154 The First Glimmer of Brilliance (Extra Chapter, Seeking Romance, Little Lin’s Outburst...)

Xu Yin. Hearing this name today, perhaps many people are not yet familiar with it.

Sitting in the car with her eyes closed, Lin Xia listened to the whispered conversations of her fellow colleagues and sighed inwardly.

It is only 2006 now. There are still six years to wait before this star will truly blossom in brilliance and be widely chanted by the world.

In her past life, until the moment he won the award, Lin Xia had never even heard of this person.

Yet after he won the Nobel Prize in Literature, his books temporarily went out of print, selling out completely in just over ten days. Across all websites and physical bookstores, the most frequently asked question was, "Do you have such-and-such by Xu Yin?"

It was simply a book hard to acquire!

Throughout history, every writer capable of producing works of profound historical and realistic significance has had to endure a bitter winter of the soul.

Xu Yin came from a farming family. Clever and talented since childhood, he later had to drop out of school because of the "Tribulus Rebellion Brigade," before eventually being admitted to the Literature Department of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Art.

He had thought his life would sail smoothly along the cultural path. Who could have foreseen the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution, which led to all intellectuals being banished to the countryside to perform hard labor?

Xu Yin labored in the rural areas for many years, enduring immense hardships and shedding countless drops of sweat.

Because of these experiences, a series of rural-themed works emerged during that period, filled with the complex emotions of "nostalgia for the countryside" and "resentment toward the countryside."

Writers of this genre were classified as "Root-Seeking" writers.

Ever since her rebirth, once Lin Xia began writing, she naturally started paying attention to Xu Yin.

China's first Nobel laureate, after all—this was a true celebrity, was he not?

Regrettably, at that time she was willing but unable; later, when she moved to Rongcheng to live, she searched every single bookstore in the city to no avail, failing to even catch sight of Xu Yin's name.

Later on, taking advantage of a training session in City B, she read through all of Xu Yin's works. Over the past two weeks, all of his books had been placed right beside her bedside—especially *Big Breasts and Wide Hips*, the very book that would win the award six years later, which she treated with the same fervent passion one might reserve for *Dream of the Red Chamber*.

Thinking of the homework she had done, Lin Xia felt a quiet sense of relief in her heart.

Yet as she thought about visiting his home—the home of the future literary giant—the relaxation she had just felt grew somewhat tense again.

Glancing at Qin Mo, who was chatting happily nearby, Lin Xia actually felt a twinge of envy toward them; because they did not know the future, they were fearless.

Relax, just treat it as going to see your idol.

She hypnotized herself all the way. By the time they reached their destination, Lin Xia's mood had indeed relaxed considerably.

Because his works had won major awards multiple times, Xu Yin had been appointed as a part-time professor at many universities, such as Shandong University and Shantou University. Later, after winning the Nobel Prize in Literature, he was appointed as a professor at Yenching University.

Back then, search engines were neither so convenient nor widespread, and people were not very familiar with him.

As the car began to slow down, making a turn and passing through the gates of this ancient complex, everyone inside the vehicle let out cries of astonishment.

Driving in through the side gate of Yenching University, slowly entering this venerable institution of learning, Lin Xia gazed at the plaque hanging above the vermilion gates, and her unsettled heart seemed to settle and grow still.

Xu Yin's home was actually inside Yenching University.

This was an old residential area with a long history. Towering parasol trees covered the roads above without leaving a single gap of light.

Old men wearing traditional long gowns gathered leisurely under the trees to play chess and chat, while elderly women pushing strollers and wearing spectacles slowly walked past. Life here was quiet and tranquil.

Far from the hustle and bustle of City B, this place felt like a utopia. And they, dressed in all their finery—especially Chen Qing in her professional attire—looked completely out of place here.

Parking the car, the party of five walked deeper into the residential compound.

She truly had not expected Xu Yin's home to be located here.

"If one could live here, it would truly feel like living in a dream," Qin Mo sighed. "This is simply the ultimate sanctuary of every literati's dream!"

Lin Xia could no longer find words to speak. The buildings visible before her eyes had walls covered entirely in Boston ivy and creeping vines, and an air of nostalgic antiquity washed over one's face, giving a surreal illusion of traveling through time and space.

"If I could live here, I would surely be able to write even more and better works," Lin Xia murmured.

Qin Mo, standing closest to her, burst into a giggle and said, "This girl is bewitched; she dreams of writing even in her sleep."

Chen Qing smiled and said, "Stop dreaming. Nowadays, you couldn't buy a property in a location like this even if you had money."

Upon reflection, Lin Xia thought to herself, that was true. Was City B ever short of wealthy people?

Those who could afford to buy a place in such a neighborhood were hardly short of a few bucks.

From the outside, it was an old-fashioned tube-style apartment building. In front of the building was a courtyard, and the entrance was fitted with an old-style iron gate without outer doors. Walking inside, it was exceptionally quiet.

Building 4, Unit 3, Third Floor.

It was truly a good spot—neither dark nor damp, nor too high up. Climbing the stairs every day was also good for one's health.

When they rang the doorbell, a woman of about fifty opened the door. She must have been Xu Yin's wife.

"A-rong, are the people from *Drizzle* here?" a strong, vigorous voice echoed from inside. Chen Qing hurriedly said, "Teacher Xu, it's me, little Chen!"

Chen Qing was a graduate of the Chinese Department of Yenching University, so she shared some common ground with Xu Yin, who lived here.

Then, an elderly man in his fifties with a lean, refined face and a blue cloth long gown walked out from the interior.

"You've arrived. Please, come right in." He showed not the slightest bit of pretension. "A-rong, serve tea."

