1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 396

Mark dreamed to stay in New York for four days, happy like a fairy.

Although Lin Weimin didn't stay in New York for a long time, he had money and leisure, so he visited many interesting places during his stay here for more than a month.After Ma Kemeng came, he was like a tour guide who was ready to go, leading Ma Kemeng to go around every day. The two of them were very chic, which made Ma Kemeng feel like he was reluctant to leave.

On the last day in New York, Mark Meng felt a little ashamed of the drunken life of the previous few days, and decided to go to the Metropolitan Museum to cultivate his sentiments.

Lin Weimin has been in New York for more than a month, but he has never been to the Metropolitan Museum.

In a country with a history of more than 200 years, what can there be in a museum?
Answer: Millennium cultural relics from all over the world.

This kind of thinking is of course with national sentiments. If it is purely from the perspective of visiting, the Metropolitan Museum is actually a good place.

The 300 million exhibits here are all antiques from all over the world.

When you come to the Metropolitan Museum, one of the exhibits that you have to visit is the "Temple of Dendur".

This Roman-era Egyptian temple can be called the treasure of the metropolis. It was donated to the United States by the Egyptian government in 1965 for the reconstruction of the Aswan Dam.

Blocked by glass walls, there is an artificial pool in front, and the lights simulate the sun and night, making the Temple of Dandur as if it is still bathed by the Nile.

It has to be said that the metropolis has put a lot of thought into the preservation and display of cultural relics, and it is also worthy of its reputation as a world-renowned museum.

After visiting along the way, Lin Weimin became a little depressed when he arrived at the Chinese cultural relics.

The "imported" Mingxuan enjoyed similar treatment as the Temple of Dendur.

Mingxuan is a Chinese courtyard imitating the "Dianchun 簃" of the Suzhou Garden Master of the Nets Garden. It has three halls and a courtyard. There are rockery, clear springs, half pavilions, curved corridors, entrance halls and porches in the courtyard. Bamboo and plum are planted in the courtyard. , maple, plantain, boxwood, peony and other traditional Chinese ornamental plants, and the plaque "Mingxuan" is written in the handwriting of Wen Zhengming of the Ming Dynasty.

One can imagine the difficulty of moving such a garden from China to the United States, and the hidden historical tragedy behind it is even more depressing.

Lin Weimin greeted Ma Kemeng, then stopped the visit and planned to go out to get some air.

Seeing two black-haired and yellow-skinned tourists walking into the museum, Lin Weimin took a look at the young one, who looked familiar, with a crew cut and big eyes, and he looked like a thorn.

The young man was also looking at Lin Weimin, and when he was about to lose his body, the young man hesitated for a long time before saying, "Are you Lin Weimin?"

"You know me?" Lin Weimin was a little surprised.

"I saw you in a newspaper from a friend."

Lin Weimin already guessed who the friend he was talking about was.

"My friend?"

"Acheng, Zhong Acheng, you should be very familiar with it, right?"

When the two of them were talking, they had already stopped in their tracks, and Lin Weimin showed a dazed expression: "Are you Cheng Danqing?"

Cheng Danqing smiled, "It seems that Ah Cheng mentioned me to you?"

"He said that the manuscripts he wrote before were sent to you for reading before they were sent to the editorial department."

Cheng Danqing looked a little proud when Lin Weimin mentioned this matter, and he asked, "Why are you here?"

"I was invited by a friend to come to the United States to stay for a while. You are..."

"My teacher and I came to visit the museum."

Cheng Danqing introduced the old man beside him to Lin Weimin, "This is my teacher Mu Xin, and this is the writer and editor Lin Weimin."

Lin Weimin had already guessed the identity of the old man before Cheng Danqing introduced him. He was dressed in a high-necked woolen sweater, black windbreaker, and wide-brimmed fedora.

Several people exchanged pleasantries, and seeing a domestic celebrity like Lin Weimin in a strange country, as well as a common contact like Ah Cheng, Cheng Danqing said happily: "Will you have time later, let's have a meal together."

