The red Audi is running on the G101 highway. The wheels roll over the bumpy speed bumps and climb the towering overpasses. The flat alluvial plain is displayed in front of the eyes. The blue sky is like an inverted bowl, covering this area of ​​​​the world.

Among them, there are white clouds like sheep floating on the bottom of the bowl.

The navigation system has reminded me of speeding several times, and the stopwatch pointer has always hovered around 120. Wang Zixu doesn't like driving fast, but today he is always very anxious for some reason. Anxiety makes people prefer high speeds, so he drives faster and faster.

He felt that something black was invading his life. Black arms as dense as a black forest broke out of the ground and gradually closed around him. Before being strangled by the dark alliance, the first thing he had to do was to drive towards this road.

The exit of the highway.

"Speaking of which, how did you get on the path of literature? You are obviously a science student, but now you want to rely on literature in everything you do. Even what we are going to do now is counting on your literary skills to show off.

Even your way of thinking has become literary."

Next to her, Ye Lan was afraid that he would drive tiredly, so she kept trying to find topics to chat with him. Wang Zixu was very grateful for her thoughtfulness.

But I have to say that sometimes the questions she raises are too profound and require serious consideration, which will affect Youli's cooperation.

"If there must be one reason, it should be that I have seen the power of words." Wang Zixu said.

After a pause, he asked Ye Lan an equally difficult question: "Do you believe in the power of words?"

Ye Lan showed a sad expression: "How does it count as the power of words? When I was in school, I recited "Leading Teacher's Guide" to the point of vomiting. Does this count as the power of words?"

Cheng Xing, who was in the back seat of the car, was somewhat interested in this topic, so he came forward and said, "Teacher, I believe in the power of words. The book I published in college earned me my first pot of gold, and I was rewarded happily after graduation.

I took a gap year and still haven’t found a job.”

The poet said: "I also believe that after I earned millions in royalties, I bought a condominium, but it was a mess, and I have been trapped until now."

"The power of words is very strong, the power of money is even stronger, but the power of capital is the strongest."

Wang Zixu shook his head: "The power you are talking about is very powerful, but it is not the fault of the words. Who asked you to buy an off-plan house? The power I am talking about is much deeper than making money through words."

Cheng Xing asked: "What kind of power is the teacher talking about?"

"When I was still young, I saw with my own eyes how a letter of less than 500 words could destroy a man in an instant." Wang Zixu said.

It was more like a piece of paper than a letter. On the day my mother left home permanently, the piece of paper was placed on the dining table where the soup basin usually was, like some kind of replacement.

At that time, Wang Zixu knew the magical function of words: it can tell you what a person wants to say when he is not around, even if he is thousands of miles apart, even if he is thousands of years apart.

Think about it carefully, isn't this just like magic?

There was a period in history when a hard-working worker in the Mainland could only earn single-digit RMB after working from dawn to dusk. However, under the influence of the exchange rate, any truck driver from other regions who came to the Mainland could earn as much as

The immortal official came down to earth and took out an amount of money that the hard-working people couldn't imagine.

After long-term economic exchanges, this economic gap has been gradually closed. Today's young people can no longer imagine the inferiority of mainlanders back then, leaving only the lingering sound of some puzzling sense of superiority.

Overtly, this gap was gradually filled up after a generation of trade surplus, deficit and inflation, as well as the market's invisible big hand caressing it up and down for many years. But implicitly, many people lost their wives in the process. Comrade Wang Jianguo is the

One.

In the final analysis, it is the economy that shapes this tragedy. But what really destroys a man is the letter of less than 500 words. It is true to attribute the failure of life to money, but what really breaks a person's will and strangles his soul is

These are some heart-wrenching things.

Wang Zixu has been thinking about this matter for so many years. After years of accumulation, it has become an unspeakable story that is not enough for outsiders to tell. Of course, he will not tell others what kind of power it is. In the end, he only said:

"Life has taught me how words can destroy a person, but it has not taught me how to save. But I still hope to be able to write something that can save people."

Speaking of this, he suddenly thought that the power that enveloped Comrade Wang Jianguo back then and was about to strangle his life was exactly the same as the darkness he was facing now. But the strange thing was that Comrade Wang Jianguo back then was not aware of it.

He didn't even have time to buy a fake gun with a piece of counterfeit money to defend his life.

In fact, many people, like Comrade Wang Jianguo, suffered the collapse of the building before they had time to discover the enemy. It was like a sinkhole suddenly appeared due to geological collapse on the road they walked every day, and they accidentally stepped into it. World War II has passed, and this era will never happen again.

There is no evil organization with a clear banner like fascism, so it is a blessing to be able to find the jackals and wolves surrounding us.

Wang Zixu stepped on the accelerator hard and drove towards the exit of the highway.

…

Ning Chunyan and Chen Qingluo leaned against the wall at the door of the office, like two bad students.

"Qingluo, I'm not criticizing you. Did you feel that you were a little bit arrogant just now?"

Chen Qingluo glanced at Ning Chunyan: "Aren't you just criticizing?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant. What I mean is that you can definitely use a more tactful way to make Professor Zhong understand you..."

Chen Qingluo said confidently: "If he continues to be tactful, he will be called home for dinner by his mistress. How can you still sit at his dinner table and pester him to continue selling that novel?"

Ning Chunyan rubbed his forehead: "But he seems to be angry..."

