shaking slightly. “Remember when I taught you to remember ‘ambition’? You said it sounded like ‘I will win.’ Now that I think about it, we both need to say ‘I will win!’”

When I first arrived, I thought Qian Ming was dull and unrefined, but after spending the last six months with him, I found him to be a genuine and honest guy.

The key is that in addition to being practical, he also has a clever and quick-witted side.

Honest but not dull, clever but not mercenary, even if he doesn't get into Beijing Foreign Studies University, he should still have a good future.

Most importantly, with Xu Chengjun around, Qian Ming shouldn't be lacking!

"If you get bullied at Fudan, just write a letter." Qian Ming folded the candy wrapper into a square and started joking, "If all else fails, I'll go too. Putting everything else aside, we're both strong, so we can go side by side!"

"You're not that easy to bully, go take a break!" Xu Chengjun sneered. "But you, don't stay up all night when you get back!"

"May your journey be smooth sailing."

Silent all night.
-
On the blue brick wall of Hefei Railway Station, the slogan "Grasp revolution and promote production" is prominently displayed.

As Qian Ming helped Xu Chengjun carry his canvas bag and the two were walking towards the ticket gate, Zhou Ming's loud voice pierced through the crowd: "Xiao Xu, wait!"

He looked back and saw Zhou Ming running this way with a cigarette in his mouth, followed by Su Zhong, Liu Zuci, and even Chen Jianguo carrying a cloth bag. The cuffs of their trousers were wet with dew.

"Why are you all here?" Xu Chengjun was taken aback; he really hadn't expected these people to come and see him off.

I'm so important!

Zhou Ming patted him on the shoulder, his tone still nonchalant: "I was drinking with Lao Liu yesterday, and he mentioned your car this morning."

"Well, it turns out we all thought of the same thing."

Liu Zuci shook the wine pot in his hand: "This is a farewell party for you, and I'd like to ask for a drink in the future. Once you become famous at Fudan University, don't forget this old man from Anhui."

Su Zhong pushed up his glasses and pulled a thread-bound book from his cloth bag: "This is the 1957 edition of 'Selected Essays of Lu Xun.' Take it! Read it on the road, and read it when you feel uncomfortable!"

Chen Jianguo was a little nervous, standing with a group of big shots, and in today's terms, he was "a newbie trembling with fear."

He stuffed the cloth bag into Xu Chengjun's hand: "These are letters from readers, I sorted them out last night, they're all praising 'Libra Star', you can use them to pass the time on your journey."

Actually, he spent half the night organizing things, specifically removing Professor Li's unpleasant posts.

Old Chen's personality is a bit like Qian Ming's; he's a good person too!
However, even Xu Chengjun, a seasoned veteran who had transmigrated from another era, was almost overwhelmed by this display of strength, and his eyes welled up with tears.

These seniors really set a good example for him.

"This is like sending off a top scholar!" Xu Chengjun laughed, then bowed deeply to everyone. "Teachers, Old Chen, I can't express my gratitude in words. Wait for me to come back!"

Zhou Ming pointed at Xu Chengjun and laughed loudly at the others, "Look at this kid, he still doesn't say anything, what an ingrate!"

"However, back when we took you, Lao Su, to a meeting in Beijing, it was about the same entourage."

"Alright, today we'll call it 'Preface to Sending Off Xu Sheng of Fengyang,' and when this kid makes a name for himself, it'll be written into the history of Anhui literature!"

(End of this chapter)