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

"Brother Cheng, look at that!"

On the streets of Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, Li Lianjie pointed to a TV wall on the side of the street, where a clip from the TV series "The Dream of the Red Chamber" was playing on the screen. Liza Wang, dressed in a cheongsam, stood out in the crowd.

"In Hong Kong, TV series air one episode a day for half a year. When will we have something like this in mainland China?" Huang Jianzhong was watching this TV series in the hotel. He looked at the TV wall that Li Lianjie was pointing to and said with emotion.

Zhu Lin and Gong Xue, however, were drawn to the fashions in the shop window. A sequined dress shimmered dazzlingly under the lights, and the price tag of "$380" made them stick out their tongues in surprise.

"This jacket is enough to buy a TV." Zhu Lin muttered to herself. The leather jacket she was wearing was a prize from the factory when the Jeep Wrangler became a hit.

I hadn't been willing to wear it until this time when I went to Bolin.

Gong Xue, on the other hand, when filming "Romance on Lushan Mountain," the crew purchased fifty sets of the most fashionable clothes from Hong Kong to reflect the trendy style of her character, a returned overseas student, allowing her to indulge in her fashion sense during the filming of "Romance on Lushan Mountain."

Unfortunately, after filming wrapped on "Romance in Lushan," all the clothes had to be stored in the factory warehouse, and I never wore them again.

I'm getting hungry!

I want to buy one and wear it for a while to show it to the people around me.

Unfortunately, the price tag of 380 US dollars scared me off, making me even more hesitant to buy anything.

Cheng Xuemin, on the other hand, was more interested in the street scenes of old Hong Kong, which had a lot of Republican-era style.

However, the most eye-catching one was the poster for Golden Harvest's "Industry Rules," in which Chow Yun-fat looked incredibly cool with a cigarette in his mouth.

There are also promotional posters for the Hui Brothers' "Money Crazy," which continues their usual exaggerated comedic style. The poster shows four people crammed on a banknote with comical expressions.

"Xuemin, look at this poster design, we should learn from it." Huang Jianzhong's eyes were also drawn to it, and he quickly took out his notebook and sketched the composition on the poster.

Cheng Xuemin nodded, looking at the scene before him, and suddenly felt that Hong Kong was like a high-speed movie machine.

From posters on the streets and alleys to TV series on the TV screens, and laughter in the cinemas, cultural products permeate every corner of the city.

He thought of the promotional plan for "Tai Chi" and suggested that perhaps he could learn from Hong Kong's experience and come up with more clever ideas to resonate with the audience.

However, due to domestic policies, the release and distribution of Tai Chi in China had absolutely nothing to do with Cheng Xuemin.

The distribution rights are all held by China Film Group. They only sell film prints and don't have the concept of box office revenue, so the Hong Kong model definitely can't be copied.

As the group passed by a tea restaurant, Li Lianjie insisted on treating everyone to "wonton noodles".

The waiter's fluent Cantonese made Gong Xue and Zhu Lin feel a little awkward, as this was their first time being treated like this and they were quite unaccustomed to it.

Cheng Xuemin helped place the order and specifically instructed, "Put less MSG."

"People in Hong Kong love to put MSG in their food, saying it makes it taste better," he explained with a smile. "We're not used to it, so we prefer something lighter."

When the wonton noodles arrived, Huang Jianzhong looked at the huge shrimp wontons in the bowl and couldn't help but exclaim, "There's really a whole shrimp in this filling?"

Zhu Lin and Gong Xue cautiously took a bite, and the delicious soup made their eyes light up.

Li Lianjie ate ravenously, saying between bites, "When 'Tai Chi' is released in Hong Kong, I'll treat you all to a seafood feast, with all the lobsters you can eat!"

Just then, the midday news came on the radio in the tea restaurant:
"The word-of-mouth for 'The Haunted Cop Shop' continues to grow, and as of noon today, it has surpassed New Union Film's 'Mei Ling and Monk Wen' and Golden Harvest's 'Industry Rules,' and is closing in on the Hui Brothers' 'Money Crazy'; according to the latest reports, Shaw Brothers has announced that it will be shown in ten more theaters, and industry insiders predict that it may reach five million in box office revenue..."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xuemin felt reassured.

