Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 137 Cao Yu Roasted on the Fire
Cao Yu's meaning was very clear: he wanted to do everything possible to find and write scripts so that audiences could see new plays.

"The fact that the Beijing People's Art Theatre adapted 'Mr. Donkey' into a play has been well received by the public. This shows that novels can be adapted into plays, and that they can be adapted well and wonderfully. Everyone can share their thoughts on the success of the play and see what we should do next."

After Cao Yu finished speaking, he looked at everyone present and gestured for them to share their opinions.

"I've read almost all of Liu Yimin's works. 'Mr. Donkey' and 'The Flames of War in Beiping' are among the best of his novels, satisfying the requirements of both the intellectual depth and compelling storytelling for a stage play. If I were to adapt them, they absolutely had to possess both. Let me share my thoughts on 'Mr. Donkey.' The story begins with a donkey, and the author, Liu Yimin, uses the donkey to satirize school teachers who fraudulently claim salaries."

The speaker was the head of the drama troupe of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. In Beijing, the Beijing People's Art Theatre is the top dog, making other drama troupes less well-known. However, if these drama troupes were to be considered outside their own territory, they would be dominant forces in their respective areas.

"I think that plays adapted from novels are ultimately not as good as plays that are originally written as plays. Lao She's 'Teahouse' and Dean Cao's 'Thunderstorm' are both plays. Novels were not written for plays, so if you try to adapt them and force them into a play, it's easy for them to be inconsistent with the play."

"Mr. Donkey is a good movie, but if it were an adaptation of another novel, it would be a different story."

Some people also expressed concerns.

"Has your drama troupe written any good scripts? How many new scripts have you written this year?"

In short, this silenced the worried. At least when a novel is adapted into a screenplay, there's a script; but if you don't find a way to adapt it, you won't get a single script.

Adapting novels into screenplays is nothing new, but that doesn't mean everyone is willing to do it.

Cao Yu turned his gaze to Liu Yimin, signaling him to say a few words.

"Fellow leaders, let me say a few words from my own perspective. Adapting novels into screenplays can be tricky; sometimes, the adaptation will just backfire. So, we must be cautious and targeted in our work, seeking out works that are both thought-provoking and engaging. We shouldn't act like a campaign where the association encourages everyone to produce more screenplays, leading to a rush to adapt novels."

Furthermore, different local drama troupes have different local characteristics, so revisions must be made according to the regional style. I wouldn't dare say I have more experience than everyone else, but I've revised two scripts and have some personal experience.

As is the case at a seminar, it's impossible for all voices to be harmonious; it's normal to have questions.

Seeing that Cao Yu remained silent, Liu Yimin's statement represented Cao Yu's stance. As soon as he finished speaking, others echoed his sentiments. They discussed together what kind of script was worth adapting.

Aside from his initial remarks, Liu Yimin barely spoke again, and the entire meeting proceeded according to Cao Yu's train of thought.

The meeting officially ended when he finished his third cup of tea.

Cao Yu led everyone to a consensus: to find excellent novels for script adaptation. Additionally, scripts from various drama troupes should be shared to jointly promote the prosperity of drama.

As they left the venue, Zhou Yang's secretary came over and told them that Zhou Yang was waiting for them in his office.

"Old Wan, Yimin, you two sit down! How did the meeting go?" Zhou Yang asked with concern.

"It went very smoothly. Everyone wanted to do a good job with the play. As long as we share the same goal, no matter what we think, it will eventually translate into positive action."

Cao Yu's words pleased Zhou Yang. Zhou Yang continued, "After discussing with Xia Yan and other comrades, we've decided to name the play award after your pen name: the Cao Yu Play Award. As for your previous suggestion to name it after Lao She's pen name, we suggest we wait a while!"

Liu Yimin then learned that Cao Yu had proposed the Lao She Script Award, rather than the Cao Yu Script Award, in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Cao Yu glanced at Liu Yimin, who then focused his gaze on the teacups in his hands, marveling at how white they were!
“Since the comrades from the Federation of Literary and Art Circles have made their decision, then I will follow it,” Cao Yu said frankly.

"This is not only the opinion of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, but also the opinion of the masses."

As Cao Yu walked out of the Writers' Association's gate, he said, "Look at the mess you've made! You've practically put me on the fire!" "True gold fears no fire, nor is it afraid of being roasted. It's the fakes that are afraid of being roasted!"

Cao Yu pointed helplessly at Liu Yimin: "You, with that mouth of yours, let's go home first!"

In September, after the start of his sophomore year, Liu Zhenyun suddenly became very busy. He was rarely seen at the beginning of the semester and stopped discussing literature with everyone.

Back in the dorm, I would read books, eagerly absorbing my literary knowledge.

Li Xueqin was curious and even asked Liu Zhenyun, but Liu Zhenyun kept his mouth shut and didn't say a word.

"He's not talking to us, he must be talking to someone else. After seeing so much, he'll eventually have to say something," Liu Yimin joked.

Liu Zhenyun, who was reading in silence, suddenly blushed and looked at Liu Yimin, stammering out words like "slander."

Seeing his expression, Chen Dazhi didn't react, but Li Xueqin did, and said sternly, "Zhenyun, male and female classmates are not allowed to date, don't you know that?"

Liu Zhenyun jumped up as if his backside was on fire: "No, no, I was just talking to someone about Tolstoy and stuff."

Seeing his alarmed expression, Li Xueqin took the lead and burst into laughter, clutching his stomach: "Hahaha!"

In those days, there was indeed a system that prohibited male and female students from dating; this still existed in the 1980s. In severe cases, dating could lead to expulsion from school.

"Stop teasing him!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Liu Zhenyun realized that his little scheme had been exposed, so he lay on the bed listlessly, not saying a word. Li Xueqin felt that he had made a big mistake and quickly begged for forgiveness.

Liu Yimin said, "He'll definitely feel better if he treats us to a meal at the Long March Canteen."

When Zhang Mengzhao arrived at Yenching University again, almost a week into the semester, he found Liu Yimin and handed him a draft of his suggestions for revising the script.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, it's not that your script is bad, but it's your first time revising a script, so there are bound to be some areas where you're not yet familiar with it. I'll be staying at the Yenching University Guesthouse from now on, and we'll work together to revise the script as soon as possible."

Zhang Mengzhao said with a smile.

"Editor Zhang, I feel at ease making revisions with you here," Liu Yimin said.

Zhang Mengzhao tentatively asked, "Has any other film studio contacted you recently?"

"There was one, but I heard it's already been used by you, so I didn't mention it again."

An editor from Changchun Film Studio came to Beijing on a business trip. He heard from someone that the "Script Monthly" had an unpublished script for "Romance on Lushan Mountain". So he went to Wan Fang's place to take a look, and finally found Liu Yimin. After hearing that Shanghai Film Studio had already taken it, he left dejectedly.

"It's normal for people to ask for it. If we at Shanghai Film Studio think the meat is delicious, others will definitely think it's delicious too. Unfortunately, I'll take this piece of meat first."

In the days that followed, Zhang Mengzhao actually stayed at the Yenching University Guesthouse, providing enthusiastic assistance in revising the manuscript.

(End of this chapter)