Rise of a Chinese Writer: A Journey to Success 華人作家發跡故事

In my dream, I was at a book club with a girl, discussing an English novel written by a Chinese author. We were curious why a Chinese writer would choose to write in English.

The book club took place inside a European-style antique department store. After it ended, I wanted to catch a ride. Passing through a food court, I saw a blonde classmate who invited me for coffee and a chat. I thought, "Sure, it's nice to have company."

While waiting in line to pay, I also noticed several male classmates there. They seemed sharp and intelligent, possibly working as prosecutors during the day. In the dream, I was a charming woman, and one of them seemed interested in me, but I wasn't particularly interested.

Initially, I just wanted to buy a cup of coffee, but then decided to stay longer and added some peppermint cookies. Since I'm writing a novel about Holland, the blonde classmate mentioned that peppermint cookies in their culture actually carry a hint of disdain or mockery.

I asked her to explain, and it turns out peppermint cookies have a metaphorical meaning of "character assassination" or something similar. I didn't quite understand her explanation, so I changed the subject and asked her opinion on the English novel by the Chinese author.

The novel tells the story of a Chinese person in Europe, exploited through sweat and blood but eventually overcoming hardships. The life story of this Chinese writer is also quite legendary.

It seems the Chinese author grew up in a small village on the China-Russia border, working in the fields with his family, enduring difficult days. In winter, they even sat in the snow with several large white dogs.

As he grew older, the Chinese writer worked in a bar where everyone knew he was writing novels. However, luck wasn't on his side, and he didn't make much money.

When things were at his worst, one day at the bar, he encountered masked robbers. Perhaps out of fatigue or some other reason, he surprisingly said to the robber, "Go ahead, leave! I won't call the police or try to catch you."

The robber was probably startled and indeed left without causing any damage or breaking anything. He didn't steal any money and just left.

I think that must have been the writer's lowest point. He probably felt so unlucky that when he saw the robber about to rob, he may have felt some sympathy. So, he let the robber go, and the robber didn't go to jail.

One day at the bar, he met a wealthy girl. Hearing about his experience, she deliberately stimulated him, saying, "If you can make the story longer and turn it into a famous novel, I'll marry you." The crowd cheered, but later the Chinese writer really started to seriously develop his novel, making the plot more intriguing and engaging.

The Chinese writer knew his story needed someone to review and revise it. The wealthy girl introduced him to a professor. I remember he looked like a slightly overweight Western man who always wore a tall hat. He read the Chinese writer's novel and made adjustments and revisions.

Later, the Chinese writer became famous overnight, not only marrying the wealthy girl but also becoming a duke, invited to speak publicly at the European Parliament to explain the intentions and metaphors in his novel. After being ennobled, his status became increasingly prestigious, perhaps due to the recognition of their novel.

Actually, before becoming famous, the Chinese writer had a girlfriend and they went through hard times together. Later, because of meeting the wealthy girl, she said if his novel developed enough and became famous, she would marry the writer. So later the Chinese writer's attitude toward his girlfriend began to change and became very disdainful of her. Because he wanted to say that she would become his stumbling block, he would have to get rid of the poor woman to have a chance to crawl.

Later, for reasons unknown, the wealthy girl introduced the Chinese writer to another Chinese individual named Wang Yongchuan, who joined in writing the novel. Towards the end of the novel, some details involving sexual themes were added, and this part was emphasized by Wang Yongchuan.

In summary, the latter part of the novel was influenced by the duchess. Whenever she wanted to add certain elements, she would find assistants to help the Chinese writer incorporate them into the story. Therefore, the duchess played a significant role and had an impact on the novel.

While discussing these stories with the blonde classmate, she mentioned that the department store where we were having our snacks was actually one of the Chinese writer’s properties.

