fictionpage Chapter 38 The Female Poet
Chapter 38 The Female Poet
"Sister Hongye, is 'New Life' going to be published so soon?"
Chen Tuo's question caused Hong Ye, who rushed over to share, to trip and lose her balance.
When she came to her senses, she was already in Chen Tuo's arms.
"Chen Tuo, this is Da Gai..."
"I'm afraid you'll break it!"
After releasing his grip and explaining to Hong Ye, Chen Tuo asked:
"Sister Hongye, can you publish the 'Ewenki Women' article you sent to Longjiang Literature and Art Publishing House? Why so fast?"
Even a day and a night, it would be impossible for airmail to travel from Songling to Guangzhou.
The most likely outcome is that Hong Ye's submission to "Ewenki Women" in Longjiang Literature and Art Publishing House in the provincial capital will be published.
"Yes! I had a colleague from the bureau make a special trip to Longjiang Literature and Art Center, and then I called to inquire about the results there."
After explaining the reasons for the rapid approval, Hong Ye excitedly said:
"Chen Tuo, did you know? The teacher in charge of the poetry section said that 'Evenki Woman' is a particularly profound and layered poem, a rare gem!"
Seeing Hong Ye's excited expression, Chen Tuo teased:
"Congratulations on becoming a particularly profound female poet..."
Hearing Chen Tuo's praise, Hong Ye took his hand and asked timidly:
"Chen Tuo, how about publishing those ten poems you gave me in Longjiang Literature and Art Publishing House? I also mentioned it to the teacher there over the phone."
In Chen Tuo's view, Hong Ye's idea was very realistic and practical.
Strike while the iron is hot...
However, her involvement in Longjiang Literature and Art was not conducive to her becoming a nationally renowned female poet.
"Sister Hongye, the ten poems I gave you are mostly love poems. Think about it, are they suitable for publication in Longjiang Literature and Art Publishing House?"
Instead of directly refusing Hong Ye's request, Chen Tuo patiently asked questions.
"Oh! I really didn't expect that. Could you give me a few more poems that are a bit more mature?"
For Hong Ye, the opportunity before him was no less than the college entrance examination.
She took the college entrance examination when it was reinstated, but failed.
The only decent achievement I can show for myself is passing Chinese.
From the post office to the exam hall.
Hong Ye, who barely attended junior high school and became a junior high school graduate, would have little chance of getting into university even with a complete set of study materials.
After talking with teachers at Longjiang Literature and Art College, they gave her a shortcut from poet to college student.
"Sister Hongye, don't rush, tell me slowly."
Feeling the increasing pressure on his hands, Chen Tuo still did not refuse her request.
"Chen Tuo, a teacher at Longjiang Literature and Art School, said that if I could become a female poet in the forest area, I might be eligible for a university recommendation..."
Chen Tuo believed what Hong Ye said, but who could guarantee whether he could get the recommendation qualification?
After all, this is the initial stage of resuming the college entrance examination.
"Sister Hongye, are you sure you're qualified?"
Chen Tuo's cold water immediately brought the ecstatic Hong Ye back to reality.
"Yeah? He just said it was possible..."
"Sister Hongye, taking the college entrance exam is like a thousand soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge. Even if there's a possibility, are you sure the recommendation will definitely be yours?"
In response to Chen Tuo's question, Hong Ye recalled that when she was sent to the countryside, some people were able to go to the Production and Construction Corps, while she could only go to the Songling Forest Area.
The two were treated very differently, and Hong Ye knew the reason very well.
"Chen Tuo, this is an opportunity after all. Don't worry, I'll give you everything I can without reservation!"
Making the boldest promise, Hong Ye's eyes glistened with tears as she tenderly used her charm on Chen Tuo.
"Sister Hongye, this isn't about what you give, but what you get. Are you sure you'll get something?"
Chen Tuo's second basin of cold water was much colder than the first.
"Do you know how many veteran writers and poets Heilongjiang Literature and Art has? Don't they want to take shortcuts to get into university?"
"Or do you think that with just one song, 'Evenki Woman,' you can stand out from the crowd and surpass everyone else?"
Chen Tuo's buckets of cold water extinguished Hong Ye's enthusiasm, and he became realistic again.
"Chen Tuo, if I submit my application to Huacheng Publishing House, will it definitely be published?"
"This isn't about whether it's published or not, or whether you have the qualifications to recommend it. First, you need to understand one thing: who will read your poetry?"
After discussing the veteran writers of Heilongjiang Literature and Art, Chen Tuo pointed out the most important element for achieving fame: the readership.
"I really didn't expect that..."
Hearing Hong Ye's bewilderment, Chen Tuo asked again:
"Sister Hongye, aren't you at work?"
"That's alright, Sister Xu and the others are here! I don't need to go to work before New Year's Day."
"Let's talk as we walk."
Pointing in the direction of the educated youth settlement, Chen Tuo began to explain to Hong Ye the benefits of submitting articles to Huacheng.
The largest readership of modern poetry consists of literary and artistic young people like Hong Ye.
The Flower City magazine, which was founded back then, will also be a gathering place for literary and artistic youths and young writers in the future.
With readers and opportunities, Huacheng, which has only been published for about half a year, urgently needs writers and poets.
Opportunities to grow alongside literary and artistic journals are hard to come by.
Chen Tuopiao's love poems, submitted to Longjiang Literature and Art Publishing House, may be rejected outright.
But if submitted to the Flower City Journal, it becomes a masterpiece by a young poet.
At this point, the platform's qualifications and importance become apparent.
Hong Ye wants to become famous for her obscure poetry, but Longjiang Literature and Art may not give her the opportunity.
But Hua Cheng would proactively offer up plenty of opportunities.
If poets can be recommended to university, Hong Ye's opportunities and quotas will only be available in Huacheng.
With Chen Tuo's explanation, the two entered the gatehouse of the educated youth settlement. Hong Ye continued, his eyes filled with deep emotion:
"Chen Tuo, thank you. You gave me a chance and calmed the restlessness in my heart."
Although he knew that any outrageous actions he might take would be tolerated, Chen Tuo still chose to guide him gently.
"Sister Hongye, your opportunities are only in Huacheng. Longjiang Literature and Art will never give you the chance to become a big star."
"If you can immerse yourself in this for a longer period of time, perhaps you can transfer your work to Guangzhou."
"Guangzhou is right next to the port city; our poems can also become popular song lyrics in the port city..."
Besides romance novels, Chen Tuo can also write a lot of lyrics.
If Hung Yip could endure the loneliness before becoming famous and manage her career properly, she might very well become a godmother figure in the music industry.
Even if Hong Ye didn't have that confidence, he still did.
As for himself, he has already done so much work, so why not let someone else do it for him?
"Wow! Chen Tuo, you've thought that far ahead? Can I be your poetess then?"
Hong Ye distinguished between primary and secondary matters, and Chen Tuo finally let out a sigh of relief.
It's not that I don't want to, but being too hasty would lower my value and make me vulnerable to Hong Ye's counterattack.
It's really hard to believe that a realistic and shrewd artsy young woman is innocent.
"Whether you can become my poetess depends on your performance. For now, shall we feed the horses and chop wood?"
Hong Ye has a realistic view of life, and Chen Tuo has the same shrewdness as a beast of burden.
Life is never about poetry and romance; the realities of life are food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and the necessities of daily life.
For Chen Tuo, whether in the Xingan Mountains or back in a big city, survival is the primary concern.
If you can't distinguish between ideals and reality, everywhere will be a harsh and desperate place to survive...