Zhuang Chongwen was a passionate young man when he was young. When he was in school, he took a boat across the sea to Xiamen University to listen to Mr. Lu Xun's speeches. He was also influenced by Mr. Lu Xun. In order to clarify his ambition, he changed his name from "Birong" to "Chongwen".

As early as the beginning of the reform and opening up, he became one of the first batch of Hong Kong businessmen to invest and build factories in the mainland, and therefore became a guest of the government. With this honor, Zhuang Chongwen actually has deep connections in the mainland.

But when he wanted to establish a literary award, he still wanted to leave the matter in the hands of a trustworthy person.

Just at this time, the news came that Lin Chaoyang had won an award overseas. He was born in the Mainland, had outstanding culture, and lived in Hong Kong. With these three characteristics combined in him, Zhuang Zhongwen felt that there was no one more suitable than Lin Chaoyang to handle his award.

By the way, he could also sell a favor to Lin Chaoyang, which was really a good thing that killed two birds with one stone.

"In the past few years, there have been an endless stream of literary awards in our mainland. Most of them are based on selected works, and they are usually 'winner' rather than 'best'. I wonder what Mr. Zhuang's prospects are for this award?"

"I don't know much about this aspect. I remember that Lin Sheng has won many awards in the mainland. What do you think?" Being entrusted by others is a matter of loyalty.

Seeing that Zhuang Chongwen didn't know much about award-winning matters, Lin Chaoyang gave him a detailed introduction to some of the current domestic literary awards. "Among the mainland literary awards today, the most well-known and authoritative one is undoubtedly the Mao Dun Literature Award.

This award is evaluated every three years. First, novels are submitted by literary associations, publishing organizations, and cultural units across the country... After listening to Lin Chaoyang's detailed introduction to the mainland's literary awards situation, Zhuang Zhongwen couldn't help but nod.

“In my opinion, the Mao Dun Literary Award and the National Outstanding Short Story Award are authoritative enough, but the award quotas are randomly set, which greatly weakens the scarcity of the awards;

Awards set up by publications such as the Contemporary Literature Award and the October Literature Award mostly reward works published in their own publications, and they have obvious limitations. Both have shortcomings."

Zhuang Chongwen asked: "In Lin Sheng's opinion, what should be done with this award?" "Chinese people say that there is no best in literature, but the award itself is utilitarian.

If you always look forward and backward, taking care of this and that, you will not be able to win awards. This is a game, a competition.

The current domestic awards give priority to "name", but with the continuous evolution of economic development and social atmosphere, I am afraid that the effect will become worse and worse if it continues this way. The establishment and selection of awards should still be "inhumane", and it should be done if necessary.

The best should be judged and rewarded heavily.

Only by gaining fame and fortune can most literary creators be inspired, and can also attract media reports and readers' attention." Hearing this, Zhuang Zhongwen nodded sincerely, glad that he had chosen the right person.

He does not hesitate to spend a lot of money, and of course he hopes that the impact of the award will be as big as possible.

"Looking at the internationally renowned literary awards, most of them are novel awards. However, in the field of novel awards in the mainland, there is already the Mao Dun Literary Award.

If Mr. Zhuang wants to hold an award, he might as well make the award bigger and include the literary genres of long, medium and short stories to make differentiation." Zhuang Chongwen was called "differentiation" by Lin Chaoyang.

"Impressed by this, he thought from a businessman's point of view and very much recognized Lin Chaoyang's thinking.

He asked excitedly: "If we do this, the workload will be huge, right?"

"Of course. Zhuang Sheng should understand that this kind of thing must have the support of the Cultural Association. However, if the Cultural Association is too involved, it will easily become a pig. I think we can mobilize some other forces."

"For example?" "For example, a college student." "A college student?"

After hearing what Lin Chaoyang said, Zhuang Zhongwen looked puzzled.

Lin Chaoyang smiled and said: "Mr. Zhuang, don't underestimate college students. They are cultured, energetic and aesthetic. They may not be as good as those senior people in some professional fields, but in terms of average quality, they are definitely the best in this country."

An outstanding existence.”

“My idea is that we can attract literary groups from some well-known universities in China to serve as preliminary judges.

They are responsible for the nomination and preliminary selection, and then ask the Literary and Art Association to organize a review team composed of editors, critics and writers to conduct the final review and determine the best work in each individual category.

