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

Chapter 357 In-depth visit to Malan
After leaving the Hongshan Command Post, Liu Yimin and Luo Xianglin, the base guide, rode together in an open-top jeep toward the base's living area.

Luo Xianglin was a staff officer at the base command. He was driving, Liu Yimin was in the passenger seat, and there were two armed soldiers in the back.

Inside the command post, Luo Xianglin was rather taciturn, but once he was a distance away from the command post, he immediately became more lively.

"Writer Liu, I was so happy last night when I received the order to be your guide. Our Malan is isolated from the outside world. The only people who can see the outside world regularly are the soldiers in the motor transport company. But the outside world is just like Malan, except there are more people."

In addition, I learned about the outside world through books, movies, and TV series. I've read your novels and watched your movies, and I even watched the entire TV series "Wolf Smoke Over Beiping" on TV; it's really well-written.

Staff Officer Luo parked the car on the side of the road, lit a cigarette, and asked Liu Yimin if he wanted one.

"I don't usually smoke, but in this vast Gobi Desert, I feel like something's missing if I don't smoke," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

“Yes, what else can we do to pass the time if we don’t smoke!” Staff Officer Luo continued, starting the vehicle. “I’ve watched the movie ‘Triumph at Midnight’ at least five times. My child pointed to the trees in the movie and asked me, ‘Why are there so many trees there, but so few here?’”

Liu Yimin smiled and said, "There are more trees in the camp than before."

"This is all accumulated over the years. I'll take you somewhere." Luo Xianglin stepped on the gas and drove up to an elm tree.

"This is a famous love tree here, also known as the Couple Tree. Back then, when people were called to participate in the experiment, Comrade Wang Ruzhi from the Engineering Corps Research Institute and her husband Zhang Xianglin both received orders, but neither knew it from the other. When they returned home, they both told each other that they were going on a business trip, but neither told the other where they were going. One day, Comrade Wang Ruzhi was waiting for a car under the tree after returning from the experiment when she suddenly saw Comrade Zhang Xianglin carrying experimental equipment."

Both of them were wondering why the other was there, thinking that they had been granted permission to visit relatives!
Later, when the base commander heard about it, he named the tree the "Couple Tree."

Looking at the lush and verdant twin trees, Liu Yimin said to Luo Xianglin, "To do earth-shattering things, one must remain anonymous. In Malan, this is not just a slogan, but a practice."

"Writer Liu, tell me, what does Yanjing look like? I was transferred from the grassroots unit to the base as a staff officer, and I've never been to Yanjing before!"

Everyone squatted under the "couple tree," smoking and chatting. Staff Officer Luo and two soldiers listened intently.

"Yanjing is very large, with many buildings, cars, and people. The magnificent Tiananmen Square stands in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes, and next to it is the Great Hall of the People."

After they finished listening, Staff Officer Luo asked again, "What about America? I read in the newspapers whether you've been there or not."

"American cities are also very large."

Before Liu Yimin could speak, a soldier suddenly asked, "How many atomic bombs would it take to level this place?"

This remark made everyone burst into laughter. Staff Officer Luo proudly said, "With this little gadget we build, the Americans can blow up any building, no matter how tall!"

After chatting under the tree for a while, Staff Officer Luo led Liu Yimin to the living quarters, where they visited the cinema, auditorium, and the residences of the scientists.

"After the old leader arrives, he will also live here. Generally speaking, scientists without families live in single rooms."

Staff Officer Luo showed Liu Yimin an uninhabited room because the wind was strong in the Gobi Desert and it was extremely cold in winter.

Therefore, the dormitory buildings are all enclosed, with white walls in the middle of the corridor and green wainscoting at the bottom. If you didn't know better, you would think you had come to a school.

The single room is about the same size as a university dormitory, and it's very simple, with only a bed and a table.

It was already noon when they left the accommodation area. Staff Officer Luo took Liu Yimin to the canteen for lunch. Staff Officer Luo explained, "The food is much better now. Before, when there was a food shortage, everyone worked on an empty stomach, drinking tree leaf gruel and eating cornbread."

The "good meals" that Staff Officer Luo mentioned were nothing more than one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and rice.

In the afternoon, the temperature began to rise. The sun in Malan was like a poisonous thorn. Liu Yimin felt that the temperature was at least forty degrees Celsius, so he hid in the guesthouse and dared not go out.

Perhaps I was too tired yesterday to feel anything, but during my lunch break I fully experienced the enthusiasm of the mosquitoes in Malan.

