Back to 80: My Literary Life

Fang Minghua's family's vacation in San Francisco begins.

Since Li Li's winter vacation has ended and she has to go to class and sometimes work in a publishing house, Fang Minghua basically drives out with his wife and two children.

He has been in San Francisco for three months, and he is quite familiar with the places. He visited the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Jiuquhua Street, Twin Peaks, and Chinatown one after another in Silicon Valley, which is a little further away.

Fang Minghua also took them to Stanford University to meet the two children's uncle, Liu Jianjun.

Just last weekend, while Li Li was on vacation, five people drove Fang Minghua's Buick to Los Angeles and headed south along the famous California Highway 1.

One side faces the vast Pacific Ocean, with the Rocky Mountains at the back. On one side are rough waves and dotted sails; on the other side are cliffs and green mountains, blowing the summer sea breeze and feeling the exotic customs.

On the way, we also took a detour to the small town of Todos Santos, where the hotel described in the Eagles' famous song "Hotel California" is located. Thousands of fans and musicians flock here,

Fang Minghua is not a fan of the Eagles, but he also likes this song.

Especially when driving on Highway 1 in California, singing this song is very emotional.

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair

Cool breeze blowing hair on dark desert highway

Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air

The warm smell of marijuana hangs in the air

Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light

Far ahead, I see twinkling lights

The Spring Festival is getting closer and closer, and downtown San Francisco is beginning to feel like the Chinese New Year. The streets are lined with red lanterns, and various New Year goods and traditional handicrafts are placed in front of the shops.

Fang Minghua and his two children also posted couplets on the door of the villa and hung a red lantern on the balcony. Although it looked a bit nondescript, the familiar feeling still made people happy.

Li Li was busy with classes and work at the publishing house, so Song Tangtang was obliged to participate in the work of the publishing house. As the vice chairman of Shengshi Group and the general manager of Shengshi Film and Television, he managed hundreds of employees and now assisted Li Li in managing a company. A publishing house with more than 50 people is not difficult for her at all.

In order to facilitate her work, Fang Minghua, who is the actual controller of the publishing house, also gave her the title of "Special Assistant to the Manager".

The two women were busy outside, while Fang Minghua became the "house cook", cooking every day, supervising the two children to do their homework, and buying a large amount of ingredients from the supermarket to prepare for the upcoming Chinese New Year.

That afternoon, Fang Minghua made fried noodles and waited with his children for the two sisters to go home for dinner. Li Li drove back from school first, and the first thing she said after entering the house to change her shoes was: "Where is my cousin?"

"I'm not back yet, I guess it will be soon." Fang Minghua looked at the clock hanging on the wall. The hands had already passed six o'clock.

Why.

My daughter-in-law's coming here revealed her true nature as an overtime worker, and she started not getting off work on time in the past two days.

On the one hand, Fang Minghua is worried about her health. On the other hand, she is worried that if you ask your employees to work overtime with you, will your employees protest and say that you are breaking the law?

Maybe the local labor department will come to visit.

Li Li listened and suddenly thought of something and said: "Minghua, today I received a call from a man named Bing Ling who claimed to be the president of the National Chinese Writers Association. He said that the association was going to hold a conference in Los Angeles. Literary Salon, you are invited to participate.”

"National Chinese Writers Association? I haven't heard of it?" Fang Minghua was a little surprised.

"According to his introduction, not long after it was founded, Binling introduced himself as Jiang Weimin. He was a writer and journalist in China. He joined the Fujian Writers Association in 1982. He came to the United States the year before last and is now lecturing at Yale University." Li Li said as she took off her down jacket, revealing her slender figure.

"Do you know who else he invited this time?" Fang Minghua asked again.

"Well, he mentioned some people's names that I didn't remember clearly. They included Zha Jianying, Yang Lian, Zhang Ling, and the original editor of "Yenjing Literature" Li Tuo! Yes, and Bei Dao! Now Bei Dao is working as a professor at the University of California. He also goes to teach at the Vis branch.”

Li Li named several people in one breath, and Fang Minghua listened.

Oops

I know quite a few of them!

The poet Fang Minghua met Yang Lian and Zhang Ling. In 1985, she and Zhang Xianliang came to Iowa to participate in the "International Writing Program" in the United States and stayed for three months. After the girl returned to China, she immediately applied for a visa and left again. The United States has not been heard from since.

Not to mention Li Tuo, I met him several times with domestic literary critics. As for Bei Dao, I actually only met him twice. Once in 1981, I met him at the award ceremony of the poetry essay contest organized by "Contemporary" magazine.

Another time was in the winter of 1986, when the poetry magazine "Stars" held an award ceremony for the "Top Ten Young and Middle-aged Poets" in Chengdu. At that time, Fang Minghua happened to attend the Galaxy Award Ceremony held by "Science and Literature" and was invited to attend a gathering of poets after the end.

Now if you are going to participate in Beidao, you should go and take a look!

Thinking of this, Fang Minghua asked: "What time? Where is the specific location?"

"February 9th, the location is in a Chinese villa in Los Angeles. He said he will send you an invitation with specific information." Li Li replied.

"Hey. What are you two talking about? Where are the two kids?" The living room door opened and a woman's voice came.

Song Tangtang is back.

"Cousin, someone invited Minghua to attend the literary salon." Li Li came over to help take the bag that Song Tangtang was carrying, and smiled and told the story again.

"Bei Dao and Li Tuo are participating? Minghua, I think you should go and listen." Song Tangtang expressed his opinion.

"I think so too. Los Angeles is not far from San Francisco anyway." Fang Minghua nodded.

"Where are the kids? Where are the two kids?" Song Tangtang changed into slippers and asked again.

"They are watching TV upstairs. Don't worry, they can only watch TV-G." Fang Minghua explained with a smile.

"I'll go upstairs and take a look." Song Tangtang seemed a little worried, and went upstairs without even taking off his coat.

American TV broadcasts everything, and we can't let the two children learn bad things from watching things they shouldn't watch.

This is what Song Tangtang is most worried about.

However, watching TV also has its benefits. The two children's English level has improved by leaps and bounds, and they can even run over to play with the little girl next door.

Not long after, Song Tangtang brought the two children downstairs. After washing their hands, everyone sat in the dining room to eat the oil-splashed noodles made by Fang Minghua.

In addition, a vegetable salad was prepared - a large plate of leaf lettuce, magnolia, cherry tomatoes, and purple cabbage.

Song Tangtang likes to eat this, saying that eating it can help lose weight, and if you don't eat carbohydrates at night, you can eat this.

The whole family ate and chatted, and Song Tangtang looked at Fang Minghua: "Minghua, I also want to go to Los Angeles."

Fang Minghua was about to feed a clove of garlic when he heard his wife say this and immediately replied:

"Why, go to the salon with me? Sure."

"No, I want to go to Hollywood. Last time I took the children to just take a quick look. I think this time I can visit a certain film company and learn more about it." Song Tangtang expressed his opinion.