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

While things were bustling in Yanjing, a major event was also taking place in Chengjiawan Brigade, my hometown in northern Shaanxi.

In the courtyard of the county government office, a county party committee leader held the newly delivered People's Daily, his hands trembling with excitement.

He immediately gathered his staff: "Quickly! Prepare the car! Go to Chengjiawan Brigade! We want to personally deliver the good news to Comrade Cheng Xuemin's parents!"

The car bumped along the way, heading towards Chengjiawan Brigade.

Villagers along the way, seeing the county government vehicle, discussed it curiously: "Where are they going? Has something serious happened?"

More than an hour later, the car stopped at the entrance of Chengjiawan Brigade.

This time, the county committee was faster than the postman, and they didn't even notify the commune.

So when the county leaders got out of the car, the news reached the commune secretary's ears. They were all shocked and quickly called on the commune cadres to rush to Chengjiawan.

And this time!
Mr. and Mrs. Cheng were feeding the pigs in the yard when they saw a group of people dressed in cadre uniforms walk in, and they immediately panicked.

They assumed that something had happened to their son, Xuemin, in Yanjing, which was why the county officials had come in person.

And it was Secretary Cao, a leader of the county party committee!
Mr. Cheng put down the pig feed ladle in his hand and asked nervously, "Secretary Cao, has something happened to my Xuemin?"

County Party Secretary Cao quickly smiled and said, "Brother Cheng, don't worry, it's good news! It's fantastic news!"

He took the People's Daily from his secretary, unfolded it, and handed it to Cheng's father, saying, "Brother, look! Comrade Xuemin earned 20.9 million US dollars in foreign exchange for the country at the Bolin Film Festival!"

"This is the front page headline of the People's Daily, an article personally written by Mr. Wu!"

"More than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange! Brother, Comrade Xuemin is truly remarkable!"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Cheng was extremely shocked and bewildered. He quickly took the newspaper, his eyes wide open.

It was indeed the front page headline, reporting on his eldest son, Cheng Xuemin, earning foreign exchange at the Bolin Film Festival.

That's really over 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange!
This is this...

Cheng's father was stunned for a long time before stammering, "Secretary Cao... when did Xuemin go to Bolin?"

What kind of place is Bolin?

Also, how much exactly is over twenty million US dollars? Is it a lot?

County Party Secretary Cao laughed heartily upon hearing this and then said, "Brother, Bolin is a major city in a foreign country, and its film festival is particularly famous."

That 20 million US dollars is worth hundreds of millions of RMB!
Let me put it this way, brother! Last year, the total revenue of our entire Shaanxi province was only a little over ten million yuan!

Comrade Ke Xuemin's trip to Bolin earned the country a full 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange, equivalent to the total foreign exchange earnings of our entire province for two years. Brother, wouldn't you say that's a lot?"

"Huh? So many?" Mr. Cheng was completely stunned, and almost dropped the newspaper in his hand.

He never imagined in his life that the foreign exchange his eldest son earned for the country would be more than the entire province's annual income.

"Yes, brother! Comrade Xuemin has made a great contribution to the country this time. He is the pride of our northern Shaanxi and the pride of the people of the whole country!" Secretary Cao was also excited and shook hands with Cheng's father repeatedly, without showing any disgust that Cheng's father had just been feeding pigs.

Cheng's mother also came over, and when she heard "several hundred million," tears instantly streamed down her face: "My Xuemin...my Xuemin is really that amazing?"

The surrounding villagers heard the commotion and gathered around.

When Cheng's father saw the brigade secretary's uncle, he quickly handed him the newspaper and said, "Uncle, Secretary Cao just delivered the People's Daily. It says that Xuemin earned more than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange for the country in Bolin!"

"They even said it's more than the entire Shaanxi province's annual foreign exchange earnings! That's huge!"

Mr. Cheng was incredibly excited. Although his uncle didn't know what Bolin was, he understood what more than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange was!
After all, the radio is now calling on everyone to generate foreign exchange!

What kind of platform is this?
It means selling goods abroad and earning US dollars back from overseas. Our country is currently eager for US dollars from abroad.

Therefore, this is a topic that the villagers often discuss before and after meals.

"Good, good, good! Excellent, good, good! Xuemin is truly outstanding!" His uncle also quickly looked at the newspaper, having learned a few characters, and repeatedly praised him!

"What? You Xuemin people earned more than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange?"

"Damn it, when did this happen? Why haven't I heard your Xuemin write back mentioning it?"

Now that it's almost the end of the year, there's no more farm work to be done on the plains, and all the villagers are gathered here, chattering away.

