1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 297 "Long Live Understanding!"

"Is there another candidate?"

Chen Huangmei was a little surprised.

In his opinion, the most suitable person to adapt "The Wreath" is the military writer Peng Jingfeng.

He has been in Yunnan for a long time. Not only has he written movies, he has also personally participated in the wars in the south. He has life experience in the army and on the front lines. He can be said to be the most ideal candidate for screenwriter.

As for the other two, although Bai Hua has also written many films about the lives of ethnic minorities in Yunnan, his recent approach is wrong.

Xu Huaizhong writes well about the southwestern border areas, but his writing style is slow and takes a long time.

But Peng Jingfeng was very determined to refuse, and he couldn't force his will on others.

"Who do you think is suitable?" Chen Huangmei asked.

"How is Comrade Li Jun?"

"Li Jun."

Li Jun is an old writer and screenwriter, and he is also a member of the preparatory committee of the China Modern Literature Museum.

He has written many good films, including "The Shepherd", "Li Shuangshuang" and "The River Runs Through It".

He is also a writer who has won the Mao Dun Literature Prize for the novel "The Yellow River Flows East".

In addition, the most important thing is that Li Jun often collaborates with Xie Jin, and the two are an old pair of partners who are familiar with each other.

Jiang Xian believes that if Li Jun can be invited to write the screenplay, "The Wreath" will definitely add more highlights.

When Chen Huangmei heard Li Jun's name, he frowned and didn't think it was very appropriate.

"He has no military life!"

"The novel "The Wreath" contains many plots about rural areas," said Jiang Xian.

"In addition, if Comrade Li Jun is not familiar with military life, this can be compensated by letting him go to the troops in the south to get to know the life there before the reorganization. I believe Comrade Jing Feng will provide him with convenience."

Seeing that someone was finally willing to take over this hot potato, Peng Jingfeng immediately became more talkative.

"Yes, Comrade Huang Mei, it doesn't matter if you don't have military life. Ask Comrade Li Jun to come to Yunnan and I will provide him with convenience."

Peng Jingfeng holds an important position. He said he would provide convenience for Li Jun, so Li Jun can have almost unimpeded access on the front line.

Chen Huangmei thought for a moment and said, "This is the only way. Jing Feng, you must help him more."

"Comrade Huang Mei, don't worry." Peng Jingfeng felt relieved that he had finally pushed through the task of adapting the script.

Chen Huangmei gave him a lot of advice on his creative path. For Peng Jingfeng, as long as he was not asked to adapt "The Garland", he would be fine with anything else.

After all, the novel "The Wreath" was so well written that he was not sure he could revise it well.

After seeing the three people off, Chen Huangmei made another phone call and sent a car to pick up Li Jun to his residence.

Jiang Xian followed him and made tea and arranged the fruits in the living room. Just after 6 o'clock, the doorbell rang, and a man with a slightly dark complexion, big eyes and a strong body came in.

It was Li Jun.

By mid-April, the weather in Beijing had gradually become hotter and most people were wearing shirts.

Li Jun was wearing a brand new navy blue serge suit that was tight on his body, a tie, and a baseball cap on his head.

As soon as he entered the door, he said in a loud Henan accent: "Comrade Huang Mei, hello!"

"Comrade Li Jun." Jiang Xian greeted him and Li Jun responded with a smile.

"It seems that you know each other." Chen Huangmei shook hands with Li Jun happily.

"Comrade Li Jun, please take a seat."

"Thank you!"

Li Jun sat on the sofa, took off his hat, his head and face covered in sweat.

Chen Huangmei said, the weather is hot, so you should take off your suit. You are at home, not meeting foreign guests, so there is no need to be so particular.

Li Jun took off his suit, revealing the coarse white shirt underneath. Chen Huangmei laughed: "This is the author of Li Shuangshuang!"

Not many people have heard of "Li Shuangshuang" in later generations. It is a rural comedy from the 60s that was very popular. It talks about gender equality and the fact that women hold up half the sky.

This film is far superior to those commercial films of later generations that provoke conflicts between men and women.

Li Shuangshuang pursued equality by learning culture and doing farm work that men do.

It's not like the TV series "Gone Girl", it's just a story about a person who is afraid of marriage, having children and being a man.

"Li Shuangshuang" does not blindly intensify the conflicts between men and women. Li Shuangshuang and her husband always understand and forgive each other, expressing understanding and respect. The movie is warm and happy, making people laugh and move.

As soon as the movie was released, Li Shuangshuang immediately became an idol for women across the country. People in the streets were talking about "Li Shuangshuang", and some barber shops even changed their names to "Li Shuangshuang Barber Shop".

