In this era, organizing this type of event did not cost as much as the fancy ceremonies of later generations. Lin Chaoyang did a rough calculation and found that the cost was at most two thousand yuan.
For ordinary people, this may be an income without food or water after working for three or four years, but for Lin Chaoyang, it is nothing.
We will pay for it ourselves, and Li Tuo and the others will contribute with the Literary and Art Association. We should make the distinction clear from the beginning to avoid any conflicts later.
Seeing that Lin Chaoyang's attitude was firm and did not seem to be hypocritical, Li Tuo said: "That's fine, we will gather the budget in the next two days. Seeing that the award ceremony is less than half a month away, we must hurry up."
After he left, Lin Chaoyang told Tao Yushu about the upgrade of the salon's specifications.
"Do we need to pay for it ourselves?"
"It doesn't cost much. Firstly, it avoids conflicts that may occur in the future. Secondly, it expands the scale and accumulates some contacts, which may come in handy in the future."
Tao Yushu understood that Lin Chaoyang must be thinking about her again, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of security and relief in her heart. This feeling of dependence was so good.
A few days later, Li Tuo would bring people to Lin Chaoyang's house from time to time to talk to him about preparations for the salon.
The main participants were very excited and would come up with ideas from time to time, only to be rejected one by one by Lin Chaoyang.
When this group of people got excited, they were wild and wild, and their ideas were usually very good, but there was no possibility of them being implemented. In the end, several people were dissatisfied and complained after being attacked by Lin Chaoyang.
But the salon still has to be run. Who made Lin Chaoyang the father of the sponsor now?
Today is the day of the National Award Ceremony for Outstanding Short and Medium Novels, and Lin Chaoyang was invited to attend.
After these years of development, the influence of the National Outstanding Short and Medium Novels in the country has reached an extremely high level, and can almost be regarded as the first award in the literary world.
As for the Mao Dun Literary Award, after all, it has only been held once, and it is very influential, but in the minds of writers, editors, publishers and readers, the foundation is still a bit lacking.
The conference was as grand as ever, with hundreds of literary heavyweights from all over the country attending the event.
As soon as Lin Chaoyang entered the venue, he was spotted by Zhang Guangnian. He pulled Lin Chaoyang aside and assumed the posture of launching an attack to accuse him.
"Boy, what do you mean?"
Lin Chaoyang looked confused, "What do you mean?"
"You are still pretending to be stupid with me!" Zhang Guangnian looked at his expression and was very angry, "Your salon has been causing a lot of trouble in Yanjing City recently. Do you think I don't know?"
"What happened to Sharon? Is it disturbing your old age again?"
Zhang Guangnian looked at him pretending to be stupid and dumbfounded, and his teeth itched with anger, "Pretend, just keep pretending! We worked so hard to organize an award, but the result was not good, the limelight was completely stolen by you."
Seeing that he was holding on to her, Lin Chaoyang had to say: "What you said is wrong. I just want to treat everyone to a meal. If you, the Cultural Association, want to do it, you can do it too!"
Of course, the Literary and Art Association also invites writers to dinner, and the specifications and standards are higher than those of Lin Chaoyang's family, but its influence is not as great as his.
The reason is actually very simple. Writers come to participate in the award ceremony. Whether it is an award ceremony, a symposium, or a meal, it is an official process.
Although it is gratifying to win an award, the atmosphere at these events is too formal and sometimes even has some oppressive political elements.
On the other hand, at the gathering at Lin Chaoyang's house, everyone is a creator. They gather together with like-minded interests and talk without any scruples. The atmosphere is relaxed and happy.
In addition, I had just won the award, and the joy of spring breeze and horseshoe disease added to the joy.
Compare the two and make a judgment.
Zhang Guangnian felt depressed after listening to Lin Chaoyang's words. He didn't understand the reasoning behind it, but he was still angry.
"Look at such a big leader like you, how come your mind is as big as a needle nose?"
Lin Chaoyang's ridicule attracted Zhang Guangnian's glare. The old comrade suddenly asked: "Your cultural salon is getting bigger and bigger, why is there anything about the Yanjing Cultural Association?"
"You always have a choice like this!"
