Back to 80: My Literary Life

After the "Let's Talk" reading club of Xuecheng Bookstore became popular, some private bookstores in other places followed suit, and some even invited Fang Minghua and others to give lectures at high prices. The owners of Sanwei Bookstore in Yanjing, Pioneer Bookstore in Hangzhou, and Fengyasong Bookstore in Quanzhou all contacted Fang Minghua in various ways to give lectures, but he refused.

He didn't care whether others went or not, but he wouldn't go anyway.

He went to Xuecheng Bookstore for a lecture because he and Lei Xuecheng were old friends for many years, and he wanted to help, and there was also a kind of sentiment at work.

What's the point of going thousands of miles to give lectures in other places?

As for money?

What he lacked the least now was money.

But there were still people who came to him.

It was hot today, and Fang Minghua took a nap after lunch. He woke up at two o'clock and didn't go to work - anyway, he wouldn't go if there was nothing to do.

However, this time, the staff of the Writers Association Office called and said, "Chairman Fang, Director Xie Ruguang, the head of CCTV's "Lecture Room" column, came from Yanjing and came to our unit to talk to you."

"What's the matter?"

"Director Xie didn't say anything specific, but he wanted to meet and talk with you."

"Okay, I'll be there right away."

Fang Minghua changed his clothes, went out and drove straight to the unit. After entering the Writers Association compound, he stopped in front of the building and met two people from Yanjing in the reception room on the first floor.

One of them was a middle-aged man in his early forties, the famous Xie Ruguang, and the other was younger, less than 20 years old, and seemed to have just graduated from school. His surname was Liu. After a few simple greetings, Fang Minghua invited them to his office on the second floor.

Xie Ruguang did not beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose: "Chairman Fang, the "Let's Talk" literary salon you held at Xijing Xuecheng Bookstore is very popular and interesting. It just so happens that our column is planning to invite someone to talk about modern domestic literature, so I would like you to come to the Hundred Schools Lecture Hall."

The "Hundred Schools Lecture Hall" of this era is still quite good. It is not as boring as later generations that only talk about history or ancient literature, and the speakers are all academic Internet celebrities.

The "Lecture Room" was launched last year (2001) with a very ambitious goal when it was created: to popularize knowledge for the public. There was also a slogan at the time: "Construct common sense of the times and enjoy a wise life." To this end, the column team covered everything from astrophysics to food, clothing, housing and transportation; from elegant to aesthetics, from the study of infertility.

The first episode of "Lecture Room" was a physics lecture by Mr. Yang Zhenning.

Not long ago, Fang Minghua listened to an episode of "Modification and Restriction of DNA" and was amazed.

Fang Minghua was aware of Jie Ruguang's purpose when he came. If it wasn't for this reason, why would he come all the way from Yenching to Xijing in the hot summer?

However, Fang Minghua didn't want to go to "Lecture Room" to give a lecture. He didn't want to be an Internet celebrity like Yu Dan later, and he didn't want to go. What does it mean?

So he politely declined: "Director Wei, Chinese modern literature is rather boring. I think you also know that not all TV viewers are engaged in literature, and many of them are not even literature lovers. I am worried that no one will watch these boring things, which will affect your TV ratings."

Fang Minghua was actually right.

"Lecture Room" started with a hundred flowers blooming and talked about everything, but in the end, only history and some Chinese studies were left. The other content was boring and not many people were interested, which led to a decline in ratings and had to be cut in the end.

Can you imagine how many people can understand a master like Yang Zhenning talking about quantum physics? In the end, what is left is some pseudo-academics of Internet celebrities.

Unexpectedly, Xie Ruguang laughed after hearing Fang Minghua's words: "Chairman Fang, I expected you to say this a long time ago. I I have come up with a good idea that will allow the audience to feel the development and charm of contemporary Chinese literature without being boring and preachy. "

"What is it?"

"Talk about your experience in literature for more than 20 years! From the early 1980s to the late 1990s, these 20 years were the most active 20 years in my country's literary career. As a participant, you have also experienced this magnificent era. Talk about this history and some of the stories you have experienced. I have thought of a title, called "My 20 Years of Literature"!"

Huh?

This angle is fresh.

Indeed, this period of history is worth recalling.

Seeing Fang Minghua's interest, Xie Ruguang smiled and said, "How about it?"

"Okay, I agree, but I have to prepare well."

"Of course."

The two discussed some specific details and finally decided that Fang Minghua It is divided into three consecutive lectures, "upper, middle and lower", and the time is set for mid-October. There are two months of preparation time, and the rest of the time will be recorded in advance in Yanjing at CCTV.

But when signing the contract, there was trouble again.

According to the previous practice of "Lecture Room", CCTV only pays the host 1,000 yuan per episode! And 30 yuan of income tax needs to be deducted!

And the board and lodging in Yanjing are at your own expense!

What is even more speechless is that if the lecturer wants to publish the content of the lecture into a book after collating it, CCTV still has 50% of the copyright!

Fang Minghua can't accept this.

I'm too lazy to take your 1,000 yuan, I will pay for the board and lodging myself, and treat it as a trip to Yanjing to relax, but the copyright is not allowed!

I don't have the idea of ​​publishing the lecture manuscript into a book in the future, but I can't accept your simply overlord terms.

Fang Minghua raised his objection, and Xie Ruguang was a little embarrassed.

"Chairman Fang, we have done this for previous lecturers, including Professor Yang Zhenning."

"I can't control what Professor Yang does, but I won't do it." Fang Minghua's tone was relaxed, but his attitude was firm.

The negotiation reached a deadlock.

"However, forget it, Director Jie, can you find someone else?" Fang Minghua said again.

"Hey, Chairman Fang, don't worry. How about I discuss it with the head of the station and give you an answer tomorrow morning?" Xie Ruguang said hurriedly.

"That's fine." Fang Minghua nodded.

Then Xie Ruguang and the others left the Provincial Writers Association and took a taxi back to their hotel.

In the car, Xiao Liu, who had been silent just now, couldn't help but speak up: "Director Xie, when others heard that our "One Hundred Schools Forum" invited them to the show, they signed the contract without saying a word and rushed to Yanjing excitedly. But Chairman Fang was so reluctant and refused. Why?"

"Why?" Xie Ruguang glanced at him: "Let's not talk about the older generation like Yang Zhenning. The others are all for the influence of our CCTV. Think about it, if they give a class on "One Hundred Schools Forum" and become famous in front of the people of the whole country, won't their status in the academic circle also rise? Lectures, books and other good things will follow one after another, it's simply a double gain of fame and fortune! Otherwise, why would they come to your CCTV for such a small reward? Are you stupid?"

"But Fang Minghua is different. He has been famous at home and abroad for a long time. Does he still need to be on "One Hundred Schools Forum" to bless him?"