I was shocked to hear the sad news that on April 21, Shu Yi, son of the famous writer Lao She, died of illness in Beijing at the age of 86. Some people may think that his reputation is far less than that of his father Lao She, and he has little contribution and influence in the world of modern Chinese literature and literary museums. In fact, Mr. Shu Yi's lifetime contribution to the Museum of Modern Literature was not only the study of his father. There are three reasons why he said this:

1. He is not only Lao She’s son, he is a forestry and chemical expert, and a writer

My father, Lao She, never expected his son to inherit his father’s business and become a writer. , young Shu Yi became a technical expert in the field of forestry and chemical industry in my country very early. His association with the literary world began in his forties. Halfway through the career, his son inherited his father's career and became a writer. All this happened because some modern literature researchers at that time wanted Shu Yi to help study Mr. Lao She.

Shu Yi spent several years conducting visits and research, mastered a large amount of information, and compiled Mr. Lao She’s experience into a book. During this period, Shu Yi began to write works about Mr. Lao She in the form of prose. His first article The work is "Lao She's Childhood". Because of its simple and realistic writing style, the work was serialized in "People's Daily" and was widely loved by the audience.

Later, Shu Yi joined the Chinese Writers Association in 1984; in 1986, he published his first collection of prose. Later, he worked hard and continued to write essays and biographies, as well as research on modern Chinese literary works. He published monographs such as "My Kite", "Lao She", and "Treasures of Modern Literary World".

2. He is a writer and a cross-border star in the art world

It is said that excellent people are never good in just one aspect. Shu Yi, who never stops writing, is actually 60 years old. At an advanced age, he pushed himself again, picked up a paintbrush across borders, and learned to paint. Surprisingly, Shu Yi, who did not study under any painting school, later held more than ten art exhibitions.

3. The Museum of Modern Chinese Literature is the bond of his life

The place where Shu Yi has devoted the greatest and most outstanding efforts in his life is none other than the Museum of Modern Chinese Literature.

Although the Museum of Modern Chinese Literature was established on the initiative of Mr. Ba Jin, it was Shu Yi who really worked hard for it. From 1984 to 2002, Shu Yi served as deputy director, executive deputy director, and director.

From the preparation for the construction of a new museum of modern Chinese literature, to the layout and design of the literature museum such as door handles, mural inlays, porcelain signed by writers, etc., to the collection materials and objects of the literature museum, the literature museum All construction matters, big and small, were thought out bit by bit by Shu Yi. It can be said that no matter how small or small, everything must be done personally.

Today’s Museum of Modern Chinese Literature has unique building construction and rich collections, all of which are inseparable from the huge contribution made by Mr. Shu Yi. It is no exaggeration to say that Mr. Shu Yi has put a lot of effort into every plant, tree, product and object in the Literature Museum. As the son of Lao She, he also donated many precious manuscripts of Mr. Lao She free of charge, which became treasures of the literary museum.

Shu Yi has inherited his father’s spirit of “giving” very well. In 2013, Shu Yi, together with his brothers and sisters, donated 20 calligraphy and painting masterpieces collected by Lao She and his wife, including Qi Baishi's "The Sound of Frogs Ten Miles Out of the Mountain Spring", Fu Baoshi's "Tongyin Picture", and Lin Fengmian's "Chuanjiang Picture" to modern Chinese literature. pavilion.

If you want to describe Shu Yi's contribution to the Chinese Literature Museum in one sentence, it can be summarized objectively: He spent nearly 20 years building a monument to modern Chinese literature.