Chapter 458 What do you mean?

The public opinion aroused by "The Hunt" was getting bigger and bigger. It started with discussions among readers and then comments in newspapers. There were both praises and criticisms. This was a very normal phenomenon and no one paid too much attention to it.

But with the demise of a certain JG newspaper, the direction of public opinion has gradually changed.

The argument in the newspaper article is very interesting, saying that Lin Weimin's novel is suspected of exonerating criminals.

As soon as the article was published, it attracted great attention.

The reason why this article has attracted so much attention is not only because of the popularity of the novel "Hunting", but also because of the identity of this newspaper, which represents the authoritative public opinion in my country's ** field.

All of a sudden, the discussion, which was originally limited to the literary level, was immediately pulled to the political and legal level.

Everyone who sees this article knows that things may be getting out of hand!

Tong Zhonggui gave the newspaper to Lin Weimin, who was in a state of confusion after reading it.

In the novel, it is clearly stated that Hu Tao was lying, and Teacher Gao also had a solid alibi, but the author of this article still managed to link it to a crime.

It is obvious that their intentions are not pure.

After reading the article, he had only two feelings. One was the familiar exaggeration, and the other was the sense of inciting **to fight **.

The whole article is devoid of logic and reliable evidence. It is pure conjecture based on power thinking and disregard for facts. Lin Weimin couldn't help but think of the remarks made by a retired editor-in-chief of a newspaper in later generations, which were almost identical.

It seems that I have been made a target.

The powerful don’t need a reason to bully the weak. The difference is that if it’s not them today, it could be someone else.

"Teacher Lin, this article..." Tong Zhonggui asked worriedly.

Lin Weimin waved his hand, "It's okay. Some people who want to cause trouble will always find a reason. Even a fly will land on a cracked egg and rub its hands."

Tong Zhonggui felt relieved when he saw that Lin Weimin was as open-minded as ever, and asked again, "Will the situation not get any bigger?"

"Can you stop him if he wants to make trouble?" Lin Weimin asked with a smile.

Tong Zhonggui understood what Lin Weimin meant and felt helpless.

The article in the JG newspaper was like a rallying cry to encircle and suppress Lin Weimin, and soon other newspapers followed suit, questioning Lin Weimin's ideological issues.

Whenever the issue comes to "the heart", the parties involved basically have no way to defend themselves.

People presume you to be guilty and then ask you to prove your innocence. How do you prove it?

Do you want to be the sixth son for once?

The person who wronged you knows how wronged you are better than you do.

What is even more ironic is that, because of the propaganda and instigation of these newspapers, more and more ordinary people are really beginning to respond to the problems of "The Hunt".

The trend of criticizing "Hunting" and Lin Weimin became popular under the leadership of several newspapers, and many people who did not know the truth also participated in it.

Just think about it, with a population of over 1 billion in China, the sales of Contemporary Magazine is no more than 2 million copies. How many of these people have never read the novel The Hunt?

These people had only heard the news from others and consciously stood on the side of justice. They mixed in the crowd and righteously condemned Lin Weimin.

It started with Contemporary Journal, then Guowen Press, and then the Publishing House.

Lin Weimin's colleagues and friends were all stunned as they watched the situation develop.

Everyone used to think that the content of "The Hunt" was a bit exaggerated, but reality taught everyone a hard lesson.

Isn't this a replica of the plot in "The Hunt"?

It's ironic to the core!

Due to attacks from outside public opinion, the atmosphere in the editorial department of Contemporary Magazine has been very depressed recently, including that of Guowen Press.

Just at this time, Lin Weimin received a call from the Literary Association.

He first asked about Lin Weimin's well-being with a very friendly attitude, then said that he was very disgusted with the recent criticism of "The Hunting" and Lin Weimin himself, which was completely groundless and malicious slander. He also said that "Wenyi Bao" could provide Lin Weimin with a channel to speak out.

After hearing these words, Lin Weimin immediately understood the purpose of the call and politely declined the other party's kindness.

