My era, 1979!

Chapter 79 I'll read it standing up.
On my way to the post office, I suddenly passed by the Xinhua Bookstore on Nanjing East Road.

Nanjing Road was an extremely bustling commercial street in Shanghai in 1979.

It has always been known as "China's No. 1 Commercial Street"!
Xinhua Bookstore is located in the Donghai Building on Nanjing East Road.

At that time, it was also known as the largest bookstore in the Far East.

Don't exaggerate.

Shanghai's commerce has been second to none in the country since the Republican era.

Out of curiosity, Xu Chengjun walked into the renowned bookstore of that era.

The Xinhua Bookstore of that era did not appear to be on the verge of collapse like it does in later years.

Walking into the bookstore, the first thing I noticed was: Wow, there are so many people!
However, it's understandable. With limited entertainment options and having gone through a special period, books have become the best way for people to soothe their spirits.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of ink and paper, mixed with the hushed chatter of people, and occasionally the crisp sound of a salesperson announcing prices in Shanghainese.

The wooden glass counter was polished to a shine.

A few steps further in, you'll see a number of young people wearing glasses standing in front of the literature bookshelves.

Lu Xun's "Call to Arms" and "Hesitation" were neatly stacked with their spines wrapped in kraft paper.

It goes without saying that the collections of works by famous authors such as Mao Dun and Ba Jin are very popular.

In the most prominent position are magazines such as "People's Literature" and "Harvest," which have only recently resumed publication. Old issues with covers featuring images of workers, peasants, and soldiers are displayed side by side with newly published selections of short stories.

Liu Xinwu's "The Class Teacher" and Lu Xinhua's "The Wound" were displayed in the center of the booth, and readers would pick them up and flip through them from time to time, discussing the plot in hushed tones.

Regardless of how later generations evaluate these two books, in 1979 they were equivalent to Lord of Mysteries 22 years later.

Popular Literature
The social sciences section was relatively quiet, with workers studying on their own in front of the reference bookshelves. Practical technical books such as "Mechanical Drawing" and "Basic Electrical Engineering" were the most popular.

The spine of the book also has a red label that reads "Recommended reading material for workers, peasants and soldiers".

In front of the foreign language section in the corner, several young people were quietly reading aloud from "Xu Guozhang's English".

The queue at the checkout counter stretched all the way to the door, with bamboo baskets filled with all sorts of books.

Which one is the most popular?

The comic book counter is on the left as you enter!
The glass display case, about half a foot high, is filled with stacks of colorful comic books, with classic revolutionary themes such as "Chicken Feather Letter" and "Tunnel Warfare" still prominently displayed.

In those days, "Tunnel Warfare," "Mine Warfare," and "The Southern Expedition and the Northern War" were known as the "Three Old Wars."

It was adapted into a movie in its early years and is a frequent feature in theatrical reruns.

However, this also reflects the very monotonous cultural and entertainment activities of that era.

However, the newly released "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" and "Havoc in Heaven" are more popular with children. Several little girls with pigtails stood on tiptoe, leaning against the counter, pointing at Nezha on the cover and shouting, "I want this one!"

The sales clerk, dressed in blue overalls, was deftly restocking the items from the drawer under the counter, her abacus clicking away.

Xu Chengjun followed the crowd, flipping through books, when he suddenly saw a book called "Maple" published in the 8th issue of "Lianhuanhuabao" in 1979.

The person holding this book and reading it was also an acquaintance.

"Oh, Comrade Xu, you're here too!" Lin Wei, still wearing her ponytail, greeted him sweetly.

"Yes, I just happened to be passing by and came in to take a look."

"Hey, Lulu, Lulu, come here!" Lin Wei suddenly beckoned to a girl in the corner, pulling her over from where she was studying "Selected Tang and Song Poems."

"Let me introduce you. This is Xu Chengjun, the author of 'Walking Towards the Light' and 'The Letter'!"

"Wow, that's Xu Chengjun!" The girl called Lulu's eyes widened, and she almost dropped the poetry collection in her hand. "I cry every time I read the part in your letter about the educated youth returning to their hometowns!"

This girl was also a sent-down youth who was admitted to Fudan University through the college entrance examination. She is a role model for the local community.

"Yes, Comrade Xu is a really nice person! He even gave me an autograph last time!"

"It's just that people lack self-confidence!"

Alright, you guys are chatting now!
What makes me insecure?

When artsy young women of this era really went crazy, they were even more terrifying than those of later generations!
After talking for a while, she suddenly remembered that Xu Chengjun was still standing there, so she hurriedly blushed and introduced him to Xu Chengjun: "Comrade Xu, let me introduce you. This is my college roommate, Xu Lu. She's also from Anhui!"

Xu Lu shyly extended her hand to shake hands: "Comrade Xu, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Me too."

A handshake is a fleeting touch, and the relationship between men and women is still kept secret in this day and age.

"Hey Lulu, be generous, Comrade Xu should be our junior next semester."

Junior?

I'll scare you to death when school starts.

Everyone wants to be my senior, right?
"By the way, how did your interview at Fudan University go? Chen Yang and I were planning to visit you at the Zhiqing Building in the next couple of days."

"Thanks to you all, I passed the exam," Xu Chengjun said with a smile.

"That's great! I can take classes with the great poet next semester!"

"Are you looking at this book, 'Maple'?"

"Yes, the story inside is really touching. Lulu cried uncontrollably after reading half of it."

"How can you wrong someone like that!" Xu Lu's expression clearly lacked persuasiveness.

"Anyway, I'm not the one crying like a little kitten!"

Lin Wei's image as a spicy Sichuan girl is truly captivating!
"Have you read this book, 'Maple Leaf'? I think it's better than 'The Wound' and 'The Class Teacher'."

"I guess you could say I've seen it."

Does what you see in your past life count?

Zheng Yi's "Maple" was published in the Wenhui Daily in February 1979, and was published as a comic strip in the Lianhuanhua Bao this July.

What story was it?

Young students Lu Danfeng and Li Honggang were in a situation.
People in later generations are basically unaware of this novel.

But it was indeed a hit in 1979.

It depicts suffering through tragic love stories of young people.

The plot is very cliché.

But the novels adapted into comic books in that era were even more amazing than the online novels adapted into movies in later generations.

There's nothing we can do; the masses have no other forms of entertainment!
The plot of "Tiny Times" seems incredibly cheesy now, but how popular was it back then?

"Comrade Xu, what do you think of the recent 'scar literature'?" Xu Lu, who was standing to the side, was not going to let Xu Chengjun off the hook.

"me."

“I’m standing here watching, and so are you all.” Xu Chengjun’s smile widened.

Xu Lu: ?
Lin Wei: ?
Who is this!
(End of this chapter)