May Fourth Movement The Letters on Art by Mao Dun and Yao Xueyin

Author: Mao Dun, Yao Xueyin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Mao Dun's letter to Yao Xueyin (October 23rd)
Xueyin brother,
I received your letter dated August 22nd and then went to Beijing Hospital for treatment of my worsening chronic asthma. After more than two weeks, I was discharged, but on the evening of October 2nd, I was admitted again due to diarrhea and fever. In the hospital, I received your letter of October 7th. Recently discharged, yet with low-grade fever and high white blood cell count (around 13,000), I was almost admitted again. Fortunately, I managed to avoid it. The imbalance of my digestive system, reduced appetite, and a slight cold are said to be the causes of this low-grade fever. Currently, I am taking both Chinese and Western medicine, and my condition has slightly improved, though I remain very weak, bedridden, and have a backlog of letters to reply to. Now, I am selecting the important ones and having them written by others in my stead.
In Wuhan, it is likely already autumn with clear skies and pleasant weather, ideal for writing. However, reading your letter of October 7th, I learned that the publication of The Rise of the Liangzis still lacks certainty. Whether the Youth Publishing House will resume operations and what its new direction will be are, as you mentioned, uncertain matters. My understanding in Beijing is similar to yours. I believe you should focus on completing the first drafts of volumes 3, 4, and even 5 for now, regardless of how these issues are resolved.
Changes in the world are unpredictable. Perhaps in two or three years, the publishing house will be ready to publish your book, and you will have the complete drafts ready. Wouldn’t that be better? (The publishing house I refer to is not limited to the Youth Publishing House.)
You also mentioned in your letter that you paused writing volume 3 in September to revise and polish volume 2. I wonder how things are progressing now. I have read the first draft of volume 2, and I think it is fundamentally excellent. You can refine every word and polish it later. For now, completing volume 3 is the priority.
If you can finish the first draft of volume 3 by the end of this year and the first drafts of volumes 4 and 5 next year, that would be wonderful. That would be far better than refining volumes 2 and 3 while still lacking the first drafts of volumes 4 and 5.
Cao Xueqin wrote Dream of the Red Chamber and likely completed the first draft of 120 chapters before refining the first 80. Unfortunately, the first draft of the last 40 chapters was lost. The Rise of the Liangzis is on a much larger scale than Dream of the Red Chamber, and you are no longer young. If only the first two volumes are finalized and the last three lack first drafts, it would be a great regret!
I believe you can live at least another ten years. If you can complete the first draft of the entire book next year and refine it volume by volume afterward—with two years for the final revisions—I think everyone would be eager to publish it. With such a masterpiece in hand, they would fight to acquire it.
Currently, with only two volumes completed, no publishing house has the foresight or courage to take on such a large five-volume work.
You mentioned in your letter that Comrade Jiang Xiaotian suggested you write a report to the Chairman. I think it would be unwise to act rashly in this matter. Wait until you have completed the full manuscript (even if it’s just a first draft) and no publishing house is willing to accept it. At that time, appealing to the Chairman would be more effective.
This is my opinion. Please consider it.
Regarding your plan to print a trial edition of volume 2 to gather feedback from workers, peasants, and soldiers, if it’s not feasible for now, it’s not a problem. In short, completing the first draft of the entire book in the shortest possible time is the priority.
You asked me to write something as a keepsake. I will do so when I have time.
With best regards!
Shen Yanbing
October 23rd
P74-P75