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

Thanks to Hai Zili's special phone call, Cheng Xuemin and his group got out of the customs very smoothly!
At the customs exit, Cheng Xuemin and his group had just handed in their documents.

The staff member behind the window looked up at them, carefully compared their documents, and then handed them over the stamped documents, saying in an exceptionally polite tone, "Comrade Cheng, have a safe trip."

"Thank you!" Cheng Xuemin took the documents, thinking to himself that Old Wu's words of advice had indeed worked.

As he walked out of the checkpoint, he saw Fu Qi, dressed in a sharp suit, standing next to a black car, waving at him.

Two young men in Zhongshan suits followed behind him; they were clearly employees of Great Wall Film Company.

"Teacher Cheng, I didn't expect that I would send you in yesterday and pick you up again today!" Fu Qi quickly came up to Cheng Xuemin, shook his hand, and made a joke.

Then, with an urgent tone, he said, "Old Wu just called me and said you need to go to Shanghai for a connecting flight. I've already booked a flight to Shanghai for 3 p.m., and I can make it to the airport now."

Cheng Xuemin smiled and nodded, saying, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Mr. Fu. I'm so sorry to have asked you to make these arrangements so urgently."

"Don't mention it!" Fu Qi patted his shoulder, his eyes full of expectation. "Don't worry too much. It's probably because your achievements at Bolin have already spread throughout Yanjing!"

"You'll be returning home with great success and honors. Wait for the lake to award you with medals and honors!"

"Thank you! Thank you!" Cheng Xuemin nodded repeatedly. It seemed that Old Wu had mentioned it to Fu Qi over the phone. He then added, "Mr. Fu, after I return to Yanjing and finish dealing with things, I will take 'Tai Chi' back to Hong Kong. At that time, I will need your help."

“No problem!” Fu Qi agreed immediately, saying, “I’m looking forward to your next comeback, Teacher Cheng, so I can take over all of our left-wing’s business!”

"Mr. Fu, please don't say that. I can't handle such a heavy burden! It's you, Mr. Fu, who have worked so hard. Please help us carry this burden for the next few decades!"

"Teacher Cheng, you're really joking..." Fu Qi pointed at Cheng Xuemin, shook his head, and didn't say anything more about it!

Cheng Xuemin opened the bag, saw the familiar bottle of Moutai, and couldn't help but smile: "Mr. Fu, you're so thoughtful."

The car sped along and soon arrived at Hong Kong Airport.

Fu Qi handed the plane ticket to Cheng Xuemin and said, "Teacher Cheng, this is all I can do for you! They should have already informed us in Shanghai that someone will pick you up at the airport."

"Okay, thank you very much for your help, Mr. Fu!"

As Cheng Xuemin took the plane ticket, a warm feeling welled up in his heart. Perhaps the next time he came to Hong Kong, this place would be his main front line!

"Then we'll be going now!" Cheng Xuemin waved and led Gong Xue and the others into the airport.

Fu Qi stood there, watching their backs as they walked away, a smile playing on his lips.

He had a premonition that when this young man returned to Hong Kong, he would definitely create an unprecedented film storm in the city.

That's over twenty million US dollars!
Fu Qi still can't figure out how this young man earned more than 20 million US dollars from foreigners with just one movie, "Tai Chi"!

I can't understand it, and I don't even dare to think about it.

We'll just have to wait until this young man comes to Hong Kong again to witness it!

The plane took off on time at 3 p.m.

Cheng Xuemin leaned back in his chair, looking at the clouds outside the window, and suddenly remembered that Gong Xue had been staring blankly in the direction of Guangzhou when they were at the border.

"Haha, Brother Cheng! Moutai, Moutai, free Moutai!"

Once on the plane, the happiest person was Li Lianjie (Little Leonardo DiCaprio), because he missed the chance to get a free bottle of Moutai on the international flight because he was going to Guangzhou with the plane.

I was already a little disappointed, and I was complaining that I should have flown back with Director Huang and the others.

Unexpectedly, things took an unexpected turn and he received another bottle for free, which was truly surprising and delightful.

"Is that all you've got?" Cheng Xuemin chuckled at the kid, but he didn't refuse the bottle the flight attendant gave him.
So don't laugh at your second brother, he's just as useless as you!

After a few laughs, everyone dozed off on the plane, since they had been recording tapes very late the night before.

When the plane's announcement reminded them that they were about to land, Cheng Xuemin finally snapped out of his reverie and noticed that Gong Xue next to him was staring out the window. He asked with concern, "Are you homesick?"

Gong Xue paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "A little!"

"My parents are both in Shanghai, and I haven't been home much for over a year. I originally thought I would go straight back to Yanjing from Guangzhou this time, but I didn't expect to come to Shanghai again!"

