1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 337 Two pounds of tomatoes!
"What good news?" Jiang Xian asked puzzledly.

Wang Meng took a sip of wine and said with a chuckle:

"As you know, Mr. Mao left two wishes when he passed away, one of which was to establish a literary award for novels."

Jiang Xian probably thought of something, but didn't say it out loud. He followed Wang Meng's words and said:

"I heard that the Writers Association established the Mao Dun Literature Prize in accordance with his last wish. It is the first literary award in our country named after an individual."

Wang Meng nodded and looked up at him. "The scope of the first Mao Dun Literature Prize is mainly novels with more than 1981 words published before 13. Your Furong Town and Xu Sanguan Selling Blood both meet the selection criteria. People's Literature has submitted these two novels for you."

“Furong Town, Xu Sanguan Selling Blood.”

Jiang Xian was not surprised that his two novels were recommended.

As a person from later generations, he is very clear that the Mao Dun Literature Prize has always been more mainstream and favors realistic literary works.

These two novels of his happen to have a strong realistic literary flavor.

And the quality is also quite good.

It definitely possesses the literary quality to compete for the Mao Dun Literature Prize.

Wang Meng couldn't help laughing at this time, "Come to think of it, you have also given the comrades in the preliminary selection group a big problem."

The judges and chairman of the Mao Dun Literature Prize are all of the same age as Ba Jin and Bing Xin. They are old and of course do not have the energy to read a lot. Moreover, many of the old seniors are not very familiar with the literary creations in recent years.

So in the end, a preliminary selection panel consisting of five people, including Feng Mu, Wei Junyi, and Kong Luosun, selected the final six shortlisted works from the 5 works recommended by the review reading class, that is, the 18 nominated works.

I should point out here that there are quite a lot of winning articles for the Mao Dun Literature Prize, and the number is not fixed, approximately 3-5 articles per session.

Because this is the first session and there are many works, the number of winning works is set at 6.

Among these 6 articles, there are also rankings. The earlier it is, the higher the ranking. However, due to the saying "there is no first in literature and no second in martial arts", not many people often mention the ranking.

After all, the Mao Dun Literature Prize is the crown of the literary world.

Winning this award means that the work has reached the highest level of contemporary novel creation.

For example, the famous Su Tong actually won the fifth-ranked Mao Dun Literature Prize, but he was already very happy.

Liu Zhenyun also won the fifth-ranked Mao Dun Literature Prize, the last one in the ranking.

Wang Meng said: "Look, everyone else comes to the competition with one work, but you come with two.

Old Madam Wei Junyi got angry at the time and set a new rule that in future selections, only the most outstanding work of each writer could be recommended.

"You can't blame me for this." Jiang Xian wanted to cry but had no tears.

Will I be criticized even if I write so much?
But apart from him, I guess no one else has this problem.

The Mao Dun Literature Prize was initially held every three years, but was later changed to four years.

For most writers, it takes three or four years to write a novel.

Because the Mao Dun Literature Prize does not select works in separate volumes, the work must be completed and complete before it can be selected.

Therefore, apart from Jiang Xian, who can produce at a high frequency as if it were free, no one else has the chance to cause trouble to the judges.

"Teacher Wang, have the results of the Mao Dun Literature Prize been announced?" Jiang Xian asked.

"The results will probably be announced in the next two days," Wang Meng said, adding with a hint of reserve, "After all, my work has also been nominated, so it's inconvenient to ask about many things, so I have to be more discreet."

"Then I'll wait for news." Jiang Xian suppressed the expectations in his heart.

He didn't dare to imagine that he could win two Mao Dun Literature Prizes in a row.

He was excited enough to win the Mao Dun Literature Prize.

After all, the Mao Dun Literature Prize has a different meaning from previous national literary awards.

Winning the Mao Dun Literature Prize can be said to be a lifetime honor for domestic literary workers.

I don’t know how many writers have missed out on this award.

Just like Teacher Wang Meng who is talking to Jiang Xian now.

Jiang Xian couldn't help but look at him with pity.

Teacher Wang has been accompanying the class since the first session.

As a result, I have been a runner-up for more than 30 years.

He continued to run for the award until he was over 80 years old, and only then did he finally get the Mao Dun Literature Prize as he wished.

"I will continue to pay attention to this matter and notify you as soon as there is any news." Teacher Wang Meng had an expectant look on her face and was obviously feeling good about herself.

Jiang Xian quickly complimented him, "Okay, Mr. Wang, if you win the award, remember to treat me to a meal."

