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

Chapter 182 Pragmatism
After spending nearly ten days on the grassland, Liu Yimin's "highland red" complexion became increasingly prominent. A group of herdsmen stood in front of the mud house, bidding farewell to Liu Yimin, Xu Chi, and Lao Wang.

White hadas fluttered across the grassland. The team leader toasted Liu Yimin and his two companions with a departure drink and repeatedly said auspicious words: "Tashi Delek!"

"Tashi Delek, Captain Uncle, I'll send the photos back after they're developed!" Liu Yimin said.

The team leader said, "Writer Liu, you go ahead with your business. Our business is not important. Take care on your journey, and don't forget about this place. You still have friends here."

By the way, my name isn't Captain Uncle, it's Dorje Tsering. Remember to write to us when you get to Yanjing!

One herdsman said, "Our team leader used to plan to follow Uncle Kurban's example and ride a horse to Yanjing to visit the old man, but unfortunately he couldn't make it."

With tears in his eyes, Captain Dorje waved goodbye, and the three of them said "Tashi Delek" in unison before leaving the grassland.

Xu Chi said, "I wonder how Comrade Suo Zelang is doing, whether he has any health issues."

Liu Yimin sighed and said, "Good people are always blessed by Heaven!"

Since Comrade Sozerang was sent to the county hospital, they have not received any other news. During these days on the grassland, they have not been able to put their minds at ease.

Thinking of this, the three men couldn't help but quicken their pace, urging their horses to head towards Ma'erkang County. The three men had five horses: one was the horse Suozhelang rode, which had barely recovered after treatment by a veterinarian; the other was a horse specifically used for carrying supplies.

Several hours later, they finally arrived in Ma'erkang County. The insides of his legs were chafed raw. Xu Chi was even more pathetic than Liu Yimin, but he was incredibly stubborn.

Liu Yimin said with a smile, "Old Xu, sometimes you have to learn to admit you're getting old!"

Revolutionaries are forever young!

A horse galloped from afar, and Zhuoma, dressed in red, once again blocked Liu Yimin and his group's path.

"Hey, writers from the capital, how are you doing on the grasslands?"

Liu Yimin laughed and said, "What? You're here to ask for your horse again?"

Zhuoma snorted: "Your heart is as small as a stone in a river, while mine is as big as an iron bird flying in the sky."

Liu Yimin and Xu Chi exchanged a glance, and Xu Chi said with a smile, "Zhuoma, you're wrong. Our Comrade Liu Yimin's heart is as pure and flawless as the snow on the mountain."

"Oh, I know, impressive, a writer from the capital! With a few strokes of the pen, snow can fall all over Malkang."

Xu Chi sat on horseback and laughed heartily, completely forgetting the pain in his thigh.

Liu Yimin asked, "Comrade Zhuoma, how is Comrade Suozhelang?"

“Uncle Sozerang can’t stand up right now, but the doctor said he will be able to stand up again in the future. The wolf bit off a large chunk of flesh from his thigh, enough for the pack of wolves to eat for two days,” Zhuoma said solemnly.

Zhuoma led him to the hospital, where he saw Sozerang lying on the hospital bed, still very weak, his lips still red. Upon seeing Liu Yimin, he tried to struggle to sit up, but Liu Yimin quickly helped him sit down.

"Writer Liu, you saved my life," Sozerang said weakly with a smile.

"Don't talk about that. If you hadn't led us on this field trip, this wouldn't have happened," Liu Yimin said remorsefully.

Xu Chi also inquired about Suo Zelang's current situation and consulted a doctor.

Sozerang said, "See? It's nothing. It's just a piece of meat that's missing. We can eat it back up. Eagles in the sky often get injured, but that doesn't stop them from flying again!"

Sozerang's optimistic attitude inspired Liu Yimin and the other two. As they left the hospital, Sozerang still asked them with concern if they had any success on the grassland.

They were also told that the United Front Work Department had assigned someone else to take them to the next place, which was also the last stop of their trip: a temple, where they would learn about Tibetan Buddhism.

This field trip will then come to an end.

After leaving the hospital, Liu Yimin went out to buy some things and delivered them to the hospital. After leaving the hospital, he returned the horse to Zhuoma and took a jeep back to Zhuokeji Official Residence.

"Hey, are you still going to ride Aji?" Zhuoma asked. "That depends on whether you let us ride him or not," Liu Yimin laughed.

The road to the temple was still difficult to travel. The higher the altitude, the more often the jeep broke down.

Back at the official residence, Xu Chi said casually, "Yimin, collecting folk songs must have been tough. Are you enjoying your time in Yanjing?"

"It's comfortable, but I haven't seen as much of the world!" Liu Yimin patted his aching leg.

In the evening, Zhuoma came again. As soon as she entered the official residence, her silvery laughter rang out, mixed with a slightly sarcastic Tibetan accent.

Some ointment was brought over, and the two of them were instructed to apply it to their legs.

"Thank you!" Liu Yimin said.

"I've told you, my heart is as big as an iron bird flying in the sky!" After saying that, Zhuoma skipped and jumped away from the official residence.

During the next few days of rest, Zhuoma came over frequently and brought good news that Sozerang was gradually recovering.

When they arrived at the temple, Zhuoma brought them a horse and wished them a safe journey.

Xu Chi had written down a lot in his notebook, but still hadn't started writing: "Comrade Xu, it seems you're really going to waste the people's hard-earned money!"

Xu Chi glanced at Liu Yimin with an air of composure, as if he knew what was going on.

"Who can be faster than you, Yimin? I see you've already written quite a bit of your play, how many acts are you on?"

"I just finished writing the first act of the first book!" Liu Yimin said with a faint smile.

"Just now? Hey, you're fast! Maybe you'll finish writing by the time we get to Chengdu!" Xu Chi shook his head, quite helplessly.

"It still needs revision. After all, the story is already well-developed, and we know so many details, so it's easy to write. Once you've decided on your theme, I believe your inspiration will flow freely."

"I accept your good words!"

The new guide, named Gyatso, was in charge of religious affairs under the United Front Work Department. He had extensive knowledge of religion, and the rest of the journey was filled with the sounds of the three of them talking.

They started by discussing various aspects of religion, including the influence of these people on the chieftains and lower-class Tibetans. Gyatso was vague in some parts of his speech, and Liu Yimin and Xu Chi, knowing the religious policies, didn't delve too deeply into it.

However, the points mentioned are sufficient for their writing.

Religion has a profound influence on this land, and to write about it, one must understand its impact on people's lives.

It was like a shadow, always accompanying the chieftains and Tibetans.

Xu Chi said, "We Han Chinese have a pragmatic approach to religion; we only believe in things that are useful. Take Zhang Zongchang's rain-seeking poem, for example: 'The Dragon King is also surnamed Zhang, why are you making things difficult for me, Zhang Zongchang? If you don't send rain for three days, I'll first tear down the Dragon King temple, then bombard your mother with cannons.'"

After saying that, Xu Chi laughed first.

"Yes, in the end Zhang Zongchang prayed for rain, and the people all praised him."

"This damned warlord only did this one good thing."

"Comrade Lao Xu, what a wonderful Chinese people they are! They've done so many bad things, but as long as they do one good thing, the people praise them."

After thinking for a long time, Liu Yimin said again, "Isn't this another kind of pragmatism?"

"Yes, our people remember the kindness you showed them!"

PS: Thank you plmm51515151 for the 500 coins reward.

(End of this chapter)