Chapter 30 "I'm not interested in the Nobel Prize for Literature!"

The winter of 2001 arrived. The ward building of Shanghai East China Hospital still maintains its usual tranquility.This is the place where Ba Jin fell ill and was hospitalized in his later years. The old man lay quietly on the bed, surrounded by soft whiteness.White walls, white chandeliers, white bedding and snow-white curtains.Ba Jin can no longer walk in the corridor outside the ward with a stick and cane like a few years ago. I remember that when he was first admitted to this hospital, it was only the early stage of Parkinson's syndrome. Free activities, sometimes he can practice walking in the corridor outside the ward.Most of his walks are in the morning and evening.

The reason why Ba Jin did this was to increase the necessary amount of activity for moving the limbs.Sometimes he is alone in the ward and writes short articles.Even after he finished writing Caprice in eight years in 1986, Ba Jin declared that he would never write again, but as long as he still has a little energy, he will always write.Because in Ba Jin's view, there is nothing more important than expressing one's thoughts to readers with a pen. Entering the twilight of his life, Ba Jin's physical condition became weaker and weaker day by day. Especially this winter, Ba Jin's physique got worse.But as long as he is energetic, he still hopes to read the news in the newspaper. Later, when he can't read the newspaper himself, he will have someone around him read it for him.In short, the thinking in Ba Jin's mind is always very active.

On November 17, a copy of "Beijing Youth Daily" was placed in front of Ba Jin's sick bed.An eye-catching piece of news "Ba Jin Rejects the Nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature" was published on it. The article stated: "The Nobel Prize in Literature has always been an unresolved knot in the Chinese literary world and in the hearts of Chinese literati. Not long ago, the news that Li Ao was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature was hyped up, and recently it was reported that Mr. Ba Jin was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature After confirming it everywhere, the reporter also heard various reactions from all walks of life, "Whether the Nobel Prize in Literature deserves to be regarded as a god by Chinese literati", "Whether Chinese literati must embark on the Nobel road", "Nobel Prize for Literature How far is the nomination from winning?" No matter whether you admit it or not, the Nobel Prize has left lingering regrets and expectations in the hearts of Chinese literati and even Chinese people.

'Desire for a Nobel Prize is really a desire for recognition' The first place the reporter went to for verification was the Institute of Foreign Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The interviewed researcher Lu Moumou had a flat reaction after hearing about the incident: "This matter is not unusual at all. The nomination is a very simple matter." matter. Lu Moumou told the reporter that the Institute receives a selection list from the Nobel Prize Committee every year, with the signature of the director of the committee printed on it, please recommend candidates, the identity of the recommender is not limited, Lu Moumou further explained, This kind of nomination is different from Oscar nominations. It is relatively easy to be nominated. What's more, after a lot of screening, they are shortlisted for the final competition, but once the finalists are selected, they will not be made public.Lu Moumou told reporters that the menus in the research institute are rarely sent back, and everyone is not interested in this.And he was one of many researchers who didn't fill out the checklist. 'The literature award is different from other science awards. It has no quantitative standards. It is more influenced by personal likes and dislikes and political factors. Of course, the content will also be considered appropriately. The positive and idealistic style seems to win over the judges favor. '

As for the Nobel Prize in Literature itself, Lu Moumou's understanding is more calm and indifferent than the passionate Nobel complex. 'In foreign countries, not all writers regard the Nobel Prize as a god. This award seems to be more important to booksellers and publishers.In addition, the high prize of the Nobel Prize is also very attractive to writers who receive remuneration.However, looking back at the history of the Nobel Prize, many people who deserved the award did not get it, which is enough to show that the Nobel Prize is not an authoritative standard. When Lu Moumou was very eloquent, he would often interject and ask, "Did I talk too much?" ’ And once he moved on to the next topic, Lu Moumou resumed his hasty and slightly excited speech speed: “Chinese people’s desire for the Nobel Prize is actually more of a kind of inferiority complex. They need to be recognized by others. In fact, Chinese people There is no need to appear overly excited, this is out of style, and should not be surprised. ''Moreover, the selection of the Nobel Prize is strongly regional and biased, including translation barriers but also political bias. '

When talking about the nomination of Ba Jin this time, Lu Moumou thought: In my opinion, this nomination is more of a tribute to the 90-year-old Mr. Ba Jin.As for whether he can win the award, Lu Moumou believes that: each work is quite incomparable, and this kind of selection has a certain degree of chance. The award does not mean that he is the best contemporary writer. In fact, there are many excellent writers in China. , There is more than one author who has the strength to win the award. This is an act of kindness by Chinese-American literati It was reported that XX, the vice chairman of Jiangsu Writers Association, was the first person in China to know about this matter.After many twists and turns, the reporter interviewed XX. Although it was a bit reluctant, XX's answer still gave the reporter a clear answer.

