I met Henry Hui Wang in the early 1990s, and this friendship continues to this day. When I graduated from college and came to work in Shekou, he also came from the north, because he was the backbone of the university poetry club. After coming here, he became good friends again because of poetry.
Together, we founded the Peninsula Poetry Society and edited the poetry magazine China Merchants Century. We often talk together because of poetry, and it is common to walk around each other. Had a lot of pleasant conversations. I remember once, I cooked a pot of chicken soup and happily asked him to eat. He hesitated for a long time and refused to come, which disappointed me, but I was surprised. Later I asked him, and he explained that he didn't eat anything with two legs, which scared me. I asked him why, and he said there was no special reason, so I didn't eat since I was a child. His explanation also surprised me and left a deep impression.
In the mid-1990s, doing business in the sea became a trend, and many friends around me joined in. Wen Peng's friends are full of energy when doing business. I was still surprised when I learned that he had the same idea. First, I worked part-time in the disk business to test the water, and later I started my own company. He runs around all day, full of enthusiasm and energy, which makes me secretly admire. At the same time, there are also doubts. Can a poet succeed in business?
Later, he became more and more busy, and our chances of being together became less and less. Finally, he suddenly disappeared. I didn't ask him specifically, and it felt a little strange. We seem to be walking along the road together, and when we get distracted, the two of us get separated. It's really a foggy suspense film, and the answer is difficult to uncover. Now that I think about it, I still feel incredible. Why don't I call him on his cell phone and ask about the situation? One reason I gave at that time was that if he wanted to appear, he would naturally appear. If he doesn't show up, he must have his own reasons. I don't have to force it.
About ten years after Henry Hui Wang disappeared, one day in this century, I came out of the company after work in the evening and walked on the road of "Ocean World". Suddenly, someone called my name from somewhere. I'm a little confused. I turned to look for the source of the sound. After a few seconds of silence, I recognized that it was Yi Erfu. He sat in the cab of a parked car and waved to me. He asked me about my recent situation. What did I say then? I don't remember now. Before leaving, he let him have time to go to his house. He said his cell phone was still the same number as before. The meeting at that time made me feel another kind of strangeness.
We're in touch again. Only then did I know that, in fact, Yi Erfu lived in an apartment opposite my house. We are so close, only separated by a road, but we have never contacted each other and never met each other on the road. It's really interesting to think of it.
Later, I went to his house for dinner. Yi Erfu told me that the company has opened and everything is improving. After that, our contact increased. One day, he suddenly said that he was writing poetry again. This also surprised me. However, it was a trend at that time to leave the poetry world and return to it. Many poets returned to the poetic world after several years of commercial success. Ilford is also very ambitious. He talked to me about his ideas, running a poetry club, a poetry magazine and a forum. His enthusiasm is commendable.
We have had many face-to-face arguments about writing. At the party and on the bus to a certain place, we were very excited, and our words were fierce and we criticized each other. We often blush and argue to prove the correctness of our ideas. Of course, no one can convince anyone. Interestingly, when the topic left writing and turned to secular topics, the atmosphere immediately became sunny, peaceful and peaceful, as if two people were pushing hands in Tai Chi, and finally each gained something. This tacit understanding also surprised me.
In fact, Henry Hui Wang and Ilford are the same person, or two sides of the same person. The latter is only the pen name of the former. Sometimes, it is difficult for me to unify the two. Look at his poems. They are westernized and avant-garde. He sent me a book of poetry called Shake and Illusion. His poems are strange, magnificent, atmospheric and jumping, and there is a violent force that breaks out at any time under the calm things.
But I also told him frankly that I remembered the "eye of poetry" as bright as lightning, but I didn't know what to say after reading the whole poem. About poetry and writing, our argument is still as fierce as before, or learning from each other on the trip or at the party, but there is no result. He has read a lot of western thoughts and philosophical works, and his thinking is westernized, but he is completely China in the secular world. He is full of paradox charm and confusion. He argued that he just wanted to create a new form of poetry.
