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

Chapter 175 Patriotism is not politics
Jiang He was at a loss for words after hearing Liu Yimin's words. After a while, he said, "Comrade Bei Dao is an excellent poet and a very good person. The magazine 'Today' has united many young poets, such as Shu Ting and Gu Cheng."

Liu Yimin asked, "Comrade Jiang He, what do you want to say?"

"I want to say that you should work with Comrade Bei Dao to lead our young poets in building a better poetry scene. Recently, many people have called our poetry 'obscure' and even attacked it relentlessly. You have bravely spoken out on reform literature and raised the banner of reform literature, which has inspired many authors."

So it turns out this guy wanted Liu Yimin to fight someone.

Liu Yimin silently rolled his eyes: "Comrade Jiang He, first of all, to be honest, I don't think my poetry is obscure. Besides, poetry debates are not political struggles. I don't think poetry should be linked to politics or anything like that, or talk about a struggle between the old and the new."

"Comrade Liu Yimin, let's not get involved in politics, your 'Motherland, My Beloved Motherland'..."

Liu Yimin immediately interrupted him sternly: "Comrade Jiang He, patriotism is not politics!"

Hearing Liu Yimin's words, Jiang He fell silent. After a while, he sheepishly left Liu Yimin's place. Liu Yimin continued to lie down and rest with his eyes closed, the sounds of seabirds and waves becoming even clearer in his ears.

Jiang He wanted Liu Yimin to be his scapegoat, but unfortunately, he was still too inexperienced.

Starting this year, the veteran poet began to launch a fierce attack on the so-called "obscure poetry," which he defined as obscure and difficult to understand.

Bei Dao's poem "Life": Net, in particular, was subjected to relentless criticism. The debate in the poetry world quickly polarized, with both supporters and opponents.

Liu Yimin paid little attention to the poetry scene, since his main creative fields were novels and plays.

In the evening, Ai Qing also discussed the issue of Misty Poetry with Liu Yimin and showed Liu Yimin the manuscript of his lecture at the poetry conference, in which he used Bei Dao's poetry as an example for criticism.

"The poems these people write are incomprehensible to others, only to themselves; in other words, they are only written for themselves. What is the net? Life is a net, then can love also be called a net? Everything is a net, so what's the point of writing this? Can readers understand it?"

Ai Qing said angrily.

Liu Yimin handed the manuscript to Ai Qing: "Comrade Ai Qing, although this is an internal speech at the poetry gathering, once you say this, the entire poetry world will know about it soon, and there will be a lot of verbal battles to come!"

We're not afraid of a war of words!

The next day, I woke up, opened the guesthouse window, and the sea breeze blew in. After eating a local specialty meal, I met with young people from the Poetry Journal who sat together on the beach to discuss their thoughts on poetry.

After Yan Chen finished speaking, Zou Huofan began to talk about the major creative ideas in poetry. After offering some initial thoughts and encouragement, the discussion became more lively.

Zou Huofan sat down next to Liu Yimin and said with a smile, "Does this scene look familiar?"

"Familiar, gathered in a group, like the game of dropping the handkerchief that we used to play in school."

Zou Huofan glanced at him: "You should at least say something!"

Xu Jingya, who was standing next to him, also said, "Comrade Liu Yimin, you are a representative of young writers and poets. Why don't you talk about it? The person I most wanted to see when I came to Yenching this time is you. Your literary reviews are all very good, which shows that you have a particularly strong theoretical foundation. Among all of us here, who isn't a mediocre writer? I'm a worker from the Shuting Light Bulb Factory, and I'm one of them too, from the Jianghe Glue Capsule Factory. Only you are a student of the Chinese Department of Yenching University."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yimin thought it over and realized it was true: "This demonstrates the power of our working class!"

"Ha ha ha ha"

"Comrade Liu Yimin, don't be modest. In the past, young men and women would use 'To the Oak Tree' to express their feelings, but now they all use your 'Just Right.' If you don't speak, we don't dare to say anything!" A female comrade said to Liu Yimin from across the room.

Liu Yimin reiterated his previous points that poetry should be "substantial and emotional," and then everyone discussed how to achieve this.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, you Chinese literature majors are indeed poets with a high level of theoretical understanding. We're no match for you; we just write whatever comes to mind!"

Liu Yimin said, "Our Chinese department doesn't train writers, it trains literary critics. If we can't even do literary criticism well, we might as well disband the Chinese department!"

