Chapter 48 Comments on the article
Contemporary was founded in 1979. In the first two issues, the editor-in-chief was the founder Meng Weizai. Later, due to Meng Weizai's busy work, Guowen Press recommended veteran writer Qin Chaoyang to be in charge of the editorial department.
After Lin Weimin left, in Meng Weizai's office, Qin Chaoyang was communicating with him about the conversation he had just had with Lin Weimin.
"Overall, Comrade Weimin is a talented person with ideas and has made great achievements in literature. It would be a good thing for us if he could join our Contemporary editorial department," Qin Chaoyang concluded.
Meng Weizai put down the teacup in his hand and said, "It seems that Lin Weimin is indeed a talent."
"Yes, talents are hard to come by, and we are already short of staff in our editorial department."
"But..." Meng Weizai hesitated, "There is no precedent for this! If he was from the literature training class that our Humanities Press had previously run, it would be almost the same."
Qin Chaoyang still wanted to fight for it, but Meng Weizai waved his hand and said, "I know you love talents. I will report to Lao Yan and Jun Yi later to see if they can make some concessions."
Lao Yan is Yan Wenjing, the current president of Renwen Press, and Junyi is Wei Junyi, the editor-in-chief of Renwen Press.
Qin Chaoyang didn't say anything more when he saw this.
After he left, Meng Weizai sighed, "It's really a headache!"
The weather in Yanjing was extremely hot in July. Lin Weimin picked a weekend morning and rode his bicycle to No. 26 Lama Temple Street, sweating profusely.
Pushing his bicycle into the yard, Lin Weimin shouted, "Tie Sheng! Tie Sheng!"
Shi Tiesheng had difficulty moving, and it was not until Lin Weimin pushed open the door that he pushed his wheelchair to the door.
He immediately spotted the bicycle parked under the window, his eyes full of envy, "You bought a bicycle?"
Lin Weimin was about to smile, but suddenly realized that it was not a good idea, so he nodded slightly, "I'll run around Yanjing during the holidays, so it will be more convenient to have a bicycle."
Shi Tiesheng keenly noticed the subtle change in his expression, and a feeling of apology welled up in his heart, but he still smiled, "It's much more convenient to have a bicycle. Look, my family can come whenever they want, right?"
Lin Weimin then laughed, "That's right!"
He pulled at his collar, "It's so early in the morning, and it's not even ten o'clock yet. I feel like passing out from the heat!"
"Come in and cool down for a while." Shi Tiesheng let him in.
Lin Weimin saw the paper and pen spread out on the table, and knew at a glance that Shi Tiesheng was working on something.
"What are you writing?"
"I just finished writing a short story. I don't have time to go to work today, so I'll revise it. It just so happens that you're here, so please help me take a look at it."
Shi Tiesheng was unable to move, so Lin Weimin went over and picked up the manuscript himself.
This is a novel that describes the various situations during lunch time in a street factory, casually describing the workers' leisure time after work.
Lin Weimin found it very interesting when he first read it, as he was extremely unfamiliar with factory life in that era.
In today's literary world where scar literature is still the trend, the style of "Half an Hour for Lunch" is very special.
The most precious thing is the emotion in this novel, every stroke seems to be inspired, but also a little erratic. There are no ups and downs of the great era here, only fragments of life that can be seen everywhere in daily life.
Lin Weimin immediately realized that this might also be a shortcoming, as it was too scattered.
But when he thought about it carefully, this might actually be an advantage.
He particularly liked the description of how, as lunchtime approached, the old and dull faces at work would take on a moving expression, as if they were instantly resurrected.
Even forty years later, this description is still extremely accurate and full of meticulous observations on life and human nature.
"How about it?"
As Lin Weimin turned to the last page of the manuscript, Shi Tiesheng asked with an expectant look in his eyes.
Lin Weimin put down the manuscript and praised: "It's well written."
"Really?"
"certainly."
Lin Weimin thought for a moment, then said: "Of course this novel has shortcomings, it's too scattered and too bland, but I think that's precisely its strength. My understanding of this novel is that it records the true face of life through meticulous observation. From here, we can see not only the description of daily life, but also a glimpse of a certain alienation between your heart and the world. Well, it's not right to say that, it should be said that it reflects a kind of nihilistic thought."
Shi Tiesheng quickly interrupted him, "Just talk about the novel, don't analyze me."
"Hehe!" Lin Weimin's prank was successful and he laughed triumphantly twice.
"Okay, let's talk about the novel. I personally think that this novel is an excellent work with a very personal style. Its excellence lies in the fact that it is completely different from the current mainstream of scar literature.
Today I was still discussing this topic with Qin Chaoyang of "Contemporary". Scar literature is of course good, but the literary world cannot be composed only of scar literature, just like people cannot eat only white rice.
Your novel no longer has the strong contemporary concerns and historical criticisms of the past. Instead, it replaces these things with everyday narratives, but it is not thin and stands on its own. It is a good work!"
If Lin Weimin had just come up and made some random boasts, Shi Tiesheng probably wouldn't have taken it seriously. The key was that what he said was well-founded, which made Shi Tiesheng feel a little elated. He couldn't believe that his work was really as good as he praised it.
"Isn't that too exaggerated? Is there no flaw at all?"
"Disadvantages? Didn't I just say it's too scattered and too bland?"
Shi Tiesheng was convinced, "Weimin, I never knew you had the potential to be an editor."
"What a coincidence. I'm currently researching this."
"What are you studying? Being an editor?"
"Yes. How about it? Do you want to submit your novel to our magazine?"
Shi Tiesheng looked unconvinced, "Is it true? Why haven't I heard you mention it before?"
"Hey, just kidding, we haven't even started yet."
"Then I wish you success."
"Thank you, thank you!"
The two chatted without paying attention to the time. At this time, Shi's father walked in and said, "Let's have some noodles at noon. It's hot, so we need to cool down!"
"Okay!" Shi Tiesheng agreed.
"I asked Shi Lan to buy sesame paste."
Lin Weimin stood up and said, "Uncle, don't call Shi Lan, I'll go."
"Don't worry, just talk to Tie Sheng."
Father Shi stopped Lin Weimin and asked Shi Lan to buy sesame paste while he prepared the dough.
As a condiment, people in many places like to eat sesame paste, but for people in Yanjing, sesame paste has a special meaning.
Especially in the hottest days of summer like now, sesame paste is not an optional condiment, but a necessity in people's lives.
In the 1950s, Mr. Lao She, as a people's representative of Yanjing City, made a proposal, in which there was a sentence: Yanjing people cannot live without sesame paste in summer!
(End of this chapter)
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