Chapter 1203: 'I died for Beauty—but was scarce'!
Translator: Legge Editor: Legge
The Yanhong Literary Prize winners were about to be revealed.
And soon, the winners of the Qilu Literature Prize would also be announced.
Being two of the most coveted awards in the literary world that were given out once every four years, a lot of people paid attention to it regardless of if they were from the literary or the entertainment circles. Many of them even predicted the results.
"Old Tao has high hopes of winning this time."
"He lost by a whisker for the last Yanhong Literary Prize."
"I hope Teacher Sheng can win the award. He turns 78 this year, and of the earliest batch of pioneers, he's the only one who hasn't won any of the most coveted awards in the literary field."
"Sun Fang is quite good too."
"Sun Fang is too young and has too few works to speak of."
"This year looks to be rather interesting."
"Why?"
"Haven't any of you seen the nomination list? Zhang Ye's one of the candidates for the award."
"Haha, Lord Zhang has finally made it into the list of candidates for the most coveted award in the literary field."
"Yeah, Zhang Ye debuted just after the previous Yanhong Literary Prize was given out. This is the first time that he's been included in the list of candidates for the most coveted award, but we'll have to see if the literary circle will want to award it to him or not."
"Right, there's so much suspense."
"If he can win this award, then Zhang Ye would be really awesome!"
"Yeah, he's already gotten the most important awards for hosting, mathematics, documentary and variety shows. If he added the literary field's most coveted award to his list of accolades as well, it would be damn impressive! But then again, this guy is already impressive! There are many people who have won high honors before. For example, Li Ke has won more than ten of the various Film Director and Best Picture awards in the country. But to be able to cross over into different industries and win the best awards in each of them like Zhang Ye did, there really hasn't been anyone like this before. Every one of his high honors would be as valuable as five such awards that other people have won!"
"Based on his works, Zhang Ye deserves to win this year's Yanhong Literary Prize for sure. Who's been in the limelight as much as him over the past four years in the field of literature? Whether it's in the field of poetry or prose, Zhang Ye doesn't have any opponents at all. That 'When You Are Old' he posted on Weibo two days ago has been shared so many times by so many people. The only problem now is whether those people on the judging panel of the Yanhong Literary Prize would want to, or dare to, award it to him. After all, no matter how well-received Zhang Ye's works are to the general populace, the final results still have to depend on the votes of those people from the literary world. Furthermore, it's been proven countless times in the history of all the greatest literary awards—the uncertainty of winning such an award is huge."
"Zhang Ye to compete for Yanhong Literary Prize!"
"Can Zhang Ye add a top literary award to his list of accolades?"
"All attention on the results of the Yanhong Literary Prize!"
"The Writers' Association extends another invitation to Zhang Ye! Will Zhang Ye finally join?"
"Winners of Yanhong Literary Prize to be revealed tonight!"
A majority of the attention from the media was focused on Zhang Ye as he was the most well-known person in the list of nominees. Who else was there to watch?
On Weibo.
Zhang Ye's friends all sent their blessings.
Songstress Zhang Xia: "Wishing Little Zhang good luck."
Singer Li Xiaoxian: "In the literary field, I'm Teacher Zhang's diehard fan. This humble fan hereby wishes her idol a great victory and to take a step up to the summit of the literary world!"
…
There was heated discussion among the public.
Meanwhile, everyone at Zhang Ye's Studio was thrown into chaos because the Writers' Association had sent over an invitation yesterday for Zhang Ye to join them as a member. Afterwards, one of the main judges on the panel of the Yanhong Literary Prize called a press conference to answer about the invitation.
Ha Qiqi said anxiously, "Director Zhang!"
Zhang Ye was doing his makeup and did not answer her.
Zhang Zuo was standing behind, urging him, "Why don't you just join?"
"Yeah, we have nothing to lose by joining." Ha Qiqi checked her watch and said, "We still have to go to the award ceremony venue tonight, but there won't be time if we don't answer them!"
But Zhang Ye just said to the makeup artist, "Don't overdo it, just some light makeup will do."
Wu Yi was also trying to persuade him close by. "Have you forgotten about our plan to reach the summit? This award is of great importance to us and you really have to win it. Now that their side is asking you to join them, that means this is their condition for you. It's a good thing since it means they've decided to give in and agree to let you in to the Writers' Association. It also means that the literary world has officially given you their recognition, so that would mean the Yanhong Literary Prize is in the bag!"
Zhang Ye continued ignoring them.
Little Wang dragged Zhang Ye's agent, Rao Aimin, over.
"What is it?" Rao Aimin said impatiently, "I was just making dinner."
Little Wang said gloomily, "Big Sis Rao, Director Zhang's throwing a tantrum again. Nothing that any of us says is of use. Please help us change his mind. Otherwise, the most coveted award that should be his will be gone for sure."
Rao Aimin acknowledged her.
Zhang Ye looked over. "Old Rao, come with me to the awards ceremony tonight?"
Rao Aimin sneered at him. "I finally managed to grab a few days of peace and you're already giving me things to deal with?"
"Alright then, I'll go by myself." Zhang Ye shrugged.
