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

Chapter 377 textbook approved by the Ministry of Education
The following day, in addition to publishing Liu Yimin's commentary on the front page, the China Youth Daily also published a rational commentary from its own publication.

The journal's commentaries mainly discuss the reasons for failure, playing the role of a rational and objective observer.

Liu Yimin's comments acted as an emotional guide. Readers received the newspaper early in the morning, looked at the timeline of the women's volleyball team's journey from defeat to victory and from weakness to strength, and coupled with Liu Yimin's highly infectious remarks, they immediately agreed that Liu Yimin was right.

We need to give the women's volleyball team time, and we believe that the girls will definitely achieve victory again.

We should not judge heroes by a single success or failure; the spirit of the women's volleyball team will live on forever!
"We lost this time, we admit it. Next time we'll go to America and get our face back. Those Japanese dare to act tough in front of us, they're really asking for trouble."

"Hey, it's just one loss. Actually, we were the ones who defeated the Japanese first, and now they're coming after us. But in just a few years, we've gone from being outside the top ten to being one of the top two, which is already quite impressive."

The public opinion on the streets and alleys began to slowly change. Since the majority of people are silent in this world, it is easy to think that the voices of the minority are the mainstream.

Once someone takes the lead, the silent majority will immediately step forward and become the true majority, while the minority will remain silent depending on the circumstances.

One of these two commentaries is a reasoned argument, while the other is an emotional outpouring. The combination of the two achieves a result greater than the sum of its parts.

Many people who pride themselves on independent thinking believe that these two comments were a premeditated scheme.

In fact, this commentary in China Youth Daily and Liu Yimin's article, "This time we lost completely, next time we'll win decisively!" are quite a coincidence.

Seeing that things were not going well, the China Youth Daily was already preparing to publish a commentary to guide public opinion, which coincided with Liu Yimin's own thoughts.

Upon arriving at Yenching University, Liu Yimin saw many professors and students reading the China Youth Daily. Yan Jiayan greeted Liu Yimin after seeing this.

"Yimin, if I ever offend you in the future, please don't curse me in the newspaper. Oh my, you're so persuasive!" Yan Jiayan joked.

Liu Yimin said, "Professor Yan, please stop joking. Even if I were to scold you, I would only mutter a few words in my heart."

Yan Jiayan followed Liu Yimin into the office and said to him and Zhu Guangqian, "Our publishing house is working overtime, and we can print five sample copies tonight. We'll submit them to the ministry tomorrow."

"Jiayan, don't be nervous. Look at you, you're more nervous than the two of us," Zhu Guangqian teased.

Yan Jiayan thought to himself, of course he was nervous. The Chinese department had spent 15,000 yuan in funding, plus the special funding approved by the social sciences department. If he couldn't produce any results with nearly 20,000 yuan, how could he explain it to the school?

Zhu Guangqian waved his hand, signaling Yan Jiayan to leave and not disturb the two of them in the office.

After Yan Jiayan left, several professors came into the office to chat with them. They all knew that the textbooks had been compiled and that there was nothing else for them to do.

Wu Zuxiang even roasted sweet potatoes next to the coal stove. When they were cooked, Liu Yimin picked one up and tasted it. It tasted really good.

"Alright, professors, you can chat as you please. It's my turn to start the class," Liu Yimin said, wiping his hands and standing up.

"Go ahead, go freeze in the classroom!" Sun Yushi teased.

As Liu Yimin stepped out of the office building, the cool air invigorated him. The office building reeked of coal stoves; after a while, it made him dizzy.

When we arrived at the large classroom, many students were already waiting. The doors and windows were tightly closed, but the temperature inside still couldn't rise.

Liu Yimin spread out his lecture notes and said, "Students, today I will talk about the impact of colonialism on literature, and the literary thought of the post-colonial period. I want to ask you a question: How can we completely colonize a country or a nation?"

After writing the title on the blackboard, Liu Yimin sat behind the podium, holding a hot teacup in both hands, his feet lightly stepping on the cement floor.

By the end of November, the temperature in Yanjing had dropped below zero.

After the students finished their discussion, Liu Yimin tapped the blackboard and said, "Yes, you're all right, it's language, writing, and culture. Why did the colonizers first destroy the beliefs, language, and writing of the original people after they occupied the country?"

