Chapter 198 Creed (6000 words)
"What is this? A prank? No matter what it is, let me say one thing first, it has nothing to do with me."
Shi Shuqiu put the note back on the table and spread his hands. The tone was very crisp and sure.
The expression on Shi Shuqiu’s face seemed to be saying, although I am glad that this happened to you, I’m sorry, but it really has nothing to do with me. If you come to me because of this matter, I'm sorry that I can't help you.
Wang Zixu said: "You misunderstood, I am not saying that this matter has anything to do with you. I am not here to complain."
"Then what do you do for a living?"
"Shuqiu, don't be so rude. You have no manners at all. Let the guest finish his sentence." Shi Tonghe frowned.
Shi Shuqiu turned his head away, as silent as a refrigerator that suddenly lost power.
Wang Zixu said: "I'm not here to cry miserably, but since that dinner, Mr. Shi and I seem to have had a little misunderstanding."
Shi Tonghe drank tea: "There is no misunderstanding, right? It can be solved. I've wanted to talk to you for a long time, but I haven't found the right opportunity. By the way, I read your "Fire in the Stone", which is very good." Shi Tonghe's attitude changed a little abruptly, and Wang Zixu was a little surprised.
“You deserve the prize.”
"There is no award. I have read it carefully. It is really good." Shi Tonghe pointed at him, as if he had seen through him, and smiled softly, looking a little kind, "You want to write a Chinese version of "One Hundred Years of Solitude.""
Wang Zixu really read this letter.
“Actually, I had this idea when I was young. Our country’s history is so long, and it has changed so much and so fast, it would be interesting to write a book.
“When I started writing a little bit, it was like playing with mud. The soil was not good enough and could not be shaped into shape. I didn’t write a long novel, but I wrote a lot of short stories.
"Later, when I got to middle age, Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" became popular all over the world, so I went to buy it and read it. Buying books at that time was different from now. You can't just search and find it. You have to ride a bicycle for more than 20 kilometers to go to the bookstore in the city, which is the only one that has it. , every time I go there, the sky becomes dark and my body is covered with loess.
“Before watching “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, I had only read some classic works in Western literature, such as Flaubert and Balzac. What I read the most is revolutionary literature. Reading "One Hundred Years of Solitude" was my second shock. ”
Shi Tonghe seemed to have completely forgotten the purpose of their visit. He took a sip of tea with a faint smile on his face and talked with gusto.
When an old man talks about the past, he can't help but seem a little pessimistic, but Wang Zixu still listened patiently and sat quietly. Shi Tonghe continued to tell his story.
"The first impact was "Les Misérables". When I was young, I had only read revolutionary literature and thought that novels all over the world were like that. When I read "Les Misérables" for the first time, I realized that novels could still be written in this way and that I could write these things.
"At that time, my mind was just a little more liberal. Although there were some books for sale in bookstores, I still had to read them secretly. When I read "One Hundred Years of Solitude" later, I had already read a lot of Western classics, but this book still opened my eyes to the fact that novels can still be written in this way. This is the second impact. Both shocks changed my understanding of novels. ”
Wang Zixu asked: "The narrative technique of your book is relatively classical. Why didn't you imitate "One Hundred Years of Solitude"?"
"What?" Shi Tonghe was deaf and couldn't hear clearly.
Wang Zixu repeated it again. Shi Shuqiu glared and sat up straight, sternly criticizing him for being rude with his eyes - Who are you, worthy of criticizing my father?
Shi Tonghe said nonchalantly: "When I saw "One Hundred Years of Solitude" it was already too late, and the style had already been finalized. As I said, I later tried to imitate it and wrote some, but they didn't fit together. They were all fragmented.
"My dream is to write a novel that is thick enough to truly establish my status in literature. It is enough to do this one thing well in my life. But people are getting old, and now looking back, if I collect the things I have written into a collection, it can be regarded as the Chinese version of "One Hundred Years of Solitude". Of course, this is just to comfort myself."