Previously, when transferring in Shanghai to fly to Hong Kong, Gong Xue had not mentioned this matter because there was not much time in between.

But now that this matter has suddenly come up, Cheng Xuemin has realized that Gong Xue's family is indeed from Shanghai!

Because this flight arrives in Shanghai so late, there are no direct flights to Yanjing that night; the next flight to Yanjing will be tomorrow morning.

So I'll be spending the night in Shanghai.

Cheng Xuemin then said to Gong Xue, "Perfect timing. We'll be staying in Shanghai tonight, and our flight to Beijing is at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Would you like to go home and visit your family?"

"Really?" Gong Xue's eyes lit up, but then she hesitated. "But... I'm afraid I won't make my flight tomorrow morning."

"Don't worry, the flight is at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, it shouldn't be delayed," Cheng Xuemin continued with a smile. "Besides, you haven't seen your parents for over a year, you should go back and visit them!"

Zhu Lin chimed in, "That's right, Gong Xue. It's rare for us to pass by your doorstep, so how could we not go in!"

“This…” Gong Xue looked at Cheng Xuemin, her eyes filled with emotion.

Cheng Xuemin simply handed over the Moutai liquor in his hand and said, "We didn't prepare anything, so take this and bring it back for your uncle to drink!"

"No, thank you. I already have a bottle!" Gong Xue said apologetically. The bottle she had taken from Hong Kong had been borrowed by Cheng Xuemin to entertain Fu Qi and the others.

However, they were also given a new set of clothes that were quite expensive.

"Take it! I don't drink this much anyway, it's a waste for me to keep it!"

Cheng Xuemin said that, how heartless of him! Couldn't he have taken it back for his father-in-law to drink?
Although the father-in-law is not short of his son-in-law's bottle of Moutai, he can't drink the wine that his son-in-law offers him every day!
If his wife finds out, she'll give him a piece of her mind.

"Well... thank you, Xuemin!" Gong Xue couldn't refuse, and realized that at some point, she couldn't refuse him at all, so she accepted it shyly.

At 6 p.m., the plane landed at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.

As soon as I stepped out of the cabin, I saw a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit holding a sign that read "Comrade Cheng Xuemin!"

"Comrade Cheng, I'm from the Shanghai Film Bureau, here to pick you up." The middle-aged man quickly stepped forward, his tone respectful. "Old Wu has already made arrangements. If you'd like to stay in Shanghai tonight, we've already made hotel arrangements."

Cheng Xuemin smiled and shook his head: "Okay, thank you, you've worked hard. By the way, could you please confirm the flight to Yanjing tomorrow morning?" "No problem!" the middle-aged man nodded and said, "I'll have someone at the airport notify you in advance about the 8:00 AM flight tomorrow morning."

Since things were already arranged here, Cheng Xuemin didn't want to make any further arrangements. He then said, "Hello, we have a female colleague here whose home is in Shanghai. Could you please arrange to send her home and pick her up tomorrow?"

"That's no problem either! Don't worry, Comrade Cheng!" The middle-aged man nodded politely and then told his entourage to arrange a car to take Gong Xue home.

"Well... Xuemin, why don't you come back with me? And stop by my house for a visit?" Gong Xue finally spoke up, extending an invitation.

However, she invited both Zhu Lin and Li Lianjie together; otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to invite Cheng Xuemin alone!
"There are so many of us, let's not trouble ourselves! Maybe next time!"

"We'll definitely pay you a visit next time we have the chance!"

Cheng Xuemin immediately shook his head. In this day and age, who has ever had a spacious house?

If Gong Xue were to invite all of them to her house, it would put her parents in a terrible predicament.

After all, Cheng Xuemin and his group didn't have any letters of introduction, so even if they arranged a guesthouse nearby, it wouldn't be possible!
So, let's not bother!

The Film Bureau has arranged a hotel here, why not stay there?
Leaving aside Cheng Xuemin's trip to the hotel arranged by the Film Bureau, Gong Xue was successfully taken home.

She stood in front of an old Shikumen house, feeling both excited and apprehensive.

I haven't been back for over a year. I wonder if my parents will be surprised to see me suddenly come back?

"Boom boom boom!"

The door opened quickly, and a plump, middle-aged man named Gong Xue came out. He paused for a moment, then excitedly exclaimed, "Xiao Xue! Why are you back?"

"Mom!" Gong Xue threw herself into her mother's arms, tears streaming down her face.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!" Gong Xue's mother patted her back, her voice choked with emotion. "Her father! Her father! Come out quickly! Xiaoxue is back!"

The room instantly became lively.