On April 24, XX received a letter from Wang Hailong, chairman of the Chinese Writers Nomination Committee for the Nobel Prize in Literature, in which he stated that Balao is "the most outstanding writer and thinker in contemporary China" and that "his literary creation over the past half a century has established a world-renowned The lofty prestige and excellent foundation respected by the international cultural circles', 'Your persistent exploration and sacred understanding of humanity and human dignity have been recorded in the annals of contemporary Chinese culture and human culture'.

Although XX was also surprised by this, he still forwarded the invitation in the letter to the press and Mr. Ba Jin as entrusted in the letter.So-and-so told the reporter that the Nomination Committee for Chinese Writers for the Nobel Prize in Literature was established in New York in January this year. It has contacted the Royal Swedish Academy and received a receipt. Ba Jin was the first nominated by the committee.So-and-so told reporters that Wang Hailong, one of the chairmen of the committee, is a teacher of anthropology at Columbia University and has had correspondence with him for many years.

So-and-so was a bit reluctant when talking about this matter, but he was still good-natured: "This nomination should be a kind gesture of Chinese-American literati. In China, people may not want to propose it themselves, but from their point of view, There are many outstanding writers in modern and contemporary China who are worthy of nomination. It would be a pity if there were not. ' But XX also thinks: "It is impossible for Chinese writers to write for the sake of winning awards. Don't care too much about whether they win awards. Chinese writers don't need to take an award too seriously." ’ He also said: ‘It would be a good thing to win the prize. For China, it is not normal that no Chinese are included in the list of winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature.We have a very thorough understanding of foreign literary writers, but foreign countries have very little understanding of Chinese literature and writers, and it can be said that they are ignorant. '

For the disparity in understanding between the two sides, XX believes that the reasons are very complicated, the most important of which are the prejudices of the West and the obstacles in translation. In the past, someone even believed that Chinese literature was difficult to translate, and the charm of pictographs lay in themselves.Regarding the nomination of Ba Jin, XX believes that Ba Jin should be able to get such an honor based on his status and contribution in the history of literature, but as for whether he can win the award, he believes that it depends on whether Ba Jin is willing and the judges' opinions.