Arguments between writers and poets can never reach a unified conclusion. I don't really want to talk about contemporary poetry, because I am just a "former poet", and it has been many years since I stopped writing and started writing novels. I usually attribute writing to two attitudes. He writes poems and flies in the sky. He is a fairy in the clouds, free to come and go, free to do whatever he wants. And I write novels, walk underground, smoke everywhere, dust rolling, embattled, running around. Talking about their views is like one walking underground and the other flying in the sky, which can only be echoed from a distance and cannot be confused. What's more, he is good at theory and written language, while I am familiar with practical realism. Although we didn't give in when we quarreled, I still occasionally felt something later.
For me, Henry Hui Wang, a secular man, is my favorite friend. He is stubborn, brave and grateful to his friends. He mentioned that I gave him a little help at the beginning of his business, which surprised me. To tell the truth, I haven't remembered him for a long time. On the other hand, Irfu is the creator of poetry. I think he is like the moon and a mirage in the clouds, but he has his own direction and latitude.
On the road of poetry, I am not a firm person, so I came to another fork in the road; And he walked a long way, paused for ten years, and started again. It takes courage, determination and thinking. The road ahead is vast, and only those who persevere and gain enlightenment can reach the end of imagination.
Female writer Younger
Younger is a glutton and a delicious master. I didn't wronged her by saying so. After we met, she also confessed to me that she had been like this since she was a child. If she wants to eat, she has to work hard to get it, and she feels that she has put down a stone, otherwise she doesn't mind anything. I laughed at her and said that it was easy to understand before, but now it's time. She was very wronged and said that she could not change it, but she was greedy and had no choice.
In fact, the first time we met was at a dinner hosted by Photon. At that time, Photon called me and asked me to go to Longhua Town from Shekou, eat dog meat in a hot pot restaurant and meet some beautiful women by the way. It was a little late when I arrived, and most of the food had been packed. After I sat down, Photon stood up and introduced everyone present. Among them is Younger. I knew for a long time that she, a novelist, had a novella "All Come" selected for publication. I didn't expect to meet you here by accident. I gave her my business card, but I didn't receive her business card. Later I learned that she didn't print business cards and didn't have this habit. She is a freelance writer. I was hungry, too, so I just buried myself in eating. She doesn't talk much, but she is eating. I heard what they said, but I don't remember what they said. I only remember her accent, which is from the north. She looks like an intellectual with short hair and a pair of glasses.
Later, I found that her greed was also manifested in the writing of novels. She is very diligent in writing and has a greed for novels. Shortly after that meal, I suddenly answered her phone and said that she wanted to ask me something. We only met once. If you have nothing to do, you will not take the initiative to find someone. I didn't expect her to find it, which means we still have some fate. At that time, she finished writing the novel "All Come" and was worried about publishing it. She said she wanted to hear my opinion. Very interesting. I listened to her on the phone and knew that she was more impatient than me. But it's good. The frankness of her northerners makes me feel that there is no obstacle to communication.
I talked about my opinion and suggested that she vote for more publishing houses. Her novel "All Visitors Are Guests" is really hard. The whole process from submission to publication was not smooth. It's a good work, with poor treatment and low print run. Even if the author's name is written wrong, it becomes a "central song." Later, even the manuscript fee was miscalculated. She has suffered enough for this book, but she is not less angry. She even got into a fight with the editor and cried several times. She also said that she would switch to business and stop writing novels. I heard her crying on the phone, so I could only comfort her. I said I'm sorry, I'm not around, and my friends are not around, otherwise I can send paper towels to wipe my tears. She is quick-tempered, so she does whatever she wants at once. With the result, whether it is good or bad, her heart will be steadfast.
Struggled for that long story for a long time, and to her slight relief, her film and television copyright was bought by a film and television company at the beginning of this year. I made fun of her when she told me the news. What do you think of beauty writers? Do you still want to abandon literature and do business? She giggled and argued, alas, it seems that literature will not abandon me. She also warned me not to call her a beauty writer. She said she hated the name. She said that most of the works written by beautiful women writers nowadays are not flattering. Besides, she said, I'm old. I deliberately grabbed the second half of her sentence and joked with her, haha, it turned out to be an age problem. Actually, I said, you are at the most attractive age for women. You have temperament. She listened to a giggle. I also smiled and hit the nail on the head. She hit me back and said, "Don't be garrulous. At my age, I have a certain resistance to the courtship and corrosion of others. ".Say that finish, she burst out laughing. She is a person who is easily mixed with joy and sorrow.
