Back to 80: My Literary Life

Fang Minghua saw the price of Moutai in the tobacco and alcohol counter of Minsheng Department Store. It was not too outrageous - 8 yuan a bottle. But the problem is that ordinary people can't buy it!

I want special tickets for Moutai!

"Congratulations to you!" Zhao Hongjun replied with a smile.

"Why are you celebrating me with such a good wine?" Fang Minghua was a little confused.

"Good boy, you are a writer now. You published novels and poems in "Yanhe" and you didn't even say a word! I heard Tangtang say so."

Oh, this thing.

"I just published a novel and a short poem, it's nothing." Fang Minghua said modestly.

"Hypocrisy! So hypocritical! I don't care so much. Do you think we should celebrate? Should we drink this wine?!"

"Yes! What's wrong?" Fang Minghua also laughed: "Maotai, how many people can drink it? Just wait, I'll buy something to drink with."

"Okay, I'll watch it for you."

Fang Minghua ran out on his bicycle, only to find that today was the second day of the first lunar month and most shops were closed.

I had no choice but to run home and tell my parents. I cut up some of the homemade bacon that my brother-in-law and sister were hosting today. I also cut into a plate of home-made marinated pork from the remaining small crispy pork in the afternoon. cucumbers, and then put them in two bowls. Fang Minghua grabbed a few more melon seeds and peanuts, and then hurried back to the unit on his bicycle.

"The shops outside are not open. I'll get some food from home, and you'll just make do with it." Fang Minghua said.

"Hey, there are good food to go with the wine. It's better than when we jumped in line in Gansu Province, right?" Zhao Hongjun said, putting the bacon bowl on the coal stove to heat up, and the two started eating and drinking.

A bottle of wine, two enamel cups, half for each person. After a while, Zhao Hongjun's face turned red. He looked at Fang Minghua and stuttered a little.

"Minghua, you have found your own path in life, which is to write novels and become a writer! But what about me? It's so fucking boring to deliver newspapers, send and receive documents, and serve tea at work every day. This is the path of life, why? Is it getting narrower and narrower?”

Fang Minghua almost laughed after hearing this.

"Red Army, you are following the example of a girl named Pan Xiao who was published in China Magazine last year and wrote a letter to the editor about her confusion. The title was called The Road of Life. Why is it getting narrower and narrower?" Fang Minghua endured. asked with a smile.

"Hey, am I right? Look, that letter caused a big discussion."

Zhao Hongjun said that this was indeed the case.

Because of the publication of this letter, a nationwide "Pan Xiao Discussion - Why People Should Live" that lasted for more than half a year was triggered. A total of more than 60,000 people wrote letters to participate in the discussion. This incident was later called "the spiritual first love of an entire generation of Chinese youth."

Fang Minghua accidentally saw this when he traveled back in time to read newspapers and magazines. Now he couldn't help but laugh when he heard Zhao Hongjun say this.

"Red Army, Pan Xiao seems to be a worker in a textile factory. I heard that he is not in good health and has encountered many setbacks. And you, although you suffered a little by jumping in line, your future is bright now! You actually said that your road is getting narrower?! "

"Then tell me, how should I go?"

"Aren't you talking nonsense?!" Fang Minghua was a little drunk and spoke rudely. He peeled a peanut and threw it in his mouth, chewed it, and then continued:

"Your father has paved the way for you. You have such a high starting point now. Work hard and don't make mistakes. With your father's resources, why worry about not being an official in the future? Maybe a high official too! Let me ask you, Was it your father’s idea for you to take the Chinese correspondence course?!”

"Yes, he forced me to go to school." Zhao Hongjun was honest: "It is said that cadres now advocate "three modernizations" - revolutionary, youthful, and knowledgeable. How can you say that I only have a junior high school diploma? Hurry up and get a college diploma. That’s all.”

"Your dad is far-sighted. If you follow the path he designed step by step, it will be the Tongtian Avenue. You actually come to me during the Chinese New Year and say that the road is getting narrower and narrower?!"

Fang Minghua's tone was a little sarcastic.

"But I really don't like it!" Zhao Hongjun's eyes were red: "I told my other friends, and they all laughed at me and said that I didn't know how lucky I was despite being blessed. Today I had a big argument with my dad about this. shelf."

"Minghua, when you and I were in the queue in Gansu Province, we were close friends who shared the joys and sorrows, so I came to you today to tell you this. I really don't like it! You don't know how much my dad is. You outsiders don't know the ups and downs, but in fact this officialdom is extremely dangerous."

"I don't like this kind of life, and I don't like so many rules. I just want to be happy and relaxed. Of course, I have to have some money, wine and meat to eat, and then I can find a wife and live my life easily. That’s it.”

Oh, I see.

"Red Army, since you don't want to go into politics, you can only go into business." Fang Minghua said.

"I have also thought about it. Now the national policy has changed and started to encourage business, but I don't know what kind of business is good." Zhao Hongjun was a little distressed.

Pour.

The official fell

But it seems that the dual-track price system has not been implemented yet?

"I don't know about this either." Fang Minghua spread his hands and said, "As you know, I just like to write, but I don't know anything about business."

"Then do you think it's appropriate for me to do business?" Zhao Hongjun asked humbly.

Fang Minghua looked at him seriously.

In his memory, Zhao Hongjun was quite clever, courageous, and enthusiastic. He liked to make friends with all kinds of people, but he had an active personality and didn't like to follow rules.

This kind of person may not be successful in the officialdom, but he can definitely do it in the current business world.

Thinking of this, Fang Minghua nodded.

"I think you're suitable."

Zhao Hongjun punched the table and said loudly: "Okay! I'm going to go this way!"

"You won't resign now, will you?" Fang Minghua asked quickly.

Zhao Hongjun chuckled:

"How could it be? At least I need to figure out what kind of business I can do first, right? Besides, with my current status, some things will be easier to handle."

"Well, I wish you all your wishes come true!"

"I wish you write more novels and become a great writer! Cheers!"

The two raised their enamel cups.

The two of them split a bottle of wine and drank it in half. Fang Minghua was fine, but Zhao Hongjun was already drunk.

"Red Army, I'll take you back by bike. No one is coming to the unit this late at night, so I'll just lock the door."

"No, no. I'll use your guard room to call a good friend of mine and ask him to drive to pick me up."

Zhao Hongjun picked up the landline phone, reluctantly dialed a number on the dial, and said a few words. Not long after, he saw a jeep with military license plates speeding past and parked at the gate of the magazine.

Fang Minghua hurried out and saw a dashing girl in military uniform jumping out of the car. She turned out to be Song Tangtang whom she had met while dancing that day.