Chapter 466: Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you
When the Goncourt Prize was spreading rapidly in China and had a huge impact, the itinerary arranged by the Académie Goncourt for Lin Weimin had ended, and the next itinerary was a reception itinerary, which would be handled by Gallimard Publishing.
Of course, they don’t spend their money for nothing.
There is a book signing event, dialogue activity, and university lecture almost every day, which takes half a day, and the rest of the time is Lin Weimin's free time.
On this day, the morning lecture was held at the University of Paris I. Several Goncourt Prize winners, including Lin Weimin, were invited to attend. As this year's new winner of the grand prize and a foreigner, Lin Weimin received the most attention from students.
After the speeches and dialogues, students had a free question session.
A black student stood up and asked, "Mr. Lin, I have always been very curious about the novel "The Lover". As a Chinese, why did you have the confidence when you were writing it? Why did you think that your work written from the perspective of a French girl would be recognized by readers?"
Lin Weimin took the microphone and said with a smile: "I have always believed that novels are not only literary creation, but also a beautiful dream. We are the authors and the kings of the world we write. This has nothing to do with self-confidence, but because this is the world we want to create."
His answer was flawless and full of confidence, and the students burst into applause spontaneously.
Then another white girl stood up and asked, "Mr. Lin, I really like the novel The Lover, but this is the only one of your works that has been translated into French. If you have the opportunity, would you like to try to create another work about France? I am very much looking forward to it."
"I would be happy if it wasn't written in French." Lin Weimin made a joke, and the students below burst into laughter.
He went on to say: "French literature has a unique position in the world literary world. I have read a lot of French literary works. This time I won the Prix Goncourt. This should be my lucky place. Of course, I hope to try to create a work with French elements again."
Seeing that he was so respectful, the female student asked, "When is that?"
Lin Weimin laughed, "It seems that this student is in a hurry. Creation takes time. However, I can tell you a short story to satisfy your curiosity. How about it?"
After Lin Weimin finished speaking, the other writers and hosts around him were a little surprised, and the students below began to buzz with discussions.
Tell a little story? Is it the content of the new novel?
The female student asked what everyone was thinking. Lin Weimin said, "It's just that I heard some stories from others these days, and besides..."
Lin Weimin stretched his hand to the edge of the podium and said, "My friend Gary Yang is the biggest inspiration for this story. Thank him!"
Garyan's face became a little excited when he heard this.
Lin actually conceived a story based on me. Doesn't that mean that in the future I could become the prototype of a character in a work that wins the Goncourt Prize or the Nobel Prize in Literature?
Oh my god, this feels so good!
Regardless of Galiyan's inner thoughts, everyone present was whetted by Lin Weimin.
Everyone is curious about how the new Goncourt Prize winner will conceive the story. More importantly, this story may very well be the prototype of Lin Weimin's next work.
Under the expectant gaze of everyone present, Lin Weimin gave the host a look, and the host nodded with some excitement in his eyes.
Not everyone can hear the Goncourt Prize winner telling stories live.
What’s the worry if the lecture ends late?
There’s nothing great to do in college anyway!
Lin Weimin nodded to the host, then looked at the many students present and spoke slowly.
"Garyan is a happy young man. How happy is he? I like to describe him this way: he is as happy as a primary school student.
His appearance is similar to his personality. He looks stupid and seems to have endless things to say every day. He is so noisy that it is a bit unbearable, but he has a kind heart and is optimistic by nature. In this way, he is more and more like an elementary school student..."
Lin Weimin spoke in a steady pace, without any flowery words. Everyone at the scene entered the scene of the story as he spoke slowly and clearly. The fresh story flowed out like a gurgling stream in the mountains, simple and unpretentious, but with a charm that made people addicted.
The happy story gradually revealed a sad undertone. When Lin Weimin told the second half, everyone present was worried about the precarious situation of the protagonist, Galiyan's family.
Until the end, Lin Weimin used his voice to simulate a gunshot, "Bang!"
The unreal gunshots frightened many people present. They were all in the situation. Some psychologically fragile girls had already started crying with their faces covered. Everyone was sad for the fate of the protagonist, Garyan.
The girl who was still holding the microphone in her hand didn't care about being polite at this moment. She raised the microphone and asked anxiously with a worried look on her face: "How is Garyan? He will be fine, right?"
The girl’s questioning made Lin Weimin pause. The story ended here. Seeing the worried and sad expressions of the students, his mood suddenly improved.
As a writer, my favorite thing is to heal my readers.
Look at the mental state of these children below, isn’t it much better than before?
"Oh. I haven't thought about this question yet. Maybe I'll know when I write it."
Lin Weimin said this lightly, and everyone present widened their eyes.
When you tell stories like this, has no one ever scolded you for being heartless?
The moment he finished speaking, the students below the podium raised their hands in unison. They had a hundred greetings in their hearts that they wanted to send to Lin Weimin.
Unfortunately, Lin Weimin did not give them this opportunity. "Telling stories is such a waste of time. Now I have to hand the microphone over to the host."
The students looked at Lin Weimin in disbelief. They had never seen such a shameless person in their lives.
The host took over Lin Weimin's microphone and checked the time. "Time really flies. It is a pleasure to share my creative experience and insights with several writers. At the same time, I am very grateful to Mr. Lin for his story. It is a wonderful story. Of course, it would be perfect if there was an ending."
The official complaints made the students laugh, and their depressed mood improved a little. It seemed that they were not the only ones who were dissatisfied with Lin Weimin.
