Back to 80: My Literary Life

Butler really wanted to come.

One month later, he received a letter from the organizing committee of the World Chinese Literature Awards, saying that his work "Fragrance in the Strange Mountains" was shortlisted for the Best Short Story Award of the First Chinese Literature Awards, and hoped that he could come to Xijing, China to attend the award ceremony held on April 19.

It was of course a great pleasure for his novel to be shortlisted, and Butler also wanted to see this somewhat mysterious oriental country, so he accepted the invitation.

But he was worried about one thing.

He did not understand Chinese.

There was no direct flight from San Francisco to Xijing, and it was said that he had to transfer or take a train in Yanjing. He was worried that something unexpected might happen when he was unfamiliar with the language and the place.

So he thought of Li Li, who had translated his works for him, and specifically found Li Li to tell her about his worries.

Li Li told him not to worry, Chinese people are very friendly to foreigners. If you are still worried, I can ask my classmates in Yanjing to pick you up at the airport and arrange for you to go to Xijing. When you arrive in Xijing, the organizing committee staff will naturally give you the necessary help.

Butler expressed his gratitude and quickly got the visa.

Nowadays, it is very troublesome for Chinese to go to the United States. They need to review their qualifications, and it is common that visas cannot be obtained for a year or two. However, it is very simple for Americans to apply for visas in China. Moreover, Butler's visit to China is an academic invitation, so it didn't take long.

Today, Butler departed from San Francisco's San Francisco International Airport and flew to Yanjing. Li Li also drove to the airport to see him off.

"Mr. Butler, I wish you a pleasant journey and a safe journey."

"Thank you, Ms. Li, thank you for your help." Butler looked grateful.

In this way, Butler embarked on his journey to China.

At the same time, Luo Fu and Qi Jun from Taiwan, and Xixi from Hong Kong also rushed to Xijing in various ways.

On the organizing committee side, arranging vehicles and personnel to welcome authors from all over the country, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas, has become the most important task in the past few days.

Especially for Butler from the United States, Fang Minghua arranged Zhang Yanqian to hire an English major student from Xiwai to accompany him during this period.

"Find a boy, not a girl." Fang Minghua also specifically reminded him.

Fang Minghua himself did not arrange to pick up these authors at the station or airport, but today he took the initiative to go to the train station to pick them up.

Because Shi Tiesheng came this afternoon.

It was reasonable for him to go to greet him.

Fang Minghua stood at the exit of the train station, watching the passengers pouring out, until fewer and fewer people came out, and finally saw a young woman pushing a wheelchair out. A man wearing glasses sat in the wheelchair, and there was a travel bag on his knees. It was Shi Tiesheng and his wife Chen Ximi.

Shi Tiesheng had a problem with his legs, and it was inconvenient for him to go out. It was natural for his wife to come and take care of him.

Fang Minghua walked over with a smile, greeted him, and picked up the travel bag on Shi Tiesheng's legs.

"Minghua, I didn't want to come. If I go out like this, I will cause trouble to others." Shi Tiesheng said.

"Look at what you said. I'd be unhappy if you didn't come." Fang Minghua said with a smile: "Besides, Xida is my sister-in-law's alma mater. Don't you want to accompany her back to visit?"

"I thought so too. Since Ximi was transferred to Yanjing, she has been taking care of me and has hardly left Yanjing. This time I came to Xijing, on the one hand, to attend the ceremony, and more importantly, to accompany Ximi to relax."

"Okay. I remember that you came to Xijing in 1984 and visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda but didn't climb up to see it." Fang Minghua said.

"Can I still climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in my condition?!"

"Of course, I will find a few friends to take turns carrying you up!"

The three of them talked and laughed, and when they arrived at the parking lot, Fang Minghua carried Shi Tiesheng and slowly put him in the back seat, then folded the wheelchair and put it in the trunk, and drove to the hotel this time.

"Tiesheng, sister-in-law, I'll arrange a room for you. I've called the hotel's room manager. If you have any difficulties, just call the room attendant. I've been busy these days, so I don't think I'll have much time to accompany you. I'll be free after the ceremony. Please come to my house."

"Minghua, you do your thing. We're fine." Chen Ximi said quickly, "You've been very busy lately."

"Haha, it's hard work, but isn't it great to have friends coming from afar?" Fang Minghua smiled and said, "To be honest, I'm going to pick up a friend from Yanjing at the station tonight."

"Who?"

"Haizi, and Xichuan who came with him." Fang Minghua said.

Fang Minghua really wanted to pick up Haizi.

Fang Minghua personally drove to pick up the two of the 23 authors who came to Xijing to attend the party.

After driving Shi Tiesheng and his wife to Tangcheng Hotel and making arrangements, he drove to the People's Theater on Beida Street, where the first World Chinese Literature Award Ceremony would be held.

After discussing the preparations with the staff of the evening party preparation team, I found a random restaurant on the street and ate a bowl of Qishan noodles. Seeing that it was almost time, I drove straight to the train station.

Soon, Fang Minghua saw two men walking out side by side in the crowd.

It was Haizi and Xichuan.

Fang Minghua's first impression was that Haizi had gained weight.

Without the long hair and untidy beard, he looked much more energetic.

Xichuan had not changed much, and was still gentle and elegant.

Fang Minghua walked up to them and gave each of them a hug without saying a word.

Then he smiled and said, "You must have had a hard time along the way?"

"What's the hard part? This is the most comfortable trip I've taken, sitting in a sleeper." Haizi said.

Oh my.

Haizi is an introvert, and he rarely speaks even when he is with friends.

But today he spoke.

At least it shows that he is in a good mental state.

Fang Minghua led the two to the parking lot. This time he did not talk about his personal life, but took the initiative to talk about this award event, especially poetry.

Talking about poetry, of course, is a topic that Haizi is interested in.

"I read the five poetry collections that were shortlisted, and the one I appreciate most is Yang Lian's "Sun and People." "Haizi said.

"Because it is a long poem collection?" Fang Minghua asked back.

"Yes."

Fang Minghua and Xichuan both laughed when they heard it.

Although Haizi's short poems are the most popular among readers, such as "Facing the Sea, Spring Flowers Bloom", "Spring, Ten Haizi", "Summer Sun", etc. But Haizi is most fond of his own long poems.

"Sun", "But Water, Water", "Land", etc.

"Hey, Minghua, do you think Haizi's poetry collection can win the prize?" Xichuan interrupted and asked.

Fang Minghua did not answer, but Haizi said: "I don't think so. Yang Lian's "The Sun and Man" and Gu Cheng's "Gu Cheng's Selected New Poems" are also good."

The five poetry collections shortlisted this time, except for Luo Fu, who is a senior, the authors of the other five are poets active in the 1980s.

Haizi, Yang Lian, Gu Cheng and Yu Jian, the poetry collection he participated in the competition is called "Naming a Crow".

It is said that Bei Dao, who is in the United States, originally planned to send the Chinese manuscript of his poetry collection "Old Snow" published in the United States. But he felt that he had already submitted the essay "Polish Visitors", so he did not send this poetry collection.

There are Misty Poems, and there are also poems belonging to the third generation" (Yu Jian's "Naming a Crow"), and there are also poetry collections like Haizi that do not belong to any school.

Fang Minghua smiled after hearing this.

"I think it's okay. ”

On the evening of April 19, the first World Chinese Literature Award ceremony was grandly held at the Xijing People's Theater.