1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

"Great news! This is fantastic news!"

Just after mid-December, an invitation from Bolin was delivered to the desk of Ding Daming, general manager of China Film Group!
Ding Daming opened the envelope with a puzzled look on his face and found that it contained a gold-embossed invitation!

The invitation letter from the Bolin Film Festival Selection Committee sincerely invites outstanding Chinese films to participate in the selection process of this year's Bolin International Film Festival.

In an instant, Ding Daming was so excited that his eyes bulged out.

This is great news! It's a huge boon for domestic film production. How much effort has China Film Group put into exporting our films?
However, due to the influence of the international environment, China Film Group has not yet been able to establish connections with those A-list international film festivals.

Let alone submitting a film for selection, we couldn't even get a spot for participation in peripheral exhibitions.

Better now!

The upcoming Bolin International Film Festival has surprisingly extended an invitation to China for the first time, contrary to previous practices.

We cordially invite you to select a high-quality film to participate in this year's film festival selection.

Faced with such a tremendous surprise, Ding Daming knew he had to seize this opportunity, as it would be a groundbreaking journey for him in terms of external expansion and outreach since he took charge of the daily operations of China Film Group.

If this film is successfully selected for the Bolin International Film Festival and wins a major award, it will not only be a brilliant achievement for the country's cultural export efforts, but also a significant opportunity for him personally to advance his career.

Therefore, we must carefully select the best domestic films to send to the international stage of the Bolin Film Festival and win glory for our country.

Immediately, he summoned his trusted confidant, Hu Jian, from the film censorship department.

"Xiao Hu, take a look at this first!"

A phone call came in to the review department. Hu Jian, who was reviewing a new film submitted by someone, quickly ran into Ding Daming's office, his face showing little suspicion.

Seeing Ding Daming hand him another envelope, Hu Jian became even more puzzled. Without asking why, he took out the contents and glanced at them.

But that one glance made Hu Jian's eyes widen in surprise.

His face showed extreme shock, followed by an excited question: "Mr. Ding, this...this is the invitation letter from this year's Berlin Film Festival?"

"Just received it. They want us to select the best film to submit for the competition!" Ding Daming was still very excited. He beckoned Hu Jian to sit down and then said, "Xiao Hu, you are the head of our China Film Group's review department. Almost every new film submitted by studios all over the country has to go through your review!"

"So, when it comes to the best films, you, Xiao Hu, are the one at China Film Group who understands them best!"

"So I wanted to ask you, the fourth quarter film screenings should be starting soon, and the new fourth quarter movies will be brought up around the same time. Have you spotted any promising talents?"

Hu Jian's spirits lifted upon hearing this. Was he being asked to make the decision on selecting and submitting domestic films to the Bolin Film Festival for selection and exhibition?!

This honor came too suddenly, and it also puts a lot of pressure on me!
Moreover, as Ding Daming's trusted confidant and favorite, Hu Jian was originally brought to Yanjing and into China Film Group by Ding Daming from Shanghai, so he knew his old boss very well.

He quickly organized his thoughts and carefully reported, "Mr. Ding, the fourth screening will be in mid-January after New Year's Day, but quite a few new films have already been sent over from other regions!"

"However, I've watched them all roughly once, and I feel that although these movies are new, they are basically old wine in new bottles, with nothing particularly eye-catching or original!"

"If we were to choose the best film, if it were up to everyone, it would probably be 'The Herdsman,' which has sold the most copies!"

"Moreover, the Wrangler was written and starred by Comrade Cheng Xuemin himself, and the higher-ups intend to raise him as a vanguard. Sending his Wrangler to Bolin for the election is at least the right thing to do!"

"A Wrangler?!"

When Ding Daming heard the name of this movie, it was both unexpected and expected.

After all, everyone knows that The Wrangler is the film that China Film Group has sold the most copies of since its inception, and it was also filmed and released this year, so it can be considered a new film.

Furthermore, it is an adaptation of the debut work of Cheng Xuemin, a pioneer of reform and opening up, who personally adapted the film and even starred in it.

As Hu Jian said, since the opening ceremony of the literary and art congress, the old leader directly set the tone of strongly supporting Cheng Xuemin, so Cheng Xuemin's film was selected to participate in the election in Bolin.

Whether or not one wins awards is another matter, but at least it's politically correct, and no one can find fault with that.

but!
To be honest, Ding Daming was a bit resistant, perhaps out of jealousy and resentment; he didn't really want to send "The Herdsman" to the Bolin Film Festival.

I don't even want to choose movies from Wang Yang's Yan Film Studio!
Because that old guy Wang Yang was very unhappy with their China Film Group's deception and cover-up.

Ding Daming had tried more than once to find out from that old fellow Wang Yang why Cheng Xuemin was suddenly transferred to Yan Film Studio and why he was so highly regarded by Liao Gong.

But how did that old guy treat me?
Besides making excuses, he spouted nonsense, even saying that Cheng Xuemin was seconded to Yan Film Studio because he had written a new script called "Romance on Lushan Mountain".

