Chapter 49 Confidence

The next morning.

Beijing Normal University faculty dormitory.

Last night, Jiang Ting had seen Cheng Kaiyan off with Xu Yuxiu, returning at a little past nine. After washing up and reading for a while, she finally fell asleep around eleven.

The gentle, pale sunlight outside the window filtered through the patterned glass, casting its glow upon Jiang Ting’s face. The faint warmth of the sun gradually dispelled the woman’s aloof expression.

Jiang Ting’s post-rising routine was strictly mechanical: making the bed, attending to personal hygiene, putting on a heavy overcoat, and setting off at a measured, unhurried pace toward the cafeteria.

The early morning streets saw few pedestrians, with only a few breakfast stalls keeping their lights on.

Passing two large stone lions, Jiang Ting walked into the campus.

A light mist drifted through Beijing Normal University in the early morning. The white vapor shrouded the wooden directional signposts, the weathered iron gates brushed with clear lacquer, and the giant stone lions at the east gate like layers of white gauze...

Creating an exceptionally serene atmosphere.

It was only as she approached the dormitory and the cafeteria that the surroundings began to bustle with life.

Through the entrance of the main cafeteria, crowds of bobbing heads were faintly visible.

Jiang Ting walked in briskly, ordering a bowl of congee, a stick of deep-fried dough, and a boiled egg—this constituted her breakfast.

As she ate, Jiang Ting mentally reviewed her schedule for the day.

Today was the review and award ceremony for the student-faculty poetry creation contest. As one of the judges, Jiang Ting naturally could not be absent.

The entire event was scheduled to take place in the auditorium of Beijing Normal University. Faculty members, school leaders, students, as well as editors from Poetry Magazine and various poets were expected to attend.

The prizes were quite generous, divided into first, second, and third tiers.

The categories for students and teachers were separated. Given the disparity in skill levels, while exceptional students might occasionally win mixed competitions, the vast majority of awards would inevitably be claimed by the teachers.

"Professor Jiang, you're here too?"

At that moment, Lin Xiaohong, Ji Qinglan, and Zhao Xuexue walked over side by side, greeting Jiang Ting with smiles.

"Mhm."

Jiang Ting looked up and saw Lin Xiaohong and her classmates. Knowing they were friends of Cheng Kaiyan, she offered a faint smile and nodded.

The group sat down and began to chat, mostly about the poetry contest happening today.

"Oh, where is Cheng Kaiyan, Professor Jiang? How come he isn't with you today?" Lin Xiaohong asked.

"He asked for leave due to some matters and went on a business trip."

"A business trip? Ohh. He even asked me to collect his poetry competition award for him."

Jiang Ting raised an eyebrow slightly. Such self-confidence?

Come to think of it, she hadn't finished reading his novel, but she would certainly take a good look at this poem of his now.

***

Nine o'clock.

The auditorium gradually grew lively, decorated with celebratory streamers, balloons, and other festive items.

Since this was the first time Beijing Normal University was hosting such a major poetry event, they had even invited professional editors from Poetry Magazine alongside several poets.

Consequently, a large number of students had turned up. The front rows were practically occupied by members of the Cradle Literature Society and the May Fourth Literature Society, with students even sneaking over from Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University to join the excitement.

Several tables were set up on the stage, laden with a large stack of envelopes.

Jiang Ting stood among the bustling crowd of teachers when several figures approached.

"Professor Jiang."

Director Fang led the way, accompanied by Song Jianming and two other men.

One of them looked refined and scholarly, a smile on his face.

The other wore a gloomy expression, his thin face framed by glasses, and a small messenger bag slung over his shoulder.

"Director Fang."

Director Fang pointed to the long-faced man beside him and introduced him to Jiang Ting: "This is Editor Zhou Mingrui from Poetry Magazine and the poet Bei Dao! Professor Jiang should be familiar with the name Bei Dao, right? That poem titled 'The Answer,' published in the third issue of Poetry Magazine last March, was written by him."

"Baseness is the passport of the base, nobility the epitaph of the noble."

Jiang Ting recited the lines aloud before turning to Bei Dao. "Hello, I’ve heard so much about you."

"Hello, hello, Professor Jiang," Bei Dao hurriedly greeted her.

After a round of introductions, everyone was acquainted.

Editor Zhou from Poetry Magazine, Bei Dao, Jiang Ting, and Director Fang—these four formed today’s panel of review judges.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the four of them took their seats at the judges' table on the stage, waiting for the event to begin.

During the wait, the group conversed about the current state of the poetry scene, with the primary focus naturally falling on Bei Dao and the journal *Today* that he had founded.

Director Fang remarked, "When little Zhao founded *Today* the year before last, he even pasted poems up right here on our Beijing Normal University bulletin boards. Look at it now—it's flourishing like a raging fire."

"Director Fang flatters me. Since we started publishing, *Today* has basically been on the verge of suspension," Bei Dao said with a wry smile.

Bei Dao’s birth name was Zhao Zhenkai. In 1978, he and his friends Mang Ke, Gu Cheng, and others founded the underground publication named *Today*.

To maximize publicity when printing and distributing, they went to the exterior walls outside the Xidan Sports Ground, as well as the bulletin boards of Tsinghua, Peking University, and Beijing Normal University, to paste up poetry, attracting immense attention.

