Chapter 697: Old Western-Style House on Julu Road
"What, Chairman Wang? He came to you to complain?" Fang Minghua asked.
"Not to complain, just to talk about some of his own views." Wang Meng laughed: "I know Lao Liu well. He is a bit stubborn and not broad-minded. I advised him a few words."
Fang Minghua nodded.
Of course he knew that Wang Meng was not here to blame.
"Minghua, I remember that in the great discussion of humanistic spirit in the past two years, I rarely saw your writings." Wang Meng asked, changing the subject.
This again.
"Chairman Wang, I have never been to college, and my literary theory and literacy are not high, so I don't think I can speak in this kind of high-level academic discussion." Fang Minghua looked humble.
"Oh, Minghua, who has always been eloquent in the literary world, when did he become so humble? You don't have a high level of literary theory? When you were just in your early twenties, you went to Lanzhou University to teach students about stream-of-consciousness novels? How many people understood this stuff at that time?"
"Also, just this afternoon, you quoted classics and gave a long speech that stunned Liu Guowei. Now you actually say that you are not qualified in front of me?"
After hearing what Wang Meng said, Fang Minghua didn't know what to say, but just laughed twice.
"I am over 60 and about to retire, so I shouldn't be involved in this discussion. Especially for supporting Wang Shuo, I also know that there are many dross in Wang Shuo's novels, which can't be considered classics at all."
Wang Meng looked at the green lotus leaves in the lake: "But his novels are not too harmful. At most, they are just entertainment after dinner. They are not terrible."
"What's terrible?" Fang Minghua asked.
"What's scary is that those who criticized him, under the banner of reshaping the humanistic spirit, demanded that Wang Shuo and others who participated in the incident be denounced and 'eliminated' one by one."
"The 'shameless act' of Zhang Yimou's 'using movies to discredit the motherland' was accused with 'blood and tears'."
"This is terrible. I feel a chill when I see these words. It's the 1990s now. Why are there words from that era again? Haven't we suffered enough? Do we have to do it all over again?!"
At this point, Wang Meng looked at Fang Minghua with a little excitement.
So he was worried about this!
These older generation of literati who came from that era always have a sense of vigilance in their hearts.
"No, Chairman Wang, you don't have to worry too much. After all, the times are different. The situation you think will not happen." Fang Minghua looked relaxed.
"You are very optimistic."
"Yes."
"Haha, okay, maybe I worry too much. Let's go over there, to Su Causeway. Among the ancient Chinese literati, I admire Su Shi the most. He is not only a literati but also a doer. He built water conservancy projects and made contributions to future generations. Haha, he is also a gourmet."
The two walked towards Su Causeway.
In the meetings for several days, everyone expressed their opinions and argued with each other. When it was time to rest, they went to visit West Lake in groups of three or two.
I heard that two years ago, the local government carried out a major renovation by the West Lake, demolished Huizhou Building and Mingyue Bay Hotel, moved Yutan Hotel, and restored scenic spots such as "Pinghu Qiuyue". Now the West Lake looks much more beautiful.
Of course, Fang Minghua did not forget to find a tea shop and bought two kilograms of special Longjing, which was produced in the Meijiawu area.
The last two days were a big discussion on humanistic spirit, but Fang Minghua asked for leave.
"Minghua, are you really going?" asked Lu Yao, who shared a room with him.
"I do have something urgent in Shanghai, so I have to go there quickly. I asked for leave from the conference group, and Chairman Wang approved it." Fang Minghua said while packing his things.
He was going to Shanghai, but he didn't dare to say so when he asked for leave.
He called home and said that his mother was suddenly seriously ill and he had to go back quickly.
Wang Meng probably let him go only with this reason, so he had to let his mother down.
After leaving West Lake Hotel, Fang Minghua took a taxi straight to the train station, bought a train ticket to Shanghai, and didn't forget to call Zhao Hongjun to ask him to send someone to pick him up, and then took the train to Shanghai.
More than three hours later, he arrived at Hongqiao Station and saw Jin Bo as soon as he got out of the station.
"Teacher Fang, I'll take you to the hotel." Jin Bo enthusiastically helped Fang Minghua carry the luggage bag: "President Zhao has something to do at noon, so I'm afraid he won't be able to make it. I'll go to dinner with you."
"No need, you can take me to the hotel and go home, I'll go alone." Fang Minghua declined.
Still staying at the New Jinjiang Hotel, at lunchtime, I had a casual meal in the hotel restaurant, took a shower and slept for a while, then I heard someone knocking on the door.
When I looked over, Zhao Hongjun was standing at the door wearing sunglasses and holding a mobile phone.
"Is the meeting over?"
"Not yet, but it's not interesting, it's better to look at houses." Fang Minghua laughed.
"Haha, I knew you couldn't forget the old house. I've already contacted the agent. Let's go now."
"Have some tea to cool down?"
"No, hurry up and finish the business, we'll have a drink tonight!" Zhao Hongjun said without turning his head.
Fang Minghua followed him down the elevator, got out of the hotel and got on the Hutou Mercedes.
The old house that Zhao Hongjun helped to pick was on Julu Road in Jing'an QU. When the two drove over, there was already a young man wearing a washed white short-sleeved shirt and a tie waiting at the gate of the yard.
His surname is Zhang. Although he is young, he has worked in a real estate agency for several years specializing in the sale of old houses.
Seeing the Mercedes-Benz approaching, he waited for the car to stop and quickly came over to help open the door.
"Mr. Zhao, you're here." The young man was very attentive.
"This is my friend, Fang Minghua, he bought a house." Zhao Hongjun introduced to the principal.
Fang Minghua did not let him reveal his specific identity. Xiao Zhang looked at the other party and felt that he was familiar, but he did not dare to ask more.
After the two shook hands, he led them into the gate.
Fang Minghua looked carefully and found that the main building was a three-story brick and wood structure building with red tiles and white walls, a pointed roof, oval steel windows, and gardens in front and back. Four huge ginkgo trees stretched their branches and leaves outside the wall.
"This is an English garden house, built in 1930, including this one, with a total of 12 buildings in front and back, arranged along the road. This building complex is the first project of the internationally renowned architect Wu Daqian after he set up his own business. The International Hotel, Wukang Building, and Daguangming Cinema were all designed by Wu Daqian."
Xiao Zhang introduced as he walked.
"This house has a property certificate area of about 407 square meters, a floor area of about 657 square meters, including a basement of 75.53 square meters. The specific numbers are on the property certificate."
The three of them finally entered the living room on the first floor. It was almost empty. It was obvious that no one had lived there for a long time and it was covered with dust.
"The owner of this property went to Los Angeles, USA with his family five years ago. He applied for a green card at the beginning of this year and recently entrusted us to help sell it." Xiao Zhang hurriedly introduced.
Fang Minghua nodded, went up the iron stairs, and looked at the second and third floors and the balcony. Both the room and the wall were old, and the garden was overgrown with weeds. If he really wanted to move in, he would have to clean it up.
But he was not in a hurry. Anyway, he didn't plan to move in right away. Those courtyard houses in Yanjing have always been empty.