Lin Weimin doesn't like any of these two things: being scolded, being criticized, and being used as a tool. Why bother himself and create one more trouble for himself?

When he was about to go to Cheng Zaochun's office to have a chat, Cheng Zaochun asked someone to come find him first.

When he arrived at Cheng Zaochun's office, he looked melancholy.

"Am I right? Once the novel is published, there will definitely be trouble."

Lin Weimin said: "Leader, you are talking after the fact."

Cheng Zaochun glared at him. Lin Weimin sat down and talked about the phone call from the Cultural Association just now.

Cheng Zaochun cursed: "The weasel came to the chicken to wish them a happy new year, but you didn't agree to it, did you?"

"I'm not stupid!"

"That's good." Cheng Zaochun nodded, and then said thoughtfully: "You have to be careful during this period of time!"

Lin Weimin frowned, "What rumors have you heard?"

"It's just a rumor..."

"What's that?"

"It is said that some relatives of victims of rape have asked Y to ban your novel!" Cheng Zaochun said worriedly.

Lin Weimin was surprised, "You want to make it this big?"

He thought that he would be asked to write a self-criticism, suspended from his job, etc., but he didn't expect that they would dig up the root of the problem and destroy his work directly.

No, if you dig deep into the root of the problem, you should let yourself be humanely destroyed.

"What are you kidding? Don't be so frivolous!" Cheng Zaochun scolded, and said with a serious look: "It is highly likely that they will not be able to do this, but even if they can't do it, if the commotion is too big, we will be in a passive position. Especially for you, it will have a great impact."

"If I were afraid of them, I wouldn't write novels!" Lin Weimin sneered.

Cheng Zaochun shook his head helplessly, "You, you, when will you change your temper?"

Not long after Cheng Zaochun and Lin Weimin finished their conversation, news came out that a certain department had held a meeting and specifically criticized Lin Weimin's "Hunting". The tone of the criticism was basically the same as that in the newspaper, and the pressure on Guowen Publishing House was increasing.

The matter of the banned book was spread with great fanfare by people who did not know the truth. There were also reports that many family members of the rape victims would go to Beijing to seek justice from Lin Weimin, as if Lin Weimin was the rape victim.

According to current rumors, Lin Weimin should be brought to justice next.

The president Cheng Zaochun was urgently summoned to the office for a meeting. When he came back, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and he found Lin Weimin in his office.

"What's going on? Looks like the meeting isn't going well."

Cheng Zaochun remained silent, staring at Lin Weimin for a long time before he said, "The pressure in the agency is also very great. Leaders from several sister units have inquired about this matter, and I hope there will be a result."

"Deal with what? Deal with me or the book?" Lin Weimin asked.

Cheng Zaochun opened his mouth and said with some annoyance, "Both. I'll deal with the books first, then you."

"They really dare to deal with the books? Aren't they afraid of making trouble?" Lin Weimin was a little surprised.

Cheng Zaochun said patiently, "If they really want to deal with the books, it will cause too much trouble and it will be difficult to resolve. They said this because they wanted the higher-ups to make a statement."

Lin Weimin nodded, and understood. This was the art of negotiation! Ask for a high price, and pay a low price.

"The current situation is that many family members are very dissatisfied and have repeatedly written letters and made phone calls to those departments to report the problems with your novel. Some have even gone to the ministry.

The other side means that you'd better write a self-criticism and publish it in the newspaper, otherwise you will be dismissed from your post."

"What does it mean?" Lin Weimin knew that Cheng Zaochun had not finished speaking, so he asked.

"The higher-ups are naturally arguing with reason. Your case has nothing to do with your job. Dismissal would be excessive, and suspension is out of the question."

Lin Weimin understood Cheng Zaochun's subtext, "So I have to write a self-criticism to deal with those units?"

"It's not about dealing with those units, but about giving an explanation to the families." Cheng Zaochun sighed.

