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

Chapter 489, "The Patriots of the Overseas Chinese," moved the entire Southeast Asia.
In the corridor, everyone was a little puzzled by what they saw. Li Ao followed Liu Yimin and walked confidently toward the restaurant, not caring at all about the gazes of others.

On the second day of the literary forum, Liu Yimin spoke on "The Influence of Chinese Culture on Literature and on Overseas Chinese".

"Thousands of years of culture have shaped the Chinese people and Chinese writers. Literary expression is a reflection of the writer's inner culture and thoughts."

From oracle bone inscriptions, the Book of Songs, the Songs of Chu, Han dynasty prose, and Tang dynasty poetry.

Liu Yimin instilled in them the long history of Chinese culture, enhancing their sense of pride in it. Chinese writers from various regions continuously recorded the content of Liu Yimin's lectures, as he broke down many concepts in detail to make them easier to understand.

Fortunately, Liu Yimin had a morning to spare, and many Chinese writers from Europe and America realized how little they knew about Chinese culture after listening to his explanation.

Yao Xueyin, Qin Mu, and others nodded repeatedly, especially Qin Mu, who prepared to summarize his thoughts and teach traditional literature in this style when he returned to the Chinese Department of Jinan University.

"Many Chinese are integrating into the West, completely integrating. In immigrant families, the second generation is usually bilingual, the third generation basically only knows a few words of their mother tongue, and the fourth generation is already Americans, Hispanics, etc."

But due to differences in skin color, once someone asks, "Who are you? Where are you from?", the descendants of immigrants might say, "I'm just like you." Same? But why is your skin color and appearance different from ours? At this point, an individual who seems to have integrated begins to slowly peel away and falls into self-doubt—who am I, where did I come from?

I believe this is a problem that marginalized groups will always face. Therefore, it is still necessary to understand one's own culture and know one's roots. Some overseas Chinese return to their ancestral homes to find their ancestors, and Chinese people talk about returning to one's roots. In fact, they are all looking for their own roots and finding a place for their souls to rest.

Chinese people revere their ancestors, so leaving their hometown is a difficult, even reluctant, decision. Westerners revere God, who is omnipotent and present wherever they go. "When Chinese people leave, they feel at ease only after taking their ancestral tablets with them."

Liu Yimin had been talking all morning and was parched. Seeing that his cup was empty, Li Ao rushed over faster than the waiter and brought Liu Yimin a cup of warm tea.

"Mr. Li Ao, you didn't spit in it, did you?" Liu Yimin asked with a smile.

Li Ao generously stated, "There's no saliva involved, but there's my urgent desire to find a place for my soul to rest."

After Li Ao finished speaking, the audience laughed. No one present had expected Li Ao's attitude to change so quickly.

Liu Yimin spoke with them for about an hour before concluding his morning speech.

Lianhe Zaobao editor-in-chief Du Nanfa said, "Comrade Liu Yimin, your article is excellent. I would like to publish it in full in Lianhe Zaobao. What do you think?"

“We’ve come to Singapore and are now under your ‘control,’ so naturally we do whatever you say,” Liu Yimin joked.

Du Nanfa said with a smile, "Then we'll publish it. I believe many newspapers in Southeast Asia will reprint this speech."

"The level of literature professors on the mainland is really high; one person is worth half an island." Liu Yimin felt that Li Ao's boasting was a bit too much.

Yao Xueyin humbly replied, "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me. We can learn from each other!"

At lunchtime, Yu Guangzhong originally wanted to invite them to eat together again, but seeing that Li Ao was like a persistent leech, he found a corner to eat by himself.

After dinner, once Li Ao had left, Yao Xueyin turned to Liu Yimin and said, "Yimin, how did you manage to establish a united front?"

"Please don't flatter me. We should not only listen to their words but also observe their actions," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Li Ao's transformation must have its own reasons, but Liu Yimin also found it unbelievable that it happened so quickly.

There were no meetings in the afternoon, so Jiang Zilong and Wang Anyi suggested going out for a walk and seeing Singapore.

Lin Renjun from Lianhe Zaobao came over at this time and, upon learning that they wanted to go out and see Singapore, found them a car.

“The driver is a local. This is a small sightseeing bus. You can tell the driver where you want to go,” Lin Renjun said.

Jiang Zilong said, "That's so thoughtful."

"Mr. Liu Yimin is the recipient of the Golden Lion Literary Prize. Compared to other literary prizes, our hospitality is rather meager. I heard that the Italian Nonino Literary Prize has its own vehicle, which is always ready to welcome Mr. Liu Yimin upon his arrival in Italy. Is that true?" Lin Renjun asked.

Liu Yimin nodded and said, "That's what the organizing committee said, but how many times can I actually go to Italy?"

"It would be better to just give it to Yimin and ship it to the mainland for use." Jiang Zilong felt that the organizing committee was being a bit cunning; it would be much better to just give it to him directly.

Lin Renjun smiled but didn't say anything. He suggested that they go sightseeing together in the afternoon and chat with Liu Yimin.

“Okay, but the report must be objective and neutral!” Liu Yimin said.

