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

Chapter 315 Rejecting Harvard University's Offer
Drake served as president of Harvard University for twenty years, from 71 to 91, and some of his educational theories have had a significant impact on China.

Stephen greeted Drake and then fell silent.

"Hello, how can I help you?" Liu Yimin asked with a smile.

"After listening to your speech, I feel that you are very similar to the mission of Harvard University. I am committed to making Harvard an international school, where diversity, love, and democracy are never lacking on this land, and we welcome talents from all over the world!"

Drake went on and on, while Liu Yimin nodded without saying a word.

“Liu, I have studied your novels and poems in China. You are exceptionally talented and have a natural sensitivity to language. I would like to invite you to join the Harvard College of Arts and Sciences. I know you are currently pursuing your graduate studies at Yenching University. We can offer you a full scholarship for your combined Master’s and Doctoral program, as well as a $100,000 writing grant to help you establish the Center for Oriental Literature Writing.”

From the time he received his scholarship, Drake spoke very slowly, each word incredibly enticing.

While speaking, he observed Liu Yimin's reaction and felt that the young man would definitely not be able to refuse the amount of one hundred thousand US dollars.

Many writers who come to the United States to participate in the Iowa Writing Program choose to stay in the United States once they receive offers from various universities.

"We have many professors from China at Harvard University. We can also provide you with an apartment. Other benefits will depend on your future contributions. I believe that Harvard University can be a platform for you to gain an international perspective and engage in international writing."

"One hundred thousand US dollars." Liu Yimin clicked his tongue twice and slowly shook his head.

"What? One hundred thousand dollars is too little? One hundred and fifty thousand dollars at most!" Redel couldn't help but feel a little angry. The young man had quite the appetite.

“No, what I mean is, $100,000 is a lot of money. But Principal Drake, I think you've misunderstood me. I'm not coming to America. I have my parents, wife, and friends in China.”

"I can find a way to get green cards for your family so they can stay in the United States permanently!"

Drake felt he had already offered the highest price possible.

“In China, and in my country, Principal Drake, you can’t get a green card for my country!”

Derek gave Liu Yimin a deep look, thinking that this man was truly impervious to reason, and said helplessly, "If one day you can no longer stay in China, the doors of Harvard University will always be open for you!"

"Principal Drake, is this American humor? I can't stay in my own country?"

"Liu, you're still young. There are many Americans who can't stay in China, and there are many reasons why."

Drake left Liu Yimin with an envelope containing his contact information before leaving.

Stephen asked curiously, "Liu, I'm really interested in the Harvard job opportunity, you know? I've only ever been a high school teacher, why don't you agree?"

"I am Chinese, so naturally I should stay in China!"

"Literature knows no borders!"

"But writers have a motherland!"

Stephen looked at Liu Yimin for a while and said, "You remind me of a Chinese professor!"

"Who?"

"Professor Qian Xuesen!"

“Stephen, I can’t compare to Mr. Qian Xuesen,” Liu Yimin quickly said.

"It is said that the government is inviting Mr. Qian Xuesen to visit the United States again."

However, the trip ultimately did not take place because Mr. Qian Xuesen demanded that the United States apologize for his actions at the time. He was invited three times by both the American public and the government, but was refused each time.

The awards ceremony finally ended, and Liu Yimin, clutching numerous publishers' business cards, left the concert hall with Zhang Guangnian and the others.

Edward had them sent back and extended another invitation to Liu Yimin for a family dinner.

Zhang Guangnian said, "World War II veteran? We should go and meet him. There's an old Chinese saying, 'Turn swords into plowshares'!"

"Then let's do it tomorrow night!" Liu Yimin said.

On the way back to the apartment from the concert hall, the group picked up Liu Yimin's award certificate and looked at it. When they learned that publishers from several countries wanted to sign licensing agreements, they felt that the award was very significant.

"When will our country have international awards that have such influence?" Zhang Guangnian exclaimed once again.

Everyone remained silent until they arrived at the apartment, where Nie Hualing and his wife were already waiting for them.

Upon seeing them, Nie Hualing turned to Liu Yimin and said, "Yimin, I heard that the president of Harvard University ran into a wall with you?"

Zhang Guangnian, Xu Chi, and the others looked at Liu Yimin with suspicion, wondering what was going on.

"Yimin, what are you hiding from us?" Xu Chi asked with a smile.

Nie Hualing told them about it, so it seems she knew about it beforehand. That makes sense, given that Nie Hualing is very familiar with Chinese writers.

Zhang Guangnian's head buzzed for a moment. If he came to receive an award and the person ran off to America, how would he explain it when he went back?

Xu Chi patted Liu Yimin on the shoulder: "Well done!"

“150,000 US dollars? Those Americans really dare to ask for that much!” Wang Meng said.

Liu Yimin chuckled and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore, there's nothing to talk about!"

Nie Hualing took the literary award certificate and looked at it carefully. She said enviously, "Yimin, I look forward to your continued success in the international literary world!" In the afternoon, Liu Yimin met with several publishers who had come with him. Nie Hualing helped Liu Yimin find a lawyer, and they eventually signed five authorization contracts.

The negotiation process was simple: no agreement was reached, no contract was signed. The countries that signed the contract were Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany.

Zhang Guangnian, representing the Writers Association, spoke with these people, hoping they would visit China more often, as there are many excellent books worth sharing with the world.

