Back to 80: My Literary Life

After two lectures at Lanzhou University, Fang Minghua was more attentive this time, with frequent wise words and humorous remarks. Laughter and applause came from time to time in the auditorium.

"Last time I gave a lecture at Lanzhou University and talked about the writing techniques of stream-of-consciousness novels, I used the article "The Sun Also Rises" I wrote as an example. I believe many students have read it. This novel was deconstructed in newspapers and magazines. There are also many articles, interested students can read them, I won’t go into details here.”

"The example I am going to give today is "Journey to the West". I think all the students have read it, right? What I am thinking about is how to re-deconstruct this classic masterpiece using the stream of consciousness technique."

Use stream of consciousness to write "Journey to the West"?

Is this statement new?

The students in the auditorium became more energetic upon hearing this, and even Liu Jianjun, who was sitting in the front row, was curious.

Nowadays, it is said that there is a genius in the literary world of Qin Province. His ideas and writing techniques are unconventional and eclectic, and he is likely to lead the trend of the literary world. What new ideas are there today.

At this time, Fang Minghua had already written three words "The Legend of Wukong" on the blackboard:

Although it is still Wukong, Tang Monk and his disciples, and they are still seeking scriptures from the West, in Fang Minghua's conception, it is no longer about fighting monsters and upgrading all the way, but pursuing formal integrity and linear plot development.

The entire story narrative unfolds in two different time and space levels, with the story five hundred years ago and the story five hundred years later being narrated cross-narrated. Not only can narrative time be extended, accelerated, and reversed at will, but narrative space can also be transformed, collaged, and repeated at will.

Fang Minghua's mouth went dry as he spoke, but there was silence below.

"I would like to ask the students, do you understand this way of rewriting "Journey to the West" using a stream of consciousness technique?" he finally asked.

The students below, you looked at me, I looked at you, but said nothing.

Finally, a girl stood up and plucked up the courage to say, "I don't understand."

Damn it!

Fang Minghua was not discouraged and asked: "If I rewrite "Journey to the West" like this, would anyone be interested in reading it?"

"have!"

This time, it was loud.

Very good, the purpose is achieved.

At the end of the lecture, students began to leave one after another. Of course, some students inevitably took notebooks or purchased magazines that published Fang Minghua's works and asked for his autograph.

Fang Minghua did not refuse.

It's just that, how can you, a boy with acne on his face, sign the "Yanhe" magazine last December?

Do you like to watch "The Popular Red Dress on the Street"?

Satisfy you.

When the students basically left, Liu Jianjun smiled and said to Fang Minghua: "Xiao Fang, do you really want to rewrite "Journey to the West" like this?"

"Director Liu, do you think it's feasible?"

"Haha, from a literary perspective, of course there is no problem, but if you change "Journey to the West" like this, be careful and you will get scolded."

Get scolded?

Fang Minghua really doesn't care.

Wasn't that "The Sun Also Rises" scolded enough?

Besides, how can these poisonous snakes today be as powerful as the trolls of later generations?

Mainly someone is watching!

Fang Minghua declined Liu Jianjun's invitation to dinner, saying that today was Saturday and he would go home with his sister later.

Her sister Fang Mingli was waiting at the school gate. When she saw Fang Minghua coming out, the brother and sister squeezed onto the bus home.

"Brother, do you really want to rewrite "Journey to the West" like this?" Fang Mingli asked in the car, holding the hanging ring in one hand.

"Yeah, what do you think?"

"It's quite interesting, but I guess some people can't accept it. Li Li means the same thing." Fang Mingli said: "Li Li once heard Professor Mi Ruizhe say that the book "In Search of Lost Time" was also rejected by the editor. Being laughed at:"

"I may be dead from the neck up, but no matter how hard I rack my brain, I can't figure out why a guy needs thirty pages to describe how he tosses and turns in bed before falling asleep."

Fang Mingli playfully said this in the movie's translation accent, which made Fang Minghua laugh.

"It doesn't matter. If I write it and no one wants to publish it, I will just throw it away. It will be published in a few years or ten years." Fang Minghua said lightly.

He really thought so.

Song Tangtang, who was far away in southern Xinjiang, quickly replied to the letter, but the girl was very optimistic.

"Minghua, write boldly! If no publishing house dares to publish it in the mainland, we will find a way to publish it in Hong Kong, Baodao, and even overseas!

"Anywhere where there are Chinese people who have read "Journey to the West", there will also be people who like your novel!"

Haha, I thought of the same thing!

Then do it!

However, since it was a manuscript request, Fang Minghua still politely wrote a letter to Xiao Dai, the deputy editor of "Harvest". In the letter, he explained in detail the concept and outline of his plan to magically revise "Journey to the West".

"Editor Xiao? I don't know if this is appropriate? I look forward to hearing from you."

Fang Minghua wrote this at the end of his letter.

It had been a week since Xiao Dai received Fang Minghua's letter. Looking at the thick letter from Xijing, he suddenly felt as if he was holding a hot potato.

He actually rewrote "Journey to the West"!

Such a classic masterpiece has long been changed beyond recognition in his hands.

The single narrative mode of slaying demons and the four masters and apprentices working together to learn from the West no longer exists, but instead there are three love stories.

The inseparable love between Zhu Bajie and A Yue, the passionate but repressed relationship between Sun Wukong and Zixia, and the sad affection between Tang Seng and Xiao Bailong.

The story constantly switches between Zhu Bajie, Sun Wukong, and Tang Seng. Each story seems to be independent, but they are spliced ​​together into a complete story.

The writing technique is a perfect stream of consciousness.

Seems quite interesting.

But this is one of the four great classics. Is it appropriate to write it this way?

Xiao Dai was entangled.

Otherwise, ask Mr. Palladium?

Forget it, besides, Mr. Palladium is nearly eighty years old and not in good health. It would be presumptuous to bother him now.

Anyway, the New Year is approaching, so I’ll reply after the New Year.

Fang Minghua didn't wait for Xiao Dai's reply a year ago, but he didn't hesitate and started writing immediately.

During the day, I was still reviewing manuscripts in the editorial department, and at night I was in my dormitory, with the coal stove burning brightly, making a cup of good tea, and writing at my desk.

Just stop watching "Volleyball Girls".

"The Legend of Wukong" is a magical adaptation of "Journey to the West", and its structure also subverts the original narrative method, presenting a state of stream of consciousness, which has another very important feature. That is, the language is sometimes humorous and vivid, sometimes full of philosophy, and golden sentences frequently appear.

"Wukong, I'm hungry. Let's find some food." Tang Monk sat down on the stone and said.

"I'm busy, you won't find it by yourself?...It's not like you don't have legs." Sun Wukong said, holding the stick.

"Are you busy? What are you busy with?"

"Don't you think this sunset is beautiful?" Sun Wukong said, still looking at the horizon. "Only by looking at this can I keep walking westward every day."

"You can look for it while looking, as long as you don't hit a big tree."

"I don't do anything while watching the sunset!"

Fortunately, Fang Minghua had read it N times and could still remember most of it.

Of course, there is no need to write on New Year’s Eve and the Spring Festival, and you won’t have to work hard to this extent.