A group of people on the beach laughed out loud. Someone asked, "Why doesn't the Chinese Literature Department train writers? If it doesn't train writers, what's the point of studying Chinese Literature!"

"This was proposed by Yang Hui, the former head of our Chinese Department. Good writers can't be cultivated, but literary critics and analytical perspectives can. So, whether you study Chinese literature or not is not important for becoming a writer or poet!"

After finishing his presentation, Zou Huofan read aloud Liu Yimin's unpublished work, "The World," for everyone to hear. The group quickly took out their notebooks and jotted down their notes.
"Oh, Comrade Liu Yimin, while we're still focused on our own little corner of the world, you've already set your sights on the whole world! Amazing, amazing!"

"Otherwise, how could Comrade Liu Yimin have gone further than us? I've seen all his plays, and they're all exceptionally brilliant. If the entire troupe hadn't gone to Hong Kong to perform, I would definitely have taken you to see them."

Ai Qing walked over, glanced at Zou Huofan's notebook, and said, "I think this is what poetry should be, something meaningful. When you write poetry, you must make sure the reader can understand it and knows what you are trying to express. Look, this poem is about a wonderful world and the future of young people."

After Ai Qing finished speaking, she blurted out everything she had originally intended to say in class. Jiang He and the other Misty Poets looked a little displeased, but they couldn't say anything in front of Ai Qing.

While Ai Qing was talking at length, Liu Yimin patted Zou Huofan on the shoulder and said, "You guys really love making a scene."

“Yimin, how can truth be established without discussion?” Zou Huofan said indifferently.

In the afternoon, a group of people hurried home from Beidaihe, arriving in Yanjing as dusk was falling. After having dinner at the Poetry Journal editorial office, Liu Yimin returned to his courtyard house.

The poets from the "Youth" poetry gathering, except those from Yanjing, were all crammed into the dormitory of the "Poetry Journal" editorial office, where conditions were rather poor. But if "Poetry Journal" were to make them stay in a guesthouse for more than a month, the cost would be a burden for them.

The courtyard house was empty and desolate. After lying down, Liu Yimin felt a sudden sense of loneliness. Looking at the moonlight, he wondered to himself, "When will the lady of the house move in?"

Before leaving Beijing, Liu Yimin visited Li Yuru. Wan Fang, knowing that Liu Yimin was going to Sichuan Province, also rushed to Muxidi to see him off and made her signature braised beef.

Li Yuru asked with concern, "Yimin, is everything prepared?"

"Everything's ready. We just need to go to the Ministry of Culture and the United Front Work Department tomorrow," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Wan Fang placed a piece of braised beef on Liu Yimin's plate: "After the script is finished, let's stick to the old routine and put it in our 'Script Monthly' magazine, how about that?"

"Senior sister, are you doubting my loyalty to you?" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Wan Fang glanced at him and laughed, "I'm just giving you a heads-up. You think this braised beef is free? It's all been replaced."

"I know, sincerity begets sincerity!"

Wan Fang chuckled and patted Liu Yimin on the head: "You smooth talker!" "Your teacher is in France now. I wonder if his health can handle it. He's so old, how can he travel from England to France like a young person without stopping?" Li Yuru said worriedly.

Liu Yimin took a bite of the braised beef and said, "Senior sister, you should have gone with the teacher."

Wan Fang said helplessly, "I'd like to, but I can't get away. I'll go back to China in a few days, and then I'll go to the United States. Maybe we can go together then."

Li Yuru also said that Wan Fang going along would save a lot of trouble.

"Yimin, I heard you're dating someone? When are you going to bring her home so your teacher's wife can meet her? Your teacher said she's a very nice girl," Li Yuru suddenly remembered and asked gossipily.

“I’ve seen her, Aunt Li. Let me tell you about her. This girl is tall, pretty, and has big eyes. If you go to the Beijing People’s Art Theatre to see a play, you’ll see her.” Wan Fang recounted everything as if reporting to a superior.

Liu Yimin said frankly, "When she returns from Hong Kong, I will bring her to meet you!"

"You should tell me in advance, I need to cook something delicious."

"A simple home-cooked meal is fine. She's one of the teacher's students, so please don't be shy!"

"That won't do!" Li Yuru chuckled.

The next day, Liu Yimin arrived at the Ministry of Culture early and collected 500 yuan from the finance office as a field trip allowance. He would collect the subsidy upon his return.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, Comrade Xia Yan is looking for you. Please wait a moment before you leave." Xia Yan's secretary ran over and called out to Liu Yimin.

