Chapter 492: Shocked to the point of numbness
On the evening of November 4th, Yanjing, Yandalang Runhu Apartment.
“Hello!”
“Are you Xiao Li and Xiao Tang?”
“Yes, you are Brother Yucheng, right?”
"Yes, come in, come in. Why are you still carrying things? Don't be so polite."
Tonight, Tao's father was going to treat two of his most popular disciples to dinner. When Tao Yucheng saw the two carrying things, he said In one sentence, he shouted into the house:
"Dad, little Li, Xiao Tang is here!"
A few seconds later, Tao's father came out of the room, "Here you are? Sit down first, we can eat later."
After sitting down, Xiao Li and Xiao Tang came out. Xiao Tang was a little embarrassed. They were first-year graduate students this year and it was their first time to eat at Tao's house.
Xiao Li is a student of Yan University, while Xiao Tang was admitted to Yan University from Shandong.
Tao's father looked kind and chatted with the two about life matters. Tao Yucheng occasionally interjected a word, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
Tao Yucheng noticed that Xiao Tang's eyes had been falling on the family portrait on the wall, and said with a smile: "If you want to see it, just get closer."
Xiao Tang looked shy and didn't action.
Tao Yucheng joked: "It's okay. I know what you want to see even if you don't tell me. There are not many students at Yanda who are not curious about my brother-in-law.
You guys didn't catch up with the good times. In the past few years, my dad and other professors taught undergraduates, and Chaoyang has been working in the library, so he can read it whenever he wants. ”
When Xiao Tang heard this, he was filled with envy. He envied that undergraduates at Yanda could enjoy the teachings of great professors like Professor Tao, and also envied that students at Yanda could see Lin Chaoyang every day.
He got up and came to the family portrait and took a closer look.
There were 11 people in the Tao family portrait, only 3 were adult men. He knew both Tao's father and Tao Yucheng, but he didn't say anything about the remaining man. Er Yu.
He took a look and sat back, Tao Yucheng said: "Xiao Tang looks like a literary young man at first glance. ”
Xiao Tang said with some embarrassment: "I just read some books randomly, not really a hobby."
"The meal is ready, let's eat."
Mother Tao's voice came from the kitchen , several people got up and went to eat.
After dinner, it was exactly seven o'clock. Tao Yucheng turned on the TV to CCTV. Tao's father was watching the news and chatting with two students.
"...Xinhua News Agency reported: In the past two days, more than 100 Taiwanese compatriots who obtained new travel documents for the mainland from China Travel Service in Xiangjiang have traveled to various places via sea, land and air via Guangzhou to visit relatives. .”
When the news broadcast news about cross-strait news, Tao's father asked: "Xiao Li's family is from Fujian, right? Do you have any relatives in Wandao?"
"Yes, my grandfather's youngest brother went to Wandao that year. "
"Now we have a chance to reunite."
"Yes, it's a pity that my grandfather didn't see this day."
Father Tao sighed, "History. The dust that falls on every ordinary person is like a big mountain. You are studying history, so you must understand this truth.”
The two students looked solemn and nodded in agreement.
"... Xinhua News Agency News: On November 2, at the 1987 Renaudeau Literary Award held in Paris, France, the jury awarded the award to Chinese writer Xu Lingjun and his novel "The Truman Show" 》.
The Lenaudeau Literary Prize is in memory of Theophrast Lenaud, the founder of France's first newspaper. Founded in 1926, it is an important literary award in the French literary world. It is awarded at the same time as the Goncourt Literary Prize.
"The Truman Show" is the first foreign literature to win this award. Work..."
The news broadcast is not long, only more than 200 words, which is one level higher than the express news and belongs to the news category.
Tao Yucheng's face was full of surprise, "Dad, Chaoyang won the award?"
His question received no response from Tao's father, and Tao's father didn't react at the moment.
Did the son-in-law win another award?
Although I have never heard of the Renaudeau Literary Award, if it can be awarded by "Xinwen Lianbo", it is definitely not bad.
