Literary Master 1978

On the evening of November 4, Yanjing, Yanda Langrun Lake Apartment.

"Hello!"

"You are Xiao Li and Xiao Tang, right?"

"Yes, you are Brother Yucheng, right?"

"Yes, come in, come in. Why are you carrying things? Don't be so polite."

Tonight, Tao's father is going to invite two of his favorite students to dinner. When Tao Yucheng saw the two carrying things, he said something and shouted into the house:

"Dad, Xiao Li and Xiao Tang are here!"

A few seconds later, Tao's father came out of the house, "Are you here? Sit down first, you can eat later."

After sitting down, Xiao Li and Xiao Tang felt a little awkward. They are first-year graduate students this year, and it is their first time to eat at Tao's house.

Xiao Li is a student of Yanda, and Xiao Tang was admitted to Yanda from Shandong.

Tao's father was kind and chatted with the two about life. Tao Yucheng occasionally interjected, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Tao Yucheng noticed that Xiao Tang's eyes were always on the family portrait on the wall, and smiled and said, "If you want to see it, look closer."

Xiao Tang was shy and did not move.

Tao Yucheng joked, "It's okay. I know what you want to see even if you don't tell me. There are few students in Yanda who are not curious about my brother-in-law.

You guys didn't catch up with the good times. In the past few years, my father and other professors have been teaching undergraduates, and Chaoyang has been working in the library. You can watch it anytime you want."

Xiao Tang was full of envy when he heard this. He envied that Yanda undergraduates could enjoy the teachings of professors like Professor Tao, and he also envied Yanda students who could see Lin Chaoyang every day.

He stood up and walked to the family portrait and took a closer look.

There are 11 people in the Tao family portrait, and there are only 3 adult men. He knows Tao's father and Tao Yucheng, and the remaining man is self-evident.

He took a look and sat back down. Tao Yucheng said, "Xiao Tang is obviously a literary youth."

Xiao Tang said a little embarrassedly, "I just read some books randomly, it's not a hobby."

"The meal is ready, let's eat."

The voice of Tao's mother came from the kitchen, and several people got up to eat.

After dinner, it was exactly seven o'clock. Tao Yucheng turned on the TV to broadcast the central channel. Tao's father was chatting with two students while watching the news.

"... Xinhua News Agency reported: In the past two days, more than 100 Taiwanese compatriots who obtained new travel permits to the mainland at the Xiangjiang China Travel Service have traveled to various places to visit relatives via Guangzhou by sea, land and air."

When the news was broadcasting about cross-strait news, Tao's father asked: "Xiao Li's family is from Fujian, right? Do you have relatives in Taiwan Island?"

"Yes, my grandfather's youngest brother went to Taiwan Island that year."

"Now we have a chance to reunite."

"Yes, it's a pity that my grandfather didn't see this day."

Tao's father sighed lightly, "The dust of history falls on every ordinary person and is a mountain. You are studying history, so you must understand this truth."

The two students looked solemn and nodded in response.

"... Xinhua News Agency: On November 2, at the 1987 Renaudot Literature Prize held in Paris, France, the jury awarded the prize to Chinese writer Xu Lingjun and his novel "The Truman Show".

The Renaudot Literature Prize was founded in 1926 to commemorate Théophrastus Renaudot, the founder of the first French newspaper. It is an important literary award in the French literary world and is awarded at the same time and place as the Goncourt Literature Prize.

"The Truman Show" is the first foreign literary work to win the award..."

The news report is not long, only more than 200 words, one level higher than the breaking news, and belongs to the news category.

Tao Yucheng was surprised, "Dad, Chaoyang won the award?"

His question did not get a response from Tao's father, and Tao's father did not react at this time.

Son-in-law won the award again?

Although I have never heard of the Renaudot Literature Prize, the award that can be on the "News Network" must be good.

"Mom! Zhao Li! Chaoyang won a prize!"

After being surprised, Tao Yucheng started to shout, wishing he could hold a loud speaker and shout.

"What prize did you win?"

The two female comrades were busy in the kitchen just now and didn't hear the news on TV.

"A French prize, the Renaudot Prize..."

Tao Yucheng couldn't remember the name of the prize for a moment, and Xiao Tang said: "The Renaudot Prize, it is said to be an important French literary prize."

"Is it very famous? Which one is better than the Nobel Prize in Literature?" Zhao Li asked.

This question touched on Tao Yucheng's knowledge blind spot. He first looked at his father, feeling that his major didn't seem to match, and then looked at Xiao Tang.

"I haven't heard of the Prix Renaudot, but the news said that this award is awarded at the same time and place as the Prix Goncourt.