"Haha, no problem." Wang Meng laughed a few times.

Jiang Xian asked again: "Teacher Wang, didn't you say there were two happy events? What about the other one?"

"What happy event? You talk like you're getting married. But it is a happy event after all."

Wang Meng smiled and said, "Do you know the Chinese American female writer Ms. Nie Hualing?"

"Nie Hualing?"

Jiang Xian quickly thought of this person, "The one who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize a few years ago?"

"Yes."

Nie Hualing is a female writer. She was born in Wuhan, later went to Taiwan, and finally settled in the United States.

Just looking at her experience, many people may think she is like Eileen Chang.

However, unlike Zhang Ailing who was controversial, Nie Hualing deserves the respect of the whole world.

She was the only Chinese woman nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

More than 300 celebrities from more than 20 countries jointly recommended her.

Jiang Xian also admired this person very much.

On the principal's 70th birthday, the magazine she worked for published seven pages of articles criticizing the principal.

Later she went to the United States and set up an "International Writing Program" there, organizing writers from various countries to join. Basically, those invited were from developing countries and some "problem" countries.

This is actually a very good thing, especially for most developing countries. People will provide you with living expenses and travel expenses, allowing you to live and experience the world's most developed countries for a period of time, which is very eye-opening.

What Wang Meng mentioned to Jiang Xian was also about this international writing program. The full name is "Literary Activities of the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa, USA".

"Ms. Nie Hualing has been inviting domestic writers to participate in this writing project for several years. Comrades such as Xiao Qian, Ding Ling, and Ai Qing have participated in previous projects. I was also lucky enough to participate in one before."

"This year's writing plan is about to start again. Ms. Nie Hualing wrote to me and asked me to recommend a few domestic writers to her."

"I recommended you to her. If nothing unexpected happens, you will probably receive a letter from Ms. Nie Hualing inviting you soon."

"."

Wang Meng looked at Jiang Xian, waiting for his excitement. After all, this was a great opportunity to travel to the United States.

However, the feedback given by Jiang Xian was not as exciting as he expected, it was just a bit unexpected.

"What? You're still not willing to go?" Wang Meng observed Jiang Xian's reaction and felt like someone had poured a bucket of cold water on him.

This is really weird.

For any writer, it would be a pleasure to just go to Beidaihe, let alone go to the United States.

How to change to Jiang Xian is still full of doubts.

"No, I was just surprised."

Jiang Xian was indeed surprised.

He had guessed something about the Mao Dun Literature Prize.

But he had never expected the international writing program.

To the United States?
He needs to think about this matter carefully.

"This is an opportunity to go to the United States. Don't you want to go?" "I'm not unwilling to go. Didn't he write to me? I think I'll talk about this matter after I receive the letter." Jiang Xian said calmly.

"Just hold it."

Wang Meng rolled her eyes at him, clinked glasses with him, and had another dinner at his house before leaving.

Jiang Xian didn't take the writing plan too seriously, after all, he hadn't even started yet.

He hasn't been writing these days. In his free time, he has become a househusband. He goes to the vegetable market every day, cooks some food at home, and feeds Zhu Lin's little mouth full every night.

That day, he went to the Chongwenmen vegetable market as usual.

There are four major vegetable markets in Beijing now, namely: Dongdan Vegetable Market, Xidan Vegetable Market, Chaonei Vegetable Market and Chongwenmen Vegetable Market.

The four major vegetable markets have been supplying meat, eggs, vegetables and other non-staple foods to Beijing citizens for decades and are truly the "old vegetable basket".

However, in the 90s, when the city was being renovated and real estate was being developed, every inch of land was worth a lot of money and there was no room for a large vegetable market.

They were all demolished.

The Chongwenmen Vegetable Market that Jiang Xian went to was the latest to be built and the last to be demolished, about 10 years later. People like Jiang Xian who are older may still have some impression of it.

The vegetables here are the most complete among all the vegetable markets in Beijing.

Like all food markets, there was a bustling crowd of people, a touch of aqua black, gray and blue, carrying baskets and net bags in their hands.

However, in contrast to the crowd, the shelves were completely empty, with almost no vegetables.

After all, the times now are different from those in later times. You can't eat whatever you want. Vegetables are divided into peak season and off-season. Once winter comes, sometimes when the vegetable market opens, it's empty and there's nothing to sell, so the salespersons can only wander around the market out of boredom.

Hearing that vegetables were going to be delivered today, Jiang Xian waited for the car to arrive with a group of people buying vegetables early in the morning.

