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

Chapter 71 Is Dream of the Red Chamber a work of "scar literature"?

"I used to clean toilets at Yenching University, and I'll tell you without hesitation that the toilets I cleaned were the cleanest of all the professors."

In the Yenching University classroom, Professor Wu Zuxiang began his lecture with a humorous self-narration. Wu Zuxiang sat on a stool to the side of the podium, legs crossed, wearing cotton cloth shoes, though a small hole had been burned into them by cigarette ash.

He wore a gray scarf around his neck and a hat during class, which he would slowly take off if he sweated, revealing sparse silver hair. He held a cigarette in his hand and would occasionally take a puff.

"I've never been favored, so I can tolerate harsh words and have a thick skin. Mr. Lao She, on the other hand, was always favored, so he couldn't stand being looked down upon. So I'm telling you all in the class, you should learn from me, be a little thick-skinned, what does it matter if others criticize you?"

In literary circles, it's always been a game of insults, but actual physical violence is rare. And if it does happen, thick skin alone isn't enough; you also need to be quick on your feet!

After speaking, Professor Wu Zuxiang, completely ignoring the students below who were laughing so hard they were bent over, took a smug puff of his cigarette. Only after finishing his cigarette did he slowly point his finger at Liu Yimin.

"Baoshu, stand up and tell us what to do if there's a dispute? You were laughing the loudest just now!"

Liu Yimin glanced at Liu Zhenyun; he was the one who had been laughing the loudest just now.

However, since the professor had called his name, he quickly stood up, looked at the podium, and said, "Professor, truth cannot be clarified without debate, and I must have a discussion with the other side."

"What if you can't win the argument?"

"Then let's debate until we win!"

"What will you do if the other party gets angry?" Wu Zuxiang's eyes revealed admiration.

“Students who started out wielding hoes have plenty of strength in their hands, and they also know a little about fists and feet.”

Professor Wu Zuxiang was leisurely smoking, just about to let the smoke soothe his lungs, when he heard this remark. He choked and quickly pulled the corner of his scarf to cover his mouth. After a while, he calmed his breathing and said, "Looks like I'll have to stay away from you in the future, because I can get angry easily sometimes."

Professor Wu Zuxiang waved his hand, signaling Liu Yimin to sit down before beginning today's lecture on "Dream of the Red Chamber." Today marked the official start of the lecture series. In October, Professor Wu Zuxiang would simply have everyone read "Dream of the Red Chamber" or chat with the students about all sorts of strange and unusual things. Once, they even talked about "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio."

"Today, I will focus on analyzing the reasons for the formation of Jia Baoyu's character in 'Dream of the Red Chamber' and his modern democratic ideas."

Wu Zuxiang believed that Jia Baoyu's character had three characteristics: first, his hatred of worldly men and his respect and care for women; second, his hatred of the extravagance and corruption of his class and his care and closeness to people from the lower classes; and third, as analyzed above, he possessed the spirit of respect for individual rights, human liberation, and equality of human rights, which is democracy.

"Our Comrade Jia Baoyu was also a pioneer of democracy, which shows that through his observation of society and after his family's decline, the author Cao Xueqin gradually became one with our peasant comrades and began to care about the lives of the people at the bottom of society."

Liu Zhenyun said, "These old professors in the Chinese department are all so witty and humorous. When will I ever be able to learn from them!"

After he finished speaking, he led the applause. By this time, it was time for the break between classes.

"When you have the experience and knowledge of an old professor, your speech will naturally become humorous!"

"When will that be?" Liu Zhenyun said dejectedly.

During the break, Professor Wu Zuxiang finished his tea on the podium, then, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, walked over to Liu Yimin and the others, casually pulled up a chair, and sat down. Not content with that, he directly offered cigarettes to the four of them. "Those who don't smoke, don't take them; these cigarettes are expensive!"

Of the four, only Liu Yimin didn't smoke; the rest of them did. Liu Zhenyun wasn't addicted to smoking, so he was somewhere between smoking and not smoking, and he tucked the cigarette behind his ear.

Professor Wu Zuxiang lit his cigarette first. He always used a black filter when he smoked. After lighting it, he flicked the match to extinguish it and looked at the others with a smile, saying, "Don't think this old man talks too much; he's just been holding it in for too long."

Liu Yimin and his colleagues were already used to it. Some of the older professors were even more fond of lecturing than Wu Zuxiang, and would go directly to the student dormitories, sit cross-legged on their beds, and start lecturing.

As soon as Professor Wu Zuxiang sat down, many students gathered around him. The students of the 77-78 class had a weak foundation, but they were also very enthusiastic about learning. This is why the 77-78 class is known as the two shining classes of college students. Of course, the timing was also a factor, since they were the first batch of college students after the resumption of the college entrance examination.

The classes of '77 and '78 entered and graduated in the same year, with a difference of a few months between them.

A slightly chubby girl approached, speaking with a strong Yunnan accent and with slightly dark skin, and offered a surprising point of view: "Professor Wu, could 'Dream of the Red Chamber' be considered Cao Xueqin's work of 'scar literature'?"

Even Wu Zuxiang found this viewpoint novel and remained silent for a moment. The girl who proposed this viewpoint was Zhang Manling, from Yunnan. Some students from the class of '78 liked to call her "Big Sister," and she was born in '48.

He failed to get into Fudan University in 77 due to political vetting, but this year he is the top liberal arts student in Yunnan Province.

I received my acceptance letter just before I turned thirty; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to enroll due to my age.

She became a renowned writer before graduating, but after graduation, her main work involved organizing historical documents, conducting research, and filming documentaries. She was the first Chinese woman to appear on the cover of Time magazine after China's reform and opening up.

She is also a fan of traditional Chinese medicine because a traditional Chinese medicine doctor saved her life when she was a child. She gave Li Zhengdao Chinese medicine and even brought back a batch of Yunnan Baiyao (a traditional Chinese medicine) to give to people when she went to Taiwan.

This attitude towards traditional Chinese medicine is still quite rare among most highly educated groups and among those who oppose it.

Seeing that Wu Zuxiang remained silent, Zhang Manling raised an eyebrow at Liu Yimin, the challenge unmistakable. It's no wonder this older sister was so combative; if it weren't for Liu Yimin, in the 78 Chinese Literature Department, when Liu Zhenyun wasn't fully developed, Zhang Manling would have been the academic star!
Professor Wu Zuxiang glanced at Zhang Manling, chuckled, and then stood up and said, "The next class will be a debate between the two of you on the stage, but no fighting allowed!"

Zhang Manling retorted, "I also spent five years in Dehong, Yunnan Province, wielding a hoe, no less than Yimin. Of course, Yimin is just a little brother in front of me. Don't worry, Professor, I will take care of him."

Liu Yimin said helplessly, "Zhang Manling, is it really necessary for you to come to me?"

"What the professor said, I didn't say! Besides, none of the other male students dared to stand up!"

"The top liberal arts student in Henan Province and the top liberal arts student in Yunnan Province are facing off!" Someone made a joke, and the atmosphere in the class immediately became lively.

"You all need to understand the concepts. Yimin's first place in the humanities is the first in our Chinese department, and it's probably the first in the whole country. Sister Zhang's score is about the same as mine!" Liu Zhenyun stepped forward in time to help everyone correct their understanding.

"Liu Zhenyun, why don't you come up here!" Zhang Manling said through gritted teeth. She was older, but she wasn't married yet. How could she be angry when someone called her "elder sister" like that? She could make fun of herself, but it seemed to have a different meaning when others said it.

(End of this chapter)