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

Chapter 350 The Tragedy of the Chinese Department

“Professor Zhu, just say the word about your son-in-law and I’ll know everything,” said Wang Li, a teacher at Beijing Institute of Technology, with a smile.

Everyone knows him. He's an associate professor in the Chinese Department at Yenching University. He became an associate professor immediately after graduating with his bachelor's degree. Currently, there is no other example like him in the country. He has won numerous literary awards.

Following in the footsteps of the women's volleyball team, let's break out of Asia and go global!

Liu Yimin shook hands with Professor Wang Li, who said, "Professor Liu, please come to Beijing Institute of Technology to give a lecture sometime. My students really like you; they are all your readers."

"I definitely will when I have time," Liu Yimin said with a smile, then looked at Zhu's father and said, "Dad, I'm leaving now."

This "Dad" made Zhu's father very satisfied. He gave a very authoritative "hmm" and waved to Liu Yimin.

After Liu Yimin left, Zhu's father smiled and said to Wang Li, "Teacher Wang Li, let's go to class together."

“Professor Zhu, as Comrade Liu Yimin’s father-in-law, you should do something for our school. Invite him to give a lecture at our school,” said Teacher Wang Li as she mounted her bicycle.

"My son-in-law has been busy lately, compiling textbooks and writing. Let's talk about it when he has time. Sigh, I, as his father-in-law, have to consider not only the school but also my son-in-law!"

Mr. Zhu shook his head and rode towards the school with a smug look on his face. However, thinking about what happened yesterday, he quickened his pace and increased the distance between the two bicycles.

When Liu Yimin arrived at the school, Yang Hui was sitting in his office with a smug look on his face. Several professors were standing next to him, passing his manuscript around one by one.

Yang Hui said with a smile, "Yimin, the Latin American section is almost finished. Take a look."

Yan Jiayan said to Liu Yimin, "Teacher Yang's editing is excellent. I read it last night. The Latin American section is truly full of Teacher Yang's hard work."

After the professors nearby finished reading, they all praised it.

"Yimin, you and Lao Zhu take a look and see if there are any problems. If there are, let me know and I'll fix them. I'm a little tired, I'm going back to rest for a while." Yang Hui looked a little tired and prepared to get up and go back.

Liu Yimin said, "I'll take you back."

"No need, no need!" Yang Hui waved his hand.

Liu Yimin insisted on taking Yang Hui back, but Yang Hui didn't ride a bicycle; he walked instead.

Liu Yimin was about to take Yang Hui on his motorcycle when Yang Hui pointed to the road and said, "Since we're out here, let's take a walk!"

Liu Yimin helped Yang Hui walk towards Yandong Garden. Yang Hui told Liu Yimin about his life, how he went from a poor boy to a student at Yanda University, and his life at Yanda University.

"Look at me, a Northeasterner, but I'm short. I don't know if it's because I was too poor when I was a child and didn't have enough to eat. Short legs don't matter, I can move quickly. Because of the war, I traveled all over most of China. After liberation, things finally settled down. Later, the school was in chaos, and the students carried me out of the classroom."
Jia Yan will be the head of the Chinese Department next year, and he will probably be promoted from associate professor to full professor. Jia Yan is capable, and as the youngest associate professor in the Chinese Department, you should help Jia Yan share the pressure in the future.

Writers love empty talk. Our Chinese department should produce fewer people who only talk the talk and more who walk the walk. Empty talk is detrimental to the country!

After seeing Yang Hui into the villa in Yandong Garden, Liu Yimin said, "Professor Yang, I understand. Please get some rest!"

Liu Yimin greeted Yao Dong and turned to walk towards the school. Yang Hui waved to Liu Yimin again through the mahogany-framed glass window facing the road.

Back in the office, several professors were still there, discussing parts of the textbook compiled by Yang Hui.

Zhu Guangqian felt that there were too many people and it was a bit chaotic, so he said, "Everyone, go out. You can praise us after we've finished weaving."

Liu Yimin organized the completed content and handed it over to Yan Jiayan. This was considered a preliminary result, and the investors needed to see it to make sure that their investment hadn't gone to waste.

"Yimin, we're planning to hold undergraduate thesis defenses this year. Will you be attending?" Yan Jiayan handed the materials back to Liu Yimin after reviewing them, without mentioning the funding at all.

Liu Yimin said, "I won't participate. I've never taught or supervised any of the 79 students' theses, so I won't participate."

"Alright, but you have to attend the graduation ceremony. Now you can leave!" Yan Jiayan didn't intend for Liu Yimin to attend anyway; he just didn't want Liu Yimin to ask for funding.

"Professor Yan, I have something else to tell you."

"No, you're done. Get out!" Yan Jiayan said impatiently.

"Professor Yan, someone has tried to recruit me to their school."

"Go ahead, go ahead! What?" Yan Jiayan stood up abruptly.

"Look at you, so easily startled. I was just joking with you. Of course, I'm not asking you for funding. Don't be scared."

"What am I afraid of? The Chinese department really can't afford that much funding."

