Literary Master 1978

Tao Yushu was reading the newly published "Shanghai Literature", which was previously "Shanghai Literature and Art". Lin Chaoyang's "Qiu Ju Goes to Court" was published in this magazine.

She pointed the magazine to Lin Chaoyang because of an article in the magazine titled "On the Narrow Nationalism of "The Chess Master"".

"The Chess Master" was published in "Yenching Literature" at the beginning of the month, and "Shanghai Literature" published a review article on the novel in just over half a month. This efficiency can be said to be very high.

However, the content of this review article is hard to describe. Just looking at the title, you can tell that it is not a good thing.

"…The novel's excessive emphasis on personal heroism in the fight against the Japanese invaders conceals the complex historical background and social contradictions at the time, and simplifies the in-depth discussion of the roots and impacts of the war.

The conflicts set in it repeatedly focus on national independence and national honor and disgrace, which is justified in a specific historical context, but some expressions are obviously too emotional, intentionally stimulating the narrow national sentiments in the readers' hearts, causing readers to fall into a paranoid perspective without judgment.

…

Against the background of Sino-Japanese friendship, the content of "The Chess Master" is obviously inappropriate, and the multidimensionality and complexity of history cannot be summarized in a novel. We should examine the experiences and contributions of different groups, and a single nationalist perspective may not be conducive to a comprehensive and objective historical cognition.

Letting go of the criticism of narrow nationalist tendencies will help us appreciate the work while maintaining rational thinking about history and respect for other nations, and promoting a more open and inclusive social atmosphere."

The article "On the Narrow Nationalism of "The Chess Master"" is not long, with only about 2,000 words in total. The author criticizes the novel from a lofty and rational perspective throughout the whole process.

Moreover, the author's level is not bad. Although his butt is crooked, it cannot be said that he is completely farting. He also seized some weaknesses in the plot of "The Chess Master" to make a fuss.

Tao Yushu was very angry after reading the article, but Lin Chaoyang acted calmly. She couldn't help asking: "Aren't you angry?"

"I am angry, but it's useless to be angry. This person wrote this article with impure intentions. It seems to be out of the matter, fair and rational, but in fact it is stealing concepts and playing word games."

"Then let him slander "The Chess Master" like this?" Tao Yushu asked unwillingly.

"When I wrote the novel, I had already expected this situation. We can't control their hands and pens. Don't think too much. As long as more people can read the novel and more people can empathize with it, the fallacies of this group of people will naturally fall apart."

Listening to Lin Chaoyang's words, Tao Yushu nodded silently.

But she was still a little depressed, so she pulled Zhang Dening to criticize the article.

"The Chess Master" was published in "Yenching Literature". Now that "Shanghai Literature" has published such a negative review of this novel, Zhang Dening is also a little angry.

"What kind of person is this! Narrow nationalism? He is really good at changing the concept. Why doesn't he say this is patriotism?"

"And this sentence, what does "a single nationalist perspective may not be conducive to a comprehensive and objective historical cognition" mean?

So we, the Chinese people who have been invaded, cannot express our own views on the war? We have to say it from the perspective of the Japanese?"

The two of them became more and more angry as they talked, and several other writers also paid attention to this review.

In the early days of reform and opening up, due to the comprehensive negation of the lines and ideas that had been adhered to in the past, the trend of reflection in the cultural circle was surging.

Many people think that they have opened their eyes to see the world, and worshipping foreign things is not enough. At the same time, they also want to devalue their own things to the dust, and strange talks and weird theories emerge in an endless stream.

There are also many supporters of this trend of thought in the literary world. If you ask the people who participated in this writing meeting, they also have many dissatisfactions with the country and policies.

But everyone had the same feeling about the article "On the Narrow Nationalism of "The Chess Master"". The historical and cultural tendencies of the article were a bit wrong.

But no one could say that it was intentional. If you criticize it from this angle, people would turn the tables and say that I was just discussing the matter at hand and you were exaggerating.

"Damn it!" Zhang Dening looked at the magazine with his eyebrows twisted together, "We can't let them be so rampant. I have to write two reviews to compete with them."

Tao Yushu responded immediately: "I'll write it."

Zhang Dening nodded and looked at Li Tuo again, "You don't write novels, but you can write a review, right?"

Li Tuo is now much more comfortable writing reviews than writing novels. He patted his chest and said, "No problem, I'm familiar with this."

Zhang Dening looked at the others again, "Everyone who has ideas, please help write it. Let's have a debate with "Shanghai Literature" this time. I don't believe that we can't beat their arrogance!"

Everyone responded one after another. It was not difficult for them to write a review.

I just read the article, and the attitude is really uncomfortable. I have been getting along well with Lin Chaoyang these days. It is definitely not convenient for Lin Chaoyang to write a response to this article. It is better for everyone to compete.

In literary debates, sometimes the number of people is the competition.

Seeing that Zhang Dening stirred up everyone's hatred of the enemy with a few words, Tao Yushu's anger subsided a lot. She came back and said to Lin Chaoyang: "I really didn't realize that Dening is quite protective of his shortcomings."

After chatting for a few words, Tao Yushu spread out the manuscript paper and began to write quickly. She wanted to criticize the article in "Shanghai Literature".

The train went all the way north. After returning home, the two rested for the night. Lin Chaoyang got up early and went to the library to work. Tao Yushu continued to write her article at home.

