Chapter 163 1982 is coming
In addition to these two novels, Teacher Lin also prepared no less than ten novels of various types for Ma Yuan. Most of them are of high quality but not well-known, or works that are not well-known in the country.
On the one hand, this can help to break down Ma Yuan's arrogance and self-confidence. On the other hand, even if he is not convinced and goes to read the book afterwards, he will not be disappointed or have a prejudice against himself.
These simple words knocked down Ma Yuan's arrogance and self-confidence, and the rest became easier to talk about.
Ma Yuan didn't have time to finish his long speech, and they only talked about trivial matters. Lin Weimin spent more than half an hour and basically got the whole story of this kid, even the bad things he did in school.
Of course, in the end, Teacher Lin could not help but encourage and spur Ma Yuan.
"Your previous novel has many advantages. It shows your talent in writing. But talent should not be wasted. You have to keep writing."
Ma Yuan said sincerely, "Thanks to the comments you wrote to me last time, Teacher Lin. I read them carefully and I feel like I learned a lot."
"Did you bring your manuscript with you this time?"
A trace of embarrassment flashed across Ma Yuan's face.
The main reason he came this time was actually to have a good debate with Lin Weimin, but it turned out that the other party was still thinking about his manuscript. Ma Yuan couldn't help but feel ashamed of his own little thoughts.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Lin Weimin already had the answer in his mind. He patted Ma Yuan's shoulder nonchalantly and said, "It doesn't matter. You can write it anytime. You are welcome to continue to submit articles to our Contemporary Magazine."
Ma Yuan nodded heavily and made up his mind that he would acknowledge "Contemporary" and Teacher Lin when submitting articles in the future.
After finishing the discussion, Lin Weimin asked with a smile, "How many days do you plan to stay in Yanjing this time? Where are you staying?"
Ma Yuan said embarrassedly: "I'm not planning to play. I just plan to visit the editorial office and then go back."
"So you don't have a place to live yet?"
Ma Yuan nodded.
Lin Weimin thought for a moment and said, "It's not easy to come to Yanjing, how can we leave without staying for two days? How about this, stay in our guesthouse upstairs first, have a good time in Yanjing for the next two days, and then leave!"
Ma Yuan suddenly became happy. It was not because he didn't want to have fun in Yenching, but he just came here on a whim. He didn't even have a letter of introduction, so he couldn't stay in the guesthouse.
Lin Weimin's arrangement really warmed his heart and made him full of gratitude.
"The weather has been cold recently, so I'd like to treat you to a meal at Donglaishun tonight as a welcome dinner for you!" Lin Weimin said, patting Ma Yuan on the shoulder.
Ma Yuan was excited. Wow, food and accommodation are included.
He really regretted not bringing a piece of work to Contemporary Magazine. Even if he wanted to edit it, he should have edited his work.
It's so embarrassing to eat and drink for free like this!
Ma Yuan's heart is full of respect and love for Teacher Lin.
From now on, Teacher Lin will be my guiding light in the literary world.
A few days later, after seeing off Ma Yuan, who was reluctant to leave, the twelfth lunar month was already halfway through.
When I was chatting with my colleagues at work, I realized that the new year is about to arrive.
During this period, work in all offices and factories entered a lazy state, and the same was true for the Guowen Society.
During this period, Lin Weimin basically cycled between home, the National Literature Society, and the People's Art Theatre. The rehearsals for Farewell My Concubine were proceeding in an orderly manner, and the People's Art Theatre planned to have it performed in the first half of this year.
Compared with the preparation and rehearsal time for "The Intouchables", "Farewell My Concubine" took much more effort, which shows how much importance the People's Art Theatre attaches to this play.
It is no wonder that the People's Art Theatre attaches so much importance to "Farewell My Concubine". The sales of the April issue of "People's Literature" which published "Farewell My Concubine" at the beginning of the year have already exceeded one million copies. In September, the single volume of "Farewell My Concubine" was launched, and the first print of 300,000 copies was sold out in less than two months. An additional print of 500,000 copies was also printed, and it was also expected to be sold out by the end of the year.
The nationwide popularity of Farewell My Concubine is shocking. Looking at the domestic literary scene in 1981, the only work that can compare with it is probably Lu Yao's Life.
Compared with Lin Weimin, who has developed steadily and accumulated a lot of experience in the past two years, Lu Yao, a previously unknown writer, is more like an example of overnight fame.
He really made his debut in front of readers across the country when he published the novel "A Thrilling Scene" in "Contemporary", which received quite a lot of praise. The editor-in-chief of "Contemporary", Qin Chaoyang, even wrote an article to encourage Lu Yao.
Then "Life" was published in "Contemporary", which was like a bolt from the blue. Readers across the country remembered this writer named Lu Yao and his novel "Life" within just a few months.
The issue of "Contemporary" that published "Life" also achieved astonishing sales, even greater than the contribution of "Farewell My Concubine" to "People's Literature", and the same seems to be true in terms of its influence among the people.
The reason for this gap is mainly reflected in the popularity of the subject matter and content.
Lin Weimin's treatment of his works may have been very popular, but in terms of subject matter, "Farewell My Concubine" has an inherent disadvantage compared to "Life".
"Life" is set against the backdrop of urban and rural life on the northern Shaanxi Plateau. The protagonist Gao Jialin returns to the land, leaves the land, and then returns to the land again, a process of change in his life. The emotional entanglement between Gao Jialin and the rural girl Liu Qiaozhen and the urban girl Huang Yaping is the main contradiction in the development of the story, and also reflects the tragedy of that difficult choice.
