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

Fu Qi and Huang Jianzhong also heard what Cheng Xuemin said to Counselor Li. They looked at each other and saw deep shock and a hint of understanding in each other's eyes.

They seem to be starting to understand the logic behind Cheng Xuemin's crazy actions!
This is not a show of defiance after retreating, but a declaration of a desperate counterattack!

It puts the other side in a difficult position while simultaneously pushing itself into a corner, forcing everyone, including the Cannes jury, to examine and judge these two films with the purest artistic standards!
This is both extreme self-confidence and an extremely dangerous gamble!
“Xuemin…” Huang Jianzhong began in a hoarse voice, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Cheng Xuemin shook his head slightly at him, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more, and then turned his gaze to the brightly lit stage at the front of the hall, which was about to decide the fate of countless people.

There, the Palme d'Or trophy, under the spotlight, quietly reflects an alluring yet cold light.

Just then, the lights in the hall began to dim, and melodious and solemn orchestral music began, marking the official opening of the 33rd Cannes International Film Festival closing ceremony and awards ceremony.

However, unlike the anticipation and excitement that began at the start of previous awards ceremonies.

This year, the hall was filled with an unprecedented, suffocating atmosphere of tension!
Everyone knows that the upcoming awards ceremony is not only about who will win the Palme d'Or, but also about the outcome of a high-stakes gamble worth $400 million that has just been concluded!
It felt as if there were tiny electric currents silently crackling in the air, stimulating everyone's nerves.

Countless gazes, intentionally or unintentionally, swept back and forth between the Chinese team area represented by Cheng Xuemin and the Japanese team area represented by Tsuchino Nako, like invisible searchlights.

Naoko Tsuchino sat stiffly in her seat, her back ramrod straight, like a sculpture!
She placed her hands on her knees, her nails digging deep into the flesh of her hands, leaving crescent-shaped, whitish indentations.

She forced herself to stare at the dazzling stage in front of her, but her gaze was unfocused and she couldn't get her eyes on the screen.

A buzzing sound filled my ears, all I could hear was Cheng Xuemin's thunderous, resolute voice on the red carpet, and his unfathomable eyes that seemed to see through everything.

A profound sense of humiliation, anger, unease, and a hint of fear of the unknown outcome—a fear she herself was unwilling to acknowledge—writhed around her heart like countless cold, venomous snakes, tightening ever more.

She could only repeat to herself over and over again, like chanting a spell: Shadow Warrior will win!
Master Kurosawa will win! The judging panel is fair!
That Chinese man's arrogance will surely be crushed by reality!

Hitachi Heavy Industries will win this gamble and acquire the technical data that can remedy the fatal flaw in their hot rolling mill!
Cheng Xuemin, you will pay the price for your arrogance!
A terrible price to pay!
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in the East!

It's 4:30 a.m. in Yanjing!

The night was as dark as ink, and the city had not yet awakened. Only a few streetlights cast a dim, lonely glow in the deepest darkness before dawn.

The streets were empty and quiet, with only the occasional early morning cleaning truck driving by, making a rustling sound.

In a traditional courtyard house deep in a heavily guarded alley in the heart of the city, a sudden, sharp telephone ring shattered the tranquility of the early morning!
This ringtone is unlike any ordinary telephone; it possesses a unique, unforgettable penetrating power.

In the bedroom, the elderly man, who was fast asleep on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes almost at the same time the alarm rang for the third time.

That's an instinctive reaction only those who have been in high positions for a long time and are always on guard.

Without the slightest hesitation, he grabbed the receiver of the secure telephone by the bedside.

"I am!" The old man's voice was hoarse from just waking up, but it instantly regained its usual composure and strength.

The urgent but clear report, with the characteristic delay and slight static of a telephone call, came through the receiver; it was the voice of the person in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' duty office:
"Mr. Wu! Emergency! I just received a encrypted satellite phone call from Counselor Li of the Chinese Embassy in France, from Cannes!"

"I have reported an extremely sudden and significant incident! It involves my delegation attending the Cannes Film Festival, Comrade Cheng Xuemin!"

When Old Wu heard the name Cheng Xuemin, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply asked in a deep voice, "Speak!"

The voice on the other end of the phone was trembling with excitement and the seriousness of the situation, and the speaker was speaking very quickly:
"Just about half an hour ago, on the red carpet at the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival, Comrade Cheng Xuemin... he, he publicly... accepted the challenge repeatedly proposed by Naoko Tsuchimino, representative of Hitachi Heavy Industries of Japan, regarding the award bet between the films 'Redemption' and 'Kagemusha'!"

And...and the betting agreement was confirmed on-site! The stakes involve...the $200 million technology transfer fee paid by the Japanese side during the previous negotiations in Shanghai! And an equivalent amount of additional compensation! The total is a whopping $400 million!

"what?!"

