Simultaneously, thirty renowned short story writers are invited to compete on the same stage.
With such a significant event, tribal literature naturally garners worldwide attention.
Since the announcement, many short story enthusiasts have eagerly anticipated—
For them, it promises to be a feast of literary delights.
In the realm of short stories, numerous industry insiders are intrigued by the event.
However, when the competition commenced, participants discovered that tribal literature had thrown a curveball!
The event announcement contained the following passage:
"Each user has three chances to vote for their favorite works. Votes can be cast at the end of each article, with one vote permitted per novel. Use this method to express your support for your preferred works. Rankings are determined by the number of votes received. However, in the interest of fairness, the authors' names have been deliberately concealed. Please base your selection solely on the content. Once final rankings are determined, we will reveal the authors of the works."
Why was this approach considered rather sneaky?
Because the writers invited to participate in the tribal literature contest have dedicated fanbases.
Enter the fan filter.
Many fans vote solely for their favorite writers, disregarding the merits of the individual works.
To counteract this, tribal literature obscured the authors' names altogether.
"Fascinating."
"Some authors have distinct styles, so readers may still be able to guess the author's identity, but it's far from certain. After all, many authors share similar styles."
"That's why tribal literature refrained from disclosing the identities of the 30 writers in advance."
"I wasn't initially interested in this event, but now I'm intrigued."
"..."
After the discussion, everyone delved into the readings.
Short stories typically range from three to five thousand words, allowing readers to breeze through them.
Empowered to determine the rankings, everyone relished the role of judge. Instead of feeling impatient while reading, they embraced an inexplicable sense of duty.
"My vote shapes the fate of the work."
Many approached the selection process with this conviction.
Gradually, attention turned to the novel "The Death of a Little Civil Servant."
This came as no surprise. It would be odd if this novel didn't capture readers' attention, given Blue Star's heightened artistic sensibilities compared to Earth. It's impossible to overlook the power of this novel.
Consider this:
It's one of the Earth's three literary masterpieces, a highly representative early work by Chekhov!
Leo Tolstoy once remarked on Chekhov: "Setting aside all hypocritical niceties, I can say with certainty that Chekhov's technical brilliance far surpasses mine!"
No holds barred.
Westerners aren't known for modesty and pleasantries.
For Chekhov to earn such praise from Leo Tolstoy, he must be truly exceptional.
Chekhov is renowned for his critical realism, and "The Death of a Little Civil Servant" epitomizes this style.
As more people read "The Death of a Little Civil Servant," the commentary section of the novel gradually buzzed with activity.
Although the authors' names remained undisclosed, readers were still able to comment on the novel.
"This novel packs a punch."
"Despite its brevity, I've read it three times. The first time, it amused me; the second time, it saddened me; and the third time, I felt a twinge of empathy because I imagined myself in the shoes of the little civil servant. I wouldn't be able to sleep for at least a week."
"It appears to critique the ancient feudal autocratic system, but it's actually using the past to satirize the present."
"Yes, it's using the past to satirize the present. I pondered over it for a while, but couldn't quite recall the term."
"In our modern society, there are many individuals akin to small civil servants, and this novel employs exaggeration to illustrate the point."
"I don't even think it's an exaggeration. Those who've experienced it firsthand may feel even more empathetic. Fear is a potent emotion; it can indeed debilitate a person. That's why we stress the importance of resilience."
"..."
Following the discussion, everyone grew curious about the novel's author.
"Tribal literature conceals the authors' names. This approach is rather cunning. I can't discern the author of this novel based solely on the writing style."
"It's likely a well-known writer."
"The author's skill is beyond reproach. It's no easy feat to captivate readers with just over a thousand words, but I've been thoroughly captivated and will vote wholeheartedly."
"The remarkable aspect is that this novel is just over a thousand words long!"
"I'm tempted to allocate all three votes to this novel, but it's a shame tribal literature won't permit it. We're only allowed to vote once for each novel."
"It's time to be intrigued by the results—who the author is and what the outcome will be. There's an inexplicable sense of anticipation."
"..."
The following day, "The Death of a Little Civil Servant" claimed the top spot!
However, the second and third positions were closely contested, keeping the competition fierce.
In light of these results, not only were readers curious, but the short story writer community also began speculating. Various circles engaged in discussions:
"Whose work secured the first place?"
"Judging by the writing style alone, it's impossible to tell."
"Could it be Lao Zhou? Tribal literature must have extended an invitation to him."
"Lao Zhou did participate in the competition. He refused to divulge which work was his, but he did ask me earlier if I knew the author of 'The Death of a Little Civil Servant.'"
"No one's owning up?"
"These folks are sly and cunning. Nevertheless, 'The Death of a Little Civil Servant' must have been penned by a familiar writer. Tribal literature promised that all participating writers are seasoned veterans in the industry."
"Has anyone approached tribal literature for information?"
"We have, but even within tribal literature, only top-tier talent such as the editor-in-chief is privy to the authors' identities. They remain tight-lipped, refusing to divulge any details."
"We'll just have to wait for the final announcement."
"Speaking of which, 'The Death of a Little Civil Servant' boasts exceptional writing. It's humorous, incisive, and poignant, despite its brevity."
"I reckon the winner won't be revealed until the end."
"It's hard to say. The second-place novel is a mystery, with a gripping narrative and an unexpected twist at the end."
"The third-place entry is commendable too. It follows the story of two high school students—one excels academically while the other struggles. In a bid to be together, one puts in the effort and secures admission to the county's top high school, while the other intentionally underperforms and enrolls in a lesser institution. It does remind me a bit of the novel that gained popularity some time ago, 'The Maggie's Gift.'"
"..."
The discussions were lively, imbuing tribal literature's activities with the excitement of guessing the authors' identities.