1980 My literary era

"Why did it come out?" When Yu Hua was immersed in the idea of ​​​​future works, a voice suddenly sounded next to him.

It's Mo Yan.

"Have you finished reading the novel?" Yu Hua asked.

Mo Yan said nothing and nodded.

"how do you feel?"

Mo Yan hesitated for a moment and said, "It's uncomfortable!"

Yu Hua smiled, as long as he wasn't the only one who felt uncomfortable.

"Then what do you think of the writing?" he asked again.

Mo Yan said thoughtfully: "It's so well written that it's hard to even flatter a horse!"

Yu Hua teased: "Teacher Lin is not here, so don't flatter me."

He always felt that Mo Yan was treated better by Teacher Lin than he was, and it was probably because this boy was a good flatterer.

"I'm just talking about the facts. This novel is really well written, and Teacher Lin deserves to be my role model."

"That's right. This dark and cruel style will definitely suit your taste."

Mo Yan had a question mark on his face, how could you have the nerve to talk about me?

The two are now studying at the National College of Liberal Arts. The difference is that Yu Hua is in a writers' class cooperating between the National College of Liberal Arts and Yan'an Normal University, while Mo Yan is in a writers' class cooperating between the National College of Literary and Liberal Arts and Yan'an Normal University.

Just by listening to the name, Yu Hua's Bambi is half as tall as Moyan, and he has always been proud of this.

However, Yu Hua will graduate next year, while Mo Yan just entered school in September this year and has to stay at the National College of Liberal Arts for two years.

This issue of "Contemporary" has just been released. The two of them had known for a long time that Teacher Lin's latest masterpiece would be published in this issue. They had been waiting at the door of the bookstore early. They each bought a copy and went back to the School of Liberal Arts to hide in The library started reading impatiently.

Now that the novel is finished, the two of them can finally communicate smoothly.

Soon a third person began to participate in this exchange, and then more and more people joined.

Today, a new issue of "Contemporary" is released. I heard that it contains Lin Weimin's new works, and many students are eager to read it.

The discussion at the entrance of the library became louder and louder, disturbing the students who were still reading and writing in the library.

He came out and pointed to the sign at the door, with the five characters "Wei Min Library" on it.

"See? In the library, can't you keep your voice down?"

Everyone was so punished that they had no temper at all, so they had no choice but to move to the classroom and discuss the content of "Hunting" enthusiastically.

Everyone unanimously recognized the excellent quality of this novel, but some people disagreed with the concepts conveyed in this novel.

"This novel is good, but the problem is also very prominent! It completely describes the people as the enemy."

"This is a literary work, not a model drama. I think it is very true to write like this. When we were growing up, how many people were ruined because of rumors and slander? You people have forgotten that you can nail people with just one sentence of exposure. Is it time to die?”

"But there are always good people in reality. In this novel, we can't see them."

"Why can't you see it? Your definition of the word good person is too one-sided. The good person we see in our eyes is judged by what we see, but is it necessarily the same from the perspective of others? ?

Let me give you an example. Officer Zhang in "Hunting", he stands up for Teacher Gao, he should be considered a good person, right? But is it entirely because he is kind-hearted?

No, it's because he is an old detective and he knows very well that Hu Tao is slandering Teacher Gao. If he is really a pure good person, what he should do is expose Hu Tao's lies and give Teacher Gao justice.

But in fact, he just went to the school privately to explain the situation to the teacher at the begging of Teacher Gao.

Is this kind of kindness that is not completely pure, or kindness that is called judging the situation, considered kindness?

I think of course it does.

The greatest advantage of the novel "Hunting" is that it depicts all human nature. We always think that human nature is a binary opposition, but in fact human nature is always complex and changeable, and there is no absolute good or absolute bad. "

"That's right. Look at Hu Tao's father. From Hu Tao's point of view, he is a very good father. He calls the police for his daughter, beats people for his daughter, makes troubles and destroys Teacher Gao's work for his daughter. Even if he is standing From the perspective of onlookers, everyone will think that this is a qualified father.

But to Teacher Gao, Hu Tao's father is a devil, because he is the executor of all Hu Tao's evil deeds. "

"Have you read the book "The Crowd"? I think Teacher Lin must have read this book, otherwise his novel would not have such an accurate grasp of the general psychology of the public. It is simply too scary!"

"I admit that what you said is all right. But I think the biggest problem with this novel is that it conveys to the public the message that good people are not rewarded. Whether it is Teacher Gao, Zhang Qiang or my cousin, their kindness is not There is no exchange for kindness.”

"What kind of theory is this? Novels must convey kindness? Aren't the deaths of Teacher Gao and Zhang Qiang enough to alert the world? After reading this novel, you will see those talkative people who claim to be righteous. Don’t you feel conflicted in your heart?

I think this is the real meaning of this novel! "

…

The discussion in the classroom of the National Academy of Liberal Arts is just a microcosm of the countless groups of readers after the publication of the novel "Hunting".

