56: Who is relieving whose worries?

Lin Que took a sip of iced cola, his fingertips gently tapping on the table.

The Gu Changfeng... Wang Shouyi was only the Chairman of the Municipal Writers Association.

Although he was active, he was just a director at the provincial level.

And this Gu Changfeng was the true big shot.

But, for him to be a judge?

What a joke.

If he really went, wouldn't the scene explode?

Not to mention whether he could even get in with his school uniform,

what if, in the examination hall, he, as the contestant Lin Que, was writing furiously,

while on the judges' table, a vacant seat held the nameplate of “Jian Shen”?

The thought of that scene was bizarre.

He barely hesitated, tapping on the keyboard to reply with a short email.

【Secretary Jiang, hello.

Thank you for the leaders' undeserved favor.

I am merely a storyteller, not adept at judging others' writing.

Literature has no standard answers,

and I do not wish for my personal preferences to become shackles on children's imaginations.

Moreover, I am accustomed to quietude and unsuited for such lively occasions.

I appreciate the sentiment, but regarding the matter of being a judge, I must respectfully decline.

Jian Shen.】

Click send.

Lin Que thought that would be the end of it.

After all, with “Jian Shen”'s current aloof persona,

refusing such commercial or official events was normal, and the other party should have been mentally prepared for rejection.

However, only five minutes passed.

A

The new email notification sound rang again.

It was still Jiang Min.

【Teacher Jian Shen, hello:

Upon receiving your reply, the Chairman was not surprised.

He chuckled and said, “If Jian Shen had agreed immediately, he wouldn't be the recluse who wrote 'White Paper Map.'”

The Chairman greatly respects your wishes and understands your concerns.

Therefore, he proposed a compromise and hopes you will consider it.

We do not require your physical presence, nor your participation in the tedious preliminary and semi-final reviews.

On the day of the finals, we will set up high-definition cameras in the examination hall.

If you are willing, you can remotely watch the scene in the examination hall in real-time,

and feel the sincerity revealed by the children in their writing.

As for the selection, the expert panel from the Provincial Department of Education and the Provincial Writers Association will first screen out the ten most outstanding essays.

We hope that the final top three can be personally chosen by you from behind the scenes.

These ten essays will have the candidates' names and schools hidden, leaving only the text.

The Chairman said that this is not just a selection, but a “reply letter” across time and space.

Just as Grandpa Namiya replied to those confused consultants,

we also hope that these children can receive a true response from you.

Regardless of whether you agree or not, we will reserve the authority of this “behind-the-scenes chief examiner” for you.

Awaiting your good news.

Jiang Min.】

Lin Que looked at the text on the screen, his finger tapping the table stopped.

This old fox.

First, he used moral high ground to pressure him, and after being rejected, immediately offered an alternative solution.

Not only did he give him enough face, but he also changed “judge” to “behind-the-scenes chief examiner”,

and even used the concept from The Miracles of the Namiya General Store to morally bind him.

To refuse again would seem heartless.

Moreover... remote monitoring? Behind-the-scenes selection?

An extremely interesting scene appeared in Lin Que's mind.

On the day of the finals.

He, Lin Que, wearing the Jiangcheng No. 1 High School uniform, sat in the examination hall,

as an ordinary contestant, for those few extra points for the college entrance exam and his teacher's expectations,

sweating over the test paper, playing the role of a “cured” literary youth.

And on the other end of the network.

He, Jian Shen, sat in front of the computer, overlooking the entire examination hall through high-definition cameras,

watching his peers racking their brains to cater to him,

watching himself writing furiously.

Then, without anyone knowing,

he would personally place the laurel wreath on his own head.

Both a chess piece and the chess player.

Both a candidate and the chief examiner.

This feeling... Lin Que's lips slowly curved upwards.

Since you've set up the stage and turned on the lights,

and even handed me the script.

Wouldn't it be a waste of this kind intention if I didn't perform this good show?

He put his hands back on the keyboard, and this time, he replied quickly.

【Since the Chairman is so insistent, I will respectfully accept.