At this moment, there is a sign on the wall of the vegetable market saying "No beating of customers allowed".

In addition, there are so many thieves, so you have to be extra careful, otherwise if you get robbed you will feel miserable all day.

“How much are tomatoes?”

Jiang Xian, holding a basket, squeezed among a group of people, debating whether to buy expensive tomatoes or cheap eggplants.

Tomatoes are out of season in winter and are expensive.

Although Jiang Xian didn't lack the money for those tomatoes.

However, you really have to be thrifty when it comes to living your life.

"Jiang Xian!"

"Jiang Xian!"

Just as he was struggling with this question, Jiang Xian heard someone calling him. He turned around and saw that it was Wang Fu from People's Literature.

"Editor Wang Fu, why are you here?"

Wang Fu's face was filled with joy. "I came here specifically to look for you. I went to your house to look for you. Your wife said you were at the vegetable market, so I rushed over here."

"You came here specifically for me?"

Jiang Xian was surprised, "What's the hurry?"

"'Furong Town' won an award!" Wang Fu said excitedly.

"Get a prize?"

"Your novel "Furong Town" won the Mao Dun Literature Prize!" Wang Fu was overjoyed.

Many people don’t know that the Mao Dun Literature Prize is a joint award for authors and editors.

At the award ceremony, a special session was set up to invite the writers and editors of the winning works to leave their handprints together as a tribute to the seamless cooperation between the authors and editors.

This is also to encourage the "behind-the-scenes hero" behind every award-winning writer - the editor-in-charge.

As Jiang Xian’s old partner, Wang Fu edited his "Furong Town" and "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood".

These two works were nominated, and one of them finally won the award, so she was of course excited.

This is also a great honor for her.

Jiang Xian couldn't hide his excitement either.

He is not a saint and does not care about these honors or money.

He's too vulgar.

The Mao Dun Literature Prize is the most important literary award in China, even in later generations.

He won it in the first session. It’s so exciting that it makes me smile just thinking about it.

So he turned around proudly and looked at the salesperson under the shelf.

"Comrade, give me two kilograms of the most expensive tomatoes!"

"Two pounds?!"

"What kind of family is this?"

Jiang Xian's words caused a sensation in the entire vegetable market.

Outside, the announcement of the Mao Dun Literature Prize winners also shocked the entire literary world.

The Mao Dun Literature Prize has been rumored for more than half a year, and it can be said that it has always been one of the most concerned issues in the literary world.

Now the list has finally been announced, with a total of 6 works winning the title:
"

Zhou Keqin, "Xu Mao and His Daughters"

Jiang Xian, Furong Town

Wei Wei, The East

Mo Yingfeng, "General's Song"

Yao Xueying, Li Zicheng

Li Guowen, "Spring in Winter"

"

Jiang Xian’s “Furong Town” was not ranked first because the number of words is too short compared to other works.

Take Zhou Keqin’s "Xu Mao and His Daughters" for example, the number of words is more than 100,000 more than Jiang Xian’s.

But again, not many people actually care about ranking matters.

Wen Wu is the first.

Being able to win the Mao Dun Literature Prize is already the envy of the literary world.

Upon learning that Jiang Xian had won the award, friends who knew him well came to congratulate him, after all, he has a wide network of contacts and many friends.

The living room at home is filled with famous writers like Jiang Zilon and Zhang Jie every day.

"The awards will be presented in two days, so you have to write a nice acceptance speech," said Zhang Jie.

"Yes, as a Chinese magical realist writer, you have to write an acceptance speech that can rival that of Marquez."

After Marquez won the award, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" has not yet been translated into Chinese, but his speech at the Nobel Prize ceremony, "The Solitude of Latin America", has spread in China.

"Piggafetta, a Florentine sailor who accompanied Magellan on the first circumnavigation of the world, recorded what he saw and heard while passing through South America. It was like a fantastic adventure.

He said he had seen pigs with belly buttons on their backs, clawless birds with the female bird sitting on the male bird's back to incubate eggs, and a tongueless bird that looked like a pelican with a spoon-shaped beak.

He said he had seen monsters with mule heads, mule ears, camel bodies, deer feet, and horse neighs. He also said that he once looked in the mirror at the first native he met in Patagonia, and the big native shuddered and was frightened to death by what he saw in the mirror.

In the minds of Chinese people, the Mao Dun Literature Prize is almost as highly anticipated as the Nobel Prize.

Marquez just gave this amazing speech.

It is natural to have expectations for the winners of the Mao Dun Literature Prize.

(End of this chapter)