Lin Weimin said: "I came here with friends today. Tomorrow, if you have time, how about it?"

Cheng Danqing nodded, "Okay, then how can I contact you?"

Lin Weimin wrote him a phone number, "Call me tomorrow!"

After finishing speaking, I passed by.

After Lin Weimin left, Mu Xin asked Cheng Danqing, "Is he Lin Weimin?"

In recent years, many people from China have come to study in the United States. In addition, Lin Weimin's works have been published in the United States. Many Chinese have heard of Lin Weimin's name more or less.

"Yes. You are so young!" Cheng Danqing looked at Lin Weimin's back and sighed.

Mu Xin laughed, "You're not old either!"

Cheng Danqing smiled, "But I'm not young either."

He came to study in the United States in 82. Long before he went abroad to study, he became famous in the domestic painting circle with "XZ Group Paintings".He and Ah Cheng got acquainted because of the Xingxing Art Exhibition.

Lin Weimin waited outside for about an hour, and Mark Meng came out.

For him, an American, looking at the metropolis is also a bit uncomfortable. It is an eye-opener, but all of them are foreign things, and he has no sense of belonging or pride. He chatted with Lin Weimin. I began to scold, quite a bit of internationalism in it.

In the afternoon, Lin Weimin invited Mark Meng to have a big meal.

Early the next morning, Mark Meng prepared to drive back to Kansas.

Before we parted, he said sadly, "Lin, I really don't know when the next meeting will be."

"People have joys and sorrows, and the moon has its cloudy and sunny days."

Ma Kemeng followed Lin Weimin and said: "This matter is difficult in ancient times!"

He said quietly: "Su Dongpo's words are so beautiful!"

"We will meet again in the future. Just like a few years ago, who would have thought that we would meet again so soon?" Lin Weimin said with a smile.

Ma Kemeng nodded, with a bit of reluctance in his eyes, and hugged and bid farewell to Lin Weimin.

"I hope the next meeting will come sooner."

"Yes, take care!"

Lin Weimin waved his hand and watched Mark Meng's Buick disappear from sight, and couldn't help but feel melancholy.

Back at the apartment, after staying for a short time, the phone rang in the apartment, it was from Cheng Danqing, the dinner was changed to a literary salon, and Lin Weimin was invited to participate.

Lin Weimin planned to invite Cheng Danqing to dinner because of Ah Cheng. Now it was changed to a literary salon, and he didn't really want to participate.

"Everyone really wants to get to know you..." Chen Danqing kept persuading him, and Lin Weimin had no choice but to agree.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, according to the address given by Cheng Danqing, the Mercedes-Benz took Lin Weimin to the downstairs of an apartment in Manhattan's Chinatown.

Lin Weimin went upstairs and knocked on the door.

Similar to many apartment buildings in New York in this era, the decoration is also a bit old.Before Lin Weimin came, a bunch of people had already gathered here. The floor of the living room was covered with sheets, some were sitting on the sofa, and some were sitting on the sheets on the floor.There were also various foods on the sheets, which seemed to be brought by everyone.

Cheng Danqing introduced Lin Weimin to everyone. Most of these people have stayed in rice in recent years. They are in New York, and they are in a group to keep warm.

The apartment is Mu Xin's home. He is well-known in the American study circle, and there are a group of Chinese students like Cheng Danqing gathered around him.Mu Xin seemed to be the protagonist of this salon. When Lin Weimin came, he was eloquent, but now because of Lin Weimin's arrival, he stopped.

"Go ahead, don't worry about me." Lin Weimin said with a smile.

Mu Xin continued, and the others listened to his speech, occasionally interjecting a few words.

The atmosphere in the salon is not bad, but it's a pity that Lin Weimin doesn't seem to fit in here.

Lin Weimin listened to what Mu Xin taught, probably the content of the history of world literature. Lin Weimin had heard these things as early as when he was in the Institute of Literature.

