Back to 80: My Literary Life

At five o'clock in the afternoon, the two of them took the bus back to the guest house.

Sitting in the car, Fang Minghua looked at the sunset outside the window and began to think about the issue of submission again.

The rejection of "October" was not that unexpected. It is human nature to be resistant and skeptical about new things.

Which publisher should I look for next?

This needs to be considered carefully. Fang Minghua closed his eyes slightly and started thinking.

Song Tangtang looked at him.

She knew that after he was happy, he must be thinking about the publication of the novel.

"Fang Minghua."

"Huh?" Fang Minghua opened his eyes and looked at the girl beside him.

"Are you thinking about submitting your manuscript? Have you decided which one to submit to?"

Fang Minghua shook his head: "I haven't decided yet."

"If it doesn't work out, you'd better apply for "People's Liberation Army Literature and Art"." Song Tangtang looked at him and said softly: "I'll go find my grandpa for help."

"Your grandpa?"

"My grandpa used to be the general political officer, in charge of publishing and publicity. The editor-in-chief of "People's Liberation Army Literature and Art" was his old subordinate."

Be obedient. This life experience.

However, Fang Minghua thought for a moment and shook his head.

"no."

"What? Don't believe me?"

"No, "People's Liberation Army Literature and Art" is different from other local magazines. You have also read this novel. It does not fit the style of their magazine. Besides, there is no need to alarm your grandpa about this trivial matter. I think I can solve it." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

Song Tangtang nodded and said nothing more.

But Song Tangtang's words gave Fang Minghua an idea, why go to the magazine directly? Find a big boss to check first, preferably a recommendation.

Who to look for?

Got it!

Fang Minghua suddenly remembered a person's name.

Wang Meng!

Why did you forget this literary giant?

More importantly, Wang Meng is also trying to write a stream of consciousness novel!

In the past two years, he has published "Bu Li" and "The Voice of Spring", etc., and is carefully trying to write in this way.

Although the response is not as great as "Long Live Youth" and "Young People from the Organization Department", it at least shows that Wang Meng likes to write in this way. What's more important is: Wang Meng is now the vice chairman of the Yanjing Writers Association!

Yes, that's him!

"Song Tangtang, I'm going to visit someone tonight, Wang Meng, vice chairman of the Yanjing Writers Association." Fang Minghua said in a low voice.

"The one who wrote "Long Live Youth"?"

"Yes, that's him! I met him once." Fang Minghua briefly talked about his visit to Wang Meng last spring.

"He has also written stream-of-consciousness novels, so he must be interested in them." Fang Minghua finally said.

"Okay. I'll go with you." Song Tangtang said.

"you?"

"I really like the novel "Long Live Youth" and the preface poem at the beginning. I want to meet this writer." Song Tangtang explained:

"Tomorrow our art troupe will have group activities, so we can't play with you. We will return to southern Xinjiang early the day after tomorrow."

"Okay, one piece."

After returning to the guest house, after finishing their meal, Fang Minghua saw that it was almost time, so he asked Song Tangtang to go out together. Of course, he did not forget to buy three kilograms of apples.

This time Fang Minghua was familiar with the road. He took the bus and went straight to the Family Home of the Municipal Writers Association near Chaoyang Jinsong Road, and knocked on the door of Wang Meng's house with Song Tangtang.

Fortunately, Wang Meng is at home.

Seeing the two people standing at the door, Wang Meng was stunned for a moment and immediately smiled on his face: "It's Comrade Xiao Fang, please come in."

The two entered the room and sat on the sofa. Fang Minghua found that Teacher Cui was not at home.

Wang Meng poured a cup of tea for the two of them, sat on the sofa next to him, looked at Song Tangtang in military uniform, and asked, "Who is this?"

"Her name is Song Tangtang. She is my friend. She is a female soldier from the Southern Xinjiang Art Troupe. She is reporting for a performance in Yanjing." Fang Minghua hurriedly explained.

"Hello, Chairman Wang! I like your "Long Live Youth" very much." The girl smiled sweetly: "Especially the preface poem."

Having said this, Song Tangtang began to read aloud with great emotion:

All days, all days come,

Let us weave you with the golden thread of youth,

And the tassel of happiness weaves you together.

