Back to 80: My Literary Life

Two days later, Fang Minghua boarded the train to Yanjing. When I arrived in Yanjing, I still lived in the house of Grandpa Song Tangtang in the General Political Courtyard.

Grandpa is over eighty this year, and his beard and hair are all white, but his back is still straight and he is in good spirits. He holds a kettle to water the flowers in the yard. When Fang Minghua said that the purpose of coming to Yanjing this time was to create literature Award, and immediately said "ok" several times!

"Well, we Chinese translate our works into foreign languages ​​​​to participate in awards abroad. Why can't foreigners translate their works into Chinese and come to our country to participate in awards?! I have long said that the Mao Dun Award should not be limited to works from our country, but also allow foreigners to translate their works into Chinese. If foreigners come, take a step back and let works from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan participate in the awards. They are all Chinese."

My grandma was knitting on a bamboo chair while wearing reading glasses. When she heard my grandpa’s words, she retorted: “The Mao Dun Award does not say that it will not reject works by writers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.”

"But have any works won awards? Have any works been submitted for competition?! No, right? Look at the judges. They are all mainland scholars and scholars. How can that be done? At least a few scholars from Hong Kong and Taiwan should be invited to come in, right? This is comprehensive!”

"Grandpa, I initially assume that the members of the jury will include famous literati and scholars from Hong Kong and Taiwan." Fang Minghua quickly added.

"Look, my grandson-in-law is still grand and discerning! Although I don't know anything about literature, the country advocates a hundred schools of thought to contend and let a hundred flowers bloom. Don't worry about other people's ideas and opinions being different from yours, and you will reject them. There is a saying that gentleman and Xiaohua , gentleman and what?”

Grandpa turned around and asked Fang Minghua.

"Gentlemen are harmonious but different." Fang Minghua said quickly.

"Yes, yes, that's it." Grandpa said with a smile on his face: "Xiaohua still studies more."

"You!" Grandma looked at grandpa and said angrily.

Why do you prefer this grandson-in-law so much?

But this grandson-in-law is indeed capable, and Tangtang has found the right person.

Fang Minghua stayed one night in the General Political Courtyard and went to the Chinese Writers Association early the next morning.

The office of the Writers Association is still at No. 10 South Lane of the Agricultural Exhibition Hall on the East Third Ring Road. Minghua often comes to this place, so he knows the way and goes straight to Wang Meng's office.

Of course, don’t forget to bring some jujubes.

After Wang Meng retired from the position of minister, he still served as the vice chairman of the Writers Association. Although he was over sixty years old, he was still full of energy.

Now that I no longer have the status of a minister, I have more free time. I am currently writing the first part of the novel "The Seasons Four", "The Season of Love".

Wang Meng was sitting behind his desk reading documents with his reading glasses on. When he saw Fang Minghua knocking on the door and coming in, a smile appeared on his face.

"Xiao Fang, it's you. Come, sit, sit." After saying this, he stood up and greeted.

"I'll get you some water."

"You're welcome, Chairman Wang, I'll do it myself."

Anyway, it was already familiar, so Fang Minghua was not polite and picked up the thermos bottle to pour himself a cup of tea.

Then he picked up the dog-head jujube in the bag.

"Chairman Wang, I brought this from Xijing, please try it.

"Oh, you know I love this one." Wang Meng was not polite, took one out of the plastic bag, wiped it and put it directly into his mouth.

"Yes, yes, is it from Qinbei Yanchuan?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then I'm welcome." Wang Meng accepted the bag of jujubes.

The two chatted for a few words before getting down to business.

Wang Meng said: "Xiao Fang, our leadership team has studied the report produced by your Provincial Writers Association and agreed in principle to establish this literary award. Of course, everything depends on you. If you want to do it, do it well."

"Don't worry." Fang Minghua quickly expressed his position: "Chairman Wang, I would like to ask you to be the director of the jury."

"Me? I'm afraid I'm not qualified enough." Wang Meng was very humble: "I think you'd better ask Mr. Bala."

"Chairman Wang, regardless of your status, qualifications, or literary achievements, you are completely qualified." Fang Minghua explained, "Ba Lao is old and not in good health. I am afraid he is not willing to do this work. The third Mao Dun Literature Award has just concluded. Mr. Palladium has not served as the director of the jury.”