It's too hot, and there's no way to cover myself with a blanket. Even if I do cover myself with a blanket, I'll bite my head while my feet are covered, and bite my feet while my head is covered.

Liu Yimin felt that all the mosquitoes in Malan were celebrating because of the new dish. With a "smack," Liu Yimin slapped a mosquito to death.

He cursed under his breath and flicked the dead mosquito to the ground with his finger.

Everything has a spirit—except for mosquitoes.

Just then, Staff Officer Luo knocked on the door: "Writer Liu, I forgot to tell you, the mosquitoes in Malan bite people, and one bite leaves a big welt. I brought you a few coils of mosquito coils, light two at a time, one coil is useless."

Seeing the mosquito bites on Liu Yimin's body, Staff Officer Luo said apologetically, "I'm still late in bringing it."

"It's nothing, thank you so much, Staff Officer Luo, it's such a hot day."

"It's alright, you rest. We'll go out for a stroll again at four o'clock. In the afternoon, I'll take you to see the local people of Malan."

"it is good!"

Liu Yimin was unbearably hot in the room and wanted to take a shower, but water was more expensive than oil, so he could only sit at his desk wearing shorts and shirtless, taking notes.

At 3:30, Liu Yimin couldn't resist any longer and slept on the table for a while.

Staff Officer Luo was very punctual; he knocked on Liu Yimin's door just after four o'clock. Liu Yimin got dressed and followed Staff Officer Luo into the jeep.

It was still very hot in Malan at four o'clock. Liu Yimin said with a smile, "It would be nice to have a place to swim."

"Then we'll have to go to Bosten Lake. The nearest lake is still dozens of kilometers away from here. I'll take you there in a couple of days. One of the reasons Lop Nur is a suitable base is because of this lake; it needs to be close to a water source!"

Staff Officer Luo led Liu Yimin on a tour of Yonghong Kindergarten, and Liu Yimin took out White Rabbit milk candies from his pocket and gave them to the children who ran over.

Yonghong Kindergarten is full of children from the Malan Base. With the kindergarten, the scientists and soldiers have a much easier time.

"Writer Liu, let's go visit the primary school!"

"it is good!"

The primary school, like the kindergarten, was called Yonghong Primary School. After Staff Officer Luo led Liu Yimin inside, they first went to the principal's office. After Staff Officer Luo's introduction, the principal warmly shook Liu Yimin's hand.

"Writer Liu, welcome, welcome! I was reading your article yesterday and I'm meeting you in person today."

"Principal, you're too kind. I hope I haven't disturbed your normal teaching," Liu Yimin said politely.

"No problem, no problem, let me show you around our school." The principal led the way enthusiastically, praising Liu Yimin for looking even younger than in the newspaper photos.

Led by the principal, Liu Yimin and Staff Officer Luo toured the school. The base had a large population, so there were many students; every classroom was packed.

“These are the children of Malan, and the future of Malan. This is fifth grade, which is usually the graduating class, but now that we have reverted to a six-year primary school system, they have to study for another year. The sixth grade is next door, let’s go take a look.”

"Principal, haven't the sixth graders already taken the high school entrance exam?"

"They've already participated, but the students' parents are all busy. To prevent these kids from causing trouble outside, the school still keeps everyone gathered at school for class." They walked in through the back door of the classroom. It was a Chinese class, and the teacher was teaching them how to write.

After the high school entrance exam, teachers basically stop teaching specific textbook courses and focus more on reading and writing exercises.

The principal waved to the teacher, who immediately quieted the class down.

"Teacher Li, students, this is Comrade Liu Yimin. Yes, he wrote the poems 'Ideal' and 'My Motherland, My Beloved Motherland' in our textbooks, and he also wrote the films 'Triumph at Midnight,' 'Red River Valley,' and 'Mountains High and Rivers Long.'"

Some of you may be familiar with me, and some may not, but after my introduction, everyone got to know me. Comrade Liu Yimin came all the way from Yenching to visit you all!

The principal walked up to the podium and spoke passionately, making Liu Yimin sound like a leader from Beijing.

As the principal spoke, the students' and teachers' eyes all focused on Liu Yimin, with curiosity and scrutiny in their gazes.
"This lesson is about writing. How about we have Comrade Liu Yimin talk to everyone about how to write?" The teacher standing next to the principal said, clapping his hands.

"it is good!"

Staff Officer Luo said, "Writer Liu, you go ahead!"

"Comrade Liu Yimin is not only a writer, but also a professor at Yenching University. If you are able to get into Yenching University in the future, you will be able to meet him there." After saying this, the principal voluntarily gave the podium to Liu Yimin.