夢見我跟一個女生在一個讀書會，我們討論一部華人寫的英文小說，好奇為什麼華人作家會想寫英文小說。

讀書會是在一間歐式古色古香的百貨公司裡面進行。結束後，我想去搭車。經過美食廣場，看到一位金髮女同學，她邀我一起喝杯咖啡，小聊一下吧！我想說好吧，有個伴。

排隊結帳的時候，又看到幾位男同學在那裡。他們白天的工作好像是檢察官，看起來就是很犀利聰明的樣子。夢裡我是一位迷人的女性，其中有人好像對我有意思，但我反倒是意興闌珊。

本來我只是想買杯咖啡，後來想說待久一點好了，就多點了薄荷餅乾。因為我正在寫關於荷蘭的小說，這位金髮女同學跟我說，薄荷餅乾在他們的文化，其實是帶有一點鄙視或是羞辱他們的意思。

我請她解釋給我聽，好像是薄荷餅乾帶有「人設破壞翻車」的隱喻。其實我聽不太懂她解釋的理由，就改問她對這部華人所寫的英文小說的看法。

這小說敘述一位華人在歐洲被血汗壓榨，後來翻身的故事。而這位華人小說家的人生故事也有些傳奇。

好像這位華人作家，幼年在中俄邊界的小鄉村成長，跟著家人種田，日子很辛苦。冬天時還跟著幾隻白色大狗，臥坐在雪地裡。

長大後，華人作家在一家酒吧工作，那裡的人都知道他在寫小說。但機運不好，也沒賺什麼錢。

人在倒楣時，壞運總是接二連三的。作家有天在酒吧當班時，遇到蒙面歹徒打劫。不知道那天他是累了還是怎麼樣，他竟然跟那個搶匪說：「你走吧！你趕快走！我沒有要報警，也沒有要抓你。」

搶匪大概也嚇了一跳，真的就走了，也沒有破壞或是砸碎東西。沒有搶到錢就離開了。

我覺得那個時候應該是作家最低潮的時候。他覺得他怎麼那麼衰，所以大概看到那個搶匪要搶劫的時候，可能覺得有點同病相憐吧！所以就放他一馬，他就不會去坐牢。

有天在酒吧裡，遇到一位有錢的千金。聽到他的遭遇，故意刺激他說：「如果你可以把故事變長，變成知名小說，我就嫁給你。」現場大家起哄，但後來華人作家真的開始認真地把他小說的故事，做更多的強勢發展，小說情節也變得愈來愈有趣動人。

華人作家知道他的故事內容，需要有人幫他看過，並做修正。有錢千金就幫他介紹了一位教授。我記得他看起來是西方有點微胖的男士，總是戴著一頂高帽子。他就閱讀這華人作家的小說內容，並作修正調整。

後來這華人作家果然一舉成名，不但娶了這千金小姐，後來變成公爵，被邀請到歐洲議會去做公開演講，由他本人親自闡述這小說內容的用意跟隱喻。他被封爵以後，地位就越來越崇高，可能也跟他的小說被認同有關。

其實這華人作家在成名之前，是有一名女朋友，跟著他一起過苦日子。後來因為他遇到這位有錢千金，竟然說如果他的小說發展夠長且成名的話，就會嫁給他。所以後來這華人作家對他女友的態度開始轉變，變得很嫌棄她。因為想說她會成為他的絆腳石，他必須要擺脫掉這窮女人，才有機會去攀上那個富家千金。

後來不知為何，富家千金幫華人作家找了另一位華人，叫做王永川，就是一起寫小說。小說後面加了一些描述性愛情慾的細節，這部份就是由王永川加強著墨。

總之，這部小說後期受到這女公爵的影響。當她覺得要加入什麼元素的時候，她就會幫華人作家找一些助手，把這些元素加到這小說裡面。所以在這部小說中，女公爵其實也有她的角色與影響力。

當金髮女同學和我討論這些故事的時候，她說我們現在吃點心的百貨公司，就是這華人作家的產業之一。