Chapter 14: Future Writers' Association Vice Chairman Comes to Congratulate

In the past few days, more than one person has talked to Chen Yixue about this novel. It is said that People's Literature in bookstores and street newsstands have sold out because of it. Even workers at the printing plant, working three shifts to rush the printing, are useless; as soon as the book is placed on the shelf, the queuing readers snap it up, just to read "The Wreath Under the High Mountain".

At the end of today's performance, the Cultural Troupe leader even discussed with a few of their main performers whether "High Mountain" could be adapted into a stage play.

Unexpectedly, the Luoyang bestseller novel's author turned out to be her younger sister's boyfriend.

Chen Yixue inhaled deeply and said, her beautiful eyes showing affirmation: "Someone introduced his book to me. Since everyone likes it so much, it must be well written."

Even though both are authors with publicly released works, there is still a gap between them.

For a work to reach this level of influence, Xu Yuexin is far stronger than the self‑styled talented literati in the troupe.

Now Chen Yixue internally acknowledges that Xu Yuexin is a truly talented man.

Chen Qiaoqiao sees that her boyfriend's work's reputation has already reached her sister and feels pleased: "Hmm, I have a People's Literature in my hand."

"I'll give it to you in a moment."

"Hmm."

Chen Yixue sees Chen Qiaoqiao's proud demeanor when mentioning her boyfriend, and her red lips curve into a slight smile.

That evening, by the bedroom window table, Chen Yixue sits at a small desk, with a People's Literature on the desk illustrated with green mountains and verdant trees.

In front of her lies a thick sheet of notepaper, bearing dignified and graceful handwriting; the content appears to be lyrics for singing.

At the very bottom line of the notepaper, red crosses appear one after another, strikingly alarming. This is already an unknown‑numbered version of lyrics that Chen Yixue has rejected.

With less than two months left before the Tribute Performance, Chen Yixue, the lead singer of the Cultural Troupe, still has no lyrics.

In the past two years the nation has changed dramatically, and society's appearance evolves daily. Moreover, it is the 30th anniversary of the founding, so superiors demand that this Tribute Performance be innovative, and the program must reflect the new era's visage.

Innovation is easier said than done. In recent days, several lyricists in the troupe have presented her with freshly written lyrics, but Chen Yixue found none satisfactory.

Like the lyrics she previously rejected, these people's lyrics are either too dated, still lingering in an atmosphere from several years ago, or too soft, with languid tones unsuitable for a Tribute setting.

As for the two lyrics she herself painstakingly wrote, Chen Yixue also finds them mediocre, falling short of the standard she envisions for a Tribute piece.

Chen Yixue thinks and thinks, constantly mulling over the lyrics, and her anxiety deepens.

After finishing the lyrics, she still has to compose music, rehearse, and arrange matching choreography… time left for her is scarce.

"It's really a headache…"

Looking at the days crossed off on the calendar, Chen Yixue sighs lightly, her mood growing heavier.

At that moment, the People's Literature on the desk catches her eye, and a thought surfaces in Chen Yixue's mind.

How about finding her sister's boyfriend and asking him to write lyrics for her?

He can produce a work like "The Wreath Under the High Mountain"; his literary talent must be outstanding, perhaps he can help her out of this trouble.

Chen Yixue muses, feeling she has found a new way out.

……

At breakfast the next day, Chen Yixue presents her request to Chen Qiaoqiao: "Qiao Qiao, has your boyfriend been free lately?"

"If he's free, I'd like to ask him for a favor."

A request? In Chen Qiaoqiao's impression, her sister rarely speaks in this tone.

She has never been troubled in study or work; others always ask her, and she has never seen her ask others.

"What is it, sis? Tell me, and if it's within his ability to solve, I'll take you to ask him."

Chen Qiaoqiao, curious, says, eager to know the answer.

"Here's the thing: I'm the lead singer for this year's Tribute Performance, and I still have no lyrics. Whether written by others or by myself, I'm dissatisfied."

"Yuexin's talent is outstanding; I want to ask him to write lyrics for me."

"Lyrics? I'll take you to find him after school this afternoon, okay?"

"I see," hearing her sister's distress, Chen Qiaoqiao feels she can take her to find Xu Yuexin.

"Xu Yuexin previously wrote novels; can he handle lyrics?"

Zhou Zhifeng interjects from the side, "Don't waste time and mess things up again."

"Mom, wash my bowl; I need to discuss something with Qiao Qiao." Chen Yixue, not wanting to hear her mother's endless chatter, simply pushes her away.

"And my bowl."

Chen Qiaoqiao also pushes a bowl in front of their mother.

