Back to 80: My Literary Life

"Brother Lu, let's chat for a while." Fang Minghua tried to stop him.

"No, you're busy." Lu Yao walked out of the office.

After seeing Lu Yao off, Fang Minghua read it carefully.

It was a novella with about 80,000 words, describing the experiences of three pairs of young men and women in the 1970s, including Wang Jianmin, Tu Xiujuan, Lin Qing, and Yan Zi.

They included educated youth from Yanjing who went to work in the countryside, and Qinbei children who were born and raised there. In that special era, the suppressed human nature and desire for freedom broke out in an old locust tree in the loess gully.

Fang Minghua spent a whole day reading the novel three times before calling Bai Miao.

When Bai Miao came in, Fang Minghua picked up the manuscript and handed it to him: "This is a novel written by Lu Yao. I've read it. You can take it and have a look. After that, we can discuss it."

"Lu Yao is writing a novel again? Okay, I'll work overtime tonight and we'll talk tomorrow morning." Bai Miao said as he took the manuscript.

The next morning, Bai Miao came to Fang Minghua's office early with the manuscript in his hand.

"Have you finished reading? Sit down."

Fang Minghua greeted him and poured him a cup of tea.

"How did you like it?"

"Lu Yao's novel is completely different from his previous novels." Bai Miao said straight to the point: "There are traces of scar literature in it, but it explores human nature more than blaming history. This is a bit like the characteristics of avant-garde novels."

Fang Minghua nodded in agreement and expressed his own views. "But it has a complete narrative structure. In essence, it is still a realistic novel."

"Yes, but it is not the new realistic novel we discussed at the meeting at the foot of Huashan last year. It has a certain magical color. It is obvious that Lu Yao is making some attempts to find his own new writing style. Of course, this style has not yet been finalized, so it seems a bit of a hodgepodge."

"Indeed, then what do you say, should this novel be published or not?" Fang Minghua asked again.

"It can be published. If it is not published again, I think Lu Yao will collapse." Bai Miao smiled.

Fang Minghua understood what he meant.

It has been two years since Lu Yao was hospitalized for illness. After he recovered, he wrote almost nothing except a short story about the rule of law last spring.

And because the novel was not mature, Lu Yao took the initiative to withdraw it.

There is a saying in the literary world now that Lu Yao is in good health and rich, but his literary talent is gone, and there is a saying that he has run out of talent.

These words have reached his ears more or less, causing him a certain amount of pressure.

He really needs a novel to prove that his talent is not as withered as rumored, and he can still write!

"Let's do this." Fang Minghua expressed his opinion: "I will let Lu Yao take this novel back and revise it, and then publish it in the editor's recommendation column in February!"

Editor's column?

Bai Miao glanced at Fang Minghua, didn't say much, just said: "I agree."

"Well, I'll call Lu Yao and ask him to come over."

At this time, Lu Yao was sitting at home restlessly.

After getting up in the morning and driving his Santana to send his daughter to school, he didn't want to do anything when he got home.

I wonder if Minghua has finished reading that novel?

What do you think after reading it?

Do you think it is poorly written?

I have been writing novels for so many years, but I have never been as nervous as today.

It seems to go back to more than ten years ago, when he was still studying at Yanda University and submitted his first work to "Yanhe".

He clearly remembers that he wrote a short story called "Victory Red Flag".

Fortunately, the novel was finally published in "Yanhe", which was his first publicly published novel.

He was 24 years old that year.

15 years have passed, as if it has come back to the starting point.

At this time, the landline on the high and low cabinet in the living room suddenly rang, which scared him.

He hurried over to pick up the microphone and heard a familiar voice coming from inside.

"Brother Lu, this is Minghua, are you free now? Come to my office and talk about this novel you wrote."

"I'll come right away if I'm free."

Lu Yao hung up the phone, put on his coat, and hurried out of the house.

Ten minutes later, he appeared in Fang Minghua's office.

"Brother Lu, it's cold outside, right? Have some hot tea." Fang Minghua poured him a cup of tea enthusiastically.

Lu Yao took the cup and held it in his hands, looking at him with a hint of nervousness in his eyes: "Minghua, my novel?"

"Bai Miao and I have read it, and it's generally good. We decided to publish it, but some parts need to be revised."

Fang Minghua's words made Lu Yao breathe a sigh of relief, and his tense body finally relaxed.

"Okay, how do you say to revise it?"

Fang Minghua was not polite, and said what he discussed with Bai Miao yesterday, and pointed out a paragraph in the novel.

"This paragraph of narration is a bit out of place. Brother Lu, are you eager to get rid of the shadow of writing "Ordinary World"? "

"Yes." Lu Yao did not hide it. He explained: "Although "Ordinary World" has a good response among readers, it is not highly praised by critics. They say that the expression method is outdated and the plot is old-fashioned. It is an extended version of "Life". I was really dissatisfied when I heard it."

Lu Yao said, sighed, took out a pack of "narrow version" cigarettes from his pocket, and lit one.

"Brother Lu, you are smoking again? Didn't you quit?" Fang Minghua said in surprise.

"How can you write without smoking?" Lu Yao laughed, "Besides, I don't drink anymore. If I quit smoking, what's the fun in life?"

Fang Minghua laughed and said nothing more.

Lu Yao took a puff and continued, "In the past two years, I have hardly written anything. In addition to reading a lot, I also calmed down to think about this problem. Gradually, I feel that what others say is indeed reasonable. In this case, I have to change my writing style. Otherwise, what I write is just another "Ordinary World" or "Life"."

"You are right. Writing is a painful process of seeking innovation and transcending oneself. Let's go back to this novel. I suggest removing this paragraph or writing it from a different angle. You are very good at realistic narration. Don't lose this good tradition."

"Okay, I'll listen to your advice and go back to revise it."

"And this paragraph." The two talked for more than an hour before they finished the whole novel.

"Minghua, I'll go back now and revise it according to what we talked about, and then you can take a look." Lu Yao said at the last moment.

"Okay." Fang Minghua did not try to persuade him to stay: "Let's discuss it after the revision is completed. I plan to publish your novel in the February issue of the editor's recommendation after it is perfected."

Editor's recommendation?

Lu Yao was stunned, and then he understood: "Thank you, Minghua."

"Thank me for what?" Fang Minghua smiled and said: "Good articles should be published, and they should be on the headlines."