Back to 80: My Literary Life

"What is your "Wasteland" about? It's about the confusion, decadence and even depravity of contemporary intellectuals! You are just like ruthlessly tearing off the fig leaf on someone. The main body of your novel is a group of literati who are being whipped. You say that people who have a certain right to speak will easily let your book go, even you?! You know, to put it bluntly, you and I are actually one of them. You are betraying the organization by doing this! If something goes wrong, who dares to speak for you?!"

"But Zhongshi's "White Deer Plain" is different. It criticizes feudal ethics and depicts rural life. This is the forte of writers. The erotic descriptions in it only reflect the most primitive instincts of farmers. What does it have to do with lofty literati?! Even if someone criticizes, there will be more literati who will defend him-because it is about history, not the present!"

After hearing this, Jia Pingwa's face turned pale and he was speechless.

"Brother Jia, listen to my advice," Fang Minghua continued in a gentle tone: "Delete those □□□□□□ (the author deleted × hundred × ten × words). Your book is very good and very attractive. There is no need to do these gimmicks, which will bring unnecessary trouble to yourself."

"In addition, consider some sensitive plots in the novel. I will call Su Bin of Shengshi Books and ask him to arrange the publication of your book."

Jia Pingwa left.

Compared with his excited appearance when he came, he seemed a little depressed.

But if this book is not so ill-fated, and Jia Pingwa's reputation is not to be tarnished because of this book, in his own words: "Before the publication of "Wasteland", I was said to be the cleanest person in the literary world; after the publication of "Wasteland", I was said to be the most rogue one in the literary world." This must be done.

This is not shameful.

You must know that in history, Chen Zhongshi, who was as stubborn as an ox, had to bow his head in order to pass the Mao Dun Prize review: he modified the sensitive plots of the novel and published a revised version.

The same problem is expected to occur in this life of "White Deer Plain". We'll talk about it later.

Originally, Fang Minghua waited for Jia Pingwa to revise "Wasteland" and then contact Su Bin, but just two days later, he suddenly received a call from his father.

"Minghua, an urgent telegram came from my hometown, saying that your uncle has passed away. You pack up and take the train with me back to Fengtian tomorrow."

"Uncle has passed away? Okay, I'll prepare immediately. Let's see if there are any plane tickets tomorrow. Let's take a plane back. It's faster." Fang Minghua said immediately.

"Okay, call me when you're done."

After hanging up his father's phone, Fang Minghua quickly took out a phone book printed by the Xijing Post and Telecommunications Bureau from the drawer, which had the booking numbers of major airlines.

There was no Internet in those days. If you wanted to take a plane, you either had to go to the airport check-in counter to book a ticket or make a phone call.

Coincidentally, Air China had a direct flight to Fengtian at 10:30 tomorrow morning. Fang Minghua immediately booked two tickets and told his father the news.

When Song Tangtang returned home in the evening, Fang Minghua told her that her uncle had passed away and that she and her father would go back to Fengtian to attend the funeral.

Song Tangtang naturally didn't say anything, but just said to bring more clothes, because it's colder in the Northeast than here, and I'll drive you two to the airport tomorrow morning.

"I'll pack your luggage for you." Song Tangtang said and went upstairs.

Fang Minghua went on a long trip, and as long as Song Tangtang was at home, she would pack her luggage.

"Oh," Fang Minghua suddenly thought of something.

"What's wrong?" Song Tangtang stopped.

"Pingwa's book hasn't been brought over yet. Let me make a call."

Fang Minghua first called Su Bin's pager message, and within a few minutes, Su Bin called home.

Fang Minghua briefly outlined the publication of Jia Pingwa's new book.

"I asked Jia Pingwa to send you the manuscript. I personally think it's quite well written. Of course, given that some parts of the content of this book are sensitive, you should be careful when promoting it."

Su Bin agreed and said that he would study it carefully after Jia Pingwa sent the manuscript.

Fang Minghua's words were not aimless.

In history, before the publication of "Wasteland", the author and the publisher painstakingly came up with two "clever tricks": one was "□□□", and the other was to reveal a million-dollar royalty!

Through these "hypes", the book became popular all of a sudden, and some booksellers blocked the door of the publisher with cash to ask for goods.

It becomes popular quickly, but it is easier to attract jealousy.

This time, I have to take it easy.

After calling Su Bin, Fang Minghua called Jia Pingwa's home directly and told him about his current situation and that he had to go back to Fengtian immediately, and it was estimated that he would have to stay for a few days.

"Brother Jia, I am worried that it will delay the publication of your new book, so I have agreed with Su Bin of Shengshi Books that you can send it directly to him after you revise it. If there are any problems, you two can communicate directly."

"Thank you, Minghua." Jia Pingwa's tone on the other end of the phone revealed gratitude.

"Why are you being so polite to me? We'll talk after I come back."

Early the next morning, Fang Minghua took his wife's car and rushed to the Xingfu Community in Xiaonanmen to pick up his father, and then went straight to Xianyang International Airport.

Just last year, Xianyang International Airport officially started operation, and Xiguan Airport was closed.

At 10:30, the father and son boarded the plane and flew directly to Fengtian.

The plane flew steadily in the clouds.

Fang Minghua glanced at his father beside him.

He saw that his father was wearing an old military coat, curled up in his seat and dozing off.

He suddenly found that his father looked much older.

Could it be because of the death of his uncle?

Father Fang Changhe had three brothers in his generation. Fang Changhe was the second oldest. The eldest and the third stayed in the Northeast. Only the second oldest Fang Changhe came to Xijing to support the Northwest.

Fang Changhe's parents died in the early 1970s. Once his parents died, the brothers' visits to each other decreased significantly.

Xijing was originally far away from Liaoning Province. In Fang Minghua's memory, his parents and grandparents returned to their hometown after they died, and never went back again.

So in Fang Minghua's memory, he did not have a deep impression of this uncle.

Of course, there must be family etiquette. As the only son of Fang Changhe, he must go back to attend the funeral according to custom.

Well, in addition to paying tribute to his uncle, he also went around to see the Northeast in the early 1990s. For this purpose, he also brought a camera.

The plane flew for more than two hours and landed at Taoxian International Airport.

As soon as he got out of the plane, Fang Minghua shuddered.

Oh my God.

The winter in the Northeast is cold.

The woolen coat he was wearing seemed to have no effect, and the cold wind blew in.

The father and son left the airport, took the airport bus, and rushed to the city. When they arrived in the city, Fang Minghua and his son took a taxi.

Although Fang Minghua's hometown is in Beisipiao, Chaoyang, his father Fang Changhe's elder and younger brothers both work in Fengtian, and his deceased elder brother's home is in Tiexi District.