Back to 80: My Literary Life

The first Lu Xun Literature Award ceremony was also held in the Great Hall of the People. More than 70 outstanding literary works were awarded in 11 categories, which was an unprecedented event.

Among the award-winning works, many are friends or acquaintances of Fang Minghua, such as Shi Tiesheng, the author of the short story "Notes on an Old House", Chi Zijian, the author of "The Cowshed in the Fog Moon", and Tie Tie, the author of the essay "A Woman's White Night". He Shen, author of the novella "Years and Years After".

Especially Chi Zijian, whose novel "The Cowshed in the Fog Moon" has already won the Best Short Story Award at the 3rd Chinese Literature Award, and this time she won the Lu Award, which is a moment of glory.

Holding an award ceremony is also a good time for old friends to get together. It is very happy for everyone to chat and talk about literature.

Shi Tiiesheng came here in a wheelchair. More than 20 years of wheelchair life have made him accustomed to all this, and he always smiled when he saw his old friend.

Fang Minghua was also very happy. Although Shi Tiesheng still couldn't stand up, compared with history, without uremia, there was a lot less physical and mental torture, but the words he wrote were still full of imagination and speculation.

"Tie Sheng, how was the "Retreat Notes" you collected last time like the one you were writing?" During the ceremony, Fang Minghua asked in a low voice when others were not paying much attention.

"The manuscript is basically finished, but it still needs revision." Shi Tiiesheng said.

"When you finish revising it, call Shu Bin directly from Shengshi Books and ask him to arrange for it to be published for you, so that it can be published by readers as soon as possible."

"Okay, Shengshi Books are very powerful now. Some people jokingly say that Shengshi Publishing must be high-quality books, especially the Buhu series of books." Shi Tiesheng said with a smile.

"Just arrange this in your book!" Fang Minghua said.

"Hey, what are you talking about?" came a woman's voice. Fang Minghua turned around and saw that it was Chi Zijian.

"Tie Sheng and I were talking about his new book."

We were all old acquaintances, and Fang Minghua didn't hide it, so he told Chi Zijian about publishing Shi Tiesheng's almost-finished novel.

"Oh Minghua, you are so biased. You introduced Tie Sheng's novel to be published. Why did you introduce my book to be published by Shengshi Books?" Chi Zijian said with a hint of joking in his tone.

"You can't blame me, right? You don't know the phone number of the boss of Shengshi Books? You didn't tell me or call Shu Bin. You just sent the novel to Suzhou People's Publishing House. I didn't know until the novel was published. Chi Zijian has published a new book," Fang Minghua explained.

"I'm kidding you. I wrote that book as an attempt. It doesn't seem to work very well. Fortunately, I didn't come to you. Maybe you will still laugh at me."

Just last year, Chi Zijian wrote a novel "The Morning Bell Rings Through the Dusk". Instead of writing about rural feelings and natural scenery in the past, he turned his attention to the city.

The novel is about a divorced university teacher who fell in love with a chic female thief. A clean reporter was sexually assaulted and became mentally ill and committed suicide. Even the most beautiful life - Song Jiawen's son Song Feiyang also fell to his death. All the evil and ugliness are torn apart here, and all hope dries up here.

This can be regarded as Chi Zijian's transformation work, but overall it does not seem to be a success. She is still not good at this urban type of theme and looks like an ordinary romance novel.

Of course, these words, said by Fang Minghua at this time, were simply a disgrace to the scenery.

"Zijian, don't forget to find Shu Bin for the next book." Fang Minghua said.

"Okay, I think what I wrote is okay, so I'll go directly to Shu Bin!" Chi Zijian replied.

A very cheerful woman.

Not pretentious, Fang Minghua likes this kind of character.

"Okay, stop chatting, the awards will be given soon."

The award ceremony was still held in the Great Hall of the People, and the authors of the winning works came to the stage to receive their awards and deliver their acceptance speeches.

After the ceremony, Fang Minghua was not in a hurry to leave Yanjing. He usually came to do some errands, meet friends and so on.

No, as soon as I took a taxi back to the General Political Courtyard to visit Song Tangtang's grandparents, the phone in my pocket rang.

"Hey, who's there?"

"Minghua, this is Yu Hua. Is the Lu Xun Literature Award ceremony over?"

"It just finished. I'm going to visit my wife's grandparents. What's wrong?"

"Of course, we have already agreed that when you come to Yanjing, I will treat you." "Haha, you haven't forgotten your line yet, when?" Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Tomorrow afternoon, we don't have to go out, just come to my house. I'll let Chen Hong cook some vegetables and we'll have a drink!" Yu Hua said on the phone.

"Tomorrow afternoon? Okay, I'll come over then."

"That's it."

The reason for Yu Hua's treat was that he won the Mao Dun Literature Award last year and called Fang Minghua to express his gratitude and said that he must treat him when he came to Yanjing.

At almost five o'clock in the afternoon the next day, Fang Minghua left the General Political Courtyard and drove straight to Yu Hua's home.

Yu Hua lives in Fangzhuang, Fengtai, which is known as the most modern and largest residential complex. It is said that celebrities and celebrities have their homes here, including the famous movie star Zhang Fengyi, crosstalk actor Xiao Lin and so on.

Fangzhuang is divided into four large districts, and the four largest districts are called Fanggu Garden, Fangcheng Garden, Fangqun Garden, and Fangxing Garden.

Yu Hua lives in Fangguyuan Community. When the taxi enters, he can see the sign "Welcome to Fangzhuang".

According to the address Yu Hua said, Fang Minghua arrived at a high-rise building, took the elevator to the 21st floor, and rang the doorbell. Soon a young woman with an apron around her waist appeared at the door.

It's Chen Hong.

"Teacher Fang, are you here? Please come in." Chen Hong greeted warmly.

"Would you like to change your shoes?" Fang Minghua walked into the entrance hall and asked.

"No, no need."

Fang Minghua walked into the living room and asked, "Where is Yu Hua?"

"I went to pick up the children from the kindergarten. I'll be back soon. I'll pour you some tea." Chen Hong greeted warmly.

Fang Minghua was sitting on the sofa drinking tea. After a few minutes, the door opened and he saw Yu Hua walking in holding his son and carrying a small schoolbag.

"Minghua, you're here." Yu Hua said with a smile, and shouted to Chen Hong who was busy in the kitchen: "Chen Hong, are you ready?"

"You will have a meeting with Teacher Fang, and you'll be ready soon!

After a while, Chen Hong brought out some cold and hot dishes from the kitchen, as well as a bottle of wine. Sure enough, it was Maotai!

"I said, please don't go to Erguotou, but drink Maotai!" Yu Hua said.

"Okay, Maotai is Maotai!"

The two chatted while eating. Chen Hong sat beside him and went to take care of the children not long after eating. Fang Minghua and Yu Hua were left drinking and chatting.

Yu Hua's drinking capacity was not good, and his face turned red after a few glasses of wine. He only heard him say: "Minghua, you used to be my teacher and you helped me a lot in literature. I am very grateful."

"Okay. What's wrong with you?" Fang Minghua stopped him, "There's no need to flatter me."

"I don't mean to flatter you, I mean that you are knowledgeable and well-informed, and you can help me clear up my doubts."

"What confusion"

"Look."

Yu Hua put down his chopsticks and looked at Fang Minghua: "This year is 1998, and the 21st century is coming soon. Everyone yearns for the new century and a new life, but I suddenly feel that I can't write anything."