I am not a literary giant

Chapter 105 The Victorious Lobster Doesn't Bow Down

"They can actually get Prince Xu to participate in the second round directly."

"How can this be done?"

Chen Qingluo said, "Have you carefully read the submission guidelines?"

Ning Chunyan snapped, "Hey, don't answer my questions with questions! Just give me the answer!"

Ning Chunyan was extremely anxious, and Chen Qingluo didn't keep him in suspense any longer:

"Xihe City's Culture and Tourism Bureau and Nanjing University are paired units for friendly cultural exchanges. At this cultural conference, Nanjing University was also given several special invitation slots to participate. Because they are special invitations, they do not participate in the preliminary selection and go directly to the second round."

Ning Chunyan's mind raced for a while before she understood what she was thinking: "You mean, you want Wang Zixu's manuscript to be submitted directly to the second round of judging as a specially invited piece from Nanjing University?"

"Um."

Ning Chunyan took a deep breath.

"Qingluo, I admit your idea is bold, but have you considered that Wang Zixu isn't from Nanjing University!"

Chen Qingluo argued vehemently, "But we're from Nanjing University! Isn't that enough?"

"This is not enough!" Ning Chunyan looked at her like she was an idiot.

Chen Qingluo said, "Take a close look at the regulations. The rules do not state that articles invited by Nanjing University must be written by current students of Nanjing University."

"Really? But Wang Zixu isn't a college dropout!"

"The rules don't say it has to be written by college graduates who have already left school."

"But he doesn't even know which way the main gate of Nanjing University opens!"

"Coincidentally, the rules don't say that invited authors must know which way the main gate of Nanjing University opens."

Ning Chunyan took a deep breath and said, "I admit your idea is wildly imaginative, but do you know what you're saying? Someone with no background or experience at Nanjing University, you take his manuscript to Nanjing University and say, 'Hello, we think this manuscript is very well written, please be sure to include it in the list of invited articles, thank you!' Do you really think they will agree to that?"

Chen Qingluo said, "If you don't do this, then you can only take that person's manuscript to the second round of essay judging committee, wave the manuscript at them and say, 'I am Ning Chunyan, I think this manuscript was judged wrongly, I want you to overturn the Propaganda Department's previous results and directly add this manuscript to the second round.' Which way do you think has a higher success rate?"

Ning Chunyan bit her fingers.

Zhang Qian is indeed a despicable woman; she rejected Wang Zixu's manuscript for utterly absurd reasons. However, that is also an established fact, a review result endorsed by an authoritative body.

Regardless of her reasons for rejecting Wang Zixu, it was a unanimous decision made by the Publicity Department and the Organizing Committee after review and approval, and once made, it could not be changed. The moment the result was announced, it was no longer her personal opinion, but the result of a collective decision by the Publicity Department.

The second round of review committees was also part of the Xihe civil service system, and she couldn't allow them to overturn their own previous results. That wouldn't just be overturning Zhang Qian's decision alone; it would be going against the entire Xihe civil service system.

No matter how absurd Zhang Qian's reasons for rejecting the manuscript were, they still represented the opinion of the organizing committee. As long as they didn't create enough public pressure to force the entire civil service system of Xihe City to submit, they couldn't do anything about it.

Ultimately, the results of the first round of peer review cannot be changed, and it is impossible to expect the system to correct itself. If Wang Zixu's manuscript is to win the revival round, it must win against all odds and survive against all odds.

Thinking about it this way, Chen Qingluo's method is very likely the only solution.

Ning Chunyan calmed down and asked seriously, "Qingluo, are you sure it's not written in the rules? Doesn't it say in the rules that 'invited articles from Nanjing University must have educational experience at Nanjing University'?"

Chen Qingluo thought for a moment, then turned around and opened the webpage on her computer, went to the official website of the Xihe Writers Association, clicked to view the call for submissions, and after a moment, turned around and said, "I didn't write anything."

"Didn't it say that the person invited to write an article for Nanjing University must be related to the university in some way, even just their mother sweeping floors there?"

"No. Actually, the rules are very simple. In short, as long as the Nanjing University representative thinks the manuscript is of acceptable quality, that's fine. Nanjing University is the submitter, not the producer," Chen Qingluo said.

Ning Chunyan was speechless and lowered his head in deep thought.

Chen Qingluo said earnestly, "It's not as difficult as you think. We know the professors at Nanjing University who are in charge of soliciting papers. It's just a matter of persuading him to add Wang Zixu's paper to the list of invited papers, and that's it. Director Mei already said that he will turn a blind eye if Wang Zixu's paper enters the second round."

After a moment of silence, Ning Chunyan asked, "Who is the professor at Nanjing University in charge of soliciting papers?"

"Zhong Junmin".

