1980 My literary era

Mark stayed in New York for four days and was as happy as a god.

Although Lin Weimin didn't stay in New York for long, he had money and leisure and visited many interesting places in more than a month here. After Mark Meng arrived, he was like a tour guide who was ready to go, leading Mark Meng around every day. The two of them were so cool and unrestrained, making Mark Meng feel like he was happy to be away from home.

On his last day in New York, Mark felt a little ashamed of the drunken life he had lived in the past few days, and decided to go to the Metropolitan Museum to cultivate his sentiments.

Lin Weimin has been in New York for more than a month, but he has never been to the Metropolitan Museum.

In a country with a history of more than 200 years, what can be found in a museum?

Answer: Thousand-year-old cultural relics from all over the world.

This idea is of course based on national sentiments. From a purely visiting perspective, the Metropolitan Museum is actually a good place.

The 3 million exhibits here are all antiques from all over the world.

One of the must-see exhibits when you come to the Metropolitan Museum is the Temple of Dendur.

This Roman-era Egyptian temple is the treasure of the metropolis. It was donated to the United States by the Egyptian government in 1965 for the reconstruction of the Aswan High Dam.

Blocked by glass walls, there is an artificial pool in front, and the lights simulate the sun and night, making the Temple of Dendur seem like it is still bathing on the banks of the Nile.

It has to be said that the Metropolitan Museum of Art has put a lot of thought into the preservation and display of cultural relics, and it is worthy of its reputation as a world-renowned museum.

After visiting the Chinese cultural relics all the way, Lin Weimin felt a little depressed.

The "imported" Mingxuan enjoyed similar treatment as the Denduo Temple.

Mingxuan is a Chinese courtyard built after the Suzhou Garden Master's Garden "Dian Chunyi". It has three halls and one courtyard. There are rockeries, clear springs, half pavilions, winding corridors, foyers and porches in the courtyard. Bamboo and plum trees are planted in the courtyard. Traditional Chinese ornamental plants such as maple, plantain, boxwood, peony and so on, the plaque "Mingxuan" is written by Wen Zhengming of the Ming Dynasty.

It is understandable how difficult it is to move such a garden from China to the United States, and the historical tragedy behind it makes people feel even more depressing.

Lin Weimin said hello to Mark Meng, then stopped visiting and planned to go out for some fresh air.

When he saw two tourists with black hair and yellow skin walking into the museum, Lin Weimin took a look at the younger one. He looked familiar. He had a flat head and big eyes. He looked like a thorn in the side.

The young man was also looking at Lin Weimin, and when he was about to lose his body, the young man hesitated for a long time before speaking, "Are you Lin Weimin?"

"You know me?" Lin Weimin was a little surprised.

"I saw your appearance in the newspaper sent by a friend."

Lin Weimin already guessed who the friend he was talking about was.

"A friend?"

"A-Cheng, you should be familiar with Zhong Acheng, right?"

The two of them had stopped while they were talking, and Lin Weimin showed a surprised expression: "Are you Cheng Danqing?"

Cheng Danqing smiled, "It seems that Acheng mentioned me to you?"

"He said that when he wrote manuscripts before, he always sent them to you for review before taking them to the editorial office."

Cheng Danqing looked a little proud when Lin Weimin mentioned this. He asked, "Why are you here?"

"I was invited by a friend to come to the United States to stay for a while. What are you..."

"My teacher and I came to visit the museum."

Cheng Danqing introduced the old man beside him to Lin Weimin, "This is my teacher Mu Xin, and this is the writer and editor Lin Weimin."

Lin Weimin had already guessed the identity of the old man before Cheng Danqing introduced him. He was dressed in a high-collared velvet sweater, a black windbreaker, and a wide-brimmed fedora hat.

The few of them exchanged pleasantries. Being able to meet a domestic celebrity like Lin Weimin in a strange country and a common connection like Acheng, Cheng Danqing said happily: "Do you have time later? Let's have a meal together."

