1980 My literary era

"Contemporary" was founded in 1979. In the first two issues, the editorial director was founder Meng Weizai. Later, because Meng Weizai was busy with work, the Chinese Literature Society asked the old writer Qin Chaoyang to take charge of the editorial department.

After Lin Weimin left, in Meng Weizai's office, Qin Chaoyang was communicating with him about the conversation he had just had with Lin Weimin.

"Generally speaking, Comrade Weimin is a talented person with ideas and has made great achievements in literature. If he can join our "Contemporary" editorial department, it will be a good thing for us." Qin Chaoyang concluded.

Meng Weizai put down the tea cup in his hand, "It seems that Lin Weimin is indeed a talent."

"Yes, talent is rare. Our editorial staff is already lacking."

"But..." Meng Weizai hesitated, "There is no precedent for this! If he was a member of the literature training class we held before in the Humanities Club, it would be more or less the same."

Tan Chaoyang still wanted to fight for it, but Meng Weizai waved his hand and said, "I know you love talents. I will report to Lao Yan and Jun Yi later and see if we can be accommodating."

Lao Yan is Yan Wenjing, the current president of the Humanities Society, and Junyi is Wei Junyi, the editor-in-chief of the Humanities Society.

When Tan Chaoyang saw this, he said nothing more.

After he left, Meng Weizai sighed, "It's really a headache!"

The weather in Yanjing in July was extremely hot. On a weekend morning, Lin Weimin rode his bicycle to No. 26 Yonghegong Street, sweating profusely.

Pushing the bicycle into the yard, Lin Weimin shouted: "Tie Sheng! Tie Sheng!"

Shi Tiesheng had difficulty moving, and it was not until Lin Weimin pushed open the door that he rolled his wheelchair and walked to the door.

He immediately saw the bicycle parked under the window, his eyes filled with envy, "Did you buy a bicycle?"

Lin Weimin was about to smile, but suddenly realized that something was not right, so he nodded lightly, "I'm on holiday and running around Yanjing. It's more convenient to have a bicycle."

Shi Tiesheng was keenly aware of the subtle changes in his expression, and he felt apologetic in his heart, but still had a smile on his face, "Having a bicycle is much more convenient. Look, don't you come to my house whenever you want?"

Lin Weimin then laughed, "That's right!"

He tugged on his collar, "It's so early in the morning, it's not even ten o'clock yet, and the heat makes people want to pass out!"

"Go inside and cool down for a while." Shi Tiesheng let him in.

Lin Weimin saw pens and papers spread out on the table and saw that Shi Tiesheng was creating just now.

"What are you writing?"

"I just finished writing a short story. I don't have to go to work today to revise and revise it. You're here just in time to help me take a look."

Shi Tiesheng had difficulty moving, so Lin Weimin went over and picked up the manuscript.

This is a novel that describes various situations during lunch time in a street factory. It casually describes the workers' leisure time after work.

Lin Weimin found it very interesting when he first read it. He was extremely unfamiliar with factory life in this era.

In today's literary world where scar literature is still the trend, the style of "Half Hour for Lunch" is so special.

The most rare thing is the emotion in this novel. Every stroke seems to be inspired by excitement and a little erratic. You won’t see the turmoil and ups and downs of the big era here, just fragments of life that can be seen everywhere in daily life.

Lin Weimin immediately realized that this might also be a shortcoming, it was too scattered.

But when he thought about it carefully, he realized that this might be an advantage.

He especially liked the description of how the old, dull faces at work glowed with moving expressions as lunchtime came, as if they came to life in an instant.

Even forty years later, this kind of description is extremely accurate and full of meticulous observations of life and human nature.

"How about it?"

As Lin Weimin turned the manuscript to the last page, Shi Tiesheng asked with a bit of expectation in his eyes.

Lin Weimin put down the manuscript and praised: "It's very well written."

"Really?"

"certainly."

Lin Weimin thought for a moment, and then said: "As for shortcomings, of course this novel has it. It is too scattered and too light, but I think this is exactly its advantage. My understanding of this novel is through meticulous reading. Observe and record life as it is. What you can see here is not only a description of daily life, but also a glimpse of a certain alienation between your heart and the world. Well, that’s not a good thing to say. It should be said to be a reflection. A kind of nihilistic thought."

Shi Tiesheng quickly interrupted him, "Just talk about novels, don't analyze me."

"Hehe!" Lin Weimin succeeded in his prank and laughed proudly.

"Okay, let's talk about the novel. I personally think this novel is an excellent work with great personal characteristics. What's great about it is that it is completely different from the current mainstream trend of scar literature.

Today I was still talking about this topic with Qin Chaoyang of "Contemporary". Of course scar literature is good, but the literary world cannot only have scar literature, just like people cannot eat only white rice.

This novel of yours has lost the strong contemporary concerns and historical criticism that you had in the past, and instead replaced these things with everyday narratives. However, it is not thin and stands up. It is a good work! "

If Lin Weimin just came up to praise him, Shi Tiesheng probably wouldn't take it seriously. The key is that what he said was reasonable and well-founded.

"Isn't that too exaggerated? Don't you have any shortcomings?"

"Disadvantages? Didn't I just say that it's too scattered and too bland."

Shi Tiesheng was convinced, "For the people, I can't tell that you still have the potential to be an editor."

"What a coincidence, I'm currently studying it."

"What to study? Be an editor?"

"Yes. How about it? Do you want to give this novel to our magazine?"

Shi Tiesheng looked unbelieving, "Really or not? Why haven't I heard you mention it before?"

"Hey, just kidding, I haven't even figured out my horoscope yet."

"Then I wish you success in advance."

"thanks, thanks!"

The two were chatting without paying attention to the time, when Father Shi walked in and said, "Let's have lunch across the water. It's hot, so cool off!"

"Okay!" Shi Tiesheng agreed.

"I asked Shi Lan to buy sesame paste."

Lin Weimin stood up and said: "Uncle, don't call Shi Lan, I'll go."

"Don't worry, just talk to Tiesheng."

Father Shi stopped Lin Weimin and asked Shi Lan to buy sesame paste, while he prepared to make noodles.

As a seasoning, people in many places like to eat sesame sauce, but for Yanjing people, sesame sauce has a special meaning.

Especially in these dog days, sesame paste is not a dispensable condiment, but a necessity in people's lives.

In the 1950s, Mr. Lao She, as the people's representative of Yanjing City, had a proposal, which included the following sentence: Yanjing people cannot live without sesame paste in summer!