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

Chapter 26 Zhang Yu (Please continue reading)

Inside the dormitory of the Shanghai Film Studio, a pretty young woman was leaning against her pillow, holding a copy of "People's Literature" in her hands and reading it carefully. When she came across something she didn't understand, she would often frown and think for more than ten minutes. If she still couldn't understand it, she would take out the various newspapers on her bedside table and read the analysis in them.

The thin blanket covered half of her legs. She was only wearing shorts on her lower body and a light blue short-sleeved shirt on her upper body. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

She has been in this position for a long time.

"Zhang Yu, are you still watching it? You've watched it at least ten times in three days. Even if it's good, you should be tired of it by now." Her roommate walked in, drying her hair and carrying a washbasin, wearing the same shorts and t-shirt as her.

“Every reading brings a different feeling. You really can’t lie; one lie requires countless lies to cover it up. No, I want to write a letter to the author to discuss this novel.”

Zhang Yu rolled out of bed, revealing her fair and tender thighs, and sat down at the only desk in the six-person dormitory.

"Don't waste your energy. Liu Yimin, the author of 'Mr. Donkey,' must have received a lot of letters from readers, most of which he wouldn't even open!"

Late at night, when his roommate woke up again, he found Zhang Yu still sitting at his desk, sometimes writing furiously, sometimes resting his chin on his hand and looking out the window.

Outside the window were the Shanghai Film Studio buildings and courtyards, all pitch black except for a few lights flickering in the distance and a red moon.

"Zhang Yu, Zhang Yu, are you still writing?" Wu Haiyan said in a low voice.

"Oh dear, Sister Haixia, why aren't you asleep yet? I'm thinking about something!" Zhang Yu was startled by Wu Haiyan's voice.

Zhang Yu called Wu Haiyan "Sister Haixia" because Wu Haiyan played the role of Haixia, a female militia member, in the movie "Haixia." After the movie "Haixia" was released nationwide, Wu Haiyan became known to the people of the whole country.

So in 77, she was transferred from the Fujian Provincial Military Region Cultural Troupe to the Shanghai Film Studio. The adult Haixia was played by Wu Haiyan, while the younger Haixia was played by Cai Ming'er, whom we are more familiar with.

"What are you thinking about? You're not thinking about Liu Yimin, the author of 'Mr. Donkey,' are you? Zhang Yu, let me give you a piece of advice: you don't even know what Liu Yimin looks like, so don't let your imagination run wild. What if he's a slovenly old man!"

"Exactly, some parts are written in a very old-fashioned way, he must be a grumpy old man." Another head popped out from the darkness and said in a low voice.

"Chen Chong, why are you awake too?" Wu Haiyan asked in a low voice.

"I woke up early and watched Zhang Yu write a letter for a while. I counted, and he's already torn up seven or eight sheets of paper," Chen Chong said smugly.

Zhang Yu looked down and counted the crumpled papers in the wastebasket. There were exactly eight. He turned around, embarrassed and angry, and said, "You guessed wrong. Don't talk nonsense. I just wanted to discuss some literary issues."

Wu Haiyan was a few years older and was preparing to marry her husband, who also sang Peking Opera, in a few months. She knew what that meant. But then again, who can resist the urge to admire a writer?
With just a pen, they were able to write such moving and profound stories, which would earn anyone's admiration.

"Nonsense, I'm not talking to you guys anymore, I'm going to sleep!" Zhang Yu quickly turned off his phone, ran into the covers, and pretended to be asleep.

"Chen Chong, go to sleep quickly. Zhang Yu is already embarrassed. You're not allowed to write to Liu Yimin," Wu Haiyan said.

"I understand, Sister Haixia. My handwriting is embarrassing to show off. I just want to play a role like you, Sister Haixia, someday. Sister Haixia, can you still live in the dormitory after you get married? I'll miss you!"

Wu Haiyan was stunned. "I'm married and I'm still living in a dormitory. What's the point of me getting married?"
"Pfft!" Zhang Yu laughed out loud from under the covers after hearing this, peeking out his head and saying, "Chen Chong, here's what we'll do: after Sister Haixia gets married, you can live at their house, that way you two won't be separated!"

Chen Chong smiled and said, "Really? Sister Haixia?"

"I'm sleepy!" Wu Haiyan's husband now works for the Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe. The two families have a very good relationship; they were childhood sweethearts. Wu Haiyan's father worked in the arts in the Jiangsu-Anhui border region and was the founder of the Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe after liberation.

In 68, Wu Haiyan, who was originally in the Fujian Provincial Peking Opera Troupe, was sent to the countryside as part of the "Down to the Countryside Movement." Later, she joined the military region's cultural troupe and then the Shanghai Film Studio.

After the couple gets married, the Peking Opera troupe will provide them with an apartment, but it will only be a one-bedroom unit. Housing allocation is strictly regulated, and even the children of leaders are not exempt. Only after having children can they be allocated a two-bedroom apartment.

What's the point of Chen Chong moving into a room like this? Forget it, I'll just pretend to be asleep! Wu Haiyan covered her head and said nothing more.

After a while, when he thought everyone had fallen asleep, Zhang Yu started thinking about how to write a letter to Liu Yimin.

At the cultural center, Old Zhang was excitedly recounting how the director of the county revolutionary committee had mentioned the novel "Donkey Water" at a meeting of the revolutionary committee. He said the director greatly admired it, praising it as a small step for Liu Yimin and a giant leap for the literary circles of Ru County.

"Yimin, have you had any inspiration lately?" Old Zhang asked.

Old Li also eagerly gathered around. In the past few days, he had become completely convinced of Liu Yimin's abilities and often pulled Liu Yimin aside to discuss literary creation.

"I wrote a poem and was just about to submit it. I forgot it in the dorm, I'll bring it to you in a bit," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Old Zhang is a good friend, and he can't be too stingy! So he plans to publish a poem under the name of the cultural center, which won't be a loss for him.

“Perfect timing, I also have some good news. Yimin, look what this is!” Old Zhang took out a ticket from his bag and handed it to Liu Yimin.

"A bicycle ticket? So fast?" Liu Yimin looked at the small bicycle ticket in his hand and exclaimed with emotion. Now he finally had his own bicycle.

"Yimin, you want to buy a bicycle? Do you have enough money?" Old Sun asked.

"That's enough, I've been saving it up for a long time."

Just then, a voice rang out from outside the door, and a girl walked in, calling out to Old Sun, "Grandpa!" Then she stared intently at Liu Yimin, leaving him completely bewildered.

It took a while for her to realize that this was indeed the granddaughter Old Sun had mentioned, Sun Yihong. Everyone else in the museum recognized Sun Yihong and greeted her warmly.

“Yihong, this is Yimin. Yimin wants to buy a bicycle. The department store in our county is quite a distance from here. You ride Grandpa's bicycle and take Yimin there. While you're at it, go to the Public Security Bureau to get a number.”

"Huh?" Liu Yimin was confused. The department store was less than a kilometer away.

Sun Yihong didn't say anything, but immediately ran out to find a bicycle. Then, she casually rang the bicycle bell, signaling Liu Yimin to get on.

“Yimin is a man, so let Yimin ride. Don’t worry, Yimin, my bike looks flimsy, but you can stand up and pedal. Don’t worry about it, it can handle the effort,” Old Sun said cheerfully.

After Liu Yimin rode his bicycle away, the others at the cultural center gave him a meaningful look, thinking he was trying to find a son-in-law through the imperial examinations.

Old Zhang didn't say anything. Looking for a son-in-law after the imperial examination results were announced—Old Sun wanted it, and others wanted it even more!

(End of this chapter)