Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 26: Ordinary Lin Chaoyang

At nine o'clock in the morning, the re-establishment meeting of the May Fourth Literary Society of Yenching University was officially held in the Yantu Conference Room. A banner was hung on the south window of the conference room - the re-establishment meeting of the May Fourth Literary Society of Yenching University.

When the leaders and guests who came to attend the conference took their seats, Lin Chaoyang suddenly saw a familiar face among them.

Isn't this the old Deng who made fun of him in the library that day?
Lin Chaoyang saw Lao Deng walking to his seat with a cane and sitting down, then looked at the nameplate in front of him - Zhu Guangqian.

I couldn't help but swear in my heart.

You old...comrade, not only did you make fun of me, but you also spared yourself, killing 800 enemies and injuring 1,000 of your own?

"History of Western Aesthetics" is generally written by Zhu Guangqian.

Lin Chaoyang's accident did not have any impact on the conference, and the guests took their seats one by one.

The small Yantu conference room was filled with elites from China's cultural world, including many important figures.

Ma Shijiang, deputy secretary of the Yenching University Party Committee, Ji Xianlin, vice president of the university, Wang Yao, professor of the Chinese Department of Yenching University, Kawashima, a close friend of Lu Xun, Xie Mian, a poetry critic, Zhang Zhimin, a poet, Liu Xinwu, a writer, Zhou Yanru, head of the novel group of Yenching Literature and Art, and Zhu Guangqian, who made fun of Lin Chaoyang.

Chen Jiangong and Zou Shifang, who had been busy running errands for the May Fourth Literary Society, were not present and could only stand opposite the group of leaders and guests as spectators.

After the May Fourth Literary Society was founded, the two were only vice presidents. Today, the only person sitting with the above people in the literary society is the confirmed president, Zhang Youhua, who is the head of the Cultural Department of the school Youth League Committee.

The conference first displayed Mr. Mao Dun's reply letter to Yenching University and his inscription for the "Wenming Lake" magazine, which won warm applause from everyone present.

Ma Shijiang then announced the members of the leadership team of the May Fourth Literary Society, followed by several important guests attending the conference who spoke to express their congratulations.

Lin Chaoyang saw several reporters from the People's Daily and China Youth Daily who were attending the conference writing furiously. He was sure that the news of the re-establishment of the May Fourth Literary Society would appear on the front pages of these two authoritative newspapers tomorrow.

After all, it is a top university!

He couldn't help but sigh in his heart that even the revival of a student club could be reported in a newspaper of this level.

In less than an hour, the May Fourth Literary Society's re-establishment meeting was declared over. After the meeting, the literary society organized the participants to take a group photo outside the library.

While everyone was busy restoring the venue, Lin Chaoyang ran out of the museum.

There is a lawn outside the Yanda Library, which is called the Triangle by Yanda people. The guests took photos here.

When Lin Chaoyang came over, the group photo had just ended. He ran to Zhou Yanru's side, "Teacher Zhou!"

"Why call me Teacher Zhou? Just call me Old Zhou." Zhou Yanru said casually.

"Old Zhou." Lin Chaoyang readily agreed, "Do you have time now?"

Zhou Yanru knew Lin Chaoyang's purpose, nodded, and followed him towards Weiming Lake.

Ji Xianlin looked at Lin Chaoyang's back and asked Zhu Guangqian, "Isn't that the son-in-law of the Tao family?"

These days, there is a hot topic among professors at Yanda University.

The daughter of Tao Jingfa from the History Department not only married a rural son-in-law, but also brought him to the city and arranged for him to work in the Yenching University Library.

Being able to become a professor at Yanjing University, naturally few shallow-minded people would look upon Lin Chaoyang's identity as a farmer with tinted glasses. What everyone found interesting was the unconventionality of this matter.

These days, every family with urban household registration has educated youth, whether it is one's own family or relatives and friends around them, and there are many educated youth who have married local people.

After the tide of returning to the city began, these educated youth who had integrated with the local people faced a difficult problem.

Everyone wants to go back to the city, but what about their significant other?
After much thought, there are only three options.

Either you don't return to the city and die in the countryside; or you abandon your wife and children and return to the city alone; or you return to the city with the family you formed in the countryside.

Human nature is extremely fragile in the face of such a cruel choice. Most educated youth chose the second option. In the past two years, there have been countless scandals caused by returning to the city.

