Just because of a few words from them, how much criticism did Zhang Ye endure? They nearly ruined an excellent and great poet! If Zhang Ye did not have a good psyche, he would not have been able to create this work today. Zhang Huo firmly believed that if “Shuidiao Getou” was killed in its infancy, then it would have been a great loss to the cultural world! The entire People’s Republic would suffer!
Thankfully, Zhang Ye had not been disappointed, and was not put down by those words. In fact, he became braver, despite the setbacks. And for this, Zhang Huo gave Zhang Ye a huge thumbs up in his heart!
Great!
He had really made the Beijing Radio Station proud!
Zhang Huo raised his microphone, “Let us congratulate Teacher Zhang Ye in becoming the champion with an overwhelming number of votes for ‘Shuidiao Getou’! It is well-deserved!”
A round of applause exploded!
The female host, Sun Mengjie, said, “Next, let’s invite the top three placed Teachers onstage for them to say a few words to our listeners.”
Big Sis Zhou laughed, “Little Zhang, quickly go!”
“They are calling for you. Hurry, hurry!” Aunt Sun urged.
Another colleague slapped him on his shoulder, feeling excited for him, “You sure are awesome! I thought you wouldn’t be able to enter the top ten! In the end, you obtained first place!”
Zhao Guozhou was also laughing, “Hurry up and go, Little Zhang. Say a few words. You deserve this honor.”
Zhang Ye could only squeeze out and walk towards the stage from the back of the auditorium.
When he reached the stage, he saw that Meng Dongguo, who was sitting in the first row, was shaking his hand at the host. He had no intention of going up!
Zheng Anbang, who had obtained third place, decided not to go up and embarrass himself once he saw that Vice-President Meng had no intentions of going up. What glory was there with third place? In his opinion, it was shameful and humiliating! Zheng Anbang also shook his hand, indicating to the host that he was not going up onto the stage.
Zhang Huo also ignored Meng Dongguo and company as he smiled, “Then let’s invite this meet’s champion, who is also my colleague, Teacher Zhang Ye, to say a few words.”
What should he say?
This fellow, Zhang Ye, was a person who bore grudges. He glanced at Meng Dongguo and company. Although he knew that at this moment, they were full of wounds and scars, he still made it his obligation to add another stab, “Actually there’s nothing much to say. I’ll just thank everyone for your support. I am a half-past-six poet and am indeed an amateur. I do not know if my poems have any literary value or if it is art. I have also not considered these while composing this poem. As long as everyone likes it, and everyone acknowledges me, I think it is enough!”
What was adding fuel to the fire?
This was what adding fuel to the fire was!
What was rubbing salt in one’s wound?
This was f***ing rubbing salt into one’s wound!
Below, Meng Dongguo, Big Thunder and company’s faces were flashing red and white. They had never expected this newcomer with surname of Zhang to still be mentioning this thing! He refused to let this go!
Zhang Huo was clearly unsatisfied, “Teacher Zhang, please say a few more words.”
“Yes. From the messages from our listeners, they want to hear you talk about things regarding literature, such as producing works, or for example, the value of literature.” Sun Mengjie added.
Really say his thoughts?
Zhang Ye could not help but have a headache.
He could speak very well and was a broadcast major. All he relied on was his mouth. Since it was his profession, how could he not be able to speak? But this fellow was, most of the time, saying things ad verbatim. It was the same with how he learned in university. If not, he could tease and scold others, which was also what he was good at. But if he had to say something decent, such as speaking seriously about literature, he would be grasping at straws. There was no other way. He did not have the ability.
What should he do?
And it had to have literary value?
Eh. Zhang Ye had a flash of brilliance. I got it!
Zhang Ye pondered over it and decided to use the Nobel prize winner from his world, Mo Yan‘s*, words in his acceptance speech. He nearly recited it ad verbatim, “Alright, then. Then I will seriously repeat myself. I want to thank my family and friends. Their wisdom and friendship shines through my work.”
Mo Yan’s original words were as such.
These words might not mean much to others, but it had a deep meaning for Zhang Ye.
Then he carried on Mo Yan’s acceptance speech, “Just now, we talked about the value of literature. My personal understanding of it is actually very simple. In comparison to science, literature indeed has no practical use. Yet the greatest function of literature is perhaps its lack of function.” With a nod, “Thank you, everyone. I’ve finished speaking.”