Lin Weimin shook his head. "According to this logic, should I kowtow to the Japanese for writing The Sound of Wind? After all, I have hurt their national feelings."

Cheng Zaochun stared at Lin Weimin and said, "Don't be stupid, kid!"

"How can this be called a mistake?" Lin Weimin's face showed no anger at all. He continued, "I understand the difficulties of the higher-ups, but it is impossible for me to write this self-criticism."

"My novel is about a defamation case. What does it have to do with the victims? If you extend it this way, then whether it's literary works or film and television works, there can't be plots where people are wrongly accused?"

"These are two different things. The impact of your novel is too bad!"

"Bad? No matter how bad it is, it's not as bad as those people with ulterior motives!" Lin Weimin's face was grim.

Cheng Zaochun didn't get angry and asked, "What do you mean?"

"It's meaningless. I definitely can't write the inspection. I have no opinion on how the higher-ups deal with me."

Cheng Zaochun stared at him for a long while before he sighed helplessly, "I knew you would have this attitude. You are so embarrassing."

The tone of these words is almost identical to the dialogues in Lin Weimin's novel, which is a great irony.

"It's impossible to write the inspection anyway. If I do write it, won't it be the same as Teacher Liu? It's too sad. There's no need for that. Let them make a fuss!

I want to see if this unreasonable behavior can really lead to anything."

Cheng Zaochun said, "You should think it through. Originally, the higher-ups only asked you to write a self-criticism, but you are so stubborn. This means you are not giving face to the higher-ups. You may be suspended or even fired."

Lin Weimin spread his hands and said, "If it's stopped, it's stopped. If it's exempted, it's exempted. What am I afraid of?"

Cheng Zaochun completely gave up trying to persuade Lin Weimin, and said dejectedly: "Alright, I know your attitude. I'll go and persuade the leader again, but it's difficult with your attitude!"

Lin Weimin shrugged, "Whoever loves you can do it!"

After saying that, he was about to leave, then turned around and said, "Leader, you haven't watched "Hunting" yet, right?"

Cheng Zaochun frowned, "Why are you asking this?"

"It's okay, I suggest you take a look!"

After saying this, Lin Weimin left.

Confused, Cheng Zaochun found the tenth issue of "Contemporary" and opened "Hunting".

After reading for a long time, I finally understood what Lin Weimin meant when he left.

He laughed out of anger, "This bastard! He cursed without even using a single curse word."

But after he calmed down, he read the novel again and couldn't help but admit that the portrayal in the novel was indeed too real and vivid.

Cheng Zaochun couldn't help but sigh. How could he not know that doing so was unfair to Lin Weimin?

But sometimes, when you are in a position, you often have no choice!

After more than a month of fermentation, the criticism against "The Hunt" and Lin Weimin became increasingly louder. The vast majority of people in this society were blindly following the trend, and later on, many people had not even seen or heard the simplified version of the plot of "The Hunt" at first hand. They only knew that this was a novel that whitewashed criminals.

The emotions of the masses have been thoroughly aroused, and the goals of those with ulterior motives have been achieved.

Under the overwhelming public opinion, the higher-ups could no longer hold back and the leader called Lin Weimin to his office for a talk.

It was also a final ultimatum. If Lin Weimin did not write this self-criticism, he would be suspended.

Lin Weimin smiled playfully in the face of his leader's serious expression.

"Look at you, what a big deal! It's just an inspection, can't I write it?"

The leader was full of doubts about Lin Weimin's attitude. He was stubborn before, as if he would not write this self-criticism even if he was shot. Why did he change his attitude now?

But no matter how it changes, it’s good to have this attitude and keep things peaceful!

"Leader, can I borrow a pen and paper?"

Lin Weimin started writing as soon as he said he would. His willingness surprised the leader again, and he lent him paper and pen.

Then, under his gaze, Lin Weimin wrote quickly and finished the "inspection" in just two minutes.

The leader looked at the scribbled words on the paper, frowned, and asked, "What do you mean by this?"

(End of this chapter)