Wang Meng nodded after hearing this, that was indeed the case.

Palladium served as the director of the Mao Dun Award Jury for two consecutive terms, but did not serve in the third term.

"However, I would also like to ask Mr. Palladium to serve as the Honorary Chairman of the Literature Award Jury. As for you, serve as the director of the jury. After the incident in Yanjing is over, I plan to go to Shanghai to visit Mr. Palladium." Minghua said his thoughts Opinion.

"You think it all, haha." Wang Meng laughed and said, "Okay, I'd rather be respectful than obey."

"This is the list of members of the first judging panel that I have initially drawn up, as well as the members of the reading class - just like the top prize, please take a look at it and point out anything wrong."

The so-called reading class is a peripheral organization for the selection of the top prize. It is mainly composed of young and middle-aged critics. They are professionals from various literary institutions and colleges and universities. They are responsible for screening all the books that have been confirmed for selection and then further narrowing down the selection.

Of course, the list of reading classes drawn up by Fang Minghua is not limited to critics, but also includes some writers.

According to Fang Minghua's initial idea: there will be about 10-12 members of the jury.

The members of the reading class are divided into two groups: novel group and poetry and prose group. The novel group has about 25-30 members, and the poetry and prose group has about 15-20 members. This can ensure the quality of the shortlist of shortlisted works to the greatest extent.

Wang Meng put on his reading glasses and looked carefully.

"Ouch. You actually invited a well-known writer from Hong Kong and Taiwan? And Mr. Qian? Mr. Qian is not easy to hire."

"It all depends on people." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"As for the four scholars from Hong Kong and Taiwan, I know both Chen Yingzhen and Liu Yichang. I heard that Chen Yingzhen is in Yanjing now, so I visited him directly."

"Do you know Chen Yingzhen?"

"In 1987, the Writers' Association sent Ruan Zhangjing, chairman of the Yanjing Writers' Association, and I to go to Hong Kong to attend the establishment of the Hong Kong Writers' Association on behalf of the Chinese Writers' Association. At that time, Chen Yingzhen also came to Hong Kong to attend the ceremony on behalf of the Taiwan Writers' Association. We had a chat, and we had a great time. I also Meet Liu Yichang."

"Haha. That's good. Do you know Chen Yingzhen's address?" Wang Meng asked curiously.

"I don't know much about it, but Wang Anyi from Shencheng knows that they went to the United States together to participate in the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa in 1985, and they exchanged letters. I called Wang Anyi to ask, and he is now In Yanjing.”

"Xiao Fang, you have a lot of contacts."

"It's okay."

In fact, Fang Minghua's contacts are not extensive, he just knows a few writers.

"Chairman Wang, I plan to send a formal invitation letter to all jury members and reading class members in the name of our Qin Provincial Writers Association. I also want to ask you to send one at the same time in the name of the director of the jury." Fang Minghua added.

"No problem." Wang Meng readily agreed: "There are some people here who have good personal relationships with me, and I can call them. In addition, please leave this list to me first, and I will think about it later."

"OK."

"In addition, here is a piece of material."

Fang Minghua said, taking out another piece of paper from his briefcase and handing it to the other party.

It turns out that what is written above is the prize money for the winning work and the subsidies for the judges and reading class members.

In addition to reimbursement of transportation expenses, food and accommodation to attend the review meeting, all members of the jury who participated in the selection will receive a subsidy of 8,000 yuan each, and members of the reading class will receive a subsidy of 5,000 yuan each!

Wang Meng's eyes lit up when he saw this number.

Although it is said that literati are ashamed of their words, times have changed after all.

He may not want it, but others may not want it.

In this era when wages are generally a few hundred yuan, this is equivalent to two or one year's salary! "

Xiaofang, you are so generous, haha. "Wang Meng laughed.

"Since we are hiring high-level experts and scholars, we should have higher subsidies." Fang Minghua said with a smile: "I have always believed that knowledge has a price."

"Well, if I do this well, I will be more confident, haha."

Farewell to Wang Meng, Fang Minghua felt relaxed when he came out of the Writers Association building.

When establishing a literary award, funding is actually only one aspect. Without a very authoritative and recognized jury member, how can you control the quality of your works?

Moreover, your review may not be recognized by the majority of readers.

After reporting to Wang Meng, Fang Minghua followed the plan and went to Chen Yingzhen first.