"Mom! Zhao Li! Chaoyang won the prize!"
After being surprised, Tao Yucheng started shouting, wishing he could shout with a loudspeaker.
"What award did you win?"
The two lesbians were busy in the kitchen just now and did not hear the news on the TV.
“It’s a French prize, Le Nadu Literary Prize...”
Tao Yucheng couldn’t remember the name of the award for a moment, and Xiao Tang said: “The Le Nadu Literary Prize is said to be from France. Important Literary Awards ”
"Is it very famous? Which one is better than the Nobel Prize for Literature?" Zhao Li asked.
This question touched on Tao Yucheng's knowledge blind spot. He first looked at his father, feeling that his expertise seemed inappropriate, and then looked at Xiao Tang.
“I have never heard of the Renaudeau Prize for Literature, but the news said that this prize is awarded at the same time and in the same place as the Goncourt Prize.
I know about the Goncourt Prize, it is France And one of the most important literary awards in Europe. In terms of reputation, the Nobel Prize for Literature is definitely more famous, but the Goncourt Prize for Literature is also very powerful.
The Renaudeau Prize for Literature is comparable to the Goncourt Prize. The importance of the award is self-evident.”
Xiao Tang's half-knowledge of popular science gave the Tao family some confidence. Zhao Li said: "So it's a pretty awesome prize!"
Tao Yucheng said cheerfully: "Aren't you talking nonsense? Can you be on "" News Network" award, Is it bad? People say that Chaoyang is the first foreigner to win this award, setting a record!”
His tone was full of pride for being able to win an award abroad these days. , that is all for bringing glory to the country.
Mother Tao's face was full of joy, but she complained: "It's true that Yushu didn't tell the family about such a big thing!"
"Mom, the genius before Chaoyang won the prize. , It’s so troublesome to make a long-distance call now. Besides, Chaoyang just won the award, which must be a lot of trouble.” Tao Yucheng said.
At this time, Tao's father finally said, "Winning the award is a happy thing, so don't complain. I will write a letter to Yushu tonight to congratulate Chaoyang on winning the award."
The Tao family was very happy. When talking about Lin Chaoyang's award, Xiao Li and Xiao Tang were reluctant to participate, but they were also very happy.
How many contemporary college students have not read Lin Chaoyang's novels, and many of them have been Lin Chaoyang's loyal fans for many years.
At around eight o'clock, Xiao Li and Xiao Tang walked out of Langrun Lake Apartment to the student dormitory. Along the way, they were chatting about the significance of Lin Chaoyang's award for Chinese literature.
Back in the dormitory, Xiao Tang immediately promoted the fact that Lin Chaoyang won the French Renaudeau Literature Prize.
In less than half an hour, the entire dormitory building already knew about this, and then other dormitory buildings.
Throughout the night, in various student dormitories of Yanda, news about "Lin Chaoyang" and the "French Renaudeau Literary Prize" were constantly fermenting.
In fact, not only on the Yanda campus, "Xinwen Lianbo" has such a huge influence. Anyone who has the habit of watching news at night will receive this news.
After being transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Wang Meng still lived in the Kochi Building of the Hufangqiao Cultural Association.
He has always had the habit of watching "Xinwen Lianbo", and tonight he watched it especially carefully.
He learned the news about Lin Chaoyang's award when the embassy contacted the Cultural Association.
He has also been paying attention to Lin Chaoyang's trip to France to receive the award.
When he finished watching the news broadcast, a smile appeared on his face.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chinese writers have won literary awards overseas.
For example, in 1951, Ding Ling's "The Sun Shines on the Sanggan River" and Zhou Libo's "The Storm" won the Stalin Literature Prize that year.
For example, this year, Cao Ying also won the Gorky Literature Prize, the Soviet Union’s highest literary award.
Of course these awards are very important, but the problem is that these awards all come from socialist countries. When it comes to international influence, it can only cover a few socialist countries in the world.
What is different about the Renaudeau Literary Prize is that it is one of the most important literary awards in France.
