Chapter 96 What is a good article?

  This two-time New Concept Special Prize winner had just stood up, and already attracted the attention of many people. After all, this cow person who won the special prize twice in a row was really too famous. Plus his reputation as a genius writer, it made everyone look at him sideways. For a while, everyone was whispering to each other, occasionally discussing.

  "Hmm, this topic is pretty good, so let's discuss it, what makes a good article?"

  The organizers of the new concept still think highly of Tang Ren.

  Moreover, seeing Tang Ren's calm and composed demeanor made him think that Tang Ren had grown a lot in just one year.

  "I think a good article should have its own style, just like a person's personality, making it memorable."

  At this time, a classmate stood up and expressed his own views.

  "Uh-huh, not bad."

  Someone started, and soon other classmates expressed their own views.

  "I think a good article should not only have outstanding writing skills but also pay more attention to its connotation."

  Another classmate also said.

  Everyone is a participant in the New Concept Essay Competition, and if they were to be sent to various schools, they would all be top-notch authors at their respective schools. Naturally, when it comes to writing, each of them has their own understanding. Moreover, there's no first or second place in literature, just like how there's no ranking in martial arts. As writers, everyone has their own pride and their own literary style. Although each person is expressing their own views, no one can convince anyone else.

  "It seems that everyone has different opinions on what makes a good article. Alright, Tang Ren, you brought up this topic, so tell us, in your opinion, what kind of article is considered a good one?"

  The host turned the topic back to Tang Ren.

  "Actually, everyone's opinions are correct, but I think there is still a slight difference."

  With an air of sharpness and confidence, Tang Ren stood up proudly, slightly tilting his head, and began to speak.

  As soon as this was said, all the students who participated in the competition felt dissatisfied, but they didn't know what to say.

  Seeing everyone's gaze fall on him, with a hint of anger, Tang Ren didn't take it to heart and continued to say, "I think that good writing doesn't require good penmanship or strong personality. As long as you write out your personal feelings, that's enough. Just like Tang poetry and Song lyrics, they look beautiful and have rich language. But in the end, they're just expressing one's own emotions. And so, these poems have been passed down for centuries, praised by people."

  Having said that, Tang Ren quietly looked at everyone, with a slight smile on his face, feeling quite pleased.

  "Fantastic, fantastic."

  First of all, the host led the applause.

  "Tang Ren fellow is indeed worthy of being a two-time New Concept Special Prize winner, it seems that this time, you are going to create a Huaxia miracle."

  "Where, where? There are so many talented people here, who dares to say they will definitely win?"

  Tang Ren said so, but in his heart he had already accepted this fact.

  "This classmate, everyone has said more or less the same thing, I don't know what your views are on good articles?"

  The host originally wanted to change the subject, but after looking around, he found that there was still one person who had not expressed his own opinion.

  So as not to be thick with this and thin with that, he shifted his gaze onto a classmate who was propping up his head with his hand, closing his eyes to meditate.

  "Zhou Fan, I'm calling you."

  Fang Ruohan sat on one side and pulled Zhou Fan over.

  This exchange meeting is attended by both teachers and students. It's called an exchange meeting, but in fact, it's just a show of face. Moreover, with the participation of teachers, every time there is an exchange meeting, many teachers will encourage students to speak freely, to bring glory to the school and to the teacher. Some teachers even help students come up with ideas. After all, this is the highest-level essay competition in the country, if your speech gets official approval, you might become famous because of it.

  *sigh*...

  Bei Fang Ruo Han pulled him, Zhou Fan let out a sigh and reluctantly stood up.

  There is no good article, bad article, actually there is no evaluation standard.

  To be honest, Zhou Fan couldn't come up with a standard answer either.

  "This, actually, what is a good article, I don't know either."

  After thinking for a moment, Zhou Fan directly shook his head and said he didn't know.

  Hahaha...

  This response made everyone burst out laughing. This kid is really stupid, even if you don't know what a good article is, just say something casually. Moreover, who can clearly explain the things on top of the article? In the end, this kind of exchange meeting is only about who can convince whom, and it's not necessarily that everyone's words are standard answers.

  But this kid actually said he didn't know.

  "Which school is this kid from?"

  Faintly, someone could still be heard quietly inquiring.

  At this, Fang Ruohan was greatly shocked and really wanted to beat Zhou Fan severely.

  "This kid always causes trouble for himself at critical moments."

  Now it's good, everyone thinks Zhou Fan is all talk and no action. Maybe in a few days, after the New Concept Composition Competition, Tianhua No. 2 Middle School will be ridiculed by the whole Huaxia. Then, quietly, his right hand pinched Zhou Fan's thigh.

  "Ah..."

  Zhou Fan almost shouted loudly.

  Turning back, she saw Fang Ruohan staring at her with a fierce gaze.

