Back to 80: My literary life

Chapter 10 Work Seminar

Of course, this kind of meeting is not to flatter but to flatter ourselves. It is mainly to jointly analyze the advantages and shortcomings of the twelve novels published this time, so that everyone can learn and make progress together.

Lu Yao's "Sister", Chen Zhongshi's "Standing Up", Jia Pingwa's "Mountain Notes". Analyze one by one and improve together.

Finally, there is the article "Into the Dust" written by Fang Minghua. Stanley Ho said: "Generally speaking, Comrade Xiao Fang's novel is well written. The text is beautiful and the details of the scene are well grasped. It is very symbolic. The old man and the donkey have become a famous character. The Iron couple’s family is also a symbol of life. After being enslaved for a long time, they lost the courage to make independent choices and live. People are also accustomed to treating them as tools instead of life. This is very good! But!”

Hearing Stanley Ho's turn of phrase, Fang Minghua quickly picked up his pen and concentrated.

"As scar literature, it only describes the love between the male and female protagonists in detail, but it does not talk about the "sufferings of people in the times", nor does it "reflect and criticize reality and society. It is slightly lacking in height. I hope to pay attention to it in the next novel." this problem. "Ho Hongjun said at last.

This one
  Fang Minghua disagreed in his heart.

Does it have to rise to the level of criticizing society to be called a novel with depth? Isn’t it enough to simply celebrate humanity?

But now that he is a new recruit, there is no need to argue with Stanley Ho over this matter.

As for the editor.

You can listen or not.

But just accept it with an open mind.

Fang Minghua quickly agreed, saying that it was his first time writing a novel and he lacked experience.

Fang Minghua's attitude made Stanley Ho very satisfied. She was worried that young people would raise their tails after achieving some success and not listen to other people's opinions. How could they make progress in this way?

But to her surprise, another man spoke.

"Sister He, I think Xiao Fang's novel is very good. Even though it is a novel about scars, why does it have to rise to the point of reflecting and criticizing reality and society? Isn't it okay to praise human nature? That era was indeed bitter, and we can't praise it. Suffering can be transformed into a kind of spiritual motivation to move forward! When I write it like this, I will also infect people, rather than blindly accuse it!"

It's Lu Yao.

Lu Yao's words caused everyone to talk about it.

Stanley Ho suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

But there is no way to refute it. Who stipulates that novels must be written this way and not that way?

Another deeper reason is that he is Lu Yao.

This year, a novella "A Thrilling Scene" published in "Contemporary" won the first National Outstanding Novella Award!
  This is beyond what a fledgling recruit like Fang Minghua can compare with!
  At this time, Zhang Pixiang, who was sitting in the first place, spoke.

As a leader, you will be in trouble on certain occasions.

I just heard him chuckle: "What Lu Yao said makes sense, and what Sister He said is right. There is a saying, "There are a thousand Hamlets for a thousand readers." Personal opinions are different. This is a literary exchange. Everyone Can we discuss it with each other?"

As a result, everyone started discussing this issue. Some said that it really should reflect or even criticize the real society, while some said that it was not necessary because the novel only depends on the author.

Fang Minghua didn't speak, but secretly looked at Lu Yao and Chen Zhongshi sitting across from each other.

They both lit cigarettes but fell into silence.

Both of them wrote long masterpieces that will be remembered for generations to come, "Ordinary World" and "White Deer Plain". They both describe the countryside and suffering, but they are different from each other. One is to the left and the other is to the right.

But who can be said to be greater?
  This kind of discussion is equivalent to a kind of brainstorming without conclusion, and in the end it slowly turns into nonsense.

It's almost six o'clock and I'm about to get off work.

At this time, Jia Pingwa stood up and said with a smile: "We have a practice. Whoever's article is published and gets paid must treat everyone. Today, except for the two chief editors, everyone has to be invited next to each other. From whom? start?"

Jia Pingwa looked around, and finally her eyes fell on Fang Minghua. “Xiao Fang, I’m writing a novella. It has the most words and the most remuneration. How about we start with you?”

Before Fang Minghua could speak, Lu Yao next to him said: "Pingwa, how can this be done? Xiaofang is young, and he is saving money and planning to marry a wife. I'm here to invite you today!"

Lu Yao's words immediately made everyone laugh. Fang Minghua was not married, and he immediately became the object of everyone's jokes. Even Li Tianfang smiled and said: "Xiao Fang, do you have a girlfriend now? How about I introduce you to one?"

I said, Brother Lu, don’t draw fire on me.
  Fang Minghua hurriedly stood up and said with a smile: "What Editor Jia said makes sense. As for me, this is the second time I have received royalties. Thank you all for your support and help. I will treat you to today's meal! And you also said that the youngest here is , so please, brothers, sisters, uncles and aunties, that’s what you should do!”

Seeing Fang Minghua insisting on a treat, everyone said nothing and immediately discussed where to eat.

"It's not too far. It's just at the intersection of Jianguo Road. There's Majia Mutton Soup. How about we eat mutton soaked buns today?" Jia Pingwa suggested.

unanimously.

Everyone immediately set off to go downstairs, but Fang Minghua ran to the second floor and knocked on Dong Mo's office. Seeing Dong Mo packing his things to get off work, he hurriedly said:

"Editor Dong, isn't my novel going to be published? I'm going to treat you to some mutton dip. Editors Zhang, He, and Editor Lu will also invite you to the meeting."

Of course Dong Mo knew that the novel group had invited some writers to discuss the meeting in the conference room. It was not a matter for his poetry group, so he did not participate.

Now after listening to Fang Minghua's words, a smile appeared on his face: "I may not go to others' treat, but your treat is to eat mutton dip, which is my favorite. Let's go together!"

The two of them went downstairs and quickly caught up with Zhang Pixiang and the others after exiting the magazine door.

"Editor Dong" and a group of writers saw Dong Mo and greeted him one after another.

"Hey, everyone, today I, a member of the poetry group, took advantage of your novel group and came to eat and drink," Dong Mo said with a smile.

"Look what you said, old Dong, we are all a family. Besides, Xiao Fang has also written poems, so he can be considered a member of your poetry group." Zhang Pixiang said.

"Yes. He was originally a good talent in our group, but he was snatched away by your novel group." Dong Mo pretended to sigh. "Sister He, you have to ask me for this!"

"Okay, okay, I'll treat you to the spicy soup tomorrow morning!"

Everyone chatted and laughed when they came to Lao Ma's house at the crossroads. There were not many people inside. They gathered around two tables. Each person had a big bowl of mutton dip and two steamed buns to go. The food was very delicious. Of course, Fang Minghua couldn't forget to take three bottles of Zephyr. Special song.

Fang Minghua didn't smoke, but he had a good drinker. He frequently poured wine for everyone, and soon the drunk one started calling him brother.

"Xiao Fang, don't, don't call me. Editor Lu, I'm a few years older than you, so you can call me Brother Lu. Let's have a drink!" Lu Yao's face turned red as he drank.

"Brother Lu, cheers!" Fang Minghua hurriedly raised his cup.

But I muttered in my heart: You should drink less and pay attention to your health!

Of course now is not the time to say this.

Brother Lu, Brother Chen, Brother Jia, and Sister Li Fang Minghua recognized a lot of big brothers and sisters, and in the end everyone went home happily.

After settling the accounts, a bowl of steamed buns and mutton soaked in wine was 5 cents, which came to yuan and cents!

Half a month's salary is gone!
  But it’s worth it.

I got to know a bunch of future big names in Qin Province’s literary world.

　Thanks Shuchen for your monthly vote

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)