France is not only an economic, military and cultural power, but also a recognized literary power in the world, with considerable international influence in the Western world.
Lin Chaoyang's recognition by the Lenaudeau Literature Prize should be said to be beneficial to the spread and diffusion of Chinese literature in the world.
The news broadcast on TV had ended, and Wang Meng thought that the Literary and Art Association should send a congratulatory letter.
The news that Lin Chaoyang won the French Renaudeau Literature Prize was spread by "Xinwen Lianbo" and immediately caused a huge response in the cultural circles of Yanjing.
The next morning, "People's Daily" published another article by Xinhua News Agency reporter Nie Ruxin, which recorded in detail the entire process of Lin Chaoyang's award, which attracted the attention of people across the country.
Since the reform and opening up, Chinese people have highly respected Western European and American countries.
The Renaudeau Prize for Literature is far less famous than the Nobel Prize for Literature, but it doesn’t matter. Owned media reporters defended Lin Chaoyang.
Various popular science articles about the Renaudeau Literary Prize and the French Literary Prize quickly appeared within two or three days.
Among these articles, the Renaudeau Literature Prize seems to be the first prize under the Nobel Prize. With this award, Lin Chaoyang’s path to the Nobel Prize is promising in the future.
Of course there is an element of exaggeration in this.
But readers don’t care about this. They only know that Lin Chaoyang won a very impressive literary award in Europe and is very likely to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in the future.
With the overwhelming news reports in the media, the enthusiasm for Lin Chaoyang to win the Renaudeau Literature Prize has become stronger than ever.
On November 7, "Literary News" published a congratulatory message from the China Literary and Art Association to Lin Chaoyang for winning the Renaudeau Literature Award:
We are pleased to hear that Comrade Xu Lingjun won the 1987 Renaudeau Literature Award, and we would like to express our warm congratulations !
During many years of literary creation, Comrade Xu Lingjun has sincere feelings for the motherland, maintains close ties with the people, devotes himself to artistic innovation, and has achieved outstanding achievements.
......
The Literary and Art Association's congratulatory message was written in a flourishing way, which gave Lin Chaoyang high praise and recognition, and was the envy of all colleagues in the literary world.
It is not uncommon in the literary world for the Literary and Art Association to issue a congratulatory message.
When many writers win literary awards, the local literary associations in their hometowns often send congratulatory messages.
However, congratulatory messages from the National Literary and Art Association are rare, and they are still published in the country's top literary and artistic mouthpieces such as "Literary News".
Especially since the evaluation of this congratulatory message is so high, it would be impossible for ordinary writers to enjoy it if they had not achieved world-renowned awards and achievements.
But if you think about it, the news that Lin Chaoyang won the award has just appeared in "Xinwen Lianbo" and "People's Daily", so it seems that it is not a big deal for the All-China Federation of Literary and Art Circles to send out a high-profile congratulatory message.
The 8th was Sunday, and the West Courtyard of Xiaoliubukou Hutong became lively again, and the level of excitement was much higher than usual.
Lin Chaoyang won an award overseas. Li Tuo, a social butterfly, was the most excited. He contacted everyone for several days and called everyone around him. He planned to hold a big party in Xiaoliubukou Alley to honor Lin Chaoyang. Congratulations on Chaoyang!
At least thirty writers came to Xiaoliubukou Hutong today, almost all the well-known local writers in Yanjing.
Li Tuo would definitely not be able to afford to treat a party with so many people, so everyone brought their own food today.
Eating, drinking, chatting, the atmosphere is relaxed and warm.
Because there are too many people, it is naturally impossible for everyone to squeeze together.
Liu Zhenyun sat together with Chen Jiangong, Zhong Acheng and others, chatting each other.
“Winning an award in France should be much more difficult than in China, right?” Chen Jiangong asked.
“Aren’t you talking nonsense? There are so many writers in our country, how many of them have won foreign literary awards?
If you want to win awards abroad, your works must be published abroad, right? This alone can kill so many people!”
