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

Suddenly, a group of reporters surged forward like a tide, instantly surrounding Cheng Xuemin and his group!
The flashes went off again, so bright they were almost blinding.

Microphones and recorders were being pushed forward frantically!
Counselor Li and his embassy staff immediately stepped forward to try to separate the reporters and protect Cheng Xuemin.

"Excuse me! Mr. Cheng needs to rest!"

"Sorry, I'm not accepting interviews at the moment!"

But the reporters weren't about to let it go; their questions were getting sharper and more direct than the last!
Cheng Xuemin stopped in his tracks, holding the Palme d'Or trophy in a velvet box in one hand and gently shielding his eyes from the glaring flashes of light with the other.

He wore a moderate, polite smile, neither overly flamboyant nor cold.

Thank you for your attention, friends in the media!

Cheng Xuemin's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly through the noise, carrying a strange calming power that slightly reduced the surrounding commotion!
"Regarding the Palme d'Or, this is an honor for me personally and for the entire 'Redemption' team; it belongs to everyone who worked on this film!"

"It also belongs to everyone who supported us and was moved by this story. I am very grateful for the recognition from the Cannes Film Festival jury!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the anxious faces before him, and continued, "As for other...off-field matters, I have nothing to disclose at the moment!"

"Film is film, and everything else is everything else. Tonight, I want to return the stage to the art of film itself. Thank you!"

After saying this, he nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and then, under the protection of Counselor Li and others, ignored the reporters' follow-up questions and walked briskly and calmly away towards the side door.

His answer was brief and appropriate!

It acknowledges the victory while cleverly shifting the focus from the heated bet back to the art of filmmaking itself, avoiding further provocation and sensationalism, thus demonstrating a grand vision.

She left behind a group of reporters who were still shouting questions, and in the distance, the lonely figure of Naoko Tsuchino who finally squeezed out of the crowd, got into a black car, and hurriedly drove away.

The night in Cannes is still brightly lit, but for some people, their fate has been completely changed tonight!

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in Yanjing, in the Haizi Lake!

The sky was already bright, and the atmosphere in a medium-sized conference room inside the red walls was so heavy it was almost palpable.

The air was thick with smoke, filled with the strong smell of tobacco, and there was an invisible yet suffocating sense of tension!

A dozen or so people were seated around the oval conference table.

Most of them were between forty and fifty years old and sixty or seventy years old. They had serious faces and a calm demeanor, and were either wearing Zhongshan suits or well-fitting cadre uniforms.

Each of them is a figure who can govern a region and whose every move will shake a certain field.

At this moment, they are all gathered together!
Everyone's brows were furrowed, some had a lit cigarette between their fingers, forgetting to take a puff for a long time, while others held cups of tea that had gone cold, their gazes deep and thoughtful.

At the front of the conference room hung large world and national maps.

At the head of the conference table sat an elderly man with gray hair, a gaunt face, and sharp, eagle-like eyes—it was none other than Liao Gong.

In front of him lay a copy of an encrypted telegram, which had just been brought in by his confidential secretary and whose ink seemed to still be wet.

Liao Gong didn't speak, but simply tapped his fingers lightly on the smooth mahogany tabletop, making a soft tapping sound, and slowly swept his gaze over everyone present.

A middle-aged man with black-rimmed glasses, who had a refined demeanor but was now frowning, sitting to Liao Gong's left, finally couldn't help but slam his teacup heavily on the table, breaking the oppressive silence with a muffled thud.

He is Vice Minister Liu, who is in charge of industry.

"This is utterly outrageous! This is lawless!" Vice Minister Liu's voice trembled with agitation as he pointed his finger at the telegram copy on the table, as if the telegram itself represented Cheng Xuemin!

"Four hundred million US dollars! What does Cheng Xuemin think this is? Is it child's play or haggling at the market?! Who gave him the right to gamble with Japan on a critical technology contract that the country urgently needs and that is related to the introduction of major industrial projects?! And on such a huge bet!"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, his face flushing red: "Yes, he is talented, his films have won awards and brought honor to the country, we acknowledge that!"

"But one thing is one thing! Film is film, and industry is industry! What does someone in the arts know about international business? What does he know about the complexities and risks of technology import?!"

"A technology transfer contract worth two hundred million US dollars—that's foreign exchange already in hand! Not to mention how many key technical parameters, how many follow-up service terms, and how many intellectual property traps are involved!"

