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

Chapter 610, "God's Visa," Premiere

Inside the Xinhua News Agency meeting room, as Mu Qing stood up, Liu Yimin immediately followed suit and clapped, filling the room with applause.

The representatives from both sides shook hands with smiles, and the tense atmosphere from just moments before was completely gone.

Principal Ding Shisun and Yan Jiayan, beaming with pride and high spirits, embraced the Xinhua News Agency representative with obvious affection.

"Comrades, let's take a picture. This event is also a marriage between the domestic news industry and higher education, which has guiding significance for the future development of education in China. Let's strive to blaze a new trail for the country," Mu Qing said with a smile.

Ding Shisun assured Mu Qing, "Please rest assured, our colleagues at Xinhua News Agency, Yenching University guarantees that we will work hand in hand with our colleagues at the Institute of Literature and do our utmost to cultivate top-notch journalists for Xinhua News Agency."

"Our Institute of Literature and Art is going all out. I believe that combining journalism education with the journalism profession will definitely cultivate outstanding applied talents. The cooperation between Xinhua News Agency and the Institute of Literature and Art will continue to expand and deepen." Liu Yimin also had to step forward and say a few words.

The deputy director of Xinhua News Agency joked, "Continuously expanding? Continuously deepening? It's more like you're constantly ripping us off. Comrade Yimin, you take hundreds of thousands of yuan from our agency's budget every year."

“Deputy Director, you can’t say that. If you were to do those research projects yourself, it would be time-consuming and laborious, and it wouldn’t necessarily save you money! Outsourcing to professional research institutions would save you effort and money. This is the future direction for cooperation.” Liu Yimin walked to Mu Qing’s side and looked at the camera, ready to take a picture.

Xinhua News Agency is already preparing a press release, which can be considered a result of Xinhua's exploration of reform and opening up.

Mu Qing stood in the middle, Ding Shisun on the right, and Liu Yimin on the left. The three of them crossed their hands and looked at the camera. Amid the applause of the people around them, the cooperation was officially reached.

The three parties jointly signed the "Cooperation Framework Agreement between Xinhua News Agency, Yenching University, and the Institute of Chinese Traditional Culture on Jointly Cultivating Outstanding Young Journalists in the New Era".

After the contract was signed, Liu Yimin and his group left the Xinhua News Agency building. Ding Shisun said happily, "Professor Yan, Professor Liu, this matter is now entrusted to your Chinese Department and Institute of Literature. You've taken their money, so you have to do their bidding!"

"Haha, Principal Ding, don't worry. Yimin and I already have the specific cooperation methods in mind. The Chinese Department will provide students and teaching facilities, while the Institute of Literature will be responsible for the overall teaching and training arrangements."

Yan Jiayan's words immediately put Ding Shisun at ease. The school would not take the money; it would be entirely allocated by the Chinese Department and the Institute of Literature at Yenching University.

The Institute of Literature and the Department of Chinese Literature received 80% of the funding, while the Department of Chinese Literature received 20%, meaning the department essentially made a pure profit. How could Yan Jiayan not be happy about this?

Liu Yimin, Ding Shisun, and Yan Jiayan went to Yenching University together. With the start of the semester approaching, Liu Yimin asked Yan Zhen to draft the selection documents for the "Xinhua Class" and distribute them to the Chinese Department after the semester started.

"Teacher, 'Xinhua Class'? What are we doing here?" Yan Zhen was confused when she heard about the joint training program.

"This is the cooperation document we just finalized. You didn't know about it before, but you do now. Take a look at the details. The selection notice isn't hard to write. The requirements are all about 'moral character, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor skills.' Academic performance is important, but physical fitness is even more important."

Reporters need to be physically fit to cover the news every day; otherwise, they can't do it. Also, the restrictions on graduating from the "Xinhua Class" should be included.

"All selected students must sign contracts, and those who do not wish to work for Xinhua News Agency in the future are not allowed to participate," Liu Yimin instructed.

Xinhua News Agency's money doesn't grow on trees. They spend thousands of yuan to train students, and each student receives a living allowance. They work hard to water and fertilize the plants, but if someone else takes the fruits of their labor, Xinhua's people will come and block the door to demand an explanation.

"Okay, I'll write it down and bring it over for you to review in a bit." Yan Zhen turned and left the office to get back to her work.