Just 20 minutes ago, Ning Chunyan was chatting with Professor Zhong Junmin. According to her expectations, she would try to change the topic from the little prince to serious literature, and then take advantage of the trend to introduce the rising star of the literary world, Wang Zixu, in order to leave a good impression for Professor Zhong.

After that, he gradually took out Wang Zixu's manuscript and asked him to correct it.

As a result, Chen Qingluo hurriedly took out the manuscript and slapped her in the face, and showed it to Zhong Junmin angrily. Everyone present was shocked. Chen Qingluo's attitude was not like a literary man, but like a literary gangster.

Professor Zhong is not an ordinary teacher. He was invited out first because of Ning Bingru’s face, and then because of the face of the “Xihe Twins”. He just took out the manuscript of a person who came out of nowhere.

It is very impolite to ask him to look at it.

It would be understandable if this person were a student at NTU, but not only is this person not from NTU, he is not even a student, but a thirty-year-old unknown clerk working in an unknown unit in a suburban city. Chen Qingluo is so reckless that he is risking the world.

It's so serious that just because the two of them were kicked out can only be regarded as Professor Zhong's academic achievement.

Chen Qingluo put her hand on Ning Chunyan's shoulder: "Do you believe in the power of words?"

"Don't think you can fool me with this kind of pyramid schemes. Besides, it's useless for you to fool me. You have to fool Professor Zhong."

Chen Qingluo said solemnly: "I am so convinced. Since everyone is engaged in literature, they must be attracted and inspired by literature."

Ning Chunyan pulled her hand off her shoulder: "Hot, don't touch it. Qingluo, I believe in the power of words, but the power of words also depends on the occasion. Let Professor Zhong read it in such a chaotic way, he may not be able to

Recognize the power of words.”

"At least he read it. If that person knew that his manuscript had passed the attention of so many people, even if he couldn't get anything out of it in the end, he should rest in peace."

"Your bottom-line thinking is too bottom-line."

At this moment, the door next to him opened, and Zhao Peilin walked out and said, "Professor Zhong, please come in."

Ning Chunyan felt her stomach getting heavier and heavier. Now it was time to accept the trial. Thinking on the bright side, Professor Zhong at least used the word "please", which was much better than when he drove them out just now.

Chen Qingluo walked in first, followed by Ning Chunyan. The room was just as it was when she left. The only difference was that Professor Zhong had a pile of Wang Zixu's manuscripts in front of him. In addition, he also wore glasses.

The keen Ning Chunyan noticed that his eyes under the frame were slightly red, as if he had just cried.

"I've finished reading the manuscript." Professor Zhong said with a nasal tone, "I can somewhat understand your mood."

Ning Chunyan and Chen Qingluo looked at each other, and then Chen Qingluo said, "Professor Zhong, are you crying?"

Zhao Peilin explained beside him expressionlessly: "Professor Zhong was very immersed in watching. As we all know, when you are very emotionally immersed, you are often easily moved..."

"Don't talk."

"oh."

After Professor Zhong taught his disciples, he turned around and said: "I actually don't know much about modern and contemporary literature, and I'm very ashamed. I always believe that words that can remain fresh despite the turmoil of time are truly profound words. In a short period of time,

Words that have a strong impact on people will inevitably be affected by the times, culture, trends of thought, etc., making it difficult for people to judge their value."

After finishing a long paragraph in one breath, he added: "But the value of some works does have its own meaning. For example, I was shocked by the piece you showed me. Of course, I don't read much modern and contemporary literature.

, in fact, what I said is not authoritative.”

What Professor Zhong said was self-effacing. The "not much" he said was compared with those scholars who specialize in modern and contemporary literature. If you really think that he is not good at this aspect, it is the conceit of a fool.

But Chen Qingluo spoke unceremoniously: "It's okay, Professor, I have read enough. If this work does not reach the golden thread of literature, we will be embarrassed to come to you with it."

Zhong Junmin opened the manuscript and sighed: "Actually, I didn't pay much attention to the Xihe Literary Society before. I am very grateful to you for bringing this article to me. It can be regarded as an internal promotion and not to avoid relatives. I have read it.

In this article, I believe what Xiao Ning just said. It is true that we have our own responsibility to revitalize serious literature. But this makes it difficult for me."

Chen Qingluo asked: "What's so difficult to do?"

"Although the charter does not stipulate the number of specially invited manuscripts, according to the tacit understanding between us and Xihe over the years, we will only choose to send one specially invited manuscript, because based on our NTU's sign, they will definitely treat us as

If the selected manuscripts are kept until the final round, it will be decided whether they can be ranked. There is no reason to add another one this year. If they are added, people will call and ask about the situation."

Ning Chunyan asked: "Have you decided on the manuscripts you will send this year?"

"It's settled. I just haven't sent it yet. You guys arrived just in time. I will select the manuscript tomorrow."

"Can you tell me which manuscript it is?"

Zhao Peilin pushed up his glasses on the side: "It's just a mere lack of talent."

"..."

Zhong Junmin thought for a while, and then said: "Then simply take down Xiao Zhao's manuscript and replace it with this one."

"Professor Zhong!" Zhao Peilin shouted from the side, his voice full of tears.

Zhong Junmin took a sip of tea and said: "...If we really change it, then the manuscript we selected this year will be a manuscript from an outsider. I don't care, but if someone with a heart discovers it, I'm afraid it won't have any impact.

good."

Ning Chunyan could understand his dilemma.

The people in this room can be brilliant, but it is inevitable that some people will have narrow-minded ideas about this kind of thing.
To be continued...