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

The book signing event for Chapter 317 was a success.

"Literature is first and foremost about content, and secondly about form. Magical realism and avant-garde literature are merely forms of expression; what matters is the expression of content."

Chinese literature has always been grounded in the realities of the country and served the people. We have a saying: the content that the masses enjoy is the content we should write.

In China, realism has always been the mainstream of literary creation, and it is also the mainstream in the realm of world literary thought. The Nobel Prize-winning novel *One Hundred Years of Solitude* is also very popular in China, and the magical realism it represents is a form of realism.

Therefore, I believe that Chinese literature is not isolated from world literature.

The professor in the audience smiled and said, "Liu, at the end of the article, this writer believes that in an era when magical realism has become the mainstream of world literature, Chinese people cannot write works of magical realism!"

The delegation members in the audience were taken aback after Xu Chi translated for them; they realized that's what they were waiting for!
"As I just said, literature is first and foremost about content, and secondly about form. As long as there is content, form is irrelevant. Of course, form is much simpler than content. Magical realism? I don't think it's difficult to write!"

Upon hearing Liu Yimin's words, the audience erupted in uproar. "Writing magical realism isn't difficult? That's an overstatement."

"Professor Liu, no, no, no, I think you don't understand what I mean. Writing it out isn't difficult, but making it influential is. If anyone could write anything, then everyone would be a writer!"

"Professor Leo, since I came to America, I've been thinking about the extent to which literature can change people's minds. I feel that a single book can't possibly change anything. I'm willing to do more for racial equality in the world. I have new inspiration, but it's not yet formed, and I don't know if it will have any impact."

There's an old Chinese saying, "Let's wait and see." That's right, let's wait patiently and see!

Liu Yimin originally wanted to say, "Let's see how it goes," but he swallowed his words back.

"Professor Liu, the American literary community is watching closely. We hope that more writers from other countries will come to the United States, after all, the American stage is the world stage."

This statement made everyone in the delegation uncomfortable; they had experienced American arrogance more than once.

Then Columbia University students asked questions, which were not limited to literature but included many questions about China.

"Professor Liu, China is currently undergoing reform and opening up, which is of great concern to the world. How long and how far can this reform and opening up last? I have met some Chinese students who are very enthusiastic about China's reform and opening up, but they also believe that there is still a long way to go in terms of economic development. They think that it will take hundreds of years to reach the level of prosperity of the United States."

Liu Yimin said, "China's reform and opening up will continue. We welcome you to come to China to learn more. There is indeed a large economic gap, which we acknowledge, and we will learn from the world. As for the past hundred years, I personally believe that China has abundant resources and a large market. I believe that once China's economy is connected with the world, its economic development will be very rapid."

Businesses worldwide will also benefit from China's development. China now offers preferential policies for foreign investment, hoping more American companies will go to China, where there are markets and raw materials.

"Many businessmen believe that there is no profit to be made in China. China's per capita wealth is too low, and despite its large population, it cannot provide a decent market, even less so than Southeast Asia!" another student stood up and asked.

"Haha, China has a billion people. Even if each person only spends ten dollars a year, that's still a market worth tens of billions of dollars. One hundred dollars is hundreds of billions. Moreover, China is close to Japan and South Korea, and close to Southeast Asia. It is politically stable. Setting up factories in China saves costs and brings them closer to the consumer market. Savvy capitalists will not miss this opportunity. In the future, China will definitely upgrade its infrastructure such as electricity, communications, and transportation. There are profits to be made from all of this."

What followed almost turned into a business promotion conference, lasting two hours from the presentation to the Q&A session.

The event officially ended only after Nice gestured to Liu Yimin. Liu Yimin then sat down in the audience and began signing autographs.

The professor who had asked the question came over first. After Liu Yimin signed the document, he smiled and said, "Liu, you have changed my image of Chinese writers. I have met many Chinese people and writers in the past two years. When they come out, they are often timid and hesitant to speak. You are different. I look forward to your magical realism literary works, and I also look forward to your coming to Columbia University."

