Chapter 697: The Episode Most Concerned About Little Black
At that time, I still had a task: to find people to write inscriptions for this little notebook. Since two hundred copies of the notebook were printed, all the inscriptions had to be written on one sheet of paper, then photocopied, and finally, two hundred copies of the photocopy were made and inserted into each notebook.
I remember on the first visit to ask Master Ba Jin for an inscription, the old gentleman was writing it for me while listening to Western classical music on a cassette tape. My voice, describing the concept and content of this little notebook to Mr. Ba, was also recorded on it. It is a pity that the cassette tape with his inscription was lost long ago during my frequent moves and unsettled life.
It was also because of this matter of finding people for inscriptions that I visited the renowned writer Qin Shaolin, who had returned to his hometown from traveling abroad in his later years and was living in the southern district of Shanghai. At that time, I went with a young actor, who was just emerging in Shanghai’s film and television circles and was already somewhat famous, a friend and neighbor of mine. While Master Qin was inscribing for me, he was discussing life and the path for young people and actors with my friend and neighbor, and then he wrote the inscription for me. I still clearly remember the scene and the sound of that inscription. This young actor’s surname was Wang, and his name was Wang Zhichen.
“The Philosophy of Life”
It was also because of this matter of inscriptions that I went to ask the still-living Mrs. Su Qing for her inscription. At that time, Mrs. Su was living in a nursing home in the southern district of Shanghai, and I had to cross several roads in the southern district to find that nursing home. I remember when I showed Mrs. Su this book, “The Philosophy of Life,” she looked at me with a strange look, as if I were a lunatic, unsure why I sought her inscription for this book. Mrs. Su was in a very fallen state at that time, so much so that it was somewhat bleak. I think I even saw her washing and hanging clothes in the courtyard. I remember handing her this book, “The Philosophy of Life,” and explaining the concept and content of this collection, which was a bit preachy and didactic. The old lady only said one sentence: “This place looks like a prison.” However, she still inscribed for me, and her handwriting was very neat and clear. Her calligraphy was comparable to that of Master Qin Wenjun, a renowned writer who was working at the Shanghai Illustration Publishing House at that time.
It was also because of this matter of finding people for inscriptions that I visited the renowned writer Ye Xin, who was already somewhat famous at the time. At that time, he inscribed for me in an old-fashioned apartment deep within an alley in the Jing’an District of Shanghai. His inscription was so unrestrained and fluid, with a somewhat casual handwriting. In addition, I also asked Master Jiang Zilong, a writer from the Pudong area of Shanghai at that time, as well as renowned writers Master Sun Daolin, Master Huang Zongying, and Master Wu Zuguang, to inscribe for me one by one.
“The Philosophy of Life”
I had all the inscriptions photocopied and inserted one by one into this small collection, which was titled “The Philosophy of Life.” This little notebook was not for distribution. I simply used it as a thank-you gift for giving lectures to readers at libraries in several districts of Shanghai, and also as a return gift to all the readers of my previously published novel, “A Sigh on the Pacific.” Later, a friend working in an enterprise under the Second Light Industry Bureau of Shanghai even found a renowned older generation painter, who was quite famous in Shanghai and later among the city’s renowned artists, to create a print for this book.
It was also because of this matter of inscriptions that I had the opportunity to visit the renowned writer Lu Yin, who had returned to China from abroad in his later years and was living in a large family within the Shanghai Public Security Bureau. At that time, Master Lu had written a very, very long novella about how people live under the influence of others’ minds, and he came to me to write a preface for this book. My acquaintance with him began with this preface. After that, my friendship with him deepened through this preface. I remember my dear and respectable friend, Master Lu, inscribing for me while discussing the characteristics and charm of Shanghai’s alleys. His straight, unrestrained inscription appeared so elegant.
Later, the publication of “The Philosophy of Life” caused some discussion among the literary circles in Shanghai at that time. They said, “How can a young person like you get so many famous writers to inscribe for such a small notebook? They said I was ‘shameless’ and lacked self-respect.