I know the Prix Goncourt is one of the most important literary awards in France and Europe. In terms of fame, the Nobel Prize is definitely more famous, but the Prix Goncourt is also very impressive.

The Prix Renaudot can be compared with the Prix Goncourt, and its importance is self-evident."

Xiao Tang's half-understood popular science gave the Tao family some confidence. Zhao Li said, "So it's still a very impressive award!"

Tao Yucheng said happily, "Aren't you talking nonsense? An award that can be on the "News Broadcast" is not bad? People say that Chaoyang is the first foreigner to win this award, setting a record!"

His tone was full of pride. In this day and age, winning an award abroad is a glory for the country.

Tao's mother was full of joy, but she complained, "Yushu is really something. He didn't tell the family about such a big thing!"

"Mom, Chaoyang won the award just the day before yesterday. It's so troublesome to make a long-distance call now. Besides, Chaoyang just won the award, so there must be a lot of things going on." Tao Yucheng said.

At this time, Tao's father finally spoke, "Winning the award is a happy thing, so don't complain. I will write a letter to Yushu tonight to congratulate Chaoyang on his award."

The Tao family happily talked about Lin Chaoyang's award. Xiao Li and Xiao Tang were not very involved, but they were also very happy.

How many contemporary college students have not read Lin Chaoyang's novels? Many of them have been loyal fans of Lin Chaoyang for many years.

At around 8 o'clock, Xiao Li and Xiao Tang walked out of Langrun Lake Apartment and walked towards the student dormitory. Along the way, they talked about the significance of Lin Chaoyang's award to Chinese literature.

Back in the dormitory, Xiao Tang immediately publicized the fact that Lin Chaoyang won the French Renaudot Literature Award.

In less than half an hour, the whole dormitory building knew about it, and then other dormitory buildings.

Throughout the night, news about "Lin Chaoyang" and the "French Renaudot Literature Award" continued to ferment in the student dormitories of Yanda.

In fact, the influence of "News Broadcast" is so huge not only on the Yanda campus that anyone who has the habit of watching the news at night will receive this news.

After being transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Wang Meng still lives in the Gaozhi Building of the Hufangqiao Literary Association.

He has always had the habit of watching "News Broadcast", and he watched it particularly seriously tonight.

He learned about Lin Chaoyang's award when the embassy contacted the Literary Association.

He has also been paying attention to Lin Chaoyang's trip to France to receive the award.

When he finished watching the news broadcast, a smile appeared on his face.

Since the founding of New China, it is not that there have been no Chinese writers who have won literary awards overseas.

For example, in 1951, Ding Ling's "The Sun Shines on the Sanggan River" and Zhou Libo's "The Storm" won the Stalin Literature Award that year.

For example, this year, Cao Ying also won the Soviet Union's highest literary award, the Gorky Literature Award.

These awards are certainly quite important, but the problem is that they all come from socialist countries. In terms of international influence, they can only cover a few socialist countries in the world.

The difference between the Renaudot Prize and the French Prize is that it is one of the most important literary awards in France.

France is not only an economic, military and cultural power, but also a recognized literary power with a good international influence in the Western world.

Lin Chaoyang's recognition of the Renaudot Prize should be said to be beneficial to the spread and diffusion of Chinese literature in the world.

The news broadcast on TV has ended, and Wang Meng thought that the Literary Association should send a congratulatory letter.

The news that Lin Chaoyang won the French Renaudot Prize was spread by the "News Network" and immediately caused a huge response in the Yanjing cultural circle.

The next morning, the "People's Daily" published an article by Xinhua News Agency reporter Nie Ruxin, which recorded in detail the whole process of Lin Chaoyang's winning the award and attracted the attention of the people across the country.

Since the reform and opening up, the Chinese people have highly respected Western European and American countries.

The Renaudot Prize is not as famous as the Nobel Prize in Literature, but it doesn't matter. There are media reporters who defend Lin Chaoyang.

Various popular science articles about the Renaudot Prize and French literary awards quickly emerged within two or three days.

In these articles, the Renaudot Prize is already the first prize under the Nobel Prize. With this award, Lin Chaoyang's road to the Nobel Prize is promising.

Of course, there is exaggeration in this.

But readers don't care about this. They only know that Lin Chaoyang won a very awesome literary award in Europe and is likely to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in the future.

With the overwhelming news reports in the media, the wave of Lin Chaoyang winning the Renaudot Prize is getting higher and higher.

On November 7, the "Literary Gazette" published the congratulatory message of the China Literary Association on Lin Chaoyang winning the Renaudot Prize:

We are pleased to hear that Comrade Xu Lingjun won the 1987 Renaudot Prize. We express our warm congratulations!

