1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 91 Submission
Acheng has this kind of personality. If others say something wrong, he will point it out directly.

"This is a fundamental mistake. Lingnan is too far away from Chang'an."

After hearing his words, Ba Jin also fell into deep thought.

"Where exactly is Lingnan?" asked Li Xiaolin.

"China's southern border area, generally speaking, refers to present-day Guangdong and Guangxi," Zhong Acheng explained to her.

"The capital of the Tang Dynasty was Chang'an, which is today's Xi'an. The distance between them is no joke. Even taking a train would take several days."

Li Xiaolin thought about it and felt that it made sense.

Of course she knew that Bashu was near Sichuan. Although it was not easy to get from Bashu to Chang'an, it was obviously much more reasonable than Lingnan, and it was also closer to Yang Guifei.

After this analysis, she also agreed that the lychees were transported from Bashu, not from Lingnan.

“There is still controversy over this matter.”

Ba Jin was familiar with "Gu Wen Guan Zhi" and he had read it 100 times.

"Gu Wen Guan Zhi" is a hodgepodge, including Cao Gui's Discussion on War, Zou Ji's Persuasion to King Qi to Accept Advice, The Memorial to the Emperor on Leaving the Capital, Peach Blossom Spring, and Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng. These excellent essays are all included in it.

Friends who often read "Gu Wen Guan Zhi" should know that the essays selected in it are mostly about the Han and Tang dynasties, talking about characters, diplomacy, gardens, letters and the like. Therefore, Ba Jin has a certain understanding of the style of the Tang Dynasty.

He spoke with a thick Sichuan accent, "It doesn't necessarily have to be from Bashu. Du Fu has a poem called "Sick Orange". I don't know if you have read it, 'Remembering the past envoys from the South China Sea, rushing to bring in lychees.' So, is it possible that the lychees also came from Lingnan?"

"But how do we send it over?" Li Xiaolin wondered. "Dad, don't be confused. It takes us more than half a day to take the train from Shanghai. Could people of that era really do that?"

"That is the mystery of history." Ba Jin smiled heartily.

Li Xiaolin turned to Jiang Xian and said, "I don't think this will affect the novel. You haven't started writing yet. Just change Lingnan to Bashu."

"No."

Jiang Xian shook his head to her surprise. "It can't be changed like this. If it is changed like this, it won't be shocking enough. It has to be brought from Lingnan, making the impossible possible and turning decay into magic. Only then can we have the fierce struggle against fate like in The Old Man and the Sea."

"That's a good idea."

Ba Jin admired it very much, "The Red Army is not afraid of the difficulties of the long march, and thousands of mountains and rivers are just a piece of cake."

"Dad, we are now in an era of seeking truth from facts!"

Li Xiaolin advised, "When writing a novel, the plot and characters can be fictional, but this kind of historical novel must be based on textual research. Mr. Lu Xun said, 'For historical novels, it is necessary to research extensive documents and have evidence for what you say.' His New Stories are also based on facts and are definitely not fabricated."

"Sister Xiaolin, I don't think it's fabricated."

Jiang Xian explained, "Ba Lao also said that, and Du Fu has poems to prove it, lychees may have come from Lingnan. When I investigated the literature, I found that the origin of lychees has always been a mystery. Tang Dynasty literature said Lingnan, and Song Dynasty literature said Bashu. There is no definitive answer as to which one it was. Besides, the taste of lychees in these two places is different. The imperial concubine was so good at enjoying life, it is impossible for her to eat from the same place for her whole life, even though she didn't live long."

"Then you can't create a route." Zhong Acheng's loose glasses slid down his nose again.

"Of course I can't make it up." Jiang Xian said seriously, "I have almost figured out a route and a set of methods from historical materials."

Ah Cheng looked at his energetic appearance and didn't quite understand where his confidence came from.

That’s from Lingnan to Chang’an.

If you can figure it out, I'll eat it.

"You kid." Ba Jin smiled, "I really want to read your novel right now. It's very interesting to talk to you. I'm looking forward to it."

