1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

At the end of 1979, the National Congress of Literary and Art Workers, which had been suspended for more than 20 years, opened as scheduled in Beijing!
On this day, the weather was kind to us, and it snowed in Yanjing.

The cold wind swirled up snowflakes, coating the steps of the Great Hall of the People with a thin layer of ice.

Despite wearing non-slip cotton shoes, Feng's mother, clutching Feng's father's arm, couldn't help but stumble.

"Mom, slow down! There's really nothing to worry about!"

Cheng Xuemin didn't make a big show of it today. He drove his family car and left it with his brother-in-law. He, his father-in-law, Mr. Feng, and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Feng, rode bicycles over.

My mother-in-law, Ms. Feng, is the deputy editor-in-chief of "October" magazine, and my father-in-law previously worked at the Foreign Languages ​​Press. Both of them were qualified to attend the National Congress of Literary and Art Circles and received invitations to attend.

Therefore, including Cheng Xuemin, there were three people in the family who were qualified to participate in the literary and art congress.

As for his brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao, who is also a cultural worker, and his sister-in-law, who works in the arts, they are not senior enough to be eligible to participate.

"Xuemin, look at what they've written! What grudge do we have against him?" In her hand was today's literary newspaper, which contained an article attacking and criticizing her son-in-law. The wording was so irrational that it was almost incomprehensible.

No wonder Mrs. Feng was so angry on the way here; she was worried about today's literary conference and her son-in-law's arrival.

The timing of this newspaper's publication was perfect.

It just so happened to be the opening of the National Congress of Literary and Art Workers. The Great Hall of the People now gathers the most outstanding literary and artistic workers from all over the country.

And the Literary Gazette, like the People's Daily, was one of the most frequently appearing newspapers during the Literary Congress.

It's quite possible that everyone could get one.

In that case!
Today's grand literary and art congress might just be a trap set by her son-in-law. How could this not make Feng's mother worry and fear for her son-in-law?
Cheng Xuemin took her arm and comforted her, saying, "Mom, don't worry!"

The literary and art congress is a place for discussion and debate, not a marketplace for arguments.

Then he turned to look at his father-in-law, Mr. Feng, who was wearing a brand-new Zhongshan suit, just like him.

After listening to his son-in-law's words, Mr. Feng nodded and said, "Xuemin is right. The National Congress of Literary and Art Workers is a place for literary and art workers across the country to exchange ideas and discuss their views. No one will rashly start something, otherwise, if they ruin the congress that has been restored with great difficulty over the past few decades, they will suffer the consequences!"

"So, Xuemin, although we are not afraid of trouble, we will not cause trouble! Even if someone from the other side jumps out, don't speak too aggressively. Those old scholars hate it most when young people are too sharp."

The old saying "old ginger is spicier" implies the profound truth that not competing is competing.

"Dad, I know!" Cheng Xuemin nodded, thinking to himself that his father-in-law had already said all his lines.

Correct!
Cheng Xuemin is not afraid of trouble, but he will not be the first to cause trouble. If someone really wants to make a fuss about him, then let's have a good discussion. Who's afraid of who?
As soon as the three of them reached the east gate of the Great Hall of the People, they saw a group of people gathered in front of the newspaper stand, pointing at today's "Literary Gazette" and discussing it.

Above is an article by An Shaokang titled "On Cheng Xuemin's Literary Degeneration Again," accompanied by an excerpt from "Beware of Popular Literature Corrupting Youth," which should have been written by An Shaokang and his group yesterday.

"I'm coming!"

When someone crept over and saw Cheng Xuemin coming over, they whispered something under their breath.

They were all unfamiliar faces; they must be attendees from the local area!
Cheng Xuemin didn't recognize them, but they obviously recognized him. However, Cheng Xuemin didn't approach them; instead, he nodded slightly to them as a greeting.

As he entered the venue, he was greeted by a wave of warmth, along with the pervasive smell of cigarettes, which even made Cheng Xuemin, a non-smoker, choke.

That's how it is these days; every major conference consumes a massive amount of cigarettes, from top to bottom.

Looking around, the hall was already full of people.

The retired cadres in Zhongshan suits, the scholars wearing glasses, and the fashionable young writers gathered in twos and threes, their eyes occasionally glancing in Cheng Xuemin's direction.

"Xuemin, you've arrived!" The first person to approach was Director Yang, Cheng Xuemin's nominal superior, the head of the Chinese Department at Yenching University.

Cheng Xuemin is now both a specially appointed lecturer at Yenching University and a student there. Although he was temporarily transferred to Yenching Film Studio, all his records are kept at Yenching University.

