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

The speech given by the leader in charge of Jiangxi Province was brief and powerful, without any lengthy platitudes.

It emphasized the importance of literature and art in the new era and affirmed the contributions of filmmakers in enriching people's spiritual life and promoting cultural exchanges with other countries.

Several influential works were specifically mentioned, with "Tai Chi" and the achievements in foreign exchange earnings being highlighted.

As Cheng Xuemin listened on stage, he could feel the meaningful gaze cast by the old factory director Wang Yang beside him.

The speech ended with thunderous applause.

Without much preamble, the awards ceremony began immediately.

Just as Cheng Xuemin had predicted, the entire process was so simple it was almost rudimentary.

There were no glamorous award presenters, no witty interactive segments, and not even separate announcements to create suspense.

A member of the judging panel, dressed in a Zhongshan suit and with a serious expression, walked directly to the center of the stage, holding an unfolded red-headed document in his hand. He then began to read aloud into the microphone in a clear but flat tone:
"The winners of the 4th Popular Cinema Hundred Flowers Awards are hereby announced."

The audience fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on the paper, as if the air had frozen.

Even the noisy audience in the back row held their breath.

"The winners of the Best Feature Film Award are: The Herdsman, Yanjing Film Studio; The Return of the Swallow, Changchun Film Studio; Tai Chi, Yanjing Film Studio; and Lushan Romance, Shanghai Film Studio."

The names were announced in one breath, and each time a name was called out, a round of applause and cheers erupted from the audience.

When Cheng Xuemin heard the name "Tai Chi," a weight was lifted from his heart. Although he had expected it, the confirmation still brought a warm feeling.

He saw that Huang Jianzhong, Li Lianjie and others were clapping enthusiastically in the area where the "Tai Chi" crew was sitting, their faces beaming.

"The Best Director Award goes to Xie Jin, director of 'The Herdsman'."

The applause rang out again, but it wasn't as enthusiastic as before.

Cheng Xuemin noticed that when Lao Xie stood up from the audience, his expression was somewhat surprised, which clearly indicated that the result was not entirely unexpected.

Next came the crucial individual awards. The staff member paused, then continued reading:
"The Best Actor award goes to Tang Guoqiang, who played Zhao Shutun in 'The Peacock Princess'!"

"Wow!"

The applause and cheers instantly reached a new climax, especially the cheers from female and young audience members.

Tang Guoqiang stood up from his seat in the August First Film Studio, his handsome face bearing his signature slightly shy but excited smile.

He straightened his Zhongshan suit and walked steadily toward the stage.

Cheng Xuemin saw Li Lianjie clapping vigorously from below the stage, but the smile on her lips was somewhat stiff, and the hint of disappointment in her eyes was even more obvious.

Cheng Xuemin sighed inwardly. Market choice, audience vote—this was the result.

Ok!

Even if it weren't for audience voting, if it were a judging panel, they wouldn't have chosen Leonardo DiCaprio, a kung fu kid, as the best actor!

Then, before Tang Guoqiang could even step onto the stage!
The staff member cleared his throat and continued reading out the list of winners for various awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Voice Acting, and so on.

Cheng Xuemin even won a Best Screenplay award for "The Herdsman"!

However, there has never been a list of Best Actress winners, which shows that the jury is not entirely rigid and follows a set procedure.

They also knew to save the most suspenseful winners list for the last time!
So finally, the last and most anticipated award was announced:
"The Best Actress Award goes to: Zhu Lin, who played Li Xiuzhi in 'The Herdsman'!"

really!

The audience immediately went wild!

Applause, cheers, and whistles filled the air; the fact that people dared to whistle in such a scene showed just how incredibly excited they were!

Cheng Xuemin's gaze immediately swept towards Zhu Lin's location.

She sat with Gong Xue, Liu Xiaoqing, and others.

Upon hearing her name, Zhu Lin seemed to freeze in place.

His eyes were wide open, his mouth was slightly agape, and his hand was still clapping in mid-air. His face showed complete disbelief and immense surprise.

Gong Xue, who was standing next to her, reacted the fastest. She was stunned for a moment, then a genuine smile bloomed on her face. She gave Zhu Lin a push and whispered urgently in her ear:
"Sister Lin! It's you! Come on up! Come and claim your prize!"