In his many years of literary creation, Comrade Xu Lingjun has a sincere feeling for the motherland, keeps close contact with the masses, devotes himself to artistic innovation, and has achieved outstanding achievements.

…

The congratulatory message of the Literary Association is written in a flourishing manner, giving Lin Chaoyang a high evaluation and affirmation, which makes all colleagues in the literary world envious.

It is not uncommon for the Literary Association to issue a congratulatory message in the literary world.

When many writers win literary awards, the local Literary Association in their hometowns often issue some congratulatory messages.

But the congratulatory message of the National Literary Association is rare, and it is published in the top national literary mouthpiece such as the Literary and Art Newspaper.

Especially this time the evaluation of the congratulatory message is so high, if it is not for the world-renowned awards and achievements, ordinary writers will not be able to enjoy it at all.

But think about it, the news of Lin Chaoyang's winning the award has just appeared on the "News Network" and "People's Daily", so it doesn't seem to be a big deal for the National Literary Association to issue a high-level congratulatory message.

The 8th is Sunday, and the West Courtyard of Xiaoliubukou Hutong is bustling again, and the bustle is far beyond the usual day.

Lin Chaoyang won an award overseas, and Li Tuo, a socialite, was the most excited. He contacted people for several days and called everyone around him. He planned to hold a big party in Xiaoliubukou Hutong to celebrate Lin Chaoyang!

At least 30 writers came to Xiaoliubukou Hutong today, almost all the famous writers in Yanjing.

Li Tuo could not afford to treat so many people alone, so everyone brought their own food today.

Eat, drink, chat, and the atmosphere is relaxed and warm.

Because there are too many people, it is naturally impossible for everyone to squeeze together.

Liu Zhenyun sat together with Chen Jiangong, Zhong Acheng and others, chatting each other.

"Winning an award in France should be much more difficult than in China, right?" Chen Jiangong asked.

"Aren't you talking nonsense? There are so many writers in our country, how many of them have won foreign literary awards?

If you want to win awards abroad, your works must be published abroad, right? This alone can kill so many people! "

When Zhong Acheng talked about it, he admired Lin Chaoyang even more for winning the award in France.

"Oh! When can I win an award? I don't ask for much, and it doesn't need to be from abroad. Just the Mao Dun Literature Award."

Chen Jiangong's words drew ridicule from Zhang Chengzhi, "I see you, there is no hope in this life!"

Chen Jiangong was immediately dissatisfied, and the two exchanged some words.

Liu Zhenyun said: "Listen!"

"What are you listening to?" Chen Jiangong was stunned for a moment.

"The people over there are talking about Chaoyang's "The Great Era"."

Chen Jiangong listened carefully, and then asked: "What's wrong? What's the problem?"

"It's nothing. I just feel that since the news of Chaoyang's award came back to China, the reviews of "Big Era" have improved!"

Listening to Liu Zhenyun's words, several people had strange expressions on their faces. How could they not hear the sarcasm in Liu Zhenyun's words?

Lin Chaoyang's new work "The Great Era" was released on the National Day. As usual, it immediately became a popular book that readers rushed to buy and read.

It has been a month since its release, but the reputation is not very optimistic.

This kind of reputation is mainly reflected in the literary and critical circles. After reading "The Great Era", many writers and critics generally believed that Lin Chaoyang's new work was substandard.

On the contrary, the readers' recognition of this novel is unexpectedly high. The most intuitive manifestation is that the sales volume of "The Great Era" exceeded 600,000 copies in the first month.

However, the recognition of readers is actually not very helpful to the reputation of the novel, because it is difficult for them to control the right to speak in the media.

Since the publication of "Big Times", major literary magazines and literary review magazines have successively published some review articles, and the evaluation is not very high.

Some writers mentioned "The Great Era" during chats and thought that its content was too popular to be elegant.

But this situation has experienced a strange reversal in recent days. Whenever someone around them discusses "The Big Era", their evaluations are obviously much higher than in the past few days.

The reasons don't need to be revealed outright. In fact, everyone understands it.

Snobbery is not immune even in the literary world.

"The tone of "The Big Era" determines that it cannot look as high-end as "The Death of Van Gogh" or "The Death of Van Gogh."

But the core of this novel is actually very ideological and philosophical. Unfortunately, many people care more about the form. "Chen Jiangong said.

Liu Zhenyun said with a playful expression: "In the eyes of many critics, it is neither realistic nor modern, and it does not please both ends."

His words made Zhang Chengzhi nod in approval, "Perhaps the biggest problem with "The Great Era" is that it does not meet the reading habits and aesthetic tastes of some elite readers."

