At noon, meal time has arrived.
Wang Shuo felt that he was running out of juice, so he suggested going to Quanjude to eat roast duck to celebrate the studio’s big orders from Jiahe and Shaw Brothers.
Fang Yan agreed and took Chen Ximi, Shi Tiesheng and Gong Xie with him in the car to go ahead.
Wang Shuo, Zhong Acheng and others simply cleaned up the house, then hurriedly rode on their cars and went straight to Wangfujing Street.
After arriving, the dishes were ordered early, and Jianlibao and Yanjing beer were placed on the table.
Wang Shuo let out a light sigh, and saw a young man wearing an employee uniform standing in front of Fang Yan. He was tall and thin, and looked cynical. He was somewhat similar to himself back then, and he didn't dare to shout at him. Teacher Fang’s performance was respectful and sincere.
“Who is this person?”
Zhong Acheng asked Shi Tiesheng softly.
"Xu Xing."
Shi Tiesheng smiled and explained that he was the comrade in charge of cleaning in Quanjude. He heard that the people who came to eat were in dialect, and he very much hoped to help him read the manuscript. Faced with such enthusiasm, Fang Yan naturally found it hard to refuse and accepted it happily.
Wang Shuo glanced at it and saw that the manuscript was written on the tram company's lined paper instead of the commonly used square paper. He couldn't help curling his lips:
"This is too amateurish... "
"Don't pour cold water on the people who love literature."
Shi Tiesheng reminded in a low voice.
Although the two people spoke in low voices, Xu Xing could barely hear them clearly, with a look of embarrassment and anxiety on his face.
"Don't be nervous." Fang Yan said halfway through the page, "Have you ever written a novel before?"
Xu Xing shook his head and said, "This is my first time writing a novel."
Fang Yan asked: "Then do you usually read any literary magazines or novels?"
“Yes!”
Xu Xing frankly said that he recently borrowed a copy of "People's Literature" from a friend and accidentally discovered Liu Sola's "You Have No Choice". I didn’t expect that a literary magazine could publish an article on “rock” themes.
Dialect said: "So, your "Variations on No Theme" were inspired by "You Have No Choice"?"
"What I like most is the contempt and disdain for everything in her words. , the energy to oppose everything "
Xu Xing openly admitted that in his eyes it was a work of real literary value. What surprised him even more was that he could write this kind of thing, so he started writing it. This article is called "Variations on a Theme".
As the name suggests, the book has no theme. The protagonist in it is just like Jia Baoyu, moaning and talking in his sleep.
Despise universities, despise experts, despise success, but are like a fox that cannot eat grapes, sour and confused.
There happened to be a girlfriend who fell in love with him at first sight just like Xue Baochai. She hoped that the protagonist would work hard to make progress, and first let him go to college, and then introduced him to professional writers to help him become famous. As a result, the two had different views, and they finally broke up amid the quarrel. hand.
“No wonder it’s the same as “You Have No Choice”, which has the shadow of “Catcher in the Rye”.”
Fang Yan put the manuscript paper on the table.
Xu Xing's tone was full of expectations, "Teacher Fang, what do you think?"
"Your article, like Liu Sola's, can be regarded as 'youth pain literature', expressing It is the confusion and distress of young people.”
Fang Yan knocked on the table, "But her article was positive and full of youthful vitality, but yours is a bit cynicistic."
Xu Xing's heart skipped a beat, and he said weakly: "What? Call it cynicism?”
Wang Shuo explained with a smile, “That’s it. It is pessimistic, negative, cynical, contemptuous of social morality, and mocking anything noble..."
Xu Xing's expression froze and he whispered: "Teacher Fang, can I not publish this article?"< br>
“It’s not like it can’t be published.”
Fang Yan comforted: "Liu Sola's "You Have No Choice" was not much better than yours. It was also very cynical, mocking this and cursing that. But if you look at the novel she has revised now, there are less complaints and more Passion."
Xu Xing's eyes flashed: "Can this novel also be changed?"
Fang Yan said: "Of course, have you ever thought about it? "Which publishing house should I submit to?" "To tell you the truth, I submitted it before, but it made a joke." One, I knew at the time what department it was in, but I didn't know it was the editorial department of the "Poetry Magazine". Then I was stopped by the old man at the door. After asking, I found out that this place only accepted poetry magazines, which made a fool of myself.
“Pfft!”
Wang Shuo couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
Shi Tiesheng rolled his eyes, and then cast an encouraging look at Xu Xing, "What happened next?"
Xu Xing said: "After that, I asked the uncle where I could submit novels, and he gave me directions. I found a clear path and said I would go to Dongshitiao and vote for "People's Literature." Then he said awkwardly, "That's why I have the courage to ask Teacher Fang to take a look. You are the deputy director of "People's Literature." Editor..."
"If that's the case, then you don't need to go to Dongsi Shitiao again."
Fang Yan said: "I have accepted this manuscript for now, but I will. There is no guarantee that it will be published in "People's Literature". I can only say that if the revision is good, it can be published in a literary journal. Can you accept this situation? "
"Yes!"
Xu Xing was filled with excitement and kept bowing: "Thank you, Teacher Fang, thank you, Teacher Fang!"
Fang Yan raised his hand and asked for his contact information including his address. method, you will get a reply in a few days.
Seeing Xu Xing leave in excitement, Wang Shuo couldn't help but ask:
"Teacher Fang, do you really plan to publish this novel in "People's Literature"?"
"Have you read the manuscript?"
Fang Yan asked rhetorically.
“No.”
Wang Shuo was stunned for a moment.
“Take it and have a look, it’s very similar to your style.”
There are still half a sentence left in dialect, and it is very similar to "The Stubborn Lord", with a bit of ruffian literature.
"Theme without Variations" was circulated among Wang Shuo, Shi Tiesheng, Chen Ximi and others, and there was a lot of discussion.
"Yanzi, you are right. It is indeed similar to Wang Shuo's writing style, with a hint of Beijing flavor."
Shi Tiesheng nodded: "It's just that you are laughing and scolding, while he is cynical. ."
Wang Shuo opened his mouth and had to admit that Xu Xing's novel was indeed worthy of publication.
But soon, this episode passed by in a flash, and everyone's attention was focused on the roast duck brought by the waiter.
After having a delicious meal, he returned as he came. Fang Yan came back first with Gong Qie, Shi Tiesheng and others.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, Gong Qian was surprised to find: "Ah, the acacia tree is in bloom!"
Fang Yan followed her gaze and saw the acacia tree in the west of the courtyard. , dotted with small folding fan-shaped flowers, red, purple, yellow and white in various colors, butterfly-shaped flower whiskers blooming among the green leaves on the branches, clusters, clusters, and clusters, fluttering in the wind.
“I remember, this tree was planted when Tiesheng moved in, right?”
Gong Zhen asked casually.
“Yes.”
Shi Tiesheng said with emotion: “This was planted the year my mother went to the Labor Bureau to find a job for me. At that time, she thought it was mimosa. , was planted in a flower pot. After a year or two, buds sprouted and leaves grew. Then it was moved from the basin to the courtyard."
Chen Ximi looked up and said, "I didn't expect there to be such a story."
Shi Tiesheng was moved by the scene and turned his head, "Yanzi, Is your "People's Literature" still short of manuscripts? ”
"It's missing, why isn't it missing!" Fang Yan said knowingly: "What, Tiesheng, do you want to submit an article?"
"I'm going to write a prose with the title of "Albizia Julibrissin Tree"."
Shi Tiesheng missed people when he saw things. When he saw the acacia tree planted by his mother for him, his thoughts couldn't help but think of his mother... (End of this chapter)