At this rate, "The Dead and the Deadly" will not only recoup its costs but also generate a considerable profit for Great Wall, enough to support the post-production of "The Dead and the Deadly".

He recalled Fu Qi's earlier mention of the "Spring Festival season" and suddenly felt that this series might become Great Wall's signature brand.

After lunch, the group walked back. As they passed a record store, Zhu Lin was drawn in by the singing coming from inside.

Teresa Teng's "Sweet Honey"

A sweet voice flowed through the streets, quite different from the revolutionary songs from the mainland.

"This song is really nice, it's almost the same tune as Gong Xue's 'Night at the Military Port'!" She stood at the door listening for a long time, and only left reluctantly when Cheng Xuemin urged her to.

"No way, I can't sing as well as them! But Xuemin's 'Night at the Naval Port' is really popular with us soldiers!"

"Guangzhou Pacific Music Company is going to release an album for us!" Gong Xue also likes to listen to Teresa Teng's songs.

In fact, young women of their generation all like to listen to Teresa Teng's songs.

However, due to special reasons, Teresa Teng's official cassette tapes could not be sold in mainland China, so Gong Xue and the others listened to pirated versions in secret.

"When you release your music videos, remember to send me a copy!" Zhu Lin said enviously.

"Me too! Sister Xue, when you release a song and album, remember to send me a copy too!"

"I love listening to you sing 'Night at the Military Port' the most, Sister Xue!"

Li Lianjie also chimed in!

When pop divas like Teresa Teng couldn't enter the mainland market, Gong Xue's "Night at the Military Port" was an absolute game-changer.

This was once criticized as the pioneering work of the first "decadent music" in China!
Even though the old leaders at the literary and art congress defined the issue as not interfering with literary and artistic creators, "Night at the Military Port" still received overwhelming criticism back then.

Although it hasn't started yet, it won't be long. Once everyone has digested the guiding principles from the National Congress of Literary and Art Circles, someone will step forward and start making efforts.

Of course, it may not happen again.

After all, Cheng Xuemin had already blocked the way, and that was right when Gong Xue's "Night at the Military Port" officially became popular in China.

It just so happened that Cheng Xuemin was the first to be criticized by the father of the "Fairy Sister" from Jiangcheng University, and the argument even went all the way to the literary and art congress.

In the end, it was the old leader who made the final decision at the literary and art congress, which quelled the controversy.

Therefore, with Cheng Xuemin acting as a shield, Gong Xue's "Night at the Military Port" might be able to get through.

It doesn't matter!
Anyway, "Night at the Military Port" was just a one-off thing. The uproar it caused back then was nothing compared to Cheng Xuemin's case this time, and it quickly subsided.

Let's meet force with force and water with earth!
When we returned to the hotel, Hu Jian had already come back from the Hong Kong branch, with a smug look on his face: "President Wang said that if we win an award on this trip to Bolin, he'll come back to celebrate with us."

Then, looking at Cheng Xuemin and his group with a scrutinizing gaze, he asked, "Where did you go?"

"I just wandered around the area and looked at the poster for 'The Haunted Cop Shop'," Cheng Xuemin said calmly. "I just received news from Mr. Fu that Shaw Brothers has added ten more theaters, and the box office is doing very well."

Hu Jian's attention was indeed diverted, and he frowned as he said, "It's really not easy for left-wing films to achieve this. But we still need to focus on the Bolin Film Festival and not get distracted."

He clearly didn't take the success of "The Haunted Cop Shop" seriously; in his view, only winning international awards counted as true talent.

In the evening, Fu Qi brought even more exciting news: Nanyang Cinemas sent a telegram saying they wanted to import "The Haunted Cop Shop," which meant the film would leave Hong Kong and enter the Southeast Asian market.

"Teacher Cheng, this is the contract from Nanyang Cinemas. Could you take a look?" Fu Qi handed over the document, his tone full of trust. "We at Great Wall haven't done overseas distribution in a long time, and we're afraid of suffering losses."

Hu Jian's face darkened; Great Wall's actions were a bit dangerous!
The Southeast Asian market is an overseas market, and although Great Wall has its own overseas distribution channels, China Film Group can't control it.

But wouldn't it be inappropriate for him to ask Cheng Xuemin, a junior, so directly?