Even though Mr. Wu had experienced many ups and downs in his life and remained calm even when Mount Tai collapsed in front of him, his pupils suddenly contracted the moment he heard the words "four hundred million US dollars" and "accept the bet in public." His fingers gripping the receiver tightened sharply, and his knuckles turned white instantly from the force.
He practically sprang up from the bed, his other hand instinctively pressing against his chest. He felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head, and his temples throbbed!

"The news has been verified?!"

Old Wu's voice suddenly rose, filled with unprecedented severity and disbelief, "Counselor Li saw it with his own eyes? Or was it just hearsay?! How could Cheng Xuemin possibly... Didn't he just..."

"Counselor Li was there! He witnessed the whole process! Moreover, Comrade Cheng Xuemin took the initiative to approach the Japanese representatives in front of global media cameras, publicly announced his acceptance of the challenge, and submitted the draft agreement!"

"Right now, the entire Cannes media, no, I'm afraid the whole world's media is in an uproar! Counselor Li just tried to dissuade him from asking questions, but Comrade Cheng Xuemin's attitude... was very firm!"

The voice on the other end of the phone was choked with sobs and filled with immense fear, "Old Wu! This...this is too sudden! Too...too risky! We didn't receive any prior instructions! What if..."

"Enough!" Old Wu interrupted sharply. He took a deep breath, forcing his boiling blood and his almost exploding mind to calm down.

Decades of political wisdom and crisis management instincts forcefully suppressed the initial shock and outrage at this moment.

The incident has already happened, and in such a public and intense way. The most important thing now is not to assign blame and express anger, but to assess, control, and respond!
"Immediately!" Old Wu's voice returned to its icy and resolute tone, each word like a nail driven into wood. "First, notify the duty officer in charge of foreign affairs and the director of the General Office to come to my office immediately!"

Second, contact Director Luo of the Economic Commission, who is in charge of the technology import project from Japan, and other relevant officials from relevant ministries, and ask them to come over immediately!

Third, have Secretary Yang come to me immediately! And quickly!

"Yes! Yes! I'll arrange it right away!" came the reply from the other end of the phone.

Mr. Wu slammed the phone down, his chest heaving violently.

He threw off the covers, not even bothering to put on a coat, wearing only his pajamas, and walked barefoot to the cold floor. He then strode to the window and abruptly pulled back the heavy curtains.

Outside the window, the sky was still pitch black, with only a faint, almost invisible glimmer of dawn appearing on the eastern horizon.

He turned around, grabbed his coat from the hanger and put it on, then, in an unquestionable tone, ordered his personal secretary, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, "Prepare the car! To the ministry! Now!"

At almost the same time, on the other side of the city, in the residential compound of the Yanjing Film Studio.

The phone call to the old factory director, Wang Yangjia, rang out like a death knell in the deathly silence of the early morning.

Wang Yang was old and a light sleeper. The sudden ringing startled him, his heart pounding. He fumbled for the lamp, and his hands trembled as he grabbed the receiver.

A call from the factory at this time is never good news!

"Hello? Who is this?" Wang Yang's voice was heavy with sleepiness and unease.

"Old factory director! I'm Secretary Yang from the department!"

A voice, though trying to remain calm, still betrayed anxiety and gravity coming from the receiver; it was Wu's confidential secretary:

"Old Wu has given urgent instructions: please come to the ministry immediately, as quickly as possible! There is an extremely important and urgent situation that requires your presence!"

"Secretary Yang?!" Wang Yang was fully awake, a sense of foreboding instantly gripping him, his voice trembling, "What...what happened? Is it...is it with Cheng Xuemin and the others in France...?"

Countless terrifying thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant: Li Lianjie is young, and he couldn't resist the temptations of the foreign world and defected?

This is one of the worst possible outcomes!

Or... Cheng Xuemin? No, no, Xuemin is a settled young man with a family and ambitions... But, what if...?
What if we are turned by the enemy, or...

What misfortune befell them? Kidnapping? Assassination? What wouldn't those Japanese devils do?!
Or perhaps... some uncontrollable political storm erupted at the film festival?

Detained?

All sorts of worst-case scenarios flooded Wang Yang like icy seawater, making him feel a suffocating chill, and his palms, holding the receiver, were instantly covered in cold sweat.

"Old Factory Director, it's not convenient to say much over the phone! But the situation is extremely serious, involving Comrade Cheng Xuemin's sudden actions in Cannes and a very large foreign economic matter! Old Wu and the leaders are waiting for you! Please set off immediately!"

Secretary Yang's tone was more serious and urgent than ever before, even carrying a hint of command.

“A huge amount of money… foreign-related economic activities…” Wang Yang’s mind went blank, and his last bit of hope was shattered.

It's not about defection, it's not about personal safety, it's about... money!

A huge sum of money! And it involves foreign investment!

Given that Cheng Xuemin is attending the Cannes Film Festival, what else could it be?

It's definitely related to the movie, and to that Japanese woman!

Could it be... could it be that Xuemin... really fell into the Japanese devils' trap and signed something he shouldn't have?
They sold off the country's technology?
Wang Yang felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, his legs went weak, and he almost lost his balance.

