Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 72 Scar Literature Won't Go Far (Please Read Further)
After hearing this, Liu Zhenyun shrank back and stopped talking. The students who had just gone to the toilet were cheering and dancing with joy when they heard that a small debate was going to be held in the class. Some even went out to call for more people.

Liu Yimin and Zhang Manling stood on either side of the podium. The topic was "Is Dream of the Red Chamber Cao Xueqin's work of scar literature?" Liu Yimin thought the topic was ridiculous. He thought it was probably just a "flash of inspiration" from this woman. Judging from her appearance, she might already be regretting it.

Liu Yimin spoke first, asking, "Zhang Manling, why do you think Dream of the Red Chamber is a work of 'scar literature'?"

Zhang Manling took a deep breath. When she stood on the podium and looked at the large classroom, especially with students from other departments coming in and many more walking in, her heart pounded.

Liu Yimin took the initiative by asking the first question, allowing Zhang Manling to provide her own evidence. He then asked another question, and she continued to provide her own evidence, thus taking control of the debate.

"I won't go into the origins of 'scar literature,' but many of these works depict protagonists suffering various kinds of harm, experiencing extremely tragic lives, even including the loss of their wives and children, and the death of their mothers. In terms of content, a large portion of 'Dream of the Red Chamber' also describes the tragic experiences of Lin Daiyu and various other characters."

The two have similarities in content.

After Zhang Manling finished speaking, she looked smugly at the students and professors below the stage, and then curled the corners of her mouth at Liu Yimin.

"And what about in terms of form?" Liu Yimin asked.

"formal"

Liu Yimin asked and answered questions, and before he could say much, Zhang Manling was already hoarse. The classroom was getting more and more crowded, and the carbon dioxide they exhaled accumulated in the air. Standing on the stage, Zhang Manling felt her mind was starting to fog up.

Seeing that she had almost given up, Liu Yimin said with a smile, "I think it's unfair to compare 'Dream of the Red Chamber' with 'Scar Literature.' Scar Literature is more like accusatory literature. Its content is an accusation against those years, full of black-and-white arguments, and has very low literary value."

Even worse, some works are written simply to follow trends, or to force a new poem to express sorrow, possessing form but no real meaning. Although "Dream of the Red Chamber" is also a tragic novel, it uses love as its main theme, revealing the beauty and ugliness of human nature. It possesses both the beauty of humanity and the beauty of tragedy, employs some surrealist elements, and also uses romantic writing techniques, making it of extremely high artistic value.

So-called "scar literature" is a product of its time, and one that won't last long, while "Dream of the Red Chamber" continues to be studied and researched.

"What makes you think that 'scar literature' won't go far?" A student from another department stood up at the back of the classroom and asked.

Zhang Manling frowned, but didn't speak. Instead, she waited for Liu Yimin to answer, as she was also very curious.

"Ten years of experience—are we going to talk about decades or centuries? This period is at most a speck of dust in our history. We have so much to do. Our task now should be to move forward, not keep looking back."

Everyone's talking about scars now, as if we can't move on. Criticism is meant to lighten the load, not to add more burdens. There are also those who imagine scars, or deliberately exaggerate them for fame, simply venting their personal emotions—I personally think that's wrong.

How can a work without artistic value go far?

Zhang Manling chimed in, "I think Liu Yimin is right. I spent five years working in the countryside in Dehong. The conditions there were terrible; it was historically known as a 'malaria-ridden land.' Everyone has read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms about Meng Huo's seven captures, and one part of it is about how the Prime Minister suffered greatly from malaria."

Conditions were tough, but the people there were incredibly kind to us, helping us grow and teaching us how to survive in the local environment. Some of the educated youth even found love there. This experience was extremely important to me. We university students still need to have the experience of being grounded and working on the ground. This is what Yimin was referring to as the beauty of humanity.

Liu Yimin looked at Zhang Manling. Had he convinced this older woman?

"You two, come down here!" Professor Wu Zuxiang said as he walked onto the podium.

"Many great works are tragedies, and comedies are rare. This is because tragedies are full of the beauty and evil of human nature, bringing readers reflection on humanity and insights into society, and most importantly, the courage to continue living. The goal shouldn't be to immerse everyone in sadness!"

Yimin spoke well, and Zhang Manling's willingness to ask questions was also commendable. Let's learn from them!

Professor Wu Zuxiang gave a summary, which can be seen as an agreement with Liu Yimin's point of view, and also brought the discussion between Liu Yimin and the students below to a close.

Led by Professor Wu Zuxiang, enthusiastic applause filled the classroom. "Yimin, well done!" Liu Zhenyun clapped at Liu Yimin.

"The main problem is that her topic was flawed!" Liu Yimin said, feeling that Wu Zuxiang had deliberately prevented the discussion from continuing.

After class, Zhang Manling walked up to Liu Yimin, extended her hand, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Comrade Liu Yimin, for giving us such a wonderful speech!"

"Comrade Zhang Manling, you're not bad either."

The two walked down the road, followed by three people, including Li Xueqin, who were whispering to each other.

Zhang Manling held her handbag with both hands: "I read Lu Xinhua's 'The Wounded,' and I felt it was a bit exaggerated. I lived in the countryside, and the locals treated me very well."

"He who wrote 'The Wounded' had only spent a short time in the countryside before joining the army," Liu Yimin said casually.

“I’m quite interested in what you just said about surrealism. Could you elaborate?” Zhang Manling continued.

"Let's go to the cafeteria first, my stomach is rumbling!"

"It's my fault. I made you waste so much breath. This meal is on me!"

"I eat a lot!"

"We're all comrades, you won't go hungry."

Currently, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" has not yet entered China, and the literary world has not yet studied magical realism. Otherwise, many people would be discussing "Dream of the Red Chamber" in connection with magical realism.

Liu Yimin couldn't really let the other party treat him, but Zhang Manling wouldn't let it go, so he had no choice but to buy a plate of braised tofu like Liu Zhenyun.

Sure enough, the line for the braised tofu was very long. When it was Liu Yimin's turn, it seemed there was only one last serving left. Liu Zhenyun behind him had his eyes practically popping out of his head, and his legs were heaving as if he was holding back a huge bulge.

For Liu Zhenyun, the greatest distance in the world is when he finally gets to queue, only to find the braised tofu is gone.

"Never mind, I want to eat something else!"

Liu Yimin packed up his lunchbox and moved to another team. Behind him, Liu Zhenyun was so excited he was almost crying; his hands were trembling with excitement as he pulled out his food tickets.

Finally, Liu Yimin ordered a serving of shredded pork with garlic sauce and boiled cabbage.

"Don't worry, I'm not as rich as you, but I still have some money. Don't worry about me going broke!"

"I'm not afraid of eating you out of house and home, I'm afraid of the aftereffects of this meal!"

Zhang Manling didn't understand what it meant. The two stood by the table and began to discuss the surrealist elements in "Dream of the Red Chamber" in hushed tones.

The dining hall had tables, but no chairs. You either had to take your food home or eat standing or squatting on the ground. This was the most uncomfortable meal he had ever had, while Zhang Manling next to him was enjoying her food.

If you don't give me two tickets, I'll inevitably resort to some physical violence and instruction!
(End of this chapter)