A well-formatted, accurate, and logically sound official document was completed in half a day. When it was shown to Liu Yimin, he couldn't find a single flaw.

"Yan Zhen, you're really good! Your document writing skills have improved rapidly." Liu Yimin exclaimed in amazement after reading it, praising her without reservation.

Yan Zhen was initially nervous, but when she heard Liu Yimin's praise, she immediately smiled and said, "I've been studying how to write official documents recently. Our institute has a lot of official documents going back and forth, and if they're not written carefully, it's easy to make a fool of yourself."

“It’s good that you write well, but you can’t put too much effort into official documents.” Liu Yimin frowned.

Yan Zhen asked nervously, "Teacher, is there a problem?"

“You don’t need to be too nervous.” Seeing Yan Zhen’s expression, Liu Yimin couldn’t help but laugh. “What I mean is, you are a writer. If you study too many official documents, your writing will easily lack emotion.”

If writing official documents ruins Yan Zhen's reputation, then who will write "The Waters of Canglang"?

Yan Zhen was immediately embarrassed and looked ashamed: "Teacher, I forgot that I am also a writer. Compared with you and Junior Brother Acheng, what kind of writer am I?"

Yan Zhen himself had forgotten how many years ago he started writing a novel. He had previously used novel writing as a substitute for his graduation thesis, but after graduation, his attempts to submit his work were all unsuccessful, and he hadn't had the urge to write for a long time.

“How could you think like that, Yan Zhen? The path of writing is never smooth sailing. If you become lax and slack off after encountering setbacks, how can you achieve great things in the future? On days when you have no ideas, you should read more and observe life more,” Liu Yimin advised.

Yan Zhen straightened up and said, "Understood, teacher. I will definitely work hard, read more, listen more, and think more. I will strive to write an excellent novel one day."

"Okay, go out."

"teacher?"

"Ok?"

Yan Zhen stopped and asked hesitantly, "Will I still need to write official documents in the future?"

"Of course." Liu Yimin got up and walked to Yan Zhen's side, earnestly saying, "Yan Zhen, this is a test of your ability to handle different writing styles. Think about it, when you can switch between novels and official documents at will, isn't that when you've reached the pinnacle of your writing?"

“Teacher, you’re right.” Yan Zhen nodded emphatically, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

With such a teacher, what more could one ask for?
After leaving the office, Yan Zhen immediately returned to her seat and began reading. A smile played on her lips as she read, and she thought to herself with delight, "So, in Teacher Liu's eyes, I'm a writer too!"

Yan Zhen spent the entire day basking in the praise of being a "writer." However, reality pulled him back the next day; the Institute of Literature had already brought in new training teachers, and he had to get back to work.

Some people wanted to visit Yenching University in advance, while others wanted to enter the institute early so they could chat with the previous batch of trainees and discuss literature teaching.

At 5 p.m., Liu Yimin greeted the students and then walked out of the Chinese Department office building.

After finishing his work, Yan Jiayan noticed that Liu Yimin was heading in the wrong direction and quickly asked, "Yimin, where are you going? Isn't your car right here?"

"I'm going to Weixiu Garden," Liu Yimin said.

"What are you doing at Weixiu Garden?" Yan Jiayan asked, then realized what was going on: "Your child is starting kindergarten!"

"Yes, it's already three years old," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

"Come on, I'll go take a look too." Yan Jiayan dusted himself off. Yanda University was about to start the new semester, and Yan Jiayan had just tidied up his office.

Yenching University Affiliated Kindergarten is located within Weixiu Garden, separated from Yenching University by a gate. Weixiu Garden was originally part of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan), and its buildings are antique and its trees are lush and green. Now, only the gatekeeper and a few teachers are on duty, making it exceptionally quiet.

After learning who they were, the security guard readily let them in. A teacher recognized Liu Yimin and quickly came over to ask, "Professor Liu, what brings you here?"

“My two children will be starting school next month, so I came to check out the kindergarten environment beforehand.” Liu Yimin stood in the middle of the yard, looking around at the facilities.

"Where would you like to go? Let me introduce you to our Peking University kindergarten. It has the best facilities in the entire Yenching area, and the teaching plan is perfectly suited for children of different ages."

What are your two children's names? Please feel free to send them to me; I'll keep an eye on them for you.

"No need, no need to pay special attention. They're here to learn, just like all the other students from Yenching University."

