Back to 80: My Literary Life

"Isn't she going back to China soon? Why did she come to the United States again?" Fang Minghua was surprised when he heard this.

It turned out that Li Li successfully graduated from her doctoral thesis defense this summer and followed Fang Minghua's suggestion to return to China to teach at Yanda University, which made her family very happy.

I saw the day of returning to China, but unexpectedly I went to the United States.

Song Tangtang was also a little helpless and explained:

"My second aunt said that Lili called her and said that a girl in her class who was very close to her invited Lili to visit her home. Her home is in San Francisco."

"Just go. You can go shopping after graduation. Lili has been abroad for three years. It's not like she just came out and doesn't know anything. Are you worried about getting lost?" Fang Minghua comforted her.

"Lili is always wandering outside alone. My second aunt is really worried. If you meet Lili when you come to the United States this time, tell her to return home quickly."

"God, America is so big, do you think this is our city in Xijing?" Fang Minghua shouted: "Even in Xijing, it's not easy to meet someone by chance, right?"

"I didn't say definitely. I said if you encounter her, tell her to come back quickly. You don't care about Lili at all!" Song Tangtang said angrily.

"Okay, okay" Fang Minghua said quickly: "If we really encounter her, I will ask her to come back quickly. If she doesn't come back, I will take her back to the country! Now it's okay."

"That's pretty much it." Song Tangtang laughed amusedly: "But if you catch me, Lili will definitely follow you and come back. She listens to you."

After hearing this, Fang Minghua shook his head helplessly.

How come a woman who usually acts calmly becomes so out of control when it comes to her cousin?

On June 15, Fang Ming said goodbye to his wife and children, picked up his suitcase and embarked on a journey to the United States.

After arriving in Yanjing the next day, I stayed at Song Tangtang's grandfather's house for one night. In the afternoon, I took the 3:00 pm international flight directly to New York at the Capital International Airport.

The plane took off and headed north, along the eastern edge of Siberia, passing through snowy Alaska and then south. It was already around five o'clock in the afternoon of the next day when it arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Fang Minghua carried his suitcase through the security checkpoint. After completing all the formalities, he arrived at the departure hall and heard someone calling his name.

"Minghua!"

Looking back, he saw a girl with blond hair, blue eyes and flaming red lips, looking at him with a smile.

It was Emily, holding a bouquet of flowers.

Minghua also smiled and greeted.

"Emily."

"Minghua!" Emily shouted again, suddenly running towards him with open arms.

Fang Minghua had no choice but to put down his suitcase, and he suddenly felt warm and gentle in his arms.

Isn't this too enthusiastic?

Fortunately this was America and everyone around me turned a blind eye.

Fortunately, Emily straightened up quickly and handed the flowers in her hand to Fang Minghua.

"Thanks."

At this time, a middle-aged man next to him came over with a smile and introduced himself to Fang Minghua, saying that he was Evans from Simon Publishing Company. He was entrusted by the vice president, Mr. Johnson, to greet him.

After Fang Minghua shook hands with the other party, Evans helped carry the suitcase and walked out of the hall. Emily took Fang Minghua's arm affectionately.

"Emily, aren't you in Los Angeles? Why are you in New York?" Fang Minghua said in English as he walked.

"I came to New York and was going to Canada to attend a writers' symposium in two days. I didn't expect you to come to New York too. I'm so happy!" Emily replied.

At this time, a young man and woman walked up to Emily, politely said hello and asked for an autograph and a photo.

Turns out he is a fan of Emily.

Fang Minghua consciously stepped aside.

After the group photo was taken, Fang Minghua joked: "Emily, you are a celebrity now."

Emily smiled and said: "Minghua, let me show you who is the real celebrity." After saying that, she said "Hey!" to the two young men and women who just asked for a photo.

The two had walked a few steps when they heard someone calling them from behind and turned to look at Emily.

Emily took two steps forward and said something to the two of them. The girl with the ponytail looked at Fang Minghua not far away, with a look of surprise on her face.

She immediately came over and asked excitedly: "Are you Minghua, the author of "The Lost Dream of the Covered Bridge"?"

Fang Minghua smiled and nodded.

"Great, I finally see you." The girl looked excited and shouted twice to her companion. The young man also heard the sound and came over and mumbled "Output" to Fang Minghua.

He spoke too fast and in a dialect, so Fang Minghua couldn't quite understand it, but it probably meant that after reading the novel, he was deeply moved and even took his girlfriend to Winterset Elementary School in Iowa. Town, on the Rossman Covered Bridge, the two held a very romantic engagement ceremony.

"We are married now." After saying this, the young man and woman happily raised their left hands, and indeed there was a ring on their ring finger.

"Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations on growing old together and having a baby soon." Fang Minghua sent his heartfelt blessings.

Of course, autographs and photos are inevitable.

After saying goodbye to each other, the ponytail girl looked at Emily Fang Minghua, who was standing side by side.

One is a handsome man from the East, and the other is a charming Western beauty. The two of them look so harmonious standing together.

Something suddenly occurred to her and she asked tentatively.

"Are you a couple?"

"No, no, we are just good friends." Fang Minghua answered first: "I am married, and my wife is also a beautiful woman."

The ponytail girl's expression turned a little regretful: "You two are so perfect together. It's such a pity that you are not a couple."

this?

Fang Minghua could only smile in return.

Of course, this was just a small episode. Fang Minghua and Emily followed Evans out of the terminal hall to the parking lot and got into a Lexus.

"Did you see, Minghua, you are now a well-known celebrity in the United States." Emily said sitting next to Fang Minghua.

A household name?

A bit exaggerated, right?

Evans, who was driving, listened and said with a smile: "Mr. Minghua, Miss Emily is right. Your book "The Bridge of Lost Dreams" was on the bestseller list of the New York Times as soon as it was published. , setting a record by staying on the bestseller list for 175 consecutive weeks, and it is still on the New York Times list!”

Oh, so powerful?

Of course, it’s also because director Martin Scorsese adapted the novel into a movie of the same name for the big screen.

The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture the following year!

"Mr. Minghua, it's a pity that "The Lost Dreams of the Bridge" is only a novella and cannot participate in the National Book Critics Circle Awards, but "Enter Guandong" can make up for this regret. I hope to get the same good luck." Vince finally said.

"I hope so." Fang Minghua said.

In fact, Fang Minghua knew in his heart that "Into the Guandong" would not be as popular as the novel "The Bridge of Lost Dreams" in any case.

After all, the latter is almost written for Americans, while the former is about the history of one's own country. However, if it can win the National Book Critics Circle Award, it will undoubtedly play a positive role in promoting the sales of this book in the United States.

Let’s see what happens tomorrow night.