Clear water washes dust: Selected readings from the Lu Xun Literature Prize-winning novels

Author: Chi Zijian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: Young readers, the series of books you see here have been selected and edited from two sessions of the Lu Xun Literature Prize for Fiction. Usually, people feel a sense of reverence toward the name Lu Xun; the literary prize named after him is solemn and resonant; and the novels that have won this prize must surely be substantial in content and profound in meaning. They carry the unfathomable world of adults, perhaps one that excludes the entry of young people. In reality, this often reflects an underestimation of young readers' comprehension. Perhaps because of this underestimation, young people may have missed out on these novels. I remember my youth in the early 1970s, a time of cultural poverty. Beyond the hollow textbooks, we had no books to read. Fortunately, my family had preserved a few outdated literary classics, which brought me secret joy in reading. Those literatures were not written for children, and the content was far removed from the life I could perceive. Moreover, I did not fully understand the profound meanings of the characters and stories. Yet, I was utterly immersed, savoring an indescribable happiness. Among them, the novel John Christopher by the French writer Roman Rolland left an especially unforgettable impression on me. To this day, when someone asks what book had the deepest impact on me during my youth, I without hesitation place this four-volume novel at the top. Although I have mostly forgotten the plot, I can still recite the two sentences from the preface: "True light is not the absence of darkness, but the fact that it is never extinguished by darkness; true heroism is not the absence of lowly sentiments, but the fact that it is never subdued by them." These words shook the fragile and narrow heart of a young boy, making me clearly yearn for a noble and pure soul, for the desire to make a difference in this world. Although I did not know what I could do for the world at that time, I believe this is the charm of literature. Beyond the classroom, it quietly opens your mind, expands your horizons, enriches your understanding of the vast world, and nurtures your aesthetic tastes. I believe that the healthy growth of a person's soul should be accompanied by truly outstanding works of literature. This series of Selected Novels from the Lu Xun Literature Prize undoubtedly possesses these literary qualities. The novels and stories here are all different, and the authors' storytelling styles vary as well. If fiction is the art of narration, then you will see how, through different narrative techniques, these novels take on distinct styles and engaging flavors in the hands of the authors. At the same time, a group of characters—some close to you, some distant—will also enter your heart. These characters range from those who grow up in cities to those who thrive in the countryside; from a father in a son's heart to a soldier at a border outpost, a female hero in war, a town head whose thoughts are hard to fathom, a nursing mother, a woman hiding deep schemes in a grand mansion, a pure and innocent girl, and a thoughtful teenager under the "Misty Month Bull Pen." There is also a telling of a "life without language," reflections on "before and after the years," the heartfelt warmth of homemade cloth shoes stitched with thousands of needles, and the intoxication of two men "boasting" on a fertile grassland. How does an old house, in the simple prose of an author, radiate a divine warmth? How does a river get drenched by rain? Does the heart grow old before the body? What secrets lie within the "Pisces Constellation"? And how can a basin of clear water and a knife lying in it be described so dramatically? The act of carrying tea leaves to Beijing may not be as poetic as the novel's title suggests, but the events that unfold in the kitchen—both those that happen and those that don't—make one think of the "war" between men and women, though hidden, that has always existed. "Dreams have never reached Xie Bridge," yes, the childhood dreams there are a mix of joy and sorrow, humor and melancholy. It is a child's discovery of her father, and in this discovery, she finds her lifelong difficult wish: to gain true human affection. Though difficult, it ultimately exists. After we "wash away the dust" and welcome a new year, our hearts, having been cleansed by such novels, should also be as clear and bright as a starry night in winter without wind. These novels, though diverse in theme and style, share an undeniable commonality: they all focus on reality, care for the human heart, and do not shy away from life's dilemmas. Regardless of the path they take, they ultimately express a genuine understanding of life, a keen grasp of reality, a sincere hope for goodness, an endless exploration of the vast human heart, and a certain guidance toward spiritual health. Additionally, this series features photographs of each author from different periods in their lives, along with relevant reviews and interviews, allowing you to get to know the authors from multiple perspectives as you read their works. When you gaze at their youthful photos, you might even wonder: When exactly did they first dream of becoming writers? The "Introduction" that accompanies each work was written by the female author He Yuru. Her words are insightful yet accessible, calm and orderly, and delicate yet measured. This "Introduction" is a literary evaluation of one author by another, as well as a sincere dialogue between their works. I am willing to believe that all of this is beautiful.