"It doesn't matter. Look now, won't the reputation get better after winning the award?" Liu Zhenyun said jokingly.

Several people laughed.

While he was talking, a shout suddenly came from outside the yard.

Yu Hua didn't hear clearly at first, but someone was already moving beside him.

When they walked out of the house, they saw Wang Shuo, who had just finished using the toilet, standing at the door of the inner courtyard with his pants pulled up, shouting: "Chaoyang is back! Chaoyang is back!"

Everyone immediately ran out of the courtyard in a swarm, and then rushed into the east courtyard, like a herd of horses galloping.

Lin Chaoyang had just entered the hospital with his luggage when he was startled by the sudden movement.

He was blocked by reporters at the airport for more than an hour just now, and he finally regained his freedom.

"Chaoyang! You are back!"

Li Tuo ran ahead, as if Li Kui saw Song Jiang and hugged Lin Chaoyang, and a group of people behind him also came up to surround Lin Chaoyang.

"Okay, okay!"

Lin Chaoyang pushed Li Tuo away in disgust. Li Tuo didn't care at all and said solemnly: "Chaoyang, you have given face to our Chinese writers! You have brought glory to the country!"

Under his leadership, everyone looked at Lin Chaoyang eagerly.

It is said that scholars look down on each other, but this is only half true.

When one party's position is too high, there will be no literati's contempt for each other, but only envy, admiration and admiration.

The Renaudeau Literature Prize does not have the influence of the Nobel Prize for Literature, but it is already a level that is difficult for most writers in the country to reach.

Therefore, when everyone saw Lin Chaoyang who had just returned with great honors, they were particularly excited and congratulated him endlessly.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Lin Chaoyang expressed his gratitude to everyone with his hands in hand.

Li Tuo asked again: "Why did you come back?"

"I participated in some activities in Paris." Lin Chaoyang replied to him, and then said: "It's very cold, don't stand in the yard, let's go inside and chat."

Everyone swarmed into the main room. If the house hadn't been so big, there wouldn't be room for all these people.

After putting away his luggage, Lin Chaoyang started chatting with everyone. Everyone was full of curiosity about his experience in France.

"Board and board are all arranged by the publishing house..."

"The award will be received at the Touen restaurant in the 2nd district of Paris, where the Goncourt Literary Prize will be awarded on the same day..."

"Writers you know? Umberto Eco was there on the day of the award. Later I went to a party and met Duras..."

When Lin Chaoyang talked about his experience in Paris, dozens of people in the room were silent, listening quietly and fascinated.

As writers, most people present have a certain attachment to France or Paris.

Hugo, Dumas, Dumas, Balzac, Flaubert, Gide... countless French literary giants are like stars shining in the sky.

It is impossible for any young person who is interested in literature not to have read the works of these people.

It is precisely because of the existence of these literary giants that France and Paris have unique influence among Chinese writers.

The literary giants have long since passed away, and Lin Chaoyang will definitely have no chance to interact with them. When people asked him which writers he had met in France, he could only choose a few that he had met and were relatively well-known in the contemporary era.

Even so, it was enough to amaze everyone.

"Chaoyang is really here this time!"

Zheng Wanlong's tone was full of envy, and he wished he could take his place.

Li Tuo said: "Look at what you said, what do you mean Chaoyang is gone? Chaoyang is also the winner of the Renaudeau Literature Prize. In the future, he will be an internationally renowned writer, no worse than Duras and the others."

"That's right, you're the one who only increases the ambition of others and destroys the prestige of your own people!"

Everyone denounced Zheng Wanlong, and he quickly bowed his head and admitted his mistake.

"Mistakes!"

After a few quarrels, everyone went on to inquire about Lin Chaoyang. They heard that he had been interviewed by the "Paris Review" in Paris. Li Tuo and Zhang Chengzhi were surprised.

Most of the people present did not react at all. Seeing a few of them so surprised, everyone was very puzzled.

In this era, domestic information was underdeveloped, and the rate of introduction of foreign literary works was measured in years.

Although there has been a lot of liberalization in recent years, it is still closed in comparison.

Literary journals are even less likely to be introduced due to timeliness and policy reasons.

Except for some people who are at the forefront of literary research or who understand foreign languages ​​and have access to foreign language journals, the vast majority of writers have no access to foreign literary magazines.

Many people have zero or even zero understanding of the vast majority of foreign literary magazines.

Zhang Chengzhi gave everyone a scientific introduction to the status of "The Paris Review" in European and American countries, and finally concluded:

“To use a purely domestic publication as an analogy, it would probably be at the level of Harvest, but it is Harvest with readers all over Europe and the United States.”

