Chapter 482: Eating and Smashing the Pot
The story begins when Lin Weimin went to France to receive the Prix Goncourt.
At that time, the exchanges between the Museum of History and the French side were active, and several exchange activities were planned, and the exchange performance of the People's Art Theatre was one of them.
Another exchange activity was a visit and exchange between a group of Chinese writers and writers in France at the invitation of the French Ministry of Culture.
In early April, the National People's Art Theatre returned from France after half a month of exchange performances. Immediately afterwards, a group of Chinese writers visited the country, and this matter was naturally handled by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.
After receiving the Goncourt Prize, Lin Weimin participated in many activities organized by the French side. During the activities, Lin Weimin showed his erudition and humor, and countless French literary figures and people were impressed by his personal charm.
To some extent, Lin Weimin represents Chinese writers and has left a perfect impression on the French cultural circles, media and the public.
Therefore, the French cultural community attaches great importance to this cultural exchange activity between China and France, hoping to recreate the effect of Lin Weimin’s last visit to France.
To this end, the French side has held many reports and seminars, including meetings with readers. The French news media have reported extensively on this. Not only Chinese people in France, but also many ordinary French people are paying attention to this group of Chinese writers.
But what no one expected was that when some of these writers arrived in France, the first thing they thought of was not how to showcase the demeanor of Chinese literati, the beauty of Chinese culture, and promote exchanges between the cultural circles of the two countries. Instead, they criticized China in various activities.
"I encountered a very heavy psychological problem while writing the novel. I couldn't get rid of two shadows: one was the shocking poverty of the land where I lived, and the other was the very low overall cultural level of our nation."
“It is said that a writer cannot write in this state of mind, but I have no choice…it has become a psychological factor in my writing of novels.”
"We can no longer survive in this world with the conceit that we have great traditions and a great culture."
“Chinese writers cannot tell the truth, and we cannot tell the truth.”
Most of the people who said these things are well-known in China for creating "scar literature". This time in France, they seem to have found an outlet for venting their emotions, and they slander China without any scruples or bottom line.
They traveled thousands of miles, took the country's precious foreign exchange, and went to Paris to slander their own country. The situation was so bad that even Professor Xu Guangcun from Taiwan Island, who was invited to participate in the event, could not bear it.
"Listening to your speeches, we shed tears, because from your narration, people found that China is so small and so despicable. None of you talked about the influence of Chinese culture and history on you."
“China is poor, but its culture is not poor. We should sing praises to our nation. Don’t forget that as writers, you should lead the Chinese people forward.”
Professor Xu Guangcun's righteous words did not alert this group of writers. Instead, after his speech, several writers stood up and refuted his advice one after another.
Some people spoke very loudly, and some even stood up from their seats and pointed their fingers at Xu Guangcun to question him.
It is obvious that what this group of people are really interested in is not literature, but politics.
Jacqueline Dubois, a reporter from France 1 TV, who was interviewing at the venue, publicly stated on the spot that she was disappointed with the level of these writers and that she would give up interviewing and reporting on them.
Carrière, the famous French playwright who moderated the discussion, also said: If telling lies is not allowed, how can literature exist?
Someone in the audience also said: Fictional plots in literature are actually also lies.
Faced with a situation that even the French media and audiences could not stand, this group of writers did not reflect on their own problems and continued with their perverse arguments.
After the event, the European Times reported the content of the event truthfully in a special article.
When they learned that the reporter who wrote the report was a China News Service correspondent stationed in France, the writers actually reprimanded the reporter for reporting their speeches at the event and threatened to find their supervisor, Hu XX, after returning to Beijing and have the reporter transferred back to China.
This group of people keep saying that they are being persecuted and that the Chinese government and the Chinese people should reflect on this, but when faced with dissent they are more brutal than anyone else.
What a satirical farce!
The nature of the incident caused by this writers' visit to France was unprecedented.
French people who attended the event publicly criticized after the meeting: "This group of Chinese writers are narrow-minded and have poor temperament. They are unwilling to listen to different opinions. They keep saying they want democracy and freedom, but they don't know how to discuss issues democratically."
The Chinese Club in France also expressed its incomprehension of the remarks made by this group of writers.
Many French scholars criticized: "Didn't they say they came to France to experience the democratic atmosphere? France allows the expression of different opinions."
A reporter from a Hong Kong newspaper stationed in Paris said, "Haven't they repeatedly said that there is no press freedom in China? Are they telling the truth here? Why should they be attacked for objectively and truthfully reporting on people who disagree with their views?"
Some people even said, after learning that some members of the delegation threatened to withdraw reporters writing for the European Times, that it was fortunate that these people had not yet come to power, otherwise the Chinese would suffer even more.
Not many people knew the news brought back by the Writers Association. This visit to France was undoubtedly a failure and the impact it caused was extremely bad. The Writers Association was also trying to cover it up, but they couldn't hide it from Lin Weimin. This event itself was the product of Lin Weimin's previous visit to France.
After Lin Weimin learned the whole story from the Writers Association, he was also indignant at the reckless behavior and lack of bottom line of this group of writers.
He angrily called the Writers Association and started to scold Zhang Guangnian.
"Cover up? Why do you want to cover up? Do you want the Cultural Association to help the evildoers?"