Liu Xiaoqing's expression was much more complicated. She was also clapping, but her smile was somewhat forced, and her eyes flickered quickly.

A fleeting hint of jealousy and resentment crossed his mind, but it was quickly masked by even more enthusiastic applause.

Zhu Lin only came to her senses after being pushed by Gong Xue. She exclaimed and stood up in a fluster, her steps unsteady, her face as red as a ripe apple.

Amidst the congratulations and applause of those around him, he walked dizzily toward the stage.

On the stage, the award winners were already standing in a row.

Tang Guoqiang appeared calm and composed, director Xie Jin wore a smile, and representatives of the other award-winning films also looked excited.

Zhu Lin stood on the far side, right next to Cheng Xuemin, and suddenly felt like she had a pillar of support.

But she lowered her voice, her tone a mix of sobs and laughter, and said, "Xuemin... I... I'm so nervous... my hands are shaking..."

"Stay calm, take a deep breath." Cheng Xuemin maintained his award-presenting posture and quickly reassured her in a voice only the two of them could hear, "You are Li Xiuzhi, you are Chen Shaoqi, you were chosen by the audience vote by vote, what are you afraid of? Smile."

Zhu Lin took a deep breath and forced a smile, which was still a little stiff, but much better than before.

Cheng Xuemin also took a look, and the biggest winner of this first Hundred Flowers Award should be his "The Herdsman"!

Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and the most prestigious Best Actress award—four major awards.

This film has won the most awards at this year's Hundred Flowers Awards!
The staff also brought over a tray covered with red velvet, on which were placed the certificates of merit.

Yes.

In those days, the Hundred Flowers Awards presented a large, beautifully printed certificate, unlike the elaborate trophies of later generations.

The award ceremony was very simple: the presenter would put a red flower on the winner and present them with a certificate.

After the awards were presented, all the winners and presenters turned to face the audience, lined up, and prepared to take a group photo.

There were no professional photographers directing the shots; only reporters from newspapers and film magazines were snapping photos in the front row, their flashes going off everywhere.

The whole process was efficient and quick, even a bit businesslike, but the audience's enthusiasm remained undiminished, with continuous applause.

After the group photo, the award winners, holding their certificates, filed off the stage amidst continuous enthusiastic applause and flashing camera lights.

The audience remained enthusiastic, with many standing up to applaud and their eyes following their favorite movie stars.

Zhu Lin clutched the heavy certificate tightly, her cheeks flushed, and her steps were still a little unsteady. Gong Xue and Liu Xiaoqing caught her from below the stage.

The three women hugged each other excitedly, laughing and jumping, drawing good-natured laughter and even more enthusiastic applause from those around them.

However, the ceremony did not end there.

The host returned to the stage, his voice booming: "Comrades, friends! The awards ceremony is now temporarily adjourned."

Next, please welcome our special guest for this year's Hundred Flowers Awards, Comrade Cheng Xuemin, head of the Dongfang Chuanghui Branch of Yanjing Film Studio, producer and screenwriter of films such as *Tai Chi* and *The Herdsman*, who has made outstanding contributions to my country's film industry in generating foreign exchange, to the stage to speak!

The audience erupted in even more enthusiastic and sustained applause than before, filled with curiosity and admiration.

The name Cheng Xuemin is already familiar to people in cultural and film circles and those who follow current events.

His pioneering role in reform and opening up has made him known to people all over the country.

His achievement of generating tens of millions of US dollars in foreign exchange has added a layer of legendary color to his story.

Cheng Xuemin calmly stood up and walked back to the center of the stage.

He didn't bring a speech note; he simply adjusted the height of the microphone slightly.

The stage lights shone on him, making him appear slightly thin but with an upright posture and a calm and confident smile on his face.

The commotion below the stage gradually subsided, and everyone wanted to hear what this young pioneer of foreign exchange earnings would have to say.

"Distinguished leaders, colleagues in the film industry, and dear audience members, good evening."