When Zhong Acheng talked about it, he admired Lin Chaoyang even more for winning the award in France.
"Alas! When can I win an award? I don't ask for much, and I don't need one from abroad. Just the Mao Dun Literature Award."
Chen Jiangong's words attracted the ridicule of Zhang Chengzhi. , "I see you, there is no hope in this life!"
Chen Jiangong was immediately dissatisfied, and the two had a few words of war of words.
Liu Zhenyun said: "Listen!" "Listen to what?" Chen Jiangong was stunned for a moment.
"The people over there are talking about Chaoyang's "The Great Era"."
Chen Jiangong listened attentively, and then asked: "What's wrong? What's the problem?"
"It's nothing. I just feel that since the news of Chaoyang's award came back to China, the reputation of "Big Time" has improved!"
Listening to Liu Zhenyun's words, several people had strange expressions on their faces. Why didn't they listen? The sarcasm in Liu Zhenyun's words came out.
Lin Chaoyang's new work "The Great Era" was released on the National Day. As usual, it immediately became a popular book that readers rushed to buy and read.
It has been a month since its release, but the reputation is not very optimistic.
This kind of reputation is mainly reflected in the literary and critical circles. After reading "The Great Era", many writers and critics generally believe that Lin Chaoyang's new work is substandard.
On the contrary, the readers' recognition of this novel is unexpectedly high. The most intuitive manifestation is that the sales volume of "The Great Era" exceeded 600,000 copies in the first month.
However, the recognition of readers is not very helpful to the reputation of the novel, because it is difficult for them to control the right to speak in the media.
Since the publication of "Big Times", major literary magazines and literary review magazines have successively published some review articles, and the evaluation is not very high.
Some writers mentioned "The Great Era" during chats and thought that its content was too popular to be elegant.
But this situation has experienced a strange reversal in recent days. Whenever someone around them discusses "The Big Era", their evaluations are obviously much higher than in the previous days.
The reason does not need to be revealed directly. In fact, everyone understands it.
Snobbery is not immune even in the literary world.
"The tone of "The Great Era" determines that it cannot look as high-end as "The Death of Van Gogh" or "The Death of Van Gogh".
But the core of this novel is actually very thoughtful and philosophical. Yes, it’s a pity that many people care more about formality,” Chen Jiangong said.
Liu Zhenyun said with a playful expression: "In the eyes of many critics, it is neither realistic nor modern, and does not please both ends."
His words made Zhang Chengzhi approve. Nodding, "Perhaps the biggest problem with "The Great Era" is that it does not meet the reading habits and aesthetic tastes of some elite readers."
"It doesn't matter. Look at it now, won't its reputation get better after winning the award? Liu Zhenyun said in a joking tone.
Several people laughed.
While talking, a shout suddenly came from outside the yard.
Yu Hua didn’t hear clearly at first, but someone was already moving beside him.
They walked out of the house and saw Wang Shuo, who had just finished using the toilet, standing at the door of the inner courtyard with his pants lifted, shouting: "Chaoyang is back! Chaoyang is back!"
Everyone They immediately ran out of the courtyard in a swarm, and then rushed into the east courtyard, like a herd of horses galloping.
Lin Chaoyang had just entered the hospital with his luggage when he was startled by the sudden movement.
Just now he was blocked by reporters at the airport for more than an hour, and he finally regained his freedom.
"Chaoyang! You are back!"
Li Tuo ran ahead, as if Li Kui had hugged Lin Chaoyang when he saw Song Jiang, and a group of people following him also They came up and surrounded Lin Chaoyang.
“Okay, okay!”
Lin Chaoyang pushed Li Tuo away in disgust. Li Tuo didn't care at all, and said solemnly: "Chaoyang, you have given face to our Chinese writers! You have brought glory to the country!"
Under his leadership, everyone They all looked at Lin Chaoyang eagerly.
It is said that men of letters despise each other, but this is only half true.