Decades ago, the tide of going to the countryside to receive re-education through labor affected hundreds of millions of ordinary people across the country, and these young and middle-aged people who experienced the years of educated youth happen to be the main force of today's literary boom.
Works like "Life" are too familiar to them.
Although he seemed to be a little overshadowed, Lin Weimin, the author of Farewell My Concubine and the editor-in-chief of Life, was equally happy about the popularity of these two works.
Recently, there have been some new developments in the company.
We are preparing to hold a national outstanding short story selection conference in March.
This award event began in the spring of 1979. It was the first national novel award event held in China and was hosted by People's Literature.
The winning works of the first session include "Scars", "Class Teacher", "Why the Rider Sings to His Mother" and other 25 short stories in total.
The selection scope is works published from September 1977 to October 1978. Generally speaking, they are very social but less literary.
Lin Weimin's "A Matter of One Cent" was one of the 25 works in the second session. Many students from the Institute of Literature and Art won the second National Excellent Short Story Award and were therefore qualified for further training.
In March 1981, Lin Weimin's "The Death of Euler" once again won the third National Excellent Short Story Award. He is the only writer to win the Excellent Short Story Award for two consecutive years.
This is the fourth selection and will be the last one.
None of Lin Weimin's works were selected. Over the past year or so, all of his works have been medium-length or long novels.
But it doesn’t matter. The National Excellent Novella Award organized by the All-China Federation of Literary and Art Circles will also be selected after the new year. Everyone agrees that Lin Weimin’s "Farewell My Concubine" is a foregone conclusion to win the award.
Of course, Lu Yao's "Life" has a greater chance of winning.
A few days before the Chinese New Year, Qu Xiaowei invited Lin Weimin to dinner and also invited Zheng Guo.
It’s extremely cold in the 39th day of the lunar calendar, so Donglaishun is of course the first choice for food.
A group of people sat down, Qu Xiaowei brought Liu Haiyan, Zheng Guo brought Yao Shuzhi, Lin Weimin brought... Han Zhuangzhuang.
Qu Xiaowei felt that it was irritating. "I say, you two uncle and nephew, at least one of you can bring a girlfriend! Logically speaking, our conditions are not bad!"
Han Zhuangzhuang also learned his lesson and said, "If my uncle doesn't look for it, how can I look for it?"
"Zhuangzhuang is a filial child!" Qu Xiaowei joked.
Lin Weimin said: "I don't want to be hanged on a tree like you guys."
His words drew the cold stares of Liu Haiyan and Yao Shuzhi. Yao Shuzhi said, "You have to be able to hang yourself if you want to!"
Several people laughed loudly, and their laughter was full of discrimination against single people.
Lin Weimin is a little depressed. When will these 83 years be over?
After joking for a while, everyone got down to business.
Today is a rare gathering with friends, and we can’t help but talk about the changes and feelings of this year.
Qu Xiaowei was still living a life of idleness at the company, but fortunately his girlfriend Liu Haiyan was transferred from Jinling to Yanjing, and they planned to get married after the New Year. They looked so sweet when they talked about it, which made Lin Weimin choke.
Qu Xiaowei's family is well-off and they have already bought a house for their wedding, so the couple doesn't need to worry about anything at all.
Zheng Guo followed his father to Beijing and remained low-key as ever in his behavior. His relationship with Yao Shuzhi was stable, but they had not considered getting married for the time being.
When it comes to Lin Weimin's turn, there is nothing much to say. He is so absorbed in his career that he has no time to care about anything else.
Although I only completed one novel, "The Sound of Wind", this year, I wrote the drama script of "Farewell My Concubine" and the TV script of "The Cliff". I am still working on the novel promised to Yu Zhaohuai, and it has become a long novel. It is estimated that it will be completed after the new year.
It should be said that the creative achievements this year were quite fruitful. At least the royalties were so high that Qu Xiaowei and Zheng Guo were drooling with envy.
"The big dog owner even got on a motorcycle."
While chatting, Qu Xiaowei looked towards the motorcycle parked outside the window and said viciously, his eyes full of envy and jealousy.
"It's not just a motorcycle. You forgot that he also bought a house with two courtyards, right next to the Forbidden City," Yao Shuzhi reminded.
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten it." Qu Xiaowei then remembered and said to Lin Weimin, "Why don't you live in Zhong|Nan|hai?"
Lin Weimin looked very relaxed. This was not the time for people to laugh at him as a single man.
"This is the biggest difference between you and me. You put your energy on women, wasting your time and ruining your body. I put my energy on writing and gained a career and honor."
"Bah!" Liu Haiyan spat at Lin Weimin, "What career and honor? I think it's money and fame."
Qu Xiaowei smiled and hugged Liu Haiyan, "My wife is right, he is just a vulgar person!"
It was Han Zhuangzhuang's turn to summarize. He said, "This year, thanks to my uncle, I was admitted to the People's Art Theater and bought a new bicycle. Next year, I will save money to get married, and then bring my father to Beijing."
Zheng Guo praised: "Zhuangzhuang is a filial child."
Lin Weimin raised his glass at this time, "Come on! It's the end of the year, 1981 is about to pass, let's raise our glasses together and wish ourselves and our families good health and all the best in 1982."
Everyone clinked their glasses, and at this moment, no one thought that Lin Weimin's toast was tacky.
Good health and good luck are everyone’s greatest wishes.
The wine glasses clinked together, making a clinking sound, just like the joyous sound of firecrackers coming from outside.
1982, it’s coming.
(End of this chapter)
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