Therefore, Director Yang is Cheng Xuemin's direct superior. During this period, Cheng Xuemin, the pioneer of reform and opening up whom Yanda University is proud of and the number one representative of contemporary college students, was caught in a storm. Yanda University is actually under a lot of pressure.

So when Director Yang arrived at the venue, he immediately squatted down at the entrance, hoping to catch up with Cheng Xuemin and pass on some inside information that they had found out to him.

"Director Yang, is my seat on the Peking University side?" As a specially appointed lecturer at Peking University, shouldn't Cheng Xuemin's seat at the literary and art congress be arranged together with Peking University?
"Your seat might be at Yanying Film Studio. I see from the venue arrangements that there isn't a seat for you at Yanda University!" Director Yang shook his head, saying that Cheng Xuemin had been temporarily transferred to Yanying Film Studio and might have been assigned there.

He then gestured with his lips, pointing in one direction, and whispered, "Xuemin, do you see over there?"

"That's a delegation from Jiangcheng University. They're led by a former director from their school named Li Mo'an!"

"I heard that he was the one who started this whole thing, having one of his students, An Shaokang, publish those articles in the newspaper!"

"Look, that's An Shaokang!"

Following Director Yang's finger, Cheng Xuemin saw Li Mo'an, the former director of Jiangcheng University whom Director Yang had mentioned. He noticed that Li Mo'an was whispering something to several gray-haired people, and Li Mo'an was pointing in his direction.

An Shaokang sat a little further away, his face pale, his fingers scribbling haphazardly on his notebook, probably preparing to criticize his own draft at the meeting.

"Xuemin, we were really careless this time and lost the initiative! I heard they're going to make a big move at today's conference, codenamed something like 'Reversal Plan,' we really need to be careful!"

"In any case, President Zhou has made his stance clear: he and our Yenching University will always stand with you! If they cause trouble at the conference, President Zhou will come to your aid!"

"Thank you, Director Yang. Please also thank Principal Zhou for me!" Cheng Xuemin nodded in gratitude.

Mr. and Mrs. Feng, who were standing nearby, also felt a bit more confident, after all, the strong support from President Zhou of Yanda University was already a sign of the higher-ups' attitude.

"Xuemin, something seems off! We haven't assigned you a seat!"

Following Cheng Xuemin and led by Director Yang, they arrived at the Yan Film Studio. There was the old factory director, Wang Yang; Lao Ge's parents, Shi Wenxin and Ge Dazhuang; Chen Kaizi's father...

Many people came from Yan Film Studio. Not to mention the veteran directors and senior figures, even young directors like Huang Jianzhong received invitations.

Even more outrageous is that Zhu Lin was invited and was even included in the delegation from Yan Film Studio.

This is likely due to the immense popularity of "The Herdsman," which propelled Zhu Lin to become one of the leading young actors at Yan Film Studio—a significant honor.

Putting aside other things, only two of the three beauties from Yanying Film Studio came. Liu Xiaoqing, who had just been transferred to Yanying Film Studio in the first half of the year, was not qualified and was not invited.

Therefore, the Yan Film Studio no longer boasts four beautiful women; rather, Zhu Lin has risen to prominence, directly replacing Liu Xiaoqing as one of the three. When the old factory director and his group entered and found their seats, they were quite surprised to discover that Cheng Xuemin's seat was missing.

When Cheng Xuemin arrived late and was immediately taken away by Peking University, it was assumed that he had been arranged to return to Peking University.

After all, Cheng Xuemin is only on loan from Yan Film Studio, not yet an employee of Yan Film Studio.

There is absolutely no problem with Cheng Xuemin's seating arrangement being returned to his original workplace.

But when Yenching University students led Cheng Xuemin to their side and asked if they had a seat for him, the old factory director immediately realized that he was in big trouble!
Could it be that Cheng Xuemin doesn't have a seat?

Such a grand literary and art congress, if Cheng Xuemin didn't have a seat, according to past practice, everyone knows what that means!
Only those who are waiting to be criticized and denounced at the meeting are not entitled to a seat.

"What? Director Wang, you don't have Xuemin's seat here either? This... how is this possible?" Upon hearing this, Director Yang's expression changed drastically, and he angrily questioned, "What exactly are they trying to do? They wouldn't actually dare to challenge Xuemin at the meeting, would they?"

"Impossible, impossible! I had a meeting with my former leader yesterday, and he told me to go back and appease Xuemin's emotions. Absolutely impossible, and absolutely not allowed!" Wang Yang's expression was also one of surprise. There was no seat for Cheng Xuemin here, and there wasn't one there either!