  "Alright, alright, I'll say a few words." Seeing Fang Ruo Han's expression, Zhou Fan also saw something. Actually, he didn't care what others thought of him. But thinking that Fang Ruo Han had brought him here to participate in the competition, his own performance was related to Fang Ruo Han's reputation.

  "Haha, actually I was just joking earlier."

  Zhou Fan smiled slightly.

  After saying this sentence, everyone almost spit out their food.

  "You're a clever kid, you can even make jokes here. But it's indeed quite funny."

  It was just one sentence, and everyone immediately took back their impression of Zhou Fan from earlier.

  "Right, wasn't it one of our classmates who just said that a good article should express one's own feelings."

  "This is what I said, fellow student, do you have a different view?"

  "Of course."

  Just now, Tang Renyi's remarks were actually not much different from Zhou Fan's. It's just that his appearance, his voice, and his actions clearly didn't put others in his eyes. Moreover, this guy came out and denied other people's views right away. He said that others still had some shortcomings. Really treating himself as a unique individual, is what you say correct?

  For someone who is so self-righteous and arrogant, Zhou Fan dislikes him the most.

  For this, his answer directly rushed towards Tang Ren.

  "Then may I ask, what do you think makes a good article?"

  Seeing Zhou Fan provoking him, Tang Ren felt angry in his heart, but for the sake of maintaining his image, he still pretended to be a gentleman.

  "I think those who only care about their own feelings and keep writing articles about their own thoughts are actually just making a fuss over nothing."

  After this sentence was spoken, everyone's eyes widened in shock.

  Although I knew Zhou Fan was against Tang Ren, I didn't expect it to be this direct.

  "What a hypochondriac you are! Tell me, what's your technique for being sick without being ill?"

  Hearing this, Tang Ren was already furious, gritting his teeth and staring at Zhou Fan.

  "Hey, don't be angry, I'll say it now."

  Zhou Fan sneered, "With such a small mind, what good article can he write? It's too cheesy."

  I've read a lot of articles, especially some modern essays and miscellaneous writings that talk about their thoughts on the world and certain things every day. I just wonder how they have so many thoughts and worries? Even some young writers can write tens of thousands of words of personal thoughts. Okay, let's say I admit that these personal thoughts are indeed theirs and they've written out their own emotions. But what's the point of that? Attaching one person's thoughts to all readers' hearts. And even some bad personal thoughts are expressed in the same way.

  I think this is completely a pretentious and useless lamentation. Just like the Tang poetry and Song lyrics, why were they so prosperous in that era? It was all because of these poets' useless lamentations. But look at it, what use did such poems have for that era? Even a genius like Li Bai, could his poems govern the country? Similarly, if he were asked to write an article on state governance, I'm afraid he would be at a loss... Speaking of this, can't I say that those people who casually express their emotions and make a big fuss about nothing are also a kind of, as it were, "new word" for being melancholic?

  With a flourish, in one breath, Zhou Fan said a whole bunch of things.

  He really wants to scold these guys to death, damn it, they're always worrying about something.

  This kind of writing is just nonsense, it's deceiving children, and has no use whatsoever for the country or reality.

  They even use more skillful writing to reflect the complexity of their inner feelings.

  Of course, among the Tang poems and Song lyrics quoted by Zhou Fan, Li Bai was also mentioned. It's not that Zhou Fan doesn't like Li Bai, in fact, he likes him very much. The reason for criticizing Li Bai along with others here is just to attack that little brat.

  "Okay, okay, okay."

  Everyone applauded and cheered when Zhou Fan spoke with passion.

  "Well said, I also think that good writing doesn't necessarily require pouring out one's own emotions. In fact, many of our emotions are personal and singular. Moreover, such emotions may be useless or even misleading to others in reality. As a writer, we shouldn't just vent our own feelings; we should convey more beautiful ideas."

  "Not bad, isn't our literature about taking the essence and removing the dross?"

  "Indeed, what this friend said about 'making new words to express anxiety' is really spot on. If we recall, there are also some articles that do the same thing. We didn't originally have any thoughts or feelings, but because we had to write an article, we kept racking our brains and thinking deeply. To be honest, it does feel like 'making new words to express anxiety'. I ask you, what's the point of such articles, even if they're written about one's own emotions, even if they're well-written? Can such articles really be considered good?"

  A group of friends were extremely supportive of Zhou Fan's views.

  They were already displeased with Tang Ren, but considering his reputation, they tolerated him. Moreover, after he spoke earlier, the crowd couldn't find a rebuttal for the time being. At this moment, Zhou Fan took the lead, and they all attacked him together. After all, scholars have always been arrogant. If you're humble, we'll acknowledge your greatness. But if you claim to be the best in the world, you're bound to be ridiculed.

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