Back to 80: My Literary Life

When Fang Minghua returned to his office from President Huang, Bai Miao came over and asked with concern: "Xiao Fang, what did President Huang ask you to do?"

"It's no big deal." Fang Minghua smiled: "President Huang said he was mainly interested in asking me how the novel was going."

Yeah?

Bai Miao was a little suspicious, but didn't ask any more questions.

After dinner at noon, Fang Minghua thought about this matter again.

I didn’t really think that my book would be banned. It’s just Xijing. I don’t know what the situation is like in other places?

Ask, and have some idea.

He braved the cold wind and rode his bicycle out of the unit and went straight to the clock tower. They went not to Xinhua Bookstore but to the post office at the opposite intersection.

He wanted to call Wang Anyi in Shanghai and ask if Xinhua Bookstore in Shanghai also banned the sale of his book.

When I arrived at the post office, I patiently queued up and entered the long-distance phone booth in the post office. I looked at the time and saw that it was past two o'clock. Wang Anyi probably went to work, so she took out a small notebook and dialed the number on it.

The call was quickly connected, and Wang Anyi's Mandarin with a Shanghainese accent came through.

"Xiao Fang, it's you. I haven't written any novels recently."

"Sister An Yi, I'm not asking for a manuscript. You have something to ask me for help." Fang Minghua didn't hide anything on the phone, and simply told him that his novel collection was banned from Xinhua Bookstore in Xijing. other side.

"Ah? How could this happen? How outrageous?!" On the other side of the microphone, Wang Anyi's voice was very angry: "But don't worry, Xiao Fang. After all, we have now undergone reform and opening up, and we are no longer in that era!"

"Thank you. Sister An Yi, I would like to ask you to help me go to your Xinhua Bookstore in Shanghai to see if my book has been banned?"

"No problem, I'll go now." Wang Anyi agreed: "I'll call you when I'm done. Or call your office directly?"

"Okay, thank you."

"Why are you being polite? I'm hanging up."

After hanging up the phone, after thinking about it, Fang Minghua took out his notebook and called Zhu Lin in Chengdu. Unfortunately, it was not Zhu Lin who answered the phone. The other party said that Zhu Lin had something to do and was out.

The other party was very enthusiastic: "If you have any questions, I can tell Zhu Lin."

"No, thank you, thank you."

Immediately afterwards, he called Li Suanli from Jinan, Zhang Xianliang from Yinchuan, and Director Ke Yang from the Chinese Department of Lanzhou University, asking for help with the same thing:

Has the local Xinhua Bookstore banned my book?

Who is Yanjing going to hit?

Shi Tiiesheng is a sweet-tempered person, but if it is inconvenient to sit in a wheelchair, don't bother him.

Wang Meng?

Wang Meng has now been transferred to "People's Literature" magazine as the editor-in-chief, and his relationship has been transferred from the Yanjing Writers Association to the China Writers Association. Is it appropriate to bother others with this small matter?

After hesitating for a moment, Fang Minghua still called.

After the call was connected, Fang Minghua said: "Is this Editor Wang? Hello, I am Fang Minghua from Yanhe magazine."

"It turns out to be Xiao Fang." Wang Meng's hearty voice sounded on the phone, and he said humorously: "Have you been crying recently? Are you too sad to eat?"

Ah?

It seems that Wang Meng already knows about this.

So he smiled and replied: "Editor-in-Chief Wang, how could it be? I have a great appetite and my food tastes delicious."

"Haha, it's good to have this mentality!"

"Editor Wang, I still want to ask you to ask if the novel collection I published not long ago has been removed from the shelves of Xinhua Bookstore in Yanjing area?" Fang Minghua said.

"I knew you would ask about this. I went to several major Xinhua bookstores in the city a few days ago and they were all taken off the shelves."

It is indeed the political center.

"But don't worry, it's nothing serious. I am now the editor-in-chief of "People's Literature". If you have written articles, just send them over. Others dare not publish them but I will publish them!" Wang Meng also said.

"Thank you, thank you." Fang Minghua was very moved.

What a good elder!