"Hello, Teacher Xu!" "Good day, Teacher Xu!" Everyone stepped forward one after another to greet Xu Yin and his wife.

His wife served tea, exchanged a few pleasantries with everyone, and then retired to the study.

Lin Xia understood. Seeing that wise aura about her, she knew she must be someone who read extensively on a regular basis—a disposition nurtured by poetry and books, serene and poised.

That kind of disposition was still only in its infancy in Lin Xia herself, though she had seen it in one other person: Xie Xitong. When Xie Xitong quieted down to read, she possessed that same melancholic yet profound temperament, one before which even Lin Xia herself had to yield by three points.

Everyone took their seats one after another. Once seated, taking the opportunity of drinking water, Lin Xia unobtrusively surveyed her surroundings.

While the exterior looked antique, the interior was decorated in a concise, bright, and very modern fashion.

"...We are disturbing Teacher Xu today," Chen Qing said after a few opening pleasantries, getting down to business. "These few are writers from our magazine who write relatively passable works. This is Qin Mo; her writing style is somewhat similar to Teacher Xu's, leaning more toward realism. And this is..."

After introducing them one by one, Xu Yin lingered his gaze on Lin Xia for a few extra moments.

There was no help for it; among the group, Lin Xia was the youngest.

"Is that book *Scheming Across the Realm* written by you?"

Lin Xia nodded, appearing somewhat restrained. Her demeanor caused Xu Yin to smile. "To be able to write such works at such a tender age, you can certainly be considered a fine sapling," Xu Yin sighed. "Time truly urges people to age; the waves behind drive the waves ahead. As for the youth of today, this old man dares not underestimate them."

Because he laughed, the others laughed along with him, and the atmosphere instantly relaxed considerably.

"It was merely a casual piece, not fit for the grand parlor. How could it ever compare to even a ten-thousandth of Teacher Xu's work?" Lin Xia said earnestly. "I have read all of Teacher Xu's works."

"Oh? You've really read them all? At your age, to be able to settle your mind enough to read my rustic writings is truly rare indeed." Xu Yin's interest was piqued.

"In the past, I read more classical masterpieces, such as the Four Great Classical Novels and *The Scholars*. Aside from Eileen Chang and Yishu, I read very few modern works by other authors. During the last training session for *Drizzle*, I listened to Teacher Xu's lecture and felt deeply moved, so I asked Sister Qing to help me buy Teacher Xu's complete collection of books. When I went back, I carefully read through every single one of them."

"Oh, then tell me, which of my works do you think is the best?" Xu Yin asked, a glimmer of interest in his eyes. The others sat silently; apart from not having read as meticulously as Lin Xia, the biggest reason was the generational gap. Lacking personal, firsthand experience of that era, they could not feel its weight deeply.

Aside from skimming through the books once and knowing the contents, they truly had not studied them in detail.

Furthermore, although Xu Yin had achieved acclaim, compared to the status he would command a few years later, his current achievements were not yet regarded with such towering reverence. Therefore, for the time being, they simply listened and did not interject with extra words.

Yet Lin Xia's subsequent words startled everyone present. They heard her say slowly, "Teacher Xu's works are naturally all exceptionally good, but the one that left the deepest impression on me is *Big Breasts and Wide Hips*."

*Big Breasts and Wide Hips* was Xu Yin's representative masterpiece, which had won China's highest-ever "Everyone's Literature Award" in 1997. Relying on this work, Xu Yin would go on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012.

The book had generated widespread impact among readers while simultaneously stirring up considerable controversy.

Regardless of all else, a work that sparked controversy was a good work.

"This book passionately extols the greatness, simplicity, and selflessness of the ultimate creator of life—the mother—and highlights the incomparably vital significance of the continuation of life. Woven throughout this flowchart of life are the smoke and fire of history and war. It is authentic, devoid of any prejudice, and recreates a specific period of history."

Lin Xia's attire was always understated and elegant. Knowing that today she would meet this literary giant who had suffered greatly during the Cultural Revolution—a literary giant, yet also an elderly man—she bore that in mind.

The elderly man had experienced hardship and therefore advocated thrift.

Her narration was slow and her tone level. Her naturally plain facial features appeared remarkably soft against the backdrop of her simple attire.

Yet within this confined room, Lin Xia speaking so eloquently possessed an indescribable grace.

If one had to name it, we could call it temperament.

Clean and pure—this was the unanimous thought of everyone present.

Having never yet been seasoned by society, at such a young age, she stood before such an academic titan without servility or arrogance, calmly expounding her own insights.

For a moment, both Qin Mo and Chen Qing, who were prettier than her, were completely overshadowed by Lin Xia's presence.

Youth flees easily and beauty fades fast; only this inner grace, bearing, knowledge, and learning were things of the world that could never be taken away.

"In this book, the mother is an archetypal symbol, a convergence of all great mothers in China. At the same time, it encompasses Teacher Xu's affection, sympathy, and care for the suffering of the common folk and those who bear it. It is a book written for the common people."

"Great anguish, great compassion, great ambition, and a spirit as boundless as galloping horses—it truly echoes that line from *Dream of the Red Chamber*: 'The white expanse of the great earth leaves it truly clean.' By reading just this book alone, one can understand what kind of person Teacher Xu is. After reading Teacher Xu's books, I feel that everything I write is far too shallow. Therefore, I still have many things to learn from Teacher Xu, and the road ahead of me is still very long."

[Translator's Note: The characters in the book may be real or fictional. Yenching University is Peking University, and Xu Yin is Mo Yan the Great. As long as you understand, do not probe too deeply. Asking for pink tickets! Meow.
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