The best works in the three categories of novel, medium, and short will share a prize of 300,000 yuan, and each individual prize is 100,000 yuan. This amount of prize money is unprecedented among domestic awards, and it will definitely have a miraculous effect."

Lin Chaoyang's words were not without purpose. In 1995, "Everyone" magazine wanted to hold a literary award, so it asked Honghe Cigarette Factory to sponsor and established a "Everyone Honghe Literary Award" with a bonus of 100,000 yuan.

As soon as the news came out, it immediately caused a sensation in the domestic literary circles and attracted huge attention.

"Everyone·Honghe Literary Award" overnight became a well-known literary award in the domestic literary circles and readers.

It is now 1987, and the value of the 300,000 yuan bonus of the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award is definitely much higher than that of the Honghe Literature Award. Zhuang Chongwen digested Lin Chaoyang's idea in his heart and felt that it was indeed feasible.

"What Lin Sheng said makes sense, so let's follow this idea."

The work required to prepare for a literary award is very large and complicated. Lin Chaoyang and Zhuang Chongwen chatted while eating, and did not leave the banker until after seven o'clock in the evening.

Before leaving, Lin Chaoyang and Zhuang Chongwen agreed that he would first contact the mainland authorities to promote the preparatory framework and some specific processes and rules for the award, and then ask Zhuang Chongwen to come forward to set the tone.

No. 46 Plantation Road is not far from Jiahui Garden. Lin Chaoyang and his wife took a stroll under the moonlight. "I see you seem very happy to participate in Mr. Zhuang's award evaluation." Tao Yushu asked.

"Although it may be a bit utilitarian to say this, Mr. Zhuang's generosity is indeed beneficial to domestic literary awards.

At least it can inspire a large number of writers and attract the attention of many readers. Isn't this a contribution to the development of literature?" Tao Yushu asked with a smile: "Actually, we also have money. If you want to do it, we can do it.

one."

Lin Chaoyang immediately shook his head firmly, "It's different."

"Mr. Zhuang is a patriotic businessman with high moral standards. He uses his name to establish literary awards. Even if some people complain about it, it will not have any impact. I am not yet thirty. If I come forward to do such things as awarding, I will definitely The whole city was in turmoil.

In China, no one talks about seniority, but everyone knows it, so why should I ask for trouble? Mr. Zhuang trusts me and I can use his hands to judge awards. Anyway, it is good for the country. It is beneficial to the development of literature."

Listening to Lin Chaoyang's words, Tao Yushu realized that he had already thought about it so carefully.

The next morning, Lin Chaoyang called Wang Meng and told him that Zhuang Chongwen wanted to donate money to establish a literary award. Wang Meng was very happy when he heard it at first, but when he heard it, he felt something was wrong.

"Chaoyang, can Mr. Zhuang think about the award in such detail?" "What do you mean?"

"I'm afraid this was your idea?"

"Don't worry about whether it was my idea or not. Mr. Zhuang donates 300,000 yuan every year to such a literary award, which is absolutely unprecedented in China. Of course, people should be more cautious.

Today's award evaluations often select a large number of award-winning works, which will only continue to reduce the value of the awards.

Wang Meng teased: "You say it as if you didn't have it back then. You kid is just crossing the river and demolishing the bridge, unloading the mill and killing the donkey!" "Hey, if you want to say that, then I will find cooperation with the local literary association! I think The Shanghai Literary and Art Association is pretty good.”

Wang Meng became anxious and said, "You are relying on foreign countries to respect yourself."

"Lao Wang, pay attention to unity, Mr. Zhuang is a patriotic Hong Kong businessman!"

After joking for a few words, Lin Chaoyang said seriously: "This matter is indeed my idea. Please listen to what I have to say."

"Old Wang, when the Literary and Art Association used to organize awards, they always felt that diversity and comprehensiveness should be maintained. One review would mean a bunch of works winning awards. I can't say that this idea is wrong, but have you ever thought about the role of awards?

It’s nothing more than guiding and stimulating creation, promoting and promoting cultural prosperity, right?

Some people may think that it is always a good thing to reward a few more people. This is what our literary and art circles have always done.

But have you ever thought about the difference between rewarding 5 people and rewarding 1 person for a literary community as large as ours? No matter how many objects are rewarded, only the few winners will be affected.

If things go on like this, it will inevitably turn into pork. The meat will rot in the pot anyway, so who is pursuing excellence? But the more important thing about awards is, isn’t it to drive and encourage more creators?