Ha Qiqi looked at Rao Aimin.
Little Wang gave Rao Aimin's arm a strong nudge.
Suddenly, a call arrived. It was from a member of the Yanhong Literary Prize's judging panel. This was the umpteenth time they were calling to check if Zhang Ye had filled out his application to join the Writers' Association.
Little Wang didn't know what to say. "We…"
Rao Aimin took two steps and said in an unhurried tone, "Pass it to me."
Little Wang quickly handed the telephone to her.
Rao Aimin said to the employee on the line, "Are you crazy or what? How can you be so annoying by calling so often? The judging panel should just do their job and vote, what's with all this nonsensical crap that you're giving me….Who am I? I'm Zhang Ye's agent! Whatever it is you want, speak to me!"
She broke that person off with a few lines!
Everyone at the studio was dumbfounded listening!
"Sister Rao!"
"Aiyo!"
We were hoping you'd persuade Director Zhang, but you're not helping matters like this!
They finally understood why Rao Aimin, a person who was not from this field, had ended up being Zhang Ye's agent. Their tempers were far too alike. Each of them was more bad-tempered than the other!
Zhang Zuo gave a bitter smile and said, "Director Zhang, this is the Yanhong Literary Prize we're talking about!"
Little Wang stamped her feet anxiously. "Why are you being like this, Director Zhang?"
Zhang Ye smiled as he got up and looked at them. "Because it would look really ugly!"
Because it wasn't beautiful?
Because it would look really ugly?
What kind of reason was that!
In the entire room, perhaps only Zhang Ye and Rao Aimin would understand what it meant by "looking ugly." Zhang Ye really wanted to reach the summit and win this important award of the literary world, but he couldn't let it become something that would work against him.
…
On the same night.
At the Yanhong Literary Prize awards ceremony venue.
Reporters from all the different media outlets and the nominees for the award, as well as many authoritative figures from the industry, were present.
When Zhang Ye arrived, he immediately got surrounded by reporters.
It was Elder Qian who came over to help him escape. "Little Zhang, come, come, come, sit over here!"
Elder Qian was a person of distinction in the literary world. At the couplet competition a very long time ago, Elder Qian was the judge and guest. Zhang Ye had known him for several years, and he could be considered one of the few friends Zhang Ye had in the literary world. At that time, Elder Qian had also invited Zhang Ye to join the Writers' Association, but was tactfully rejected by Zhang Ye's "Facing the Sea as Spring Blossoms."
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "How are you doing, Elder Qian?"
"What do you think?" Elder Qian guffawed.
Zhang Ye said, "What do I think? It looks to me you wouldn't have a problem running the 10,000-meter race."
Elder Qian grunted, "You must be trying to kill me!"
Zhang Ye: "Haha! Oh right, are you part of the judging panel for the Yanhong Literary Prize?"
Elder Qian shook his head. "No, but I am the main judge for the Qilu Literature Prize, which will be given out sometime later. I was invited as a guest this time. Quick, take a seat."
Soon after, the awards ceremony began!
The winners' list was revealed!
A leader of the literary world announced, "I'll be announcing the final voting results of the 7th Yanhong Literary Prize awards. The five winners are respectively: Tao Chihao!"
Applause sounded from the audience!
Everyone in the writers' zone looked over at Teacher Tao.
"Sheng Nian!"
Applause rang again!
"Xue Li!"
Xue Li's jaw dropped in excitement and looked to be in disbelief!
"Qiao Huayi!"
Old Qiao smacked his thigh and laughed happily.
The final winner was about to be announced!
There was only one spot left!
The leader deliberately paused for a moment before saying loudly, "Chen Bang!"
The five award winners were revealed and made their way up on stage to collect their prizes!
However, the media and many of the writers were looking at one another in speechlessness. Some of them even drew in a deep breath!
Zhang Ye's name was not called!
The Yanhong Literary Prize really was not awarded to Zhang Ye!
But Zhang Ye just looked very calm and did not show any change in expression.
Elder Qian looked at him very startled. "Little Zhang, you didn't join the Writers' Association?"
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "No, I didn't."
Elder Qian facepalmed. "Aiyo, you sure are great. I thought that you had joined since I heard they sent the application form to you. All you had to do was to sign it!"
Zhang Ye said, "I didn't sign it."
"This is the once-every-four-years Yanhong Literary Prize." Elder Qian said, "Are you going to throw it away just like that?"
But Zhang Ye corrected, "Elder Qian, it's not that I don't want this award, nor did I throw it away. If that were the case, why would I be sitting here today? This is the greatest respect I can show to the Yanhong Literary Prize. Whether or not I get it, I've turned up and even dressed up to attend the ceremony." He pointed at what he was wearing, then laughed and said, "I've already given it my best and done what I had to do, but the prize did not choose me."
Elder Qian fell silent.
The young writers around him also fell silent.
Yes. Zhang Ye had done all he could. What was the role of a writer?
It was creation!
It was writing!
It was picking up one's pen!
Zhang Ye had done all that, so what else were they expecting of him?
The awards ceremony came to an end!