If you're interested, perhaps we can become colleagues!

"Thank you!"

Next, the entire stadium formed a queue, with people coming over from the China Book and Periodical Publishing House area to get their books signed.

Liu Yimin wrote his name, and Xu Chi next to him helped to stamp it with Liu Yimin's seal.

Wei Junyi and Chen Yuan felt that this format could also be promoted domestically, as book signings could greatly enhance the influence of authors.

The students who came to sign included not only "Triumph at Midnight" but also "Green Book." Liu Yimin accepted all of them, and after an hour, the number of people signing did not decrease at all.

Xu Chi's head was covered in a thick layer of sweat, and Zhang Guangnian took over his work as soon as he saw it.

"Chinese seals are so beautiful!" the American student said with a smile.

Everyone would say a few words to Liu Yimin when they signed their names.

An employee from the China Publishing House ran up to Niki Noyce and said, "We've already sold a thousand copies, exceeding our expectations. And many students are still coming here, including some Vietnamese students who want to get in."

“We can’t let them in. We need to protect Liu. The TV and newspaper reporters should give this book a good report. The book’s sales will exceed our expectations,” Niki Noyce said quickly.

Niki Noyce has been spending a lot of money on reporters from these TV stations and newspapers lately, so of course she's going to use them lavishly.

Besides the reporters who paid for their services, there were also some reporters who came on their own initiative, and their reporting was beyond Nikki's control.

The book signing lasted until after 4 p.m. Everyone had just eaten some bread for lunch. In the end, a total of 2,000 copies of "Triumphant at Midnight" were sold, and about 1,200 copies were actually signed.

Many people couldn't wait in line and left with the books.

Liu Yimin's hand ached from signing so many times. He got up, stretched, and gave the pen he used for signing to the last student to sign.

"Liu, this book signing event was a huge success!" Nikki exclaimed.

Zhang Guangnian said with a smile, "My hand hurts from all this stamping. Book signings are for young writers, we older folks can't keep up!"

"Hahaha!"

As everyone walked out of the gymnasium, a large crowd of students still gathered outside. Liu Yimin waved to them and, amidst cheers, exclaimed, "Columbia University is the most beautiful American campus I've ever seen, and literature is my gift to you all!"

"Liu, you are a great Chinese writer. You have sparked my interest in China. I hope we can meet in China someday."

After the American girl finished speaking, she boldly opened her arms and hugged Liu Yimin, and amidst the cheers of those around her, she took the opportunity to kiss Liu Yimin's cheek.

"Thank you for your kind words. You're the most beautiful American girl I've ever met. I hope literature will always be with you." "Wow!"

Xu Chi curled his lip behind him, thinking how noisy these American students were.

As Liu Yimin descended the stairs, he clapped and chatted with everyone: "Young people are the hope of the country. I hope that young people in America will be able to contribute to world peace and racial equality in the future."

The news of the book signing event for "Triumph at Midnight" received high attention from American television stations and newspapers due to both Liu Yimin himself and the marketing expenses of the publishing house.

In the hotel, Liu Yimin watched an American cable television program showing a clip of his speech, with the caption: "This young man from the East is full of confidence in his country!"

Some newspapers even wrote, "This young man from the East is calling on American companies to invest in China."

Some of Liu Yimin's speeches in China and the United States were also published in newspapers.

"China's New Generation of Young Fighters"

Thanks to constant coverage in newspapers and on television, the novel "Triumph at Midnight" received wider attention, and its sales soared.

Niki told Liu Yimin that on the day of release, total sales in the United States had exceeded 10,000 copies.

Liu Yimin thought she was so excited that she thought they had sold over a million copies; those Americans just don't know anything.

After finishing their trip to New York, the next stop was Washington, D.C. As Liu Yimin was leaving the hotel and about to get into the car, the hotel manager ran over and handed him a box of gifts.

“This was a gift from our boss. He agrees with your statement that investing in China will yield substantial returns. He says you are not only a writer but also an economist. He has read all the articles in the Wall Street Journal and found them very insightful.”