County Party Secretary Cao was deeply moved as he watched this scene unfold.

He patted Cheng's father on the shoulder and said, "Brother and sister-in-law, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, please tell the county government anytime."

Comrade Xuemin has made such a great contribution to the country, and our county committee also benefits from it!

That afternoon, the news that Cheng Xuemin had earned more than 20 million US dollars for the country spread throughout northern Shaanxi.

Leaders from various counties called Chengjiawan Brigade to congratulate Cheng's parents.

Every day, the Cheng family's courtyard was crowded with people coming to offer their congratulations. Mr. and Mrs. Cheng were busy and happy, and their smiles never stopped.

Meanwhile, Cheng Xuemin, far away in Yanjing, was unaware that his hometown was already in an uproar because of his news.

Cheng Xuemin couldn't stand staying in the courtyard house for more than a day.

From dawn till dusk, the knocking at the door never stopped.

Neighbors brought fruit and snacks to offer their congratulations, government officials came with notebooks to learn from his experience, and reporters with cameras shouted from across the wall that they wanted to interview him.

Even when his maternal grandfather went out to buy groceries, he was recognized as Cheng Xuemin's maternal grandfather and surrounded by people asking him all sorts of questions.

"If this keeps up, our doorstep will be worn down by all the foot traffic!"

Cheng Xuemin rubbed his throbbing temples and complained to Feng Jiayou, "Wife, I think I'll go back to Yanying Factory. At least it'll be quieter there!"

Feng Jiayou knew her husband didn't really like these social gatherings, so she jokingly said:
"Then be careful, I heard the area in front of Yanying Factory is even more lively than our house!"

The next morning, Cheng Xuemin didn't dare to ride in the family car. Instead, he pushed his bicycle out the back door of the house and left!
Sure enough, the scene at Yan Film Studio was much more damn lively!

As soon as I reached the alley entrance, I heard a familiar commotion coming from ahead.

It wasn't people from Yanying Film Studio, but a group of college students holding signs that read "Learn from Comrade Cheng Xuemin," who were gathered at the factory gate shouting, "We want to see Comrade Cheng Xuemin! We want to learn from his experience in earning foreign exchange!"

The factory gate was packed with people, including cadres in Zhongshan suits, reporters carrying cameras, and many educated youth returning to the city wearing red armbands and holding notebooks, all clearly there to learn from the experience.

Cheng Xuemin shrank back and followed his brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao around to the back gate, through the family living area, and into the factory area.

"Brother, has the factory been like this every day for the past few days?!" Cheng Xuemin was truly dumbfounded; he hadn't expected the commotion to be so big!

"That's right!" Brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao pointed ahead and said, "Xuemin, didn't you see? The old factory director was so excited that he had to set aside time every day to receive them and promote you."

"This...it can't be that bad, can it?"

Cheng Xuemin was dumbfounded again. Could the old factory director have such a flamboyant side?
It seems that this foreign exchange earnings of over 20 million US dollars have indeed revitalized the old factory director!

“How could it not be?” Brother-in-law Feng Jiazhao shook his head and said, “Xuemin, you don’t know what more than 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange earnings means to our Yan Film Studio…”

Before Feng Jiazhao could finish speaking, he heard shouts of beatings and pleas for mercy coming from not far away.

Cheng Xuemin looked in the direction of the sound and saw Chen Huaikai chasing Chen Kaizi in the open space of the residential area, holding a carrying pole and cursing as he did so.

"You little brat! That'll teach you to behave! That'll teach you to brag to me..."

Chen Kaizi covered his head and ran ahead in a disheveled state, shouting, "Dad! I was wrong! I'll never do it again! Please stop hitting me!"

Cheng Xuemin was dumbfounded!
The last time he saw Chen Huaikai beat up Chen Kaizi was before Bolin returned. He didn't expect that just a few days later, Old Chen would hit him so hard again.

He initially wanted to step forward and offer some advice, but then he thought that it was a family matter and it wouldn't be appropriate for him to interfere, so he turned around and walked towards the office building.

As Cheng Xuemin entered the office building, he ran into the old factory director, Wang Yang. Wang Yang's eyes lit up when he saw him, and he greeted him, "Xuemin, you've finally arrived! If you hadn't come, I really would have called you back!"

"Don't even mention it. I couldn't stay at home at all. I didn't expect there to be even more people at the factory gate, so I had to sneak in through the back door." Cheng Xuemin shook his head with a wry smile, then casually asked:
"By the way, old factory director, I just saw Comrade Chen Huaikai beating up his son again in the living quarters. What's going on?"
"Kai is already so old, why did Old Chen hit him so hard?"