What a heavy burden, I will not weaken,

What a serious battle, I will not be ashamed,

One day, after wiping the gun, wiping the machine, and wiping the sweat,

I miss you and greet you,

And look at you with pride!

After listening to Song Tangtang's recitation, Wang Meng clapped his hands happily, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became warm.

Fang Minghua quietly gave Song Tangtang a thumbs up.

What a great assist.

With a good start, Fang Minghua first reported to Wang Meng how he came to Yanjing, and then talked about the novel he had written.

He didn't hide anything. He told the story of how he was rejected first for "Yanhe" and then failed for "October".

"They are not very interested in the stream of consciousness creative technique." Fang Minghua finally said.

Wang Meng was obviously interested after hearing this.

"Stream of consciousness novel? Haha, I really didn't expect that Xiao Fang, you would actually write this type of novel? Let me take a look."

Fang Minghua took out the manuscript from his yellow satchel and handed it to the other party.

Wang Meng took it over, put on his glasses and looked at it for a while, then raised his head and said, "I think this novel is pretty good, but I have to take a closer look. Are you free tomorrow afternoon? Come to my work, I will Let’s talk about my feelings with you again.”

"I have time! I will definitely come."

Fang Minghua chatted for a while longer, then said goodbye to Song Tangtang and left.

After going downstairs, Song Tangtang asked in a low voice: "Do you think Teacher Wang Meng will like your novel?"

"It should be no problem." Fang Minghua was quite confident.

"If it were anyone else, I wouldn't dare say it, but Wang Meng is one of the few enlightened writers in today's literary world."

"Then which magazine would he recommend you to apply for?" Song Tangtang asked again.

"It should be "Yenjing Literature"," Fang Minghua thought for a moment and said, "After all, it is a subsidiary publication of the Yenching Writers Association."

"Yanjing Literature is also very famous, congratulations!" Song Tangtang said with a happy smile.

"Don't congratulate too early. This is all my personal conjecture. Maybe I still lost my reputation." Fang Minghua said.

"No, I believe you."

The two took a car back to the guest house and separated at a fork in the road.

"Fang Minghua, our art troupe will have a group activity tomorrow, and we will have to take a bus back to southern Xinjiang early the day after tomorrow. We don't have time to meet again." Song Tangtang said.

"When you return to southern Xinjiang, be sure to pay attention to safety! Don't be too desperate!" Fang Minghua warned.

"The war situation is not as tense as last year. Our condolences performances are all safe and smooth. Don't worry."

"Then we can talk again when you return to Xijing to visit relatives. Don't forget, you also want to take me for a ride." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Yeah, I will. Goodbye!"

"goodbye!"

Fang Minghua turned around and was about to enter the building, but heard Song Tangtang calling again from behind.

"Fang Minghua!"

He turned around and saw the girl looking at him, her eyes shining brightly under the street lamp.

"Anything else?"

"If your novel is published, remember to write to me and let me know."

"no problem!"

"Okay, bye!"

After Song Tangtang finished speaking, he turned and left.

When Fang Minghua got up the next morning, he had nothing to do after eating.

It was not interesting to visit Yanjing City alone, so I went to Xinhua Bookstore in Wangfujing to read some books and kill time. At noon, I randomly found a place to eat a bowl of noodles with soybean paste. I waited until 2 o'clock to go to work, and then Then I took the bus and rushed to the Yanjing Writers Association on Qianmen West Street.

He took out his writer's card and entered the courtyard, asked about Wang Meng's office, went straight to the second floor and knocked on a door on the east side.

Wang Meng was reading the documents. When he saw Fang Minghua coming in, he immediately greeted: "Xiao Fang, sit down. If you don't come, I will find a way to contact you."

"I only watch dramas at night. I have nothing to do during the day."

"Oh, I've read your novel. I personally think it's quite good. Xiao Fang, how did you come up with the idea of ​​using the stream of consciousness writing technique?"

Thanks to Lakeside Town Hogg for the tip.

Thanks to book friend 2023051470_de, Wangdu Kangjiu, bookworm dumplings, book friend 2020122507126676, and charles6460 for their monthly votes