After five o'clock, everyone gathered for dinner and cooked together. Lin Weimin, a new guest, became the focus of everyone's attention.

"Lin Weimin, are you planning to stay in the United States this time?" The person who asked this question was Li Quanwu, who was also a painter.

Lin Weimin shook his head, "I just came to stay for a while, and I will go back in less than ten days."

Li Quanwu's face was a little pity, "Didn't you say that your novel is very popular in the United States? What a great opportunity this time, why didn't you think about staying in the United States?"

Lin Weimin said calmly, "Why do you want to stay in America?"

Li Quanwu immediately said: "How wonderful is the country of America..."

Li Quanwu said a lot of things, but Lin Weimin turned a deaf ear to him. After he finished speaking, Lin Weimin smiled noncommittally, which made a few people beside him feel angry.

In their view, Lin Weimin's conditions are unique.

He is a well-known writer in China, and his works are also very popular in the United States. Everyone has even seen his novels for sale in bookstores.

If he can come to the United States, his life will definitely be much better than in China.

"It's actually not bad in China. I'm used to it. My compatriots, my own culture, my own place, I have friends wherever I go. What's wrong with it?" Lin Weimin responded easily.

Everyone shook their heads, feeling that Lin Weimin might have just come to the United States, and he hadn't seen the world of capitalism yet, so he was a little skeptical.

After dinner, Mu Xin's lecture ended, and everyone casually sat in the living room and chatted.

Lin Weimin is new here today, and he is well-known in the country, so everyone is most interested in him.

"Lin Weimin, you said earlier that a friend invited you here. What kind of friend? Can I get you an American identity?" The speaker was Lu Zhifang, an international student at the State University of New York.

"A friend from the United States who writes a drama, he must not be able to help me get the identity of the United States."

In the 80s, it is understandable that these international students were obsessed with the United States.But in the eyes of Lin Weimin, a latecomer, it was a bit funny.

The two sides have different ideas, and there is no way to talk about many things, only some things that are short on parents.

These people have been abroad for several years, and they sighed when they heard some domestic news from Lin Weimin.

"There really isn't much change in the country!"

"I really don't know when I can catch up with the United States!"

Forced to stay until after seven o'clock, Lin Weimin bid farewell to everyone.

Cheng Danqing and Li Quanwu sent Lin Weimin downstairs. At the entrance of the building, Cheng Danqing warned: "Turn right out of the door and walk 500 meters, then turn right and there is a subway station. Be careful when walking, there is a black gathering area outside Chinatown. Don't stop."

Lin Weimin nodded, "Thank you!"

While he was talking, a low-key and reserved black Mercedes drove up and stopped on the side of the road.

Lin Weimin opened the car door, waved to Cheng Danqing and Li Quanwu and said, "You guys go back first, see you when you have a chance!"

Cheng Danqing and Li Quanwu were at a loss when they saw the sudden appearance of the Mercedes-Benz, and when they heard Lin Weimin's farewell, they subconsciously waved their hands.

After Lin Weimin nodded to them, he got into the car.

Seeing the car leave their sight, Li Quanwu suddenly asked: "Danqing, was that a Mercedes-Benz just now?"

It was too dark just now, and Cheng Danqing didn't see clearly, so he wasn't sure, "It should be?"

"Didn't Lin Weimin come to the United States to live temporarily? Why do you still have a car?"

"It shouldn't be his car. There is a driver in the car." Cheng Danqing recalled the scene just now and said.

Li Quanwu muttered: "This guy, where did he get the Mercedes-Benz? Could it be rented?"

Before they came to the United States, this group of international students had a good time in China.But in the United States, even life is a problem.

Suddenly seeing Lin Weimin, who had just arrived in the United States, sitting in a Mercedes-Benz, made Li Quanwu feel a little sour.

Cheng Danqing didn't answer his words, he was still recalling the scene of Lin Weimin waving goodbye just now.

How would you describe that feeling?
After thinking for a long time, a sentence came to his mind:

How pretentious!
(End of this chapter)