During the interview, XX kept emphasizing that he was only conveying a message and was unwilling to make too many comments, and had informed the Chinese Writers Association of the matter. In his words: 'My task has been completed. 'According to him, Wang Hailong has already learned about this matter in the United States, and he has made it public and is satisfied with the response. However, just a few days after the news of Ba Jin's nomination came out, Mr. Nominated, and will never participate, Li Xiaolin pointed out: Ba said long ago that he was writing for the Chinese, and he has never been interested in winning any awards. ..." Ba Jin fell asleep quietly. He didn't seem to be interested in the exciting news from a foreign country at all.This is not only because the old man is sick at this time, and he has no energy to think about the glory that can bring him lifelong benefits in the eyes of others.But Ba Jin is too indifferent to fame and wealth.In his opinion, no matter how many writers from various countries are waiting for the Nobel Prize in Literature, those rich money enough to allow a person to enjoy a lifetime will not make a fair judgment on his works.In Ba Jin's subconscious, all his works, the only hope is that Chinese readers can understand them.If there are not many readers in this world who like his novel or "Caprice" written in his mother tongue, then it is useless to win the most important reward. "Mr. Li, since our friends in the United States are all ready to do something good for you, why do you always maintain such an indifferent attitude?" Ba Jin clearly remembered that it was about the autumn of the previous year, also at Huadong Hospital In his ward, a travel-worn guest from afar walked into his bedside.He and he held hands tightly, looking at each other's already old faces.Only then did they discover to their astonishment that the handsome and unrestrained faces they had when they went to France to study together from their motherland back then had already disappeared with the passage of time.The guest from the United States is named Wu Kegang. When Ba Jin went to Paris, France in the 1920s, he walked with the same silver-haired old man in front of him.Decades later, their good friends from studying abroad finally broke up. Now that Wu Kegang walked into the ward of East China Hospital unexpectedly, Ba Jin never thought that the topic they started when they reunited after a long absence turned out to be about Nobel literature award question. The smile on Ba Jin's face disappeared suddenly.He was not interested in talking about this matter when Wu Kegang met, because as early as a year ago, he had learned from a letter from a friend in Beijing that Wu Kegang was working overseas for Ba Jin to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. "No, we'd better not talk about this." Ba Jin found that Wu Kegang was really out of a sincere heart, and was concerned about whether his writing career would be recognized and affirmed by the world at the end.A year ago, when Ba Jin received a letter from his old friend and descendant Ma Xiaomi in Shanghai, he already had a basic understanding of Wu Kegang's kindness.It turned out that Wu Kegang, who lived in Taiwan many years ago and served as a professor and librarian at National Taiwan University, resigned from all his posts in Taiwan in recent years and went to New York to settle in the United States.There, Wu was always concerned about Ba Jin's domestic situation, especially his literary achievements, which was something that old classmates could not ignore even for a moment.Perhaps because of the old alumni's expectations for Ba Jin's artistic achievements over the years, he very much hoped that Ba Jin would win the annual Nobel Prize for Literature in one fell swoop.Because Wu Kegang discovered that there are many people of Chinese descent in the United States who are deeply aggrieved that a Chinese writer like Ba Jin has always been rejected from the scope of the Nobel Prize for Literature. It is precisely because of the above mentality that Wu Kegang and others advocated hiring some scholars in the United States to try to translate Ba Jin's "Selected Works" or "Complete Works" published in China in recent years into English.Wu Kegang and others are very clear that for all works shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature, no matter which country the writer is from, his work must first have an English translation.Otherwise, works of oriental literature would not even be able to enter the threshold of the Nobel Prize for Literature. At that time, Wu Kegang could not come to Shanghai to discuss this issue with Ba Jin in person, so he passed information to Ba Jin indirectly in Beijing through Ma Xiaomi, the descendant of his old classmate.Wu Kegang's intention was the kindness of his friends far away in the United States, at least he needed Ba Jin's approval and support.Otherwise, even if they can translate Ba Jin's works into foreign languages, it will not help the matter. Ba Jin read Ma Xiaomi's letter over and over again.Finally, the old man shook his head indifferently, and that faint smile appeared on his lips again.This is a kind of philosopher's smile who is used to seeing the world's cold, warm, honor and disgrace, and takes everything with equanimity.The old man thought about Wu Kegang and Ma Xiaomi's kindness for a long time, but finally declined.In his reply letter to Ma Xiaomi, he said: "I don't agree with any bonus. Because, first, it is impossible, and there is no such convenient bonus; second, my novels are written for Chinese people, and I never want to deceive foreign countries. Third, many of my works have been translated into foreign languages ​​and published..." In fact, Ba Jin had already completely declined Wu Kegang's kindness in his letter to Ma Xiaomi.But unexpectedly, when Wu Kegang came to Shanghai to visit the sick Ba Jin, he would repeat the old story again. Of course, Ba Jin would feel a little puzzled.He said: "For the Nobel Prize in Literature, I have no interest at all, so let's stop worrying about it!..." The reason why Ba Jin commented on the Nobel Prize in Literature is that this award has been alienated from the great Chinese country that first produced ancient civilization for many years, and some people are even hostile to Chinese literature.They also want to unreasonably vote for their annual literary awards to authors and works that have nothing to do with most readers in the world.Therefore, the conversation between Ba Jin and Wu Kegang quickly turned to topics of common interest to them. Ba Jin especially appreciated the two books that Wu Kegang brought to him in the ward.One is the French version of "My Past and Thoughts" by Herzen, and the other is a medical book dedicated to the treatment of "Parkinson's disease".Of course, this book is also in English.Ba Jin felt excited and gratified that Wu Kegang sent him such a gift after being away for many years, but he no longer wanted to talk about the meaningless awards in the eyes of the old man. Is it true that the Nobel Prize in Literature should go to Ba Jin, a veteran of the Chinese literary world?In this regard, Ba Jin finally made a powerful answer with silence: I don't need it!