Shi Tonghe's tone was slow and firm. Although Wang Zixu cannot relate to his experience, he can still empathize with him. Some ideas are always similar from writer to writer. I wanted to be tough just now, but after hearing what he said, I felt a little soft again.
In any case, Shi Tonghe’s literary achievements are difficult to erase and stand as firmly as a tower.
Shi Tonghe sighed: "So I also envy your generation. They have such good conditions, can read a large number of works, and can easily realize their dreams. This is something I couldn't even imagine at that time."
Chen Qingluo said: " Every generation has its own challenges. We still envied the freedom of creation in the past, and writing any work was to open up virgin territory that no one has ever touched. But now, everything we want to write has been written before, and it is extremely difficult to get ahead. "
Shi Tonghe nodded slowly and said, yes.
"Writing "Fire in the Stone" by Wang Zixu was by no means easy, rather it was very hard. The work he created at such a high cost is of extraordinary significance. I think that even if the literati despise it, they can at most be stingy with praise and not maliciously hinder it."
Chen Qingluo is so frighteningly frank, Shi Shuqiu He straightened up and looked like he wanted to say a few words, but Shi Tonghe waved his hand: "Shuqiu, you go out, I will talk to them."
"But..."
"You go out."
Shi Shuqiu stood up and left, closing the door with force.
"He has some temperament problems now, and he is becoming more and more rebellious. I told him last time, maybe because it was serious, and now he doesn't listen to me." Shi Tonghe's tone became a little impatient.
He turned to Wang Zixu and said: "I only learned about your reputation at NTU when "Yesterday's Star" held a seminar before. It was a little affected because of his friends. I ignored him for three days at that time. Later he said that he had made up for all the wrong things he had done, and I forgave him. Him."
Shi Tonghe adjusted his posture, leaned on the armrest of the sofa, and said, "Although he is a bit impulsive and impetuous, he is still relatively upright and rational. He said that this matter has nothing to do with him, and I believe it has nothing to do with him."
"I also want to believe that it has nothing to do with him," Wang Zixu said softly, "What about "The Ancient City"?"
The expression on Shi Tonghe's face froze.
"The editor of "Ancient City" was introduced by you. In order to submit an article to "Ancient City", I did not submit to "Yangtze River" with which I have a better relationship, just because of your recommendation, but that editor made me very disappointed."
Shi Tonghe smiled: "Every editor has his or her own opinion, and I can't interfere with that. And you see, it was precisely because of this discussion that "Acquisition" finally accepted you, wasn't it? It was a blessing in disguise."
“That’s because I got through it,” Wang Zixu said. “If I hadn’t gotten through it, there would have been nothing, let alone the Chinese version of “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” My manuscript might have been published in an inferior magazine.
Shi Tonghe was silent.
After a long time, he said: "What do you mean when you tell me this?"
"What I want to know is, did you know beforehand that "The Ancient City" would reject my manuscript?"
Wang Zixu stared at him, and Shi Tonghe felt the gaze was burning and moved his face away.
“Oh.” He sighed deeply.
"Don't get me wrong," Wang Zixu said, "I am a straightforward person, and I just want to know an answer. There is no other meaning. I want to know whether I am a jade in the rough. This is very important for my future creation."
Wang Zixu was speaking from his heart.
With his current status, he could not find a way to take revenge, let alone put pressure on Shi Tonghe. So what if I knew?
He just wants an answer.
"Chen Cainiu," Shi Tonghe suddenly looked at Chen Qingluo, "Do you mind if I talk to him alone?"
Chen Qingluo stood up decisively.
"No, no, just sit down and I'll talk to him upstairs."
Wang Zixu exchanged glances with Chen Qingluo, and then followed Shi Tonghe upstairs and into his study.
Shi Tonghe’s study room is large and luxuriously decorated. The structure is similar to the presidential office in the White House. There is an expensive sandalwood table in the middle and a computer desk in the distance. It looks like it is rarely used.