Racial differences are an unchangeable fact, unless the indigenous people are cleansed or driven away. The United States adopted a policy of cleansing and driving away Native Americans.

Despite their different races, once they achieved a shared language, writing system, and culture, the original ethnic group lost its roots and became bound to the colonizers.

Decades of colonization are enough to change a generation, altering their language, culture, and writing system. Coupled with intermarriage and assimilation, the new generation of indigenous people harbors significantly less hatred towards the colonizers, and some even mistake their former enemies for their fathers.

This is one reason why France, despite withdrawing from the African continent, can still exploit it to the fullest extent. Its colonial history in Africa spans over a century, ensuring that French influence will persist there for a long time, until the continent is completely de-Frenchized.

After Liu Yimin offered his initial thoughts, he began to discuss the influence of colonialism on literary thought, as well as the typical manifestations of several colonies.

During the break, Liu Yimin went down to chat with the students and saw Yu Hua sitting in the back row taking notes.

"What are you doing here?" Liu Yimin asked in confusion.

Yu Hua stood up and greeted the student in a familiar manner: "Comrade Liu Yimin, I just had nothing better to do, so I came to listen to the lecture and learn a bit more."

"Is the manuscript finished?"

"That little bit of stuff, it was all fixed in a day."

Zhou Yanru asked Yu Hua to revise the manuscript. Yu Hua either knew the rule that revisions could not be paid for, or was afraid that if the revisions took too long, the manuscript would not be published.

He changed the ending in just one day, which surprised Zhou Yanru greatly. She felt that she had truly discovered a promising talent.

In order to keep Yu Hua here and let him have some fun in Yanjing before going back, they even offered him a two-yuan subsidy during his trip.

Yu Hua didn't have much to do. Apart from visiting tourist attractions, he wanted to go to Yenching University to listen to Liu Yimin's lectures. Having never been to university, he longed for university classrooms.

The students were curious, so Liu Yimin introduced Yu Hua.

When the students heard that Yu Hua was there to revise his manuscript for Yenching Literature, their gazes towards him changed slightly, but it was more of a matter of recognition that this guy had some talent; there was no deeper meaning behind it.

"Comrade Yu Hua, it seems you have a good talent for writing. Why don't you go to university to further your studies?" a student asked curiously.

Yu Hua's expression froze. "Is it that I don't want to? I can't pass the exam!"

Liu Yimin came to Yu Hua's rescue, saying, "It's not only those who have received university education who are considered talented. Many uneducated people can become heroes. Students, this is actually what I wanted to say to you all: don't let university education restrict your thinking. Sometimes, people who haven't received a university education are more daring to think because they have no scruples."

We students shouldn't have too many worries just because we have more to study; we should dare to think and act!

Liu Yimin's words struck a chord with Yu Hua, who then boldly discussed his literary ideas with his students.

When class started, Liu Yimin didn't go up to the podium, but sat to the side and listened to their discussion.

After the discussion, Liu Yimin asked Yu Hua if he had anything else to say.

After thinking for a while, Yu Hua said, "Classmates, I am a dentist, and I have seen that many of you have dental problems. You must take good care of your teeth. I will teach you the correct way to brush your teeth."

Upon hearing Yu Hua's words, the classroom buzzed with excitement; some students blushed, while others jeered.

"Go up to the podium and speak!"

Yu Hua walked nervously to the podium, looked at the more than one hundred people below, and stammered for a long time before finally managing to utter a sentence.

Liu Yimin led the applause for Yu Hua, which eased Yu Hua's tension.

After finishing his speech, Yu Hua surveyed the surroundings with a sense of pride and confidence.

He thought to himself, "This is the free classroom at Yenching University! It's so damn free!"

I'll do it, I can do it!

Liu Yimin spoke on the podium for about ten minutes before get out of class ended. At noon, he invited Yu Hua to have lunch at the Yenching University cafeteria.

Yu Hua said enviously, "I no longer envy people who work at the cultural center."

"Then what are you envious of?"

"Sigh, when will I be able to work at a university? I feel like I was born to stand on the podium."

Liu Yimin laughed: "Great, you came to listen to one class and now you're trying to steal my job?"

