That night, after Zhang Dening left, Lin Chaoyang asked Tao Yushu: "Have you really considered going to Yanjing Literature?"

Tao Yushu looked at him with confusion on his face, "Didn't you support me before? Why don't you agree again?"

"It's not that I disagree. If you become an editor, it can be regarded as engaging in professional-related work. Of course I support you.

I just keep hearing those students from Yanda talking about assignments recently, and I am closest to the ones from the Chinese Department.

They all want to stay in Beijing after graduation, join literary associations, publishing houses, and magazines. They just want to realize their literary ambitions and engage in related work at the same time. It feels too idealistic.

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Literature has become a prominent school in recent years, not because of its own success, but because of changes in the social environment and the explosion of previous years of repression.

After a period of time, people's enthusiasm dropped and they returned to rationality and utilitarianism. The sacredness of this job was gone, and it may not be as good as the jobs they looked down upon at the beginning."

After hearing what Lin Chaoyang said, Tao Yushu's eyes showed a thoughtful look, "What you said makes some sense."

"But for now, I don't regard this job as a lifelong career. I just like this job more than going to an agency."

Lin Chaoyang nodded slightly, "As long as you have this awareness, I just hope you can like your work and have a sense of accomplishment."

His words touched Tao Yushu's heartstrings. She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder, saying softly: "I understand that work is also a part of life. You must experience joy and happiness."

"That's right." Lin Chaoyang put his arms around her waist with a gentle expression.

After the winter solstice, the temperature in Yanjing is getting lower day by day. The temperature in the library is comfortable and the atmosphere is quiet. As soon as the afternoon comes, people have the urge to feel sleepy.

After lunch, Lin Chaoyang wrote a new novel for a while and felt sleepy, so he wanted to lie down on the table and take a nap.

Not a minute after he closed his eyes, the elevator reached his floor and he had to get up.

I thought it was a call card sent downstairs, but unexpectedly it was a note.

After taking a look at the note, Lin Chaoyang came downstairs and saw Li Tuo and Zhu Wei waiting at the front desk.

It was cold outside, so Lin Chaoyang took the two of them to a corner inside the entrance of the library, "What do you want from me?"

He was asking about Zhu Wei. If Li Tuo came to see him for something, he would just do it himself and would not involve Zhu Wei.

The two of them came together because Zhu Wei could only come to him if he had something to do.

"Chaoyang, do you know about the essay competition organized by our magazine?"

Zhu Wei is the editor of "China Youth". In April this year, the 8th issue of "China Youth" issued a notice that "this magazine holds a call for short stories for the May 4th Youth Literature Award."

The editorial department collects literary works from readers and has opened a "Solicitation for Novels" column.

The call for essays will last from the 13th issue in 1981 to the 12th issue in 1982. "China Youth" is a bimonthly publication for one year. Excellent novels recommended by the editorial board will be selected and published in the "Novel Calling" column of each issue.

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Lin Chaoyang knew about the essay competition organized by "China Youth". He occasionally browsed literary magazines and read the articles published there. The essay competition has been held for half a year, and more than a dozen novels have been published, many of which are excellent.

do.

Since 1978, various literary awards activities have flourished in the domestic literary circle. There are only two national awards activities, but there are dozens of literary award activities organized by newspapers and periodicals.

There are so many awards, and literature lovers participate enthusiastically and enthusiastically, but for those in the industry, it is inevitable to feel aesthetic fatigue.

"You know, it's been a long time, right?"

Zhu Wei said: "Yes, it started in July, and it has been almost half a year now. Are you interested in serving as a judge?"

Faced with Zhu Wei's sudden invitation, Lin Chaoyang was a little surprised.

Awards are all subject to preparation. The judges are basically determined long before the awards are made. How could it be possible to invite judges only half a year after the event?

Seeing Lin Chaoyang's expression of confusion, Zhu Wei had no choice but to explain the reason.

It turns out that the articles they publish in this essay competition are equivalent to shortlisted articles. They are first recommended by the editorial department, and finally the judges select the winning works from among the shortlisted works.

During this period, the editorial department is actively contacting respected seniors in the literary world to serve as judges. Considering that these seniors are relatively busy, the editorial department intends to set up a judging panel first so that everyone can have sufficient experience in the next six months.

time to participate in the selection.

I read dozens of short stories in half a year, and I can find time no matter what.

After listening to Zhu Wei's explanation, Lin Chaoyang smiled modestly and said: "My qualifications are not enough to be a judge."

"Qualifications as a judge are only one aspect. Literary quality and literary achievements are the most important. Although you are young, your works have always been extremely influential. Being a judge is what we dream of."

There was a hint of compliment in what Zhu Wei said, but most of it was from his heart.

In terms of age alone, Lin Chaoyang is indeed too young among writers. However, in the past few years, he has proved his talent and creative ability with many works, which has been recognized by the literary world.