Following his secretary upstairs, Xia Yan changed completely. He was no longer the old man holding a cat in the courtyard. He pointed to the sofa and said, "Sit down, Yimin. I've spoken with some comrades there about your trip to Sichuan for research. They'll help you if anything comes up. Your teacher isn't here, so you can contact me if you need anything."

Xia Yan's words warmed Liu Yimin's heart.

"It's a long journey, I'll have someone buy you a sleeper ticket."

Xia Yan didn't mention the creative work, but after saying a lot of concerned words, he had his secretary see Liu Yimin out. Comrades from the United Front Work Department brought a letter of introduction and a contact person in Sichuan Province.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, this is the person in charge of the local United Front Work Department. They will find you a guide, a car, and a driver!"

"Companion vehicle?"

"We can't keep walking all the time because the mountains are high and the roads are long. Our United Front Work Department leaders have stated that they will provide all the support they need. There are dedicated cars and drivers, and even for places where cars can't go, horses are arranged."

After Cao Yu's outburst last time, the United Front Work Department staff were especially friendly and didn't discuss creative ideas with Liu Yimin again.

The next day, Liu Yimin, carrying a few changes of clothes and a camera, simply embarked on his journey to Sichuan Province.

The carriage was bustling with noise, and it was extremely stuffy because there was no air conditioning. Liu Yimin only felt much better after opening the window. At this moment, Liu Yimin was the only one in the soft sleeper compartment, his hands resting on the window, watching Beijing outside recede further and further away from him.

But keeping the windows open wasn't a good solution either; sometimes sand would fly in, leaving everyone covered in dust. Liu Yimin took his camera and went to the hard-seat carriage, where he took several photos.

The hard-seat carriage was extremely lively. Adults were talking about all sorts of things, while some were reading books as if no one else was around. When they heard some vulgar words, they frowned and suppressed their anger.

The children crawl around naked on the ground, and they are all held by their parents and stood on their laps.

Standing to the side, Liu Yimin chatted with everyone for a while before the train police officer came over and checked his ticket: "How did you end up here in a soft sleeper? Where's your letter of introduction?"

The United Front Work Department's red stamp was displayed, and someone smiled and said, "Comrades, I'm just chatting with you all. Doesn't that violate the train management regulations?"

"No violation, no violation." After saying that, the train police officer added, "Comrade Liu, please take good care of your belongings."

This train goes directly to Sichuan Province, and there are quite a few people from Sichuan on board. They hear Liu Yimin's interest in Sichuan, and he even talks about some parts of the province quite well. With a few flattering words, they immediately get into a lively conversation.

Liu Yimin listened attentively, trying to discern in his mind which was boasting and which was the truth.

When he got sleepy, he would go to his compartment to sleep. When he got bored, he would go to the hard-seat carriage to chat with everyone. Liu Yimin spent his train journey like this for several days.

"My father used to live a simple life. He carried a big knife out of Sichuan and fought for several years. Later, he joined the People's Liberation Army and fought all the way to Guangxi Province. He was wounded and had to come back."

The man spoke of his father with a face full of pride.

The man, like a storyteller, began to narrate his tale with great enthusiasm and vivid imagery. Since everyone had nothing else to do, they listened intently. Liu Yimin was an excellent audience member; the expression on his face proved he was listening very attentively.

"Stop talking!"

"Say something more!"

"I'm not talking about it anymore. I've been waiting all day, and I'm still hungry. It's not you guys who are hungry, you're so generous." The man said, clutching his stomach with dissatisfaction.

"You still want to take the money?!"

"What do you mean? I didn't say that." The man's expression looked remarkably like Wang Xun's.

Liu Yimin glanced at his watch; there was still some time before they arrived in Chengdu. So he said, "I'll treat you to dinner, and you can tell me more!"

The man was amused, and after finishing his meal, he resumed his lively storytelling.

After finishing his explanation, he asked Liu Yimin, "Comrade, what do you do for a living? Why are you here in Sichuan Province?"

"Going on a field trip!"

"Damn it, I've only ever heard of bees collecting honey, never of people collecting folk songs, hahaha, you little comrade, you're quite the joker."

Liu Yimin didn't explain further. Instead, he waved his hand, returned to his carriage, picked up his things, and prepared to get off the train.

(End of this chapter)