Zhou Zhifeng has no choice but to take the bowl and leave; the two sisters, seeing this, continue discussing finding Xu Yuexin.

……

"Yuexin, your 'High Mountain' has become a hit. To be precise, it's caught fire beyond control."

"The readership response is intense; many young men, after reading it, rush to enlist, strongly demanding to go to the front lines to protect the nation, while many young women shout the slogan 'No marriage for non‑soldiers'."

"The literary world has sparked discussion around this book, and some leaders in the cultural sector are also paying close attention to your masterpiece."

"What are your plans regarding this? Do you want to continue on the literary path?"

In the afternoon, at a small tavern near Wudaokou, Chen Jiangong, holding a few peanuts in his hand, his face flushed, congratulates Xu Yuexin.

Chen Jiangong is a Class 77 graduate of Yanda Chinese Department; in his early years he worked in a mining area under Jingxi Coal Mine, and, like Xu Yuexin, was a down‑hole miner.

After entering university, Chen Jiangong revisited the old mining area, and thus met Xu Yuexin.

When they first met, Xu Yuexin and Chen Jiangong talked quite compatibly. Moreover, their fathers were close academic collaborators, so the two became friends.

Chen Jiangong began publishing works as early as the early 1970s, and is an old acquaintance of People's Literature editor Wang Chaoyin and others. A couple of days ago, he learned from Wang Chaoyin that his friend is the author of "The Wreath Under the High Mountain", so he sought out Xu Yuexin to congratulate him in person.

Xu Yuexin also grabs a handful of peanuts, tosses one into his mouth, chews it up and swallows.

"Since we can eat this bowl of rice, it must be that we intend to go far, treating creation as a long‑term career."

Facing his friend, Xu Yuexin does not hide his thoughts, speaking frankly, "By the way, you said the higher‑ups are paying attention to this work; how exactly are they doing so?"

Chen Jiangong has spent a long time in Jing's literary circles, knows many people and is well‑informed; Xu Yuexin wants to learn the current situation from his mouth.

Upon hearing Xu Yuexin's intention to pursue a professional writing path, Chen Jiangong is delighted: a friend finding a life direction becomes a fellow traveler, and the literary world will gain a new star.

"High Mountain" was released through Wang Chaoyin; he and I are old friends. In the past two days, some leaders from the cultural department have approached him, soliciting his opinion on the book. Unsurprisingly, the higher‑ups will issue a statement about it.

Of course, there are many channels and avenues for the higher‑ups to make their voices heard, and the exact methods are hard to guess.

Chen Jiangong, upon saying this, gave a mysterious smile and said, "But one thing is certain: you yourself must take part in the process of speaking out. The leaders can't be the ones singing a solo."

As for the content of the speech, it inevitably cannot be separated from the words "creative style."

Because the literary style of "High Mountain" indeed differs greatly from the currently popular Scar Literature, it serves as a weathervane.

When discussing Xu Yuexin's writing style, Chen Jiangong's voice carried admiration. Before his visit to Xu Yuexin today, he had already read the novel more than a dozen times, gaining new insights with each reading.

As a professional, Chen Jiangong, after repeatedly chewing over it, concluded that "The Wreath Under High Mountain" possesses epoch‑making potential.

If the Arts Supervision Department truly, as rumors claim, makes a heavyweight announcement about this, it will become the opportunity to unleash that potential.

Chen Jiangong is delighted that Xu Yuexin has received attention from superiors, and he also wants to know what changes "The Wreath Under High Mountain" could bring to the literary world once the higher‑ups speak on it.

The higher‑ups have started to pay attention to his work.

Xu Yuexin is not surprised by this news. Whether in the present or in later generations, whenever an influential work emerges in the literary world, the supervising ministries, the Literature Federation, and the Writers Association, among other bodies, will take notice.

Especially at the juncture of the late 1970s and early 1980s, an outstanding literary work often could lead social thought currents and change public perception.

The novel "Class Teacher", and the film from the 1980s "Lushan Love"…

Now, the focus of the higher‑level departments' attention is "The Wreath Under High Mountain".

Xu Yuexin does not feel uneasy about the higher‑level departments' attention. On the contrary, he knows that in any era, forging a career cannot be done without dealing with officials.

"Old Chen, I have no problem participating in the speaking out. It's just that the form of the speech must seek my opinion."

Chen Jiangong is ten years older than Xu Yuexin, and Xu Yuexin has always called him that since they first met, "If you can reach the relevant leaders, please convey my meaning for me."

"If I can meet them, I will definitely speak. Your idea is…"

Chen Jiangong asked.

(End of chapter)