Wang Yang sighed, genuinely suspecting the kid was feigning ignorance, but still shook his head and said:
"It's all because of you! Ever since the People's Daily reported on that $20 million in foreign exchange earnings, Old Chen has been looking at Kai Zi with disdain every day and just wants to beat him up!"

Cheng Xuemin's lips twitched violently twice, and he said dumbfoundedly, "Is it about the Tai Chi director selection last time?"

Cheng Xuemin must have heard about this long ago!

Originally, Chen was a popular candidate in the factory, and the old factory director even recommended Chen Huaikai as the director of "Tai Chi".

But his son, Chen Kaige, gave him bad advice, telling Old Chen to be more confident and pat his chest as much as possible when the leader called him in for a talk, saying that he could do Tai Chi well.

They also said that martial arts films have little technical content.

Because of this, Cheng Xuemin felt that Lao Chen was a bit pretentious and simply passed him over.

They've replaced him with Huang Jianzhong!

The old factory director, Wang Yang, nodded and said, "Isn't it all because of that Tai Chi director thing?! Chen Huaikai didn't get the directorship!"

"And you, you made over twenty million US dollars from one movie. Old Chen gets angry every time he sees that rich kid, thinking about it."

Cheng Xuemin chuckled awkwardly upon hearing this, thinking to himself that Kai Zi really deserved to be beaten.

If his little squirrel is this troublesome in the future, he'll have to pick up a carrying pole and beat it up!

Of course, his own wife, Feng Jiayou, also has to be willing to do it!
As the two were talking, Wang Yang suddenly remembered something and slapped his thigh:
"By the way, Xuemin, you've come at the perfect time. There are a few people who have been waiting for you at the guesthouse all night. You must see them."

"Who is it? And why do I have to see them?" Cheng Xuemin asked curiously, somewhat surprised.

"You'll see when you meet them; they're all old acquaintances." Wang Yang smiled mysteriously, then added, "I've already sent someone to invite them; they should be here by now."

Not long after, the office door was pushed open, and three people entered.

Cheng Xuemin looked up and was immediately stunned!
They were all familiar faces!
The first one is He Chengwei from "Story Club". He is now wearing a smart Zhongshan suit with a pen pinned to his chest. He looks more composed than when we last met.

Upon seeing Cheng Xuemin, He Chengwei quickly stepped forward to shake hands and greeted him, "Comrade Xuemin, long time no see! You've really done something amazing this time, over twenty million US dollars in foreign exchange! When our editor-in-chief and I heard about it, we were completely stunned!"

"Haha! Haha! We're all working for the country and serving the people!" Cheng Xuemin said politely with a smile, but in his heart he was wondering why He Chengwei would come to Yanying Film Studio.
The second one is Deputy Director Zhao of the Shanghai Film Studio. I just parted ways with Lao Zhao a few days ago!

Cheng Xuemin knew that last time they went to Guangzhou to record a song, Deputy Factory Director Zhao and the others flew directly from Hong Kong to Shanghai and went back to the factory with Xie Jin. They didn't go north with them. Why are they in Yanjing now?
"Director Zhao, what brings you here? Is there something else in Shanghai that you need to report to your superiors?" Cheng Xuemin could only ask.

Deputy Factory Director Zhao smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, "Comrade Xuemin, the reason we came here is because Xie Jin and I forgot to discuss something with you!"

Did we forget to discuss something?

Cheng Xuemin was puzzled. Their cooperation with Bolin had indeed been very pleasant and smooth. If Deputy Factory Director Zhao wanted to discuss something with him, he certainly wouldn't refuse. So he politely replied, "Alright, alright, then Factory Director Zhao, we'll discuss it in detail later!"

Then came this last comrade, who truly surprised Cheng Xuemin.

Because they're all old acquaintances, right?

But the person in front of me is hardly an old acquaintance, as we've only met once.

Because he turned out to be Director Zhou of the Shanghai Film Bureau.

Two days ago, Mr. Wu made an urgent arrangement for Cheng Xuemin and his group to transfer in Hong Kong and fly to Shanghai.

They had a layover in Shanghai and spent the night there. The person who hosted them was Director Zhou of the Shanghai Film Bureau.

So, how come Director Zhou has come to Yanying Film Studio now?

"Director Zhou, what brings you here? This is truly a rare guest." Cheng Xuemin turned around and shook hands with Director Zhou to greet him.

Director Zhou smiled and shook hands firmly with Cheng Xuemin, saying with a smile, "Comrade Xuemin, I'm here on assignment from above. I have important work to discuss with you. Let's sit down and talk."

