Although the new literature that broke ground during the May 4th Movement was progressive in content and had a profound enlightening effect on farmers, it was completely divorced from the appreciation habits and aesthetic tastes of farmers in China in form. What ordinary people like and appreciate are those songbooks and popular novels with Chinese style and feudal consciousness. It is under such a special background that Zhao Shuli, who has the literacy of new literature and once created new literature, resolutely changed his course ―― taking the road of nationalization and popularization of literature and art, and determined to create for farmers who accounted for 890% of the population at that time, and write public life in popular language, so that ordinary people could understand, love to watch and be educated. For this reason, he created a series of popular novels which are completely different from Europeanized new literature, such as Marriage of Little Black Boys, Half Flowers and Turn Over by Meng, which were welcomed in China as never before, spread like wildfire in the mainland and spread among farmers and village women. Novels such as "The Marriage of Little Black Boys" were also adapted into various local operas by hundreds of troupes, which met the urgent cultural needs of the masses at that time to a considerable extent. Zhao Shuli also skillfully uses the special carrier of literature and art to ask questions in his works and guide people to solve problems. At that time, Lou and Li Youcai Banhua were even listed as reference materials for cadres to learn. For Zhao Shuli, writing is not an end, but a way to practice people's interests. Zhao Shuli opened a brilliant era with his unique literary creation.
Zhao Shuli has been a newspaper editor for a long time. When compiling publications, Zhao Shuli also faithfully practiced the interests of the people. First, run a popular publication. Second, actively support the writers of workers, peasants and soldiers and cultivate new literary talents. The third is to be enthusiastic about mass cultural life. Drama is an important way to directly combine art with the masses, and the township troupe at that time was just the weak link in the literary and artistic work in Taihang District. Zhao Shuli wholeheartedly helped the rural troupe to carry out activities, such as personally mobilizing Duan Ermiao, a famous actor who enjoys a high reputation in southeastern Shanxi, to add luster to the victory troupe. He also transformed this old troupe with a poor reputation into the most famous rural troupe in Taihang District-Xiangyuan Opera Troupe.
As a rural grass-roots worker, Zhao Shuli always puts people's interests first. First, go all out, go all out. During the period of 1946, Zhao Shuli participated in land reform in Zhaozhuang, Wu 'an County. For the work during this period, People's Daily reported on September 4 1947: "Comrade Zhao Shuli, a writer, has often helped the village group transportation work this year. When improving the relationship between cadres and the masses and mobilizing cadres to "wash their faces", in order to solve the ideological problems of some cadres and activists, he often patiently explained to them, even for four or five nights in a row ... At any time, he gave reasonable support to the masses and cracked down on landlords; Participate in meetings at all levels in the village and help village cadres. " The second is seeking truth from facts, regardless of honor or disgrace. Zhao Shuli once warmly praised the new thing of agricultural cooperation with his novel Three Mile Bay, but when he learned about the serious problems existing in agricultural cooperatives, he resolutely wrote to the responsible comrades of Changzhi District Committee and truthfully listed the serious problems such as insufficient food supply, lack of grass, lack of money, too old orders and insufficient land. As for the book "I see how the commune leads agricultural production" given to Red Flag magazine, he is even bolder. Third, moral integrity and selfless assistance. Zhao Shuli was thrifty all his life, but he always gave generously to the difficulties of the masses. In order to support the construction of his hometown, he donated part of the manuscript fee of Sanliwan. When I returned to Weichi village and learned that the agricultural society was short of money because of the need to build hydraulic pump stations for drought relief, I voluntarily donated my savings. When Three Mile Bay was finished, three publishing houses wanted to publish it, including the authoritative People's Literature Publishing House, but the author sent it to the mass publishing house for publication in order to reduce the cost of the book, reduce farmers' money and make it affordable for more people. ...
Zhao Shuli is far away from us, but Zhao Shuli's spirit-actively joining the WTO, upholding the truth and serving the people-has eternal value. It can travel through historical time and space and remain brilliant forever!