Can it be the same thing if there are 30 awards a year, with a bonus of 10,000 per person, and three awards a year, with a bonus of 100,000 per person? Have you ever seen any foreign literary awards that select several or more than a dozen at a time? A winner?

Why did the Nobel Prize stand out among so many foreign awards in the first place? Isn’t the most important thing because of its generous bonus?”

Lin Chaoyang's tone was calm, but every word was sonorous and powerful. In the final analysis, he didn't think the current award evaluation was bad, but he felt that we could do better. "Chaoyang, I understand your thoughts, but..."

Wang Meng listened to his words and tried to say something, but was interrupted by Lin Chaoyang. "Old Wang, you still don't understand.

If you insist that I am burning bridges, then I will have no choice but to admit this crime. There are two reasons why I did this.

First, Mr. Zhuang’s hundreds of thousands of RMB a year cannot be used to share pork, otherwise it would be a huge waste.

Second, this number is huge. If done properly, we can add an award to our literary world that is as famous as the Mao Dun Literary Award, or even more influential than the Mao Dun Literary Award.

For our literary community, writers, readers... no matter from which point of view, this is a good thing. Review the best! Give it a big reward!

This is what I said to Mr. Zhuang, and it is also the criterion for this award. Only in this way can it maintain its long-term vitality."

After saying what was in his heart, Lin Chaoyang finally stopped, and both ends of the phone were silent.

After a while, Wang Youyou said: "After saying so much, you just don't like our literary association." Lin Chaoyang said depressedly: "Don't blame me! If I don't like the literary association, how can I still come to you?" "

"You came to me because this matter can't be bypassed by the Literary and Art Association, but you figured out that I'm easy to talk to, and you want me to charge into the battle for you." Lin Chaoyang's face turned red after Wang Meng exposed his thoughts, and his voice weakened.

"I am not mainly considering your virtue and respect..."

How could old fox Wang be coaxed by Lin Chaoyang's sweet words? Seeing that flattery didn't work, Lin Chaoyang had no choice but to say, "Leave the power of nomination and preliminary review to the majority of college friends. Your literary association can also save some effort." .

Isn’t the power of final adjudication still with your Literary and Art Association?

I just don’t let you judge so many awards. How can it be like killing you?”

Lin Chaoyang's words were inserted into Wang Meng's lung tube. He didn't speak for a while, and sighed helplessly: "There are some things that you don't understand." "I just understand so well!"

Lin Chaoyang said impatiently, "Can it be done with 300,000 yuan a year? If not, I will find someone else."

Wang Meng wanted to scold Lin Chaoyang, but he couldn't bear to part with Zhuang Zhongwen's 300,000 yuan bonus. The Literary and Art Association has always been a Qingshui yamen! Lin Chaoyang was really annoyed, so he went to find a local literary association or some well-known publication. Giving prizes would be a joke.

"You are making me offend someone!"

Wang Meng tried to mix things up, but Lin Chaoyang refused to pick on him.

"You have lived a long life and have never offended anyone. Then you have just been able to live your whole life." There was silence on the phone again. After a while, Wang Meng's tone was filled with sadness.

"Okay, I'll have a meeting to discuss it in the next two days. I'll discuss it with you when I get the news. You'll have to come back then." "Thank you for your hard work, Comrade Wang!"

"Hypocritical!"

Wang Meng cursed and hung up the phone, and Lin Chaoyang touched his nose. The old comrade couldn't manage his emotions properly! Another day later, Lin Chaoyang walked into Lan Fong Yuan in the alley of Central.

Lan Fong Garden was still very lively in the afternoon. When the waiter Shaodong Aye saw Lin Chaoyang, he was surprised and said: "Huh? Mr. Lin!" Lin Chaoyang smiled at Aye, "One guest West toast and one cup of milk tea. "

"It's the same as usual, it's OK!"

After a while, Aye came over with food and put it on the table.

Lin Chaoyang looked at the extra piggy buns and was about to ask a question. Aye smiled and said, "I invited him. Lin Sheng has brought glory to us Xiangjiang people!" Not only Aye's enthusiasm, but also since Lin Chaoyang walked into Lanfang Many diners recognized his face.

In the past two or three years, Lin Chaoyang's face has appeared in newspapers from time to time. In the past few days, the news media has been full of reports on his award. His face has long been recognized by many people in Hong Kong.
To be continued...