Cheng Xuemin invited them to sit down, and the old factory director acted as their secretary, pouring tea for everyone.

Cheng Xuemin then formally asked, "The three of you must have come together today for something important, right? Please feel free to speak."

He Chengwei spoke first, saying, "Comrade Xuemin, I've come here today to talk to you about the martial arts novels you published in 'Story Club'."

Since your "Tai Chi" became a hit in Bolin, the circulation of our "Story Club" has increased several times over, and readers are urging us to read the next one.

I've come here today to ask you to finish writing the novel "Tai Chi" as soon as possible, so we can arrange for its publication and let readers across the country read it ahead of schedule!

Cheng Xuemin nodded and said, "I will write the manuscript as soon as possible. Even if you hadn't said anything, Lao He, I would have finished writing it as soon as possible!"

He Chengwei was overjoyed to hear this and immediately relinquished the right to speak, becoming a loyal listener.

At this moment, Deputy Factory Director Zhao chimed in, saying, "Comrade Xuemin, that's how it is!"

"The Shanghai Film Studio is here today to discuss film copyrights with you. Last time in Bolin, after I brought back your foreign exchange earnings achievements, our former director, Xu Sangchu, was immediately astonished."

His first question to me was whether I had secured a deal with the martial arts film script I had.

When Xie Jin and I heard this, we were completely dumbfounded!

Yes! I was so happy that I forgot about that!
The old factory director was extremely anxious and immediately sent me to Yanjing to secure all the copyrights to the martial arts film scripts you had.

Cheng Xuemin then realized what was going on and said, "So that's how it is. Indeed, we could have talked about it casually when we were in Bolin."

Then he asked, "But Director Zhao, why did you also involve Editor-in-Chief He?"

“It was our former factory director’s idea,” Deputy Factory Director Zhao replied. “He said that we had worked with 'Story Club' before and had a good relationship, so he suggested that I come with Editor-in-Chief He to increase our chances of success.”

Furthermore, Editor-in-Chief He mentioned wanting to discuss the film and television adaptation rights for the novel with you, and we happen to be going the same way.

Cheng Xuemin smiled, but did not agree immediately. He said, "Your old factory director is really decisive!"

"Hey, this old Xu was afraid he couldn't beat me, so he didn't dare to come in person!" Old factory director Wang Yang said indignantly.

Could Deputy Factory Director Zhao's purpose in coming to Yanying Film Studio be hidden from the cunning old fox, Wang Yang?

They've come here again to steal scripts from Yanying Film Studio.

Last time, Xu Sangchu and Xie Jin snatched the script for "Romance on Lushan Mountain," which really angered Wang Yang.

Fortunately, Cheng Xuemin's later script for "Tai Chi" was even more impressive!
So, when Xu Sangchu sent people to snatch the script again, the old factory director Wang Yang didn't care, because they already had a trump card in their hands.

Since Tai Chi is so popular and profitable, they definitely need to seize the opportunity to write and film the second part as soon as possible!

Therefore, all that Yan Film Studio needs is Tai Chi Part 2. As for the scripts for other martial arts films, let Xu Sangchu and his studios fight over them!

It all comes down to who's quickest!
It seems that Xu Sangchu, who got there first, was the fastest, sending people to Yanjing to snatch the script!

After being teased by Wang Yang, Deputy Factory Director Zhao could only laugh awkwardly.

Cheng Xuemin smiled and nodded, saying, "I do have a few martial arts film scripts. I'll bring them over later and let Deputy Director Zhao and you choose one!"

"It's already been written into a script?!" Deputy Director Zhao was overjoyed upon hearing this. Their Shanghai Film Studio had originally planned to take advantage of their proximity to the source!
Before other film studios could react, they quickly contacted "Story Club" and secured the film rights to the several historical novels written by Cheng Xuemin.

Once the film rights are secured, deciding who will write the script becomes much easier.

Of course, they hoped that Cheng Xuemin himself could personally help rewrite the script, after all, this kid's scripts are all bestsellers!
Unexpectedly, Cheng Xuemin acted so quickly that he had already finished writing the script!
Once they buy it, they can immediately start the project and begin filming!

This is great! This is really great!
After the two had finished their discussions, only Director Zhou from the Shanghai Film Bureau remained.

Cheng Xuemin was now serious. He couldn't guess the purpose of Cheng Xuemin's visit to Yanying Film Studio. Did he want to bypass Ding Daming of China Film Group and snatch Tai Chi directly to Shanghai for an early release?
……

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