Chapter 403: Wrestling with a Pretentious Writer
Waiting for me in the hall was Mingbai.
As soon as we met, he gave me a hug and said, "It feels like a long time since we last met. I used to think that writers wrote this for fun, but now I really feel it."
I laughed and said, "Don't use the same words you say to your girlfriend to comfort me. Let's go."
We went up to the second floor and into the private room. Besides the person Mr. Chen had mentioned, there were three more people there. One was Zhang Chi, whom we knew, so we went up to shake his hand. The other two were completely strangers.
Mr. Shen introduced me as "Mr. Xu Qianrang, a famous writer."
Famous writers? I, Wan Shanhong, am also a die-hard fan of writers and love to read. I'm familiar with the names of famous writers from all over the country, so how come I, from Upstate, don't know them?
Seeing that I didn't respond for a long time, Chen Hall gestured with his hands and said, "Humility, that's all."
I shook the hand of this lean, middle-aged man and said, "I've heard a lot about you."
Mr. Shen introduced me again: "Mr. Wan Shanhong, cultural consultant of the Rising Sun Group."
Writer Xu was very magnanimous: "Oh—the mountains are all red, the forests are dyed with color. Mr. Shi introduced me to it. It's a pleasure to meet you."
I hurriedly said, "I graduated from high school and I'm also interested in literature. Please give me some advice."
Mr. Chen then introduced me to the next person: "Hua Qingcheng, a beautiful writer."
I mentally discounted her by 50%, thinking, if this is what you call a beauty, then there are plenty of them in our village. I smiled, shook her hand, and said, "I'm a great admirer of writers."
She also smiled and said, "Hello, Mr. Wan."
Next, I walked over and shook hands with Shi Ting and Yi Shu. This was more casual, and everyone shook hands vigorously.
Yishu said: "He who keeps company with vermilion becomes vermilion, and he who keeps company with ink becomes black. If you sleep with a Filipino, you will become black."
Shi Ting exaggerated: "No way, he should be sleeping alone."
Everyone laughed wildly.
The dishes were already being served, and Mr. Shen said, "Everyone, please take your seats."
Considering that I basically drove, didn't drink alcohol, and drank milk.
Chen Ting raised his glass. "Today is a joint theme. First, we welcome Teacher Wan back from the Philippines. Second, we've made the acquaintance of two of Shi Ting's writer friends, Teacher Xu and Teacher Hua. To sum it up, we welcome three celebrities and kick off the new year. Cheers."
Everyone drank it in one gulp. The waiter poured more for everyone.
Chen Ting said, "Master Shanhong, why did you go to the Philippines? We still don't know. Some people say you treat people, but you are not a doctor."
I said, "A lot of people have asked this question, and the unanimous answer is to go out in the sun, because the temperature there is between 26 and 32 degrees Celsius year-round. Don't you see I'm getting darker?"
Everyone laughed.
Shi Ting said, "To sum it up, it's a kind of ostentatious vacation for people with money and time. Is it a reward from the company?"
Director Shi's words suddenly reminded me that I could say this to people outside the company to save myself the trouble of explaining. So I said, "Yes. The kind that gets paid as usual."
Director Shi and Director Chen both shook their heads, saying that they could not enjoy such benefits as they were in administrative work.
At this time, Xu Qianrang asked: "Are we going to the Philippines?"
I said, "Yes."
He said, "Last year, our writers' delegation visited eight European countries. If you have the chance, you should go to Europe and see for yourself how civilized and developed that is."
I nodded and said, "Okay. Let me learn from Teacher Xu."
Shi Ting picked up the cup and said, "I'll borrow Chen Ting's flowers to present to Master Wan. I'll toast you."
I said, "Slow down, let me toast you first. Thank you..."
He interrupted me: "It's a welcome. Not a thank you."
We clinked our glasses and drank.
Since they weren't drinking, everyone was polite. Everyone held their cups, and they moved around, clinking glasses in an orderly fashion. They drank and chatted, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
I had already toasted Zhang Chi, and when Zhang Chi returned the toast with his cup, he whispered in my ear, "Let's not talk about that anymore."
I didn't say anything, just stared at him, clinked glasses with him earnestly, and drank.
After the meal, Yishu said, "The meal is paid for by Mr. Chen. I will arrange the activities below. Let's go wash our feet."