He was just an ordinary screenwriter at Yan Film Studio, with no experience in overseas distribution whatsoever. If Great Wall wanted to seek help, they would go to him, Hu Jian.

After all, he was from China Film Group, responsible for reviewing new films and also assisting President Ding with overseas distribution.

Otherwise, the team leader for this trip to Bolin would have been his deputy, since President Ding needed to oversee the overall situation domestically.

So he, Fujian, does have some experience in overseas distribution; if anyone should ask, it should be him.

Isn't it dangerous to overstep one's bounds and do things on the Great Wall side?
If this leads young Comrade Cheng Xuemin astray and makes him capitalist, wouldn't that be even more dangerous?

Cheng Xuemin noticed the change in Hu Jian's expression beside him and did not take the contract that Fu Qi handed him. Instead, he pushed it away and said, "Mr. Fu, I don't know much about overseas distribution!"

"Director Hu is an expert, please ask him to give you some advice!"

"Ah, right, right, right!" Fu Qi was also startled when he heard this, and quickly nodded repeatedly. He handed the contract back to Hu Jian and said in a questioning tone, "Director Hu, you are the real person in charge of China Film's overseas distribution. You have a lot of experience. Please help us review it!"

In fact, Fu Qi was most curious about Cheng Xuemin's confidence in the overseas distribution of "Tai Chi". He really wanted to know how Cheng Xuemin would maximize profits if he were to distribute "The Haunted Cop Shop" in Southeast Asia.

They overlooked the fact that Hu Jian from China Film Group was leading the team, almost revealing Cheng Xuemin's true intentions for going to Bolin.

"No, no, that won't do! Manager Fu, Great Wall has its own overseas distribution policy, and it's not appropriate for us to interfere!"

"Anyway, we only have one principle: to stand on the high ground of political propaganda as much as possible; as long as we don't lose money, everything else is fine!"

Hu Jian was very satisfied with Cheng Xuemin's refusal.

As he is saying now, how can we arbitrarily interfere with the different policy trends within the two systems?
Anyway, China Film Group's policy on foreign distribution is mainly political propaganda; whether it makes money or not is irrelevant.

In any case, selling copies domestically rarely results in a loss. Overseas distribution is not primarily driven by profit, but rather by mutual exchange.

So when Hu Jian visited Director Wang at the Hong Kong branch today, his words made him very unhappy.

The left-wing films in Hong Kong are weak and don't earn much US dollars in foreign exchange, contributing little to the country's foreign exchange earnings. On the contrary, they heard that their China Film Group was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in the Bolin Film Festival, and were told to take the opportunity to promote their submitted works and try to get a good price at the film festival.

Hu Jian, clinging to old-fashioned ideas, disagreed. He felt that Hong Kong, a capitalist country, was actually teaching them to sell themselves abroad!

They've turned the Heavenly Spirits upside down!
Why should their foreign exchange earnings targets be imposed on China Film Group? Why should China Film Group be allowed to do the work of a capitalist organization like their Hong Kong branch?

As for the foreign exchange earning task called for by the higher authorities, it was indeed assigned to their China Film Group, but there were no clear task targets. Why should Hu Jian, who finally led a team out for a trip, have to show off and make a fool of himself on the international stage?
Therefore, Hu Jian wasn't particularly concerned about Great Wall's overseas distribution.

We also don't want their capitalist ways to lead our young comrade Cheng Xuemin astray.

Otherwise, this is very dangerous!
"Political propaganda?!"

"Alright, alright, thank you for your guidance, Director Hu. We will definitely consider it carefully!" Fu Qi was taken aback, but he didn't make things difficult for himself. He knew that the old comrades from China Film Group were just that stubborn.

They're still using the same old tricks. I've always thought they're following the capitalist path; they're too mercenary!
Then, as if remembering something, he took out a few plane tickets from his bag and said, "These are first-class tickets to Bolin for tomorrow. I coordinated with the airline, and they're more comfortable than economy class."

Hu Jian was taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Manager Fu, isn't this going too far..."

"No trouble at all," Fu Qi waved his hand and said politely. "The success of our film 'The Haunted House' is largely thanks to your support, and we have no other way to express our gratitude. Besides, your trip to Bolin is bringing honor to Chinese cinema, so you should do it in style."