Gong Xue's father rushed out upon hearing the news. Seeing his daughter, he asked, not too surprised, "Xiao Xue, you're back? Didn't you say you went to the Bolin Film Festival?"

“Dad! Yes, we just came back from the Bolin Film Festival. We were transferring in Shanghai to fly to Beijing and were going to stay here for one night, so I took some time to come and see the family!” Gong Xue wiped away her tears and said with a smile, “I also brought you some gifts.”

She handed over the Moutai liquor and said, "This was given to you by Comrade Cheng Xuemin. He said it was for you to try."

"Comrade Cheng Xuemin?" Gong Xue's father was taken aback. "Isn't he the pioneer of reform and opening up? I often see his name in the newspapers, and he wrote several songs for you, isn't that him?!"

"Yes, it's him!" Gong Xue nodded, feeling a little proud.

At dinner, the family sat around the table, constantly serving food to Gong Xue.

Gong Xue's brother, not being too curious, asked, "Xiao Xue, how are your grades at Bolin? Did you win any awards for 'Romance on Lushan Mountain'?"

When the topic of "Romance on Lushan Mountain" came up, Gong Xue's mood somber. She said, "No, 'Romance on Lushan Mountain' didn't win any awards at the Bolin Film Festival, and we weren't even invited to the closing ceremony."

The atmosphere in the room instantly became somewhat heavy. Gong Xue's father sighed and comforted her, saying, "It's okay, try harder next time! You're still young, you'll have plenty of opportunities!"

“Dad, don’t worry!” Gong Xue suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with excitement, and said, “Although ‘Romance on Lushan Mountain’ didn’t do well, Xue Min’s other film, ‘Tai Chi,’ grossed over 20 million US dollars in Bolin! It earned the country over 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange!”

"what?!"

At this moment, the whole family was suddenly shocked!

Gong Xue's father dropped his chopsticks on the table with a clatter, asking incredulously, "How much did you say? More than twenty million US dollars?"

"Yes!" Gong Xue nodded emphatically and said, "Comrade Xuemin discussed the overseas copyrights. They sold for ten million in North America, two million one hundred thousand in Europe, and also in South Korea and Japan... adding up to a total of twenty million nine hundred thousand US dollars!"

"My God..." Gong Xue's sister-in-law immediately covered her mouth and exclaimed, "More than 20 million US dollars, how much grain can that buy!"

Gong Xue's younger sister, Gong Ying, came over with sparkling eyes and said, "Sister, you're amazing! Are you going to be a big star like Zhang Yi in the future?"

Gong Xue smiled, but her heart was filled with complicated feelings. She said, "Oh, right, there's something else. Yan Film Studio might transfer me there. From now on, I might have to work in Yanjing for the rest of my life."

The room fell silent instantly, because the whole family wanted Gong Xue to be transferred back to Shanghai, preferably to the Shanghai Film Studio.

But now he's suddenly being transferred to Yan Film Studio, which is something I never expected!
Gong Xue's father remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Going to Yan Film Studio is fine too!"

"Yan Ying Film Studio is the best film studio in the country, which will be good for your career! It's just that... you'll have fewer opportunities to go home in the future."

"Dad, I'll come back often!" Gong Xue held his father's hand, feeling a little guilty.

After dinner, Gong Xue and her younger sister Gong Ying squeezed into one room.

The room was small, with only one double bed. The two sisters squeezed together, which was quite cozy.

"Sis, how are things going between you and that Huang Tu classmate?" Gong Ying suddenly asked, her eyes full of gossip.

Gong Xue was stunned for a moment, and his heart tightened suddenly.

When she wrote to her sister, she mentioned that she had met a guy in Yenching named "Huangtu Tongxue" and that they got along quite well, but she didn't say that "Huangtu Tongxue" was Cheng Xuemin.

When asked about it now, it feels like a lifetime has passed in just over half a year.

"What classmate Huang Tu? We haven't been in touch for a long time." Gong Xue avoided her sister's gaze, her voice sounding somewhat unnatural.

"Liar!" Gong Ying pouted. "Last time you wrote that you didn't even want to go back to Shanghai and wanted to stay in Yanjing. Was it because of him?"
"Sis, tell me honestly, are you two dating?"

Gong Xue felt a mix of emotions.

She thought of Cheng Xuemin's wife, Feng Jiayou, and how her heart would race every time she saw Cheng Xuemin. Suddenly, her nose stung, and she choked out, "Xiaoying, don't ask anymore. He... is already married."

"You're married?" Gong Ying was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to comfort her older sister. "Sis, then you..."

"I'm fine!" Gong Xue forced a smile. "Right now, I just want to focus on filming. I don't want to think about anything else."

……

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