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

In the conference room, Wang Yang's angry rebuke struck everyone like a heavy hammer.

Ding Daming stared intently at the copy of the contract on the table, his fingers digging into his palms. A foreign exchange earnings of 20.9 million US dollars? How could this be possible?!

It's worth noting that since he took over all the work at China Film Group, he has not only earned so much US dollar foreign exchange for the country.

The foreign exchange spent on overseas promotion alone each year is more than several million US dollars.

When have we ever seen China Film Group earn US dollars from outside?

But now things are really messed up!

Cheng Xuemin took Tai Chi to Bolin and quietly earned more than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange for the country.

When did it become so easy to make money in foreign exchange markets?

So much more!

Was it stolen?
I can't believe it, I dare not believe it, I can't believe it—it's true!
Otherwise, Ding Daming, as a member of China Film Group, would be completely and utterly unable to recover.

"Fake...this must be fake!" Ding Daming suddenly roared, snatching the Columbia Pictures contract and accusingly saying, "This signature is forged! Cheng Xuemin is incapable of negotiating this kind of cooperation. He's just a screenwriter, how could he possibly understand overseas distribution?"

"Forgeries?" Huang Jianzhong sneered and said, "Comrade Cheng Xuemin asked me to make copies of these and bring them back to China!"

"The original contract and the foreign exchange deposit have been transferred to Hong Kong Bank through the consulate. Our Beijing headquarters should receive the deposit soon!"

"Do you know how much the deposit is?" This was Huang Jianzhong's first time entering Haizi. He was initially very excited and nervous, but seeing Ding Daming of China Film Group questioning his and Cheng Xuemin's foreign exchange earnings in Bolin, he miraculously became bolder.

Holding those photocopies, he confronted Ding Daming of China Film Group, demanding, "Mr. Ding, take a good look. These are photocopies of the deposit remittance slip, six million six hundred and sixty thousand US dollars!"

"Mr. Ding, since you took charge of all aspects of China Film Group's operations, have you ever seen so much US dollar foreign exchange?"

Ding Daming's gaze swept over the photocopy of the remittance slip, clearly showing six million six hundred thousand US dollars in foreign exchange, but he still couldn't believe it.

Huang Jianzhong's retort caused him to stagger backward, knocking over the chair behind him with a loud bang.

"Impossible... China Film Group has been doing overseas distribution for thirty years, and their highest-grossing overseas film has only sold for $100,000. How could a mere kid like him possibly..."

“Because all you China Film Group do is send out movies!” Wang Yang retorted, not giving an inch. “As Xue Min said, cultural export is not begging. Chinese films have value, and they should be sold at high prices with dignity!”

Several veteran leaders passed the contract around, becoming increasingly excited as they read.

The gray-haired old leader slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Good! Well said! That's how it should be!"

"I propose that Comrade Cheng Xuemin be awarded a first-class merit and a bonus of ten thousand yuan immediately!"

"The bonus is a small matter!" The bespectacled old leader nodded, then said, "More than 20 million US dollars, that's more than 20 million US dollars, that's ten times our cultural sector's annual foreign exchange earnings target!"

"I propose that we must give Comrade Cheng Xuemin more responsibility and let him take the lead in reforming the overseas distribution of Chinese films!"

"We must strike while the iron is hot and promote our Chinese films better and more widely, so that more overseas Chinese and foreigners can see our Chinese films and earn their US dollars back!"

The meeting room instantly buzzed with excitement as people discussed what reward to give Cheng Xuemin.

Ding Daming collapsed onto his seat, his face ashen.

He knew that he had not only lost, but had lost miserably. He had been suppressing the reforms of Wang Yang and his team at Yan Film Studio, but now he could no longer hold them back.

China Film Group is about to undergo a major transformation!
Hu Jian, who had been huddled in the corner, suddenly let out a scream.

Looking at the "perpetual issuance rights" clause in the contract, and recalling Cheng Xuemin's words that "the Japanese wanted to get something for free," he finally realized how much trouble he had almost gotten into.

If they actually sign the agreement, the overseas distribution rights fee of over 20 million US dollars will become the Japanese's pocket!

"No... I can't sign..." Hu Jian muttered to himself, then suddenly his eyes rolled back and he fell straight down.

Fujian!

"Call the doctor quickly!"

A flurry of activity erupted in the conference room.

Looking at the unconscious Hu Jian, Ding Daming's last shred of hope vanished. Even Hu Jian had fainted from fright; it was clear this was real.

And at this moment, I'm a little envious of Hu Jian. To be able to faint at this time is a blessing!

"Quiet!" Old Wu stood up and said in a steady and powerful voice, "Now is not the time to discuss the reward. The original contract and the US dollar remittance have not arrived yet. It's not too late to discuss it after we have verified everything."

