1980 My literary era

A class that was not considered formal ended with Lin Weimin's gag, and the students burst into warm applause.

Today's class did not actually cover any substantive content, but the exchange with Lin Weimin made them feel deeply.

For almost all students, Lin Weimin is just a name they saw in publications. When everyone actually met him in the classroom of the Institute of Literature and had exchanges with him, everyone truly felt his talent and charm. .

One has to lament God's kindness to him!

Lin Weimin was enthusiastically sent to the school gate by teachers from the Institute of Literature and Literature, and told him not to forget the lectures in a few days. He got on his motorcycle and waved to everyone before leaving.

Tang Yuqiu looked at Lin Weimin's leaving figure and sighed: "Who could have imagined that Weimin has changed so much!"

Xiao Lin also sighed, "Yes. It's like a dream, it only took a few years!"

Amidst the sighs of everyone, Lin Weimin's back disappeared completely.

When I returned to the Chinese Literature Society from the Literary Research Institute, it was not long before I got off work.

Lin Weimin took two hours of leave in the morning, but came back in the afternoon. Meng Weizai saw him in the corridor and was about to ask a few words when he saw Lin Weimin's hand patting the briefcase he was carrying.

Comrade Lao Meng nodded happily and went to compile the manuscript again. Not bad.

Entering the office, Liu Yin looked at Meng Weizai who had just walked over, then at Lin Weimin, and said, "Okay, Lao Meng didn't say a word when he saw you."

"You don't even look at how much work I've done, and he's talking about me? Are you embarrassed?"

"show off!"

After a few jokes, Lin Weimin went to work.

It was too short before he got off work, so instead of reviewing the manuscript, he opened the letters piled on the table.

Unexpectedly, among the letters, I found another letter from an acquaintance, Cheng Shixu from the Institute of Literary Studies.

It has been four years since "The General in a Small Town" was published in 1979 and he entered the Institute of Literary Studies in 1980. Cheng Shixu's life has not been comfortable.

To be precise, the road to writing is particularly difficult.

After graduating from the Institute of Literary Studies, Lin Weimin corresponded with Cheng Shixu from time to time and had a good understanding of his situation.

One publication after another enthusiastically requested manuscripts, but then rejected them with great disappointment.

Cheng Shixu mentioned in his letters more than once the embarrassing scene when he met an acquaintance. The other person asked him what work he was writing, but all he could see was his pale face and whimpering pitifully.

Through the text, Lin Weimin can feel the pressure and depression in Cheng Shixu's heart.

In the past few years, he has not stopped writing, but has been more diligent than before. However, the results he obtained have never been satisfactory. Since entering the Literary Research Institute, his works have never been published in domestic first-line literary magazines.

For Cheng Shixu's age, now should be the time when he is at the peak of his creation.

His starting point was so high, and he won an award such as the National Outstanding Short Story at a young age. Such a result was a heavy blow to him.

Especially, because of the experience of studying at the Institute of Literary Studies, I got to know classmates from all over the country. Not to mention students like Jiang Zilong, who is already famous, there are many students whose creative output has exploded after experiencing the Literary Studies Institute, such as Lin Weimin, Gu Hua, and Huang Anyi.

This made Cheng Shixu feel more and more that he was close to the edge of desperation.

The content of this letter made Lin Weimin very worried about Cheng Shixu's condition. He did not reply to the letter, but directly called Cheng Shixu's unit.

When Cheng Shixu answered the phone, the voice Lin Weimin heard was dry and weak. He couldn't match the youthful and energetic young man in his impression.

"Weimin, I plan to change my job?" Cheng Shixu told Lin Weimin his thoughts on the phone.

"Change a job? What job?"

"You can also find a job as an editor at a literary magazine, or as a handyman." Cheng Shixu said without confidence.

"Do you think being an editor is that easy?"

Lin Weimin's rhetorical question left Cheng Shixu speechless.

"But what can I do? I have thought about it a lot this year. For the people, I want to tell you something from my heart.

To me, literature is just a way of ‘making plans for rice beams’. Now everyone knows that I went to the Literary Research Institute for further study, and was transferred to the provincial capital to specialize in writing.

But what’s the result? There is no result. I am deceiving everyone by doing this.

I don’t want to go through this trouble any more, so I might as well find another way to make a living! "

Lin Weimin did not expect that the unsatisfactory past few years would have such a severe impact on Cheng Shixu.

"Shi Xu, it's easy to change careers. But I want to ask you a question."

"what is the problem?"

"Is it true that your work cannot be published?"

Cheng Shixu on the other end of the phone fell into silence.

His works have indeed been rejected by publications one after another, but the premise is that these publications are all first- and second-tier literary magazines across the country.

"October", "Contemporary", "Flower City", "Zhongshan", "Yenjing Literature", "Shanghai Literature"...

