How Chinese writers celebrate winning the Mao Dun Literature Prize

Su Tong didn’t know how to spend his bonus. [File photo]

Su Tong

One of the representative figures of writers in Southern China, Su Tong told Chinese media that he would drink some wine to celebrate, but had no plan on how to spend the award money.

"It feels good to win the prize. But as an almost aged man, it's impossible to do cartwheels even though I'm very happy. My habit is to drink some good wine if there is good news. About how to deal with the bonus, I really have no idea. Anyway, my wife takes full control of the money," he said.

Su admitted that he was satisfied with his work Huang Que Ji (Siskin), but it involved luck to win the prize.

"I think it's always hard to predict whether one can win a prize or not. You have to accept the result no matter whether it is good or bad. It doesn't mean that there are only five good novels in China in recent years, but the 61 judges prefer our works. There is element of luck," he added.