Liu Yimin toured the kindergarten's classrooms, cafeteria, and activity room. Yan Jiayan smiled and asked, "Yimin, how does it feel?"

"Not bad, even better than some kindergartens in the city," Liu Yimin said with satisfaction.

"Aren't you looking forward to the two little ones starting school?" Yan Jiayan asked.

"I'm really looking forward to it."

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiayan patted Liu Yimin on the shoulder and said quietly, "You've got what you're looking forward to!"

"how?"

"It's okay, you'll understand."

At the end of August, Liu Yimin received a message from Wang Yang. "The Pilgrimage of One" had passed the selection process for the Locarno International Film Festival, and the film would be officially screened at the festival.

"I heard that the Locarno Film Festival has a huge square where thousands of people can watch the films at the same time. Thousands of people! What a grand scene that would be!" Wang Yang couldn't help but imagine thousands of Swiss viewers gathering together to watch Chinese films.

Liu Yimin said with a smile, "Director Wang, if you want to know the grand occasion of thousands of people watching a movie, I suggest you come and see our brigade. Every time we show a movie, it's exceptionally lively. People from all the surrounding brigades come to watch, and people even hang from the trees."

"Hey! Hahaha, you can't be compared to that. Film festivals are for people to hang up and watch? Hahaha. I hope Director Huang can bring back a big award with his film. I'm really tired of the Hundred Flowers Awards and the Golden Rooster Awards."

"Oh, when did you become so arrogant? Last time I met Director Xu Sangchu in Shanghai, I heard you complained that the Shanghai Film Studio was winning too many awards and taking away the quotas from other studios!"

"Bullshit! Xu Sangchu is just spouting nonsense. Why would I be jealous of him? He should take a good look at himself in the mirror." Wang Yang cursed. "Hahaha, Director Wang. Director Huang and Comrade Jiao Huang are still in Beidaihe. When they come back from their vacation, let them take the film back to Shanghai, have a get-together with their families, and then they can go to the film festival!"

"That's what I think too. Let's just wait for the good news then." Wang Yang hung up the phone with a smile.

He not only received news that the film had passed the review, but he also knew that Marco Müller, the Asian selector at the Locarno Film Festival, highly praised the film, believing that it was full of 'love and compassion' and drew attention to the family and emotional life of the elderly in their later years, making it extremely likely to win an award.

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yimin said to the staff at the Beidaihe Writers Association's Creative Home, "Thank you so much. I'm sorry to have troubled you while I've been staying here."

"Professor Liu, you're joking. Serving writers is our job."

Living in Beidaihe, every time Liu Yimin received a phone call, the staff of the Creative Home had to run over to inform him.

"Comrade Yimin, I picked some pears and apples for you. Take them home and try them. There aren't many ripe ones yet. I'll bring you some more when they're all ripe," Li Xiuwen said with a smile.

"Old Li, you've really gone to a lot of trouble," Liu Yimin said, moved.

"Oh, no need to thank me, it's what we should do."

Standing on the second-floor railing, Zhang Guangnian said, "Yimin, although these apples aren't very ripe, they taste really fresh."

"Old Zhang, can you still bite it?"

"Haha, can't chew it anymore, couldn't chew it a long time ago. It's good to be young like you guys. When are you going back to Yanjing?"

"Me? I'm going back tomorrow. I'm going to start school at Yanda University, and the two little ones will be starting school in September too."

"There's still some time, why are you going back so early?"

"The Beijing People's Art Theatre's play premieres on the 25th; I have to go see it."

“God’s Visa?” Zhang Guangnian immediately realized.

"Yes."

Do you have any tickets? Save one for me, I need to go check it out too.

“Okay, you can pick it up at the Beijing People’s Art Theatre later. I’ll let them know.” Liu Yimin waved to the second floor, said goodbye to the others, and then left the Creative House.

Father Zhu pulled the two little ones by the hand and walked back. The two of them were covered in sea sand and looked like "sand people".

As September approached, the seawater grew increasingly cold, and Zhu's father dared not let them wash in the sea, fearing they would catch a cold.

"Hey, whose dirty kid is this?" Liu Yimin asked with a grin.

"Liu Yimin's family!" Liu Yu and Liu Lin said loudly, hands on their hips.

Liu Yimin's right hand trembled involuntarily.