“A Sigh on the Pacific”
Finally, “The Philosophy of Life” was not published by a publishing house. Because the content of this book was my thoughts and reflections from my seven years as a “sent-down youth” in my early years, concerning morality, ethics, ideology, and life issues, it was a somewhat didactic book, so I did not dare to submit it for publication, nor could I have it published. The publication of my novel “A Sigh on the Pacific,” which depicts the life of a “sent-down youth,” had brought me a series of troubles and misfortunes, so I did not dare to stir up any more trouble. As for the novel “A Sigh on the Pacific,” it was a novel I wrote during my seven years as a “sent-down youth” in Shanghai; it contained several stories. I remember retelling the content of this novel to some famous writers at the time, listening to their opinions, and revising it repeatedly before it was published.
The publication of my novel brought me many benefits. I met many people, friends, relatives, readers, political figures, cultural figures, and so on. It was also because of the publication of my novel that I had the opportunity to visit Master Huang Haimo, who had returned to Shanghai from traveling abroad in his later years and lived in a courtyard deep within an alley in the Changning District of Shanghai. At that time, I went to see him with a bottle of Wuliangye. He did not discuss the content of the novel with me, nor did he talk about matters concerning writers; he only talked about how a young person should do their own things well. And those things were unrelated to the identity of a writer. This old gentleman had a peculiar personality. I remember when I asked him for an inscription, he was writing it for me while listening to Western classical music on a cassette tape. His handwriting was so elegant.
It was also because of the publication of this novel that I got to know Master Sun Guangxuan, a renowned writer in the southern district of Shanghai. This friend, Master Sun, discussed a great deal with me and wrote many, many letters containing his thoughts. He provided me with a lot of guidance and recommendations. I regarded Master Sun as a good teacher and helpful friend in my literary career. This Master Sun inscribed for me while discussing the techniques and paths of novel writing.
The publication of this novel brought me a small halo. At that time, many media outlets, including various newspapers and magazines, reported on me. A famous radio station in Shanghai interviewed me. Because of the publication of my novel, an old editor from a publishing house in Changchun wrote a review. At that time, I had the opportunity to visit Master Shi Zhecun, who had also returned to Shanghai from traveling abroad in his later years and lived in a courtyard deep within an alley in the Xuhui District of Shanghai. At that time, I went to see him with a bottle of American ginseng slices. He did not discuss the content of the novel with me, nor did he talk about matters concerning writers; he only talked about how an older generation writer should do their own things well. And those things were also unrelated to the identity of a writer. His inscription was so neat and rigorous, so dignified. I had a very, very long conversation with him, which is still etched in my mind.
“The Philosophy of Life”
I gave this little notebook to many, many people, including political figures, cultural figures, academic figures, and so on. Occasionally, some friends or old acquaintances still ask about the whereabouts of this “Philosophy of Life.” I tell them that this book was lost long ago during my frequent moves and unsettled life. My “Philosophy of Life” notebook was mailed out from a post office in the Hongkou District of Shanghai by an old general manager of an electronics industry company in the Xuhui District of Shanghai, with whom my business was related. I remember mailing this book to a famous writer in Shanghai, an old lady named Li, whose name was Li Yundi. I still remember her name. My acquaintance with her started through the publication of this book. After that, our interactions were through this book. This old lady really liked my “Philosophy of Life” notebook, and she even asked me to give the book to her for publication, but I did not. Later, an old editor from a publishing house in Changchun wrote a review of the content of this book, and my friend, also a famous writer and an old lady in Shanghai, wrote an evaluation of this book.
My “Philosophy of Life” notebook was lost long ago during my frequent moves and unsettled life. It cannot be found. It is a pity that I still clearly remember the content of those more than one hundred copies of “The Philosophy of Life” notebook. This was my thoughts and reflections during my seven years as a “sent-down youth” in Shanghai. At that time, I gave this book to an old general manager of an electronics industry company in the Xuhui District of Shanghai, with whom my business was related. He really liked the content of this book, and the name of this book was a very philosophical name.
It was also because of this book that I got to know a writer in the southern district of Shanghai. He was an old gentleman named Li, named Li Jiujiu. I had a long, long period of interaction with him, and we had a lot, a lot of friendship. It is a pity that when this good friend published a collection, he also wrote a preface for me.
The “Philosophy of Life” notebook is my recollection, record, and reflection from more than ten years ago. It has nothing to do with my business. Later, this matter was lost long ago during my frequent moves and unsettled life. It is a pity about so many things.
