Chapter 414 "You have to strive for the Nobel Prize in Literature" (Second update)
After a while, the crisp sound of bicycle bells came from outside. Fang Minghua went out and opened the door and saw Li Li riding a small bicycle. Kun Che entered the small courtyard.
Wearing a goose yellow down jacket, jeans, and white sneakers, he looks very fashionable.
"Brother-in-law." Li Li called, took out a plastic bag from the front frame of the bicycle and handed it to Fang Minghua.
“These are some books I brought back from England. I brought them to you.”
"Come into the house and say, it's cold outside."
The two entered the living room, and Li Li called "Auntie" very affectionately, and then picked up Ruirui who was playing with toys.
“Little aunt.” Ruirui called out in a sweet voice.
"Hey" Li Li was so happy that she kissed the little girl's red cheek and said to Lele next to her.
“Lele, call me aunt.”
It's a pity that Lele spoke late and could barely call her mom and dad. He just glanced at Li Li and ignored her, playing with himself.
“Smelly Lele, you don’t even call me aunt.” Li Li smiled and cursed.
Maybe it’s because her daughter Ruirui is often kept at her grandmother’s house. Li Li sees her many times and obviously wants to be intimate with her, stretching out her little hand for her to hug.
The girl was playing with the two children, but Fang Minghua didn't interfere. He sat on the desk and took out a few books from the plastic bag.
Most of them are English books.
Since he went to the United States and stayed there for four months, Fang Minghua's English level has improved by leaps and bounds. It is not a problem to listen to English radio, read "New Concept English" learned by Song Tangtang, and read general literature books.
"The Catcher in the Rye", "Walden Pond" and "Hello, Sorrow".
It's actually a Japanese book!
"ノルウェイの Forest", author むらかみはるき.
What does it mean?
Fang Minghua looked at it for a while, thought about it, picked up the Japanese book and asked tentatively: "Is this "Norwegian Wood" written by the Japanese writer Haruki Harukami?"
"Yes, it's Harukami. Haruki's latest novel, published last year, became a sensation in Japan when it was published. I was studying in London and a Japanese classmate in my class brought it. I read it and found it interesting, so I borrowed it. Brother-in-law, have you read it? "< br>
Of course I have!
But this book was only published last year. There is definitely no Chinese translation in China. How can I say I have read it?
Fang Minghua said with a smile: "I can barely understand a few words in Japanese. How have you read it?" Then he pretended to ask: "Does it look good?"
"It's quite interesting. It tells a love story about a young man. When the hero Watanabe was in college, he accidentally met the girlfriend of his high school friend Kizuki. Kizuki committed suicide when he was seventeen.
Kizuki's death caused a lot of psychological distress to Watanabe, because the last person Kizuki saw before his death was Watanabe. Kizuki's death made a young man think about life and death. ”
Li Li told the summary of the novel, and Fang Minghua listened attentively.
When she finished speaking, Fang Minghua said jokingly, "Lili, you have a PhD in comparative literature. Isn't it a bit too shallow to read this kind of novel? You should read "The Odyssey" and Plato's "The Republic" ", or books like "The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons" from our country."
Li Li rolled her eyes at him and muttered:
"Brother-in-law, you're so tired from writing the thesis, can't you let me read these books to relax?"
"I'm sorry." Fang Minghua just remembered that Song Tangtang said last night that Li Li was preparing the thesis.
So he asked with concern: "How are you preparing for your thesis? Can you graduate successfully this year?" "Well, it shouldn't be a big problem." The girl was very confident.
“Oh Lili, are you planning to return to China after graduation, or stay in the UK?”
Hearing Fang Minghua ask this, Song Tangtang's mother Zhou Yunchuan, who was leisurely knitting a sweater, also stopped what she was doing and looked at Li Li.
Li Li glanced at Fang Minghua: "I haven't decided yet. Heinemann Publishing House in the UK has sent me an invitation letter, hoping that I can work for them. And my original tutor, Yan Da Professor Xu Yuanchong hopes that I will return to Yanda to teach and translate at the same time. The school leaders also welcome me back, but I haven’t made a final decision yet.”
“Lili, it’s better to come back and teach at Yanda. It’s also close to your grandparents’ house, and you’re not used to living abroad!” Zhou Yunjuan intervened and advised.
"It's okay. I've been in London for almost three years and I'm used to their life." Li Li replied: "Okay, let's not talk about it. Brother-in-law, I'll give it to my sister Tangtang." What do you think of the suggestions?”
“Very good. These novels can be classified as youth literature. They are still relatively rare in our country. I am going to put that "A Clockwork Orange" and this one " "Norwegian Wood" has been translated into Chinese. These two books have just been published and there is no Chinese translation in China. I originally wanted to find you, but you are busy and I am going to find someone else to translate it." Fang Minghua said.
"Who are you looking for?" Li Li asked curiously.
Fang Minghua had no choice but to briefly explain the circumstances of his encounter with the girl named Dai Jiali when he went to Hainan.
Li Li was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "I admire you very much when you said that girl named Dai Jiali dared to do what she liked."
"That's called What a waste of time!" Zhou Yunjuan lost no time in interjecting.
Li Li pursed her lips and smiled without any excuse.
"Hey, by the way, brother-in-law." Li Li seemed to remember something: "I have basically completed the English translation of your book "Crossing the Guandong". It will be published after the final proofreading. Which publishing house do you want to find?"
"You decide, you are more familiar with foreign affairs than I am." Fang Minghua said with a smile.
"Then let it be handed over to Simon & Schuster Publishing House?" Li Li thought for a while and said: "They have published your book "The Bridge of Lost Dreams", and they are relatively familiar with it. The company has a branch in London. I will contact them after I return to London."
"Yes, I will give you full authority to handle this matter."
"I will prepare the translation when the novel is finished. The short stories and short stories you wrote form a collection," the girl continued.
"Wouldn't it affect your paper writing?" Fang Minghua was a little worried.
"It doesn't matter, there are no classes this semester, and I have nothing else to do at school. Translation is my job anyway."
"Thank you very much."< br>
"Brother-in-law, you should hurry up and write more serious literature. I will help you translate it into English, so that you can win the Nobel Prize for Literature."
"Huh? Nobel Prize? ”
"Yes, the judges of the Nobel Prize in Literature basically read the English, French and German versions, so the works must be translated, and the Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to individuals who have made great achievements in the field of literature, not to a certain individual. It’s a book, so you have to work hard to write it.” After the girl finished speaking, she winked playfully.
“Oh, Lili, you think further than me.”
“You should think about it, work hard, and strive to be the first writer in our country to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. !" Li Li said again.
"Who will win the Nobel Prize?" A female voice came from outside, the door was pushed open, and Song Tangtang came back wearing a black woolen coat and scarf.
(End of this chapter)