Back to 80: My Literary Life

Sun Lizhe came by train. When he saw Fang Minghua, he said, "You kid, you have been in the United States for three months. Except for a trip to Chicago, you will never come here to get together again."

"As you know, it's quite busy here." Fang Minghua said.

"Busy? Isn't that right? I heard in Chicago that you had a hot relationship with an Ambrose University student, and the two of them went out together."

"You know all this?" Fang Minghua pretended to be shocked.

"Haha, some students from our school overheard at a party at the University of Iowa's summer school, saying that you were so talented that you fascinated other girls."

"Nonsense, we are just friends. Let's go to the lunch restaurant now. I'll treat you to a Chinese restaurant!"

At this time, Zhang Xianliang also came back. After Fang Minghua introduced them to each other, Zhang Xianliang smiled immediately when he heard Sun Lizhe's name and said, "Sun Lizhe, I heard that he was a model for educated youth in the country back then. You also studied abroad?"

"Yes, I came out in 1982, and now I am studying for a doctorate at Northwest University." Sun Lizhe replied.

The two chatted for a while. Fang Minghua invited Zhang Xianliang to have dinner with him, but the other party declined: "You go and eat. I have something to talk to Yi Shu."

In this case, Fang Minghua didn't force himself, so he took Sun Lizhe out of the hotel and walked west.

The Chinese restaurant that Fang Minghua went to was located in the lower reaches of Binhe. It was the same restaurant where Nie Hualing invited him to have breakfast when he first met him.

The only Chinese restaurant in Iowa City, the owner is a Chinese, his ancestral home is in Guangdong, and the food he cooks is basically Cantonese style. Although Fang Minghua doesn't like to eat it, it's not bad to be able to eat Chinese food in this small place.

So sometimes he would come over with Zhang Xianliang and Zhang Lin for a change.

But it's expensive.

The two came over and were greeted warmly by the boss. They ordered Rudiao roasted chicken, sizzling pork offal, and Hakka pan-fried stuffed tofu. They also ordered two bottles of Budweiser beer, and the two chatted while eating.

Fang Minghua told Sun Lizhe about his creation in the United States. Whether it was a script or a novel, if there were any problems with future publication, he would be given full authority to handle it. Sun Lizhe agreed wholeheartedly.

"By the way, one more thing. The owner of City Lights Bookstore in Los Angeles and the head of the publishing house, a poet named Lawrence Ferlingay, wants to publish a domestic avant-garde novel. When I go back Let's get started on this matter." Fang Minghua said when he remembered this matter.

"Lawrence Ferlinghetti? I've heard that he is one of the representatives of the Beat Generation." Sun Lizhe replied: "Did you also entrust me to handle this matter?"

"Yes, it's convenient for you."

"OK, no problem."

"Thank you, you helped me a lot."

"Why are you so polite? Friends, it's not easy to come out. If you don't help each other, who will help you?"

"That's true." The two of them raised their glasses and held a cup. Sun Lizhe said again: "Minghua, let me tell you something. I have given up studying for a doctorate."

"What?" Fang Minghua put down his chopsticks and asked.

"My allergy to animal hair became more and more serious, and I couldn't do experiments at all. After communicating with my supervisor, I decided to give up studying for a PhD."

"Then what will you do in the future? Return to China?"

Sun Lizhe shook his head: "If I accomplish nothing, how can I have the shame to return to China? Besides, Beiling is still studying for a Ph.D., and I have to accompany her."

Fang Minghua said oh and said nothing more.

"Minghua, I have something else to ask you today. When you came to Chicago some time ago, you suggested that I open a book publishing company. I can't go to school now, so I thought about it carefully and discussed it with Beiling. Decided to open one.”

"What exactly?" Fang Minghua poured him a glass of beer and asked.

"I will do book typesetting and general office product printing first." Sun Lizhe said: "Computer typesetting systems are now becoming popular in the United States, which are very advanced and convenient. I plan to build a system specifically for typesetting for customers. If possible, expand the business in the future. Book publishing.”

"This is indeed good. Our domestic printing is still movable type typesetting." Fang Minghua said.

"But..." Sun Lizhe hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something but not saying it.

"Is it a lack of start-up funds?" Fang Minghua asked tentatively.

"Yes, the money is not enough. According to my publishing estimate, to open a company like this, the start-up capital is at least 300,000 US dollars. But Beiling and I don't have that much money at all. We scraped together 150,000 US dollars, and there is still more than 150,000 US dollars left. 150,000, and we are international students, so banks won’t give me a loan without property.”

"So Minghua, I want to ask you to borrow 150,000, and I will pay you the interest based on the local bank interest in the United States. If I lose money, I will mortgage my courtyard house in Yanjing to you. Of course, I know that it is not worth it. $150,000.”

"You can also invest in it, and Beiling and I will figure out the rest." Sun Lizhe said, "I came to you this time to talk to you about this."

Fang Minghua pondered for a moment: "I'll invest, 150,000."

Seeing Fang Minghua's straightforward agreement, Sun Lizhe was stunned: "Minghua, aren't you afraid that I will suffer a loss and lose all my money?"

"I believe you have this ability." Fang Minghua said with a smile: "Also, don't sell the courtyard house in Yanjing easily, that thing is valuable."

"To be honest, if I can't borrow money from you, I really want to sell the courtyard house in Yanjing. Since you want to invest 150,000, then each person will share 50% of the shares. After I return to Chicago, I will give the accountant A copy of the investment information reviewed by the firm will be sent back to your country."

"No need to bother, I believe you." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Hey, that won't work. Brothers must also settle accounts. In the United States, this is especially important."

"Okay, come on, let's drink to the big money we can make in the future." Fang Minghua smiled and raised his beer glass.

"Making a lot of money? Haha, Minghua, you are very special. Other writers and literati in our country are ashamed to say this word, but you say it with confidence." Sun Lizhe said with a smile.

"What's shameful about making money openly?" Fang Minghua laughed.

After dinner, Fang Minghua asked the boss at the Chinese restaurant for pen and paper. First he wrote a letter of authorization, entrusting Sun Lizhe with full authority to publish and distribute his works in the United States.

Then the two wrote a temporary investment agreement. Fang Minghua returned to the hotel, took his bank card to the bank, and transferred US$150,000 to Sun Lizhe's account.

Sun Lizhe took the train to leave Iowa City and return to Chicago that afternoon, eager to do something big.

Fang Minghua saw him off at the train station.

He vaguely remembered that there seemed to be an educated youth named Sun Lizhe who had a career in the United States and later returned to China to open a company.

The day to return to China is getting closer and closer. IWP organized the last event. In addition to the graduation ceremony, it also collected the most satisfying sentences written by each writer. After IWP's selection, they were recently projected on the tallest building in the city on West Washington Street. On the side wall, underneath is the busy street. The projections are conducted alternately in Chinese and English, each time lasting about ten seconds.

Fang Minghua stood on the street and saw a poem he wrote projected on the side wall:

we live in this world

Like a bunch of bullets passing through the wall of darkness

At the end of September, Fang Minghua and his party bid farewell to Iowa City and embarked on their return home.