Before Zhang Ye could even leave his seat, he was mobbed by a swarm of reporters!
"Teacher Zhang, what do you have to say about not winning this award?"
"I heard it was because you offended the judging panel of the Yanhong Literary Prize, so does that mean that there won't be a place for you in the future issuings of this award? That you will be excluded from here on out?"
"Did you join the Writers' Association?"
"We received news that if you had agreed to join the Writers' Association and become a member, you would definitely have been awarded a Yanhong Literary Prize today!"
"Why didn't you agree to join the Writers' Association?"
"Teacher Zhang, will you be back to fight for the Yanhong Literary Prize in another four years?"
Zhang Ye did not accept their interview and walked off silently.
Online, the news had spread as well.
"What?"
"They're really not giving it to Zhang Ye?"
"Holy shit! The Yanhong Literary Prize is getting more and more pointless!"
"I've never even heard of three of the five winners before!"
"The value of this year's Yanhong Literary Prize is really too low!"
"Zhang Ye is not in the list of winners? Are you kidding me?"
"Zhang Ye's poems are not even good enough to win the award? Oh my God, just how high is the entry barrier of the Yanhong Literary Prize? Don't scare me like that!"
"Is there even a need to explain? They wanted Zhang Ye to join them, but Zhang Ye totally ignored them!"
"It's over. Even if Zhang Ye wants to have a go at the top award of the literary world, he has to wait another four years."
"Would the Yanhong Literary Prize's judging panel give it to him even if he waits another four years?"
"This is not cool at all!"
"Actually, Zhang Ye would've been capable of winning if he had just bowed down and joined the Writers' Association. They set the conditions for him, but it was just that he chose not to follow their wishes! Look at it now, it's all over for him!"
Countless citizens questioned this outcome!
Some experts and scholars raised their doubts to the Yanhong Literary Prize committee. There were even some people who slammed the decision and thought that this year's Yanhong Literary Prize had greatly damaged the reputation of one of the top awards in the literary world!
There were scoldings!
There were criticisms!
The Yanhong Literary Prize's judging panel was thrust to the forefront!
Later, when the committee officials realized the severity of the situation, they immediately issued a response to explain why Zhang Ye was not qualified enough to win the award. They came up with reasons like how he was too young, how he had not joined any literary organizations before, how some of his works were too radical in thought, were too aggressive and harsh in nature, etc, etc. In short, all they were saying was that with Zhang Ye's qualifications, he was not yet deserving to be awarded this year's Yanhong Literary Prize and that their judging panel was not biased against him.
Then, right at this moment.
Zhang Ye posted a poem on his Weibo.
" I died for Beauty—but was scarce 1 "
I died for Beauty—but was scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb
When One who died for Truth, was lain
In an adjoining Room—
He questioned softly "Why I failed"?
"For Beauty", I replied—
"And I—for Truth—Themself are One—
We Brethren, are", He said—
And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night—
We talked between the Rooms—
Until the Moss had reached our lips—
And covered up—Our names—
When this poem emerged, it shocked the entire literary world. The voices of controversy became even more intense!
When a few writers and poets who had been awarded previous Yanhong Literary Prizes saw this poem, they were rocked by a sadness stemming from the bottom of their hearts!
For beauty?
You died for beauty?
All of them understood what Zhang Ye was trying to convey. They knew that if Zhang Ye had agreed to join the Writers' Association, his name would surely be on the Yanhong Literary Prize!
But he didn't do so!
Because that would look really ugly?
For such a poem, for such a person, was he really unqualified to win one of the most coveted awards of the literary world? What was this top award set up for in the first place? What was its selection criteria? Was it meant to be a selection of works? Or was it meant to be a selection of people? Or perhaps, all of it was simply the product of the judges' personal preferences?
On Weibo.
The reaction of the people was completely one-sided.
"Zhang Ye is so cool!"
"What a good 'I died for Beauty,' it's making my blood boil!"
"Just based on this poem alone, which of the five winners of this year's Yanhong Literary Prize can compare to Zhang Ye? Huh? Tell me, which of them can compare?
"It's just an important award of the literary world, isn't it? It's not like the Yanhong Literary Prize is the only one out there!"
"Yeah, the Qilu Literature Prize that will be given out a few days later is the true highest honor of the literary world! It's much more valuable than the Yanhong Literary Prize for sure! Teacher Zhang, win that for us!"
"Fuck, the Qilu Literature Prize is only meant for full-length novels."
"I don't care, I'll give my support to Zhang Ye in any case! No two ways about it!"
"Teacher Zhang, we're cheering you on. Even if you didn't win this time, there are still chances in the future. There will surely be a place for you among the winners of the highest honors of the literary world! Just keep pursuing the beauty that you believe in! That's what we like about you!"
"Beauty—more important than anything else!"
"Furious approval of Zhang Ye!"
"The Yanhong Literary Prize's judging panel must be blind!"
1. http://www.edickinson.org/editions/1/image_sets/235714 | https://owlcation.com/humanities/Analysis-of-Poem-I-died-for-beauty-but-was-scarce-by-Emily-Dickinson