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

Chapter 586 Li Ao: Look at Professor Liu's vision!

After learning that they were from the island, the shop owner not only offered them soy milk and fried dough rings, but also warmly approached them to inquire about their well-being and ask if there was anything else they would like to eat.

After thanking the shop owner, Chi Pang-yuan, Pai Hsien-yung, and others asked him how his business was doing and whether there were any restrictions on self-employed individuals doing business in mainland China.

“Restrictions? No!” The shop owner happily wiped his hands with a rag: “You can make money as a self-employed individual now. We earn more than scientists.”

"You made that much?"

"Of course, but working at a breakfast shop is too hard. We have to get up at two or three in the morning to start. If it's too late, the customers won't be able to wait."

Li Ao said, "This is incredible! If the breakfast shop stays open for a few more years, I'll be a millionaire!"

"Oh my, that sounds nice, but I'm just a breakfast vendor. I have enough to eat and drink, and I can raise children. I earn a lot now, so I'll save it for when I'm old. If anyone claims to become a tycoon by opening a breakfast shop, they're definitely bragging," the shop owner said proudly.

After the douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) was served, Li Ao taught them how to drink douzhi and eat jiaoquan (fried dough rings).

Upon seeing this, the shop owner immediately exclaimed, "So you're a native of Beijing?"

“That’s right, I’m a native of Yanjing (Beijing). I used to be able to find Dashilan with my eyes closed!” Li Ao got excited too.

The shop owner joked, "Hey, I bet you're heading straight for the Eight Great Hutongs next to Dashilan!"

"Hahaha, vomit... pfft."

After tasting the fermented mung bean juice, many people found it difficult to swallow. A disgusting taste stimulated their nasal cavity and taste buds. Chen Yingzhen, in particular, even put the spoon down as soon as it was brought to her mouth.

"Boss, give him another bowl of millet porridge," Liu Yimin said cheerfully.

Chen Yingzhen looked at Liu Yimin: "Mr. Liu, you know this doesn't taste good!"

"It's not that it doesn't taste good, it's just that I'm not used to it," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

The diners nearby watched the delegation members' performance and chuckled with delight.

When they heard that these people were from the island, they all wanted to come over and say a word. Someone held up a copy of the People's Daily and said, "They're the writers' delegation from the island. Look, they just arrived yesterday."

"Did you all come from the mainland?" someone couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this, several people's expressions immediately turned sour. Li Ao chuckled and said, "Yes, they ran away, and now they want to run back."

“I was born on the island,” Chen Yingzhen said.

"When will it return?" someone asked, straining their neck.

Liu Yimin didn't respond; it wouldn't be appropriate for him to speak in this situation. Fortunately, Li Ao was there, speaking without any restraint and answering any questions the other party dared to ask.

After finishing their meal, the group waved goodbye to the other diners and returned to the Yanjing Hotel, where the Yenching University convoy was already waiting.

"Let's go, let's go to Yenching University," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

After the group got on the car, it headed directly west. Along the way, they didn't miss any of the scenery. Looking at the densely packed army of bicycles, Pai Hsien-yung said, "Are these workers still state-owned enterprise workers?"

“There are state-owned enterprises, private enterprises, and joint ventures,” Liu Yimin said.

“There are still more bicycles than motorcycles on the mainland, and even fewer cars,” Qi Bangyuan said.

Liu Yimin replied, "In another ten years or so, when you come back to Yanjing, there will definitely be more cars than bicycles. In the future, riding a bicycle will no longer be a means of making a living, but will instead become a fashionable sport. Social development is a gradual process; you can't become fat overnight. If you really become fat overnight, your foundation will be unstable."

As you walk to the western suburbs, the amount of farmland is not as much as when Liu Yimin first went to school: "When I first came to Yanjing in 78, both sides of the road were full of land, where corn and wheat were grown. Now, they have all become factories."

In the western suburbs, apart from a few universities, Li Ao could not see any trace of his former home: "It is clearly his own home, but it has become a tourist's home."

"We've arrived at Yenching University," Liu Yimin said.

Li Ao reiterated, "To be honest, I am also a graduate of Yenching University."

"Hmm?" Chi Pang-yuan, Pai Hsien-yung, and the others looked at Li Ao.

Li Ao said, "My father graduated from Yenching University, so it's not wrong for me to call myself a Yenching University alumnus." At the entrance of Yenching University, the university held a welcoming ceremony, with banners hanging at the gate and students standing on both sides to welcome them. The car stopped at the school gate, and Liu Yimin led them inside.

Amidst cheers, the group shook hands frequently with the students from Yenching University.

Liu Yimin led them on a tour of Yenching University campus, starting from the South Gate. When they reached the Department of Chinese Literature, he made a point of visiting the Institute of Literature and then walked into the academic lecture hall next to the Yenching University Library, which had been renovated.

All the writers from the mainland who were invited to the event have arrived, and Xia Yan, Cao Yu, and Ba Jin are still participating in the exchange meeting.

The theme of the first day's discussion was "the continuation of traditional culture across the Taiwan Strait and the promotion of classical literary works".

The Dragon Boat Festival is just around the corner at the end of the month, so we'll focus our discussions on traditional culture around the festival, with the Book of Songs and Qu Yuan's Chu Ci being the main topics of conversation.

