1979: My fiancée is a goddess

The room fell silent after Professor Bruno's comments.

"really?"

His wife looked at Professor Bruno with some surprise, noticing that his serious face, wrinkled with age spots under his eyes, was full of earnestness and solemnity.

His only remaining youthful and bright blue eyes also revealed the excitement and joy that belonged to this psychologist and master of children's literature theory.

A wife who has been with her husband for most of her life knows him very well and could tell the conclusion at a glance.

"If it's really as you say, I'm afraid the academic community will be in for a big stir, with supporters and opponents arguing fiercely."

His wife opened her mouth, but only sighed. Then she bent down to pick up the coffee cup that had fallen to the floor and chuckled, "But such a lively event has nothing to do with an old man like you who is almost eighty years old."

"You should watch your emotions and not be too unrestrained."

The wife placed her hand on her husband's shoulder, helping him sit back down in the chair. "You haven't taken your medicine yet. I'll go get it for you."

"understood!"

Professor Bruno, upon hearing his wife's warning, glared and puffed out his beard in displeasure.

This paper is indeed outstanding and its viewpoints are quite subversive, but it will probably not be easy for it to gain widespread recognition in American academia.

Firstly, this is a brief discussion, not comprehensive enough, and lacks a systematic approach.

Secondly, the authors of the paper are Chinese.

Thirdly, the viewpoint is too astonishing.

Academic debates can be quite brutal, like the heliocentric versus geocentric model.

We will destroy not only your body, but also your mind.

Professor Bruno, as a senior figure in academia, naturally understood this.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will definitely see criticisms and condemnations of this paper in the opinion newspapers within two days.

"Before that, let me write a commentary first."

Professor Bruno shook his head with a sigh. Fortunately, the development of children's literature theory from a branch and appendage of literature to an independent and thriving field has only taken two or three decades. The academic community is relatively open-minded; otherwise, this paper would not have been published so easily.

Having made up his mind, Professor Bruno got right to work, taking out paper and pen and writing a commentary while reviewing the papers.

His wife, carrying a water glass and pills, came over midway and urged him to drink the medicine and then continue.

Finally, at lunchtime, Professor Bruno finished his commentary, titled: "Reflections on Reading Paper XXX: Must We Consider Whether Children's Literature Is Truly Pure?"

"I'm going out this afternoon to submit a manuscript."

Professor Bruno, holding a knife and fork, ate potatoes and discussed the matter with his wife.

"You really value this paper, huh? Why did you get involved?"

The wife looked at her husband helplessly, "Which newspaper or magazine are you planning to submit it to?"

The New York Review of Books!

Professor Bruno suddenly looked up, letting his wife see a pair of sharp, bright eyes, and said decisively.

"Oh my god!"

The wife gasped, clearly surprised by her husband's choice.

The New York Review of Books is a well-known literary and artistic forum in the United States and a favorite of many writers, authors, and elite intellectuals!
Its commentaries are more intellectual, more radical, and more focused on intellectual depth.

It is not merely a review of a book, but rather a lengthy discourse on society, politics, history, and culture, using the book as a starting point.

Professor Bruno's article clearly meets this requirement.

After all, this concerns the future development of children's literature and the huge controversy surrounding its essence.

Is it purity and innocence or a projection of desire?

This is a question that everyone should think about.

However, it will take two to three days before that, since New York is nearly 800 kilometers away from Chicago as the crow flies.

This time lag is enough for other critics' comments to be published.

the next morning.

Professor Bruno couldn't wait to take Cheng Kaiyan's paper to his office at the university and enthusiastically recommended it to several professors in the field of literature.

"Did everyone notice the paper in yesterday's latest issue of Children's Literature?"

"Children's literature? What kind of paper could excite you so much? Haha."

A young professor asked curiously.

"Could it be a paper by that Canadian professor, Perry Nordman?"

A middle-aged female professor in her fifties guessed.

Perry Nordman is an emeritus professor in the Department of English at the University of Winnipeg, Canada, and has been teaching and researching children's literature since the 70s.

One of its most notable theoretical contributions is the "triple narrative" theory of picture books (textual story, image-suggested story, and combined text-image story), which has had a profound impact on academia.

"It's not that old guy!"

Professor Bruno shook his head vigorously, waving the journal article in his hand. "Neither. It's by a scholar from China! This is absolutely a groundbreaking paper! Everyone should take a look!"

"Chinese scholar?!"

"Can Chinese people still publish academic papers in the United States?"

"Watson, you don't know this, do you? In the past two years, the United States has reached a lot of cooperation with China in various fields, including academia."

"I see. But can Chinese scholars really write any groundbreaking papers?"

