Chapter 31 thirty

The first issue of "Avant-Garde Literature" was published.Mehman sent me a copy.There is no painting on the cover, only the four characters of avant-garde literature; in addition, an Arabic word 1 is printed in black ink on the right corner, which is generous and beautiful.Other than that, the content is pretty much the same as I originally planned.The launch word still uses the one I wrote, without changing a single word.For me, this is certainly something to be happy about.As for the translation, I was able to select a few top-notch works according to the plan I had drawn up.The creation is weak, except for a one-act play and the treatise on the anti-fiction school, the others are not outstanding works.The creation of several short stories, although a little higher than the general "Youth Garden"-style short stories nowadays, is still far from the original requirements.The problem is not that Mehman's level of appreciation is low; it is that commercial society has caused those talented and cultivated writers to concentrate on other aspects and no longer have the leisure or interest to write literature.Hemen is still young and doesn't have many friends. He doesn't know who else in Hong Kong can write decent works except those writers who suffer from immature literature and art.

In fact, there are several very promising writers in Hong Kong who have been forced to change their careers in order to make a living.These are literary and artistic workers who have performed, but the reality is cruel.The burden of life was too heavy, and they had to give up their hobby of literature.Mehman did not know them, let alone encourage them to write for Avant-Garde Literature.The few creations Mehman found were all superficial realism works, nothing special, they could only be regarded as mediocre.Even so, this "Avant-Garde Literature" is still the most important literary magazine in Hong Kong.I admire Mehman's perseverance; I'm also ashamed.After I read "Avant-Garde Literature" in one sitting, I must admit that my enthusiasm for literature has not completely disappeared.The reason why I no longer read literature is just an act of deceiving myself.In fact, I still cannot resist the magnetism of literature.My opinion is: the standard of "Avantgarde Literature" is not high enough.However, for general literary and art publications in Hong Kong, it is already too high, and some readers cannot accept it.

If "Avant-Garde Literature" cannot maintain a certain standard, it will completely lose the meaning of existence. Mehman did not hesitate to use his mother's savings to put all his eggs in one basket, in order to preserve a little vitality for Chinese new literature; but it is not easy to find works that meet the requirements, and because it is a regular periodical, when it is time to publish, he cannot find good works, so he has to write casually. A few articles are rushed to fill in the chapters: in this way, the content is poor, and it will definitely become a publication that is unacceptable to both refined and vulgar.

I'm worried about Mehman. Sooner or later, Mehman's five thousand dollars will be lost.The problem is: the five thousand dollars must be worth something. Although the first issue of "Avant-Garde Literature" is still far from the ideal, the choice of translation is obviously wise.However, relying on his own strength in the future, I am afraid that even this level cannot be maintained. I want to meet Homen once. But didn't have the courage to call him. Homen is a young man with personality.He can accept failure, but he may not be willing to accept the assistance of a popular writer.Besides, I have to write serial novels for four newspapers a day, how can I have time to help him?

I sighed, threw the "Avant-Garde Literature" into the wastebasket, smoked a cigarette, and poured half a glass of wine.Sitting in front of the desk, he picked up the pen and began to write the sequel to "Pan Jinlian as a Chartered Woman". Alcohol and yellow text both have an evasion effect.For those who do not have the courage to face reality, wine and yellow text are somewhat useful. Suddenly someone knocked on the door, opened it and saw that it was Mrs. Lei.she says: Someone is calling you. Walking to the side of the telephone, picking up the receiver, it turned out to be Mahomet.

Did you receive the inaugural issue that was sent to you?he asks. received. How about it?Hope you can give me some honest critiques. I admire your courage and perseverance. In addition to courage and perseverance, what do you think about the content? Very good, each article is of sufficient standard. This is a theory against one's conscience, and even Mehman can hear it.Mehman was the truest of friends; yet I told lies to him.In fact, if Mehman didn't respect my opinion, he wouldn't have called me either.I can't be too inferior.Although most of my colleagues have already regarded me as the author of martial arts and pornographic novels; I believe that Mehman would not think so.At the very least, he also wants to hear my opinion.However, I was so hypocritical that I didn't speak frankly what I wanted to say.

How about the creative part?Mehman asked. Although a little weak; it's still passable. I hope you can give me some frank opinions. Several short stories are realistic, and the techniques are quite old-fashioned.The novelist of today should seek the inner truth, not the copying of nature.Cézanne once frankly pointed out the uselessness of imitating nature in front of Zola, and believed that artists should try to express nature. I know, I know; but there are not many novelists here and now who are willing to continue to engage in literary and artistic work, how can they be asked to search for inner truth!

This is also true. Therefore, I can only improve the standard of the translation as much as possible, hoping to urge the awakening of literary and art workers. The translation part of the first issue is good. The second issue is about to be released, I know you are busy and don't have time to translate something for "Avant-Garde Literature".However, you have read a lot, so it should be no problem to provide some materials. I haven't read literature at all lately. Mehman snorted and hung up the phone.I went back to the bedroom, sat at the desk, and continued to masturbate with words.

Can't write a single word. Being a professional writer is not as comfortable as most people imagine.When you are in a bad mood, you still have to force yourself to write. Fortunately, this kind of thing has no thought at all, as long as some sexual behaviors are not too explicit, it can be exchanged for readers' applause. (Hong Kong is really a strange place. The more artistic works are, the harder it is to find a place to publish them; on the contrary, those martial arts novels and pornographic novels that contain poison have become the objects of competition.) (Hong Kong is really a strange place. Magazines that don’t pay for manuscripts, like the old “Literary Trends” and “Hot Wind” in the past, often publish excellent works; but those magazines that rely on green back subsidies, although the manuscript fee is as high as four thousand words Ten yuan, and the published things often don’t even understand the text, let alone the ideological and artistic quality of the work itself.)

(Hong Kong is such a strange place, the more expensive magazines have the shorter lifespan, whereas the leisure magazines that specialize in brothers and sisters, and publications with colorful covers and utterly meager content make a lot of money.) "Avant-Garde Literature" is destined to be short-lived.No one would be surprised if it was discontinued after a few issues.In fact, Mehman himself knows that this magazine will not last long, but he has his own ideas, and he believes that a single spark can start a prairie fire. Even if the power is weak, as long as the standard can be truly raised, what will happen in the future? No one can predict the flowers and fruits.The idea is not bad.The problem is: because excellent works are hard to find, publications cannot maintain a certain level, and money and energy are wasted.

This is cause for concern. I even had the idea of ​​giving up writing popular novels and concentrating on helping Mehman edit Avant-Garde Literature. But I can't take the courage. Literature is not rice.It is an unrealistic sarcastic saying to write poorly and then work.In today's real society, there are still people who are willing to be fools; I am afraid that there will be no people who are willing to die for literature. I was in great trouble, and I couldn't use emotion to justify reason; I couldn't use reason to explain emotion. I drank another half bottle of wine.