Chapter 35: Stealing Books Cannot Be Called Theft

Liu Weidong rushed to the bus station, where Technician Wang was still waiting. They hadn't even finished a single cigarette before the bus arrived. Technician Wang was carrying quite a few things, including two large geese with their feet tied.

Once on board, they realized that many of the peasants heading into the city were also laden with bags and bundles, packing the space beneath the seats to the brim. The old farmers on the bus were chatting about how the city market was currently unregulated and which goods sold fastest in town. Liu Weidong saw the flicker of joy on their faces. Like the spring breeze nurturing all things, although the country hadn't fully opened up yet, subtle shifts in the market suggested that people's mindsets were quietly changing; a market economy was beginning to emerge.

After reaching the city, Liu Weidong put Technician Wang on a connecting bus before heading home. His wife had about twenty days left in her final sprint for the college entrance exams. Judging by her current grades, getting into the Teachers' College shouldn't be a problem, but Liu Weidong didn't want her to just be a teacher. If he could help his sister-in-law plagiarize a song by Zhuang Nu, why couldn't he help his wife "copy" a classic book? If he could get a serial published in the *Binjiang Daily* or submit it directly to the Dongfeng Literature and Art Publishing House before the exams, the prestige would far exceed that of "Seeing the Cooking Smoke Again."

He stopped at a bookstore to buy two large stacks of manuscript paper, a fountain pen, and a bottle of ink. Liu Weidong already had a plan. *The Legend of Tianyun Mountain*, a masterpiece published by Teacher Zhou in 1979, was a representative work of "reflection literature" in the new cultural era. It was perfectly suited to the current climate, and Liu Weidong had read it several times in his previous life. *Forgive me, Teacher Zhou,* he thought, *but for my wife's future, I have no choice but to use your work.*

Back home, he spread out the paper and began to write furiously. *The Legend of Daqingshan* was born. He changed the male protagonist, Luo Qun, to Xiao Nan, an allusion to his father-in-law, Lou Nan. He changed Song Wei to Liu Qian—only one character different from his mother-in-law's name. He renamed Wu Yao to Wu Baotian and Feng Qinglan to Feng Qingyun, and relocated the "May 7th Cadre School" to the deep mountain valleys. Having grown up in the countryside with real-life experience, and having memorized the original, Liu Weidong didn't even need a draft. He even polished the prose as he went. By the time dusk fell, he had already written several thousand words.

He used the pen name "Ru Qing," taken from a line in a Du Fu poem: "Drinking from the mountain stream, eating wild grains."

This novel, with its sense of being ahead of its time, would certainly be fine to publish after the Third Plenary Session, but right now, it would take immense courage for any newspaper or publishing house to print it. Liu Weidong thought of Zhao Lijun, the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee. It seemed best to let Secretary Zhao take a look at it first.

***

Liu Weidong was so absorbed in his writing that he forgot the time; it wasn't until Liu Yanru and her sister returned that he remembered to cook. Fortunately, there was food already prepared. As he reheated it and brought it to the table, Lou Yanru and Lou Yanhua were already engrossed in reading the pages he had written.

"Weidong, is this a novel you wrote? I had no idea you were such a talented writer! The character development and psychological depth are so profound." Lou Yanru looked at him in shock.

"It's yours. Didn't you see the pen name 'Ru Qing'? Would a man use a name like that? I wrote it with a delicate touch specifically so people would think it was a female author."

"Are you out of your mind? When you helped Yanhua with the song, at least she knows how to play the accordion. But if you help me with a novel, what am I supposed to do if a reader writes me a letter or a reporter wants an interview?"

Liu Weidong picked up a steamed corn bun and struck a classic pose from the opera *The Red Lantern*. "With my support as your foundation, you can handle any situation."

"Get out of here, you're never serious..."

They discussed everything from the novel's themes and complex emotional entanglements to the profound impact the movement had on their generation. Both Lou Yanhua and Lou Yanru had been direct participants in the turmoil, and their own parents had become victims. With the plot being so turbulent and poignant, the two sisters were moved to tears as Liu Weidong recounted the highlights, feeling every word.

"Brother-in-law, you're amazing. If Mom sees this novel, there's no telling how much she'll cry. Are you really going to let my sister publish it?"

Liu Weidong nodded. "I don't think relying solely on the extra points for being a local teacher is enough. If your sister can become a famous author before the college entrance exams, her admission will be a sure thing. But I need to show it to Deputy Secretary Zhao of the Municipal Party Committee first. After all, this subject matter is sensitive; whether it can be published depends on the leadership's approval."

"It’s so frustrating how talented you are, Brother-in-law, and I'm just..." Lou Yanhua, feeling indignant, grabbed her accordion and went to the west room. A moment later, the sound of a slightly hesitant rendition of *Seeing the Cooking Smoke Again* drifted out.

Lou Yanru continued reading *The Legend of Daqingshan*, completely immersed in the work. Liu Weidong looked at his focused wife and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Plagiarizing books isn't theft, and copying songs is a skill; who could blame him for being reborn?

***

But these were just trifles. They were merely plans to help his wife and sister-in-law get a head start. His true goal after his rebirth was to follow national policies, reap the benefits, and lead everyone toward common prosperity. With his foresight from his previous life, he could easily become a profit-driven, ruthless capitalist, but he didn't want that. After Lou Yanru died in his past life, he had fallen into a deep depression, and Wang Jianguo and the villagers of the Second Team had helped him through so much. He couldn't forget that kindness. The pain of losing his wife was his greatest regret; now that fate had given him a chance to make amends, he would spend his life loving this woman, ensuring she lived a life without worry, with a smooth path ahead.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you not tired of looking at me every day?" Sensing his gaze, Lou Yanru looked up, her face filled with happiness.

"I've decided to apply to the Literature Department of the Normal University, with the Teachers' College as my second choice. Your novel has touched me deeply."

"Wife, I support you in whatever you choose. You must study hard. Our commune has already started its assessment; all the 'educated youth' will be returning to the city this year. If you don't get into university, you won't be able to handle your mother. She won't let you stay in the countryside."

At the mention of Song Qian, a shadow of worry crossed Lou Yanru's face. "I don't know what's wrong with Mom. She wasn't such a pragmatic person before, but ever since she came back from the cadre school, she's like a different person. She suspects everyone, and her temper is so volatile. Otherwise, why would Yanhua be squeezed in here with us instead of going home? Perhaps only after my father is rehabilitated will she be able to calm down. It's because of our family's ordeal that I find your book so authentic—it strikes right at the depths of the soul. I find it so strange, though. The prose is so seasoned and the ideas so deep; it doesn't sound like it was written by a young man. When I first met you, you were so keen on the movement—singing model opera songs, writing slogans, and reciting quotes. How did your thinking change so fast?"

Liu Weidong pointed to the transistor radio on the table. "The radio is a treasure; it tells us the affairs of the nation early. It’s all about changing customs and habits and leading the new trend of culture."

Lou Yanru was so annoyed she nearly threw a pillow at him. "You’re never serious! Every time I ask you something, you just spout nonsense..."