Chapter 64: He Became the Young Representative? (Desperately Seeking Readers)

After finishing the letter, Liu Yimin placed it in an envelope. This letter would first go to the editorial office of "People’s Literature and Art"; after they excerpted its contents, the original would be sent to the sender, that student worker from the National Academy of Chinese Medicine. Cui Daoyi would also return with Yu Jiajia in five days to collect the letter.

Would publishing this reader's letter in "People’s Literature and Art" spark a lively debate about these two types of college students?

Liu Yimin bundled up over a dozen letters and set them by his bedside, sighing, "I’d better not let them bring the letters here in the future. There’s nowhere to put them!"

Li Xueqin gritted his teeth, Liu Zhenyun held his cheek, but only Chen Dazhi leaned in and said, "Treat me to a meal at the Long March Cafeteria, and I’ll make you a cabinet, just for storing your letters!"

"Deal." Liu Yimin put his arm around Chen Dazhi’s shoulder and laughed, "How about making it in the style of a traditional courtyard? You know I’m fond of Chinese culture, especially furniture and architecture."

"Forget it, just pretend I never said anything!" Chen Dazhi shook his head helplessly—he’d hoped for a free meal. A cabinet in the style of a courtyard? Would that even be a cabinet?

At the start of the term, Chen Dazhi had leftover materials from repairing desks and beds; the boards and nails were piled beneath his bed.

Liu Zhenyun was about to leave when Liu Yimin called him back. He turned to look, holding his lunchbox with a hint of anxiety. If he delayed much longer, the cafeteria’s braised tofu would be gone.

Though Liu Zhenyun hadn’t been at the school long, he already knew which dishes offered the best value. Vegetable dishes cost five cents, braised tofu—a fried dish—ten cents, with minced meat fifteen; red-braised pork and similar dishes were twenty cents. Braised tofu was the ten-cent dish that still tasted of meat.

When the group ate together, they tended to disappear at mealtimes, avoiding the awkwardness of different classes of dishes.

"Today, I’m treating everyone at the Long March Cafeteria!" Liu Yimin grinned at Liu Zhenyun. He had plenty of national meal tickets, courtesy of the revolutionary committee.

When Liu Fuqing learned Liu Yimin had been accepted to university, he brought grain to the station to exchange for many national ration tickets. These couldn’t be used in the school cafeteria, but were perfect for a meal at the Long March Cafeteria.

In these days, the area near Yan University was still desolate, with stretches of farmland and low houses; it wasn’t easy to find a state-run restaurant for a meal.

The Long March Cafeteria stood at the south gate of Yan University, a two-story building with a rich menu and fresh meat. It was a favorite spot for Yan University students to enjoy a feast, though most patrons were the salaried, privileged students.

"Is this really okay?" Liu Zhenyun said, setting down his lunchbox.

"Why wouldn’t it be?"

Liu Zhenyun chuckled, quickly changing his clothes: "I meant it’s not right to go to the Long March Cafeteria dressed like this. Old Li, are you playing dead? Hurry and change. Dazhi, quit fussing with those nails."

Inside the Long March Cafeteria, Liu Yimin handed the menu to his friends, who hesitated to order, afraid of choosing anything too expensive. Liu Yimin had to decide himself.

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"One order of sautéed pork liver tips, tomato and pork slices, stir-fried pork slices, shredded pork with garlic sauce..."

"Enough, enough!" Li Xueqin quickly interrupted.

"Rice or noodles?" Liu Yimin asked.

The meal cost less than three yuan in total; the pork liver dishes were the cheapest meat options here. It wasn’t that Liu Yimin couldn’t afford pricier dishes, but he worried they’d feel burdened eating them.

When the food arrived, the group ate hesitantly. Liu Yimin urged, "Dig in! I’m happy today—you’re celebrating with me. 'China Youth Daily' is going to reprint one of my articles and pay me. That money is like winning the lottery. Even replying to readers' letters earns money. I’ve been wanting to eat something different, and now I finally have a reason."

Hearing this, the others’ politeness faded considerably, and their chopsticks no longer paused between grabbing meat or rice.

Liu Zhenyun said happily, "Yimin, when my article gets accepted, I’ll treat you all to dinner at the Long March Cafeteria!"

"I’ll be waiting. Now wipe the grease off your lips!"

"No way—how else will people know I ate meat today?"

Ha! That was just the sort of thing a Manchu noble would do.

...

Cui Daoyi and Yu Jiajia came together to collect the manuscript. Yu Jiajia carefully examined Liu Yimin’s revisions, noticing how seriously he’d taken the commission—most sentences had been optimized, making the report smoother and gradually building to a climax.

"Where you stand is China. However you are, China will be so. If you shine, China will not be dark. May all Chinese youth rise above, cast off indifference. If you think the country is lacking, then go build it. If you think the modernization is progressing too slowly, then study science and culture to accelerate its development. Watching and mocking is no substitute for working hard; boasting is nothing compared to forging ahead!"

After reading, Yu Jiajia sighed, "It has the flavor of Mr. Liang Qichao’s 'Youthful China.'"

"How could I dare compare myself to Mr. Liang Qichao?"

"Not now, but who knows in the future!" Cui Daoyi interjected.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, your manuscript fee will be delivered soon—I guarantee it won’t be less than 'People’s Literature and Art’s' standard. I’ll negotiate the specifics with the editor-in-chief. I’m heading back to the newspaper office now, hoping to see it published tomorrow morning."

Early the next morning, Liu Yimin’s report appeared in the newsstand. Although "China Youth Daily" didn’t place it on the front page, it was featured prominently.

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Beside the full text was an editor’s note: [This report is a heartfelt expression from Comrade Liu Yimin, describing in simple, genuine words his journey before and after entering university, and encouraging contemporary youth to strive upward. The final paragraph is reminiscent of Mr. Liang Qichao’s message to the youth in 'Youthful China.'

Comrade Liu Yimin, coming from rural western Henan, has persevered through setbacks and responded to the nation’s call by braving the cold and snow to take the college entrance exam. With a score of 451, he entered Yan University, making him a true representative of youth actively pursuing scientific and cultural learning. The old doctrine of judging by family background has proven unworkable; the time has come for young people to change their fate through the college entrance exam.

Youth, go to university! Go to the classroom! Go to the battlefield of modernization!]

Once published, thousands of young people queued to buy "China Youth Daily," shouting the era’s call to change one’s fate through the college entrance exam in the chilly autumn air.

Many, upon reading Liu Yimin’s story, tore the newspaper to shreds and shouted, "University—I can do it too!"

At Yan University, crowds gathered outside the Chinese department’s large lecture hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of Liu Yimin.

"Where’s the youth representative?" a group outside clamored.

Liu Zhenyun waved, "The youth representative is here!"

"If we locked Yimin in his dorm and sold tickets like the Forbidden City, we’d make a fortune!" Li Xueqin laughed.

"Tickets at the Forbidden City cost one yuan—if we charge eighty cents, that’s not too much, right? Let me calculate: a hundred people a day would mean eighty yuan!" Liu Zhenyun counted on his fingers, startled by the total.

In a courtyard near the Drum Tower, the "Today" underground magazine group met again. Zhang Pengzhi tossed "China Youth Daily" onto the table, sneering, "Ha! That country bumpkin has become the representative of Chinese youth!"

Asking for monthly votes, recommendations, and follows! Throw your votes at me—I love this feeling.

Thank you all for your support, grateful beyond words.

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