Ning Chunyan's mind flashed to an image of a stern, bespectacled old professor, spitting as he berated the little prince. She immediately clutched her head and cried out:

"Why him of all people! He's the hardest to talk to!"

Chen Qingluo reached out and patted her shoulder: "It's all about human effort. Didn't you promise to get that person's manuscript into the third round?"

"But Qingluo, this method is too outrageous! Whether it succeeds or fails, the consequences will be severe!"

Let's not even talk about what Zhong Junmin's expression would be after hearing their request. Even if Professor Zhong really agreed without thinking, and then Wang Zixu successfully advanced to the third round, what would the result be?

When the time comes, students from Nanjing University will gather around to read the essays and admire the works of their specially invited authors. One student will see the author, Wang Zixu, and think, "Who is that? I don't know him. Which department is he from?"

The answer was: It's from Beijing Institute of Technology.

What expressions would they have at that time?

Or what would Wang Zixu's wife and family think when they learned that he had been shortlisted in the third round of the essay contest and saw the special note "Invited Article by Nanjing University" on his manuscript? When did you go to Nanjing University?

Thinking of this, Ning Chunyan shuddered. The scene was so comical, ridiculous, absurd, and even quite exciting that she didn't dare to think about it any further.

Just then, Chen Qingluo's highly seductive voice rang in my ears:

"Fine, if you don't want to, that's fine with me. After all, that person is your friend, not mine. And how he was ridiculed and insulted, and how he finally jumped off the 10th floor because he couldn't bear the humiliation, is none of my business. I don't care."

Ning Chunyan gritted her teeth: "Then let's give it a try. It's all up to us."

Chen Qingluo showed an expression that suggested she was a promising student.

"Come with me."

After Ning Chunyan finished speaking, Chen Qingluo showed a troubled expression again.

"I want to write a novel."

"You can't possibly let me go alone, can you?" Ning Chunyan said. "Didn't you say that as a fellow alumnus of Nanjing University, you would stand up for Wang Zixu?"

After a serious internal struggle, Chen Qingluo finally nodded with difficulty: "Okay."

Ning Chunyan was somewhat surprised that she agreed so easily: "Why are you so concerned about this? It's rare to see you so proactive for someone you have no connection with!"

Chen Qingluo paused, and after a moment she spoke:

"Because I hate bitches."

"This world can be given to anyone, but not to that bitch."

Ning Chunyan sincerely said, "You're right."

……

Today's lunch at Wen'ai Club was braised crayfish. The auntie they hired is from Qianjiang, a relatively unknown small city in central China that is famous for two things: first, it is the hometown of Cao Yu, one of the "Lu Guo Mao Ba Lao Cao" (a famous Chinese writer known for his literary works); second, its crayfish are sold throughout the country.

The aunt was quite proud of her braised lobster skills. After everyone finished eating, they even came to the table to check how many lobsters were left, as proof of her culinary prowess.

The result of the inspection was that a large basin contained almost nothing but soup and chili seasonings, and as for the shrimp, there was only one left.

This is the one that Prince Xu is standing in front of right now.

Clad in armor and wielding weapons, its entire body gleaming a majestic red, its two long pincers raised high, exuding power and authority. It must have been a proud shrimp in life, but that pride vanished with it becoming a meal on a plate.

The lobster's two dark eyes stared intently at Prince Xu, then it suddenly opened its mouth and said, "Your current state of existence is unhealthy."

Prince Xu smiled faintly and shook his head. He felt he must be crazy. He knew he wasn't healthy, but in any case, he was definitely healthier than the shrimp in front of him.

The lobster added, "You're looking downcast and lacking aggression. You have a severe deficiency of serotonin, which will affect your happiness index."

First it was Sartre, now it's a lobster. Prince Xu felt he was starting to get used to it and asked, "Who are you?"

The lobster bowed to him on the table: "I am Jordan Lobster Peterson, your home lobster doctor."

Wang Zixu said, "Hello, Dr. Lobster, what's wrong with me?"

The lobster crawled a little closer to him on the table: "I'm a researcher of lobster habits, you know? Lobsters' aggressive behavior is quite interesting."

"Aggressive behavior?"

"Yes, lobsters are quite similar to you humans, employing a cruel, winner-takes-all unequal distribution system. Only the lobsters that win in battle are entitled to the best territories."

Prince Xu said, "We humans are not a winner-takes-all species."

The lobster hooked its claws: "Yes, that's how it appears on the surface, but everyone knows what's really going on, right? You're just keeping the losers alive so they can accept their fate of being exploited."

"For example, you didn't get an outstanding grade, but you still work diligently at your company just to maintain your position and salary, and then you forget that you're actually wasting your time. You have to admit, in this respect, humans are much smarter than lobsters, right?"

Prince Xu didn't want to discuss how human society works with a lobster: "Go on with your talk about the lobster's aggressive behavior."