Yu Hua asked Liu Yimin for advice on how to get a job at a university. Liu Yimin told him to focus on writing and become a famous writer.

After finishing his meal, Yu Hua left Yenching University, seemingly lost in thought. The following day, the *China Youth Daily* published another news item—"Yenching University Professor and Young Writer Liu Yimin Invites Women's Volleyball Team to Beijing People's Art Theatre to Enjoy the Play 'Emerging from the Sky'"

Yan Jiayan, riding his bicycle, said, "You're really something else, kid. You've got a whole repertoire of tricks up your sleeve. I thought you were just going to post a comment."

"We should press our advantage and pursue the enemy to the bitter end!" Liu Yimin said, stopping his motorcycle.

"Let's go, let's not act like Li Zicheng today as we head to the Ministry for the imperial examination!" Zhu Guangqian said with a smile.

Led by Yan Jiayan, the three of them went to the Ministry's Higher Education Textbook Office to submit a sample copy of "Western Modern Literary Thought".

The office manager glanced at the sample book and said, "The department has known about this book for a while now. The department attaches great importance to it. We'll take a look at it first, and then establish a textbook editing and review committee. Professor Yan, Professor Zhu, Comrade Liu Yimin, please wait a moment."

The office director picked up the phone and called the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Education Commission: "Director Ma, could you come over? The textbooks for Yenching University have arrived. You have been in charge of Western culture work for many years, and the Ministry wants you to come and take a look."

After hanging up the phone, the office manager picked up the China Youth Daily and looked at Liu Yimin with a smile: "Professor Liu, not bad, you have a good relationship with the women's volleyball team!"

"Haha, this isn't just a matter of relationships. Our women's volleyball team can't be defeated by just one loss!"

"That's right, that's right!"

A moment later, a voice rang out in the corridor. Director Ma's voice arrived before he did: "Comrade Liu Yimin, it's been a long time!"

Yan Jiayan smiled and looked at Liu Yimin. "Oh, someone I know!"

Liu Yimin turned around in confusion, feeling that the man looked somewhat familiar.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, you have such a good memory! When you came to France, I was the second secretary in the education section of the embassy, ​​and we drank red wine together!"

"Oh dear, I'm sorry, there's a big difference between China and abroad, I didn't recognize you at first. In France, everyone wears suits. Comrade Ma Baoqing, you're from Henan Province, we're from the same hometown."

Director Ma gave Liu Yimin a warm hug: "Yes, yes, I'm from Zhenping. The French ambassador is also from Henan Province."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Director Ma read through the textbook from beginning to end and found no fault with it: "Comrade Yimin, I think it's very good and very helpful for students' learning. Director Wang, I think we can convene the editorial committee as soon as possible."

Director Wang, who is in charge of the textbook office, asked cautiously, "Director Ma, won't you take another look? If it gets rejected by the editorial committee, it will be troublesome to convene another meeting."

“Director Wang, I think it’s very rigorous. Besides, do you think the Chinese department didn’t have someone review it? The senior professors in the Chinese department are much more qualified than us,” Director Ma said.

Hearing what Director Ma said, Director Wang made up his mind: "Textbooks are in short supply, so we'll handle this as a special case. The university textbook Chinese language compilation and review committee already has regular members; we just need to invite a few more people who understand modern Western literature. Colleagues in the Chinese department, you can go back and wait for our notification!"

On the way back, Yan Jiayan looked at Liu Yimin and said, "Yimin, I didn't expect you to have so many fellow villagers."

"Professor Yan, as Lu Xun once said, wherever there is a road, there are people from Henan Province!"

"Did you tell me that?"

"As Mr. Lu Xun also said, if something is said a lot, then it is naturally considered that he said it."

"You little rascal, I'm pretty much 90% sure now!" Yan Jiayan said happily.

The ministry handled the matter very quickly, calling in the afternoon and announcing that a textbook editing and review meeting would be held at the ministry the following afternoon, where they could attend to hear the results.

On November 23, the ministry officially held a textbook editing and review meeting. This time, Liu Yimin and Zhu Guangqian did not go into the meeting room, but sat in the next room waiting for the results.

The textbook editing and review meeting held by the Ministry of Education happened to include Qian Zhongshu, Wang Zuoliang, and several other professors, such as Feng Zhi from Tsinghua University, Director Ma from the Foreign Affairs Bureau, and Yan Jiayan.