Today's lecture officially ended. The guests left the stage first under the attention of the students, and Gary Yang followed behind Lin Weimin.
"Lin, is your story really based on me?"
"I don't think your description is quite accurate. Although I am very happy, I am much more handsome than the Garyan in the story."
"But I am still very satisfied with the wife you arranged for me. Oh, Lin, you are really my soulmate. This woman is exactly what I like."
"Also, what is my ending? I don't want to die so young. You have to describe me as heroic, like I snatched the soldier's gun and killed him, then I killed all the soldiers single-handedly and rescued my wife, son and everyone else..."
Garyan kept chattering all the way and didn't calm down until he got on the car.
Lin Weimin couldn't stand his bombardment and couldn't help but yelled angrily: "Shut up!"
Jialiyang looked at him in confusion, "Lin, don't speak so loudly, I can hear you."
"Shut up! If you say one more word, the protagonist of the novel will change his name immediately. Guido, I think Guido is a good name!"
Lin Weimin's threat was very effective, and Garyan instantly calmed down.
There was silence in the carriage for a long time. Lin Weimin closed his eyes and rested, while Gariyan observed his expression.
Just now when I was telling a story at the lecture, I saw so many young faces in the audience that I couldn't help but put on some pretense in front of people.
Looking at those eyes that are young, confused, and at the same time full of curiosity, which teacher can resist his or her own nature of being a teacher?
And it is totally bad taste that he chose Garyan as the protagonist.
The noisy Gallic rooster is also a joke. Although Gallian in the novel is a Jew, he is still a Jewish Gallic rooster.
Well, there’s nothing wrong with oranges being grown in the south.
Lin Weimin warned himself that he must correct this bad habit in the future.
At this moment, Garyan's weak voice came from the side again.
"Lin, when can this story be written?"
Lin Weimin opened his eyes and asked, "Do you think this story is worth writing?"
Garyan nodded hurriedly, "Of course! This story is great! It's like a fairy tale, beautiful as crystal, I don't even want to hear you tell its ending. Lin, promise me, give me a perfect ending, okay?"
Lin Weimin gave Jialiyang a kind smile, "Of course. Jialiyang, you are the protagonist of the novel, and your ending will elevate the entire story."
Garry nodded with satisfaction, "That's great! Thank you, Lin, I have never had the experience of being the protagonist of a novel! This feels great!"
He was immersed in the beautiful dream of the hero of the novel and felt so happy that he wanted to fly.
"You're welcome!" Teacher Lin smiled even more kindly.
When he returned to the hotel in the evening, Lin Weimin received a call from Andre, the editor-in-chief of Gallimard Publishing House. He listened to Gallian tell the story that Lin Weimin mentioned today.
"Lin, when will the novel be finished?"
Andre's tone was impatient. This was the latest work of the newly-crowned winner of the Goncourt Prize. If it could be written and published as soon as possible, sales would definitely not be a problem.
He also listened to the story, which was a mixture of beauty and cruelty. This style was the most popular when it came to awards.
“I haven’t written it yet!”
"Should we stop the activities in the next few days? So we can create a good creative environment for you?" Andre started with the familiar formula.
It was always Teacher Lin who locked others up in the dark room, and he never thought that he would end up in this situation too.
It is impossible to enter the small dark room. Wouldn't it be a huge loss if a good public-funded trip turned into unpaid creation?
"Andre, you know that creation cannot be rushed. I like to take some time to incubate it."
Hearing Lin Weimin's words, Andre said with some regret: "Okay, I'll wait for your good news!"
In the following days, in addition to Garyan's daily companionship, Andrei would appear from time to time, not speaking, but standing in the corner staring at Lin Weimin. Only at the end of the activity would he ask, "Have you started writing?"
As the saying goes, "The higher the virtue, the higher the evil." Evil will be punished by evil. This time, Teacher Lin has met his match.
Under so much pressure from Andre, he had no choice but to pick up his pen.
“I’m already writing it!”
During the more than half a month in France, Lin Weimin was extremely happy in the first half, and then this happiness came to an abrupt end with Andre's deathly gaze.
"Is this how he always pushes for submissions?" Feeling extremely distressed, Lin Weimin felt that he had dug a hole for himself, and sometimes couldn't help asking Garyan.
Garyan shook his head. "Of course not. Andre only does this to authors he particularly likes. Lin, you should feel honored."
Lin Weimin frowned, this feeling was so familiar!
Forget it, never mind, I’m leaving tomorrow anyway.
Finally, I can escape Andre's death gaze.
The next day, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Zou Daishi came to see him off with his secretary. These days, because Lin Weimin won the Goncourt Prize, he has participated in many activities in France and also organized several exchange activities, which greatly promoted cultural exchanges between the two countries. These are all political achievements.
And the noisy Garyan, "Goodbye, Lin, my friend!"
Ever since Lin Weimin treated him as the male protagonist of his novel, Lin Weimin has automatically evolved into his best friend in his heart.
After a warm hug, Lin Weimin was about to push his suitcase to the boarding gate.
"Hey, Lin!" Andre appeared like a ghost, "Luckily I'm not too late!"
Lin Weimin greeted him with a stiff smile, and then Andre handed him the package he was carrying.
"This is all the information I collected for you. Most of it is in English so you can understand it. Some of it is in French so you may need to find a translator.
These are some materials from World War II, I believe they will be helpful for your writing. "
Lin Weimin held the heavy information book in his hands, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.
Perhaps, I should change my bad habit of urging for and revising manuscripts in the future.
After all, don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you!
(End of this chapter)
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