Cheng Xuemin was seconded to Yan Film Studio to be in charge of directing the filming of "Romance on Lushan Mountain".

Damn it!

Ding Daming later realized that "Romance on Lushan Mountain" was a project reported by the Shanghai Film Studio and had nothing to do with his Yan Film Studio.

Even if they were to be seconded to the production team to provide guidance, it would be to the Shanghai Film Studio, and would have absolutely nothing to do with Yan Film Studio.

Later, someone from their Yan Film Studio came over and told him that Cheng Xuemin had set up a production crew called "Tai Chi" at their Yan Film Studio, which was said to be a martial arts film!

They even hired a martial arts instructor from Hong Kong, but that's not the main point.

The key point is that the person also said that Cheng Xuemin's Tai Chi crew was too unruly, actually giving the crew members a living allowance of two yuan a day.

Two yuan as a living allowance!
It's four or five times more expensive than other film crews' projects, and they insist that China Film Group uphold fairness, either making it the same as other projects, or reducing their own rate to 50 cents a day.

Ding Daming was completely dumbfounded. He never expected that Cheng Xuemin, a cultural figurehead, would neglect his duties as a professor at Yenching University and instead go to the Yenching Film Studio to make movies.

It's supposed to be a martial arts film, what is this if not utter rubbish?
It's only because Ding Daming didn't want to get involved that things escalated. Otherwise, with such a big commotion at Jiangcheng University, if he had exposed Cheng Xuemin's secret production of vulgar martial arts films, it would definitely have been big news.

Of course, he was also glad that he hadn't gotten involved in that mess; otherwise, it's hard to say whether Ding Daming would still be in his position as general manager of China Film Group.

However, this only shows that Ding Daming doesn't cause much trouble, but it doesn't mean that Ding Daming doesn't hold grudges.

That old bastard Wang Yang from Yanying Factory has been so rude to him. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is one that Yanying Factory would never give to anyone else.

Ding Daming was even willing to go to great lengths, even at the expense of Xu Sangchu's favor at the Shanghai Film Studio, rather than give favors to the nearby Yan Film Studio.

After all, both he and Hu Jian had connections with the Shanghai Film Studio; they were both transferred from the Shanghai Film Studio to Beijing, and Xu Sangchu was their former director.

Although Xu Sangchu, the old factory director, was also a troublemaker.

They're all just taking advantage of their seniority, relying on their connections to band together and try to overthrow China Film Group.

They're making a scene demanding the distribution rights from China Film Group!
They want to produce and sell their own films, and they don't want to go through China Film Group anymore.

Good guy!
If they succeed in making trouble, what will happen to China Film Group?
Should we just close down and go out of business?
You see, China Film Group is responsible for the film distribution rights of all the major film studios across the country. Films produced locally must be sent to China Film Group for review and screening before being distributed nationwide. If distribution rights were delegated to individual film studios, wouldn't that create chaos?

They can film whatever they want, and they can buy copies and sell them to make money if they want. There is absolutely no supervision or censorship, which is bound to cause big problems!

The funny thing is!

Wang Yang from Yanying Film Studio just had another argument with China Film Group at the Literature and Art Congress.

They even made a bold statement: if China Film Group cannot come up with an effective solution before the end of the year, they will petition Hai Zi Li after the new year!

Damn it, do you think I'm easily scared?
You want to directly destroy the lifeblood of China Film Group and still want the self-distribution rights? Keep dreaming!
Go ahead and submit your petition; I'll be waiting for it here.

So this is what Ding Daming dislikes most about Yan Film Studio. They've already threatened to overthrow China Film Group, yet Ding Daming still goes to their door and offers them such a huge favor.
If they were to select a film from their Yan Film Studio to participate in an exhibition, it might even win an award, and Yan Film Studio would be on cloud nine.

Therefore, instead of holding an internal meeting to discuss the matter, Ding Daming's first thought was to exclude Yan Film Studio from the discussion by summoning Hu Jian.

Now that Hu Jian has proposed submitting "The Herdsman" for selection, Ding Daming really wants to slap him across the face.

Do you have any sense of observation?
Are you still one of my men, Ding Daming?

Ding Daming did not speak immediately. His fingers tapped lightly on the mahogany table, the rhythm getting faster and faster, as if tapping on Hu Jian's taut nerves.

Looking at Hu Jian's face, which was etched with "political correctness," he suddenly felt a surge of irritation.

This kid followed me from Northeast China to Beijing. He didn't learn anything else, but he mastered the art of "reading the emperor's mind" to perfection. Yet, he just couldn't figure out what I was thinking at this moment.

However, after a brief moment of thought, Ding Daming had a brilliant idea and asked, "Little Hu!"

"What story do you think 'The Herdsman' tells?"

Hu Jian paused for a moment, then quickly replied, "It's a story about intellectuals who take root in the frontier and love their motherland! Cheng Xuemin's portrayal of Xu Lingjun, who gave up a comfortable life abroad to stay on the grasslands as a teacher, is so inspiring!"

“It’s true that it’s positive energy!” Ding Daming put down his teacup, the bottom of which made a dull thud as it hit the table. “But do you think the jury at the Berlin Film Festival would want to see this?”