Liu Yimin poured himself a cup of tea, tasted it, and said, "The tea in the ministry is very ordinary!"

“Fine, we’re not worthy to drink!” Zhu Guangqian said sharply.

"Professor Zhu, I was just trying to lighten the mood. Look at you, you've ruined my appetite for tea."

That old man is ruining the mood!
After the morning meeting and discussions, Yenching University's Chinese Department provided funds to treat everyone to lunch and a rest at the guesthouse. The meeting continued at 3 p.m.

Yan Jiayan said in a low voice, "You didn't go in; these people are not easy to deal with!"

"Professor Yan, what's the wind direction?"

“It’s a bit tricky, but leave it to me,” Yan Jiayan said.

In the afternoon, Liu Yimin and Zhu Guangqian continued to wait in the office until 5 p.m., when applause rang out in the conference room.

"Professor Liu, Professor Zhu, the textbook review has been approved. You may enter the meeting room now."

Liu Yimin and Zhu Guangqian got up and walked into the conference room. Director Wang said with a smile, "Congratulations to the Chinese Department of Yenching University for successfully passing the review of the textbook 'Modern Western Literary Thought' which is suitable for use in Chinese departments of colleges and universities."

After another round of applause, Director Wang continued, "As a high-quality textbook, our department will recommend it to second-year undergraduate students in colleges and universities. Congratulations to the Chinese Department of Yenching University! We hope you will continue to compile even better textbooks!"

Qian Zhongshu said with a smile, "Our Chinese Department at Tsinghua University will be the first to use it next year!"

“We’ll go back and discuss this with the Foreign Languages ​​Department. If we can’t convince the other colleagues, Professor Zhu, Professor Liu, please don’t blame me!” Wang Zuoliang chimed in.

Amid cheers, the Chinese Department hosted another meal for the editorial committee.

Before leaving, Qian Zhongshu asked Liu Yimin how "Beloved" was progressing.

"There's no news from the US yet, but it should be soon," Liu Yimin said.

"If you have a sample copy, please send it to me."

"Okay, Professor Qian."

After Qian Zhongshu left, Yan Jiayan asked with a puzzled look what "Beloved" was. Zhu Guangqian said mysteriously, "Let's go, Jiayan, it's time to go back. You'll know later."

Yan Jiayan began promoting the textbooks on the road. He first had the publisher print a batch, then sent letters to each school to send sample copies. If that didn't work, he could go to other schools to give lectures and promote the textbooks.

Zhu Guangqian didn't care about all that, he just said that he should take a good rest for a while.

Meanwhile, the women's volleyball team members were sitting in the sports commission's conference room listening to the leaders speak.

When they boarded the plane to return to China, the team members, led by Yuan Weimin, walked off the plane with their heads down, remaining silent and feeling ashamed before their fellow countrymen.

Go China Women's Volleyball Team!

Yuan Weimin and the women's volleyball team thought they had misheard when they heard the encouraging voices, but then more and more people shouted encouragement to them.

"Chinese women's volleyball team, we're here for you no matter what!" an airport staff member said, unfolding a copy of the China Youth Daily.

Yuan Weimin received the China Youth Daily from an airport staff member and was moved to tears upon reading the comments.

The sports commission leader said loudly on the stage: "Comrades, as Comrade Liu Yimin said, failure is not terrible. Find the gaps, adjust the tactics and techniques, and we will definitely be able to redeem ourselves at the next Olympic Games."

Our team members want to thank Comrade Liu Yimin; it was he who turned the tide of public opinion. Now, the whole country is supporting us, and we must live up to expectations and win the championship!

Yuan Weimin said, "We failed, but the embassy and the comrades who supported our work still treat us as if we had won. Next year's Olympics, we will have no choice but to repay them with victory!"

The women's volleyball players in the audience were in high spirits, their faces flushed!

After the leader left, Yuan Weimin thought to himself that he owed this person a huge favor.

Back at Shichahai Sports School, the dormitory staff told them that someone had given them an envelope.

Yuan Weimin felt the envelope, opened it, and poured out more than twenty theater tickets.

"Tickets for 'The Birth of a Nation' are really hard to get now!"

(End of this chapter)