Chapter 12 The Honest Literature of the Honest Man——Preface to Nantai's "Women and the Town"

Nantai is an honest man. When I received a letter from him asking me to write a preface to his collection of novels, I saw his dull appearance in front of my eyes: he was tall and his hair was already gray; he didn't seem to talk much; Oral expression skills are also not very strong.In the letter, he even said that he did not know how to ask someone to write a preface, expressing presumptuousness, as if the author must have a close relationship with the preface writer, or should give the preface writer some gift. Nantai and I do not have any close relationship, and we rarely communicate with each other.He is a member of the Ningxia Writers Association, and I am the chairman of this association permanently, and sometimes meet at meetings, that's all.He asked me to write a preface, but he didn't bring anything, and it was at a time when I already thought that I was not worthy of writing prefaces for people and I was tired of writing prefaces for people.But I am still obedient, willing to write some words for his collection of stories that I don't know whether it will be published.

This is mainly because, at the same time as I received his letter, I was reading a novella published by him in the fourth issue of "Contemporary" in 1990——.Reading his novels may be a breath of fresh air when you are dazed by "trendy" and "magical" novels.But let me hasten to state that I have nothing against "trendy" and "magical".Otherwise, I would not be confused by them.I'm just saying that a simple, traditional, "rustic" and straightforward novel is always what readers and literature need.There are various ways of writing novels, and more ways of writing will be created in the future.But novels like Nantai are always the most basic form of novels.

Reading his novels is effortless, just like dealing with honest people, it makes you feel at ease and at ease.In addition, I have read a few articles by chance. In our Ningxia publications, I generally have the same impression.For that alone, I think it's worth reading.Some people say that there are not many honest people nowadays.Whether there are many or not, I have no investigation, and I have no right to speak.But I always hope to make friends with honest people, and when I meet honest people, I will be honest.Reading, of course, I also like to read honest books.No matter it is "trendy", "magical" or simple and traditional, as long as it is truly open-minded and straightforward, it will naturally benefit a lot from reading.However, as a rule of thumb, some novels written in austere, traditional ways can also victimize.This has been learned during and before the "Cultural Revolution", so I won't mention it.

In my opinion, the value of Nantai is that besides the honesty of his writing, the content is also honest.It's not like some works that put on an honest face to trap you.The so-called honesty of the content is very particular.It must inject new life into the simple and traditional form.Attention, it is the "life" force!This life is of course his own and not someone else's.Therefore, there are his own viewpoints and angles everywhere in his novels.So there is a critical edge.It seems traditional, but it is actually anti-traditional.The reason why people are fooled by writing traditional works in traditional forms is that there is no such thing as himself in the content, and it is completely inherited from him.Seemingly not crossing the threshold half a step, in fact, it will make you fall into the mud all at once.

I can't write much in the sequence, so stop here.I can only say that if there are not many honest people nowadays, honest works are also rare.However, this book by Nantai is an honest work.Hope readers can benefit. 1990.3.5.