Leaders are probably all like this: they say they'll give you full support at the beginning, but when it comes to actually asking for money, they become stingy.

"Just now, Professor Yang told me that you will be the rightful head of the department from now on. I have a small suggestion to make."

Yan Jiayan took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Speak!"

"Professor Yang just told me that our Chinese department should cultivate more practical people, not just those who talk the talk. I have a small idea: to use the 'Graduation Song' from before the liberation as our Chinese department's graduation song to enhance students' sense of national identity and patriotism."

"Okay, that's good news. I agree. When we graduate and receive our certificates, you'll lead the singing." After saying that, Yan Jiayan looked at Liu Yimin and asked, "Is there anything else?"

"You won't let me say it?"

"Go ahead and say it, it's like there's no democracy in our Chinese department."

"It's all about funding!"

"go out!"

"Okay!" Liu Yimin took the documents, turned around, and walked out of Yan Jiayan's office.

In the Chinese Literature Department's lecture hall, Cui Daoyi was invited back to give a sharing session with students about publishing novels. He mainly talked about how to write, how to publish, and most importantly, who to publish with.

As Cui Daoyi's junior brother, Liu Yimin naturally had to come and show his support.

"Students, if you want your novel to be published, you need a good theme. If the theme is good but the plot is bad, you can revise it. But if the theme is bad, you can't revise it."

In the past two years, there has been a gradual increase in novels on reform and military themes. Reform literature is something we're all familiar with; its originator is a professor from Yenching University, who's sitting in the back now. Everyone can observe the changes around them, write about them, and record the times.
Finally, to all my fellow students in the Chinese Literature Department, as your senior, I am willing to be a stepping stone on your path forward. You can ask me to take a look at your completed novels and try to get them published in our national journal, "People's Literature and Art".

Associate Professor Liu Yimin's first novel was published in our journal, *People's Literature*, which launched his magnificent writing career, with each piece reaching new heights.

After finishing his lecture, Liu Yimin invited Cui Daoyi and Li Shu to his office: "Senior brother, you can continue your lecture. Why are you bringing me up?"

Cui Daoyi smiled and said, "The power of role models is boundless. As an editor, I have no regrets in my editing career for being able to discover a writer like you." "Old Cui, Yimin submitted his work voluntarily, and it just so happened to fall into your hands. You're just reaping the benefits without lifting a finger," Li Shu teased from the side.

"Hmph, why didn't it end up in someone else's hands? It just means we're destined to meet."

Liu Yimin said, "Actually, I was getting anxious when I didn't receive any replies for several months. I was even prepared to rewrite the manuscript and submit it to Yenching Literature and Art."

"At that time, it would be Zhang Dening from 'Yanjing Literature and Art' magazine dragging you around every day, talking about your senior-junior relationship," Li Shu joked.

Cui Daoyi was a Chinese literature student, so he naturally had to greet all the professors when he arrived at the office.

"Teacher Yan," Cui Daoyi greeted politely.

"Not bad, you haven't disgraced Peking University in the field of editing," Yan Jiayan said with a smile.

Professor Wu Zuxiang asked Li Shu how many copies of Liu Yimin's "The Acacia Tree in the Minefield" had been sold.

Li Shu said, "We haven't sold many copies. Together with the Commercial Press, we've only sold 1.5 million copies, which is a full 6 million copies less than the 7.5 million copies sold for 'Triumph at Midnight'."

Several professors were furious at Li Shu's appearance. Professor Sun Yushi, who was standing next to him, immediately said, "You People's Literature Publishing House are really getting ahead of yourselves. You don't even care about 1.5 million."

"Professor Sun, it's not that we don't respect you, it's just that you're really far behind!" Li Shu said smugly.

Liu Yimin pulled Li Shu aside and said, "Alright, alright, stop praising me!"

After the three of them left, the old professors exchanged glances and kept sighing, like Aunt Leer spreading the word at the village entrance.

Before leaving, Li Shu and Cui Daoyi told Liu Yimin that the second payment for the manuscript would arrive soon.

"Although 'Acacia Tree in the Minefield' didn't sell as well as 'Triumph at Midnight,' it was still much better than most others."

Before leaving, Cui Daoyi pulled Liu Yimin aside and asked him if he had already submitted the manuscript to Harvest magazine since there had been no news for several months.

"It's not written yet!" Liu Yimin said.

Cui Daoyi pretended to be generous and said, "It's alright, senior brother isn't jealous. Next, it's time to give it to Harvest."

Liu Yimin escorted the two of them to Weiming Lake and then let them leave.

The next day, I received 7,000 yuan in royalties from People's Literature Publishing House and Commercial Press for the second printing of "The Acacia Tree in the Minefield".

That evening, Liu Yimin put his arm around Zhu Lin and said, "I'm free these days, so I'll buy a few air conditioners and install them at the Overseas Chinese Apartment. We'll move in there at the end of the month!"

