People in the alley: A woman dressed as a man shouldn't be foolishly filial, Zhuang Chaoying

Chapter 259 Breaking Through Ideological Constraints, Old Man Ba's Favoritism

After having breakfast at the hotel, Zhuang Chaoying checked the time and it was already 7:15. She was going to attend a symposium at the Shanghai Writers Association, and A-Ling was going to see Tu Nan, carrying her luggage.

Zhuang Chaoying had planned to wait until today's events were over, and then the two of them would go to see Tu Nan together tomorrow.

But Huang Ling missed Tu Nan terribly, and considering that she was already in Shanghai, she decided to go and see him by herself today.

Zhuang Chaoying held Huang Ling's hand and gave her instructions again and again.

"Ah Ling, you must be careful. Never go with strangers or talk to strangers. If anything happens, find the police immediately."

Huang Ling couldn't help but laugh, her eyes crinkling as she gently handed him her bag and helped him button up his shirt.

"Chaoying, you're treating me like a child. Don't worry, I won't get lost. I've been out and about all these years."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Chaoying pulled Ah Ling into her arms with one hand and kissed her.

After a while, there was a "plop" sound. Huang Ling gently pushed him away and looked at his reddened lips. She couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She took a neatly folded handkerchief from her pocket and gently wiped his red lips. "You're so unruly. If your readers saw this, they'd laugh at you to death. A great writer like Zhuang Anhe wearing lipstick."

Zhuang Chaoying pouted and let her wipe her mouth, muttering resentfully.

"I have plenty of Qi and blood, and my body is strong. Others want this, but they don't have it yet."

Huang Ling took the bag from his hand, walked to the mirror and looked at herself carefully, then tidied her hair and clothes.

After everything was settled, the two parted ways at the hotel entrance; one headed towards Tongji University, while the other went to the Shanghai Writers Association.

Before setting off, Huang Ling made a special trip to a small shop on the street and dialed Tu Nan's number.

. . . . . . . .

Zhuang Chaoying put her work ID into her briefcase and headed straight for the office building.

There were already people waiting at the entrance of the office building.

A woman dressed in a smart business suit saw Zhuang Chaoying from afar and immediately came to greet her with a warm smile.

"Teacher Zhuang, this way, Chairman Wang arranged for me to wait for you."

"it is good."

Zhuang Chaoying smiled in response and gave a brief reply before following behind the woman.

He glanced at his watch as he walked; there were still ten minutes until eight o'clock. Luckily, he had arrived on time.

The two entered an empty room. There was a row of chairs at the front of the room, with microphones and loudspeakers placed in front of them.

By this time, many people were already seated inside, chatting quietly in small groups.

Chairman Wang was sitting to one side. As soon as he saw Zhuang Chaoying coming over, he immediately got up with a smile and walked over.

"President Wang, it's been a long time." Zhuang Chaoying said, extending her hand, and the two shook hands warmly.

Wang Yougui smiled and nodded. He liked Chao Ying for this very thing: she knew what to say and do in what situation and when.

Unlike some people who frantically climb the social ladder after receiving even a slight favor, as if afraid others wouldn't know about their private relationships, Chao Ying handles public and private matters very well.

"Chao Ying, you've come at the right time. Come, let me introduce you."

As he spoke, Wang Yougui pulled Zhuang Chaoying to the first row.

"Chao Ying, this is Ba Jin, the editor-in-chief of our magazine Harvest. His literary achievements are well-known, and his works have influenced generations of readers."

Mr. Ba Jin nodded slightly, and Zhuang Chaoying quickly stepped forward to shake his hand. "Mr. Ba, I have long admired your name, and it is a great honor to meet you."

Old Buffett smiled. "I remember presenting you with an award."

Zhuang Chaoying nodded repeatedly.

Wang Yougui continued, “This is Cheng Naisan, a rising female writer. Don’t let her youth fool you; her works have already begun to make a name for themselves in the literary world, and she has great potential.”

Cheng Naisan smiled shyly, shook hands lightly with Zhuang Chaoying, and exchanged a few pleasantries.

"This is Mr. Zhang. He's the one who wrote the stories of Sanmao."

Mr. Zhang stood up and shook hands firmly with Zhuang Chaoying.

"Teacher Zhang, your writing about Sanmao is really wonderful, I love it very much."

"This person is Lu Yao, the author of the novels 'A Thrilling Scene' and 'Life,' and currently an editor at Shaanxi Literature and Art."

Lu Yao greeted Zhuang Chaoying with a smile.

Afterwards, Wang Yougui introduced the remaining twenty-two writing enthusiasts from all over the country. Zhuang Chaoying greeted them all warmly, feeling deeply moved.

After greeting each of the writers and shaking hands with them excitedly, Zhuang Chaoying sat down in the first row on the right.

He gently touched his slightly flushed cheeks, trying to calm himself down.

As the chief editor of Harvest, Mr. Ba was the first to speak on stage.

They recounted their initial aspirations and mission in literary creation, and shared their insights gained over the years on their literary journey.

The audience listened intently, bursting into enthusiastic applause from time to time.

After that, everyone took the stage to share their writing experiences and reflections on writing.

Some people recounted staying up all night for an inspiration, while others shared how they broke through creative blocks.

Listening to these people speaking passionately, Zhuang Chaoying felt her blood boiling. This time was different from the last; this was a true exchange among writers, not the previous teaching-oriented meeting.

The 1980s, a special era, deeply moved Zhuang Chaoying.

This is an era in which intellectuals can shine, an era in which people write for the sake of ideas.

The sudden opening up of society and the revitalization of the nation gave rise to a unique literary form.

Everyone is expressing their opinions and insights, and openness and conservatism are constantly clashing.

The host held a microphone and spoke clearly and loudly.

"Now we invite Zhuang Anhe, author of Mao Dun Literature's award-winning work '2030,' to share his writing experience."

Zhuang Chaoying's heart jumped into her throat; she was incredibly nervous.

No matter how many times he had been on stage, seeing such a scene still made his palms sweat and his heart race. He took a deep breath, stood up, and slowly walked towards the podium.

The moment his hand grasped the microphone, all eyes in the audience focused on him, his heart suddenly raced, and his voice trembled involuntarily.

"Hello everyone, I am Zhuang Anhe. It is an honor to stand here..." His opening remarks were hesitant and stuttering, but the people below the stage listened quietly. No one showed impatience; instead, they all gave him encouraging looks.

After speaking for a few minutes, Zhuang Chaoying gradually regained her composure, and her speech became more fluent.

He began to recount his creative journey, from the initial flash of inspiration to the repeated refinement during the creative process, and his perseverance in the face of doubt.

His voice grew louder and louder, and his passion rose higher and higher.

"We live in an open and materialistic age, which requires us to have a firm spirit and deep thinking. The pen we hold in our hands is powerful enough to intervene in the real world. At the same time, it is also a society full of idealism. As a member of the avant-garde, I need more writers who have the courage to break through the shackles of thought and lead us to a higher level."

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Everyone stood up and expressed their recognition and appreciation for him with the warmest applause.

Looking at this young writer with avant-garde ideas, Ba Jin nodded repeatedly. In his view, the literary world today needs writers full of vigor and innovation.

After the symposium, everyone gathered at the door, holding notebooks issued by the association and bearing the association's logo.

Some people were busy fixing their hair, while others adjusted their positions. Under the photographer's direction, everyone smiled, and with a "click," this precious group photo was captured.

Zhuang Chaoying, along with Lu Yao, Cheng Naisan, and several other avant-garde writers, gathered together and engaged in a lively exchange.

They exchanged contact information and agreed to discuss creative work more often and make progress together.