Back to 80: My Literary Life

Gao Jianqun?

Why does this name sound familiar?

Oh, right!

Fang Minghua suddenly remembered that wasn't Gao Jianqun one of the five tiger generals in the "Shaanxi Army's Eastern Expedition" in the literary world?

"The Last Hun" is his masterpiece.

It tells the story of northern Qin, a land where the Xiongnu people once left deep footprints. In the 20th century, dramatic changes took place. Three generations of the protagonist's family bear the burden of history to thrive and survive. They witnessed the rough fate of the people on the Loess Plateau, and also witnessed the history of the fire of the Red Revolution being preserved here and forming a prairie fire.

How could you forget him?

Write to him immediately.

Qinbei, the courtyard of the "Yan'an Daily" newspaper office.

A young editor in his early thirties, wearing a gray tunic suit, was correcting a manuscript in a small office.

"Xiao Gao! I have your letter!" Old Wang in the messenger room shouted from the door.

"Here we go." Gao Jianqun hurried out and took a letter from Old Man Wang. It turned out to be from Xijing's "Yanhe" magazine!

When I opened it, it turned out to be an invitation letter, specifically inviting me to attend a symposium of young and middle-aged writers held in Xijing on May 4.

invite me?

Gao Jianqun was a little confused.

I really like writing. Whether I am a soldier in the army or professionally back home, I have published some works, but most of them are poems or prose, and I rarely write novels.

Why did you invite me?

And it also comes with a handwritten letter from Fang Minghua, the editor-in-chief of "Yanhe" magazine!

That's right, he is just an ordinary editor now, and he doesn't believe that Fang Minghua will know him.

Gao Jianqun suddenly remembered the friend he knew, the famous writer Lu Yao. They had known each other since Lu Yao was still in Yan'an, and they were old friends.

He also knew that Lu Yao and Fang Minghua had a very good relationship.

Could it be?

Gao Jianqun thought for a while and dialed a number. He knew that Lu Yao was currently writing a novel in a guest house of a coal mine hospital in Tongchuan.

Tongchuan is not too far from Yan'an, more than 200 kilometers away. He once visited Lu Yao once.

"Lu Yao, Fang Minghua, editor-in-chief of "Yanhe", invited me to attend a creative symposium in Xijing." On the phone, Gao Jianqun got straight to the point.

"Good thing, go ahead."

"To be honest, I am not ranked at all in the literary world of our province. How could the famous Fang Minghua know me? Lu Yao, did you tell Fang Minghua?"

"Yes, I was the one who suggested it to Fang Minghua. He invited Chen Zhongshi, Jia Pingwa, Jing Fu, etc. I want to invite you too."

"But I've never written a novel, so it's not appropriate to go, right? The invitees are all great writers." Gao Jianqun felt even more embarrassed when he heard that the invitations were all well-known figures in Qin Province's literary circles.

"What are you afraid of? I haven't written anything before. You can listen to what others write and learn from it. Didn't you say you've never climbed the Big Wild Goose Pagoda? This meeting will be organized. It's free and you don't have to pay for it."

Gao Jianqun couldn't laugh or cry after hearing this.

In that case, go and listen?

Maybe we can really learn something and we can write a novel?

Gao Jianqun's heart suddenly became hot.

Also hesitant was Wang Shuo of Yanjing.

At this time, he was sitting in Shen Xujia's dormitory. He was looking at the letter sent from Xijing, holding a cigarette in his hand, hesitating.

Shen Xujia has graduated from college and has been assigned to the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe. She has her own single dormitory and the two are living together.

"Wang Shuo, who is this letter from?" Shen Xujia asked while sitting in front of the dressing table while putting on makeup.

"Fang Minghua, the editor-in-chief of Yanhe magazine in Xijing, came and invited me to go to Xijing on May 4 to hold a symposium for young and middle-aged writers."

"It's a good thing, then go."

"You think I should go?" Wang Shuo asked.