So where exactly is Cheng Xuemin's seat?
A person caught in a media storm, attending such a grand conference, yet not being assigned a seat—everyone knows what that means.

Because their older generation had seen almost everything, they were very familiar with it.

"Xuemin, you wait here with us. I'm going to find the old leader now and ask him what's going on!"

What Wang Yang was more worried about was that if his former superiors were unaware of the situation, then things would really be in trouble.

Without any delay, I immediately went to report to my former leader.

"Old Feng..."

The mother-in-law, Mrs. Feng, who was accompanying them, was so frightened that her face turned ashen. Usually talkative and assertive, she was now so scared that she couldn't utter a single word. She could only tightly grip her husband's arm and stammer.

Because of this situation, Feng's mother and father became extremely familiar with each other.

This was no longer a trap, but rather a trap set by her son-in-law, Cheng Xuemin…

Thinking about what was about to begin, Feng's mother trembled with fear and could barely stand.

"It's not that bad, you have to trust your old boss!" Mr. Feng patted his arm, trying his best not to lose his composure.

However, the current situation is very unfavorable for their son-in-law.

"Comrade Cheng Xuemin, this way please!"

Unexpectedly, just as the old factory director Wang Yang was in a hurry to find the leaders and Feng's parents were in a state of extreme panic, a voice rang in their ears.

A staff member from the venue came over and greeted Cheng Xuemin.

"Okay, thank you for your help!"

Cheng Xuemin was also surprised. He didn't have a seat at Yenching University, and he didn't have one at Yenching Film Studio either. So where was his seat arranged?

We can't just put them on the front stage, can we?
Cheng Xuemin really dares to think big!

But why not dare to think that way?

If his mother-in-law, Director Yang, and the old factory director can all think of the worst-case scenario, why can't Cheng Xuemin think of the best-case scenario?

Then, guided by the staff, Cheng Xuemin was indeed led forward, passing by his mother-in-law's workplace, "October," where teacher Liu Xinwu even nodded to him in encouragement.

Following that are Yenching Literature and Art, People's Literature and Art, PLA Literature and Art, General Political Department Art Troupe, and so on!
Until Old Wu saw him, he smiled and waved to him. There were several elderly people with snow-white hair standing beside him, one of whom was Old Mao Dunmao. He was leaning on a dragon-headed cane, and his eyes behind his glasses were gentle yet powerful.

"Little Cheng, come, sit in the front." Old Mao's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the surrounding chatter.

"I read your 'Why I Write Popular Novels' yesterday. It's well written! The garden of literature can't just be planted with peonies; it also needs roses and morning glories to make it lively."

Cheng Xuemin was stunned. He had actually guessed right and was placed at the very front.

Mr. Ba, who was accompanying Cheng Xuemin, nodded and said, "It's good that young people have ideas. Don't be afraid of controversy. Back then, when we wrote in vernacular Chinese, weren't we also criticized as 'heretical'?"

"this?!"

Seeing Cheng Xuemin being led directly to the front, a position they could only look up to, Li Mo'an and the others from Jiangcheng University all gasped in surprise.

The rest of the audience was also stunned by this scene, and they discussed it amongst themselves.

Normally, Cheng Xuemin would have been humble and declined, but today was different, so he had no intention of keeping a low profile.

It would be impolite to refuse, so he accepted the invitation from the elderly men and walked forward.

Amidst gasps of surprise, Cheng Xuemin was led to a seat on the side of the stage, right next to several literary giants.

Upon seeing this, the people around Li Mo'an were visibly stunned for a moment, but someone quickly reacted and immediately jumped up to question Cheng Xuemin, this literary degenerate, about his qualifications to sit on the podium.
But Li Mo'an, quick-witted and agile, grabbed him and pressed him down, preventing him from speaking.

Yes!

To dare sit in that position is truly a stroke of luck. To destroy him, first make him mad.

At this moment, that Cheng Xuemin was simply arrogant beyond measure!

How dare he sit in the same row as those literary giants! This must have aroused envy, jealousy and anger among countless literary and artistic workers!
Wait!
The higher you're lifted up, the harder you'll be thrown down!

Wait until Jiangcheng University takes the lead in making a move; it will surely resonate with everyone. The spittle from the thousands of literary and artistic representatives present could drown him alive.

Immediately, he deliberately turned his head to look at An Shaokang, who was still preparing. Today's success or failure depends on An Shaokang's first shot!

……

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