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

Chapter 334 Science Must Talk About Qigong

In the office, after hearing what the old leader said, Mr. Qian also showed a rather interested expression, crossed his hands in front of his abdomen, and listened quietly without interrupting.

Seeing Liu Yimin deep in thought, the old leader, who was sitting on the sofa, shifted his position and leaned back in a more comfortable way.

"What? Is there a problem?" The old commander's tone was very calm, but no one knew what he was thinking.

Liu Yimin looked up and smiled, "Sir, it's not that it's difficult, it's just that I don't know how to grasp the right 'degree'!"

When the old leader heard Liu Yimin say this, he immediately laughed and said to Qian Lao, "This young comrade is quite good at telling the truth. I knew that writing would not be a problem for you."

Actually, there are many writers in the military or veteran writers. The reason we chose you, a young person, is that we want you to write something new. Military writers are used to being methodical, while some writers in society now like to engage in self-reflection, portraying the West as a fertile ground for freedom and ideals.

Even military writers started doing this, such as those writing *Bitter*.

The story of "Bitter*" was so famous that Liu Yimin couldn't possibly be unaware of it. Even Qian Xuesen, who was engrossed in scientific research, knew the details of the matter and had read the relevant content.

This is a work of "scar literature," and the denial or support of the work coincided with the most intense period of conflict between the two major factions in the literary world at that time: the Xichun faction and the Biezuo faction.

The novel's publication did not cause a huge controversy, but everything changed when Changchun Film Studio adapted it into a movie.

The influence of movies far exceeded that of novels, so the two factions engaged in a back-and-forth debate over film censorship through newspapers. The Xichun faction generally supported the film, while the Zuo faction advocated for "suppressing the film."

Ultimately, the film was never released.

Among the various works of "scar literature," many have been adapted into films and successfully passed censorship. This is a special case, especially given the prevalence of "scar literature."

The reason it was taken down was largely because it compared East and West. This narrative style of contrasting East and West, using the analogy of "oranges grown south of the Huai River are sweet, while those grown north of the Huai River are bitter," directly amplified its "destructive power" several times over.

“I understand that literary and artistic works should not lose their overall value judgment in pursuit of ‘literary merit’ and ‘critical merit’.”

Liu Yimin nodded in response. It was as if the leader was giving Liu Yimin a heads-up!

"Yes, that's the point. Comrade Xuesen returned from the United States and made great contributions to the country and the people in the new China! Our superiority should also be recognized."

When Qian Lao saw that he was being talked about, he interjected: "Some comrades have never been abroad. When others talk about it or when they see the tall buildings in the United States, they think they know the real America and describe the world they have never seen as a utopia."

They haven't delved into the politics, economy, and culture of this country. They might not even understand it after living there for four or five years; they need to live there for over a decade.

The old leader smiled, then said with a hint of distress, "You're putting this issue of 'degree' in a bit of a challenge for me. I don't know how to explain it to you! Let me tell you a story, and you can ask me any questions after you hear it."

"Okay, please go ahead!"

"A group of young people, carrying the ideal of serving the country through science, traveled across the ocean to the West. They studied science and culture diligently, determined to save China. Forty-nine years later, the People's Republic of China was founded, and the domestic situation stabilized. They saw hope in serving the country through science, so they returned to China despite the hardships and dangers."

They dedicated themselves to various fields, single-mindedly developing advanced weapons for the new China. Under the nuclear threat from the Americans, they worked tirelessly, day and night, on the development of the atomic bomb. They went to the remote Gobi Desert, living in anonymity, establishing a base, and painstakingly researching and developing the technology, ultimately successfully detonating my country's first atomic bomb.

After the old leader finished speaking, Liu Yimin began to ask questions: "Can I tell you the name?"

The old leader shook his head: "This is classified information. It will be made public one day, but not now!"

"Can I write at the base?"

"That's also classified!"

"Can I write down a general address, like 'Gobi Desert'? Won't that leak classified information?"