On the sandalwood table, there are several manuscripts, next to them are pens, ink, and a copy of "Get" magazine. There were two drops of ink on the table, and the ink was still wet.
Wang Zixu glanced over. Before he could see the contents of the manuscript, Shi Tonghe walked over and covered the manuscript with the "Get" magazine.
Wang Zixu looked up at him.
"Xiao Wang, you want the answer, I'll give it to you. I really didn't care about recommending "The Ancient City". Fortunately, the result is good."
"Did you know it in advance, or you didn't know it? ?”
“I can only say that I really didn’t care,” Shi Tonghe said, “You understand?”
After listening to it, Wang Zixu smacked the taste for a long time, and finally looked at Shi Tonghe and shook his head slowly.
“If it’s just this sentence, there is no need to drag me upstairs to say it.”
“Has anyone ever said that you are too sharp?”
"In the past, everyone in the work unit regarded me as a soft persimmon."
Shi Tonghe sighed and sat down on the leather chair: "I came to you to discuss other matters. You are now the vice chairman of the Literary and Art Association in Xihe, right? Have you joined the Provincial Literary and Art Association? Have you joined the National Literary and Art Association?"
Wang Zixu shook his head.
Shi Tonghe said: "I have a quota in my hand. I can recommend you to join the Provincial Literary and Art Association, and I can also recommend you to join the National Literary and Art Association."
The prince didn't say anything, he didn't know what Shi Tonghe wanted to do.
"Then, don't you also plan to hold a seminar on "Fire in the Stone"? I can go over and sit in. I also have to speak in person, and my son has not enjoyed this treatment.
"The publishing industry is currently engaged in cultural overseas projects, and I happen to be a consultant. I can promote your work. I can guarantee that your "Fire in the Stone" will definitely cause a sensation in the global literary world, and may even have the opportunity to compete for next year's Mao Dun Literary Award."
Wang Zixu moved his mouth, but did not say anything.
The conditions are very attractive.
But in all the years of Wang Zixu’s life experience, such a simple good thing had never hit him. Shi Tonghe’s words were tempting, but they made him wary.
“Then what am I going to do?”
“You don’t have to do anything, it’s my compensation for that.”
"That's it."
Shi Tonghe played with the pen for a while and kept looking at him. Wang Zixu stood like a flagpole and stared at him without giving in.
“Then, you haven’t submitted your article for this year’s Feishi Literary Award, right?” Shi Tonghe said, “You can wait a year this year and then submit your article next year.”
“Why?”
Shi Tonghe continued to play in his hands. Pen: "Let me tell you from the bottom of my heart, listen carefully, you will most likely not win the award this year. Because you are serialized, and when you finish serializing, it will be next year. You can participate again next year, and the competition will not be able to fault you."
"Is it because there is a national collection list this year?"
Shi Tonghe was stunned, threw away the pen, and said: "Regardless of whether there is a prize or not, you are very likely not to get the prize this year. It would be good for everyone if you don't participate this year. Have I made it clear?"
If this is a deal, it will be a deal with very generous terms. Of course, Shi Tonghe would never admit that this was a deal.
Shi Tonghe tried his best to sound patient: "Zizixu, I just told you about my youth, do you know why?"
"I don't know. Tao."
"I think you are a bit like me." Shi Tonghe said, "You are grassroots, stubborn, and have nothing but literature."
Wang Zixu was silent.
"Have you suffered a lot on the road to literature?" Shi Tonghe suddenly asked.
“Yeah.”
“That’s nothing. Only by enduring hardship can one become a master. I have heard this since I was a child. The Chinese people should endure hardships, and when they have suffered enough, they will be relieved." "Shi Shuqiu didn't seem to have suffered much," Wang Zi said quietly.
Shi Tonghe did not show any eagerness to be exposed, but simply said: "You will get old too."
Shi Tonghe added: "You think you can write, you can bury your head and just write, and don't care about anything else. But you will get old.