Lin Weimin said: "I came with my friends today. How about tomorrow, if you have time?"

Cheng Danqing nodded, "Okay, then how can I contact you?"

Lin Weimin wrote him a phone number, "Call me tomorrow!"

After that, they passed by each other.

After Lin Weimin walked away, Mu Xin asked Cheng Danqing: "Is he Lin Weimin?"

In recent years, many Chinese people have studied in the United States. In addition, Lin Weimin's works have been published in the United States. Many Chinese have heard of Lin Weimin's name.

"Yes. So young!" Cheng Danqing looked at Lin Weimin's back and sighed.

Mu Xin laughed, "You're not old either!"

Cheng Danqing smiled, "But he's not young either."

He went to the United States to study in 1982. He was famous in the domestic painting circle with his "XZ Group Paintings" long before he went to study abroad. However, he did not do well after coming to the United States, just like most people who came to the United States in this era. He and Acheng got acquainted because of the Star Art Exhibition.

Lin Weimin waited outside for about an hour, and Mark Meng came out.

For him, an American, it was a bit uncomfortable to see the metropolis. It was an eye-opener, but it was all foreign, and there was no sense of belonging or pride at all. He and Lin Weimin suddenly agreed while chatting. He started to curse, and there was quite a bit of internationalism in it.

In the afternoon, Lin Weimin treated Mark Meng to a big meal.

Early the next morning, Mark was preparing to drive back to Kansas.

When they were about to leave, he said sadly: "Lin, I really don't know when the next meeting will be."

"People have joys and sorrows, and the moon waxes and wanes."

Mark Meng followed Lin Weimin and said: "This matter is difficult to solve in ancient times!"

He said quietly: "Su Dongpo's words are so beautiful!"

"There will be opportunities to meet again in the future. Just like a few years ago, who would have thought that we would meet again so soon?" Lin Weimin said with a smile.

Mark Meng nodded, with a bit of reluctance in his eyes, and hugged Lin Weimin goodbye.

"I hope the next meeting will come sooner."

"Yes, take care!"

Lin Weimin waved his hand and watched Mark Meng's Buick disappear from sight, and couldn't help but feel melancholy.

After returning to the apartment, not long after staying, the phone rang in the apartment. It was Cheng Danqing. The meal was changed to an art salon, and Lin Weimin was invited to participate.

Lin Weimin planned to invite Cheng Danqing to dinner because it was changed to a literary salon now because of Acheng, and he didn't really want to participate.

"Everyone wants to get to know you..." Chen Danqing kept persuading him, and Lin Weimin had no choice but to agree.

At around two o'clock in the afternoon, according to the address given by Cheng Danqing, a Mercedes-Benz drove Lin Weimin downstairs to an apartment in Chinatown, Manhattan.

Lin Weimin went upstairs and knocked on the door.

It is similar to many apartment buildings in New York in this era, and the decoration is also a bit old. Before Lin Weimin arrived, a bunch of people had gathered here. The floor in the living room was covered with sheets, some were sitting on the sofa, and some were sitting on the sheets on the floor. There were various kinds of food placed on the sheets, and it looked like everyone had brought them.

Cheng Danqing introduced Lin Weimin to everyone. Most of these people had stayed in Mi in recent years. They were in New York and stayed together to keep warm.

The apartment belongs to Mu Xin's family. He is well-known in the American study abroad circle and has a group of Chinese students like Cheng Danqing gathered around him. Mu Xin seemed to be the protagonist of this salon. He was talking non-stop when Lin Weimin came, but now he stopped because of Lin Weimin's arrival.

"You go on, don't worry about me." Lin Weimin said with a smile.

Mu Xin continued, and the others listened to his speech and occasionally chimed in.

The atmosphere in the salon was pretty good, but it was a pity that Lin Weimin seemed out of place here.

Lin Weimin listened to what Mu Xin taught. It was probably about the history of world literature. Lin Weimin had heard these things as early as when he was at the Institute of Literary Studies.