The story of Lin Chaoyang and Tao Yushu is amazing. It is that Tao Yushu, who is both talented and beautiful, married a rural boy with nothing. It is also amazing that she not only brought her partner back to the city, but also spared no effort to arrange a job for him.

Whoever hears about a girl like this would not praise her as "loving and righteous"?
This also made the professors of Yanda University curious about Lin Chaoyang, the son-in-law of the Tao family. Many of them had seen Tao Yushu, the daughter of the Tao family. What kind of young man was he who could make such an outstanding girl willing to marry him and spare no effort to bring him back to the city?

Zhu Guangqian showed a mischievous smile and said, "It's him. He is indeed as ordinary as the rumors say." If Lin Chaoyang heard this, he would have to reply to him: Judging from this aesthetic, China's aesthetic education is being delayed by you!
After they were about 20 to 30 meters away from the crowd, Zhou Yanru took the initiative to speak, "You want to ask about the manuscript, right?"

"Yes."

Previously, Chen Jiangong took Lin Chaoyang to the editorial department of Yenching Literature and Art to submit the manuscript. Zhang Dening, the editor-in-charge of the first review, and Zhou Yanru, the head of the novel group of the second review, both praised the novel, proving that the quality of the manuscript was good.

Logically, it should be handed over to the person in charge for review, and after confirming that there are no directional problems, it can be revised and queued for publication. However, it has been half a month and there is still no movement.

Zhou Yanru also said at the time that she would notify Lin Chaoyang to revise it after the editorial board had read it.

"Your manuscript has a very good foundation, and I intend to publish it. However, there will be personnel changes in the editorial department recently, so it may be postponed for some time."

After all, Lin Chaoyang is a veteran social animal who has experienced many years of social hardships. If it was just a simple personnel change, how could his manuscript be suppressed?

"You can't fool me!"

Lin Chaoyang's directness did not make Zhou Yanru angry. Instead, she laughed and said, "I didn't realize that you are more clever than a monkey when it comes to hair."

The atmosphere of the conversation was relaxed and pleasant. Seeing that he was experienced, Zhou Yanru no longer concealed anything.

"It is indeed time to change the person in charge. Your manuscript was submitted to the editorial committee for discussion, and the main leaders have concerns about some of the contents of the manuscript. You should also understand that you are leaving soon, and the most fearful thing is to make some mistakes."

Lin Chaoyang complained: "This leader is not kind!"

Zhou Yanru smiled and said nothing. She was angry, but she still had to work.

"What if the new leader also takes a conservative approach?"

"Comrade Chaoyang, why do you think the publication needs to change its principal?"

Zhou Yanru's question made Lin Chaoyang nod his head, and she assured him, "Don't worry, the manuscript will definitely be used. If it really can't be published in the end, I will be responsible for recommending a publication for you to publish it."

Since Zhou Yanru said so, Lin Chaoyang didn't want to continue to argue.

"Besides, publishing later might not be a bad thing!"

Hearing this, Lin Chaoyang looked thoughtful, and after a moment he figured out what Zhou Yanru meant by "good thing".

At present, the discussion about "Scars" continues to be heated across the country. Although there are many praises, there are also many criticisms.

But everyone can see that this situation will not last long. "Scars" echoes the voice of the entire society, and its victory in the public opinion field is inevitable.

Lin Chaoyang also knew that "Scars" would eventually be hailed as the pioneering work of "scar literature" just like Liu Xinwu's "Class Teacher".

After this wave of opposing public opinion is over, when a film of the same genre as "Scars" is released, the public opinion reception should be much better.

Lin Chaoyang thought to himself, if that was the case, he should thank the pioneer "Scars".

At this time Zhou Yanru asked: "Are there any new works recently?"

Hearing this, Lin Chaoyang immediately became alert.

The old manuscript hasn’t been published yet, and you still want a new manuscript?
Not to mention that the manuscript in his hand has not been completed yet, even if it was completed, he did not plan to submit it to "Yenching Literature and Art".

The more manuscripts accumulated in Yenching Literature and Art, the greater his sunk costs.

"No."

Zhou Yanru's expression was a little regretful. "You are very good and you are still so young. You should write more often and don't waste such a good talent and age."

“I’ll write more when I have time.”

Even without Zhou Yanru's reminder, the few banknotes in his pocket made him feel full of urgency.

The small treasury is in crisis!

(End of this chapter)