In fact, for her, writing novels only started in the last two years. She said that she wrote one in college before, and she hasn't heard from it since it was thrown out. She stopped writing after being hit hard and has been working as a middle school Chinese teacher with peace of mind. Many years have passed quickly. 1999 After moving from Harbin to Shenzhen, she stayed at home for a while and didn't go out to work. She was very depressed. She passed the time by looking at what was in the publication, but the works in the publication were not satisfactory. She thought she could write something better, so she tried to write something to relieve boredom. Unexpectedly, her novella "All Comes" was published, and it was "Selected Novels". After I met her, I told her publicly that I now listed you as my competitor. Indeed, in my mind, I only choose her in Shenzhen. Her novels, such as Tattoo, Half a Tooth, Running Water, etc. , are written with a strong spirit, describing women's feelings, she wrote a incisive pain. Looking at the work alone, you will definitely say that it was written by a male writer. It's like her distinct personality, with clear love and hate. Contact with her will not make people feel confused, and it is a pleasure to cut the gordian knot.
It's a pleasure to deal with Younger. We usually communicate more on the phone. When she called, it was good news, good writing and boring writing. She will have a good time on the phone and say, well, you can write something. Sometimes friends suggest that we get together for dinner. In the past, she would respond enthusiastically. I go out for dinner with her, and she is always in charge of finding a place. She is very patient in looking for a restaurant. Sometimes I have to follow her for a few blocks before I find the restaurant I want. After sitting down, I gave her the job of ordering food, because she is good at it. Now, when it comes to hosting a dinner party, it doesn't seem to mean anything, she said. Just call an acquaintance. She became much more withdrawn than before, so she stayed at home and watched DVD. Once, she was addicted to Korean dramas and talked to me endlessly. Of course, reading and writing are the main contents of her daily life.
Occasionally, we still get together to eat and drink, and she still eats enthusiastically and devotedly. I warned her, so you should pay attention. Don't patronize eating and drinking, but also exercise. Like asking me to play badminton or something. Because of her plump figure, I often praise her charm, but if I eat any more, it will look different. She argued that maybe she was a tour guide in her early years and it hurt to walk, so she didn't like to move.
Every time we get together, we chat and eat, and then we go home separately. Before and after this, I said that before and after the party, each of us would shake hands or something. At this time, we will marvel, alas, Younger's hand is so soft that it really looks like the hand of a girl of 18 years old. She said seriously, really, my hand is fine. In fact, her hands are really good, she feels weak and has no bones. Such hands are certainly suitable for writing at home. We listened to what she said so seriously that we couldn't help laughing, saying that we should get together again some time, shake Younger's hand and immediately return to eighteen or nineteen.
See brother Li Er again.
I was wandering in the open space in front of the clubhouse when Li Er called my name. I looked up when I heard the shouts. He came to me. I haven't seen him for more than ten years. He looks the same, still so thin, without a bulging belly, and he is still a scholar in my heart. I smiled and held his outstretched hand, saying that he was almost the same as when he was at school. He smiled, talked to me and took me to the clubhouse. May 15, 2005 is lunch time, and the sunshine is just right, which makes people lazy.
Speaking of it, Li Er is a senior, two years older than me, but we are in different departments. He studies Chinese and I study economics. In the mid-1980s, when I was studying in East China Normal University, literature was as hot as economics. At that time, I was crazy about literature and admired people in the Chinese department. Not only did I hang out with people from Yu Xia Poetry Society, but I also went to the dormitory of Chinese Department and met many crazy and untidy "literati". Anecdotal stories about them spread throughout the campus as soon as possible. But obviously Li Er is not one of them. He is another kind of scholar I like, gentle and decent. At that time, his prose was well written, and he was running a mimeograph magazine called Scattered Flowers, which published a group of essays on the same topic by several gifted scholars in the Chinese Department, called Cafe on the Boulevard. I'm sorry for my stupidity, but I didn't understand the meaning of their article until now.
