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

Chapter 144 The Beijing People's Art Theatre's Opening Plays in the 80s
The Film Association was holding a meeting, with a large conference upstairs and Liu Yimin and Xu Sangchu having a private meeting downstairs. Xu Sangchu was talking to Liu Yimin in a rambling way about the difficulties the film crew faced during shooting, how it was autumn in Lushan, and how they had to seize the last bit of filming time, etc.

After all that, Liu Yimin didn't get to the point. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was just looking for Liu Yimin to rant and rave for fun!

Liu Yimin glanced at Chen Huangmei, the director of the Film Bureau, who was speaking above, and said in a low voice, "Director Xu, just say what you have to say!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Sangchu quickly said, "The crew members have worked so hard during filming. I'd like you, the scriptwriter, to go and offer some guidance and encouragement. Also, as the original author, your presence might help improve our skills!"

Liu Yimin's expression revealed his understanding; so that's how it is. When Zhang Mengzhao left, he had mentioned that he should go to Lushan to offer some guidance when he had time, but he hadn't really taken it to heart.

Getting to Lushan would take several days just by taking the train; isn't that just asking for trouble?
“Comrade Yimin, this is your first film, you should go. Spend a few days in Lushan, just to steal a moment of leisure from your busy schedule!” Xu Sangchu continued.

Hearing this, Liu Yimin nodded in agreement: "Director Xu, since you've said so, what else can I say? I'll go to Lushan in a few days to enjoy the autumn scenery."

After Liu Yimin agreed, Xu Sangchu said happily, "When I get to Shanghai, I will send a telegram to the crew. Everyone will be happy to hear the news."

After the Film Association meeting ended, Liu Yimin greeted Xu Sangchu and headed outside. Several directors greeted Liu Yimin, introduced themselves, and expressed their hope for future collaborations.

There was director Li Jun from the August First Film Studio, and Wang Yan from the Beijing Film Studio, among others. After attending the Film Association meeting today, the National Congress of Literary and Art Circles will officially close tomorrow.

Outside the Great Hall of the People, Liu Yimin had just ridden his bicycle out when he ran into Cui Daoyi, who was also attending the Congress of Literary and Art Workers. Cui had just finished attending a meeting of the Writers Association.

Cui Daoyi quickly grabbed Liu Yimin and urged him to find a place to eat.

"Yimin, your review of Lu Yao is brilliant. It presents the novel to readers in a perfect new form and goes further, pointing out another angle of scar literature. For many writers, your review is no less than a writing guide."

Lu Yao's "A Heart-Stopping Scene" was not published until the November issue of *People's Literature*, accompanied by a commentary by Liu Yimin. Liu Yimin received a higher fee for his commentary than Lu Yao, the original author.

"Senior, this novel hasn't caused a particularly big stir in the literary world yet, but I firmly believe that its value in the world of novels will gradually become apparent."

Inside the state-run restaurant, Cui Daoyi ordered two delicious dishes and two bowls of noodles with soybean paste. He also asked the chef for a few cloves of garlic, peeled them, and handed a few to Liu Yimin: "Eating noodles without garlic is like missing half the flavor."

Liu Yimin didn't stand on ceremony. He took the garlic and threw it directly into the noodle bowl, mixing the sauce and noodles thoroughly. The ivory-white garlic was also coated with a layer of sauce, making it taste a bit saltier.

"Senior brother, is there anything you want to say?" Liu Yimin asked with a smile.

The moment he saw Cui Daoyi, he looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Cui Daoyi pretended to be magnanimous and smacked his lips, then took a big sip of noodles and said angrily, "These past two days, everyone has been talking about the 'Yanjing Literature and Art' magazine holding a seminar on the work 'Wolf Smoke in Beiping,' and has invited quite a few people to attend."

"They told me about this when they held the symposium for young writers last time. Senior, what happened?"

"When did it become the turn of Yanjing Literature and Art to hold a seminar on the works published in our People's Literature and Art? I met with the editor of Yanjing Literature and Art today, and I get angry just thinking about it."

Liu Yimin peeled a clove of garlic and put it into Cui Daoyi's bowl: "Senior brother, it's all for literature! As a magazine based in Beijing, it's understandable that Yanjing Literature wants to explore the cultural potential of Beijing."

"That's what I say, but I still feel awkward inside. No matter what, we're the ones who should be organizing this seminar!" Cui Daoyi said emphatically.

Liu Yimin remained silent, but reality was something that Yenching Literature and Art Publishing House had thought of first.

