'It's as if I am under a social microscope'

I received the Nobel Prize with trepidation. I'm well aware that quite a few writers in the world are qualified to win the award, and many Chinese writers write stories as good as mine.

I never thought of the Nobel when I started to write. Not just the Nobel, I never thought about winning any award in China. Somehow there was the motivation to achieve fame and wealth to change my living conditions. But more important is the urge to tell stories and to express something.

I was fascinated by literature and arts from a young age and loved to describe things and people I adore to others.