Ba Jin sat on the stage and gave a speech welcoming the representatives of writers from the island and expressing his expectations for the future development of literature across the Taiwan Strait.

As soon as Ba Jin finished speaking, Pai Hsien-yung was the first to applaud and said, "Mr. Ba Jin, you may not know this, but I grew up reading your novels. After 1949, I went to Hong Kong to study alone, and later returned to the island."

During that time, my biggest form of entertainment was reading novels, and your works *Family*, *Spring*, and *Autumn* are my favorites.

"Really? Thank you for your appreciation. I'll send you the new editions of 'Family,' 'Spring,' and 'Autumn' tomorrow," Ba Jin said happily.

The atmosphere in the lecture hall gradually became lively, and Liu Yimin began to discuss his insights on the development of traditional culture in the new era.

"Currently, both the mainland and the islands face the danger of traditional culture being impacted by Western culture, especially the islands. However, as writers and practitioners in the cultural field, one of our important responsibilities is to protect traditional culture. Why? Because our works cannot be separated from traditional culture, but if our readers no longer like traditional culture, then who will read our works?"

Our literary market will be taken over by Western literature, and we'll just be left sitting on the sidelines eating nothing!

Amid laughter from the crowd, Liu Yimin continued, "Last month, when I was chatting with Márquez and others, we talked about the issue of postcolonial literature. The situation on the island is different from that on the mainland. The island was occupied by the locals for 50 years, and during those 50 years, they ruled us in terms of education and culture."

Not long after the island was liberated, you all arrived on the island. But as you all know, the GMD's pro-American sentiments led to the spread of Western culture on the island.

I said this to point out that the situation regarding the preservation of traditional culture is even more severe on the island!

Liu Yimin was the first to share his views on postcolonial literature and how literature can promote decolonization.

"Yes, Professor Liu is right. I used to be a supporter of Westernized views, but after Professor Liu's guidance, I realized the importance of traditional culture. Our culture is excellent, and there is no reason not to inherit it. Here, I'd like to mention Yu Guangzhong. Although I don't like this person very much."

However, his situation proves many things. After arriving on the island, he proposed that literature should look to the west, and in fact, he did just that. And then? He later realized it wouldn't work, so he turned back and wrote famous poems like "Nostalgia."

This tells us that literature without cultural roots is like a rootless duckweed, incapable of growing into a towering tree.

The question-and-answer session between Liu Yimin and Li Ao set a good tone for the entire meeting.

Pai Hsien-yung proposed the idea of ​​learning from Western culture while inheriting traditional culture: "I like Kunqu Opera, I like watching 'The Romance of the Western Chamber,' and I like local operas. Perhaps because of my family background, I actually have a strong sense of national and familial sentiment."

When I first applied to university, I majored in hydraulic engineering. Why? Because I dreamed of building the Three Gorges Dam. Later, I realized I wasn't cut out for it, so I switched majors. I've heard that the mainland is planning to build the Three Gorges Dam; such a hydroelectric project is beyond the capabilities of most countries. I really hope it succeeds; it would fulfill my dream.

Chi Pang-yuan said, "From the current perspective, traditional literature is the root of literary writing on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, but at present, there are still differences between the two sides. In addition, the mainland has local literature, and I think the island should also have its own local literature."

"Sister Qi, there can be local literature on the island, but from the current perspective, it is not appropriate. Local literature on the mainland is integrated into the entire traditional cultural background. What about local literature on the island? Sister Qi, I know you are passionate about literature, but we must consider the bigger picture when looking at the issue."

"We are a family, and we should grow closer together, not drift further apart," Li Ao said earnestly.

Li Ao truly respected Qi Bangyuan. Whenever he refuted her views, he would not say anything extreme, but would instead reason and present the facts.

Chi Pang-yuan felt it wasn't as exaggerated as Li Ao had made it out to be: "I don't think the local literature on the island isolates us from traditional Chinese culture. We all celebrate the Spring Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival, and our textbooks contain Qu Yuan, the Chu Ci, and all sorts of ancient poems."

“Ms. Qi, I understand your feelings, but those with intentions will prevail over those without. I believe you understand the situation on the island better than I do. There is such a force, what are they planning to do? I think you know as well. Words can easily confuse right and wrong. If it doesn't work for now, what about ten, twenty, thirty, or forty years? Fifty years of colony, it's hard to guarantee there won't be colonial remnants,” Liu Yimin said.

Seeing that the discussion was getting a bit heated, Xia Yan started talking about Chinese culture and the concept of a unified China.

Li Ao clapped his hands and said, "This is the vastness of our country, which brings about a broad perspective. Writers on the island, including those from the mainland, are increasingly narrowing their horizons. What are mainland writers writing? What are our writers writing?"
Distinguished delegates, this is Professor Liu Yimin's latest work. I read it last night. You can see Professor Liu's vision and perspective. What is he doing? He is working hard for the image of Chinese people in the world.

After saying this, Li Ao slammed the manuscript Liu Yimin had given him onto the table: "I like this kind of work; it's not petty. Without Chinese culture, relying solely on this tiny island, we simply couldn't produce a writer like this."

Look at the Japanese character; they have a typical island mentality. It's said that the environment shapes the people, but in reality, the environment of a country also shapes its people.

(End of this chapter)