In the afternoon, they strolled along the Singapore coast. The sea breeze was blowing, and apart from being a bit sunny, it wasn't too hot.

Liu Yimin took many photos for everyone with his camera. Jiang Zilong walked over to Liu Yimin and whispered, "Singapore is such a small place, but it's developed really well."

“Yes, but don’t be discouraged. We can build something like this too. It may seem prosperous, but places like this, guarding the Strait of Malacca, are strategically important and actually quite vulnerable. The more money they have, the more insecure they become,” Liu Yimin said in a low voice.

Jiang Zilong sighed, "It's truly like a thousand years ago," and wondered what a grand spectacle Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean must have been like.

When Lin Renjun arrived, the two stopped talking.

Lin Renjun asked the two what they were discussing, and Liu Yimin smiled and said, "We are discussing the history of Southeast Asia."

On the beach, Lin Renjun asked them how they felt. Liu Yimin and the others gave conflicting accounts, and Lin Renjun was unsure how to respond.

The trip lasted until evening before they returned. Wang Anyi bought a lot of Singaporean jewelry, but apart from her, almost no one else made any purchases. Everyone was unsure what to buy, as some of the items were available in China.

They made a special trip to visit Chung Kwun Department Store in Pearl's Square, where White Rabbit candy from Shanghai is very popular among the Chinese community in Singapore.

The next day, Lianhe Zaobao officially published Liu Yimin's speech at the arts training camp, and Chinese people in Southeast Asia read the newspaper carefully.

Most Chinese people gave it a thumbs up after reading it, agreeing that Liu Yimin was absolutely right.

While watching television in the hotel, reporters from several TV stations went into some Chinese communities to ask them for their opinions on Liu Yimin's article.

"That's absolutely right. Without roots, what are we?"

"I am delighted that a representative writer has emerged from the younger generation in mainland China. He is an honor to our Chinese-speaking world. My children are all reading his books, which have increased their understanding of mainland China."

Hearing these praises from the Chinese community, Liu Yimin lay contentedly on his bed.

The following day, Lianhe Zaobao published another article praising Liu Yimin as a benchmark in the Chinese literary world and a great writer of the new generation of Chinese writers.

[The mainland youth literary scene is divided into two parts, Liu Yimin alone has eight parts!] Jiang Zilong found Liu Yimin with the newspaper and teased him: "Yimin, where are the other two parts? Who took them?"

"Comrade Zilong, please stop talking." Liu Yimin pulled him down to sit and showed him his manuscript.

"The Overseas Chinese's Sons and Daughters?"

“Take a look!” Liu Yimin said.

Jiang Zilong picked up the manuscript and began to read it. After finishing the first page, he said, "You've written down the history of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia supporting the domestic resistance against Japan!"

“Yes, I thought about it when the award notification came out. Southeast Asian Chinese made huge contributions to the War of Resistance against Japan, and since we are here, we should pay tribute to them,” Liu Yimin said.

"The Overseas Chinese" tells the story of three thousand overseas Chinese mechanics from Malaysia. Under the call of Tan Kah Kee, three thousand overseas Chinese mechanics resolutely returned to the mainland of their motherland. They helped open up the Burma Road and drove cars on the Burma Road to transport supplies despite bombing.

More than a thousand mechanics sacrificed their lives; on average, one mechanic died for every kilometer of the Burma Road. In Kunming, there is a monument erected in their honor, with the inscription "Heroic Deeds of Patriots" at the base.

After reading it, Jiang Zilong said with emotion, "These people truly have the heart of a child; even though they are far from home, they do not forget their motherland."

“Yes, and that’s precisely why they are viewed with suspicion by various countries in Southeast Asia,” Liu Yimin said.

Jiang Zilong showed the manuscript to everyone in the delegation. Qin Mu was the most excited. He had spent ten years in Singapore and later ran a newspaper in Guangzhou to promote resistance against Japan. He had a lot of contact with overseas Chinese.

"Most of them were penniless, setting sail alone in a small boat to the vast South Seas. Some perished in the ocean, while the survivors struggled to make ends meet, working as laborers and miners. Eventually, they carved out a place for the Chinese community in Southeast Asia. When the country was in trouble, they turned back without hesitation."

Yao Xueyin comforted Qin Mu, while Liu Yimin took the manuscript to Lin Renjun of Lianhe Zaobao. After reading it, Lin Renjun immediately decided to publish it.

"I'm going back to the newspaper now. It must be published as soon as possible. I believe countless Chinese people will be moved to tears by this. China has not forgotten their contributions." Lin Renjun left the hotel excitedly.

Many writers' representatives came out to ask questions as soon as they heard the voice, and Lin Renjun said, "You will all be able to see it tomorrow."

Li Ao walked over to Liu Yimin and asked, but Liu Yimin didn't explain in detail. Instead, he said, "There's an article that will be published tomorrow."

On the morning of April 24, each representative carried a copy of Lianhe Zaobao. Chinese people working at the Apollo Hotel approached Liu Yimin to express their gratitude.

The Chinese writers who participated in the literary training camp had different feelings. Sanmao kept wiping away her tears, and Zhang Leping kept comforting her.