When it gets hot, we sweat a lot, and taking a bath in the courtyard is not very convenient. The simple bathing device that Liu Yimin made last year is no longer working properly this year.

"Okay, but isn't the air conditioner too expensive?" Zhu Lin hesitated.

Liu Yimin said, "Isn't money meant to be spent?"

“I heard an air conditioner costs five or six thousand yuan. Teacher Liu, let’s buy one and install it in the study. You can use it for writing, and if it gets hot at night, we can sleep on the floor in the study.” Zhu Lin counted on his fingers.

Liu Yimin said, "It's too embarrassing for Professor Liu and Director Zhu to sleep on the floor at night. Each air conditioner costs five or six thousand yuan, and three air conditioners only cost less than twenty thousand yuan."

These days, there are window air conditioners and split air conditioners. A window air conditioner is like a split air conditioner with only the outdoor unit. Both the air supply and air intake are done by a single main unit. It is placed by the window, with half of the air outside and half inside. It is noisy and the cooling effect is not as good as that of a split air conditioner.

The split-type is expensive, but the effect is better.

The apartments in the Overseas Chinese Apartment complex are large; it's better to buy two more fans than window units.

"Buy three? How can our family possibly use all of them?" Zhu Lin said in surprise.

"One in the study, one in the bedroom, and since you usually take a nap in this courtyard, we'll install one in the bedroom of the courtyard house as well. But why don't we install one in the living room of this apartment?"

Liu Yimin helped Zhu Lin calculate. When Zhu Lin heard that Liu Yimin had installed an air conditioner specifically for her to take a nap, she felt sweet but also thought it was too wasteful. She only needed to sleep for 30 or 40 minutes at noon, yet she spent five or six thousand yuan.
"Isn't money just for spending? If you can spend it, you can earn it!"

“But you’re the only one in our family who can earn money. With my money, I can’t even afford the groceries for a decent meal each month,” Zhu Lin said bitterly.

"We're all family now, it's yours and mine."

"No, just one unit. You can't just throw money away like this!" Zhu Lin shook Liu Yimin's shoulder.

"That's settled then. Time for bed. Did you really think I was being democratic by discussing this with you?" Liu Yimin turned off the light and pulled Zhu Lin into his arms.

Zhu Lin kicked Liu Yimin: "Teacher Liu, even though you're in charge, I still have the right to make suggestions. If you don't want to listen, fine, it's your money anyway."

After a while, Liu Yimin was almost asleep when Zhu Lin nudged him and asked, "Teacher Liu, is the air conditioner very cool?"

"Uh-huh...uh-huh," Liu Yimin mumbled sleepily.

Zhu Lin looked at the roof beam alone, a smile blooming in the darkness.

When Zhu Lin got up in the morning, she helped Liu Yimin button up his shirt, boiled two eggs, and, following Liu Xiuyun's example, made two flatbreads in the style of her hometown for Liu Yimin.

After finishing his meal, Liu Yimin arrived at the east gate of the school and saw many people running towards Yandong Garden. Liu Yimin didn't know what was going on. When he arrived at the Chinese Department, he heard lecturer Qian Liqun say to him, "Professor Liu, the old director has passed away."

Yang Hui, the former head of the Chinese Department at Yenching University, who was the student who burned down Zhao's house during the May Fourth Movement, passed away on May 14, 1983, ten days after spending the May Fourth anniversary with his students.

When Liu Yimin and Qian Liqun arrived at Yandongyuan, a large crowd had already gathered outside Yang Hui's villa. All the old professors from the Chinese Department were gathered in the courtyard, along with many students.

The flowers and plants that Yang Hui's wife, Yao Dong, planted in the courtyard were jostled by the bustling crowd, and the petals fell all over the ground, eventually being trampled into the mud and becoming one with it.

With tears streaming down his face, Yan Jiayan said to Liu Yimin, "Professor Yang's passing is a loss to the Chinese Department of Yenching University, a tragedy for the department."

The department immediately established a funeral committee, and Yang Hui's two sons, Yang Lian and Yang Zhu, stood next to Yang Hui's wife, Yao Dong.

Yang Lian had a dark complexion because he had worked in coal mines in Xinjiang Province for six years. Yang Zhu, standing next to him, had been working in Beijing and teaching at Capital Normal University, making him seem more like a scholar.

Liu Yimin walked over to Yao Dong and said in a low voice, "Please accept my condolences!"

"Yimin, thank you, thank you for coming. If it weren't for Mr. Cao Yu taking you as a student back then, Old Yang would have wanted to take you as a student too. Thank you for making his last days so fulfilling."

P.S.: When I woke up, I found that two of my chapters from yesterday had been blocked. I had revised one chapter, and revised the other multiple times, but it still didn't pass the review. In the end, after revising and resubmitting, it was approved. The four-thousand-word chapter became three-thousand-word (I feel like it would have been approved even without revisions and resubmission).
Some readers may have subscribed automatically, resulting in two chapters being duplicated. If there is a duplicate subscription, please leave a message and I will see how to refund the money.

Two updates today.
(End of this chapter)