Zhang Guangnian snorted coldly, the meaning in his eyes probably saying: Just pick it!
"Li Tuo contacted me about this matter. I am just a cook."
Lin Chaoyang was very unloyal and sold Li Tuo completely, but it was a pity that Zhang Guangnian did not accept his tactics at all.
"Come on. Isn't Li Tuo just following your orders? Are you trying to fool me like a three-year-old?"
Lin Chaoyang cried out that he was wronged, "He really orchestrated this matter."
"Then let me ask you, where is the salon?"
"My home."
"Who paid for it?"
"I came up with it."
Zhang Guangnian pointed at Lin Chaoyang's nose and said angrily: "You still dare to say that he made the decision?"
Lin Chaoyang was speechless. There was nothing wrong with Lao Zhang's logic, but he really felt that he was wronged. It was Li Tuo and the others who arranged everything, and he still had to be scolded for spending money.
"Then what do you mean?" Lin Chaoyang finally asked.
Seeing his compromise, Zhang Guangnian immediately said: "We, the Cultural Association, will be responsible for holding a salon next year."
The "our literary association" Zhang Guangnian refers to of course refers to the National Association for Literary and Art Circles.
Hearing this, Lin Chaoyang could not help but have a flash of disdain in his eyes, "You are also the leader of the Cultural Association after all, can you start to make a good impact? Steal the credit from your subordinates, and tell people about it to make people laugh!"
Zhang Guangnian suddenly became angry and said, "Fart! Did we organize the award? Are you taking advantage of us by running the salon? We, the Literary and Art Association, ran the salon for you, providing money and effort. Is there anything wrong?"
Lin Chaoyang argued: "You can't say that. Our cultural salon is purely a personal activity."
"Do you want the Yanjing Literary and Art Association to participate in your personal activities?"
Lin Chaoyang was silent when he heard this. The old comrade was really good at grabbing people to talk about.
"If the Yanjing Literary and Art Association can participate, we can participate. Otherwise, no one should participate."
Zhang Guangnian boasted that he had caught Lin Chaoyang's weakness. After saying this, his face was filled with pride, and he was sure that Lin Chaoyang would not leave the Yanjing Literary and Art Association.
Although he didn't think so, Lin Chaoyang nodded happily, "Okay, then the Yanjing Literary and Art Association will not participate next year, and you don't want to participate either."
"Eh?"
Zhang Guangnian's face was full of surprise, and he was stunned for a few seconds, his mind unable to turn around for a while.
Looking at his expression, Lin Chaoyang suddenly felt bad breath.
He was about to find a place to sit down, but Zhang Guangnian pulled him back again.
"what?"
"It's not...you...I..."
The proud smile moved from Zhang Guangnian's face to Lin Chaoyang, and he asked in a brisk tone: "Are you still busy?"
Zhang Guangnian glared at Lin Chaoyang unwillingly, wanting to say a few words, but couldn't think of any reasonable words for a moment, so he could only watch as Lin Chaoyang calmly found a place to sit down.
Seeing that the award ceremony was about to begin, he could only let it go.
It’s another year’s awards conference. The organizers are still the Literary and Art Association and People’s Literature. The jury members are basically old people. Only a few people have changed, but the winning writers have changed.
A total of 18 works were selected for this year's National Outstanding Short Story Award, 7 of which were from "People's Literature". Among the award-winning writers there are many famous writers of later generations.
For example, Li Guowen, Shi Tiesheng, Liang Xiaosheng, Jin Ying, Zhang Wei, etc.
Among them, Zhang Wei's "A Pool of Clear Water" and Li Guowen's "Records of a Dangerous Building" were compiled and reviewed by Tao Yushu.
In addition, 20 outstanding works were selected for the National Outstanding Novella Awards. It is worth mentioning that in this year's awards, one person won a double award.
But it is different from Lin Chaoyang's year. This time this person won two awards: one short and one hit.
Liang Xiaosheng won the National Outstanding Short Story Award for his short story "Father" and the National Outstanding Novella Award for his novella "There's a Blizzard Tonight", making him the biggest winner at this award conference.