The most urgent thing now is to get Cheng Xuemin back as soon as possible, and stop him from recording any more tapes in Guangzhou!

Old Wu was both angry and amused: This kid is really audacious. He has made such a great contribution, but instead of hurrying back to report the good news, he actually went to record a song.
"Xiao Yang, call Guangzhou immediately and have Pacific Music Company find Cheng Xuemin. Tell him I need to speak to him!" Old Wu instructed his secretary, Xiao Yang. "Also, today's meeting is adjourned!"

"Xiao Ding, you need to write up a report as soon as possible and explain the whole story clearly!" Then he gave Ding Daming another instruction.

"Mr. Wu...I...Okay, Mr. Wu!" Ding Daming really wanted to faint on the spot. How could he be asked to write a confession?
But he didn't go to Bolin, so how would he know the real, original story?

……

At that moment, Liu Qinlong, the factory manager of Guangzhou Pacific Music Company, was sending a car to take Cheng Xuemin and his group to the train station.

At this moment, Xiao Cao, the office secretary, ran up to Liu Qinlong in a breathless voice and reported, "Factory Director, there's a phone call, the Haizili dedicated line!"

"You got a phone call, right? I'll call back when I get back..." Liu Qinlong was gesturing for Cheng Xuemin and the others to get into the car, not paying attention to what his female secretary was saying.

It's just that someone called him.
If he doesn't get a call one day, he can just call back after seeing Cheng Xuemin and the others off.

Haizi Express Line?
Cheng Xuemin, who had already boarded the bus, was taken aback when the female secretary mentioned Hai Zi Li.

Has Pacific Tape Factory become this powerful now?

There's actually a dedicated line to Haizi?

And this Director Liu is such a calm person! Hearing about the special line to Haizi, he remained completely unfazed, still exchanging pleasantries and promising to treat me well next time I come to Guangzhou.

However, before long, Cheng Xuemin spotted Factory Director Liu, turned around abruptly, and asked his female secretary, "Xiao Cao, what did you say? Which dedicated line?"

"Factory Director, it's the Haizili hotline! The leaders at Haizili specifically requested that Comrade Cheng Xuemin answer the phone!" The secretary, Xiao Cao, was so anxious that she was stamping her feet. As a junior secretary, this was the first time she had ever received a call from the Haizili hotline!

That's in the lake!
The factory manager still ignored it and said he would go back to them later.

Do you think you, as a factory manager, can just call the phone in Haizi's house whenever you want?

"Looking for me?" Now it was Cheng Xuemin's turn to be stunned. "The Haizi Express Line?" Gong Xue and Zhu Lin exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

"What? The Haizi Express Line is for Comrade Cheng Xuemin? Did they say what it was about?" Factory Director Liu Qinlong was even more shocked and bewildered. It was for Comrade Cheng Xuemin, and they even called their factory.

"No, no! I'm just asking if Comrade Cheng Xuemin is still at our factory. If he is, I'll have him answer the phone right away!"

Cheng Xuemin didn't dare linger on the bus and quickly got off again.

"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Liu Qinlong glared at his secretary, then turned to Cheng Xuemin and said, "He's in my office. I'll take you there right now!"

Now even Factory Director Liu needs you!

We really underestimated the strength of this pioneer of reform and opening up. He even managed to find their factory in the ocean. He has connections to the highest levels!

"it is good!"

Cheng Xuemin didn't hesitate either; following Director Liu's lead, he quickly caught up.

"Sister Lin and Sister Xue, what do you want to see Brother Cheng in the lake?" Li Lianjie asked Zhu Lin and Gong Xue while still looking around in the car.

"It should be about foreign exchange earnings!"

Even the lake was disturbed, so what could have happened?

It must be that Xuemin earned more than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange in Bolin. Now the leaders in Haizi all know about it.

This is to urge them to return to Beijing as soon as possible!

The other people at the Pacific Tape Factory were also stunned for a long time, each one of them incredibly surprised.

Because they all knew what it meant for the dedicated line from Haizi to reach their small factory!
This is a huge deal!
Something incredibly serious must have happened, and it happened to Comrade Cheng Xuemin, who was about to answer the phone.

Unfortunately, it's unclear what exactly this momentous event is.

I wonder if the newspapers will report on this later.

If the newspapers don't report it, then it's top secret, and ordinary people like them will never know in their lifetime.

He strode into Director Liu's office, picked up the still-connected phone, and said, "Hello, this is Cheng Xuemin."

"Cheng Xuemin! You still know how to answer the phone!" Old Wu's angry and agitated voice came through the receiver. "Where are you now, kid? Still recording tapes?"

"Mr. Wu, I..."