"Your hormone levels will subside, your metabolism will decrease, your desires will fade, your interests will shift, and you will change. You will not always be suitable for writing.
"But you are still a useless person who can do nothing but write. What will you do then? ”
The tea lid was placed on the tea cup, and it fit tightly, making a crisp sound.
Shi Tonghe sat on the chair, and finally said what he wanted to say. Mouth, the expression relaxed.
People will grow old and die. Therefore, when they grow old, they will put a part of their lives on their children, not on themselves, but on their descendants.
This is difficult for people without heirs to understand. But Shi Tonghe knew that Wang Zixu could understand. If he didn't understand, he couldn't write the Chinese version of "One Hundred Years of Solitude". Even if I could write it, I wouldn't be able to write it well.
This is what happened in China. Thousands of years of mystery cannot be explained in a few words, but everyone can see through it. The affairs of emperors throughout the ages are nothing more than this.
The original text can be found at Liu#9@书/吧!
Wang Zixu lowered his head to think. After a long time, he raised his head under Shi Tonghe's expectant eyes.
“Then, I would like to ask you to promise me something.”
“What is it? I don’t like people who push themselves too far.” Shi Tonghe frowned.
"I have no other request, I just want you to apologize to me." Wang Zixu said.
“Why?” Shi Tonghe looked very surprised.
"Because of the "Ancient City" incident." Wang Zixu tried his best to sound modest, "I want you to apologize."
Shi Tonghe couldn't help but increase his voice and spread his hands: "Am I not sincere enough? I still Not tolerant enough? You two young people want to see me, so you can go out and ask me. Is it because I am not polite enough? "
"Yes, yes, very much."
Although what Wang Zixu said sounded very arrogant, his attitude was quite humble. Clenching your hands tightly and speaking carefully, just like a knife, tell Yang Zhi that I want to test your knife.
Shi Tonghe looked livid and asked again: "Why?"
"Because, first of all, we should be kind, and secondly, we should be honest." Wang Zixu said, "I want to believe that you are kind and honest. If you Apologize to me, and I will believe it even more. I hope that everything I do is done with the most sincere motives, so that it will leave good memories in the future. ”
Because, if a good memory stays in our hearts, it may be the means to save us at some moment.
Maybe we will inevitably become bad people, but as long as we still have ourselves, this memory will come out and prevent us from doing the worst things.
If a person can bring such beautiful and sacred memories into his life, he will be saved for his whole life.
“Please apologize to me.” Wang Zixu squeezed out a smile, “If you want to ask why, this is my life creed.”
“Get lost.” Shi Tonghe said.
Wang Zixu turned around and left.
Before going out, Shi Tonghe stopped him again. But not to apologize.
"Remember, you won't be treated like this when you walk out of this door," Shi Tonghe said with a terrible expression, "I'm telling the truth. You really can't win the award this year."
Wang Zixu turned around and went out. Before closing the door, he heard Shi Tonghe's last words:
"You will regret it."
He went out, found Chen Qingluo, and took her away before the nanny came to give the order to see her off.
Watching the two people’s backs disappearing around the corner of the bushes, Shi Shuqiu took three steps at a time, went upstairs, and knocked on the study door.
After receiving permission, he pushed the door open and saw Shi Tonghe slumped on a chair, looking tired and helpless, helpless and unable to laugh or cry.
It was as if I had just escaped from the rogue Niu Er.
“Damn, why did you meet such a new person?”
Shi Shuqiu ignored his father’s curses and asked in a low voice: “Dad, you can’t really Do you want to recommend him to be a member of the National Association of Literary and Art Circles?"
Shi Tonghe didn't say anything, and there was silence in the room. After a long time, he nodded: "That's what I planned."
Shi Shuqiu was anxious: "Why? Why should you care about this person? Really, I have listened to what you said. I will not provoke him, but now it is he who is provoking my family. Why are you so... so... appeasing to him?"
Shi Shuqiu thought for a long time and thought of a good word, appeasement. Very apt.