He got up and walked to the window, looking down at the crowd queuing to enter the cinema. "Their impression of China is still stuck in the label of 'Red China'."

"We sent them a film about 'rooting ourselves in the frontier,' didn't that just confirm their prejudice?"

Hu Jian broke out in a cold sweat. He then realized that President Ding was not negating Cheng Xuemin, but rather negating the lazy option of "political correctness".

Aside from "The Herdsman," there haven't been any other notable films recently.

Changchun Film Studio's "The Gunshots of the Secret Service" was too deliberate, and August First Film Studio's "Tonight the Stars Are Bright" was too patriotic. Neither of them could match the box office success and critical acclaim of "The Herdsman".

"Then... what do you mean, Mr. Ding?" Hu Jian's voice lowered a few decibels.

Ding Daming turned around and his gaze fell on the metal cabinet in the corner, where sample films sent by film studios from all over the country were locked.

He suddenly remembered a list submitted by the review office last week, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Have you seen the Shanghai Film Studio's 'Romance on Lushan Mountain'?"

"Romance on Lushan Mountain?" Hu Jian was even more confused. "Isn't that a romance film? It's about an overseas Chinese woman returning to China to find a boyfriend. The visuals are quite beautiful, but... but can that represent the level of Chinese films?"

"Why not?" Ding Daming walked to the metal cabinet, took out the key, unlocked it, and took out the sample box of "Romance on Lushan Mountain".

He continued, "Look at this scene: the clouds and mist of Mount Lu, the shimmering waves of Ruqin Lake, and Gong Xue's white dress. It's so beautiful."

He put the sample film on the table and then said, "Doesn't the Bolin Film Festival like these 'aesthetically pleasing' things?"

Furthermore, the theme of overseas Chinese perfectly reflects our "openness to the outside world," which is much more appealing than a "melodrama" like "The Herdsman."

Looking at Gong Xue's smiling face on the sample box, Hu Jian suddenly understood.

Mr. Ding wasn't choosing the "best movie," but rather the "most suitable chess piece."

"Romance on Lushan Mountain" is a film produced by Shanghai Film Studio. Although Xu Sangchu is also a troublemaker, he is easier to handle than Wang Yang's "aggressiveness".

More importantly, this film is also somewhat related to Cheng Xuemin.

After all, the script for "Romance on Lushan Mountain" was written by Cheng Xuemin, a pioneer of reform and opening up. Submitting his film to the Bolin Film Festival for selection could be considered politically correct!

Ding Daming added in his mind that, besides these things, he also wanted to use a counter-strategy against that old guy Wang Yang.

Or rather, let's make the best of a bad situation!

Didn't that old fellow Wang Yang say before that Cheng Xuemin was seconded to their Yan Film Studio to be in charge of directing the filming of "Romance on Lushan Mountain"?

Alright, we at China Film Group will grant your request!
We at China Film Group really went all out by submitting Cheng Xuemin's film "Romance on Lushan Mountain" to the Bolin Film Festival for selection and exhibition, didn't we?

But don't let that old guy Wang Yang tell China Film Group that they most want to send "Tai Chi" to participate in the film festival.
After all, they had painstakingly kept that "Tai Chi" a secret from China Film Group, and even hired a martial arts choreographer from Hong Kong.

With such a big move, where are they planning to target?
I don't care!

If Ding Daming plays along and sends out "Romance on Lushan Mountain," they will definitely cause trouble if they are in a hurry.

By then, we'll know what the old man is really up to!
Hu Jian was still a bit hesitant, saying, "Mr. Ding, but we haven't approved 'Romance on Lushan Mountain' yet... and there are kissing scenes in it, won't it be considered 'vulgar'?"

“Vulgar?” Ding Daming sneered. “At the literary and art congress, the old leaders all said ‘don’t interfere.’ What’s a kissing scene? Besides, foreigners love this kind of thing.”

"Then... shall we choose 'Romance on Lushan Mountain'?" Hu Jian picked up the sample box, his fingertips still trembling slightly.

"Let's go with 'Romance on Lushan Mountain'!" Ding Daming nodded without room for argument, then instructed Hu Jian, "Time is of the essence. The Bolin International Film Festival opens at the end of the month, which is only about ten days away!"

"There's no time to hold a review meeting, so let's just take the initiative and decide on the Shanghai Film Studio's 'Romance on Lushan Mountain'."

"You should call Shanghai immediately and tell them to prepare and finalize the delegation list, then submit it to us. I will then report to my superiors!"

"Tell Director Xu that this is a good opportunity, and time is of the essence, so he hopes they can act quickly!"

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away!"

Hu Jian quickly agreed, knowing that the time was indeed too short. If they really wanted to hold a review meeting to select films, those old-fashioned ideas would cause endless arguments.

It still comes down to Mr. Ding's great courage.

With his keen insight and decisive judgment, he chose "Romance on Lushan Mountain," not only doing Director Xu a huge favor but also thoroughly disgusting Wang Yang of Yan Film Studio. It was absolutely brilliant!
……

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