1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

As soon as Zhang Zhong'e finished reading the first page, an editor next to him immediately took it and started reading. Two other editors couldn't wait any longer and joined him, and the three of them read it together.

Soon everyone was immersed in the pure and simple love between Xu Lingjun and Li Xiuzhi. The simple human touch among the herdsmen brought tears to the eyes of many editors, who were instantly reminded of their own past.

After everyone had finished reading, Su Mao said directly, "Speak your mind freely, without any pretense."

Zhang Zhong'e coughed twice, as if to find his rhythm, and spoke first: "When I read the third page, I saw the horse's tongue licking his palm—my heart skipped a beat."

This isn't a novel, it's a thermometer! What we're lacking is a thermometer with a human touch.

Articles like this should be shared more often; I think they should be published!

The newly transferred Chen Xiaomin flipped through the manuscript pages with a rustling sound: "But there is no criticism or denunciation in the whole article, nor is there any description of the hardships of the masses. Xu Lingjun seems to be willing to be a 'herdsman'. His background is also a problem. Why choose such a person as the protagonist?"

Won't this be labeled by the authorities as "using sentimentality to dilute the struggle"?

My suggestion is to put it aside for now, let the author add a "cry of awakening," and then revise it.

Chen Weisheng held up a stack of readers' letters: "These are all letters from readers. They have a great response to the articles we published in the previous issues."

Last night, I even read it aloud to the older woman in the typesetting workshop, and she immediately wiped away tears, saying, "So, someone still remembers our ten years as educated youth."

I think if the public agrees on something, then it must be fine. As for this piece, "The Horseman," I think it's well-written, and I'm submitting it.

Another writer, Lao Du, who is about to retire, lit a "Daqianmen" cigarette, exhaled a puff of smoke, and drew a question mark with the smoke: "What I'm worried about is not 'warmth,' but 'too little warmth'—this writer writes about suffering so quietly, I'm afraid young readers won't understand the knife behind it."

But then I thought, it's precisely because I don't cry out that it's like a knife stabbing into cotton wool, the pain is hidden in the dark.

If our relaunch issue last year hadn't been more "human" and had just been filled with slogans, we would have been letting down the few tons of good paper the paper mill had produced.

Such articles must be published! And they should be given ample space, but with an "Editor's Note" to clearly explain the historical background, preventing opportunists from exploiting any loopholes.

Xiao Li, an editor who had just been transferred to the magazine, was a particularly refined girl. At this moment, she was so angry that her face turned red. Finally, she blurted out, "I think it should be published. If there are any problems, we should suppress it. Then we won't have to write articles anymore. We should just write 'Dumb'."

As the editor in charge, Zhang Shouren immediately stood up and said, "I think Comrade Xiao Li is right. If we keep suppressing submissions, how are we supposed to do our work? Will writers still be able to submit their work to us in the future?"

And it's even harder than Liu Xinwu's "Class Teacher".

I think "The Herdsman" is actually an opportunity for our "October" magazine; it might just become the second miracle!

……

After everyone had discussed it, Su Mao gently tapped the table and said, "Everyone's opinions are very valuable. However, after reading the whole article, 'The Horse Herder,' I only have one feeling: it is real!"

What are we afraid of now? We're afraid of things not being real. As long as it's real, the sharper the better.

If we don't publish articles like this, what are we going to publish?

send!

However, the manuscript still has some structural issues. Comrade Zhang Shouren, you should assist the author in revising it later.

Seeing that Su Mao had made the final decision, Zhang Shouren immediately said happily, "Okay, editor-in-chief, I'll send a letter to the author right away."

"Yes, it's almost Chinese New Year, so we can have him come over after the holiday."

……

Before he knew it, the year was drawing to a close. Chen Weidong got up early in the morning, emptied the chamber pot, then made some paste in a pot, and went out with the couplets he had written.

"Weidong, are you putting up the couplets?"

Chen Weidong turned his head and saw He Yan carrying a basket of wheat straw.