"Lobsters fight for territory, and my research has shown that the serotonin levels in the winning lobsters spike dramatically, while the losing lobsters experience the opposite, with their serotonin levels plummeting."

"The victorious lobsters often strut around triumphantly, while the losers are often crestfallen, as if they have suffered a great blow, and will refuse to fight again for several days. The shadow of defeat makes their claws heavy."

"When a lobster loses its territory, it is demoted from a king to a commoner overnight. The decrease in serotonin helps it adjust its mindset and adapt to its status as a loser."

Wang Zixu understood: "You're implying something to me."

The lobster smiled eerily; it didn't have a "mouth," but Prince Xu seemed to be able to see its smile:

"I'm not talking about you, I just want to tell you not to act like a loser. If you're dejected, timid, and afraid to fight for what you deserve, you're just labeling yourself as a 'weakling' to other people."

"Others of your kind will instinctively see you as a failed lobster, and in any potential conflict that arises, they will be more inclined to prioritize sacrificing your interests. As a result, you will be bullied more and more."

Wang Zixu asked, "Will the failed lobster be bullied even more?"

Dr. Lobster scratched his head: "Uh, I haven't studied that."

A hand appeared in front of Prince Xu: "Do you still want to eat this lobster?"

Prince Xu shook his head: "I won't eat."

"Then I'll eat it."

As Wang Zixu watched Dr. Lobster disappear between Ye Lan's lips, a weak voice escaped from her lips intermittently:

"Don't...act like...a weakling."

"But why would a lobster retain this characteristic during its long evolutionary process?" Prince Xu asked.

"Huh?" Ye Lan looked at him in confusion.

"It's nothing."

Ye Lan sat down beside him: "I heard about your situation from Ning Chunyan. Don't be too discouraged."

Prince Xu smiled calmly and said, "That lobster already told me. Thank you. But do I really look that down?"

Ye Lan stared at him suspiciously, sensing something was off about him. However, since Wang Zixu had always been somewhat erratic, she didn't find it particularly strange and continued:

"You seem okay, but, right? Being treated like this by your ex-girlfriend, it's infuriating to even think about it."

Wang Zixu shook his head and leaned back in his chair: "Can I say that when I heard Ning Chunyan say that the publicity department was in charge of the first round, I guessed it was pretty much a done deal?"

Ye Lan asked, "What do you mean?"

"I guessed back then that Zhang Qian was behind it, but I never expected that she would still be like this after all these years."

Ye Lan leaned down beside him and asked, "Has she done this before?"

Wang Zixu said, "When I was dating her, I gave her some of my most confident works and asked her to submit them for publication, but I never heard from her again. I used to think it was because my work was too bad, but now I think she might have done something wrong. I just don't have any evidence."

Ye Lan became indignant: "How could she be like this? Isn't she sick? What good does it do her to do this?"

Wang Zixu shook his head: "That's her personality. If a road is jammed with cars, she'll use her driving skills to try and cut into another lane, and then get stuck in another jam. But she'll feel satisfied knowing she's one car length ahead. That's just the kind of person she is."

Ye Lan gasped: "So, she can't help you, and would rather hold you back?"

"Yes. But she doesn't think she's holding me back. She thinks that not letting me write is for my own good because she thinks writing doesn't make money. I just didn't expect that even after so many years since we broke up, she would still be like this. To be honest, when I heard her say that she was thinking about my health, I could only remain silent, whether I was moved or not."

Ye Lan said, "Even after all this, you can still remain calm and composed. I truly admire your composure."

Wang Zixu said, "What's the use of not being calm and collected? She's a leader in the propaganda department, and I'm just a lowly clerk. Even if I'm angry, am I supposed to be like Song Jiang and stab Yan Poxi with a knife?"

"That's not necessary..."

"Based on my understanding of her," Wang Zixu said, "she must be dragging her boyfriend, or some leader from another unit, along with others, exaggerating and making things difficult for Ning Chunyan."

Ye Lan frowned: "She dares to offend Ning Cai Nu?"

"I don't dare to confront her directly, but I can whisper in her ear and trip her up behind her back. There's nothing you can do about it," Wang Zixu said. "It's not that I'm not angry, but it's useless for me to be angry. I'm afraid that if I get angry, I'll implicate Ning Chunyan and make her take the blame for me. I wish she would stop interfering in my affairs."

Ye Lan rubbed her forehead: "So, do you still plan to write in the future?"

"I will write, but I can't stay in Xihe any longer. I have to find a way to leave," said Prince Xu. "The difference between humans and lobsters is that if this place doesn't want me, there are plenty of other places that will."

Ye Lan opened her mouth slightly: "You're not running Wen'ai Company anymore?"

"We'll do it, and we'll make it big," Prince Xu said. "Actually, I have another plan..."

(End of this chapter)