The first time I met Brother Jiandong was in 2002. The Tangshan Federation of Literary and Art Circles organized an event and invited several editors from the "Great Wall" magazine to guide local amateur writers on their works. At that time, I had just read his "Family Portrait" in "Harvest", and I admired it very much. I was very excited when I heard that he was coming. When we met, I saw that he was lean and thin, and he spoke unhurriedly, like a southern writer. I don’t drink much when I eat, and my face turns red when I drink some wine. I drank quite a bit and started chatting with him. I am a person who tends to be timid in public situations. The reason why I can let go is definitely because of alcohol. What did I talk to him about? I can't remember the specifics, but I must have felt that I was full of talent, but no one appreciated it, and I didn't know how to play the piano. He had the self-righteous look of a young literary and artistic young man from a small place. He just listened patiently and occasionally interrupted. We sent him to the hotel after having a good meal and wine. I forget the reason, but it seemed that we had a quarrel with the security guard and almost got into a fight. Jiandong just held me by the side and gave me good advice. When I woke up the next morning, I had a splitting headache. Thinking of everything yesterday, I was so ashamed that I died. I also forgot whether to say goodbye to him. Anyway, sitting in the car returning to the county town, my disgust for myself slowly rose, and in the end it was almost burning.

Later I went to the Provincial Taxation Bureau for training, and I took the time to visit him at the Writers Association. He seemed to have forgotten that Meng Lang looked like me that day, talking and laughing, very normal. At that time, I thought to myself that he was a well-educated person, and it seemed that it was his fault to embarrass others even a little bit. He made tea there leisurely, organized the manuscript in an orderly manner, and at the same time asked the cold and warm, how is your work? Are the kids and wife okay? What novels have you written recently? Easy-going and quiet, like an older brother. Later, he took me to visit the editor-in-chief at the time, Mr. Li Yanqing. I remember that he also treated me to a meal that night at a restaurant south of the Hebei Tax School. We each drank a bottle of beer, and he turned red in the face while chatting with me about novels and novelists in the damp night wind. At that time, he had just published "Family Portrait" and his reputation was growing. He chatted with me, an amateur writer who had hardly published any works, for several hours. Later, he stood up and said with some embarrassment that my home is far away from here and he had to catch the last train, so he had to leave first. His hands were small and warm to hold.

We slowly became familiar with each other. The so-called familiarity means that I often see him in meetings, or I often read his novels in literary magazines. He sometimes calls me, Zhang Chu, the province is currently evaluating annual awards. If you have any satisfactory works, remember to submit them; or, Zhang Chu, the province is recruiting contract producers, remember to remind your fellow countryman Liu Rongshu. Sign up, I can't contact him. At that time, Brother Jiandong seemed to have never seen Rong Shu, but had only read his works. I think Brother Jiandong may be such a person. He never forgets the people he thinks are talented. This kind of forgetfulness is not just a word, but a practice. This may also have something to do with his work, but in essence In general, he respects those who travel with him. This kind of respect is the respect of colleagues who care about each other, and the respect of brothers who are affectionate and righteous. It is inevitable that it will be particularly natural and precious. Most of the time, he is rational and organizes his daily life into clear branches. I think those who get along with him day and night can easily feel the rational part of him, such as his clear distinction, ability and diligence, breeze and bright moon, and gentleman's spirit, but they often ignore it. He understands the sensibility hidden under this rationality - that delicate, delicate and shiny part, which is not only hidden in his thick and high-spirited novels, but also hidden in his slightly shy smile in the wine shop and playing poker. In the cunning calculations of time, and in the sadness of silence.

For a while, I was tortured to death by official documents from the tax bureau, and my passion for writing novels gradually faded away. This kind of subsidence is not sudden, but more like a chronic disease. In the long-term torture, I suddenly came up with the idea: writing is meaningless. The types covered by writing, whether emotional or technical, philosophical or aesthetic, have all been written by masters. Now my own writing is nothing more than blind scribbling and self-comfort. During that time, I did not study, let alone write, and drank with my buddies all day long. Then one day I received a call from Jiandong, seemingly asking for someone's phone number. I took the opportunity to tell him my doubts.

He thought for a while and said that this feeling of exhaustion and meaninglessness may be a necessary stage for writers, and he has also experienced it. He advised me not to be discouraged and just adjust myself. It’s not a big problem. If I read more books and run more, I can calm down and write, and I might write good works. His tone was so calm and relaxed, and he easily eliminated my hesitant questions. I took a deep breath, as if something had really been removed.

Later I thought that he might have felt that I was a little anxious at that time, so he answered my questions in the simplest and most simple words. Over complexity, simplicity is most powerful. Over the years, he had so many things to do that he must have forgotten that careless conversation, but for me, it was a permanent medicine. Whenever I am tired, trapped, or self-loathed, I pick up a long and obscure book and read it for a while, and my heart becomes calm while reading; or I go for a run by the river. , running very slowly, maybe slower than walking, but when I run, I feel at ease, and I feel that nothing in the world can make people feel more at ease than writing.

Another time I attended a book fair in Beijing, and a large group of people went to a coffee shop to get together after dinner. When everyone talks about a certain foreign writer, I say that compared to the novels of Anderson, Faulkner, and Hemingway, his novels are still a bit simple and straightforward, and the language has no characteristics. I have never understood why he is so evaluated in the history of American literature. Gao, is it a translation problem? Jiandong seemed a little surprised. He said, I thought you had always liked him. The style of your recent novels is somewhat similar to his. I thought about it later and realized that during that period I was tired of sitting down and writing, so I did write a few articles as I pleased. Frankly speaking, I still admire Anderson and Faulkner more, so I still sat down to write later. Sitting upright and tired may lead to poor writing, but at least it is more reliable than following one's will. Brother Jiandong's eyes are both gentle and vicious. He may have completely forgotten these trivial matters, but for me, they are unforgettable reminders and introspections.

In a flash, I have known Brother Jiandong for fifteen years. As time goes by, we are all aging slowly, but our awe for words is still young after all. In the past few years, due to work reasons, he wrote less. We have accumulated a lot of experience in the past few years, whether it is "Reading and Appreciation", "Castro" or this year's "Danish Milk Candy", we are really amazed. In fact, I have always been a loyal reader of his, but I am so familiar with him that I feel embarrassed to praise him in person. I once met teacher Chen Xiaoming at a meeting. When he talked about our "Four Heroes", he smiled and said, all of your novels are good, but I still like Jiandong the best. I immediately blurted out, me too. After saying that, he looked around and saw that Brother Jiandong was not there, so he felt relieved.