After seeing them off, Zhang Guangnian said, "Today ended without any major incidents. Yimin, I've witnessed your fighting prowess firsthand. I didn't see it in France last time, but this time I experienced it firsthand!"

"Haha, I'm lucky, I saw it both times!" Xu Chi said, "This time was even better than the last!"

"Alright, tomorrow morning is for a meeting with Chinese writers, as well as some writers from the island, so there are some things I need to be especially careful about."

After Zhang Guangnian finished speaking, everyone dispersed. Liu Yimin returned to the room to continue writing, and once finished, he sent it to Xu Chi for review and translation. The two worked together seamlessly.

In his article on economic policy, Liu Yimin talked about policies while also explaining the market to Americans, hoping they would invest in China.

The overall message is that China has a market and people, so you can make money by investing in China.

For capital, love is useless; making money is the key.

Sometimes, Liu Yimin even had to discuss some economic policies with everyone in the group, for fear that he might have misremembered them.

Everyone else was very cooperative, and seeing the development of the United States, they naturally hoped that China would follow suit.

The impact on ordinary people in the United States is significant, and the impact on these individuals is also considerable.

Ding Ling, one of the bigwigs of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, returned from the United States a couple of years ago and said with frustration that the United States had modern supermarkets, houses and cars that could be purchased with loans, etc., which was different from the United States she had imagined.

When Wang Meng returned from her first trip to the United States, she was still unable to calm down and didn't know how to describe America to her fellow countrymen.

The following day, American newspapers began publishing Liu Yimin's speech from the previous day. His remarks were reprinted by major newspapers, some with sensational headlines such as "Chinese Writer Disdains American Development Achievements." Other newspapers published all of Liu Yimin's statements in a more objective manner.

In the morning, we were going to attend a gathering of Chinese writers, and a few of us bought a lot of American newspapers on the way and started reading.

After reading some newspaper articles that were taken out of context, several elderly comrades turned ashen with anger.

“That’s just how reporters are!” Nie Hualing comforted her.

Upon arriving at a villa in New York, Nie Hualing said, "Do you know Commander Song Xilian? He is also in New York now, and has established the Association for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification with some Chinese."

“Really? I’ve met them a few times at the CPPCC!” Zhang Guangnian said.

"Yes, Commander Song Xilian is here today too!"

Upon entering the villa, Liu Yimin found a dozen or so people sitting inside. In the middle was an old man wearing a plaid shirt with gray hair, who exuded an air of authority. Liu Yimin guessed that this must be Song Xilian.

After the introduction, it turned out to be true.

Besides these, there was another person who caught Liu Yimin's attention: Zheng Chouyu.

"This must be the young man from the American newspapers, comrade. I am Song Xilian!"

"Hello, Commander Song!"

“You speak well, you’re more outspoken than us. Tell the old man about China. He’s been away for years, he wants to know how things have developed!” Song Xilian said. He was granted permission to visit relatives in New York in 1980 and has stayed there ever since.

Zhang Guangnian held Song Xilian's hand, and the group spoke slowly.

Zheng Chouyu whispered to Liu Yimin, "Yimin, a friend in China sent me a letter with one of your poems, 'The Past Was Slow,' which I really like! And here's another poem I wrote when I was young, 'Mistake,' which I'm sending to you!"

Liu Yimin was very familiar with this poem, and he particularly liked a few lines of it.

“Mr. Zheng, your line ‘My galloping hooves are a beautiful mistake / I am not a returning traveler, but a passerby’ is very well written. I like it very much. It expresses the melancholy in one go. I just don’t know whether your feelings here are more about patriotism or romantic love?”

Zheng Chouyu's father was a soldier who fought in the War of Resistance against Japan alongside Zhang Zizhong. He spent his childhood fleeing the war with his mother, eventually ending up on an island.

“My mother has been waiting for my father, experiencing disappointment and longing again and again. This poem is about my mother, and I believe it also expresses love for our motherland. You don’t know how much my mother and I have missed the mainland since we came to this island,” Zheng Chouyu said with a sorrowful tone.

"Mr. Zheng, now that the policy is more open, you are welcome to come home anytime. The mainland and the island are both part of China!"

Song Xilian slapped his thigh, stood up and said, "That's right, we are all China, one China. Anyone who tries to split the country is a sinner against the Chinese nation!"

Zheng Chouyu originally lived on the island, but later participated in the Iowa International Writing Training Camp, and then stayed in Iowa and taught at Yale University.

“I’ll go back when I have time. I need to go and see it!” Zheng Chouyu said.

“We who are abroad all want to do something for our country. If there is anything we can do, we must speak up!” said a Chinese man standing nearby. He was not a writer, but a wealthy person in the United States.

"Welcome back to invest in our country! Of course, the reunification of our motherland also depends on your tireless efforts and advocacy!"

They chatted all morning, not only about literature, but Song Xilian also occasionally talked about the war and the past: "The old man was much wiser than Baldy. Baldy was too selfish and petty. Du Yuming's son was actually forced to his death. When we heard the news, we were heartbroken!"

After lunch, the group left the villa. Even from a short distance away from the apartment, they could already hear a commotion.

The group of people didn't know what was going on until they got closer and saw two groups of people holding up signs and protesting.

(End of this chapter)