daoxingyoustudent

As the wedding banquet drew to a close, people began to chat with each other in groups of three or four.

Li Bo looked at Fang Chen, wanting to say something but stopping himself. Fang Chen noticed, turned his head and smiled: "I'm really happy today."

Li Bo nodded. "Yes, I'm happy too. Professor Fang, you see, those two textbooks from many years ago were very popular and have been reprinted many times. What do you think? Are you interested in being the editor-in-chief again?"

Hearing Li Bo repeatedly addressing him as Professor Fang, Fang Chen had already been feeling uneasy. This time, he couldn't help but correct him, "I'm not a professor, I'm an associate professor."

Li Bo was deeply surprised: "It's been so many years, how come you're still an associate professor? I remember you were already an associate professor when you edited that first textbook. It's been more than ten years now."

Fang Chen didn't want to talk about this topic any more: "Hey, it's hard to explain. Just call me Teacher Fang. Forget about yours and yours, let's just call each other you and me."

Li Bo readily agreed. She paused and lowered her voice, "Teacher Fang, the most unexpected surprise for me attending the wedding today is meeting you. Our publishing house is planning a five-volume 'Poetry Appreciation Series' and needs five editors-in-chief. I've always thought that you have a strong foundation in poetry, so it would be great if we could invite you to be the editor-in-chief."

Fang Chen was slightly stunned. She didn't expect that she would have the opportunity to be the editor-in-chief of poetry appreciation. After all, she was not a Chinese major!

But then I thought, I had co-edited the second volume of the college's poetry association, "Selected Poems." This anthology was published by Huajiao Publishing House. Editor Li Bo knew about this, so that's why he approached me this time.

She thought about how Yuan Le was gone, and how Wang Danchen had retired. The college's poetry association was practically nonexistent, having held no events in ages. She was frustrated by having no one to connect with.

Participating in the compilation of the "Poetry Appreciation Series" means finding another group of poetry enthusiasts, right? Thinking of this, Fang Chen's eyes lit up. Then he smiled knowingly, "Okay, I'm very interested in this suggestion. Let's discuss it in detail some other day."

"Of course, of course," Li Bo nodded quickly. "It's really not appropriate to say more today. I just happened to meet you, and I said it out loud in the heat of the moment."

Fang Chen said uneasily, "I don't know much about grand themes. I only know some poems about the four seasons and the leisurely countryside. Please don't assign me something too difficult."

"Of course." Li Bo smiled. "It's my honor to work with Teacher Fang again."

Huang Tingjuan, listening from the side, suggested, "Why change the date? I think today is fine. Don't rush to leave after the banquet, let's have a good chat. I happen to have some ideas for a book series, and I'd like to hear your opinions."

Li Bo said, "Isn't this because I'm worried that you don't have time today? I'm even more worried that you'll be exhausted."

Huang Tingjuan said angrily, "How can you not have time? Besides, I'm not that squeamish." Then, she raised her glass and said with a smile, "It seems like today is a really good day. It's a good day for Fang Fang and Editor Li to reunite and work together again after a long separation. Come, I'll toast to you both!"

In the hall, the lights were still bright, the voices still bustling. But in this corner, the joy of reuniting with old classmates and friends intertwined with the surprise of their children's marriages, brewing a warmth richer than fine wine. Fang Chen thought, this glass of wedding wine today tastes truly different.

A few days after the wedding banquet, Huang Tingjuan created a group and invited Fang Chen to join.

The people in the group are mainly Huang Tingjuan's classmates. Most of them were born in 65, 66, and 67. They have retired or are about to retire. They discussed their life after retirement together. Some wanted to travel, some wanted to write, some wanted to publish a book, and some wanted to shoot a web drama... The discussion was in full swing.

After lunch that day, Fang Chen was walking alone by the artificial lake when his WeChat message on his phone started to ring.

Fang Chen clicked on it and took a look: Wow, this group chat is quite lively.

It turned out that several retired people posted photos of themselves participating in community cultural construction: during the Dragon Boat Festival, they helped organize traditional festival activities and Dragon Boat Festival folk experience in their respective communities.

Everyone liked the photo:

“You guys are so awesome and down to earth!”

"I think this direction is particularly good. You can see there are a lot of young people in the photos. Cultural revival, after all, is about letting old trees sprout new branches, allowing them to adapt to modern conditions and be accepted and loved by young people."

"This is the right approach. We should start from our immediate surroundings and from our communities."

“The core of cultural revival is ‘passing on the torch.’ You have done it! Not only that, you have also enhanced the cultural taste and cohesion of the community. I will join you after I retire next year.”

"Your photos reminded me. I originally wanted to hold a public welfare lecture on traditional etiquette, but I contacted several primary and secondary schools and cultural centers but failed to get it done. From now on, I will also go to the community!"

“Yes, a small community can do a lot!”

Others wrote poems praising:

"Seven-Character Verse: Dragon Boat Festival"

Calamus is hung on the door and it is the Dragon Boat Festival, the green mugwort leaves and the fragrant rice dumplings.

The dragon boat races create snowy waves, and the crowing turtles stir up the Xiang River.

The hatred for the country will last for thousands of years, and people all over the world sing songs of grief for their country.

Don’t lament that the poetic soul sank into the Miluo River, for the fragrance of Li Sao will live on forever.

Hey, please give me some advice! "

Although Fang Chen wasn't a Chinese major, she was also drawn to the lively discussion. She paused and chimed in, "You have the expertise in Chinese, and an 'outsider' like me can offer support from different perspectives, like drawing illustrations."

Huang Tingjuan immediately "patted" Fang Chen and @ everyone: "Teacher Fang is an art teacher in the university. She is a professional in painting and calligraphy."

The group chat suddenly became more lively:

"That's great, I didn't expect there are such talents in the group!"

"Teacher Fang, if you have time in the future, please teach us how to draw."

"Calligraphy! Teacher Fang, why don't you start a calligraphy training class?"

"What kind of painting does Teacher Fang teach?"

"Yes, maybe in the future we will ask Mr. Fang to be an art consultant and provide professional advice to museums, art galleries, and cultural and art planning."

"..."

Fang Chen was overwhelmed by everyone's enthusiasm. She immediately immersed herself in chatting with the group members, completely forgetting her lonely situation in school.