Literary Master 1978

After going downstairs, Du Rong asked Lin Chaoyang: "Why did Liu Xinwu look for you?"

On the day of the May Fourth Literary Society's founding meeting at Yan University, Liu Xinwu was also one of the guests present. Du Rong and other people in the library had seen him and knew that he was one of the most popular young and middle-aged writers in China in the past year or so.

Just now, Liu Xinwu went to the front desk of the closed-shelf lending office and said he was looking for Lin Chaoyang, so Du Rong wrote a note to him upstairs.

Lin Chaoyang shook his head and said he didn't know. He really didn't know the purpose of Liu Xinwu looking for him. After all, the two had never met before, but they had met once on the day of the founding meeting of the May Fourth Literary Society, but Lin Chaoyang had a rough guess in his mind.

He asked Du Rong to help him go to the roof for a while. There were two people at the front desk, and Du Rong went upstairs, leaving Tu Mansheng alone.

"Teacher Liu!"

Lin Chaoyang had the habit of later generations, and he always called people "teachers" when he met cultural people.

Liu Xinwu was not used to his address, "You can call me Xinwu or Lao Liu."

"Then I'll call you Lao Liu, it's more intimate."

Liu Xinwu nodded, and the two of them exchanged greetings and walked to the triangle.

Liu Xinwu said: "I'm here mainly on behalf of October to ask you for manuscripts. Do you have any manuscripts on hand recently?"

As Lin Chaoyang expected, Liu Xinwu really came to ask for manuscripts.

"I'm writing a novel."

Liu Xinwu smiled when he heard this, and just as he was about to speak, he heard Lin Chaoyang say again: "But Zhang Dening of Yanjing Literature and Art has been urging me to submit my manuscripts, and today I received a letter from Harvest asking for manuscripts."

Lin Chaoyang's words gave Liu Xinwu a headache. Yanjing Literature and Art was the publication of Lin Chaoyang's debut work, and there was a personal relationship. Harvest had Mr. Ba Jin in charge, and now it was resumed, it was very popular.

With these two publications staring at Lin Chaoyang's manuscripts, it was not easy for him to get Lin Chaoyang's new works!

"You have to go in person to ask for an article to show your sincerity."

Literati quarrel often without making a sound.

Liu Xinwu has been an editor for some years and has rich experience in collecting articles. He must not hesitate when it is time to take action.

Harvest and Ba Jin are too famous. He plans to seize the "insincere" act of the article invitation letter to break Lin Chaoyang's good impression of them.

Lin Chaoyang smiled and said nothing. In his heart, he labeled Liu Xinwu as "old secretive".

"It's been almost four months since your article "The Shepherd" was published?"

"Yes, it was published in the November issue last year."

Liu Xinwu sighed: "It's really well written. I feel that its influence has been growing in the past few months. I have seen two or three review articles in the "Literary Gazette" alone."

Lin Chaoyang said modestly, and then Liu Xinwu asked again: "Do you mind telling me about the subject and content of your next novel? Is it still a subject like scar literature?"

"No, it should be a rural subject."

"Rural subject? About what?"

"About a pair of shoes."

When Lin Chaoyang mentioned shoes, the first thing that came to Liu Xinwu's mind was "An Embroidered Shoe". He shook the idea off and said, "Can we talk about it in detail?"

Lin Chaoyang is very service-minded. Liu Xinwu came to ask for articles on behalf of "October". Thirty years later, this is a potential customer who took the initiative to find the door. Isn't it right to introduce product information to customers?

He and Liu Xinwu walked all the way through the triangle and came to the edge of Weiming Lake, narrating as they walked.

The Weiming Lake in early March was a little bleak as the winter clothes had not been taken off yet, but the many young and energetic figures by the lake made it full of vitality.

"Your story..." Liu Xinwu listened to Lin Chaoyang for more than 20 minutes, his eyes moistened several times, until the end, he choked a little, "It's great!"

He cleared his throat, "Listening to your new novel, it reminded me of "The Shepherd". There is something in the same vein in these two works..."

"Warmth!" Liu Xinwu thought and summed up a word.

Lin Chaoyang nodded slightly. The identity of editor and writer gave Liu Xinwu extremely keen observation.

"This word is very accurate."

Liu Xinwu laughed and asked, "Do you like warm stories?"

"That's not the case. I like to read all kinds of stories. I just think that literature can actually bring more power to people.

Compared to exposing darkness and satirizing reality, letting people gain courage to face the hardships of life from words, I think this is more important."

Listening to Lin Chaoyang's words, Liu Xinwu couldn't help but re-examine the young man next to him with a serious attitude.

He and Lin Chaoyang first met at the founding meeting of the May Fourth Literature Society. At that time, Chen Jiangong wanted to introduce him to himself, but Lin Chaoyang was in a hurry to go back to the library.

In his opinion, he was just a young man who was immature and irritable.

But today's conversation made Liu Xinwu see the difference in him.

Liu Xinwu thought to himself that when he was Lin Chaoyang's age, his understanding of literature was far less profound than his.

Of course, literature is a grand proposition, and everyone may have their own understanding in their hearts.

But being able to put his thoughts into words and create such an excellent work as "The Shepherd" is not something that ordinary people can do. This is what Wang Yangming called the unity of knowledge and action.

Thinking of this, Liu Xinwu suddenly lost interest.

He saw that Lin Chaoyang was a very independent person and would not easily change his mind about what he had decided.

If he really wants to give the next novel to Yanjing Literature and Art or Harvest, I'm afraid that his exaggerated words will be useless, so it's better to be straightforward.

With this idea, Liu Xinwu decided not to beat around the bush.

"Chaoyang, have you decided to give this novel to Yanjing Literature and Art?"

Lin Chaoyang replied: "No."

Liu Xinwu was a little surprised, "Then you want to give it to Harvest?"

Lin Chaoyang shook his head again.

Neither?

Liu Xinwu got two negative answers and was a little confused, and then he had a little fluke in his heart.

"Why not... give it to us?"

"I didn't say that?"

Lin Chaoyang made his attitude straightforward this time, but it made Liu Xinwu even more confused.

"Who are you going to give it to?" he asked.

"This... I haven't decided yet."

Liu Xinwu's eyes lit up when he heard this. It seems that Lin Chaoyang's relationship with Yanjing Literature and Art is not as good as he thought before!

He worried in vain before.

He was just about to actively fight for it when he heard Lin Chaoyang speak.

"Before, "Yanjing Literature and Art" told me that the standard remuneration is 7 yuan per thousand words. "Harvest" received a letter today. I plan to write to ask them what price they will give. You..."

He looked at Liu Xinwu with sincerity, "Old Liu, are you willing to give a high price?"