Since Fu Qi had already said so, Hu Jian could not refuse, and thus tacitly accepted Fu Qi's arrangement.

Dinner was arranged by Fu Qi, and it was hardly as lavish as last night's.

When the evening show started, Cheng Xuemin and his group were invited to visit the main cinema of the Shuangnan Cinema Circuit.

After a day and a night of fermentation, the movie theater was no longer as deserted as it was yesterday's premiere. The theater, which had a capacity of over a thousand people, was completely packed. Fu Qi was so excited that he kept rubbing his hands together.

“Teacher Cheng, look!” At the beginning of the movie, Fu Qi pointed to a line of subtitles in the middle of the screen and continued, “We added a line: ‘Screenwriter Cheng Xuemin, special consultant.’”

Cheng Xuemin smiled but didn't say anything.

He knew that the title was not important; what mattered was that Great Wall had finally gained a foothold in the Hong Kong film market with its own films.

"Manager Fu, was the screenplay for this movie also written by Xiao Cheng?"

On the contrary, Director Hu Jian, who was accompanying them, couldn't help but ask in surprise when he saw the eye-catching subtitles in the middle of the big screen.

Hu Jian is unaware of this matter!

The screenplay for the rare blockbuster film, The Great Wall, was actually copied by Cheng Xuemin?

Hu Jian always thought that this was written by the Great Wall's own screenwriter, since ghost movies in China are all about feudal superstition.

This is even more dangerous than the vulgar historical novels like "The Cotton Robe" and "A Big Man and a Little Wife" that were widely circulated before!
So when did Cheng Xuemin, a pioneer of reform and opening up, actually write such a feudal and superstitious script?
Why wasn't this reported to China Film Group? And why wasn't the director of the review department asked to review and approve it beforehand?

Did they even respect him, the head of the review committee? How many underhanded things did they do behind China Film Group's back?

Cheng Xuemin, who was focused on the big screen, turned around upon hearing this and frankly said, "Director Hu, this is indeed what I wrote for Great Wall before. I thought that turning a folk tale into a comedy might bring something new, so I showed it to Mr. Fu."

"Folk tales?" Hu Jian's voice suddenly rose, causing the audience in the front row to turn around and look. "This is clearly a ghost story! It's promoting feudal superstition. How could you, as a screenwriter at Yan Film Studio, produce something like this?"

He recalled the "supernatural scripts" that had been rejected by the censors, each one criticized as "promoting feudal dross".

Cheng Xuemin dared to write about this subject matter so openly, and even got the leftist Great Wall Film Company to make it. This is simply "going against the grain".

Fu Qi was taken aback, realizing he might have done something wrong with good intentions, and quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Director Hu, please don't misunderstand. This film looks like it's about ghosts, but its core message is to persuade people to do good."

Zhong Kui catches ghosts to seek justice, and Xiao Cui becomes a ghost because she was wrongly accused; both use ghosts and monsters to express human nature and have nothing to do with feudal superstition.

He pointed to the scene on the screen where Xiao Cui was helping the old woman carry water and said, "Look, this ghost is kinder than a human."

Hu Jian didn't listen at all, his eyes fixed on Cheng Xuemin: "When you wrote this script, did you report it to the studio? Does the China Film Censorship Office know about it?"

In his view, Cheng Xuemin was "disregarding the organization" and actually bypassing the review to engage in "underground creation." If this got out, China Film Group would not be allowed to open the door.

Huang Jianzhong was sweating profusely and wanted to explain for Cheng Xuemin, but Cheng Xuemin held his hand down.

Cheng Xuemin spoke calmly yet forcefully, saying, "Director Hu, the old leaders at the literary and art congress said, 'Different voices are allowed to exist.'"

Ghosts and monsters in folk tales are not necessarily feudal superstitions; it all depends on how they are told.

"The Ghost and the Human" doesn't rely on supernatural tricks; it's full of humor and goodwill. Why can't stories like this be written?

He then pointed to the audience: "Look at them, how happy they are. People need stories like this, just like they need the romance of 'Romance on Lushan Mountain' or the kung fu of 'Tai Chi'."

A cultural garden shouldn't be planted with only one type of flower.

Hu Jian was speechless, his face turning pale and then flushed. He remembered Ding Daming's instructions before he left: "Keep an eye on Cheng Xuemin."