After listening to his metaphor, everyone suddenly understood.

Zhang Chengzhi added: "Their interview column is very famous, and they interview writers of the same level as Hemingway, Henry Miller, Marquez, and Huxley."

"Oh~"

Everyone was immediately shocked and couldn't help but exclaim.

No, bro, you just went abroad and won an award, how come your level is so high all of a sudden?

Everyone felt as if an auspicious cloud had risen under Lin Chaoyang's feet, floating in the air, and there was still light behind him.

Facing the exaggerated looks in everyone's eyes, Lin Chaoyang quickly waved his hands, "It's not that exaggerated. They also interviewed less famous writers. Besides, the publishing house helped me to be interviewed."

Hearing what he said, Chen Jiangong curiously asked about the origin of the publishing house.

Lin Chaoyang introduced Gallimard Publishing House that everyone didn't know much about. When he mentioned "Seven Star Library", everyone exclaimed again.

In 1931, a young independent publisher, Jacques Schiffrin, founded the "Seven Stars" publishing house in Paris and launched the "Seven Stars Library" series of books.

The name is taken from the "Seven Stars Poetry Society" composed of seven 16th-century French humanist poets represented by Pierre de Ronsard.

Since its launch, Qixing Library has released works by famous writers such as Baudelaire, Racine, and Stendhal, which have been widely praised by the literary world.

However, in 1933, due to financial difficulties of Seven Star Publishing House, at the suggestion of French writer Gide, Gallimard Publishing House included Seven Star Library under its banner, and continued to launch this series of books in accordance with Schifrin's principles.

Until now, Qixing Library has a history of more than 50 years and has published nearly a thousand volumes of books, covering the works of about 200 important writers in the world.

The editorial department of Qixing Library is extremely strict in screening the included writers, which means that every writer whose works can be included can be regarded as a literary hero of the country.

For example, when Duan Musong from France received a call from the editor of Qixing Library stating that his work would be included in Qixing Library, he exclaimed with joy: Being selected into Qixing Library is comparable to a Nobel Prize for Literature.

Another example is Céline, who wrote "The Long Night". He had an unruly character and suffered ideological persecution throughout his life, but he never bowed his head. He was known as the loneliest writer in the French literary world.

However, during his lifetime, he repeatedly wrote letters asking the editorial office to include his works in the series, but was rejected. It was not until after his death that his works were included in the Seven Stars Library.

Among the nearly a thousand volumes of literary works collected by Qixing Library, there are also traces of Chinese works, including "Water Margin", "Laozi", "Zhuangzi", "Liezi", "Dream of Red Mansions" and "Jin Ping Mei".

After the repeated shocks, everyone began to feel a little numb.

So when they heard that Wang Meng, on behalf of the Cultural Association, went to the Capital Airport to welcome Lin Chaoyang back to China with great honors, there was no emotion at all.

"What else do you want to say? Hurry up and say it." Chen Jiangong asked Lin Chaoyang.

"No more, we've already said we're going back to China and getting off the plane, what else can we say."

In fact, Lin Chaoyang did have something to say. He met a writer named Milan Kundera at a party at Gallimard Publishing House.

Unfortunately, Milan Kundera was not very famous in China at that time. His works had been introduced to China more than ten years ago, but they were all in the name of "internal reference" and few people knew about them.

Everyone surrounded Lin Chaoyang and listened to the excitement for a long time. They were surprised, happy, shocked...all kinds of emotions were harvested, and it can be said that the trip was worthwhile.

Everyone was planning to leave, but Li Tuo suddenly remembered something.

"Chaoyang, where is your award certificate?"

"How can there be an award certificate? Just make a verbal announcement." Lin Chaoyang said.

The Goncourt Prize has a prize of 50 francs after all. Lin Chaoyang went to receive the award, but he didn't have the prize money, certificate, or trophy. If the publishing house didn't take care of it, he would have to take care of his own food and accommodation.

When everyone thought of this, they immediately felt much more relaxed.

A group of people came and went in a large group.

The originally noisy home became quiet in a moment.

After staying abroad for a week and experiencing a long-distance flight, he interviewed and chatted after getting off the plane. Now that everyone has left, Lin Chaoyang can finally lie on the bed and have a good sleep.

He slept for more than ten hours and woke up naturally at more than four o'clock in the morning of the next day.

He got up and tidied up. It was not yet five o'clock and it was still dark outside.

He waited until half past five and ran to the street. The breakfast shop had just opened.

"A bowl of fried liver and two pork and green onion buns."

Just as he was about to settle the bill after eating, he touched his pocket and found that he had no food coupons.