Chapter 11

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Since the tutor had already said this, Fang Yuan had no choice but to go up to the stage and answer every question.

Somehow, Hades’ creative writing class was forcefully turned into a book launch for the second volume of “The Coiling Dragon”.

“Hello, Mr. Fang Yuan. I’m a reporter from the Iowa Journal of Literature. I’d like to ask you one last question.”

At some point in time, a reporter had snuck into the lecture hall and raised his hand to ask a question.

The Iowa Journal of Literature was originally bribed by Penguin Publishing and was waiting outside the bookstore early in the morning to write a defamatory piece about Fang Yuan and “The Coiling Dragon”.

However, the situation was completely out of his expectation.

Once the physical book of “The Coiling Dragon” was released, the entire city went crazy for it. Even if they wanted to write something bad about it, they did not have the chance to.

However, for the newspaper, there was no reason to return the bribe that they had received.

If one plan did not work, they could always come up with another.

The reporter said, “Current Chinese literature is in a period of decline, which is a common understanding of the literature world. However, with the release of your new book, “The Coiling Dragon”, you’ve given everyone a whole new perspective. It turns out that Chinese writers can also create excellent works. Many even think that you’re the only hope for the future of Chinese literature. You’re the light of Chinese literature that shines overseas! Mr. Fang Yuan, as a rookie author who just made a debut, are you pressured? Do you feel that you’re overpraised?”

The reporter was obviously a shrewd person.

He just raised a very unpleasant and thorny question.

The reporter was digging a hole for Fang Yuan to jump into.

Suppose Fang Yuan answered “yes”, the newspaper’s headlines the next day would be about the new author lacking in responsibility and felt that his work was unworthy of such praise.

If Fang Yuan answered “no”, the newspaper’s headlines would be about the new author’s arrogance as he claimed to be the light of Chinese literature.

Even if Fang Yuan avoided answering the question, they could write that the new author had an inferiority complex and was rendered speechless just by some harder questions.

No matter what Fang Yuan did, they could spin it to their advantage.

This was the insidious part of the question.

When the reporter asked this question, their defamatory article already had a direction.

The reporter expected this new author to be stunned by his overwhelming question.

However, Fang Yuan did not lose his composure. He stared into the reporter’s eyes and answered frankly, “Praise just means anticipation, and I understand the hopes my readers have on me. If anyone thinks that I’m overpraised, I will use my work to prove that you’re wrong. I fully deserve this.”

The reporter froze.

He did not expect Fang Yuan to defuse this difficult situation so skillfully.

The reporter laughed dryly and said, “Mr. Fang Yuan, you seem very confident. May I ask if you have a detailed career plan for your future? If you do, can you please enlighten us?”

This was also another tricky question.

Fang Yuan only published his first work yesterday, so in theory, he was still a newcomer.

It was certainly not easy for a newbie to publish a book, so would he even have a career plan?

Who could say for sure?

Write more? Sell more? Earn more?

No matter how he put it, it would appear awkward.

Making Fang Yuan sound awkward was exactly what the reporter wanted. That way, he would have something negative to write about.

However, Fang Yuan did not do as he wished.

In fact, on the first day he transmigrated, he already had a plan after seeing the current situation of Chinese literature.

“Soldiers who don’t want to be generals are not great soldiers. My career goal is the same as all writers, which is to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.”

The audience gasped.

Win the Nobel Prize in Literature?

That was like a new employee saying that his career goal was to be a CEO! 

It was like crazy, absolutely insane!

However, Fang Yuan’s tone was very serious, and his expression was stern. It really did not seem like he was joking at all.

He was very calm and collected.

“Although the Nobel Prize in Literature has never revealed clear details of the award, after researching about the past winners, I’ve summarized a few similarities. First, I’d have to receive official certification. An author must win at least three world-class literary awards before receiving the Nobel Prize. For example, the Pulitzer Prize in the US, the Booker Prize in the UK, the Goncourt Prize in France, the Naoki Prize, and Akutagawa Prize in Japan, just to name a few. Secondly, the author must have public support. Before receiving the Nobel Prize, the author must participate as a special guest in the four global book fairs. That is the New York Book Fair, the London Book Fair, the Bologna Book Fair, and the world’s most important book fair, the Frankfurt Book Fair. Third, we must receive the support of a distinguished person. Before receiving the Nobel Prize, the author must receive the recognition and attention of respected peers in the literary world, whether it’s an academic translator, critic, linguist, director, or screenwriter in the entertainment industry. The circle of judges for the Nobel Prize isn’t very big, so it’ll be easier to get in touch with them with the help of their recommendation.”