Everyone in the office looked surprised and astonished, with some of the younger scholars even showing disdain.

"Don't underestimate others!"

Professor Bruno solemnly reminded everyone: "This paper was actually recommended by Professor Ansel from the University of Pennsylvania, so you can imagine it's not simple. You'll see once you take a look."

"Professor Ansel from Penn? I have a friend who works there. I heard they went to China for an exchange visit last year. Could that be when they met?"

A young man suddenly remembered something and immediately spoke up.

"I think so. It seems I really need to take a look at this paper."

"Anyway, I'm already a little interested!"

For a moment, everyone was either skeptical or curious and eager to return to their desks and search for the publications that had been delivered yesterday.

I quickly found the journal "Children's Literature" and the paper written by the Chinese scholar.

Because it is a simple application and analysis of the theory, it is short and not complicated.

In less than an hour, everyone had basically finished watching.

"What a theoretical genius! I thought Professor Perry Nordman's introduction of literary criticism theory into children's literature was already perfect, but this Cheng has actually applied psychoanalytic theory to children's literature perfectly!"

Professors were already praising the paper with great admiration, recalling its precise and elegant theoretical applications.

"The theoretical tools are perfect, but they are just tools! Without a complete system, there is no irrefutable persuasiveness, and he even completely negates the purity of children's literature."

Some people also expressed a pessimistic view.

"Is this what Professor Bruno meant by 'disruptive'? This is absolutely disruptive!"

A group of people started exchanging ideas animatedly, with some optimistic and others pessimistic, resulting in considerable controversy.

The outside world at this time.

Some scholars, after reading this paper, were shocked or scornful of its central idea—that children's literature is not pure and innocent, but hides the psychological desires of adults.

A small number of people began writing commentaries in local newspapers, publicly expressing their views and attempting to stir up public opinion and attract the attention of academia to refute and deny this radical view from the Chinese.

Simon, a professor in the English Department at Stanford University, made this malicious comment in the Mercury News: "This is a paper full of flaws. I don't even want to call it a paper. It's not even as good as a primary school student's composition."

This Chinese person is merely mechanically imposing psychoanalytic theory into literature, using only a few academic psychological terms. Attempting to tarnish the purity of fairy tales—this is a wicked trick of the Chinese!

……

University of Pennsylvania, Center for Children's Literature Studies.

"Professor Ansel! That guy from Stanford publicly attacked Cheng's paper in the newspaper! And there's a lot of discussion about it!"

George rushed into the house anxiously, carrying a stack of newspapers.

“I’ve already seen it! That old bastard Simon! Get this commentary to the Philadelphia Daily News right now!”

Professor Ansel was prepared for this and handed over an envelope.

The very next morning, Professor Ansel publicly attacked Professor Simon in the Philadelphia Daily News, angrily denouncing him as ignorant and stubborn.

On one hand, they lavish praise on the paper, using all sorts of flattering words like "epoch-making," "a completely new perspective," and "creative."

The two top university scholars launched a fierce and unrestrained attack on each other in the public news media.

In just a few days, a pungent smell of gunpowder quietly spread.

This has attracted the attention of many scholars, prompting some to join in the commentary and discussion.

However, most of the criticism is negative and pessimistic. After all, children's literature is pure and innocent, and absolutely beautiful. Everyone has been exposed to this concept since childhood, so how can it be changed overnight?
Only a small number of scholars agree with and appreciate its advanced nature, while others have seriously explored and studied it.

This lively discussion also attracted the attention of a few well-known news media outlets.

However, the focus was more on the mutual attacks between the two top university professors than on Cheng Kaiyan's paper.

June 12th.

Professor Bruno, a leading American scholar in psychology, child psychology, and children's literature, has finally had his paper published on the front page of The New York Review of Books.

The professor bluntly stated, "We must consider whether children's literature has truly become pure?"

“Cheng used his own children’s literature work, ‘The Submarine and the Shepherd,’ as a case study to conduct a sharp psychoanalysis and ideological critique of the essence of children’s literature.”

His core argument overturns our traditional concepts in the field of children's literature that have existed for hundreds or even thousands of years.

He believes that children's literature is a field full of inherent contradictions and power structures.

Because there is an unseen relationship hidden within it.

Adult authors must emulate a child's perspective, language, and emotions.

But it inevitably brings in adult desires, experiences, nostalgia, and even ideologies…

Professor Bruno wrote a lengthy article of three thousand words in the newspaper, offering a clear and insightful discussion of his understanding and reflections on the paper. He concluded with a single sentence:

"The paper is imperfect and unsystematic, but it is enough to make us reflect."

When we write, read, and promote children's literature, whose desires are we ultimately trying to satisfy? Is it the child we imagine, or the adult within us?