Readers who read the novel for the first time have a shuddering feeling. The human nature described in this novel is too dark, and they do not even dare to think carefully about the actions and words of many characters in the novel.

Those actions and words are all too familiar to readers. Because most people do that kind of thing and say that kind of thing every day.

"Flies don't bite seamless eggs."

"Children don't lie, only adults do."

"Why don't you accuse others, but specifically accuse him?"

"I know you are wronged, but there is something wrong with you in this matter after all."

"If your reputation is ruined for the rest of your life, what does it matter if you feel aggrieved?"

"This matter is an organizational decision, and I can't help."

"Comrade, you have to think about the overall situation!"

…

All readers who have finished reading this novel have a feeling that they are in this story, as if they are someone on the street.

Talking nonsense, claiming to be righteous, hypocritical...

"Hunting" is like a whip dipped in salt water, hitting everyone in the face hard, making readers feel a bone-deep pain.

Some people don't care, some reflect on themselves, and some become angry.

Just one week later, reader feedback was sent to the editorial department of "Contemporary" one after another.

It was pretty much what everyone expected, with mixed reviews and praise.

It is said with approval that this novel depicts the variability and complexity of human nature, exposes the hypocrisy of bureaucracy, satirizes stupid and backward moral values, and profoundly criticizes the ugliness and herd mentality of human nature.

Critics say that this novel is sensational, standing on the opposite side of the people from a superior position, and trying to alienate the simple class emotions of the people with fictional facts.

Lin Weimin read a lot of letters from readers, focusing on those that criticized him. After reading them, he could only shake his head helplessly.

Among these criticisms, almost without exception, they criticized him for blaming Teacher Gao's tragedy on a certain group.

Bureaucrats who do nothing, people who don’t know the truth, relatives and friends who help but not take care of them, Hu Tao who is a habitual liar...

But in fact, Lin Weimin has no tendency to criticize a certain person or group in the novel. In this hunt for Teacher Gao, everyone has their own division of labor. They have only two identities, either the murderer or the Is an accomplice.

Those who tried to criticize Lin Weimin and this novel from their own perspective were simply stung by the content of this novel and had a stress reaction.

People with a guilty conscience will always make a habit of themselves.

As time went by, the impact of the publication of "Hunting" became greater and greater, and feedback was not limited to letters from readers. It began to appear in newspapers and literary review magazines.

Compared with the scolding in the cultural circles after the release of "Burning", many people in the cultural circles this time praised Lin Weimin to the sky.

On the contrary, the official media and the general public, who praised Lin Weimin for his good work last time, have continued to criticize Lin Weimin and "Hunting".

The reason is also very simple. The attitude of "Burning" is clearly left, and this time "Hunting" has an obvious right tendency.

Therefore, the public opinion situation after the release of "Hunting" is almost a complete turnaround from the last release of "Burning".

Many people couldn't understand Lin Weimin's behavior of repeatedly jumping sideways to seek death, or simply called him a two-faced person who sat on the fence and fell to whichever side the wind was blowing.

But in fact, Lin Weimin never looks at the direction of the trend when writing books, nor does he simply divide people's thoughts into left and right.

Outside public opinion is still spreading, and Lin Weimin's life has not been affected in any way.

On the weekend, Shi Tiesheng and his wife came to Gongjian Hutong to visit Lu Yao. Lin Weimin also came, so everyone inevitably talked about "Hunting".

There are more and more discussions about this novel outside, with both praise and criticism. The most interesting thing is that the direction of public opinion has changed since the last release of "Burning", so everyone is very curious about Lin Weimin's current mentality. .

"The more some people jump around, the more guilty they are. Novels are neither daggers nor guns. Being able to blow these people up only shows that they must have done something wrong." Lin Weimin said with a bit of ridicule. said in a tone of voice.

Lu Yao smiled and said: "Wei Min is right. After reading this novel, the biggest feeling I felt was fear and shuddering, including the feeling of being wronged for Teacher Gao and Zhang Qiang. If anyone feels the same after reading this novel for the first time, The first reaction is to think that he was scolded, which only proves that there is something wrong with the person himself."

Lin Weimin nodded when he heard this. The truth is actually very simple.

Everyone will have a substitution perspective when reading, a third-person writing method. Normal readers will generally substitute the protagonist. In "Hunting", this perspective is naturally that of Teacher Gao. Readers will feel aggrieved, angry, and depressed for Teacher Gao. roar.

In such a mood, readers with certain reading experience and literacy may look at the work from Teacher Gao's perspective, but they also have more of an overall feeling, such as the fear and shudder mentioned by Lu Yao.

Because everyone may encounter unfair treatment, and everyone may be weak in the face of power.

Therefore, those who put themselves into the perspective of the onlookers as soon as they come up have problems with their thinking.

Of course, it is not ruled out that there are those who are always in a high position when reading novels. They can always see things in an ordinary literary work that others cannot see.

Faced with this kind of person, even if you write a song about goose, he will still convict you.