Lin Weimin counted the names of publications one by one on the phone, "Shi Xu, do you know? In the editorial department, how many manuscripts from authors and literature lovers across the country have to be rejected every day?"

“Compared to the number of works that can be published in these household-name publications, there are so many works that have no chance of being published.

Those works that have no chance of being published are the fate of most people..."

Cheng Shixu said bitterly: "For the people, but after all, I..."

"I know, I know. After all, your work has appeared in "October", after all, you have won the National Award, after all, you have studied at the Institute of Literary Studies.

But, Shi Xu, that is all in the past. For those who are on their way, the last thing worth remembering is the past.

Do you want to wallow in the short-lived glory of the past for the rest of your life? Are you such a person without ambition? "

Lin Weimin's questioning tortured Cheng Shixu's heart, making him painful and full of self-blame and annoyance.

Since when did I become such a cowardly person!

"For the people, I...am I too vain?" Cheng Shixu asked with a cry.

Lin Weimin softened his tone, "Shi Xu, it has nothing to do with vanity or not. We are all human beings, emotional animals. We naturally don't want to come down when we reach the top. This is human nature."

"But you also have to understand that our life is never a smooth road. It is a mountain range composed of countless high and low peaks. These peaks are high and low, steep and gentle, and the conditions are different.

But they have one thing in common, that is, no road can always go uphill without going downhill. What does it matter if it's a downhill road? Just take a break and save some energy. There is another mountain peak waiting for you not far away! "

After Lin Weimin finished speaking, Cheng Shixu fell into silence.

Just when Lin Weimin thought his poisonous chicken soup had no effect, Cheng Shixu finally said: "You are right, I care too much about those false reputations."

"That's right. Don't take those things so seriously. If your work cannot be published in a big publication, just publish it in a small publication. Anyway, the manuscript fee will not be less for you. If you write too much, there will always be a day when a drop of water will shine through. Quantity will change. Trigger qualitative change.”

Under Lin Weimin's enlightenment, Cheng Shixu finally regained some confidence and reason.

"Yes. As long as I keep writing, I will definitely have a chance."

Lin Weimin felt relieved. His job as a part-time close brother was not easy.

"but……"

"But what?" Cheng Shixu asked.

"I suggest you find an opportunity to further your studies."

Lin Weimin read Cheng Shixu's manuscript more than once and knew what his problem was.

The language is too simple and the expression technique is single.

Without the support of deep material and creative experience, his works can easily become mediocre.

The study career at the Institute of Literary Studies was too short for Cheng Shixu. Instead of running into obstacles in writing like a headless fly like now, it is better to study hard and settle down.

"I heard that the Literary and Art Association is contacting Wuhan University to cooperate in recruiting Chinese language and literature transfer students. Can I help you contact them?"

Cheng Shixu hesitated and said, "I'm so old? Can this be done?"

"How old are you? You're only in your thirties. There are many people your age in the university, okay? Besides, they only accept transfer students, and the duration of the schooling is short, only two years, it seems.

are you going? If you go, I will contact you! "

Cheng Shixu hurriedly said: "I'm going! I'm going!"

"Oh~ you're right! Don't always feel sorry for yourself, and don't be discouraged. Work hard towards your goal, and the scenery behind you will be your reward."

Lin Weimin's comfort made Cheng Shixu smile, "Weimin, thank you so much."

"Why are you being so polite to me? I'll contact you if I have any news about further training!"

"good."

After hanging up the phone with Cheng Shixu, Lin Weimin sighed.

The path of literature is not easy to follow!

After chatting with Tan Chaoyang for a while, the old man felt very sad.

In fact, compared to most literature lovers, Cheng Shixu is lucky enough.

Unfortunately, his talent may not yet be enough to support his ambition.

When it was time to get off work, Lin Weimin followed the traffic and came out of the Chinese Literature Society and ran towards Shichahai.

He moved back to Shichahai Courtyard not long after the New Year. The winter heating period was over, and the advantages of living in Tuanjie Lake Apartment were gone.

After entering Baimi Xiejie and walking a few hundred meters to the front of his courtyard, Lin Weimin stopped his motorcycle.

"Comrade, who are you looking for?" Lin Weimin asked the middle-aged man squatting at the door.

He wore glasses, had a round head and a round face, a short haircut and a mustache. He was smoking with his head sullenly. When he heard Lin Weimin's voice, he quickly raised his head.

"I'm looking for Lin Weimin!"

"What do you want from Lin Weimin?"

"I have a manuscript that I want him to help me read!"

Lin Weimin asked curiously: "Let him read the manuscript, why don't you go to his unit to find him?"

"I have to go to work during the day, so I don't have time!"

This reason is very powerful.

Lin Weimin didn't know how to answer the question for a moment, so he stretched out his hand and said, "Where is the manuscript?"

I've been too busy these two days, so I'll just update two today and resume three updates tomorrow.