Cheng Xuemin's voice rang clearly through the microphone, steady and powerful, without the slightest hint of stage fright. His gaze swept across the audience, from the leaders on the stage to his colleagues in the guest seats, and then to the sea of ​​enthusiastic viewers at the back.

"Standing on this stage, I feel both excited and apprehensive."

He started humbly, but his tone was sincere: "I am excited because I can gather with so many outstanding Chinese filmmakers in Lushan and share this honor."

"I am apprehensive because I, Cheng Xuemin, and our Yan Film Studio and East Depot, have only done our part, yet we have received such high praise and affection from everyone."

He didn't talk much about himself, but instead shifted the focus to a broader perspective: "The resumption of the Hundred Flowers Awards selection process, with the power completely handed over to the audience, is of extraordinary significance."

This shows that our films have truly returned to the path of serving the people. Our creative efforts should strive in the direction that audiences like and enjoy watching.

The success of "Tai Chi" is less due to the quality of our film and more due to our accurate identification of the audience's needs and the right entry point to promote our excellent national culture to the world.

Instead of empty slogans, Cheng Xuemin shared some specific practices and thoughts on script conception, action choreography, and overseas distribution channel development, drawing on his work on "Tai Chi" and the currently filming "Shaolin Temple." His language was simple, but the information was very rich.

Many film professionals in the audience, especially the heads and key creative personnel of various film studios, listened very attentively, nodding or exchanging whispers from time to time.

"The road ahead is still long!" Cheng Xuemin concluded, raising his voice slightly with a passionate anticipation. "The Hundred Flowers Award is an encouragement, but even more so, a spur."

I believe that every filmmaker here is passionate about film and feels a sense of responsibility to our times.

As long as we stay close to life, close to the masses, and close to reality, and are courageous in innovation and daring to break through, we will surely be able to create more outstanding works worthy of the times and the people.

Let the flowers of Chinese cinema bloom even more brilliantly on the world stage!

His speech was short but well-organized, insightful yet down-to-earth, summarizing the past while looking to the future, earning him enthusiastic applause from the audience.

This applause is not only an affirmation of his personal achievements, but also an endorsement and expectation of the path he has outlined for the development of film.

Cheng Xuemin bowed and stepped down from the stage. The old factory director, Wang Yang, patted him hard on the shoulder, his eyes full of approval: "Well said! You're very capable!"

As soon as Cheng Xuemin sat down, the host came on stage again: "Next, please welcome Tang Guoqiang, the winner of this year's Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actor, to speak on behalf of all the male actors!"

Applause rang out again, but the atmosphere was different from when Cheng Xuemin was speaking; it was now filled with more love and admiration for the celebrity.

Tang Guoqiang straightened his collar, his face bearing his signature gentle and slightly shy smile, and steadily walked onto the stage.

He was holding a piece of paper in his hand, clearly having made preparations.

"Respected leaders, seniors, and dear audience friends," Tang Guoqiang's voice was gentle and clear, with a scholarly air, "I am very excited to be standing here and speaking on behalf of male actors. I also feel a great sense of honor and responsibility."

His speech focused more on the actors' personal feelings and artistic pursuits.

He thanked the audience for their love and the judges for their recognition, and thanked the production teams of "The Peacock Princess" and "Little Flower" for their training. He talked about how actors can immerse themselves in life, understand their roles, and use genuine emotions to create characters.

His language is delicate, his emotions are sincere, and combined with his handsome appearance and earnest attitude, he easily touches people's hearts.

In particular, when he said, "The highest honor for an actor is to gain the recognition of the audience," the audience responded with enthusiastic applause.

Li Lianjie watched from below the stage, clapping vigorously, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Tang Guoqiang's speech was exactly the opportunity he had been dreaming of.

Listening to those words about artistic pursuits, he felt both envious and somewhat resentful, secretly determined to play an even more outstanding role.

After Tang Guoqiang finished speaking, he bowed in greeting, and the audience applauded enthusiastically, especially the female audience members.

Finally, the host announced with anticipation: "Next, please welcome Zhu Lin, the winner of this year's Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress, to speak on behalf of all the actresses!"

The audience erupted in applause, bringing the atmosphere to another climax.

Zhu Lin took a deep breath, gripped her speech tightly, and walked onto the stage amidst encouraging glances from Gong Xue and Liu Xiaoqing.