"That's good. This is a secret, you think it's still a secret these days with satellites in space? The US and the Soviet Union knew about it a long time ago!"

"Can the research and development process be written down?"

The old commander shook his head again: "That's not possible either, but it's probably possible to discuss it. I can give you a few typical case files, although key information will be hidden, but you must guarantee to the military that it will be kept confidential. Can you do that?"

"Commander, I guarantee this with my integrity!" Liu Yimin said, standing up.

The old leader waved his hand at Liu Yimin: "Comrade Yimin, sit down, sit down, don't get excited! I know that literary creation is a matter that tests one's writing skills and mental capacity, and also requires inspiration, so I won't ask you if you have any ideas today."

I can contact you, or you can contact me if you have any ideas. I'll leave you a phone number; someone will answer it 24/7. If I'm available, just come to Zhonghai to find me!

Young man, be bold! I've read all your previous novels. The two novels commemorating the 30th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet were very well written. They had a good grasp of the scale and portrayed both the era and the individual. The love for one's country and family was truly moving!

"Triumphant Return at Midnight" and "The Acacia Tree in the Minefield" also depict the heroic qualities of young people in the new era. I have complete confidence in you!"

After the old leader finished speaking, he started to stand up, and Liu Yimin also stood up at the same time.

At this moment, Qian Lao suddenly said, "Old Chief, are you going back to Zhonghai?"

"Xuesen, is there something you need?" The old commander glanced at Liu Yimin and asked Qian Lao.

If it's something important, Liu Yimin can't stand to hear about it!

"Haha, it's nothing. If you're going back, I'll chat with Yimin for a while longer!"

"I see. You two chat, I'll head back now. I have some things to take care of in Zhonghai!"

After the old leader left, Qian Lao said to Liu Yimin, "Sit down. There's nothing else. I like to chat with young people. They have many ideas and flexible thinking."

“Professor Qian, even science fiction writers mostly base their work on reality, yet transcend it. Scientists, on the other hand, have wildly imaginative minds, creating things that have never existed before, thus changing human life,” Liu Yimin said with a smile. Professor Qian shook his head and said, “Literature changes thought. The Western Renaissance propelled the development of art and science, influencing the entire course of Western history. Who can truly distinguish between literature and science? Perhaps at a certain stage, science is more important than literature, and perhaps at another stage, literature is more important than science.”

"Yes, the principal contradiction changes constantly at different stages!"

"When I was talking with students from my alma mater at Jiaotong University, I heard a very interesting question: What will China be like in the future? You've been to the United States, what do you think China will be like in the future?" Professor Qian asked with great interest.

"I believe that China's history is a wave-like spiral upward. After the trough since the Opium War, it will begin to rebound continuously and eventually flourish in the world again, just like the Han and Tang dynasties!"

"Your idea is quite bold! If you were to say it outside now, I bet a lot of people would call you a lisp!"

Liu Yimin said earnestly, "There are thousands of ethnic groups in the world, if not as many as the sands on the seabed. Different ethnic groups have different characteristics. I dare not say about others, but we Chinese are not willing to be the supporting role, or even the second place. After all, we have been the leader for thousands of years!"

After Liu Yimin finished speaking, there was a silence in the room for about thirty seconds before Qian Lao said, "You're right. This is a matter of national character, something ingrained in our bones. Chinese people have a strong sense of history, as a nation with a history that can be traced back thousands of years. Chinese people have a sense of historical responsibility and pay attention to their evaluation in history and in future generations."

This is what it means to 'win fame both before and after death'! When an individual or a group has a strong sense of responsibility to history and future generations, they will unleash tremendous energy.

Just like our research and development, although material resources are scarce, when we think that what we develop can make our nation stand tall, we can endure any hardship.

Some people say we can't do it, but a third of American professors and department heads are of Chinese descent. Based on that proportion, why can't we?

The two sat in the room and talked about everything from national character to technology, and the influence of ideas on technology.

Qian Xuesen is no longer in charge of specific research, but has shifted his focus to strategic research. He is quite different from the scientists people imagine who only talk about data, list formulas, and bury themselves in the laboratory.