"What do you mean, 'what ...'" Old Wu interrupted directly, saying, "Who told you to go to Guangzhou? Everyone from China Film Group has returned to Beijing, and you, of all people, went to record a song? Do you know how much trouble you've caused?"

Cheng Xuemin's heart skipped a beat. Had he gotten himself into big trouble?!
Could something have gone wrong with Bolin's business?
"Mr. Wu, is there a problem with the copyright contract...?" Cheng Xuemin asked doubtfully.

"The contract is fine!" Old Wu's tone softened a bit, but it still carried a hint of anger as he said, "The problem is you!"

"You little rascal, you little rascal!"

"More than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange! More than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange!"

"How dare you be so careless, kid? Instead of coming back to us old folks to share the good news, how could you dare to go to Guangzhou to record some crappy music video?"

Then his old man Wu said it several times in a row, his voice trembling repeatedly, clearly telling him not to get too excited.

Then he shouted again:
"I'm telling you, Lord Liao wants to see you and report on the Bolin matter in person! You have twenty-four hours; you must appear before me by this time tomorrow!"

Hi!
They really thought that China Film Group had filed a complaint against him, and that Old Wu was going to hold him accountable.

Cheng Xuemin breathed a sigh of relief, but when he heard Old Wu on the phone give him a deadline of this time tomorrow, he felt that this was making things difficult for him.

Immediately, Cheng Xuemin also said with a wry smile, "Mr. Wu, I've finished recording the tapes! But I'm in Guangzhou right now! It'll take at least five or six days by train!"

"So you didn't know you flew back?!" Old Wu shouted at Cheng Xuemin over the phone again. "You go back to Hong Kong and catch your flight. I've already called Guangzhou and asked them to let you through customs!"

"Also, I'll call Fu Qi from Great Wall later and have him arrange a car to pick you up from customs and take you to the airport!"

"You have to fly to Shanghai today and take the early morning flight back tomorrow, understand?"

"Don't delay me any longer!"

On the phone, Old Wu repeatedly told Cheng Xuemin not to wander off and that he must see him tomorrow.

After saying that, he hung up the phone with a snap.

Factory Director Liu, standing nearby, asked cautiously, "Comrade Xuemin... was that... Old Wu just now?"

Cheng Xuemin hung up the phone, smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes, let's hurry back to Yanjing and give a report!"

"Giving a report? Could it be..." Director Liu suddenly remembered Cheng Xuemin's conversation with him about "overseas copyrights" yesterday, and then thought of "Hai Zi Li," and his heart skipped a beat, "You in Bolin...did you make some big deal?"

Cheng Xuemin smiled again, but didn't answer directly. He said, "Director Liu, could you please book four train tickets for us to Hong Kong? We need to get through customs as soon as possible to Hong Kong and then transfer to a flight to Beijing!"

"So urgent?" Upon hearing this, Director Liu was even more shocked that he was going to Hong Kong to catch a plane back. He quickly replied, "Okay, okay, I'll have my secretary book the train tickets right away, and I'll arrange a car to take you to the train station immediately!"

After seeing Cheng Xuemin and the others off at the factory gate again, Liu Qinlong was still wondering what important matter could have caused Old Wu from Haizi to call their factory via his dedicated hotline for finding Cheng Xuemin.
Comrade Cheng Xuemin, too, didn't let slip a single word before leaving. Curiosity really killed the cat, making Liu Qinlong suffer terribly from the itch.

"Factory Manager, the operator just said it's over twenty million US dollars!" At this moment, the female secretary, Xiao Cao, appeared beside Liu Qinlong and reported in a low voice.

"What? More than twenty million US dollars? What? More than twenty million US dollars?" Liu Qinlong's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock.

"It was Old Wu who repeatedly mentioned more than 20 million US dollars on the phone! He even blamed Comrade Cheng Xuemin for not going back to report the good news to them immediately, and for coming to our factory to record some lousy tape!"

"Xiao Cao, are you saying that Old Wu repeatedly mentioned more than 20 million US dollars on the phone? And that he told Comrade Xuemin to hurry back and report the good news?" Liu Qinlong asked with extreme shock.

"Ah! That's what the switchboard operator said!" Secretary Cao nodded and said.

"So you're saying that over twenty million US dollars is good news? What kind of good news could make over twenty million US dollars?" Liu Qinlong asked his secretary, then muttered to himself, "Could it be that Comrade Xuemin brought the Tai Chi movie to Bolin and made over twenty million US dollars?"

"This...how is this possible?!"

Liu Qinlong rejected his unbelievable conjecture in disbelief, and at the same time ordered his secretary, Xiao Cao, to shut up on the switchboard. If even a little bit of these words got out, he would fire her immediately!

……

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