Chapter 578 No More Face
Two days later, on a weekday morning, Lin Weimin was working in the office when Meng Weizai suddenly found his office.
"Why are you here?" Lin Weimin stood up, poured a cup of tea for Meng Weizai, and pulled him to sit on the sofa.
"I have something to ask you."
Meng Weizai took two sips of tea and said seriously, "The winner of the Yanbing Literature Award has been decided!"
The third Yanbing Literature Award should have been held in 1999, but for various reasons it was delayed to this year. Meng Weizai is the new judge this year.
Lin Weimin raised his eyebrows when he heard this, "I lost the election?"
Even if the award is won, there is no need for Meng Weizai to make the trip in person.
Meng Weizai looked a little embarrassed. "Yes. One of the judges pointed out that you have won the Yanbing Literature Award for two consecutive years. If you win again, it will be three consecutive years, which will affect the fairness of the award. The judges mean that they will not give you the award this year. How about you be a judge next time?"
"Is the jury discussing this with me, or are they informing me?"
Lin Weimin's words were full of sarcasm, and Meng Weizai said helplessly: "It can be considered as a discussion with you."
"What do you mean by considered? If it is, it is. If it is not, it is not..."
Meng Weizai said: "You ask even though you know the answer. Aren't you afraid that you will cause trouble?"
"You are one of the judges after all, can't you help me fight for it?"
"I would like to help you. I'm a new judge. Besides, who made you win two awards in a row? This year's awards have been delayed for nearly three years. Now there are seven winning works. If you are included, it will be everywhere. And you insisted on quitting the Literature Association before. Now you are getting your retribution, right?"
Lin Weimin ignored him and asked, "Then tell me, who won the award?"
Meng Weizai hesitated and said, "You can't just say that."
"Are you still unsure of my mouth?"
Meng Weizai's eyes revealed something: You have no self-awareness at all!
Under Lin Weimin's urging, Meng Weizai announced the proposed winning works and writers for this year.
After listening to the list, Lin Weimin frowned and asked, "Didn't you say there were many award-winning works? Why is Liu Feiyu's novel still on the list? Isn't he a judge?"
Meng Weizai's face turned awkward. "This... is indeed inappropriate. Originally, his novel was not on the shortlist, but during the selection process, one judge proposed it, and two other judges seconded it. The procedure stipulates that it can be selected in this case."
"And then he won the award?" Lin Weimin sneered.
Meng Weizai was silent, looking a little embarrassed, and sighed.
This situation is like being both a referee and an athlete. To quote General Fan: He has lost all his face!
"As soon as Mr. Ba abdicated, all kinds of monsters and demons emerged!"
Ba Lao was the chairman of the jury for the previous two Yanbing Literature Awards. He withdrew from the jury this time due to health reasons.
Meng Weizai stood up somewhat angrily. He had no choice but to come here today. He was a judge and had a close relationship with Lin Weimin. If he didn't come for this task, who would?
"Lao Meng, please don't be offended by my harsh words!" said Lin Weimin.
Meng Weizai waved his hands, his face serious, "This matter was indeed not handled well, it is normal for you to complain."
After pacing around for a few times, he asked again, "So what is your opinion now? I have to bring an attitude back to the jury."
"A good award ceremony has turned into a favor. Will it be held for two more sessions? Will it turn into a pork-spreading ceremony? What's the point of being on such a jury? Anyway, I will definitely not be on it!
My work did not win the award, but I can accept the jury's reasons.
However, it is too much for Liu Feiyu's novel to win the award. He is both an athlete and a referee. Where is the credibility of the award?
The artistic value of his novel is not good enough. Not all novels that praise the great and glorious are good novels. That novel is not worthy of the Yanbing Literature Award and should not win the award!"
Meng Weizai looked at Lin Weimin, "What do you mean? Do you still want to change the jury's decision?"
"Why not? Please give a message to the jury. If you want me to keep silent, it's very simple. Just kick Liu Feiyu's novel out of the winning works." Lin Weimin said in a tough tone.
Meng Weizai advised: "Weimin, I am not speaking for him, but your idea is probably not very realistic and it is too offensive!"
Lin Weimin shook his head. "I know Liu Feiyu has a lot of experience and has been a judge for three terms. His novel was published by our publishing house, but the publishing house didn't register him. Isn't that enough to explain the problem? What these people are doing now is equivalent to destroying the hard work of Mr. Yan Bing and Mr. Ba!"
"He has withdrawn from the jury after his work was submitted for the competition," said Meng Weizai.
“Does it matter if he quit the jury? Why didn’t he just reject it outright when someone else nominated him and then quit the jury?
After his work was nominated, he thought about quitting the jury? Also, he is quitting for this term, not for life!
What do you mean? Are you treating us like fools? "
Lin Weimin's tone became excited as he spoke.
Liu Feiyu's operation is indeed a bit cool.
The judges of the jury are all around us. As long as the work is submitted, who would have the nerve to deny him an award? Don't they all have to cooperate?
Meng Weizai reminded him: "If you make such a request, people will say you are seeking revenge for personal gain! Sour grapes!"
The feud between Lin Weimin and Liu Feiyu is no secret in the domestic literary world. Many people know that Lin Weimin has never given a good face in public.
Cheng Zaochun and others had previously planned to act as peacemakers between the two, but were rejected by Lin Weimin in a very rude manner.
"Lao Meng, you are wrong. I am seeking revenge for my personal gain! I have won many awards. What am I missing from this Yanbing Literature Award?"
