Chapter 110: Not a single word changed
After returning from Yenching Film Academy, Lin Weimin's mind would occasionally flash back to that unforgettable face.
"What are you thinking about?" Liu Yin waved her hand in front of Lin Weimin's eyes to bring him back to his senses.
"nothing."
Liu Yin put the sample magazine in her hand on his desk and said, "They asked me to bring it back to you when I went to the front building just now."
Lin Weimin looked carefully and found that it was the latest issue of "People's Literature".
"Thank you, Sister Liu."
Lin Weimin put away the sample magazine. It was almost time to get off work, so he had nothing to do so he prepared to write a few letters to ask for manuscripts.
"Brother Zilong:
Hello, it has been nearly half a year since I last visited the Institute of Literature and Art, and I miss you all the time. After training at the Institute of Literature and Art, I came to work in the editorial department of Contemporary Magazine, and I have gradually adapted to the work rhythm here. In my spare time, I have created several works.
For example, "The Intouchables" is a play script written for Yenching People's Art Theatre. It was recently performed and received good reviews. There is also a short novel "Farewell My Concubine" which will be published in "People's Literature" soon. If Brother Zilong has time, I hope you can read the above works and write to criticize and correct them. I will be very grateful.
…
In January this year, Contemporary Magazine changed from a quarterly to a bimonthly magazine. The number of manuscripts required increased significantly, and the editorial staff worked hard to collect manuscripts. I am still a new employee of Contemporary Magazine, and I don’t have many author resources. I hope Brother Zilong can provide some help in collecting manuscripts for me in his busy schedule..."
If we were to talk about who was the most popular figure in the domestic literary world in the early 1980s, Jiang Zilon would probably be considered the hottest star.
"The Record of Director Qiao's Taking Office" was an instant success and became the pioneering work of reform literature. He later wrote many novels with industrial production as the background, which received rave reviews from critics and readers.
In the past two years, some people have called him, Ma Jicai and Hang Ying the "three horses" of Tianjin literary world.
As a pioneer of reform literature, Jiang Zilong was indeed a very busy man. He was sought after by many literary newspapers and magazines across the country to solicit manuscripts from him. At the same time, he had to concentrate on writing novels.
Lin Weimin wrote to him purely with the idea of trying his best to get something out of the way.
He wrote more than one similar letter. Except for Qu Xiaowei who had given up halfway, he wrote a letter to almost every student in the class.
Other editors commission and compile articles based on reputation, but Lin Weimin plays with probability.
The revised version of "Contemporary" has already published two issues. With the increase in the number of manuscripts, the difficulty of compiling manuscripts has risen sharply. Colleagues in the editorial department have been under a lot of pressure recently, otherwise he, who has always been a lazy guy, would not have the audacity to write letters to his classmates.
Lin Weimin wrote a few letters to invite submissions every day after work. For a week, all his colleagues in the office knew that he was writing letters to his classmates to invite them to contribute. They were all looking forward to the results of his wide-ranging approach.
After writing the three letters, it was time to get off work.
Lin Weimin stood up and left the Chinese Literature Society. Today he had to go to the People's Art Theatre to attend a discussion meeting on "Farewell My Concubine".
After entering the conference room, Lin Weimin nodded to everyone, found a seat and sat down.
Except for the leaders of the academy, the rest of the people in the conference room today are senior directors and screenwriters of the People's Art Theatre. The focus of the meeting is whether to make appropriate modifications to the plot of "Farewell My Concubine".
Lin Weimin didn't know why he was asked to come, but since they had greeted him, it would be bad for him not to come.
The meeting began with a speech by the first vice president, Shi Zhi. He briefly explained the situation of the script, and then everyone began to speak freely.
Two old comrades talked for a long time and their opinion was very clear, which was to attribute the relationship between Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou to brotherhood.
Lin Weimin had encountered this problem when his work Farewell My Concubine was to be published in People's Literature. Although he understood it, he still felt unhappy.
Ouyang Shanzun and Lan Yinhai have worked with Lin Weimin before, and they understand his strength and his character.
Lan Yinhai said: "The focus of the play Farewell My Concubine is on the relationship between Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou. The current plot is reasonable. If it is changed rashly, the play will be ruined."
Ouyang Shanzun also said: "I agree with Yin Hai's opinion. Everyone has read the script, and it is a rare good script. Regarding the emotional issues, it may make some audiences feel uncomfortable. But I want to say that this phenomenon is not caused by the characters, but by the specific historical environment they are in. The audience will only sympathize, understand, and pity the characters more, and will not feel disgusted with them. So I think there is no need to change it at all."
At this time, an old screenwriter named Qiao stood up, somewhat excited.
“We are a people’s theatre, and the content of our plays must have universal values, and we cannot promote any ideas that carry feudal dregs or harmful values.
I admit that the quality of the script of "Farewell My Concubine" is very high, and I don't think I can write a work of such high level.
However, the quality of the script does not represent whether the ideas conveyed by the drama are correct.
I personally disagree, and the script must be revised."
After the old screenwriter surnamed Qiao finished speaking, someone else raised an objection.
Lin Weimin shook his head as he listened to this. It seemed that the plot of "Farewell My Concubine" was indeed too bold in the 1980s.
But it is impossible to ask him to change the script. The classicism and conflict of "Farewell My Concubine" lies in the rebellious character Cheng Dieyi. Once it is changed, the soul of the script will be gone.
After everyone finished speaking, Yi Shizhi called out his name and said, "Weimin, you are the original author of the script, please share your opinion."
Everyone's eyes were focused on Lin Weimin, and he cleared his throat.
“I understand the opinions of the teachers. From the perspective of the general public, some of the plots and ideas in the script of Farewell My Concubine are indeed very bold, avant-garde and pioneering.
You have all read the script and should understand that this script is good because of these aspects.
If it needs to be modified, as Teacher Lan said, the play will be ruined!
If that's the case, I'd rather not make any changes.
Teacher Yu asked for my opinion, so I will speak openly and honestly to everyone. "
When Lin Weimin said this, everyone looked at him seriously.
Looking around at everyone in the conference room, Lin Weimin said in a sonorous voice: "Either don't perform this play! Or don't change a word of it!"
Everyone instantly heard Lin Weimin's determination and dominance from these words.
Several old comrades who had expressed opposing opinions just now shook their heads, expressing their dissatisfaction with Lin Weimin's statement.
Lin Weimin didn't say anything either. He put the sample copy of the next issue of People's Literature that Liu Yin gave him on the table and turned to leave.
Lan Yinhai stood up and took a look at the sample issue, then handed it to Ouyang Shanzun, who passed it to the person next to him after reading it.
The sample issue was passed around the conference room, conveying the message that Lin Weimin wanted to tell them.
Guowen Publishing House has agreed to publish the novel, what are you afraid of?
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