"That's right, the sooner we finish putting them up, the better. Remember to come over for dumplings at my house at noon, and invite Fu Xiao along too."

"We won't go."

He Yan put down the basket and came over to help Chen Weidong hold down the bottom of the couplets. The two of them worked together and finished pasting the couplets in a few minutes.

"Heaven adds years, man adds lifespan"

Spring fills the universe and blessings fill every home

Fortune, longevity, health and peace

Wei Dong, this pair of calligraphy is very auspicious, and the calligraphy is beautiful. Did you buy it at the market a few days ago?

He Yan looked at the couplet from left to right and praised it.

"I bought the red paper at the market, and I wrote the characters myself. I just made do with it."

Chen Weidong said modestly.

"You wrote this?! Not bad, Weidong, you've been hiding your talent. Your handwriting is quite good. I haven't written my couplet yet, could you write it for me while you're at it? I'll go back and get the red paper."

Seeing He Yan rush into the house, Chen Weidong smiled and went inside as well.

He Yan arrived shortly after, and Chen Weidong casually wrote him an auspicious couplet, which made him beam with joy.

Just as Chen Weidong was about to knead the dough, mix the filling, and make dumplings, he heard someone knocking on the door.

"Comrade Fu Xiao, Comrade Lin Xi, Comrade Liang Xiao, please come in."

Chen Weidong was somewhat surprised. What day was it today? The educated youth all came to visit. Including He Yan, who had just left, and him and Su Man, all the educated youth from Yangjiatun Brigade had gathered together.

"Fu Xiao, Lin Xi, Liang Xiao, come in and sit down."

At this moment, Su Man also heard Chen Weidong's words, moved Chen Xiaoan and Chen Xiaosui to the corner of the kang, and then greeted them warmly.

"No need to trouble Comrade Su Man, we'll leave after standing here for a while. He Yan told us that Comrade Chen Weidong can write couplets, and Fu Xiao and the others came over wanting to ask him to write one for them as well."

Liang Xiao was actually a little skeptical, after all, among all the educated youth in Yangjiatun, Chen Weidong had the lowest level of education, only having completed junior high school.

He rarely even touches books, so what kind of knowledge could he possibly have, let alone calligraphy skills? Liang Xiao felt that He Yan was just talking nonsense. He came along to see what kind of good calligraphy Chen Weidong could write.

The remaining five of them are all high school students, especially him, who has already completed his high school coursework and is currently preparing for exams. He might become a college student soon.

Most importantly, in previous years, the couplets were all written by Liang Xiao, because he was the most learned and had the best calligraphy.

He was determined to show Fu Xiao what real knowledge was all about!

Why does this thing taste sour?

Chen Weidong glanced at Liang Xiao. Having lived two lives, he was still somewhat adept at reading between the lines.

This reminded him of Liang Xiao's remarks on the day the pig was slaughtered for the New Year a while ago, and he felt that studying had made him a bit stupid.

"Brother Yan is just flattering me. I'm just writing nonsense. In previous years, it wasn't Comrade Liang Xiao who wrote the couplets. Otherwise, we should have asked him to write them for everyone."

"That's what I just said, but Fu Xiao and Lin Xi insisted on coming over so you could try it."

amount……

As expected of Liang Xiao, there was no need to even try!

Chen Weidong had already guessed what had happened. He figured that Fu Xiao and Lin Xi didn't want Liang Xiao to bother them, so they came up with an excuse to shake him off.

He then remembered that in his previous life, Liang Xiao seemed to have been pursuing Fu Xiao, but the latter had never paid any attention to him.

As for Lin Xi, he knew her very well. Despite her quiet demeanor, as a former educated youth from Sichuan and Chongqing, she was still quite decisive and efficient. In his previous life, He Yan was won over in this way.

When Chen Weidong learned about the two of them, he was surprised for a long time. He could only say that he was too ignorant in his previous life. He Yan and Lin Xi had been searching for him for more than a year, and he only found out when the two of them told him.

Could the two have already contacted each other?

……