Now it seems that this kid is not only "restless," but also dares to openly challenge his authority.

But seeing the audience around him laughing so hard they were doubled over, and even the ticket checker, Ah Yin, covering his mouth and chuckling, he suddenly felt that his anger was a bit "inappropriate".

"Besides!" Cheng Xuemin changed his tone, softening his words, "This is Hong Kong, not mainland China!"

"Uh!"

This left Hu Jian speechless. Yes, this is Hong Kong. Their China Film Group can control the distribution of domestic films, but they can't extend their reach to Hong Kong.

Moreover, from the very beginning, Hong Kong Great Wall has had the right to produce and distribute its own films, and is not subject to the control or regulation of China Film Group Corporation in mainland China.

They can film whatever they want in Hong Kong, as long as they are responsible for their own profits and losses and it's politically correct.

Therefore, China Film Group has no say in what kind of movies are made in Hong Kong!
The most important point here is that the screenwriter who copied the script for "The Blade" was from Yan Film Studio. He actually bypassed China Film Group and supplied such a script to Hong Kong Great Wall. His thinking was already very dangerous.

No wonder Old Wang from Yan Film Studio, despite his advanced age, is still so energetic and restless; now you know the reason!

Fu Qi quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Director Hu, this film has been sold in Southeast Asia, earning a lot of foreign exchange, which can be considered a contribution to the country's foreign exchange earnings."

Knowing that Hu Jian values ​​"political correctness" most, he deliberately brought up "foreign exchange earnings".

Hu Jian's expression softened slightly. The Hong Kong Great Wall was shouldering the heaviest task, which, in addition to political propaganda, was to generate foreign exchange.

To earn more US dollars in foreign exchange for the country.

Therefore, since it concerns foreign exchange, Hu Jian could no longer interfere. However, Comrade Cheng Xuemin's current thinking is very dangerous. If he were not already in Hong Kong, he would have submitted a report to expose this dangerous behavior.

Looking at Hu Jian's expression, Fu Qi tentatively asked, "Director Hu, how about... I have someone change the subtitles?"

He gave Cheng Xuemin an apologetic look, but things went awry.

Hu Jian waved his hand, his tone complicated: "No need to change it! Since it was written by Cheng Xuemin, let him take responsibility."

He then added, "However, Xiao Cheng, I will report this matter to my superiors when we get back."

"Casual!"

Cheng Xuemin also lost his temper and retorted irritably.

"That!"

Hu Jian was so angry that he turned around and left with his hands behind his back!
"This is a mess..." Fu Qi was dumbfounded. He had really forgotten that Hong Kong is not like the mainland, and some things cannot be said openly in front of the old comrades.

"Xuemin, this is a bit of a problem! If Lao Hu really reports to the higher-ups, you'd better be careful!" Things happened so suddenly that Xie Jin didn't expect that the script for the horror movie "The Great Wall" was actually secretly copied and written by Cheng Xuemin.

This is a horror movie, pure feudal superstition! In the eyes of those old comrades from China Film Group in Fujian, it's a monster.

A few years ago, that would have been...

"It's alright! Anyway, with so much debt, we don't have to worry about it. When we get back from Bolin, even bigger monsters are waiting for us!"

"This is such a small matter, it's not even a matter of trouble or not!"

Cheng Xuemin didn't care. Anyway, just like he said, he even dared to secretly make a pledge behind China Film Group's back!

Are you afraid that he, Hu Jian, will report to his superiors?

Besides, this was actually Cheng Xuemin's doing. How else could he keep his distance from China Film Group?

He didn't want to turn against them now, but rather wait until Bolin started taking action.

"That's true!"

Xie Jin nodded. Among their group, not many people knew the true purpose of Cheng Xuemin's trip to Bolin.

Aside from Cheng Xuemin himself and Huang Jianzhong, the director of Tai Chi, only knew a little about it.

So at this moment, director Huang Jianzhong was in a panic. He didn't expect that before Bolin even arrived, internal strife would start, and the whole thing would almost be exposed.

If the trip to Bolin fails to achieve Cheng Xuemin's goals and fails to generate tens of millions of US dollars in foreign exchange, how will they handle the situation?

………………

Please vote for me! Please subscribe to the entire book! I'm so grateful! (End of Chapter)