1980 My literary era

The publication of "Wives and Concubines" is of great significance to Tong Zhonggui.

Before this work, he also published several works, but the splash was not big, let alone how popular it was.

Before "Wives and Concubines", the avant-garde characteristics of Tong Zhonggui's works were very obvious. He used a large number of images, circular narratives, multiple persons, and broken story structures in his novels, which are all typical characteristics of avant-garde novels.

Critics have already paid attention to him as a newly emerging young author, and even know that he is an author who is favored by Lin Weimin and guided by his hand. They all think that he may be another member of the avant-garde novel creation field after Ma Yuan and Yu Hua. general.

However, with the publication of "Wives and Concubines", Tong Zhonggui changed his previous creative style and writing techniques.

He began to use traditional line drawing techniques, and the presence of imagery in his novels became increasingly weaker.

This change is like learning painting. At the beginning, I liked the dazzling skills of Western painting the most. I felt that the more similar the paintings, the better, and the more magnificent the better. But now I have changed my direction towards Chinese painting, which emphasizes spirit rather than form.

As soon as he took action, his skills shocked everyone!

Half a month after the publication of "Wives and Concubines", word-of-mouth among readers and critics has gradually grown, with rave reviews.

The pen name Su Tong suddenly became the most dazzling name in the Chinese literary world this year. Like a dark horse, he suddenly and quickly rushed to the forefront of the Chinese literary world.

"Xiao Tong, you are so popular!"

"You will be a great writer from now on!"

Facing the teasing and joking of his colleagues, Tong Zhonggui's face showed the shyness and reserve of the big boy next door.

He never expected the popularity of "House of Wives". When he first wrote this novel, he was focused on suppressing it.

Write a novel with a pure classical Chinese flavor to test your creative ability and exploration limits.

He originally planned to write a long story, but as he went on he found that this was actually not a good choice.

He thought about the topics and content he had discussed with Lin Weimin when they were talking about creation. If it was just to write a novel, what was the point?

After understanding this truth, Tong Zhonggui decisively gave up the idea of ​​pursuing bigness and growth and focused on the content itself.

The current results also prove that his choice was right.

Literary works should still focus on content, and all forms are just icing on the cake.

"Xiao Tong, haven't you fallen in love yet?" Liu Yin asked coldly.

Tong Zhonggui looked even more embarrassed, and other colleagues in the office laughed even more unscrupulously.

Teasing Tong Zhonggui, a little boy, is really a joy.

"Don't be shy! How about I introduce you to one later?"

Tong Zhonggui was completely defeated in the eyes of everyone, holding a stack of manuscripts and planning to find a quiet place to stay, when Lin Weimin walked into the office.

"Xiao Tong, where is the manuscript that Alai sent? Bring it to me."

Tong Zhonggui rummaged through a pile of manuscripts and found the manuscript Lin Weimin wanted.

"Agu Dunba" is a short story. In Tibetan folklore, Agu Dunba is a wise man who is well-known to every household, women and children, similar to the legend Afanti in another ethnic minority area.

Alai's narrative in the novel breaks the patterns and routines of folk tales, adapts and reshapes the character of Agudunba, and strengthens his folk cultural stance and his spirit of resisting aristocratic oppression.

The novel is not long and has a unique style.

After reading it, Tong Zhonggui realized how correct what Teacher Lin said to Alai at that time.

The existence of Tibetan oral literature has given Alai sufficient creative nutrients and space. The whole "Agu Dunba" can be read fluently, as if it were picked up at the fingertips, and the quality is good.

Lin Weimin felt familiar after reading this novel. The creation of "Agu Dunba" has already had the shadow of the later "Dust Settled" that made Alai famous.

The character Agu Dunba was born into a noble family, but he betrayed his own class and walked among the black-headed Tibetans. He thought in the simplest way and used folk wisdom to fight against the powerful. He was kind and honest yet smart and cunning, which is consistent with "The Dust Has Settled". How similar is the idiot second young master of Chieftain Maiqi's family in ""?

These two characters are of the same origin. Lin Weimin believes that Agu Dunba is likely to be the origin of the Second Young Master, and that the Second Young Master is also an extension and expansion of Agu Dunba.

He couldn't elaborate on these words with Tong Zhonggui, after all, "The Dust Has Settled" has not been written yet.

So Lin Weimin personally wrote a letter to Alai. In the letter, he first praised "Agu Dunba", and then talked with Alai about the details and character treatment in this novel, and encouraged Alai to try to go deeper. Explore the character of Agu Dunba.

It was almost half a month later that Alai, who was far away in Aba, received Lin Weimin's letter. After reading Lin Weimin's letter, he felt a little excited.

In the past few years, he has been focusing on poetry creation, and he has only been writing novels for nearly a year. He has no confidence in himself.

The last time he went to Yanjing on a business trip to eat and chat with Lin Weimin gave him a lot of confidence and inspiration. After returning, he tried to write this "Agu Dunba".

The acceptance of the manuscript not only means that he can receive a large sum of royalties, but also means that he has been recognized for his creation.

In particular, Lin Weimin also discussed the excavable space of the character Agutonba in depth with him in the letter, which suddenly opened up Alai's thinking. He thought about it carefully and found that Lin Weimin's statement did make some sense.