This straightforward question has prompted countless children's literature writers and scholars to fall into deep thought.

With this big name in children's literature stepping into the fray, the American academic and literary circles have become increasingly lively, even showing signs of breaking out of their traditional boundaries.

Even people outside the area have gradually noticed this controversy and are paying close attention to it.

A day later, Professor Ansel of the University of Pennsylvania also realized this was a good opportunity, and he responded to Professor Bruno:

"My co-authored paper with Cheng, 'On the Impossibility of Children's Literature,' is nearing completion!"

"It will be published in a children's literature magazine. Please stay tuned!"

"In addition, we hope everyone will support Cheng, a children's literature master from China, with his work 'The Submarine and the Shepherd,' which is available in major bookstores!"

……

The news came as a surprise to scholars and authors.

"No wonder the paper is called 'A Brief Discussion'; it turns out there's an even more comprehensive paper out there!"

"A simple article has caused such a huge reaction. I'm afraid that once that paper is published, Professor Anse and this Cheng Kaiyan will have their positions firmly established!"

"So Cheng Kaiyan is a children's literature author!"

"I read the case studies in the paper and found them quite interesting. I plan to buy it and take a look!"

Many people focused their attention on Cheng Kaiyan's two novels, and even went to bookstores to look for them and ask questions.

Sales of "The Submarine and the Goatherd" gradually increased, and the original print run of 5,000 copies sold out immediately.

Professor Ansel's nephew, Ryder, also realized this was a good opportunity and chose to distribute the books and print an additional 20,000 copies early on!
However, he soon realized that he had miscalculated.

A few days later, E.B. White, the renowned children's author of *Charlotte's Web*, *Stuart Little*, and *The Trumpet of the Swan*, addressed the controversy in a television interview and publicly recommended Cheng Kaiyan's fairy tales in front of the cameras.

"Cheng's works are absolutely amazing! Especially the submarine, he's a true genius! A real genius! And of course, there's the shepherd, a very classic fable-like fairy tale! I recommend everyone to read this master of children's literature from China!"

Mr. White's remarks, broadcast the following evening, instantly ignited a public outcry that had previously only been circulating in academic and literary circles, going viral and sparking intense curiosity among many readers.

People flocked to bookstores to inquire about and purchase "The Submarine and the Shepherd," and sold out all 20,000 newly printed copies in just one morning.

The readers who rushed over were not satisfied. Shop owners, sweating profusely, called Aurumbra Press in Philadelphia from all over the country:
"Submarine and the Shepherd! Print more copies immediately! Print more copies! Our bookstore needs two thousand more!"

"We at the New York bookstore need another five thousand copies!"

"Hurry up! The price is negotiable!"

……

"I never expected Mr. Cheng to become so popular! His novel is going to be a bestseller! Editor-in-chief, how many more prints do you think we should do?"

After receiving a series of calls, Ryder compiled a list.

Bookstores across the country have placed orders for around 100,000.

At this moment, his contempt for Cheng Kaiyan had long since vanished, replaced by excitement and exhilaration. Such a future great writer was about to be born in their publishing house!
"Sir! My suggestion is to print an additional 150,000 copies!"

The editor-in-chief suggested through gritted teeth.

While the paperback edition's sales of 150,000 copies may not compare to the millions sold by great authors like Stephen King and Sidney Sheldon in today's American literary scene, it still represents a significant achievement.

But this already represents the level of a mid-level writer, with royalties reaching $130,000 to $140,000!

"Okay! Let's do it!"

……

June 20th.

The internationally renowned newspaper, The New York Times, finally published its report, with a prominent editor stating bluntly:

"Mr. Cheng Kaiyan, a writer and literary theorist from Red China, has overturned the myth of the purity of children's literature with his paper! This has caused a sensation in the American academic community."

His work was appreciated by Mr. White! And in just one week, it raked in 150,000 sales!

"This is globalization, this is the allure of the American Dream!!"

This most representative American newspaper has a wide readership and a large number of users worldwide, and is an important source for the international community to understand events in the United States and around the world.

Many departments in China also subscribe to it, especially news departments.

People's Daily, President's Office.

"Wow... No wonder he's Comrade Cheng Kaiyan, who has won five major literary awards!"

Not only are the novels conquering the American market, but even children's literature theory is causing a stir in American academia!

After reading the New York Times in his hand, the editor-in-chief took a deep breath, and a deep sense of shock and excitement flashed in his sharp and calm eyes.

He quickly realized this was a great publicity opportunity and decided, "Reprint it immediately! Let our comrades and the people see the superiority and achievements of our reform and opening up!"

"Yes, President!" (End of Chapter)