Back to 80: My Literary Life

The next day after Fang Minghua and others returned to Iowa City, Nie Hualing called Fang Minghua to the house where she lived.

"Minghua, the book "The Bridge of Lost Dreams" you wrote is very touching. I suggest you submit it to Simon \u0026 Schuster for publication. I can serve as a recommender and write a preface."

"Thank you!" Fang Minghua was overjoyed.

Simon \u0026 Schuster is one of the largest publishing companies in the United States, publishing many best-selling books such as Stephen King, Jennifer Westover, Darwin Porter, Ian Fleming, etc.

Nie Hualing is very important in the American literary world, and her preface will certainly add a lot of color to the novel.

There was also the novel version of "Inception". Nie Hualing told him that the translation would take some time and it was estimated that it would be completed before he returned to China.

Two days later, another team of visiting writers including Zhang Ling and Yi Shu who went to New York also came back. This period of IWP visiting writers was coming to an end.

The three visiting Chinese writers all discussed how to return to China, mainly bringing back "two big things" each. They seemed particularly excited, but something happened that disturbed everyone's mood.

Fang Minghua finished lunch at noon that day and was about to go back to his room to take a nap. Before he could take off his clothes, he heard a knock on the door. When he opened the door, he saw Lisa leading a middle-aged man standing at the door.

Inviting two people to come in, Lisa introduced: "This is Professor Pitt from the University of Iowa, who is responsible for the application and management of international students."

Fang Minghua looked at this bearded man with some confusion.

I am not an international student, so why is he looking for me?

The two shook hands and exchanged a few words. Peter's words surprised Fang Minghua: "Mr. Fang, we at the University of Iowa greatly appreciate your talent in literature. We welcome you to study abroad in our school and we can provide you with generous scholarships. "

Lisa next to her had a look of envy on her face after hearing this. She explained that the University of Iowa has very strict requirements for studying abroad, and it is even more difficult to obtain a scholarship.

"Of course, Minghua, I know you are not short of money, but if you can study abroad at our university, you can apply to stay in the United States after graduation, and it will be easy to get a green card and even become a real American in the future." Li Sha said.

This is something that many people in China dream of!

Fang Minghua smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for your invitation. Not long ago, an American girl said similar things to me, but I declined. My family are all in China, and my fiancée is still waiting for me to go back to get married. I don't want to get married all at once." When you get married, you live in two separate places."

Peter was a little disappointed, but he still politely said that he respects your personal choice, but you should consider this matter again. If you are willing to return to China, you can contact us at any time. We still welcome you to come.

Pete left, but Lisa stayed.

"Minghua, I really admire you, your talent, and now even more, your perseverance in love."

"Don't, don't, don't say worship, it's not a popular word now." Fang Minghua joked: "You have also seen my fiancée's photos, I can't bear to part with them."

"Aren't our American girls pretty?" Lisa winked playfully: "Isn't that girl named Emily who often came to you some time ago, a student from Ambrose University, pretty?"

"Beautiful, including you, Miss Lisa, are all beautiful." Fang Minghua replied; "But there is an old saying in China, which is that one can only take one scoop out of three thousand."

Lisa finally left, and when it was almost time for lunch, Zhang Xianliang came back.

"Brother Zhang, where have you been?" Fang Minghua greeted, "Did you go to the Bentleys Tavern again?"

Bentleys Tavern is one of the few bars in Iowa City. Zhang Xianliang likes to go there and drink authentic vodka. According to him, he drank it once when he was young in China and liked the taste very much.

Of course, there are many young girls there.

Zhang Xianliang shook his head after hearing Fang Minghua's words; "No, I met a local Chinese friend. He advised me to stay in the United States and not go back."

"not going back?"

"Yes, he heard about my experiences in the past twenty years and was very sympathetic. He said that in this case you might as well stay in the United States. The living conditions here are much better than at home."

"What do you mean?"

"If I were twenty years younger now, I would really have such thoughts, but I am almost 50 now. What can I do if I stay in the United States? Americans don't like to read what I write, and I can't write anything to criticize the country. Could it be that Come to the United States to serve dishes again?! I’ve been suffering for twenty years, and I don’t want to suffer anymore.”

Zhang Xianliang paused after speaking: "Minghua, you can stay in the United States."

"A professor from the University of Iowa came to me at noon and hoped that I could study abroad at their university and offered me a scholarship, but I also refused."

Zhang Xianliang was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly: "You have backbone! It's a bit like the character Xu Lingjun in the novel I wrote."

Xu Lingjun is the male protagonist of the novel "Spirit and Flesh" written by Zhang Xianliang. He kept horses on the farm for several years. After being rehabilitated, he resolutely rejected his father's idea of ​​sending his family abroad and decided to stay in the land he loved deeply.

After listening to Zhang Xianliang's words, Fang Minghua smiled and said: I am not as good as others. I have a large amount of property in the United States for him to inherit. "

"You still need inheritance? Your royalties and royalties in the United States are enough to last you a lifetime!"

The two were chatting and laughing when they saw Zhang Ling knocking on the door and coming in with a happy face.

"What's wrong? Zhang Ling, are you in a good mood thinking about going home soon?" Zhang Xianliang joked.

"No, Brother Zhang, I'm ready to stay in the United States."

"What?!" Zhang Xianliang was shocked when he heard this: "We are sent by the government. If you suddenly don't go back, you will be in big trouble!"

"No, it's not." Zhang Ling quickly explained: "I will definitely go back this time, but after I go back, I will apply to study at New York University. This time we visited New York and went to New York University. The school is willing to provide me with a scholarship, and will also provide me with a scholarship in the future. It’s easy to apply for a green card!”

I see!

"You like it here?"

"Of course! Don't you think this place is much richer than our country?"

Zhang Xianliang opened his mouth, but didn't say much.

Everyone has their own ambitions, how can we force it?

Fang Minghua did not speak, but looked at him. In his memory, this Zhang Ling went abroad, but it seemed that she did not obtain a green card. She had been living abroad, and she still wrote the story of the Chinese.

In fact, many Chinese writers in foreign countries, such as Zhang Ailing, Yan Geling, etc., write many things about China, even though they have left their motherland for many years.

Culture is something that you will be affected by for the rest of your life and cannot let go.

The day before leaving was very close, and Fang Minghua was making preparations. Before leaving, he originally wanted to go to Chicago to see Sun Lizhe, but he came without thinking.