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Li Tuo also advised: "Chaoyang, I think you should be the judge. This is not only for yourself, but also for the fairness of the awards. There is never any formula for outstanding literary works, and each judge has different reading tastes.

Your younger age is exactly an advantage and you can bring forward different perspectives from those who are older."

Zhu Wei echoed: "Li Tuo is right, this is also an important reason why we invited you."

He then revealed several famous people who were invited, Ding Ling, Feng Mu, Wei Junyi, Wang Meng, Liu Xinwu...

Among them are respected seniors such as Ding Ling and Feng Mu, as well as Mesozoic forces such as Wang Meng and Liu Xinwu.

"And you are the representative of young writers in the literary world." Zhu Wei said to Lin Chaoyang in a sincere tone.

Lin Chaoyang smiled bitterly when he heard this, "Why do you think that if I don't participate in the awards, it seems like I will be sorry for our group of young writers?"

Zhu Wei laughed and said, "This is your influence!"

After a conversation, Lin Chaoyang accepted the judge's job and found it difficult to refuse the hospitality.

The next morning, Zhu Wei came to the library again and sent Lin Chaoyang a previous appointment letter and a set of "China Youth" magazines from 1981.

There is no money to be made as a judge for a magazine these days, and judges cannot pay themselves back to read magazines, so the editorial department has prepared magazines for the entire year of 1981 and 1982 for the judges, and magazines published after that will be sent to them one after another.

After getting off work in the evening, Lin Chaoyang returned home carrying a thick stack of magazines. Tao Yushu asked: "Why did you buy so many magazines?"

"I didn't buy it, it was given as a gift."

Lin Chaoyang told the story about "China Youth" asking him to be a judge. Tao Yushu said happily: "Ding Ling, Feng Mu is a judge like you. What are you dissatisfied with?"

"You are not dissatisfied. When people come to invite you, you have to be polite, right?"

"hypocritical!"

Two days later it was the weekend, and the couple went to Mianmian Hutong to visit Lin Erchun and his wife.

Tao Yushu told Lin Chaoyang about being a judge during the chat. Lin Erchun and his wife did not know much about award judging. They only knew that the other judges were all in their fifties and sixties, and only their son was in his twenties.

Be on an equal footing with them.

"Will this award be published in the newspaper by then?" Zhang Guiqin asked.

"It will be published, not in newspapers, but in magazines." Tao Yushu replied.

"Is there Chaoyang's name?" Zhang Guiqin asked again.

"There should be."

"Then you can buy me a copy then."

Tao Yushu chuckled. In fact, she had already guessed what her mother-in-law was thinking.

In the afternoon, the two returned to the Overseas Chinese Apartment. Lin Chaoyang changed his clothes and wanted to lie down on the bed for a while, but Tao Yushu held a book and started studying in the study room.

“You’re about to graduate, why are you still studying?”

"It's the last final exam, and I don't want my grades to be too bad."

This is probably called idol baggage.

Seeing his wife's hard work, Lin Chaoyang also gave up the idea of ​​taking a nap, sat opposite her, and concentrated on writing a novel.

He has been writing his new novel for several months and has not finished it. He has really been slacking off in the past six months and needs to hurry up.

On New Year's Eve, Tao Yushu completed the last exam of her four-year university career. Five days later, the results were released. She was still ranked first in the Chinese Department of Yan'an Normal University and also ranked first in her thesis defense.

On the second Thursday after New Year's Day, Yan Normal University held a graduation ceremony in the school auditorium. Lin Chaoyang went specially to witness Tao Yushu's speech as an outstanding graduate representative.

After the graduation ceremony, before Tao Yushu had time to share with Lin Chaoyang how he felt about speaking on stage, or to share his feelings with his classmates, he was notified by the department to receive the assignment letter.

Coming out of the office building, Tao Yushu's expression was dull. Her graduation destination had already been decided, and today was just a formality.

But it's different for others. Some people are happy and some are worried after getting the dispatch certificate.

"Yushu, where have you been?" The students gathered around Tao Yushu and asked with concern.

"I am a literary and art association."

Tao Yushu showed the dispatch certificate to everyone, and everyone looked at the unit on it with envy.

"Yanjing Literature" is a comprehensive magazine sponsored by the Yanjing Federation of Literary and Art Circles. She was assigned to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and then the Federation of Literary and Art Circles arranged to work in the magazine.

"The Federation of Literary and Art Circles is such a good organization!"

"I also want to go to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, but why am I assigned to a newspaper office?"

"Just be content. You can still do professional-related work anyway. I was assigned to be a teacher at the university near our home. It would be great if I could stay in school and become a teacher!"

"You have a pretty good idea. Do you think you are a Jade Scholar? You take the first place in the exam every year? You don't even take the postgraduate exam, and you still want to stay in school!"
To be continued...