Seeing that Liu Yimin did not speak, Cui Daoyi continued:

"Yimin, you are young, but your writing style and ideas are very high, and your subject matter is also from all over the country. So, when you publish your work, you must take a global perspective. What is the global perspective? The whole country is the global perspective. Our People's Literature is a national publication, the literature of the people, and it is aimed at the whole country."

Your work has always been published in national-level journals, so please don't lower your standards! Publishing one piece in our *People's Literature* is equivalent to publishing three pieces in other literary journals.

At this point, Liu Yimin finally realized that Cui Daoyi had been waiting for him, patiently trying to brainwash him, afraid that someone else would snatch him away.

Recently, at the National Congress of Writers and Artists, all the major publications in the country sent representatives to attend. There were many authors and editors present. As soon as the congress ended, each editor used their unique skills and resources to frantically solicit manuscripts from authors.

Recently, Liu Yimin has met with editors from various magazines, including "October," "Flower City," and "Zhongshan."

It would be an exaggeration to say that my dormitory was always bustling with visitors, but editors did come and go in droves.

There were also some publications in Henan Province that wanted Liu Yimin to submit their work to them, out of consideration for their shared hometown.

Liu Yimin rejected all of these offers because he didn't have any manuscripts to submit, but that didn't mean everyone gave up.

The editors of journals like "October" and "Contemporary" who were based in Yenching agreed to visit Liu Yimin again when they had time.

With the added drama from "Yanjing Literature and Art," Cui Daoyi's sense of crisis intensified.

"Bullshit, Cui Daoyi, what nonsense are you spouting?" A furious shout came from behind them as the two were talking.

Liu Yimin looked up and saw Zhou Yanru, who was furious, standing behind the two of them.

There was also a man next to her, carrying a black shoulder bag; he was probably one of the authors invited by Zhou Yanru.

The meeting place isn't far away, so it's not surprising that we bumped into each other.

After a moment of awkwardness, Cui Daoyi smiled and said, "Sister Zhou, sit down and eat with us. I wasn't wrong, our People's Literature and Art is indeed the only national-level literary magazine."

Zhou Yanru sat down next to Liu Yimin without any hesitation and invited another author to sit down, introducing Liu Yimin to him. "Comrade Zhou Meisen, this is Comrade Liu Yimin."

Upon hearing this name, Liu Yimin turned his attention back to the male comrade. It was Zhou Meisen, the author of "In the Name of the People," one of the most skilled writers of officialdom novels in China.

Liu Yimin has watched all the TV series adapted from his novels, such as "Supreme Interest" and "My Fate is in My Own Hands." Each one has its own unique features, especially the "power content of a position" formula invented by Tian Fengyi in "My Fate is in My Own Hands," which always makes him laugh out loud.

Liu Yimin reached out his hand, and Zhou Meisen bowed slightly in excitement. Standing before Liu Yimin, Zhou Meisen looked like a complete greenhorn.

It wasn't until 78 that he published his first work in the China Daily, which broke the shackles that had been weighing him down, and he went from working in the coal mine to working at the editorial department of the Jinling Youth magazine.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, I never expected to meet you today. I have read all your books and greatly admire your talent," Zhou Meisen said warmly, shaking Liu Yimin's hand.

"Come, sit down. Waiter, two more bowls of noodles with soybean paste, please!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

“Yimin, the editors of People’s Literature and Art always use the title of a national publication to pressure their peers and recruit authors. Although our Yanjing Literature and Art is a municipal publication, we are ambitious and our influence in the country is no less than that of People’s Literature and Art. It’s just that we don’t have the title of a national publication. But being a national publication is not a record of achievements. We can’t always rest on our laurels.”

The two editors exchanged barbs, and Liu Yimin fell silent. Zhou Meisen, feeling the chill, dared not speak further.

"Comrade Zhou Meisen, how can you eat noodles with soybean paste without garlic?" Liu Yimin handed Zhou Meisen a clove of garlic, which the latter gratefully accepted.

Zhou Meisen said, "Noodles with soybean paste are a good thing. My family was poor. When I was a child, it was good to have white flour to eat. Most of the time we were hungry."

“Things are different now. Now you’re an editor, and editors hold the fate of many authors in their hands, especially new ones. If it weren’t for Senior Brother Cui Daoyi, I don’t know when my ‘Donkey Water’ would have been published.” Liu Yimin glanced at Cui Daoyi.

Upon hearing this, Cui Daoyi winked smugly at Zhou Yanru, thinking, "We at People's Literature and Art are the people's family."