Fang Yuan paused for a moment before he continued.

“Just like my novel ‘The Coiling Dragon’, the main character Linley will not always be stuck in Wushan Town. In reality, I won’t always remain in Iowa either. One day, my characters will be known to an even wider audience. I want the world to see and recognize Chinese literature. This is my career plan.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the lecture hall broke out in thunderous applause.

“Amazing! Well said!”

An old man with white hair and a white beard walked into the classroom and clapped repeatedly.

Hades looked closely and quickly welcomed him.

This old man was none other than John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, a visiting professor at the University of Iowa and a professor of Linguistics at Oxford University!

Due to the time-space turbulence caused by the time travelers, the timeline and events in this world altered slightly.

At this time, Professor Tolkien had just written his famous “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and its prequel, “The Hobbit”.

Although this was only a short book of hundreds of thousands of words, it outlined a huge worldview of Middle Earth. Tolkien even wrote a four-volume chronicle for this work and invented his own language.

Therefore, he was the number one author in the world of fantasy novels.

Hades was incredibly courteous. “Respected Professor Tolkien, please come in!”

“When I passed by the classroom earlier, I overheard you reciting the book. It was really emotional and full of cadence, so it immediately got my attention and I couldn’t help but stop to listen!” Tolkien teased Hades.

Hades dared not take credit for it and was blushing slightly. “Professor Tolkien, you flatter me too much. This work was just well written.”

“The author of ‘The Coiling Dragon’. You must be Fang Yuan, right?”

Tolkien looked at Fang Yuan with his jade-blue eyes. Even though the old man’s hair was already white, the wisdom in his eyes could not be concealed.

“I like your work very much. After listening to your answers to the reporter just now, I admire your ambition even more. There aren’t many people in this world who truly have dreams, and there are even fewer people who have the talent to match their dreams. After reading the two volumes of ‘The Coiling Dragon’, I’m very certain that you’re a rare young man who has both ambition and ability. You’ve completely aroused my interest, and I look forward to seeing you on a bigger stage. Before that, if you need someone to vouch for you, I’m willing to do so. I can even write a foreword for your book.”

Even Hades was shocked when he heard this.

Professor Tolkien’s status in the fantasy novel scene was equivalent to a god.

If he stomped his feet, he would literally shake the literary world.

At this level, if a great writer wanted to ask Professor Tolkien to write something, it was not just a matter of money. What they needed was his heartfelt approval.

Now, Tolkien took the initiative to suggest writing a recommendation for Fang Yuan. That was him using his reputation to endorse “The Coiling Dragon”!

It was so that he could bind the relationship between the two of them.

Whether it was for the sales of “The Coiling Dragon” or for Fang Yuan’s future career as a writer, there were countless benefits.

This kind of relationship between distinguished writers and rookies was very common in the literary world.

Fang Yuan was not dull. He could see that Professor Tolkien was intentionally helping him, so he was very willing to accept this favor. “Thank you so much, Professor Tolkien.”

“Ah, I’m so jealous! Fang Yuan is too lucky!”

“What luck? He relies on his strength. If you have the ability, why don’t you try and write ‘The Coiling Dragon’?”

“I’m clenching my teeth and fists so hard right now. I’m so envious of him!”

“Fang Yuan said he wanted a recommendation and got one right away. What kind of coincidence is this?”

“Even Professor Tolkien vouched for him. When this news is released tomorrow, ‘The Coiling Dragon’ which already has insufficient stock will probably be sold out again!”

“The publisher who signed him really made a fortune.”

“Sigh, I’m so envious. I also want Professor Tolkien to write a foreword for my book.”

“Forget it. I think your novel is only deserving of my recommendation! Hahaha!”

“Don’t you think that Tolkien’s relationship with Fang Yuan is similar to the relationship between Grandpa Doehring and Linley in ‘The Coiling Dragon’?!”

“Fiction meets reality…”