When one party's position is too high, there is no such thing as literary contempt, there is only envy, admiration and admiration.
The Renaudeau Literature Prize does not have the influence of the Nobel Prize for Literature, but it is already a level that is difficult for most writers in the country to reach.
Therefore, when everyone saw Lin Chaoyang who had just returned with great honors, they were particularly excited and congratulated him endlessly.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Lin Chaoyang expressed his gratitude to everyone with his hands in hand.
Li Tuo asked again: "Why did you come back?"
"Participated in some activities in Paris." Lin Chaoyang replied to him, and then said: "It's very cold. Stop standing in the yard, let’s go inside and talk.”
Everyone swarmed into the main room. If the house hadn’t been so big, there wouldn’t be room for all these people.
After putting away his luggage, Lin Chaoyang started chatting with everyone. Everyone was full of curiosity about his experience in France.
“The board and lodging are all arranged by the publishing house...”
“The award will be received at the Touen restaurant in the 2nd district of Paris, where the Goncourt Literary Prize will be awarded on the same day... "
"Which writers do you know? There was Umberto Eco on the day of the award. Later I went to the party and met Duras..."
In Lin Chaoyang's story about his time in Paris During the experience, dozens of people in the room were silent, listening quietly and fascinatedly.
As writers, most people present have a certain attachment to France or Paris.
Hugo, Dumas, Dumas, Balzac, Flaubert, Gide... countless French literary giants are like stars shining in the sky.
It is impossible for any young person who is interested in literature not to have read the works of these people.
It is precisely because of the existence of these literary giants that France and Paris have unique influence among Chinese writers.
The literary giants have long since passed away, and Lin Chaoyang will definitely have no chance to interact with them. When people asked him which writers he had met in France, he could only pick out a few of the more famous contemporary writers he had met.
Even so, it was enough to amaze everyone.
"Chaoyang is really going to die this time!"
Zheng Wanlong's tone was full of envy, and he wished he could take his place.
Li Tuo said: "Look at what you said, what do you mean Chaoyang is gone? Chaoyang is also the winner of the Renaudeau Literature Prize. In the future, he will be an internationally renowned writer, no worse than Duras and others. ”
“That’s right, you are trying to make others proud and destroy your own prestige!”
Everyone denounced Zheng Wanlong, and he quickly bowed his head and admitted his mistake.
"Mistake, mistake!"
After a few quarrels, everyone asked Lin Chaoyang about it. They heard that he had accepted an interview with "The Paris Review" in Paris, and Li Tuo and Zhang Chengzhi Startled.
Most of the people present did not react at all. Seeing a few of them so surprised, everyone was very puzzled.
In this era, domestic information was underdeveloped, and the speed of introducing foreign literary works was calculated in years.
Although there has been a lot of liberalization in recent years, it is still closed-off in comparison.
Literary journals are even less likely to be introduced due to timeliness and policy reasons.
Except for some people who are at the forefront of literary research or who understand foreign languages and have access to foreign language journals, the vast majority of writers have no access to foreign literary magazines.
Many people have even zero knowledge and understanding of the vast majority of foreign literary magazines.
Zhang Chengzhi gave everyone a scientific introduction to the status of "The Paris Review" in European and American countries, and finally concluded:
"To use a domestic publication as an analogy, it would probably be at the level of Harvest, but it is Harvest with readers all over Europe and the United States."
After hearing his metaphor, everyone immediately understood. .
Zhang Chengzhi added: "Their interview column is very famous, and they interview writers of the level of Hemingway, Henry Miller, Marquez, and Huxley."
" Wow~”
Everyone was shocked and couldn’t help but exclaim.
No, bro, you just went abroad and won an award, how come your level is so high all of a sudden?
Everyone felt as if an auspicious cloud had risen under Lin Chaoyang's feet, floating in the air, and there was still light behind him.
Facing the exaggerated looks in everyone's eyes, Lin Chaoyang quickly waved his hands, "It's not that exaggerated. They also interviewed less famous writers. Besides, the publishing house helped me get the interview."< br>
Hearing what he said, Chen Jiangong curiously asked about the origin of the publishing house.