Mr. Zhu quickly said, "This is what I taught them. They're going to kindergarten soon, so I had to teach them this. If something happens, people will be able to find you. I taught them some skills for getting along with their classmates in kindergarten, as a way to help them adapt to school in advance."

"Oh, Dad. I was wondering when you became so naughty."

Liu Yimin squatted down and wiped the sand off their faces, then asked softly, "What would you say if a stranger asked you that?"

"My father is Liu Yimin!"

"The teacher is asking you a question."

"My father is Liu Yimin!"

"Did you have a conflict with your classmate?"

"My father is Liu Yimin!"

Liu Yimin glanced at Zhu's father resentfully: "Dad, you've taught us wrong, haven't you? Shouldn't we go to the teacher when we have a conflict?"

"Aren't you a teacher?" Zhu's father said with a smile.

"Makes sense!"

Liu Yimin pulled the two little ones towards home. The two jumped and skipped excitedly, swinging their arms wide: "Daddy, when is Mommy coming?"

"I'm going home to find my mom tomorrow!"

"Yay, time to go home and find Mom!"

Liu Yimin told Huang Zumo the news, and Huang Zumo and Jiao Huang happily pulled Liu Yimin aside to have a few drinks that night.

Liu Yimin said with a smile, "We should have a few drinks."

Jiao Huang said admiringly, "Professor Liu, you are the greatest screenwriter I have ever met!"

"Oh? Really? This is the first time someone has called me the best screenwriter in the world!" Liu Yimin laughed heartily.

Huang Zumo stared at Liu Yimin and said, "Truly the world's number one screenwriter!"

"Alright, alright, stop praising me."

That evening, Liu Yimin, Huang Zumo, Jiao Huang, Zhu's father, and Liu Fuqing drank two bottles of wine together. Liu Fuqing's alcohol tolerance was much higher than Zhu's father's, and about the same as Jiao Huang's.

Jiao Huang likes to drink, and lately, when no one is drinking with him, he has to have a glass every day.

Since we were going back to Yanjing the next day, everyone parted ways at nine o'clock.

At 10 a.m., Liu Yimin was woken up by the two little ones pawing at him with blades of grass.

"You stinky dad, get up and come home! You're so lazy!" Liu Yu said angrily, hands on her hips.

Liu Lin's face was almost touching Liu Yimin's: "That's right, Dad, Grandpa and Grandma are all ready."

"Okay, okay!" Liu Yimin rubbed his eyes and quickly got up.

Jiao Huang and Huang Zumo had already left by train. After they finished packing, the landlord came over to check the house: "Professor Liu, please take care on your journey. If you come back next year, give me a call and I'll reserve the house for you."

"OK!"

Liu Yimin waved goodbye to the landlord and drove his family onto the highway, driving very slowly on the way back. Before they even left Qinhuangdao, they encountered traffic police conducting a checkpoint. Seeing six people in the car, including two children, the police didn't say anything.

"Comrade, drive carefully." The traffic policeman returned the driver's license to Liu Yimin.

The checks in Beidaihe are very strict in the summer, but luckily Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin had already obtained their driver's licenses.

Back at the courtyard house, Ximei had already prepared dinner. Since getting married, Ximei's demeanor has changed drastically compared to before.

Their complexions were rosy, and their brows were always smiling; it seemed they had a good honeymoon. Liu Yimin had originally suggested they go to Beidaihe to rest, and the "King of Fairy Tales" had also made arrangements, but the two felt embarrassed and didn't go.

"Aunt Ximei!" The two little ones quickly ran to Ximei's side and hugged her legs.

Liu Yimin said with a smile, "Come here, don't disturb Aunt Ximei while she's cooking."

"It's alright, Professor Liu, the food is almost ready. I've missed them too, I haven't seen them for a long time."

In the evening, Zhu's mother and Zhu Lin returned to the courtyard house one after the other, and finished dinner amidst laughter.

On August 25th, "God's Visa" officially premiered, with a huge poster hanging at the entrance bearing slogans such as "These are Chinese diplomats, these are world diplomats" and "Love peace, develop the country."

There was a long queue outside the Beijing People's Art Theatre. Because there were so many people, everyone was sweating profusely and using their hands as fans. Their faces showed discomfort and impatience.

"Popsicles, popsicles, chilled mineral water, mineral water!"

(End of this chapter)