Wu Hao also liked this movie very much. He personally cast his vote for "Li Shuangshuang" in the "Hundred Flowers Award". Later, he also invited Zhang Ruifang, the actor who played Li Shuangshuang, to dinner.

"I have a question I have been wanting to ask you."

Jiang Xian asked, "Is your wife Li Shuangshuang?"

Li Jun laughed out loud. "My wife is not Li Shuangshuang in the movie, but my novel is based on my wife. She was once the captain of the women's team. Many stories in the novel are hers. She taught me many languages ​​and dialects. Her nickname is Shuangshuang."

"I see."

The three of them chatted for a while before Chen Huangmei asked.

"How do you feel about you directing The Garland?"

Li Jun didn't have much confidence after hearing this.

"The Wreath is a novel that is popular among readers across the country. It is also a novel about life in the military. My past base of residence is in the rural areas of Henan Province, and the themes I am good at are also rural themes. I don't have much confidence in adapting it."

"Comrade Peng Jingfeng has already said that he will provide support during the filming process."

Chen Huangmei said, "You can go to the border to experience life for a while."

Li Jun was still a little reluctant, "I'm not good at revising other people's novels, and I don't like revising other people's novels."

Li Jun's attitude surprised Jiang Xian.

One of the reasons why he chose Li Jun was that in another time and space, it was Li Jun who served as the screenwriter of "The Garland", which gave birth to this indelible classic in the Chinese film industry.

But now Li Jun actually gave up the job?

Jiang Xian thought, maybe it was because he ruined Xie Jin's filming of "The Shepherd" and Li Jun did not write the script of "The Shepherd" first, which led to Li Jun not being fully prepared mentally.
How can this be done!

Jiang Xian said, "Comrade Li Jun, you are a veteran screenwriter at Shanghai Film Studio. I believe you have the ability."

Chen Huangmei also spoke up, "Comrade Li Jun, to be honest with you, Comrades Peng Jingfeng, Xu Huaizhong, and Bai Hua have all been here just now, and I originally wanted to choose one of them as the screenwriter for "The Wreath", but they all declined.

Comrade Jiang Xian recommended you to me. If you decline again, I'm afraid no one will dare to take charge of this script."

"This"

Li Jun hesitated.

"Comrade Li Jun, let me tell you something."

Jiang Xian said, "I once read a report that among the more than 1000 love letters received at the front line, there were more letters of breaking off relations and severing ties.

There was a letter, and it said: When you go to the battlefield, I will prepare a coffin for you.

There is also a real piece of data. It is said that among 11 people who had fiancées in a certain place, 6 of them broke up on the battlefield.

One platoon leader said:
This kind of letter is like an atomic bomb!" Chen Huangmei and Li Jun both looked at Jiang Xian, wondering why he suddenly mentioned this.

Jiang Xian continued to speak to himself:

"Comrade Li Jun, you have to know that there is blood flowing in two places on our battlefield right now!"

"The wound is bleeding, and the heart is bleeding too!"

"Our soldiers are the cutest people. We can't leave them without love when the critical moment comes!"

"What is the purpose of releasing "The Wreath"? To make Jiang Xian famous? That's not the purpose."

"Our soldiers are very good. Not one of them retreats in battle. In order to complete the mission, no matter how dangerous it is, the soldiers are eager to go. But how many people know the pain in the soldiers' hearts? How many people understand?"

"The spiritual core of The Wreath has many aspects, but I only have one vision in letting it be released."

“Long live understanding!”

"I only have one strong thought, which is to hope that the people in the rear can understand the spiritual essence of the bloodshed and sacrifice on the front line, and know that there are also colorful hearts in the green uniforms.

This is not to beg for "compassionate understanding" for individuals, but to hope for the understanding of the people in the rear at a higher level!"

Chen Huangmei stood up immediately!

His eyes sparkled with emotion, and he clapped his hands and said, "Long live understanding! Long live understanding!"

Chen Huangmei had never heard this slogan before.

In another time and space, this was a college student who graduated from the Chinese Department and returned from the battlefield in southern Xinjiang. When he wrote an inscription for college students, he wrote the famous four words "Long Live Understanding".

Since then, this slogan has quickly spread across the country, and major newspapers and magazines have published special commentaries entitled "Long Live Understanding".

Since then, it has become a popular phrase of the era and has been rated as one of the ten slogans that have had the greatest influence on people's ideas since the reform and opening up.