After sitting and chatting for a while, Ba Jin felt a little tired, and Jiang Xian couldn't help but take out the newly bought Seagull 205 camera from his bag.

"Ba Lao, can I take a picture with you?"

"Oh, okay, okay."

Ba Jin agreed without any hesitation.

He was very easy going and never minded the requests.

Yu Hua once said that Ma Yuan wanted to make a documentary called "The Chinese Literary Dream" and came specifically to film Ba Jin. At that time, Ba Jin had not yet moved to the East China Hospital permanently, but he was already old and frail, and no one refused him.

Ma Yuan held the big lamp and roasted Ba Lao for several hours.

Zhong Acheng also wanted to take a photo with Ba Jin, but he was too embarrassed to say it.

"Acheng, please take a picture for us."

"okay."

With a "click" sound, an extremely precious image is preserved on the film.

Jiang Xian was quite caring towards him. Before leaving, he even asked for Ba Lao's autograph for him.

Coming out of Jinyu Hutong, the two of them pedaled their bikes grunting and puffing white steam as they rode towards the Beijing Film Studio.

Zhong Acheng still found it outrageous and didn't believe that Jiang Xian could come up with a plan to send lychees from Lingnan to Chang'an.

"How is this possible?"

"Do you believe that I can master mathematics in just a few months?"

"To what extent have you mastered it?"

"Like Hua Luogeng and Chen Jingrun."

"Then I believe you can figure out this route."

"Hahaha."

Jiang Xian laughed, "How about this, let's make a bet. If I write it, you have to do a job for me."

"What if you can't write it?"

“That’s not the case.”

Jiang Xian's face was full of the expression of "I want to get it for free from you".

He left his bicycle behind and returned to his room in the guesthouse. He washed his face, calmed himself down, sat at the table, and filled his fountain pen with the newly bought Hero brand ink.

Start sorting out this novel.

This novel is not long, only 7 words. Several of the characters that appear are fictional, while the others are well-known historical figures.

The male protagonist is called Li Shande, a science student who is proficient in mathematics. He is a miserable house slave in middle age. The department leader passes the buck to him, and finally he becomes the lychee envoy, forming a protagonist group with Du Fu and Han Hui.

This was a typical little man. When he arrived in Lingnan, he studied day and night, cooperated and experimented with a Hu merchant, and successfully transported lychees from Lingnan to Chang'an.

Should the story end here? If it ends here, it’s called a fairy tale.

Unfortunately, human hearts are unpredictable.

You, Li Shande, a small employee, can accomplish such a great thing. How can we, the superiors, put our faces?

He was intercepted and killed by the Lingnan Governor.

After escaping death and avoiding ambushes, he came back to pick peaches.

You know how to pick peaches? The paper you wrote was signed by someone else, and the project you made was promoted and paid more for someone else.
What could he do when Yang Guozhong and Gao Lishi, names that made people tremble in Chang'an City, came to pick Li Shande's peaches?

At the end of the story, Li Shande burst out with the brilliance of a little man, angrily criticized Yang Guozhong, and was demoted to Lingnan.

As a result, the Anshi Rebellion broke out the following year, and the emperor and the concubine all suffered. However, Li Shande, who was far away in Lingnan, turned the disaster into a blessing and was safe and sound. He ate more than 30 lychees in one breath.

Such an ending is acceptable as a refreshing novel, but as traditional literature, it lacks artistic creation.

Jiang Xian plans to make some changes.

A few days later, Jiang Xian received another call from Li Xiaolin.

"Jiang Xian, Dad just found out today when he was looking at Zhong Acheng's paintings that he signed his name wrongly, writing 'Cheng' instead of 'Cheng'. I feel really sorry for him and want to sign again."

"It doesn't matter. Ah Cheng is already extremely excited. It's common for him to make typos. He won't mind."

"No, Dad said I have to change it. Writing someone's name wrong is disrespectful."

"Then I'll go over there. I've almost finished writing this manuscript, so I'll give it to you while I'm at it."

(End of this chapter)