Zhang Zhong sat next to Yang Fengxia. From the beginning, Goslin and Yang Fengxia were talking, while he was sitting on the ground.
Due to language issues, both sides spoke very slowly. The original words were cumbersome, but after translation, they felt even longer.
At this time, the language advantage turned into a disadvantage. Others tended to focus on listening to the translation, but Zhang Zhong listened to what Goslin said once and had to listen to the translator repeat it again, which was very boring.
After a while, Goslin suddenly looked at Zhang Zhong and said, "Mr. Zhang Zhong came to Literary News this time. Do you have any special feelings?"
Zhang Zhong did not answer Gosling's question immediately because he had to wait for the translator to translate Gosling's words into Chinese.
He really doesn't need it, but that doesn't mean others don't need it.
After the translation in the headset ended, Zhang Zhong said with a smile, "I feel that your newspaper is a very humane workplace and pays great attention to the physical and mental health of its employees. When I saw the gym and game room just now, I even went there. The urge to come to work for a newspaper.”
Gosling smiled and said, "If you are really willing to work at "Literary News", I am willing to give up my position to you."
Zhang Zhong waved his hands repeatedly, "Then I can't work here even more. But after this time, I can also understand why Literary News is so popular all over the world and has amazing influence. Only by caring about the physical and mental health of employees Only a healthy enterprise can..."
Just a moment ago, he was still criticizing Yang Fengxia and their mutual business bragging as being boring. Now that it was his turn, he couldn't escape from the vulgarity and continued to brag.
After he finished speaking, Carlisle, who was sitting opposite, suddenly said, "Pz, it seems that you haven't published a work close to people's lives for a long time. Is it because you have too many business activities now that you have no time to take care of these?"
This question was very direct, and everyone looked at Zhang Zhong, wanting to see how he would answer.
Zhang Chong said with a smile, "My recent books are quite close to the people, because I am an ordinary person myself. As an ordinary person, there is no way to write works that are divorced from the people."
He felt that what he said was right. Whether it was "The Code of Along the River During the Qingming Festival" or "The Da Vinci Code", they are books that ordinary readers love to read. Since they are books that ordinary readers love to read, why should they be said to be not relevant? people?
Of course, Carlyle might not take these popular novels seriously.
He probably wanted to ask Zhang Zhong why no realistic works have appeared for so long.
Carlisle added, "I think Xu Sanguan is very close to the people, while Cuicui is a little separated from the people. For ordinary people's ordinary lives, Xu Sanguan is real and flesh-and-blood, while Cuicui is Like a pavilion hanging in the air, you can't see clearly, let alone touch it. I'm not denying a certain kind of literature, but what people need more is to see the reality clearly, whether it is the past, the future, or the current situation. "
Zhang Zhong only heard Carlisle say a few words, but he could already clearly feel that the old man was very stubborn.
In fact, no one can determine what others need.
He said he did not deny a certain type of literature, but he denied romantic literature every word.
Zhang Zhong had no intention of arguing with him. He was already quite old, so even a few words of argument could not change his mind.
"Maybe I can't write what people need. I just want to write what I want, but I don't think too much about what others need and what this society needs."
Such a neither salty nor bland sentence left Carlisle a little unsure of how to continue.
He told Zhang Zhong that romanticism is unworkable and of no use to society and the people. Only by truly presenting reality to readers can it be beneficial to society and the people.
Then Zhang Zhong answered him, I don't care about others, I just write to make myself happy.
The issue cannot be discussed at all.
It's like a teacher running up to a student and telling him that you wrote this question wrong or that question wrongly, which may be very disadvantageous for the college entrance examination. Then the student tells him that he doesn't care about the college entrance examination, he just wants to study happily, and it doesn't matter whether he does well or not.
, is to enjoy the process of learning.
Maybe Carlisle would have the idea of "being angry for not arguing, sad for his misfortune", but at least for now, he couldn't continue talking about this topic.
Gosling said at this time, "Our newspaper office has recently..."
He spoke at this time, naturally to change the topic and prevent the seminar from being left in the dark.
For the next period of time, the seminar went on in an orderly manner. There were many cue questions, but they were all simple questions. He answered them casually, but the previous situation did not happen again.
Until the end of the seminar, the delegation had dinner in the cafeteria of "Literary News" and then returned to the hotel.
Tomorrow they are going to Columbia University, which will be closer to their hotel.
In the evening, Yang Fengxia went to Zhang Zhong's room and sat for a while.
"I didn't expect Carlisle to come up and discuss such a direct topic with you." Yang Fengxia said.
Zhang Chong smiled and said, "This old man is quite cute, a bit direct, but not aggressive at all."
"This is natural. After all, he is also a master of American realism. He may have a more direct temper, but he still has some tolerance. Of course, your words also made him unhappy, otherwise he would not have stopped talking to you later.
."
"We don't agree with each other. Although we didn't talk much, he already knew that I didn't support realist literature like him, so he naturally had no interest in me," Zhang Zhong said.
"Well, you are right. I guess he feels it is a pity. After all, he was very optimistic about your "Xu Sanguan Sells Blood". Maybe he also hopes that you can write more books like "Xu Sanguan Sells Blood"
"Same work."
"I know this, but there is no way. I can't create because of his preferences.
Yang Fengxia nodded and stood up, "You have worked hard today. Go to bed early tonight. We have another stop tomorrow, and this stop will not be as simple as today."
"Well, you should go to bed early."
After Yang Fengxia left, Zhang Zhong went to turn off the computer and prepare to go to sleep.
As Yang Fengxia said, the stop starting tomorrow will not be as simple as today.
They only stayed at the "Literary News" newspaper office for half a day, had a casual visit and then held a seminar.
But at Columbia University, they have a lot more to do, including campus visits, seminars, press conferences, academic exchanges...
And the time was not one day, but two and a half days, because just one press conference took half a day.