With the publication of successive poems—masterpieces like Shu Ting’s "To the Oak" and Gu Cheng’s "A Generation"—their fame gradually brewed, also drawing criticism and concern from more orthodox poets.

Among them, poets like Ai Qing and Zang Kejia held largely critical attitudes toward the poetry published in *Today*, viewing it through the lens of historical tradition and realistic politics as deformed literature and artistic monstrosities.

"Disagreements don't matter. Truth always becomes clearer through debate. Why not organize a debate for face-to-face communication? Whoever wins has the right logic," Editor Zhou from Poetry Magazine said with a smile.

"That's true..."

As they chatted idly, the appointed time finally arrived.

"Teachers and students, the judging for the First Student-Faculty Poetry Creation Contest of Beijing Normal University is officially underway! Our outstanding works will receive generous rewards and may even be recommended to *Poetry Magazine*," the host announced.

"Clap, clap, clap, clap..."

Endless applause rolled in from all directions like ocean waves, sending a thrill through everyone present.

With the commencement of the review process, the audience below looked toward the stage with expectant eyes.

Throughout the review segment, the four judges would first jointly evaluate the submissions. If they found a piece impressive, they would ask the host to read it aloud before offering their own critiques and analyses.

Works deemed too poor, or which amounted to little more than doggerel, were skipped outright.

***

"Student group, number twenty, 'Spring Rain,' composed by Song Jianchun from the Department of Chinese... Awakening early to view the red dampness, the garden is full of deep and light shades, fine threads weaving light gauze... Score: 78 points."

"Student group, number thirty-seven, 'Tree,' composed by Zhao Xuexue... Score: 71."

"Student group, number fifty-one..."

As the scores were announced from the stage, the students and teachers below grew increasingly excited, silently reciting the outstanding pieces in their minds while taking notes.

Those who received higher scores were overjoyed, such as Song Jianchun and Zhao Xuexue.

"Xuexue! You're probably going to win an award! Look, among the student group, you're easily in the top twenty!"

Ji Qinglan simply jotted down everyone's scores in her notebook, even compiling a tentative ranking.

"That's wonderful."

Zhao Xuexue was immensely happy, though she hadn't forgotten that Cheng Kaiyan had also written a poem, and anticipation welled up in her heart.

Beside her, Lin Xiaohong breathed a sigh of relief. When she learned the poems were going to be read aloud, she had been scared half to death. Fortunately, the doggerel she wrote hadn't caught anyone's eye, otherwise she would have lost all face!

Now her only remaining task was to collect the award on Cheng Kaiyan's behalf.

An hour later.

"Faculty group... Teaching assistant Song Jianming, 'Canglan River'... Sincere emotion, unadorned language... 85 points," the host announced.

"Big brother! You currently have the highest score in the entire hall! First prize is just around the corner! A television ticket!"

Song Jianming said excitedly.

"Haha."

Song Jianming's square face was filled with smiles. Scanning his surroundings, he noticed quite a few students looking at him with admiring gazes.

During the intermission, everyone animatedly discussed which poem was the best.

Song Jian春 ran over to Ji Qinglan and the others' area to congratulate Zhao Xuexue.

Up on the stage.

Jiang Ting’s gaze swept over a piece of writing paper stained with a few spots of oil on the surface, and the words Lin Xiaohong had spoken when she collected the poetry that day immediately flashed through her mind.

Oil stains?

This envelope must be Kaiyan’s poem!

Jiang Ting’s mind, somewhat fatigued from reading poetry for so long, suddenly perked up.

She tore open the envelope and looked inside: "Facing the sea, spring flowers blossoming. Starting tomorrow, be a happy person—feeding horses, splitting firewood, traveling the world. Starting tomorrow, care for grain and vegetables. I have a house, facing the sea, spring flowers blossoming. Starting tomorrow, correspond with every loved one..."

Line after line of sincere emotion touched her soul, causing her to whisper the poem aloud.

After finishing it, Jiang Ting snapped back to reality, surprise dancing in her eyes. "Kaiyan truly has talent; he's just too introverted..."

"Director Fang, take a look at this piece. I think it’s written exceptionally well—at least a ninety."

Jiang Ting handed the manuscript to Director Fang beside her.

"Oh?"

Director Fang raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling upon the paper. The three characters "Cheng Kaiyan" sprang into view, causing him to pause momentarily before he continued reading downward.

After a moment, he said with a hint of shock, "This Comrade Xiao Cheng truly is talented, writing poetry this well! Editor Zhou, Xiao Zhao, take a look at this manuscript."

"Good, good, good, good!"

"This poem is written wonderfully! Especially the first line: 'Facing the sea, spring flowers blossoming'..."

After reading it, Bei Dao and Editor Zhou from *Poetry Magazine* slapped the table in admiration.

The four of them then handed the manuscript and score over to the host. Receiving it, the host read through it once before raising the microphone excitedly to recite it to the students in the auditorium.

"Faculty group, teaching assistant Cheng Kaiyan’s 'Facing the sea, spring flowers blossoming'... Starting tomorrow, be a happy person—feeding horses, splitting firewood, traveling the world... Score: 95 points!"