Lin Chaoyang introduced Gallimard Publishing House that everyone did not know much about. When he mentioned "Seven Star Library", everyone exclaimed again.
In 1931, a young independent publisher, Jacques Schiffrin, founded the "Seven Stars" publishing house in Paris and launched the "Seven Stars Library" series of books.
The name is taken from the "Seven Stars Poetry Society" composed of seven 16th-century French humanist poets represented by Pierre de Ronsard.
After its launch, Qixing Library has launched works by famous writers such as Baudelaire, Racine, and Stendhal, which have been widely praised by the literary world.
But in 1933, due to the financial difficulties of Seven Star Publishing House, at the suggestion of French writer Gide, Gallimard Publishing House included Seven Star Library under its banner, and continued to launch the book in accordance with Schifrin's principles. Book series.
To date, Qixing Library has a history of more than 50 years and has published nearly a thousand books, covering the works of about 200 important writers in the world.
The editorial department of Qixing Library is extremely strict in screening the included writers, which means that every writer whose works can be included can be regarded as a literary hero of the country.
For example, when Duan Musong from France received a call from the editor of Qixing Library stating that his work would be included in Qixing Library, he exclaimed with joy: Being selected into Qixing Library is comparable to a Nobel Prize in Literature award.
Another example is Céline, who wrote "The Long Night". He had an unruly character and suffered ideological persecution throughout his life, but he never bowed his head. He is known as the loneliest writer in the French literary world.
However, during his lifetime, he repeatedly wrote letters asking the editorial office to include his works in the series, but was rejected. It was not until after his death that his works were included in the Seven Stars Library.
Among the nearly one thousand volumes of literary works collected by Qixing Library, there are also shadows of Chinese works, including "Water Margin", "Laozi", "Zhuangzi", "Liezi", "Dream of Red Mansions" and "Jin Ping Mei".
After the repeated shocks, everyone began to feel a little numb.
So when they heard that Wang Meng, on behalf of the Cultural Association, went to the Capital Airport to welcome Lin Chaoyang back to China with great honors, there was no emotion at all.
“If there is anything you haven’t said yet, say it quickly.” Chen Jiangong asked Lin Chaoyang.
“No, I’ve already talked about getting off the plane back home, what else can happen.”
In fact, Lin Chaoyang really didn’t say anything, his party at Gallimard Publishing House I met a writer named Milan Kundera.
Unfortunately, Milan Kundera was not well-known in China at this time. His works had been introduced to China more than ten years ago, but they were all in the name of "internal reference" and few people knew about them.
Everyone gathered around Lin Chaoyang and listened to the excitement for a long time. They were surprised, happy, shocked... and experienced all kinds of emotions. It was a worthwhile trip.
Everyone was planning to leave, but Li Tuo suddenly remembered something.
"Chaoyang, where is your certificate?"
"Where is the certificate? Just announce it verbally." Lin Chaoyang said.
After all, the Goncourt Literary Prize has a bonus of 50 francs. Lin Chaoyang went to receive the award. There was no bonus, certificate, or trophy. Unless the publishing house was responsible for his food and accommodation, he had to take care of himself.
When everyone thought of this, they immediately felt a lot more relaxed.
A group of people come and go in waves.
The originally noisy home became quiet in a moment.
After staying abroad for a week and experiencing a long-distance flight, I got off the plane for interviews and chats. Now that everyone is gone, Lin Chaoyang can finally lie down in bed and have a good sleep.
He slept for more than ten hours and didn't wake up until about four o'clock the next morning.
I got up and tidied up. It wasn’t even five o’clock yet, and it was still dark outside.
He waited until 5:30 and ran to the street. The breakfast shop had just opened.
"A bowl of fried liver, two steamed buns with pork and green onions."
Just as I was about to settle the account after eating, I touched my pocket and found it was broken. I didn't have any food stamps.
(End of this chapter)