Under Teacher Lin's rainbow fart, Alai's ambition gradually expanded.

How about writing another novella?

But I have no experience!

Alai came to his simple bookshelf with some boredom and looked at the names on the spines of the books one by one.

Suddenly, his eyes froze.

The Sound and the Fury, Faulkner.

Lin Weimin mentioned a book when he was having dinner and chatting in Yanjing last time. After Alai came back, he went to the bookstore and bought a copy.

Thinking back to the contents of the novel, Alai's heart was ready to move.

In early September, Lin Weimin visited the cast of "The Last Emperor" again at Thomas's invitation. After nearly half a year of filming, the crew's scenes in the Forbidden City were about to end, and they were about to move to Changchun to shoot the subsequent plot.

What was being filmed was a scene in which young Puyi wanted to leave the imperial city on his bicycle, but was stopped by the guards.

Lin Weimin stood not far away and looked at the crew who were filming. The person playing the role of the guard captain looked familiar.

"Is that person Cheng Kaige?" Lin Weimin asked Gong Li beside him.

Gong Li nodded, "It's Director Cheng. He's here to make a guest appearance today."

Lin Weimin nodded, did not discuss this topic anymore, and turned to chat with Gong Li about Zhang Yimou.

Recently, the film festivals in the second half of the year have ended one after another. Zhang Yimou has been busy for half a year, taking "Red Sorghum" to almost all the film festivals he could participate in, and the harvest was of course very rich.

The 38th Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear Award, the 5th Zimbabwe International Film Festival Best Film Award, Best Director Award, the 25th Australia Sydney International Film Festival Film Critics Award, the first Marash International Film and Television in Morocco Grand Atlas Gold Award for Directors at the Festival, Silver Panda Award at the 5th Montpellier International Film Festival in France...

He became famous in one act, and it was a world-class reputation.

Zhang Yimou's career as a director has had a fantastic start.

"Will you be the heroine in the next movie?" Lin Weimin asked.

Gong Li shook her head, "I don't know. Director Zhang is too busy. I haven't seen him for half a year. He hasn't filmed his next movie yet!"

After filming "Red Sorghum", Gong Li gained both fame and fortune.

Not to mention the names, Zhang Yimou ate meat, while she and Han Zhuangzhuang drank soup.

In terms of profit, with the blessing of "Red Sorghum", she successfully won the heroine of "The Last Emperor", with a salary of 300,000 US dollars, which shocked the entire Chinese film industry for a whole year.

You must know that China Film Co-Production Company, as the co-producer of this film, invested only 300,000 US dollars, which was just enough for Gong Li's salary.

For Gong Li, who has not yet graduated from Chinese opera, the start of her acting career is even more dreamy than Zhang Yimou's career as a director.

Lin Weimin joked: "After filming "The Last Emperor", you will be an international actress. I'm afraid Director Zhang can't give you such a high salary?"

Gong Li said straightforwardly: "I can act without getting paid. Without the director, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Regardless of the sincerity of this statement, it is very comfortable. Xiao Gong knows how to be a good person.

While the two were chatting, the scene not far away ended.

Cheng Kaige's guest appearance as the captain of the guard also ended. He noticed Lin Weimin standing with Gong Li, hesitated for a while, and came over with makeup.

"Teacher Lin, long time no see!" Cheng Kaige greeted.

Lin Weimin smiled and said: "Comrade Kaige, long time no see!"

Cheng Kaige exchanged a few words with Lin Weimin and seemed to have something to say. Gong Li saw this and ran aside.

"Teacher Lin, the script of "Red Sorghum" is really well written."

"Haha, that's all Mo Yan's credit. He insisted on using my name."

"I've also read your movie "Lover", and it's also very well written."

Lin Weimin looked at Cheng Kaige, wondering what medicine this guy was selling in his gourd.

Talking about the two getting acquainted, it was when Lin Weimin went to Yanying to take classes. Cheng Kaige praised "The Death of Yula" and disliked "Farewell My Concubine". He was very characterful and full of literary talent.

"I have never understood why your works seem to be destined to win awards? Do you always win awards?" Cheng Kaige asked the question in his heart.

Lin Weimin smiled. It seemed that his experience in "The King of Children" some time ago really stimulated him a lot, so he even asked this question.

"I said I wrote it specifically to win the award. Do you believe it?" Lin Weimin asked in a relaxed tone.

Cheng Kaige was surprised at first. After hesitating, he shook his head firmly.

"You're not that kind of person."

Lin Weimin was happy, but he didn't expect that his status in Cheng Kaige's heart was quite high, "You don't need to praise me."

“You see, you also understand that whether a work wins an award or not has little to do with the author’s own wishes, including creation, because this work has been out of our control since it came out.

The audience and judges are the ones who can give it a fair evaluation. "

Cheng Kaige came to him, somewhat wanting to seek enlightenment.

Lin Weimin's words were very tactful, telling him not to attach so much importance to the award. The more attention he paid to it, the more focused he would be on gains and losses, and the easier it would be to lose balance.

After listening to Lin Weimin's words, Cheng Kaige was silent for a moment, and then asked: "Do you think I have any shortcomings?"