"Editor Wang, I'm writing a novel recently, mainly about the older generation's adventures in Guandong." Now that the conversation had come to this point, Fang Minghua briefly talked about his recent creation on the phone.

On the other end of the phone, Wang Meng listened carefully: "The novel cannot be published in "People's Literature", but if you are willing, after you finish it, bring it to Yanjing. I recommend it to be published by Writers Publishing House!"

"Ok, thank you."

We chatted for a few more words and got off the phone. Fang Minghua went to the counter to pay for the phone bill.

"20 minutes, 40 yuan!" the salesperson at the counter said with an expressionless expression.

Damn it!

One month’s salary is almost gone!

Steal money.

And the service attitude.

Sure enough these days, the iron boss is the second child.

Fang Minghua complained in his heart, but he still paid and rode back to the unit.

The next day, calls came to the editorial office from all over the country, including Zhu Lin, who later learned of the situation.

Removed from shelves in Yinchuan!

Lanzhou is off the shelves!

Removed from the shelves in Chengdu!

Jinan is off the shelves!

Only Shencheng has not been removed from the shelves. Wang Anyi told Fang Minghua on the phone that she had visited several Xinhua bookstores and the books were all selling normally.

It seems that the internal opinions are not unified.

Forget it, never mind.

If it rains, if your mother wants to get married, let him go.

But this matter soon became known to the people at the magazine.

It's not that President Huang meant to reveal it. Everyone has been very sensitive recently, and any slight disturbance will spread quickly.

Chen Zhongshi, Jia Pingwa and others called to comfort him. Lu Yao even came to find him and comforted him: "Please ask for help, don't be afraid! I have experienced much more serious things than you, why don't you come here anyway?"

Fang Minghua expressed his gratitude to his friends for their kindness.

Of course not everyone is like this, some people are gloating.

Editor Sun in the editorial department counts as one.

Last year, I had a quarrel with Fang Minghua over the publication of Yu Shan's article "Female College Dormitory", and I have always disliked him.

This kid is talented, but too crazy! It will definitely be bad luck.

Isn’t this? Retribution coming?

When I met Fang Minghua recently, he spoke strangely and sarcastically, but Fang Minghua didn't bother to pay attention to him.

In the past two days, another piece of news has been circulated privately in the magazine: Fang Minghua may be removed from his editorial position and reassigned to the security department as a gatekeeper!

Bai Miao secretly told him this news during lunch.

"Who said that? President Huang?" Fang Minghua asked.

"I don't know. It doesn't seem to come from our club, but from the Writers' Association." Bai Miao replied.

It is possible that the magazine is under the leadership of the Writers Association.

"Xiao Fang, go ask President Huang, he is very nice to you."

Fang Minghua shook his head.

"Don't ask, what's the point of asking? If you don't want to do it, I won't do it. I think it's good to go see the gate."

Fang Minghua really didn't want to ask.

If you really want to know, don't ask President Huang, just ask Du Pengcheng from the Writers Association.

He did not worry about these things and learned from Mr. Lu Xun:

Hiding in a small building to unite

Never mind spring, summer, autumn and winter

Focus on writing your own novel.

Today is Friday, and it’s snowing heavily outside. Fang Minghua, as usual, rode his bike back to the work after eating at home. The stove was burning brightly, and he made a steaming cup of tea. While drinking tea, he was writing. Suddenly There was a knock on the door outside.

Fang Minghua went to open the door, but he didn't expect it to be Song Tangtang, wearing a red ski sweater with snowflakes on his head and shoulders.

"Is it cold outside? Come in quickly." Fang Minghua let the girl in, closed the door, helped her take off her coat, patted the snowflakes on her clothes, and asked curiously: "Aren't you going to night university tonight? Why do you have time to come here?"

"I asked for leave." Song Tangtang looked at him: "I want to go back to your home with you, visit my uncle and aunt, and clarify our relationship. You can go to my home tomorrow."

"Now?"

"Um"

Fang Minghua suddenly discovered that Song Tangtang had specially dressed up tonight, wearing very fashionable clothes and light makeup!

It really looked like I was going to visit my future parents-in-law!