He began to connect issues of culture, philosophy, and science in his research, thereby guiding scientific research.

"Did you have access to American computers in the United States?"

"I didn't operate it myself, but when I visited the University of Iowa, I saw American students operate it, and they explained the functions of the computer to us!"

"how do you feel?"

"It's amazing! I think computers will be a great help in our lives in the future!"

"Tell me what we'll be able to do with computers in the future?"

Liu Yimin pondered for a moment, thinking about what to say and how to say it before speaking: "The human brain is limited after all. Large computers can solve the problem that humans cannot perform high-speed calculations. In the future, with the advancement of science and technology, perhaps computers will be able to help everyone look up information, communicate, and even do some things for people anytime and anywhere."

"Haha, so this is artificial intelligence! Humans are the primary agents, and machines are secondary. But computers are still too stupid right now; they can only do what they're told. I'm thinking that China should conduct research on cognitive science. Imagine if we could make computers think like humans, that would be amazing!"

"Oh, if that's really the case, people will have much less to worry about. It's like everyone has a helper, and a helper who never gets tired!"

"Let machines become extensions of human organs, able to hear news from thousands of miles away and see scenes from thousands of miles away at any time," Liu Yimin said, his expression filled with excitement.

"Haha, yes. I've been talking about artificial intelligence. Perhaps our current research on artificial intelligence is brute force, but many things are accomplished through brute force."

The guard stood at the door, listening to the laughter inside, and thought to himself that he hadn't heard such hearty laughter in a long time.

He glanced at the teapot beside him, then got up and went inside to refill their teacups.

"Yimin, do you believe in Qigong? The United States is also researching special abilities in the human body!" Qian Lao asked curiously.

Back to this issue, Liu Yimin deliberately sighed first: "I don't know, I've never seen it, but I don't think it exists. But I think if people modified by machines could have certain 'special abilities,' like a person holding a gun and firing bullets, hitting targets hundreds of meters away, or sitting in an airplane and flying like a bird."

Liu Yimin's concept is more like "cyber humans," where technology enhances humans' ability to adapt to more complex environments through symbiosis between machines and living organisms.

"Look at this newspaper. It's from Sichuan Province. They're saying there's a boy who can read with his ears. Isn't that amazing? I haven't investigated it yet, so I can't draw any conclusions!"

Liu Yimin took it and looked at it. It was a newspaper from 79: "But we have never seen the real boy. Mr. Qian, your question has really stumped me."

"Hey!" Old Qian waved his hand and continued, "It's normal to have different opinions!"

"I think some people may have more developed organs and possess characteristics that are different from ordinary people. For example, blind people often have more sensitive hearing, and some people can run very fast, but this is within a certain 'limit' and should not be called special!"

However, Lao Ai's Wheel-Turning Technique was indeed somewhat "unique," though Liu Yimin could only think about it in his heart.

"Yes, some comrades also say the same thing, feeling that these so-called 'special abilities' and 'qigong' are not in line with science and are idealism."

Qian Lao's words were interrupted by his personal secretary: "Sir, it's time to eat!"

"Prepare another one. Comrade Yimin, you can stay here and eat with us!"

"Mr. Qian, isn't this a bit too much of a disturbance?" Liu Yimin said.

Qian Lao's meals were prepared by a professional chef, and his personal secretary would even test for poison before each meal. This wasn't excessive caution; poisoning incidents had actually occurred!
"It's alright, let's chat some more. Even though you live in the Overseas Chinese Apartments, it's not like we can just see each other whenever we want. Let's have a good chat!"

The meal was simple: a plate of braised pork, a plate of vegetables, and rice. Liu Yimin ate while chatting with Mr. Qian.

After finishing his meal, Liu Yimin checked the time and stood up, saying, "Mr. Qian, I learned a lot from chatting with you today, so I won't disturb your lunch break any longer."

"Okay, let's talk again when we have a chance. I feel like there's still a lot you haven't told me!"

(End of this chapter)