The light shone on her, and you could clearly see that her hands were trembling slightly.

She walked to the microphone, bowed deeply to the audience, and when she looked up, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were filled with nervousness and excitement.

"Dear leaders, teachers, and dear audience members," her voice was initially a little tight and trembling, but she quickly tried to calm herself down, "I... I really can't describe my feelings right now. Besides being excited, I am... I am grateful."

She glanced down at her script, then looked up, straining to see the audience, her eyes sincere.

"Thank you to the Hundred Flowers Awards, and thank you to every audience member who voted for me! It is your support that allowed my portrayal of Li Xiuzhi to enter thousands of households."

"Thank you to everyone in the 'Horse Herder' crew, and thank you to Director Xie Jin for his guidance and help..."

Her speech was clearly reviewed by the organizing committee; the content was standard, mainly expressing gratitude and a commitment to continue her efforts in the future.

But Zhu Lin's sincerity made up for the conventionality of the content. When she spoke emotionally, her eyes reddened slightly and her voice choked up. That genuine and unpretentious excitement touched everyone present.

When she concluded by saying, "I will take this honor as a new starting point and strive to be a good actress who is worthy of the audience and the times," the audience erupted in prolonged and enthusiastic applause.

Gong Xue watched from below the stage, clapping enthusiastically with a genuine smile on his face, happy for his friend.

Liu Xiaoqing also clapped, but a complex look was still faintly visible deep in her eyes.

After Zhu Lin finished speaking, she bowed again, almost ran off the stage, and rushed into the arms of Gong Xue, who came to greet her. The two hugged each other excitedly.

With this, the core parts of the awards ceremony have all concluded.

After a short break and venue adjustments, the cultural performance began.

The atmosphere in this part is much more relaxed and lively.

The grand chorus "The Sun and the Moon Shine Together," organized by Gong Xue, was magnificent and won thunderous applause.

Li Lianjie's martial arts performance ignited the entire audience. His clean and crisp movements and handsome appearance drew cheers from the audience.

The young people, in particular, cheered loudly, which somewhat made up for his disappointment at not winning an award.

When it was time for the medley of movie songs, the announcer read out: "The Bloodstained Glory, performed by Gong Xue and Cheng Xuemin."

An unexpected burst of applause and whispers erupted from the audience.

"It's Gong Xue! It's Gong Xue! Gong Xue is coming up!"

"And Comrade Cheng Xuemin! I've heard their duet tapes, they sang so well!"

"Oh my, Comrade Cheng Xuemin and Comrade Gong Xue are simply a perfect couple!"

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Cheng Xuemin braced himself and walked to the center of the stage with Gong Xue.

With the spotlight shining on him, he could feel countless curious gazes from below the stage.

Gong Xue, on the other hand, was quite poised and gave him an encouraging look.

As the music began, Gong Xue spoke first, her voice clear and captivating, befitting someone from the General Political Department.

When it was Cheng Xuemin's turn, he took a deep breath and tried his best to keep up with the pace.

His singing wasn't exactly beautiful; it was even a bit dry and overly forceful. But it was sincere and powerful, with each word pronounced with emphasis, carrying the spirit of how revolutionary songs should be sung.

The audience was initially surprised, but then burst into even more enthusiastic applause and laughter, which were also more heartwarming.

Clearly, people found the way this pioneer of foreign exchange earning was singing so seriously to be endearingly unexpected.

After finishing the song, Cheng Xuemin felt pretty good about himself and bowed to leave the stage with Gong Xue.

The cultural performance drew to a close in a joyful atmosphere.

Just before the host was about to announce the end of the ceremony, a staff member quietly approached Cheng Xuemin and whispered:

"Director Cheng, please stay after the ceremony. Provincial leaders are in the backstage reception room and would like to have a brief chat with you."

Cheng Xuemin thought to himself: They're here.

The ceremony concluded amidst enthusiastic applause, and the audience began to leave in an orderly fashion, while the award winners were surrounded by reporters.

Cheng Xuemin declined several interview requests and, guided by his staff, walked through the noisy backstage area to a relatively quiet small meeting room.

……

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