Chapter 59: Among the Freshmen, There Is a Renowned Author

“Just like eating candy, peel off the wrapper and put it in your mouth to chew. At first, it tastes just like candy. When the sweetness fades, don’t spit it out yet—I’ll show you what to do next!”
Liu Yimin held a box of bubble gum, instructing Liu Zhenyun on how to eat it. Moments ago, a student from Beijing chewed some chewing gum. Liu Zhenyun had never seen such a thing; he thought constantly chewing was something only cattle did back home in the barn.

Liu Yimin glanced at the box the female student held and realized it was chewing gum. He turned to ask the shop attendant, but there was only Tianshan brand bubble gum made in Shanghai, three yuan a box, with a hundred pieces inside. Three yuan could buy a week’s meals at Yanjing University; truly a luxury item.

Liu Zhenyun already thought Liu Yimin was affluent, but only now did he see how generous he truly was. Liu Yimin handed over three yuan without blinking, his easy gesture to pay was something Liu Zhenyun felt he would never master in his lifetime.

After buying a bicycle at home, Liu Yimin still had two hundred yuan left. His novel “College Entrance Exam 1977” was fifty thousand words long, paid at six yuan per thousand words—a total of three hundred yuan in manuscript fees. He had five hundred yuan altogether, left one hundred yuan for his family when he came to Beijing, bought some daily necessities and spent a little more, so now he had three hundred seventy yuan in his pocket.

He planned to redeem his bicycle ticket soon, after which he’d have less than two hundred yuan left. Liu Yimin sighed that though he earned money quickly, he spent it just as fast!

Returning to the dormitory, his roommate Chen Dazhi was busy hammering away, a nail held in his mouth. Li Xueqin explained: these were desks and chairs from the neighboring room. The Chinese department’s teachers had just inspected the new students and found some desks and bed boards in need of repair. Since Chen Dazhi had a background as a carpenter, they enlisted his help.

Liu Yimin let everyone try the bubble gum, and none of them had seen such a novelty before—it was only available in big cities like Shanghai and Beijing. Few enterprises made chewing gum and bubble gum: production was low, and a significant portion was booked directly by the Civil Aviation Administration, leaving only a tiny fraction for department stores and supply cooperatives.

After the economic reforms, production increased, but these factories were tasked with earning foreign currency, so most was exported and the domestic supply remained scarce. While they kept their eyes on foreign markets, local industries were overtaken—the overseas confectionery companies had entered the scene.

Soon, under Liu Yimin’s guidance, the entire dormitory was blowing bubbles. Chen Dazhi, who had been holding a nail in his mouth, now had a bubble instead. When the Chinese department teacher, sweating and carrying another bag of nails, entered, he burst out laughing at the sight of bubbles popping everywhere.

“Who among you is Liu Yimin?” The teacher looked at Liu Yimin and Liu Zhenyun, smiling as he asked.

“Teacher, I am Liu Yimin!”

The Chinese department teacher warmly extended his hand. “Welcome to Yanjing University, Liu Yimin.” Then he looked at Liu Zhenyun. “So you must be Liu Zhenyun?”

Liu Zhenyun had been leaning against the iron frame chatting, but he quickly straightened and nodded.

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“This dormitory is remarkable—not only the province’s top arts scorer, but also the region’s top. Especially Liu Yimin, our Chinese department is Yanjing University’s highest-scoring major, and Liu Yimin’s score is the highest in our department. As far as I know, the university hasn’t heard of anyone with a higher score.”

“Have you all settled in? Liu Yimin is not only a top scorer but also an excellent writer. He is the author of ‘A Donkey’s Water’ and ‘College Entrance Exam 1977’. Li Xueqin, don’t stare—you’re holding this issue of ‘People’s Literature,’ aren’t you?”

The teacher took the magazine from Li Xueqin, turned to the page for “College Entrance Exam 1977,” and pointed out Liu Yimin’s name for everyone to see.

“Our Chinese department doesn’t train writers, but literary critics, since true writers cannot be cultivated. Yet for a writer, studying in the Chinese department at Peking University is immensely valuable for developing their literary skills. You should all learn from Liu Yimin and raise your literary level. Professors like Wu Zuoxian, Zhu Guangqian, Yang Hui—any one of them is a master. I hope you all grow here.”

The teacher handed the magazine back to Li Xueqin and asked Chen Dazhi if he could manage the repairs, otherwise he’d have to call the university craftsman tomorrow. Chen Dazhi wiped his sweat and assured him he could fix everything.

The teacher left, satisfied, and once gone, the dorm erupted in excitement. So the upper bunk’s Liu Yimin was the very Liu Yimin from the magazine.

As literary youth, whenever a famous writer appeared in a magazine, they would carefully study his work.

Liu Yimin had appeared in consecutive issues of “People’s Literature,” and in “Poetry Journal” two poems were published in a single issue, so their study was even more thorough.

Liu Zhenyun looked at Liu Yimin and thought to himself: no wonder this fellow has so much money—it’s all earned from manuscript fees. His own urge to write novels reached its peak. Although Liu Zhenyun would become a well-known writer, in the Chinese department he was still maturing, not fully developed until 1987.

He published several stories in “People’s Literature” that caused a strong reaction, and only then did people realize there was a Liu Zhenyun in Chinese literature.

Li Xueqin, holding the magazine, leaned beside Liu Yimin with a smile. “Yimin, I’ve always been curious about one thing: why doesn’t Pan Zhiyou return to the city by taking the college entrance exam in ‘College Entrance Exam 1977’? If it were me, I would definitely choose the university route.”

“Because Pan Zhiyou’s behavior at the farm reveals a complex character. His reflections on the country and society are rational; he sometimes understands the problems but still loyally accepts orders, leading everyone to complete tasks thoroughly. He also takes care of the sent-down youths within his responsibilities, showing his warmth.”

“In love, he is persistent, willing to sacrifice himself for Chen Qiong—that’s the spirit of sacrifice. His complexity adds depth to the story and exposes the intricacies of human nature, rather than making him a stereotypical figure.”

“I really like ‘A Generation.’ Do you have any new poems, Yimin?” Chen Dazhi asked.

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“Yes, the next issue of ‘Poetry Journal’ will publish one!”

“Wow!”

A group of literary youth together could not help but talk about literature. Soon the dorm’s atmosphere was lively, their conversation ranging from Liu Yimin’s novels to the popular “Scar Literature.” Liu Zhenyun spoke of Tolstoy, then of Pushkin.

Their discussion was overheard by students passing outside, who lingered at the door before joining the debate.

“I heard the Triangle at our university is lively—everyone discusses literature there. We must go and experience it ourselves!”

As more people crowded into the dorm, all the freshmen in the Chinese department soon knew that among their cohort was a remarkable new student—a great writer!

His name was Liu Yimin!

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