The hotel manager placed the suitcase in Liu Yimin's hands and quickly returned to the hotel.

Liu Yimin looked up at the hotel's name, then at the note on the suitcase that read "Trump's love".

This is the tax king's hotel!

Nikki said, "This is a hotel owned by a famous real estate developer. Do they want to do real estate in China?"

"Perhaps."

After leaving New York, their next stop was Washington, D.C., where they met with the American Publishers Association.

On the afternoon of their departure from Washington, accompanied by the embassy, ​​the American Publishers Association, and members of Congress, they visited Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., to lay flowers in honor of General Chennault of the Flying Tigers and pay their respects.

The embassy delivered a speech on Sino-US friendship next to the cemetery, and all of this was reported by American television and journalists.

There is widespread discussion in American society that the future of Sino-US relations is extremely bright, and investment in China has become a hot topic in the business community.

Many small factories, or factories that can't survive in the US, feel that moving to China might be an opportunity.

"This Chinese writer is a marketing genius. The newspapers are full of articles about him. If he went into business, I think he would be even more successful."

A businessman who resembled a young tax tycoon swung his golf club forcefully, sending the golf ball arcing across the course before landing precisely outside the hole.

The people around them didn't even look, and immediately started clapping.

"The marketing of China Book and Periodical Publishing House is far less effective than his ability to speak a few words. In the United States, his speaking skills would at least qualify him to become the Speaker of the New York City Council."

After saying that, he smiled at the people around him and said, "And I am above him; I can be president."

Liu Yimin, Zhang Guangnian, and others flew directly from Washington to Iowa, while Niki Noyce flew back to the San Francisco headquarters.

Led by Nie Hualing, they moved into the May Red Apartment, where writers of the International Writing Program usually reside.

We've been in the US for almost twenty days now, and the trip to Iowa was an extra stop on our itinerary. The members of the delegation are feeling incredibly homesick.

Fortunately, the May Red Apartment allows residents to cook for themselves. They went to the supermarket to buy noodles and vegetables, and cooked them themselves. The aroma filled the apartment. Xu Chi, a southerner who usually eats rice, managed to eat two bowls of noodles.

"Unfortunately, some seasonings are hard to find, so it still lacks a bit of flavor," Zhang Guangnian said with satisfaction.

Nie Hualing said, "The thing Chinese writers find hardest to adapt to when they come to America is food, so many of them choose to cook for themselves. I've been here a while and I've gotten used to it, but I still occasionally crave some Chinese food."

"American food is much better than French food. French food is even more unpalatable to most people. Westerners think they're sophisticated when it comes to food, just because they use a knife and fork and wear a cloth around their necks. Hey, when it comes to food, we Chinese are their ancestors. We can make even a simple bowl of noodles into something amazing."

"Oil-splashed noodles, knife-cut noodles, minced meat noodles, and the fried sauce noodles that we old Beijingers love the most. The noodles are cooked, and then the prepared sauce is added. Oh my!" Wang Meng said, her Beijing accent returning.

The next day, the group visited the University of Iowa, met with Chinese students studying in Iowa, and then gave speeches.

When Liu Yimin took the stage to give his speech, students from the University of Iowa kept asking him questions.

"China has a rich history spanning five thousand years and boasts famous historical sites such as the Great Wall. We welcome everyone to travel to China, see the country for yourself, and dispel any prejudices or misunderstandings."

Internationalists are great because they always stand on the side of justice. Only by strengthening understanding can misunderstandings be eliminated. Only the rise of peaceful forces can deter non-peaceful forces.

China's development will be a great contribution to world peace.

I recently read an environmental article in an American newspaper, and I think it's very true. We Chinese have made enormous sacrifices for the environment. We plant trees on the edges of deserts to stabilize the sand, and in some places, deserts have been transformed into forests.

I believe that all countries in the world should be aware of China's efforts in environmental protection and extend a helping hand to jointly protect our home.

(End of this chapter)