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

Chapter 161 Award Ceremony at the Great Hall

The cover of People's Literature and Art magazine prominently features the words "Travels in France," making it easy for subscribers and bookstore readers to spot Liu Yimin's work in this issue.

"Fifteen cents, a copy of 'People's Literature and Art.' I haven't seen any of Comrade Liu Yimin's works for several issues. I miss him quite a bit." The worker in his work clothes took out a fifty-cent coin and accepted the magazine.

"Everyone, take a look! It's brilliantly written. The French really like our Comrade Liu Yimin. If you want to know about France, you can buy it and take a look. See how Comrade Liu Yimin vehemently criticizes French journalists."

The bookstore staff enthusiastically called out to the customers in line.

"Damn it, the French are shameless. Let's beat them up! Comrade Liu Yimin's scolding is well done!"

"But what is this 'PLA Occupies Paris' movie? When did we ever occupy Paris? These French people are really mean, making such a movie to disgust us!"

"A dung beetle lying on your foot won't bite, but it'll disgust you!"

After reading the essay, everyone read Li Ji's commentary on Liu Yimin: "We see a young man who loves his country stepping out of the country with the purpose of exchange. When he set foot on French soil, he secretly made up his mind to shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding the dignity of his motherland, regardless of personal gain or loss."

Through Li Ji's comments and essays, everyone can picture a lonely boy standing in front of the French, facing countless fierce foreign faces, clenching his fists and straightening his chest, listening to the surrounding taunts, not feeling afraid, but bravely fighting them!

"That's a real man!"

Contrary to expectations, there were no voices threatening to damage foreign relations; instead, the support from readers grew stronger and stronger. Anyone who tries to bring this up now will be met with a barrage of criticism from readers.

After only two days of sales, the first reader's letter arrived at People's Literature and Art magazine; the reader had sent the letter directly to the magazine.

"Comrade Liu Yimin is a great source of pride for the Chinese people. We must help deliver this to Comrade Liu Yimin."

After saying that, he threw down the envelope and left gracefully.

In the following days, letters from readers poured in like a tidal wave, and Cui Daoyi had to find someone to deliver them to Liu Yimin's home.

Cui Daoyi said, "Why don't we just publish your address from now on? People can send things directly to this address, and the post office can put a special mailbox for you."

"Will I ever be able to get a good night's sleep again?" Liu Yimin asked with a smile.

"That's right, the readers are so enthusiastic. The essays have stirred up everyone's patriotism and emotions have been aroused. There will definitely be more letters coming in."

Cui Daoyi opened a letter, pointed to it, and said, "Look, what's written here."

What kind of person is Comrade Liu Yimin? He is not merely a writer; he is a truly patriotic writer! He passionately appeals to all Chinese sons and daughters and overseas Chinese to return and contribute to the nation's development. He will not tolerate any slander or defamation from those with ulterior motives. We are all behind Comrade Liu Yimin.

At the end of the letter, he confessed that he had previously been unaware of the truth and had followed others in criticizing Liu Yimin, calling him a patriotic MD writer!

Cui Daoyi said happily, "The truth has come out!"

The loyal minister has already been hailed by the readers!

"Everyone is forgetful, and who knows when they'll start criticizing me again!" Liu Yimin said helplessly.

"At least not now! Come on, carry all these letters inside, and make sure they don't get damp!"

On April 7th, the inaugural Lu Xun Literary Prize award ceremony officially began at the Great Hall of the People. Leaders from the Writers' Association and the Federation of Literary and Art Circles sat on the dais, with Zhang Guangnian presiding over the meeting. He first explained the initial intention behind establishing the literary prize, and then specifically mentioned: "We thank Comrade Liu Yimin for his suggestion. It was Comrade Liu Yimin who suggested that the Writers' Association name the short story and novella prizes the Lu Xun Literary Prize. This not only recognizes Comrade Lu Xun's past literary achievements but also inspires our comrades on the literary and artistic front to continuously achieve outstanding results."

Sitting next to Liu Yimin was Lu Yao, whose novella "A Heart-Stopping Scene" won the Lu Xun Literary Prize. His works, published in 79, consisted mostly of short stories, with relatively few novellas.

Choosing novellas proved difficult, so they moved the selection back a year and included novellas from 78 in the pool of eligible entries.

“Comrade Liu Yimin, although we haven’t seen each other for several months, I’ve been hearing your name constantly in my ears in the Northwest,” Lu Yao said in a low voice.

"How have you been lately?" Liu Yimin asked.

"That's just how I am. I have to rack my brains to write something!" Lu Yao said helplessly, his eyes bloodshot. He had originally wanted to take advantage of the award ceremony to submit another good article to People's Literature and Art.

In the end, though he smoked quite a few cigarettes, he didn't finish the manuscript.

The genealogy clerk leaned over and said, "Writing isn't that simple. Just keep a calm mind and don't be impatient. Comrade Lu Yao, I can see you're covered in cigarette smoke. You're just too impatient. You should be more careful."

Then he comforted her, saying that it was already very impressive for someone of Lu Yao's age to win an award.

The novella "The Three-Life Stone" won the second prize in the novella competition.

Most of the works that won the novella and short story awards this time were either works of "scar literature" or reflective literature that evolved from the scar literature.

For example, the genealogy book "The Three-Life Stone", Feng Jicai's "Ah!" and Lu Yanzhou's "The Legend of Tianyun Mountain" are being adapted into a film by Xie Jin.

There are also works like "The Female Soldiers Who Chased the Troops," which promote revolutionary spirit, but they are rare, so rare that there is only this one.

Liu Yimin joked with Cui Daoyi that it was practically a gathering of writers of "scar literature." He felt like an outsider sitting there.

Among the short stories that won awards was "The Appointment of Factory Director Qiao," which can be considered a pioneering work of reform literature. It tells the story of an old factory director who strives to save a factory damaged by chaos and implements sweeping reforms, thus creating the image of a heroic factory director.

Inside the Great Hall of the People, after Zhang Guangnian finished speaking, the leaders of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles spoke, and the award ceremony officially began an hour later.

The authors, editors, and reporters below all looked up excitedly at the podium.

Although the authors who came all knew they had won an award and were there to receive it, they still felt unconsciously nervous and excited as the leaders read out the list of winners, afraid of missing their own name.

Zhang Guangnian announced in his loudest voice: "The award ceremony for the first Lu Xun Literary Prize for Short Stories, Novellas, and Poems by Young and Middle-Aged Poets is now officially beginning!"

"The first prize winner of the first Lu Xun Literary Prize for short stories, 'Romance on Mount Lu,' is written by Liu Yimin."

"The first prize winner of the first Lu Xun Literary Prize for novella, 'The Smoke of War over Beiping,' is written by Liu Yimin."

"The first prize-winning work of the first National Young and Middle-aged Poets' Poetry Award, titled 'Ideal,' was written by Comrade Liu Yimin!"

"Let us congratulate Comrade Liu Yimin on winning three major national literary awards. We hope he will continue to shoulder the important responsibility of writing for the people and create outstanding literary works once again!"

"Comrades, clap clap!"

(End of this chapter)