At around five o'clock, everyone was having dinner and cooking together. Lin Weimin, the new guest, became the focus of everyone's attention.

"Lin Weimin, do you plan to stay in the United States this time?" The person who asked this question was Li Quanwu, who was also a painter.

Lin Weimin shook his head, "I'm just here to stay for a while, and I'll go back in less than ten days."

Li Quanwu looked a little pity, "Didn't you say that your novels are quite popular in the United States? What a great opportunity this is, why didn't you think of staying in the United States?"

Lin Weimin said calmly: "Why do you want to stay in the United States?"

Li Quanwu immediately said: "The United States is so wonderful..."

Li Quanwu talked about a lot of things, but Lin Weimin turned a deaf ear to it. After he finished speaking, Lin Weimin smiled noncommittally, which made several people on the side feel angry.

In their view, Lin Weimin's conditions are unique.

He is a well-known writer in China, and his works are also very popular in the United States. Everyone has even seen his novels for sale in bookstores.

If he can come to the United States, he will definitely do much better than in China.

"The country is actually not bad. We are used to it. We have our own compatriots, our own culture, our own place. We have friends wherever we go. What's wrong with that?" Lin Weimin responded easily.

Everyone shook their heads, feeling that Lin Weimin might have just come to the United States and had not yet seen the colorful world of capitalism, so he was a bit of a pessimist.

After dinner, Mu Xin's lecture ended, and everyone sat casually in the living room chatting.

Lin Weimin is new here today. He is very famous in the country and everyone is most interested in him.

"Lin Weimin, you said before that a friend invited you here. What kind of friend? Can you get an American identity for you?" The speaker was Lu Zhifang, an international student at the State University of New York.

"I have an American friend who writes plays. He will definitely not be able to help me obtain American identity."

In the 1980s, it was understandable that these international students were obsessed with the United States. But in the eyes of Lin Weimin, a later comer, it was a bit funny.

The two sides have different ideas, and there is no way to talk about many things. They can only talk about some short-lived things.

These people have been abroad for several years and sighed when they heard some domestic news from Lin Weimin.

“There really aren’t any changes in the country!”

“I really don’t know when we will catch up with the United States!”

After staying until about seven o'clock, Lin Weimin said goodbye to everyone.

Cheng Danqing and Li Quanwu sent Lin Weimin downstairs. When they arrived at the door of the building, Cheng Danqing warned: "When you exit the door, turn right and walk for 500 meters. Then turn right and there is a subway station. Be careful when walking. There is an area where black people gather after leaving Chinatown. , don’t stop.”

Lin Weimin nodded, "Thank you!"

While he was talking, a low-key and restrained black Mercedes-Benz drove up and parked on the side of the road.

Lin Weimin opened the car door, waved to Cheng Danqing and Li Quanwu and said, "You go back first, see you when we have a chance!"

Cheng Danqing and Li Quanwu were at a loss when they saw the sudden appearance of the Mercedes-Benz. When they heard Lin Weimin's farewell, they waved subconsciously.

Lin Weimin nodded to them and got in the car.

Seeing the car leave their sight, Li Quanwu suddenly asked: "Danqing, was that a Mercedes-Benz just now?"

It was too dark just now, and Cheng Danqing couldn't see clearly, so he wasn't sure, "It should be, right?"

"Didn't Lin Weimin come to the United States to live temporarily? Why does he still have a car?"

"It shouldn't be his car. There is a driver in the car." Cheng Danqing recalled the scene just now and said.

Li Quanwu muttered: "Where did this guy get his Mercedes-Benz? It couldn't have been rented, right?"

These international students, before coming to the United States, were doing pretty well in China. But in the United States, even life is a problem.

Leng Buding saw Lin Weimin, who had just arrived in the United States, sitting in a Mercedes-Benz, which made Li Quanwu feel a little sad.

Cheng Danqing did not answer his words. He was still thinking about the scene of Lin Weimin waving goodbye just now.

How to describe that feeling?

After thinking for a long time, a sentence came into his mind:

How pretentious!