In addition, Cai Chaodong's keynote speech entitled "Long Live Understanding" became popular across the country.

Jiang Xian mixed this slogan with Cai Chaodong's keynote speech, and the result was a speech with profound connotations that was quite earth-shattering.

"Li Jun, just give me one word, do you dare to accept this script?" Chen Huangmei asked.

Li Jun also felt proud at this time, "Just let me write it. If I can't write "The Wreath" well, I, Li Jun, will never write a script again!"

Jiang Xian even broke out in a sweat when he heard this.

Now Xie Jin and Li Junquan have signed a pledge that if "The Wreath" is not well made, the film industry will lose a pair of twin stars in the future.

Chen Huangmei finished explaining the scriptwriting matters and looked at Jiang Xian again.

"Comrade Jiang Xian, what you said is very suitable for young people to listen to."

"May 4th Youth Day is coming soon. How about you give a speech at Yenching University? The theme is 'Long Live Understanding'."

Now it was Jiang Xian's turn to be confused.

"I'm giving a report?"

"Yes."

"Comrade Huang Mei, although I have experienced life on the front line, it was only for a short time. Generally speaking, I am still unfamiliar with it. I am afraid that giving this report on 'Long Live Understanding' will make some jokes."

"You should take on this task."

“I’m not suitable.”

Chen Huangmei smiled tolerantly, "Don't worry, I have to consider that you and Li Jun happen to go to the south together to study the script of "Wreath". I hope you can deepen your understanding of the border areas and finish writing this report before the May Fourth Movement."

Since Chen Huangmei said so, Jiang Xian had no choice but to obey his orders. Besides, Li Jun was willing to go to the border area to write the script of "Wreath", so it was no use for him, the original author, to hide behind.

"Okay, I'll follow your instructions."

"Don't worry, I will say hello to Peng Jingfeng and ask him to provide you with a special car. Then, you can go wherever you want and enjoy the greatest support." Chen Huangmei said.

Jiang Xian felt a little better.

When he came here, he was looking forward to having a car one day. He never expected that this wish would come true in this way.

Chen Huangmei said a few more words to Jiang Xian.

When Jiang Xian said “Long live understanding” before, he hoped that people in the rear could understand the front line, but Chen Huangmei amplified this slogan to a higher level.

With the reform and opening up, the great changes in life and the clash of concepts have deepened the gap between different age groups and occupational groups in society along with the great changes in social life.

At this time, the slogan "Long live understanding" can not only eliminate the gap between the front and the back, but also the more gaps created by the times.

"You should think more about this."

After saying goodbye and returning home, Jiang Xian told Zhu Lin what happened with Chen Huangmei.

"Going to the border again?"

Although Zhu Lin was reluctant, since things had come to this point, it was not a good idea to make a fuss.

"Don't worry, things are relatively peaceful recently. I will be given a special car when I arrive, and I won't go to any dangerous places." Jiang Xian comforted.

"Can I come along?"

"Don't go. Life there is hard, and I'm going there on a mission, so I won't be able to take care of you when the time comes."

"We women hold up half the sky, and I don't need you to take care of me."

“I know, I know, but don’t you still have to cooperate with the post-dubbing work of Shaolin Temple?

Don't worry, I won't be gone for long, at most ten days, and I'll be back as soon as I finish writing the report."

"Ah."

The couple discussed it first. Because Jiang Xian was afraid that his parents would worry and couldn't sleep, he didn't think about reporting to his parents. He just went to Jingshan East to have dinner in the evening.

The next morning, he was preparing to take the manuscript of "Red Sorghum" to No. 2 Shatan North Street.

Unexpectedly, Cui Daoyi came to him on her own and started laughing as soon as she saw him.

"Have you finished writing the manuscript?"

"How did you know? It's been several days since I finished writing it, but I haven't had time to send it to you."

"I heard from Zhang Shouren of October that he had read your manuscript that day. I was afraid that if I didn't come to ask for it, October would snatch it away."

"Don't worry, I told you I'll leave it to you."

Jiang Xian responded with a smile and stuffed the thick stack of manuscripts of "Red Sorghum" into Cui Daoyi's hands.

"I'm going to go to the border again. Please review the manuscript first. If there are any issues that need to be revised, please mark them down and we will talk about it when I come back."

"You're going to the border?"

Cui Daoyi became curious, "What is the mission?"

"The task assigned by Comrade Huang Mei can be considered as an arrangement made by the Writers Association." Jiang Xian replied.

Cui Daoyi nodded.

"Then I won't bother you packing your things."

"I'll go back and look at the manuscript first."

(End of this chapter)