Another day later, she went to "Yenjing Literature" with the article she had written. She wanted to try to publish the article in the next issue of the magazine.

As soon as she came to the editorial office, she saw Zhang Dening chatting and laughing with his colleagues, looking in a good mood.

"What are you so happy about?" Tao Yushu asked.

Zhang Dening pretended to be secretive, "Guess!"

"Don't talk about knocking me down."

"You two are so boring, it's always like this." Zhang Dening complained, and then said happily: "How much do you think we sold this issue of the magazine?"

With Zhang Dening's expression on his face, sales will naturally not be low. The magazine has only been on the market for more than half a month. Tao Yushu thought about it and said a number: "500,000 copies?"

Zhang Dening shook his head and said, "Tell me more."

"600,000 copies?"

Zhang Dening shook his head again, "Be bold."

"It can't be 2 million copies, right?"

Zhang Dening complained: "Can I let you guess carefully and stop shouting all over the sky?"

Tao Yushu smiled, "900,000 copies!"

A smile appeared on Zhang Dening's face, mixed with pride, "Almost, the print run has reached 900,000 copies, but this includes inventory."

Tao Yushu asked excitedly: "Based on your past experience, how many sales can you expect in the end?"

Zhang Dening thought deeply and said: "The sales volume of our magazine has always been more than half a month, and it usually accounts for two-thirds of the current sales volume."

Listening to her words, Tao Yushu calculated in his mind, "Will there be 1.3 million copies in the end?"

"About the same, maybe a little more. The sales momentum of this issue of the magazine is obviously better than that of previous issues."

Tao Yushu asked: "Then what kind of achievement is this?"

“In the past two years, our magazine’s sales peaked in two issues, one in May 1979, when “Little Shoes” was published.

One is the issue in October last year, which published Wang Zengqi's "Ordering". The sales of both issues exceeded one million copies, but the highest number did not reach 1.2 million copies.

This July issue looks like it will break the sales record of our "Yenjing Literature". "

Zhang Dening's words made Tao Yushu full of joy. What does the record-breaking sales mean?

This shows that it is popular among readers. As the most important work in this issue of the magazine, "Chess Saint" plays a decisive role in sales.

Isn't the purpose of my husband's original writing of this novel just to allow more readers to see it?

Now it seems that his goal has been achieved.

but……

Tao Yushu took out his manuscript and handed it to Zhang Dening, "I have finished writing the review. Can you publish it in the next issue of your magazine?"

"Hey, my Sister Tao, do you think I am the editor-in-chief? How can I decide this kind of thing?"

Zhang Dening said this, but her eyes were on the manuscript. She read it quickly and said, "It's well written. Your level of writing reviews is no worse than those who specialize in literary criticism."

"Then it can be published?"

Zhang Dening glanced at her speechlessly, grabbed the "Shanghai Literature" on the table, took the manuscript, and said to Tao Yushu: "Wait for me for a while."

After saying that, she got up and left the office.

Tao Yushu sat there waiting, bored, chatting casually with several other editors.

Zhou Yanru asked her, "Yushu, are you graduating soon?"

"After this summer vacation, there is still one semester left."

"Time flies so fast. I remember when I first met you and Chaoyang, you were still in your freshman year." Zhou Yanru sighed.

"Yes, I will graduate soon."

About half an hour later, Zhang Dening came back with the manuscript and magazine, and said to Tao Yushu in high spirits: "It's done, it will be published next month."

"Very good!"

Tao Yushu was happy when Li Tuo walked into the editorial office, "Hey! Yushu is here too!"

Tao Yushu greeted him, and Zhang Dening asked, "Why are you here?"

Over the past year, Li Tuo's novel output has declined severely, causing his status in the editorial department to fall again and again. Li Tuo didn't care about Zhang Dening's attitude and threw the manuscript on her desk.

"Send the manuscript!"

After seeing the manuscript, Zhang Dening's attitude immediately softened, "It's very efficient!"

"How dare I neglect your old orders!"

Li Tuo complimented Zhang Dening, but his tone sounded a bit sarcastic.

Zhang Dening snorted, "Let me read the manuscript first. If it's not good, I won't publish it!"

"It's okay. If you don't send it, I'll change it and it will be the same."

After bickering for a while, Zhang Dening carefully read the comments written by Li Tuo. After reading the article, she said: "It's not bad. It seems that those comments are really not in vain."

"Can you post it?"

"It doesn't matter what I say, the editor must nod."

"Then you still pretend to be bigger than me?"

"I can't decide whether to send it, but I can decide whether or not to send it!" Zhang Dening threatened in a vicious tone.

Li Tuo smiled at Tao Yushu and said, "Did you see it? This makes the King of Hell easy to meet, but the kid is difficult to deal with!"

After the joke, Li Tuo said to Tao Yushu: "When I came back, I contacted a few friends and asked them to help write something and distribute it to newspapers and magazines to build momentum for Chaoyang."

Tao Yushu smiled all over his face and thanked him repeatedly.

"What's the big deal? That article is indeed a little uncomfortable. Chaoyang is a generous person who never wants to argue with others. We are not afraid. We can argue in newspapers and magazines and get royalties."

Li Tuo is too casual and enthusiastic, which sometimes makes his friends feel burdened, but more often they benefit from him.

Zhang Dening teased him: "At least Chaoyang's food is not in vain."

"This is called a friend in need!"

"You pant when you are told you are fat. You call this a hardship? You really know how to flatter yourself!"