Seeing Lin Weimin's unusually firm attitude, Meng Weizai stopped trying to persuade him, "Then I'll go back and tell everyone."
"Don't tamper with my speech, just tell the truth!" Lin Weimin warned.
Meng Weizai glared at him and said, "Are you really not afraid of offending people?"
Lin Weimin showed disdain on his face, "There are many people who are like the dust in the sky, and I am not the only one left. Oh, you reminded me, I have to call Ba Lao."
"Don't make trouble, kid!"
Lin Weimin said sarcastically: "Old Meng, you feel guilty, don't you? You also know that this is not a decent thing to do."
"Hey! Can't you understand my difficulties?"
"I understand, but you can't stop me from speaking!"
Meng Weizai waved his hands helplessly, "Forget it, forget it, I won't participate in the next session even if you kill me!"
He looked at Lin Weimin again and said, "If you want to call, call me, but I have to remind you that if you do that, you'll be putting Ba Lao on the spot."
In fact, there is another situation that Meng Weizai did not mention. Ma Laqinfu, who is also a member of the jury and the secretary-general of the Yanbing Literature Award Organizing Committee, also had a work "The Vast Grassland" included in the list of entries. He chose to withdraw his entry and continue to serve as a judge.
This is a matter of face.
Meng Weizai knew that speaking of this situation would only add fuel to the fire, so it would be better not to say anything.
Lin Weimin thought for a moment and said, "Then let's not call Ba Lao for now. You should take my words back to the jury. If they don't give a clear explanation, I will 'attack the headquarters' later!"
Meng Weizai left the Chinese Literature Society in frustration.
After he left, Lin Weimin was also thinking.
He has won the Yanbing Literature Award twice in a row, so there is no point in winning it again.
But just because he doesn't care doesn't mean others can do whatever they want.
The quality of his novels is worthy of awards. The jury hopes that he will develop his own style because he has won too many awards and there are too many award-winning works this year. He can understand this.
But the problem is, you let others develop their own style, but then you eat in an ugly way. This is unacceptable.
For such shameless behavior, the best option is to fight back directly.
Lin Weimin was worried that he had no inspiration for his new novel, but the Yanbing Literature Award gave him some inspiration. He took a pen and started writing and drawing on paper.
The collection of Jin Yong's works has entered the typesetting stage. Tongwen Press now only has an editorial department, while the cover and binding design are still the responsibility of Guowen Press.
Li Xuegang came to discuss the book cover and binding style with Lin Weimin. The book cover and binding design of Guowen Publishing House have always been heavy and simple. Lin Weimin felt that Tongwen Publishing House should be different in style from Guowen Publishing House.
"Okay, then I'll go talk to Teacher Ye again."
After Li Xuegang left, Lin Weimin continued to write in the office until the end of the get off work day.
The next day, Lin Weimin received a call from Mr. Chen while at work.
Mr. Chen is also a judge for this year's Yanbing Literature Award, and like Liu Feiyu, he has been a judge for three terms.
Yesterday, Meng Weizai went back and had a big fuss with a group of judges on the jury. They forced him to inform Lin Weimin in advance on the grounds that he had a good relationship with Lin Weimin.
But the jury's handling of this matter was indeed not fair, and he lost face in front of Lin Weimin. Meng Weizai had no way to blame Lin Weimin, so he could only vent his anger on the jury.
Mr. Chen called Lin Weimin, still trying to persuade him to calm down.
Mr. Chen knew Lin Weimin when he was at the Institute of Cultural Research. They had met on some occasions every year over the years and were considered acquaintances.
After listening to Mr. Chen's persuasion on the phone, Lin Weimin said, "Since you asked, Mr. Chen, I must give you face. I only have one request. Liu Feiyu can win the award, but didn't he withdraw from the judging of this year's award for his 'high moral character'? Then let's just withdraw from the judging of the Yanbing Literature Award from now on. What do you think?"
After hearing his words, Mr. Chen fell silent. After a long while, he said, "Weimin, why are you doing this?"
"Would you like to hear the truth or a lie, sir?"
"What is a lie? What is the truth?"
“The lie is that the Yanbing Literature Award was established according to Mr. Yanbing’s last wish. Mr. Ba, you and other seniors have put a lot of effort into this award. After two years of development, it has become the most credible and authoritative literary award in the domestic literary world.
Now some people want to use the credibility and authority of this award for their own selfish interests. This not only destroys the reputation of the Yanbing Literature Award, but also makes an apology to Mr. Yanbing's spirit in heaven!"
"What about the truth?"
"It's the truth!" Lin Weimin smacked his lips. "Liu Feiyu and I have a grudge. I don't get the award but he does. I'm not happy with him!"
Mr. Chen asked, "Aren't you afraid that someone will say you are a villain?"
"It is better to be an upright villain than to be a gentleman who blends in with the world!"
Lin Weimin's words were so powerful that Mr. Chen fell silent again.
After a long time, his somewhat tired voice finally came from the other end of the phone.
"Why do I feel that your lies sound more like the truth?"
Lin Weimin smiled and said, "Does it matter whether it's true or not? After all, it's someone else's words. As for what I think, who cares?"
"For the people..." Mr. Chen paused for a moment, "I'm not as good as you!"
I have a fever. I went to the hospital a few days ago and was diagnosed with subacute thyroiditis. The doctor asked if I had a fever, and I said no, thinking my symptoms were mild. It turns out they were not mild, but had not come yet!
I'm sore all over but I'm still updating while I'm sick. Isn't this worth a few monthly tickets?
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
