Zhao Shuli: Why is the tree of literature evergreen?

Zhao Shuli is a writer who has always "soaked" in the sap of grassroots life. He seized every opportunity to experience the life of the masses — taking a hard seat by train, sleeping in a hotel, pulling a hot kiln, and working like a fellow countryman. "Li Youcai's Words" is the material collected by Zhao Shuli when he conducted social research in Shanxi. He keenly grasped the profound changes brought about by rent and interest reductions in rural areas, but at the same time did not shy away from the twists and turns of the peasants' struggles in the process of welcoming the new society and moving towards a new life.

Since the May Fourth Movement, Chinese writers have been striving to explore in the direction of "popularization of literature and art". Comrade Mao Zedong's speech at the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art in 1942 greatly encouraged the enthusiasm of writers to create for the masses of the people. To realize the popularization of literature and art, writers need to go deep into life, understand that the people are familiar with the people, and not only mingle with the masses in life and work, but also with the masses ideologically and emotionally. Zhao Shuli did exactly this, and he regarded the sincerity of his creation as revolutionary work and as a work of "relieving the people's worries and relieving the people's difficulties." Therefore, as soon as the work "Li Youcai's Words" came out, it became a vivid material for publicizing and implementing the land policy in the anti-Japanese base areas, and became a powerful weapon for uniting the people, educating the people, and fighting against the enemy.

In literature, Zhao Shuli uses the language familiar to the people to create his own unique writing style: witty and vivid, fresh and strong, earthy, strong story, distinct characters, realistic details, and lively forms of expression. Every work, every character, every sentence is like the fish that has just been fished out of the pond of life, the diamond that has been plucked, and the lotus that has been pulled out, fresh and tender, alive and slippery! Literate people can understand it, and those who can't read can understand it, and they are fascinated by it when they see it. Zhao Shuli's works have also become a model for "yam egg pie" literature.

In "Li Youcai's Words", Zhao Shuli uses comedic characters and humorous and funny language characteristics to give readers a cheerful reading experience and attract readers to enter the life of that era. Li Youcai loves to tell jokes, can make up "slip mouth" (Allegro), although life is hard, but "talent is like a fire", uniting poor peasants, his broken cave has also become a place where everyone gathers together and is full of joy. At the same time, Li Youcai has a cool head, a clear understanding of the reality of the countryside, and a sense of struggle. The "Allegro" is an important carrier for the interpretation of the novel story and the advancement of the plot, and it is also a weapon for Li Youcai to unite the masses to fight against the landlords, and they have repeatedly engaged in "wisdom battles" with the landlords and won victories. There are allegro poems that talk and sing, talk and discuss, and are lively and lively, which reflect each other with the image of the new generation of peasants who have grown up in the struggle. In addition to possessing the beautiful qualities of being generous and kind, these peasants also dared to struggle against the landlords who exploited the people and did not bow to the evil forces. The new spiritual outlook they displayed has also become a vivid portrayal of the style of the times.

Not only "Li Youcai's Words", including a series of creations such as "Little Erhei Marriage", "The Change of Li Jiazhuang" and "Three Mile Bay", Zhao Shuli has always pursued the goal of "ordinary people like to see and play a role in reality". For Zhao Shuli, this is not only a pursuit, but also a complex, because in his heart, the toiling masses and ordinary people are the most important.

When the novel "Three Mile Bay" was about to be completed, Zhao Shuli politely refused several large publishing houses and sent the manuscript to a smaller popular literature and art publishing house. Why not choose a well-known and well-paid publisher? Zhao Shuli said: "I don't care about this, I only know that this small publishing house is specially for the masses. As for the level of remuneration, it doesn't matter, I would like to give me a lower remuneration. Because the remuneration is low, the cost of the book is low, and the pricing is correspondingly cheaper, so as not to reduce the economic burden of the masses to buy books!"

This is Zhao Shuli. He built a bridge between literature and the masses. The value of evaluating a writer cannot be separated from a ruler, that is, the people. Only by being with the people can we stand the test of time and the tree of literature can grow forever. This is also the enlightenment and significance of re-reading Zhao Shuli today. It is expected that excellent works reflecting this era will continue to emerge and leave the classics of the new era for future generations.