"Of course!" Shen Xujia turned back and looked at Wang Shuo: "Although you have published a few novels in the past two years and are somewhat famous, you can't compete with Fang Minghua, right? When someone invites you to a meeting, you still don't go."

"That's not what I meant. I always feel that Fang Minghua is arrogant and looks down on me in his heart."

Wang Xu spoke his true feelings to his girlfriend, who was about to marry him.

After hearing this, Shen Xujia suddenly remembered that in the spring two years ago, Fang Minghua came to Yanjing on a business trip. Wang Shuo found him through others and invited him to dinner, just so that he could publish the novel "Stewardess" he wrote.

At that time, Wang Shuo was having a rough time, and "Contemporary" magazine revised a novel nine times but still refused to approve it. Later, when he found out about Fang Minghua, the other party readily agreed, and soon after, it was published in "Yanhe" magazine.

Logically speaking, it was a very happy thing, but I didn't expect Wang Shuo to say something at the end, saying that Fang Minghua thought highly of what he wrote, but he might not think highly of him as a person.

It is estimated that this kind of mentality is at work now.

In fact, I just feel a little inferior.

When a talented man meets another more talented man when he is down, he will inevitably have such thoughts in his heart.

What's more, he is still the arrogant big boy in the courtyard?

After thinking about it, Shen Xujia gently persuaded: "Wang Shuo, I think you are a little worried. You said that you write based on your ability and make a living based on your talent instead of relying on someone. It is better to go out and get to know more writers than to just enjoy yourself." ?Besides, I think Fang Minghua is a pretty good person, and his girlfriend, Song Tangtang, I heard is married, so we can chat together."

"Then, okay. I'll go." Wang Shuo made a decision after listening to his girlfriend.

"If you see Fang Minghua's daughter-in-law Song Tangtang, say hello to her for me. If you come to Yanjing to play with me."

"Okay, okay, I'll bring the message when I get the chance." Wang Shuo couldn't help but laugh.

This woman, I have just met once, seems to be a friend for many years.

Is it all because of dancing?

Just after Labor Day, writers from all over the country arrived one after another. The meeting took place at the newly opened Tangcheng Hotel.

President Huang has already dispatched personnel from the unit's office and logistics department to serve at the venue, and Bai Miao is in overall charge, so Fang Minghua doesn't have to worry about that.

Now Fang Minghua is waiting for someone in his office.

Waiting for Li Wei, head of the reporter station of Guangming Daily in Qin Province.

Li Wei and Fang Minghua are also acquaintances.

In the past few years, Fang Minghua won the National Short and Medium Story Excellence Award twice. Li Wei interviewed him after receiving the award in Yanjing.

Last year, after Fang Minghua's "Country Teacher" won the Nebula Award in the United States, it was his first domestic report. Later, Fang Minghua won the Mao Dun Literary Award and received an exclusive interview with him.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door, and soon a middle-aged man walked in.

"Hello, Stationmaster Li." Fang Minghua stood up and greeted.

"Editor Fang, since you have been promoted to editor-in-chief, I will prepare you to do an exclusive interview. This time is just right." Li Wei said with a smile.

"Hey, this is an exclusive interview. It's not necessary." Fang Minghua declined with a smile, picked up the tea cup and poured Li Wei a cup of tea.

Li Wei took a sip and immediately praised: "Good tea, is it Longjing?"

"Yes, the Dragon Well in Hupao Spring. My wife's cousin's hometown is in Hangzhou and she specializes in growing tea." Fang Minghua explained.

"How about I get you some?"

"Forget it, I'm afraid my mouth will get used to it and I won't be able to drink any other tea." Li Wei laughed: "My income can't be compared with Lu Yao's."

Fang Minghua smiled after hearing this.

Now Lu Yao drinks coffee, and he doesn't like ordinary Nescafe coffee. He said that he drank the Blue Mountain coffee that Fang Minghua brought from the United States. When he drank Nescafe again, he felt bitter and astringent, without the aroma of coffee.

The two chatted for a few words before Fang Minghua got to the point.

"Stationmaster Li, how have you considered what I told you a few days ago?"