I will watch on the day of the finals.

I hope the children's writing can give me some surprises.】

Sent successfully.

Lin Que closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair.

Laughter echoed in the empty room, carrying a hint of a mastermind's mischievousness.

Outside the window, night deepened.

The lights of Xisheng Mansion lit up one by one,

much like the eyes in the examination hall longing to be seen.

Lin Que stood up, walked to the window, looked at this prosperous yet hypocritical city, and murmured softly.

“Jieyou Cup...heh.”

“Then let me see, who exactly is solving whose worries.”

...Su Province Writers Association Building, top floor.

In the spacious office, sandalwood incense wafted.

On the wall hung a piece of wild cursive calligraphy, with the four large characters “Jing Shui Liu Shan” written on it,

the strokes powerful and robust, exuding an aura of unspoken authority.

Gu Changfeng Gu Changfeng sat in front of a rosewood tea table,

playing with two smooth walnuts in his hands, making faint clicking sounds.

He wore a gray cloth Tang suit, and the eyes hidden behind his reading glasses,

were not cloudy like those of ordinary elderly people,

but rather revealed a shrewdness and clarity that came from having seen much of the world.

Unlike Wang Shouyi, who often pounded the table at the Jiang City Writers Association,

Gu Changfeng had a nickname in the circle: “Gu Taiji.”

He never left rough edges in his words or actions, yet he always managed to handle things perfectly while chatting and laughing.

Secretary Jiang Min gently knocked and entered, holding a tablet computer.

“Chairman, they've replied.”

Jiang Min placed the tablet on the table, her tone respectful.

“Teacher Jian Shen has agreed to your proposal. On the day of the finals,

he will monitor the examination hall situation as a behind-the-scenes examiner.”

Gu Changfeng stopped playing with the walnuts, adjusted his glasses,

his gaze falling on the short reply on the screen.

“He agreed quite readily.”

He chuckled lightly, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

“I thought this esteemed person would decline again.”

“Although Teacher Jian Shen is reclusive, he is very concerned about the growth of young people.”

Jiang Min added.

“Moreover, he seems very interested in this non-face-to-face communication method.”

“Interested?”

Gu Changfeng shook his head, pointing at the email.

“Little Jiang, look at the words between the lines.

He's not avoiding the scene due to aloofness or social anxiety.

He is... avoiding suspicion.”

“Avoiding suspicion?”

Jiang Min was startled.

“Someone who can write a work like The Miracles of the Namiya General Store, which deeply understands human nature, would never be an unworldly bookworm.”

Gu Changfeng put down his teacup, his gaze becoming somewhat profound.

“He doesn't want to stand in the spotlight because the spotlight is too bright and easily casts shadows.

The deeper he hides, the more curious I become,

what kind of face lies beneath this mask.”

Jiang Min hesitated and asked:

“Then... do I need to investigate? Although he hides it well, through the IP address or remittance account...”

“Nonsense.”

Gu Changfeng lightly reprimanded, but his tone was not severe.

“Literati connect through mutual understanding. Checking household registration is a police matter, not a Writers Association matter.

If he wants to be mysterious, let him be. As long as his writing is pure and his heart is warm, who he is, doesn't matter.”

At this point, Gu Changfeng changed the subject, his fingers gently tapping the table.

“However, since he has accepted this 'remote judge' role, I must also prepare a welcome gift.”

Gu Changfeng stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window,

looking at the finals examination venue being set up in the distance

—the Jinling Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

“Tell the technical department to grant the highest authority to Teacher Jian Shen's remote account.

He should not only be able to see the full panorama but also freely retrieve close-up shots of any examinee.”

“Additionally, prepare a separate chat channel.

During the competition, I want to chat with him.”

Jiang Min was somewhat puzzled:

“Chairman, what do you want to talk about?”

Gu Changfeng took off his glasses and slowly wiped them with a flannel cloth.

“Talk about literature, talk about hope.”

“And incidentally, let him help me see, among the thousands of students in this hall...”

“Is there anyone who harbors his shadow?”

...