Sanmao suddenly hugged Zhang Leping and said, "Dad, I really want to go back to the mainland once, my home, the place where I was born!"

Li Ao, unusually, refrained from sarcasm. Instead, he stepped forward and addressed the crowd, saying, "Brothers and sisters, after reading this article, I understand Professor Liu Yimin's assertion that the Chinese nation is a combination of political and cultural concepts. Without a shared cultural bond, would the overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia have risked their lives for their country in times of crisis?"

Without a shared cultural bond, there would be no mutual assistance among Chinese people worldwide. My previous vision, Li Ao, was too short-sighted. My recent research has revealed that Chinese culture has many excellent aspects that the West cannot match. On the island, those of us who came from the mainland also promote Westernization.
Professor Liu Yimin, your article is absolutely brilliant! It'll definitely increase paper consumption throughout Southeast Asia today!

Indeed, as Li Ao said, in Chinese schools in places like Malaysia, teachers read this article aloud to students from the newspaper, telling them about that not-so-distant history.

They recounted the tragic stories of their fathers returning to China to fight against the Japanese, their bloody battles, the destruction of their cars, and their cars plunging off cliffs, all while expressing their patriotic hearts.

"Children, I am a descendant of the Nanyang Overseas Chinese Mechanics. My father returned to our motherland in a suit to participate in the War of Resistance Against Japan. His ears were blown off, but he said he had no regrets," the teachers said with tears in their eyes.

On the same day, the article "Children of the Overseas Chinese" was reprinted by some evening newspapers. Liu Yimin announced to the newspapers through the United Daily News that reprinting did not require permission or payment of reprint fees.

On the 24th, everyone in the arts training camp was discussing the article "The Sons of Overseas Chinese in the South," marveling at the immense power of realistic literary works.

When he walked out of the conference room in the afternoon, several people in suits were waiting outside the door. Liu Yimin recognized one of them; he was from Zhongqiao.

"Mr. Liu Yimin, the Fuqing Guild Hall invites you!"

A man stepped forward and said, “Mr. Liu Yimin, I am Lin Fanghua, General Manager of Zhongqiao. My father invites you to meet with friends from the mainland delegation.”

Liu Yimin stepped forward and said, "Okay, let's go."

Lin Fanghua smiled and grasped Liu Yimin's hand, saying, "Your speech and articles are excellent. My father couldn't help but shed tears after reading them. He is eager to meet you. Mr. Yao Xueyin, my father also likes your 'Li Zicheng'."

"The Zhongqiao Group has made tremendous contributions to China's foreign trade, and we should thank Zhongqiao. We also thank Mr. Lin Rishun for his patriotism," Liu Yimin said.

Yao Xueyin smiled and said, "We should go and see him."

The group left the Apollo Hotel, boarded a car, and arrived at Quinn Street, where a large number of Fuqing people gathered. Lin Fanghua specially took them to visit the Fuqing Guild Hall, which was still under construction and was promoted by Lin Rishun.

"It will be completed in about two more years," Lin Fanghua said with a smile. "It's not easy for Chinese people overseas; we have to stick together."

Liu Yimin said, "People from Fujian are the most united overseas, both in Europe and the United States."

“I believe that,” Lin Fanghua said. “Back then, my father was not very powerful and could not help much, which was always his regret. My father did his best to promote cultural exchanges between Southeast Asia and the mainland. In 80, he and Lin Shaoliang and others established a sugar factory in Fujian Province.”

This year we also plan to establish a Rongqiao Foundation specifically for investing in China.

Liem Sioe Liong owns a business empire in Indonesia, including one of the largest private banks, and was once the richest Chinese person and the richest person in Indonesia. He made significant contributions to the development of Fuqing, which suffers from water shortages, and donated more than 20 million US dollars to a water diversion project.

"Thank you very much. I believe that with the help of overseas Chinese, the country will surely become strong quickly," Liu Yimin said.

The streets of Quinn were filled with the Fuqing dialect, which Liu Yimin had little chance of understanding. When they arrived at Lin Rishun's villa, Lin Rishun, who was lying in a rocking chair, was helped up to greet them.

Lin Rihua said, "My father's health is not very good."

Lin Rishun was dressed in a silk Tang suit. He was thin and had pale lips, clearly suffering from illness.

Sitting on the sofa, Lin Rishun glanced at Liu Yimin a few times: "Truly, heroes have emerged from among the young since ancient times. The mainland is full of talented people, so how can it not prosper?"

"Mr. Lin, you are too kind. You are also a leader among Chinese people who have worked hard abroad."

"Haha, we Chinese can endure hardships that others cannot, and we can seize opportunities from adversity. I was a miner back then. I was hardworking and determined, and I seized opportunities. My opportunities were given to me by my motherland. Without the products of my motherland, there would be no Chung Chiu Department Store or Chung Chiu Cinema."

Lin Rishun also mentioned that many people called to greet him after learning that he was going to meet with Liu Yimin.

“We all have a sense of being wanderers, and we are afraid that the Chinese nation will forget us. Your book, ‘The Overseas Chinese,’ makes us realize that the Chinese nation and the mainland have not forgotten us.”

(End of this chapter)