Liu Yimin walked up and greeted everyone with a smile: "Hello, students!"

"Hello teacher!"

"What were the topics of your essays today?" Liu Yimin asked with a smile.

"The highest mountain!"

"Okay, I have a question for you. The boy in the first row, what do you think is the tallest mountain?"

"The Tianshan Mountains right next to us!"

"No, it's Mount Tai from the book."

“You’re all wrong. My dad told me it’s Mount Everest. There’s an article about Mount Everest in the newspaper on my wall.”

Liu Yimin looked at the little girl who was speaking. She was wearing a red t-shirt, her face was flushed from the argument, and large beads of sweat were rolling down her temples.

"Yes, it's Mount Everest. You're probably referring to the article 'The Red Flag Planted on Mount Everest' written by a Xinhua News Agency reporter. This was the first time that Chinese people had summited Mount Everest."

Liu Yimin earnestly recounted to everyone the remarkable feat of my country's first mountaineering expedition, as well as the heroic and moving stories that followed.

Liu Yimin turned around and drew his route to Malan on the blackboard: "Students, look, there are very high mountains around us. Our country also has many high mountains. Mount Everest is not only the highest peak in our country, but also the highest peak in the world."

But in my heart, none of these are the highest mountains.

As I entered Malan, the instant I looked up, I saw the highest mountain in the world. That is the highest mountain of our nation—your fathers, soldiers, and scientists.”

The students below laughed out loud, some looking around, thinking to themselves, "A mountain is just a mountain. How can a person become the highest mountain?"

When Staff Officer Luo, the principal, and the teachers heard Liu Yimin's words, their noses tingled with emotion.

"You may not understand this now, but you will in the future. As for teaching you to write, I think your teachers are more professional than me. Read more books and newspapers in your daily lives, and your writing skills will gradually improve."

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.

Liu Yimin sat on the podium, looking at the students below. Writing is something that can't be taught by sitting here for a short time.

"Uncle Liu, have you seen the old man in Yanjing?"

"I never met him, because he had already passed away when I arrived in Yanjing."

"Uncle Liu, is Tiananmen Square very tall? Is it taller than the mountains outside?"

"Tiananmen Square is very tall, but not as tall as the mountains outside. However, in our hearts, it is taller than the mountains outside."

Some of the students' questions left Liu Yimin both amused and exasperated, but he still answered them earnestly.

"Uncle Liu, why do you want to become a writer?"

Liu Yimin paused for a moment before saying, "Before I came here, a woman asked me a similar question. She was a member of our national women's volleyball team. Why did you become a writer? My family is relatively poor. At first, I wanted to use the royalties to supplement my family's income, but then I couldn't stop writing and became a writer."

After lecturing in the classroom until about seven o'clock, Liu Yimin stood up, waved to the students, and said, "Goodbye, students. I hope you can all become scientists one day!"

Goodbye, Uncle Liu!

As Liu Yimin walked out of the classroom, he smiled and said to Staff Officer Luo and the principal, "This is the first time someone has asked me to call you uncle."

Around seven o'clock, the weather had cooled down considerably, and Staff Officer Luo asked Liu Yimin if there was anywhere he wanted to go.

Liu Yimin asked with a smile, "How about we go to the Gobi Desert and watch the sunset over the desert?"

"Okay, let's go get some food first."

After school, the sixth-grade students at Yonghong Elementary School ran home excitedly to tell their parents that they had met Liu Yimin that day.

The parents looked puzzled, wondering which Liu Yimin it was.

"That's Liu Yimin, the author of the movie 'Triumph at Midnight'!" The student ran to the table, pulled out the magazine, and exclaimed, "That's him!"

"Hey, when did Writer Liu arrive in Malan?"

"He came today and talked to us a lot in class. Our teacher was teaching composition when he came in. Our teacher asked us to write a composition on the topic of 'the highest mountain,' and he said that the highest mountain in our country is not Mount Everest."

"You must have misheard me, kid. How could Comrade Liu Yimin make such a basic mistake?"

“You heard me right. If you don’t believe me, ask Xiaoting. He said that the highest mountain in our country is you, the People’s Liberation Army uncles and scientists.”

The child's parents looked at each other, and after a few glances, their noses tingled, and they couldn't help but wipe away the tears that had been forced back from the corners of their eyes.

Not many people knew that Liu Yimin was coming, but after the students spread the word, the whole base knew.

The area outside the movie theater was filled with the sounds of discussion that evening.

(End of this chapter)