"The Chinese people and readers have the right to know the truth of the matter, and we also have the responsibility to provide the Chinese people with the relevant information and materials."
"These people took the country's precious foreign exchange and went abroad to speak nonsense. What kind of behavior is this? It's disgusting!"
"All the people in your literary association are daughters of the emperor? They can't be mentioned? They can't be touched?"
Faced with Lin Weimin's full-throated attack, Zhang Guangnian's defense seemed pale and powerless.
The writers who are sent abroad to visit undoubtedly have some achievements and reputation, and the Writers Association cannot be too harsh on them and can only try to smooth things over.
"They have just left the country, and their minds are still full of officialism, big-pot meals, and false and wrongful convictions. They just get angry and complain."
When Lin Weimin heard what Zhang Guangnian said, he became even more furious.
"Old Zhang, if your association has this attitude, I have nothing to say. From now on, I will withdraw from the China Association of Literary and Art Circles. Send someone to pick up the withdrawal application this afternoon."
After speaking, Lin Weimin hung up the phone.
At this time, heads were popping up in the corridor of the back building like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
Fierce noises just broke out in Lin Weimin's office. This is an extremely rare situation. Everyone knows that Lin Weimin is usually good-tempered and never gets angry with others, let alone such a fierce quarrel.
The words "cover up", "Cultural Association", "foreign exchange" and so on made everyone curious. They only understood half of what they heard, and they were itching to rush into Lin Weimin's office.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know, it must be related to the Cultural Association."
"What nonsense! Who of you can go and ask around?"
"If you go at this time, aren't you asking for a scolding?"
A group of people were sticking their heads out to talk when they saw Lin Weimin walking out of the office with a grim look on his face. They were so scared that they immediately shrank their heads.
Lin Weimin took a walk in the yard, his anger subsided a little, and he returned to the office to work.
Just after lunch, Zhang Guangnian took Zhang Qi to the Chinese Literature Society.
In the morning, Lin Weimin threatened to quit the Writers Association over the phone, which made him very worried.
Lin Weimin is now a signboard of Chinese literature to the outside world. If he withdraws from the Writers Association, the impact will be too great.
When the news got out, both the government and the public had to ask, why did Lin Weimin quit the Writers Association?
How should the Cultural Association respond? There is no way to respond!
Once the truth is revealed, nothing can be covered up anymore.
"For the people, you have to understand us. What they did was a bit excessive, but our Cultural Association is not a law enforcement agency after all."
"Tell me, if we deal with them now, will they say even more weird things?"
"Besides, what we have heard now are just one-sided stories passed back. They are just complaints from a few people."
…
Zhang Guangnian and Zhang Qi were both old acquaintances of Lin Weimin. They went to his house together and tried to persuade him earnestly.
Lin Weimin also understood that the two of them were planning to use both soft and hard tactics, and their ultimate goal was to make a big deal out of a small matter.
He understood it, but when he thought about the shit that the Writers Association had done, he couldn't help but get angry.
"Whether you want to deal with these people or not, it has nothing to do with me. I will definitely withdraw from this meeting. I am ashamed to associate with this group of people!" Lin Weimin said in a resolute tone.
His attitude was firm and he remained unshakable no matter how much Zhang Guangnian and Zhang Qi tried to persuade him. The two were helpless.
Lin Weimin is the face of the Chinese Writers Association, and the group of people who visited France are also the backbone of Writers Associations in various places. They are all flesh and blood.
"For the people, I have an unreasonable request!" Zhang Qi said with difficulty.
Lin Weimin could guess without him saying anything that she just wanted him not to make a big deal out of this.
Lin Weimin sneered, "You did it, but you're afraid to talk about it? Lao Zhang, we are old acquaintances. There are two acquaintances of mine in the writers' group. Didn't some of them say they want to tell the truth? Didn't they want to seek truth from facts? Why are they afraid that what they said abroad will spread to China? What are they afraid of?"
Zhang Qi was speechless after being scolded by Lin Weimin, and he said dryly: "We are all one family..."
"Eating Chinese food and smashing Chinese pots, is this what we call Chinese people?"
Lin Weimin sneered, "It is because they are our own people that I feel even more sad. In the past years, they were the only ones who suffered misfortune? Who of them was not covered in wounds? It has been 88 years now, and they have been cursing for more than ten years, and have also enjoyed courtesy for more than ten years. How long will they continue to make trouble?
Are they going to let the entire nation decay with them in their self-pity? The country has finally gotten back on track, but there are still so many difficulties to face, and so many people are still living below the poverty line. Why can't they see it? Are our writers' pens just for venting our own dissatisfaction and resentment? "
Lin Weimin was furious when he spoke, without any regard for others, which made Zhang Guangnian and Zhang Qi look embarrassed.
In fact, the two of them also understood that what Lin Weimin said made sense.
But when some things are put into a group, it is easy to become like now, a mess.
"Alas!" Zhang Guangnian sighed, with a bit of sadness on his face, "Weimin, we all understand your feelings. Since you have made up your mind, we will not persuade you anymore. I just hope you can understand our difficulties and the difficulties of the association. After all..."
Lin Weimin shook his head. "I understand, but if we continue like this, it won't be a good thing."
Zhang Guangnian and Zhang Qi looked at each other in silence. How could they not know this?
(End of this chapter)
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