Zhou Meisen lowered his voice, so that only the two of them could hear: "Editors are nothing. Right now, you could kill three editors with a single brick in Beijing. Look, there are three right here on our table. I'd rather be a writer."

"You're different from other editors; your 'Youth' magazine is now a major publication in Jiangsu Province!"

"What's the difference? They're all serving the author!"

After the meal, Zhou Yanru said, as if deliberately for Cui Daoyi to hear, "Yimin, I think the 'Smoke of War in Beiping' symposium should not only be held, but also held well. I will go back and suggest to Comrade Qingquan that we raise the level of the symposium."

Zhou Yanru's words made Cui Daoyi roll his eyes in anger. However, as they walked down the street and discussed other topics, the two chatted and laughed like old friends.

"It's autumn and winter now, but this literary and art congress has brought a spring breeze to the scene."

After the literary and art congress ended, Cao Yu specially invited Liu Yimin to his home for a meal. After the meeting, Ba Jin and Li Xiaolin were about to leave Yanjing, and before leaving, they came to Cao Yu's house for a meal.

Inside the living room, Cao Yu, Ba Jin, and Liu Yimin were drinking. Li Xiaolin, Wan Fang, and Li Yuru were chatting idly nearby, but Wan Fang and Li Xiaolin's editorial positions made them occasionally glance at Cao, Ba Jin, and Liu Yimin.

"The play 'Wolf Smoke Over Beiping' is finished with rehearsals, and I'll come and see it. At the literary and art congress, several comrades talked about it and expressed high expectations for the play. They all want to see if it can capture some of the charm of 'Teahouse'." Ba Jin took a sip of wine and then quickly picked up a piece of food.

Cao Yu touched Ba Jin's hand and slowly began to speak:

"I plan to perform 'The Flames of War in Beiping' as the first play of the New Year in 1980. You must come and see it. Many of the actors are veterans from 'Teahouse,' and the set design is also very elaborate. My dear brother, I personally feel that it has at least five parts of the spirit of 'Teahouse.'"

You can see an old rickshaw puller from old Beijing, slowly walking towards you from the river of time, pulling you through the streets and alleys of Beijing, encountering all sorts of people, and witnessing destruction, sorrow, hope, and rebirth.

"The Flames of War in Beiping" has been rehearsed and the script has been finalized. It is just waiting for rehearsals to continue until the premiere on January 1, 1980.

Ba Jin's expression shifted, and he said with a smile:

"This isn't your first play in 1980, it's the very first play of the 1980s. It seems you have high expectations for this script. Yimin, Jiabao poured almost his entire life's work into drama. As his student, you should write more good scripts to share the burden of drama with Jiabao."

Liu Yimin quickly said, "I will definitely write more good scripts and try to get closer to my teacher. I will be satisfied if 'Wolf Smoke in Beiping' can capture two or three parts of the charm of Mr. Lao She's 'Teahouse'."

Cao Yu laughed and said, "You don't need to be modest. Good is good, and bad is bad. Brother, Yimin recently wrote a novel about America, which I think is quite interesting. I'll have him tell you about it."

So Liu Yimin explained it to Ba Jin, and Li Xiaolin, who was standing next to him, chimed in, "If it can't be published in the US, it can be published in our journal, Harvest. Yimin, you really haven't had any manuscripts lately?"

"Senior sister, I'll definitely think of you next time!"

Li Xiaolin was a little disappointed, but he repeatedly urged her that next time she had a manuscript, she should think of Harvest: "If you submit to Harvest and get something out of it, then next time you have time, go to Shanghai for a visit."

Ba Jin was very satisfied with the story of "Green Book" and, like Cao Yu, offered to help contact American magazines later.

After having a few drinks, Liu Yimin prepared to return to school. But the wind in Yanjing started blowing again, howling and screaming. Li Yuru pulled Liu Yimin to stay in the guest room: "You've just had a few drinks, and the wind will make you drunk easily. It's safest to stay at home."

Thus, Liu Yimin stayed at Cao Yu's house for the first time.

At the end of November, the seminar on "The Flames of War in Beiping," meticulously prepared by Yanjing Literature and Art, was officially held. As Zhou Yanru had said, it raised the level of the seminar, and an interview with a reporter from China Youth Daily was also arranged. The content of this seminar will be published in China Youth Daily.

However, just as I arrived at the entrance of Yanjing Literature and Art, I ran into Cui Daoyi, who was also there for a meeting.

Cui Daoyi winked at Liu Yimin and said smugly, "How can the editors of 'Smoke and Fire in Beiping' not come to the seminar?"

(End of this chapter)