Shi Ting said, "You can wash my feet, but after that, we'll have another old show. We'll go to your office and listen to Master Wan discuss the sutras and the Dao."
Yishu looked at me.
I smiled and said, "I listen to writers' lectures. I'm also a fan of literature."
Shi Ting said, "Let's just not wash our feet and drink tea."
Zhang Chi and Chen Ting said in unison, "Drink tea, drink tea, drink tea."
Yishu said, "Okay, let's have some tea first. After we finish chatting, I'll arrange for you to wash your feet."
Everyone went out together and Yishu led them into the elevator.
Arriving at Yishu's office, Zhang Chi said he would make the tea. I jokingly said, "Having a government-approved master brew tea is the ultimate tea drinking experience in Shangzhou."
Everyone seconded the motion and sat down.
Shi Ting said: "Originally, the Shen Hall was the venue for the banquet, so it should have been the main venue. But people who go to the Philippines to bask in the sun are rarely seen.
Two of my writer friends said they must come to the meeting. Chen Ting, Yishu, Master Zhang, we can just be the audience, okay?
Everyone said: "Okay." They were here to listen.
Shi Ting said: "Master, Teacher Xu wants you to do a character test."
I smiled at Shi Ting and said, "Every time you introduce me to a friend, the topic is fortune-telling. Next time, how about introducing me to a business deal and letting me lease a section of the highway?"
"We can't leave that to you. We have to be responsible to the people."
Everyone laughed.
I asked, "Teacher Xu, can you please tell me a word and what aspect it will be tested on? Please be more specific."
He said, "I have an idea. Please listen to it first and then do the fortune telling."
"Okay, go ahead."
Xu Qianrang said, "Danny Mingyue wrote a very influential novel called 'Those Things in the Ming Dynasty'. I also want to write one called 'Those Things in the Yuan Dynasty'."
I nodded.
He asked, "Take a test on the character '畅'." He gestured on the coffee table.
Everyone was looking at me.
I said, "I won't test this word for now, I'd like to talk to you about writing a novel."
He smiled and said, "Novels are a personal creation. How I write them is my business. Just make a prediction about the word 'smooth'."
What he meant was—Don't talk to me about novels. You're not qualified.
I laughed and said, "The original meaning of this word is no obstacles, but there is a condition: it takes time. Your original intention of writing is to make money, like "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty", and become a bestseller."
"right."
"It's difficult. Because the character 'chang' has a 'ri' on the right side, it becomes 'yi' (easy). So it will take time."
He corrected: "It should be the word 'yue'."
I said, "They're all similar. Character divination is based on pictographic and ideographic interpretations. The ancient way of writing it was the sun, and the sun and the moon are Yi."
Hua Qingcheng said on the side: "Teacher Xu's writing style is quite impressive. He writes very quickly."
I responded mercilessly, "Writing style isn't the main thing. Writing a novel like this would take at least ten years of sitting on the bench. Only start writing after you've thoroughly understood the history."
Dangnian Mingyue spent ten years studying Ming history. He studied official history, unofficial history, notes and novels, and local chronicles. He even traveled around Northeast China to conduct field research. Only when he had thoroughly mastered the material could he write with such eloquence.
Shi Ting, who loves literature, also agrees with my point of view and says:
"Teacher Xu, what Mr. Shanhong said makes sense. This isn't a competition of literary talent. If it's pure comedy, that's another matter. To write like Dangnian Mingyue, you really need to spend ten years studying."
I read an article about his creative experience. He had to research several books to even find a small detail.
If you want to write a book like his, you have to put in the effort. It won’t take two years as you said to finish it.”
Writer Xu sneered, "As long as it's basically like that, that's fine."
I said, "That won't work. Either it's a parody, or it's written like Dangnian Mingyue. He set a benchmark. If you don't want to surpass it, at least you have to reach his level for readers to buy it."
Shi Ting said, "Yes, every little detail he wrote about has its source."
Writer Xu disagrees.
I said, "If you insist on writing it like 'Those Things About the Ming Dynasty,' details are very important. There was a once-famous female scholar who was world-renowned for her interpretation of the Analects. In the end, her character was ruined by a single detail."
Everyone was interested, because everyone present knew who I was referring to. They all asked in unison, "What detail caused her downfall?"
(Another chapter in the early morning)
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