He gripped the table beside him tightly, panting heavily, and hissed into the phone, "Okay...okay! I...I'll be right there! Right away!"

He hung up the phone, his hands shaking so badly he could barely hold the receiver.

His wife was also woken up. She put on her clothes and came out. When she saw him looking ashen-faced and unsteady, she was startled: "Old Wang! What's wrong? What happened?"

"Something terrible has happened... something catastrophic..." Wang Yang's voice was hoarse, as if he were squeezing it out from his throat. "Quick... quick, get me my clothes! I have to get to the ministry right away!"

"Xuemin... Xuemin and the others in France... I'm afraid they've gotten themselves into a terrible mess!"

He hurriedly put on his clothes, buttoning several buttons incorrectly, and without bothering to fix them, grabbed his briefcase and rushed out.

The cold wind at dawn cut like a knife against his face, but he didn't feel cold. He only felt a chill in his heart, and his mind was a mess of all sorts of terrible imaginings and self-blame.

He regretted it, regretted agreeing to let Cheng Xuemin lead the delegation to Cannes, regretted not giving him repeated instructions, regretted not sending a more capable and stable cadre along...

If Cheng Xuemin really makes an unmanageable mess in France and ruins the country's vital interests, then as the factory director, he would be guilty beyond redemption!
The car sped along the empty streets, the light and shadow of the streetlights flashing past the windows, illuminating Wang Yang's pale and desperate face.

He kept checking his watch, urging the driver to go faster, feeling as if he were being fried in oil.

Meanwhile, the State Council building, a solemn and imposing structure, was brightly lit!

Old Wu was already dressed neatly and sitting in his spacious but simple office.

He didn't turn on the overhead light, only the desk lamp on his desk, the dim light illuminating his stern face in a half-light, half-shadow.

In front of him lay a newly delivered preliminary briefing on the Cannes gambling incident, along with background information on Cheng Xuemin and members of the Eastern Depot.

Two cigarette butts had already been extinguished in the ashtray, and the air was filled with a strong smell of tobacco.

"Has Wang Yang arrived yet?!" Old Wu asked in a deep voice, his tone filled with unquestionable anxiety.

"He should be here soon, I'll go down to meet him!" Secretary Yang said hurriedly.

"No need to answer!"

The office door was flung open, and Wang Yang practically crashed in. His face was deathly pale, his hair was disheveled, his coat was buttoned up incorrectly, he was breathing rapidly, and his forehead was covered in sweat, it was hard to tell whether it was from anxiety or fear.

As soon as he entered, seeing Old Wu sitting upright in the shadows and the somber atmosphere in the office, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down, his voice trembling with tears:

"Old Wu! I...I've let the organization down! I've betrayed the country's trust! What...what exactly did Cheng Xuemin do in France?!"

"Did...did they export the country's technology?! Or are they still burdened with unpayable foreign debt?!"

"Punish me! Remove me from my post! Prosecute me! Just please don't... please don't let the country's interests suffer!"

Wang Yang was incoherent, clearly in a state of extreme panic, and shouted out all the worst possible outcomes he could think of.

Seeing his old subordinate, who had followed him for many years and was always diligent and reliable, in such a state of disarray, Old Wu sighed inwardly.

He gestured to the chair opposite him, his voice softening slightly but still heavy: "Old Wang, sit down, calm down. Things haven't come to that. Cheng Xuemin hasn't defected, nor has he signed a treasonous treaty!"

Wang Yang was stunned, almost unable to believe his ears. He staggered to the chair, barely managing to sit down while holding onto the back, and looked at Old Wu expectantly: "Then... then what exactly is it..."

Old Wu pushed the briefing on the table in front of him, his voice low and deep like the rumble of thunder before a storm: "Take a look for yourself!"

"On the red carpet at the Cannes closing ceremony, in front of the world's media, he signed that betting agreement with a representative of Hitachi Heavy Industries of Japan!"

"Let's bet on the awards our 'Redemption' and Japan's 'Kagemusha' won at Cannes... the $200 million technology transfer fee from Shanghai, plus another $200 million in additional compensation!"

With trembling hands, Wang Yang picked up the thin report. After just one glance, he felt dizzy and his vision went black. The report slipped from his hands and floated to the ground.

He opened his mouth wide, making a hoarse sound in his throat, but couldn't utter a single word. He just stared at Old Wu with an extremely terrified, bewildered look, as if he were witnessing the end of the world.

Four...four hundred million US dollars?!

Betting $400 million on film awards?!
Cheng Xuemin…how dare he?!

Why should he? !

In Wang Yang's view, this is even more insane and incomprehensible than defection or selling out technology!
This is tantamount to gambling with the country's money for his own personal gain, betting it on a meaningless film award!
If we lose...

Wang Yang dared not think any further. He felt a rush of heat to his head, his vision blurred, and he almost fainted.

……

Please vote with monthly tickets and subscribe to the full chapter! Thank you! Thank you! (End of Chapter)