Chapter 51

Xiao Fei's prescription for literature in this article can be summed up in one sentence: literature needs to cater to the market and meet the consumption needs of readers.

This is an old and oft-discussed issue.

However, although everyone knows this, few people actively make changes.

Or they disdain making changes.

So, where is the future of literature? Xiao Fei raised this question in his article and then answered it himself.

He made a bold prediction: the future of literature lies in the internet, which will become the largest carrier and the broadest platform for literature.

This prediction, after 2003, with the rise of online literature and the emergence of numerous original online literature websites, has become a consensus among many enlightened people in China.

However, in 1996, this was absolutely a forward-thinking and astonishing statement.

It was only in 1996 that civilian internet began to rise in China, with some BBS sites starting to be established.

At that time, those who used the internet were mostly elites in China, while the general public was still insulated from it. Major websites like Sohu, **, and Tencent had not yet been established, and online literature was still in its infancy worldwide.

Xiao Fei's prediction that the internet would become the future of literature, that literature would flourish on the internet, and that online literature would even become the main theme of literature, was not believed by many people.

One can only say that the development of the internet was too fast.

One can only say that people's steps and thoughts were not yet ready for the internet information age.

Xiao Fei had already conceived all the details of "Literature is Dead, Burn Paper if You Have Anything to Say" in his mind, so when he started writing, he wrote very quickly.

It took him about two hours to finish a 5,000-word draft.

His writing was sharp and direct, without any beating around the bush or deliberate avoidance. The entire piece was free of any unnecessary words, making it a refreshing read.

Xiao Fei read it once, made a couple of word changes, and then stretched and finished.

At this time, his parents and sister were already asleep.

He could hear their faint snoring.

During his writing process, his parents had urged him multiple times to go to bed, and he had said each time that he would finish soon and then go to bed.

Now, he felt quite guilty.

There was only one house in the family, and if he wanted to write at night, it would affect the normal rest of the family.

House, house!

Indeed, a new house needed to be built as soon as possible!

He didn't know if the manuscripts he had submitted to magazines like Story, Zhiyin, Family, and Girlfriend would be published. If they were, he should be able to receive more than 20,000 yuan in royalties.

With this money, the family's new house construction plan wouldn't need to be delayed, and it could even start in September.

Xiao Fei was confident that those manuscripts were all high-quality articles.

But who knew if any unexpected changes would occur?

Xiao Fei sighed, turned off the light, quietly closed the door, and went outside to sleep on a mat with his brother.

After lying down, his mind was still excited, and he couldn't fall asleep.

He thought again, wondering if "Literature is Dead, Burn Paper if You Have Anything to Say" would be accepted by *Harvest*!

He suddenly felt a bit unconfident.

Perhaps it was because he cared too much.

He didn't want to fail.

Yes, Xiao Fei planned to submit this manuscript to *Harvest*.

*Harvest* can be said to be the most successful original pure literature journal in all of China. Many important works by important Chinese writers have been published in this journal, causing significant nationwide impact.

For example, almost all the important works by the literary master Yu Hua, whom Xiao Fei most admires, such as *To Live*, *The Blood of a Simple Man*, *Brothers*, and *Cries and Whispers*, were first published in *Harvest*.

*Harvest* has only one standard for selecting manuscripts: hand your heart to the readers, and only select the best literary works!

There is a saying in the literary circle: if you can publish three works in *Harvest*, it means you have grown into a true writer.

This shows how difficult it is to publish in *Harvest*.

*Harvest* mainly publishes long, medium, and short novels, but it also includes reportage literature, essays, and literary criticism in each issue, though these are supplementary.

Xiao Fei was confident that the "Literature is Dead" viewpoint in his article would have an extraordinary explosive effect. The content was written innovatively, with ample and unassailable evidence, and had a forward-looking perspective.

*Harvest* has always taken the lead in setting the trend of Chinese literature and should not reject such an article.

What Xiao Fei was now worried about was that *Harvest*, as a benchmark for Chinese pure literature, receives an enormous number of unsolicited manuscripts.

They receive so many manuscripts daily that they are counted in bags.

If he submitted his manuscript unsolicited, it could easily be buried in the sea of submissions.

It's unknown when an editor would come across his manuscript, or if it might be lost and never reviewed due to an accident.

The risk was indeed quite high.

Hmm, he needed to find a suitable recommender who could ensure his manuscript reached the editor directly, so it could stand out smoothly.

This is a Chinese characteristic; no matter what you do, you need connections.

Of course, relying on connections to publish in *Harvest* is also unrealistic; the quality of the manuscript must be truly solid.

The key now is, where to find such a suitable recommender?

Thinking about this, Xiao Fei's head started to hurt. He turned over lightly, rubbed his eyes, and looked at his watch; it was already midnight.

He decided to sleep first.

At this moment, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind, and he suddenly remembered a major event from his previous life: the famous female writer Dai Houying from Shanghai was murdered in her home by a criminal on August 25, 1996.

This case shocked the nation at the time.

Coincidentally, Dai Houying was a female writer whom Xiao Fei greatly admired, and he had read most of her works more than once.

Hearing of her death in his previous life had a significant impact on Xiao Fei. He hated the criminal deeply, and despite the lack of information, he followed the related news closely.

Until the criminal was arrested and brought to justice.

It was now July 30, and only 26 days remained until the shocking case. Xiao Fei thought that since he had remembered this, he must try to prevent the tragedy from happening.

Hmm, if he could prevent the tragedy, could he then ask Dai Houying to be his recommender, leading him to *Harvest* and giving his manuscript a better chance?