After the award ceremony, there was a symposium organized by the Literary and Art Association in the afternoon. Lin Chaoyang did not intend to attend, so he prepared to leave, not wanting to be pestered by Zhang Guangnian again.
This time Comrade Lao Zhang's attitude was much softer. His original intention was to let the National Literary and Art Association participate in the cultural salon, instead of hurting both sides with the Yanjing Literary and Art Association, and no one would benefit.
However, Lin Chaoyang's attitude was unexpectedly firm and he did not intend to let the Cultural Association participate in the cultural salon again.
Zhang Guangnian thought it was his attitude just now that made Lin Chaoyang dissatisfied, but Lin Chaoyang said:
"It has nothing to do with attitude. Lao Zhang, the salon is an activity organized by us voluntarily, and it has nothing to do with the Cultural Association.
This year, things are going to be bigger, and Li Tuo brought the Yanjing Literary and Art Association here because of the lack of manpower.
What you said today reminded me that the Cultural Salon is a spontaneous event, and it is indeed easy for your officials to participate in it.
So, from now on we should run our own business, and no one of you should argue."
After saying this, Lin Chaoyang left the venue without waiting for Zhang Guangnian's reaction.
Zhang Guangnian looked at his back, feeling depressed.
If I had known this earlier, I might as well not have provoked this kid.
This is a big deal!
Two days later, there were more unfamiliar faces coming and going in Xiaoliubukou Alley since early in the morning.
Neighbors who live next door all know that at this time of year, Writer Lin’s family will treat guests to dinner, and they are no longer surprised.
However, some young people with strong curiosity stood on the roadside and wanted to catch a glimpse of the writers.
There are more than 30 award-winning writers this year. Almost all of them came to Lin Chaoyang's house today. Lin Chaoyang's house has been full of guests since the morning. While he was greeting everyone, he had to prepare meals at the same time. He was very busy.
After the writers arrived, they gathered in groups. Some stayed in the house, some wandered in the yard, and some ran to the kitchen to help Lin Chaoyang.
Everyone was chatting and laughing, and the whole yard was filled with a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
Because Tao Yushu was pregnant, Lin Chaoyang refused to let her work, so she chatted with several guests.
By the time the meal started, Lin Chaoyang was already sweating profusely, and everyone stood up to propose a toast to his master.
Lin Chaoyang drank the wine and said with a smile on his face: "Everyone, sit down, eat and drink as you like, don't be polite."
"I won't be polite, I'm afraid you won't prepare enough food and wine." Lu Wenfu joked, and everyone burst into laughter.
He won the National Outstanding Novella Award this year for "Gourmet".
Although the winning writers of the National Outstanding Short and Novella Awards are different every year, Lin Chaoyang invites so many guests. He can name a lot of acquaintances among the guests, so the atmosphere of the salon is naturally the same.
Of course, in addition to acquaintances who have attended the salon more than once, there are more first-time guests today.
Over the past five or six years, this gathering at Lin Chaoyang's house has gradually become the focus of attention in the literary world at this time of year.
Among the writers who came today, especially the young writers who have never been here before, many of them came with the mood of pilgrimage.
They really want to see what this cultural salon, which is famous in the literary world, is like? Is Lin Chaoyang's cooking skills as superb as the rumors say?
They came with great excitement today. When they arrived at Lin Chaoyang's house, they found that except for a bigger yard and a better house, there seemed to be nothing special about it.
Until more and more writers gathered in the yard, everyone greeted each other with cheerful faces, chatted about topics of common interest, and talked about their own creations. They gradually immersed themselves in such a relaxing and beautiful moment and forgot about everything.
As for Lin Chaoyang's craftsmanship, it is indeed impressive, especially in such a pleasant atmosphere, which makes it even more wonderful.
The beautiful scenery, the fine wine and the delicious food, everyone was intoxicated without realizing it.
Until the end of the banquet, Li Tuo went to the courtyard to take a group photo, and everyone stood up without feeling satisfied.
Everyone stood under two French plane trees, some were slightly drunk, others were sober and smiling, with happy faces on their faces.
In mid-spring, the buds of the French plane tree in the courtyard are growing into green leaves. The spring breeze stretches over the courtyard, and the branches and leaves sway, showing the full spirit of spring.
Chapter completed!