We are in different literary societies, but occasionally we participate in activities together. I remember once going to Shanghai's "Great World" to participate in cultural activities and coming back by bus together at night. I stood in the car, my hand hanging on the armrest, listening to some jokes and what he said all the way. I don't remember, but it was fun. Later, as soon as he graduated, he left and there was no news of him. After graduation, I returned to Shenzhen and wrote poems for nearly ten years. By the mid-1990s, my writing had shifted from poetry to fiction. After writing the novel, I ran to the library, looked through literary magazines and looked for addresses everywhere to contribute. I noticed that a writer named Li Er appeared frequently in various magazines, but I didn't pay much attention to him at that time and didn't read his works. I don't understand why he is so popular. There are comments on his works everywhere. Later, I flipped through the magazine Writer, which contained his profile and photos. Only then did I know that Li Er was Rong Fei! I can't remember clearly whether I got his phone number from Brother Zhu or from there. I called him, and he was at home in Zhengzhou. He looked quite surprised and even said he didn't expect it.
So we contacted, but we never met. On the phone, we talked a lot about his two books, coloratura and cherry on pomegranate tree. It seems that the former has achieved more than the latter. He asked my opinion, and I told the truth, I like the latter, and I almost read it all at once. I always say, come to Shenzhen to play and I'll treat you to dinner. He also smiled and said that if I went to Zhengzhou to play, he would invite me to dinner. This has been said for several years. Unexpectedly, we met in Beijing and had a meal for two.
We walked to the clubhouse and met a waitress. Li Er teased her that this little sister is very good. Let's eat here. Giggling, my little sister took us to the hall. At the door, I took a look, and Li Er said, why don't we eat roast duck? He said he would take me out again, cross the street and walk to the roast duck restaurant across the street. When we went in, there were too many people to talk at all. We went back to the clubhouse and entered the lobby to choose seats. I said to Li Er, it's my treat if you order. Li Er only asked me what I like to eat. I said that I accepted everything I ate. Li Er said that he was particular about food, so he ordered a lot of dishes and talked about trifles while eating. After eating, he said that he would go back to Zhengzhou in the evening and have to go back to pack things.
I asked the waiter to pay the bill. But Li Er insisted that he was the host, and this meal was invited by him, rushing to settle the bill. After that, we were still sitting on the sofa in the lobby, and our lovely little sister took a group photo for us. Out of the club, Li Er asked me to sit at his house for a while. I noticed that he was preoccupied and a little worried that he would be disturbed. Li Er said, that half an hour.
In his spacious and bright home, we sat on the balcony and chatted. I noticed some awards from his wife in the closet on the balcony, so I asked him about them. He said that if you let it out, wouldn't it be sick? I said he was too modest. He just laughed. I asked him why he was so preoccupied. He says he is a lazy man, but he always has many trivial things to do. Speaking of writing, I said I admired his achievements. However, he said that he envied my state. I can write if I like, but I don't want to write. I'm a little surprised. Are you kidding? Li Er explained that he owed a lot of money. I smiled and said it was not good. Li Er gave a wry smile, saying that he wrote too fast, worthy of editing, but sorry for readers, and vice versa. He doesn't talk much, so do I. Sometimes we just don't talk, and we are all in a daze. When we think of it, we just say a word. Later, he sent me downstairs and I came out to look at my watch. That was an hour ago.
When I came back from Beijing, I developed the photos. At first glance, Li Er and I are both serious and preoccupied. Then we had a phone call, and he was revising a novel. Judging from his tone, he was a little annoyed. I joked, why bother? The work can be published in such a good magazine. He dismissed it and said I didn't understand. I said I didn't want to be bored. He asked me, can I write two novellas and two short stories a month? I said I can't. He did it when he said "network quartet". It was too difficult. Think about it, too. He is such a serious person that he can't be perfunctory. I think this is the reason why he is upset. Later, when we talked about work, I asked him to find fault. He said that my things were peaceful, not deep enough and without pain. I think my view of the world is peaceful. He said novels shouldn't be like this. He once wrote a book review for my book "Looking Close to God", which was witty and fun, but also very tolerant and generous, very kind to me and made people feel very warm.
This time we met in Beijing, it was about fifteen years since we last met at school. Time flies. He is a famous writer now, but he still keeps polite manners. Getting along with him makes me feel the fear of strangers. As for me, I have more white hair and a better stomach, but I haven't learned much.