Shi Tonghe does not need to make such concessions to that person. What kind of identity is Shi Tonghe? Doesn't it seem to others that he is afraid of that Wang Zixu? What kind of behavior is this?
“You know nothing.” Shi Tonghe finally couldn’t help it, swore, and impatiently filled the pen with ink.
"I don't believe it, just because of the number of words, I will definitely win the prize?" Shi Shuqiu was angry, "The judges and the competition organizers have such a good relationship with me, why should I be afraid of him?"
Shi Tonghe kept shaking his head, lowering his head and writing furiously on the manuscript paper.
When Shi Shuqiu saw his father's actions, he became anxious and said, "Stop writing!"
"Get lost." Shi Tonghe said.
After saying that, he felt much more relaxed. His works when he was young were already famous for their colloquialisms, including all kinds of curse words. They were a bit unfamiliar after not speaking for a long time, but today he has regained a bit of the feeling of his youth.
Shi Shuqiu felt a little aggrieved. He was rarely attacked, and especially he had never heard the word "go".
Shi Tonghe shook his head and said: "You don't know what kind of work "Fire in the Stone" is. You haven't seen it. You can't understand it even if you have seen it. You can't understand it."
He sighed, feeling worried and pitiful for this old man. Love, said in his mouth:
"Even the big editors and celebrities may not know. Only I know. Only I know how well "Fire in the Stone" is written."
The manuscripts under his hands are stacked one after another.
On the printed manuscript next to it, there is "Yesterday's Star" written on it, which is the work of Shi Shuqiu.
The titles of the works he pressed under his arm are vaguely visible. One is "Today's Moon" and the other is "Flowers of the Next Year". They are only the beginning and have not been finished.
…
Wang Zixu and Chen Qingluo stood in the small shrub maze of Yunchi Villa again.
The difference is that the sun is setting in the west, the light is darker, and the air is cooler.
The two walked side by side for some distance before Chen Qingluo asked:
"What does he want?"
“A very good condition.”
“Did you accept it?”
“I also made a condition, but he refused.”
“What conditions did you put forward?”
Wang Zixu suddenly wanted to laugh. , stopped and said, "I asked him to apologize to me."
Chen Qingluo also stopped, blinked her bright eyes and looked at his profile: "He is not willing to apologize."
"He is not willing."
After saying that, the two resumed their steps and walked out again.
Chen Qingluo said: "Literaturemen are the most arrogant. The more famous a scholar is, the more proud he is."
Wang Zixu shook his head: "Yes. But there is nothing I can do about it. I'm a little proud."
After saying that, he turned to look at her: "The funny thing here is that although I am broke and not on the same level as Shi Tonghe, I still dare to be in front of him. I said proud. "
Chen Qingluo said: "You are not penniless."
"Actually, I was a little scared."
“Don’t be afraid.”
“In the end he said I would regret it. Maybe I will regret it in the future.”
"Don't regret it."
"Maybe my rejection was wrong, but maybe it was right."
"Maybe you are totally fine."
"Maybe I will get older, but maybe I won't change. Maybe I can always be the same. Keep writing, the better you can write. ”
“Maybe you are at least no worse than Shi Tonghe.”
“Maybe I can win the Nobel Prize for Literature.”
After finishing speaking, Wang Zixu glanced at the sky, which looked narrow among the shrubs.
“I suddenly felt a little nervous.”
"Don't be nervous."
"I was nervous before coming because I wanted to meet the big shot; I am nervous now because I have to confront the big shot in the future."
"Hmm. Interesting."
"Maybe it's more than just confronting the big shot. We must also fight against some systemic problems that have not been solved for thousands of years. "
"This is what a writer should do." "I am still a little nervous. The feeling was so unreal that Wang Zixu thought he was dreaming.
"Don't be nervous." Chen Qingluo's voice came, "I'm with you."
The two walked along the winding path from this corner of the East China Sea.
(End of this chapter)