"And him, he just casually uttered a sentence and used it as a bet! If he wins, that's fine, but what if he loses?! Huh?!"

Vice Minister Liu slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup lid jump: "If we lose, we'll lose two hundred million US dollars worth of technology! What will happen to our project in Shanghai?"

"What about the subsequent industrial upgrading? So much hard work and so many countries' expectations will be wasted because of his arrogance!"

"Can Cheng Xuemin bear this responsibility?! Who among us can?!"

His words were like a spark falling into an oil drum, instantly igniting the long-suppressed emotions in the conference room.

“Old Liu is right!” Another elderly man with a serious face, dressed in military green civilian clothes, spoke in a deep voice. He was Director Zhang, who was in charge of security and external affairs coordination. He said in a loud voice, “This is not just a matter of money and technology!”

"This is a serious act of disorganization and indiscipline! Who authorized him to do this? Was there a request for instructions? Was there a report? Was there any organizational procedure?!"

"No! It was pure individual heroism, a reckless act of disregard for discipline! This victory was a fluke; what if they had lost? The consequences would have been unimaginable! What a terrible impact it would have had internationally!"

"What will foreigners think of us then? Will they say that we Chinese are disorganized and treat the core interests of the country as a joke? This kind of trend must not be allowed to continue!"

“I agree with Director Zhang’s opinion!” A leader wearing gold-rimmed glasses, responsible for publicity, adjusted his glasses, his tone relatively gentle, but his stance equally clear:

"Comrade Cheng Xuemin's achievements in art are worthy of recognition!"

"However, merit is merit, and demerit is demerit! We cannot cover up his serious mistakes just because he made meritorious contributions!"

"Gambling with major national technology contracts is a matter of principle and discipline! It must be dealt with seriously to serve as a warning to others!"

"Otherwise, if everyone does it this way, doing whatever they want, what's the point of having organization and discipline?"

"Handle it? How should we handle it?" Sitting to Liao Gong's right, an elderly man with meticulously combed hair and a calm demeanor slowly spoke. He was Director Wang, who was in charge of economics and foreign trade.

He took a drag of his cigarette and said slowly, "Old Liu, Old Zhang, and Old Zhou, you all have a point. Discipline must be followed, procedures must be adhered to, and risks must be controlled. All of these are correct..."

Inside the meeting room, the arguments grew louder and the atmosphere became increasingly heated.

Those who support a serious disciplinary action and those who advocate facing reality and finding ways to clean up the mess are at odds, and neither can convince the other.

The smoke grew thicker, and anxiety, arguments, and deep thought were etched on everyone's faces.

Liao Gong listened in silence, his fingers still tapping rhythmically on the table, his gaze deep and unreadable.

He coughed softly as the argument began to spiral out of control. The sound was gentle, but it seemed to have some kind of magic, instantly stopping the fierce argument.

All eyes were on this highly respected old man who held the final decision-making power.

Liao Gong picked up the teacup in front of him, slowly sipped the now-cold tea, then put the cup down and his gaze slowly swept over every face present.

"Have you finished speaking?" His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

You could hear a pin drop in the conference room!

"What Cheng Xuemin did in Cannes this time," Liao Gong began slowly, each word clear and deliberate, "was indeed incredibly audacious, truly lawless, and a serious violation of foreign affairs discipline and the reporting system for major events!"

Vice Minister Liu and Director Zhang perked up, and their backs straightened involuntarily.

"According to the regulations and the rules, it's not excessive to bring him back, put him in solitary confinement, and make him write a self-criticism!" Liao Gong continued.

But then, he changed the subject, his tone still calm, yet carrying a resolute force:

"but!"

The moment that "but" was mentioned, everyone's hearts were in their throats.

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze instantly, and even the movement of the smoke slowed down.

Vice Minister Liu and Director Zhang, who had been standing straight, unconsciously leaned forward slightly, their eyes fixed on Liao Gong's lips, waiting for him to continue.

Director Wang also put down his cigarette and sat up straighter.

The other leaders held their breath, afraid of missing a single word.

Old Wu, sitting to Liao Gong's right, was listening intently with his eyes narrowed. When Liao Gong changed the subject, he knew that the main event was about to begin.

He immediately snapped to attention and sat up straight!
Liao Gong's gaze slowly swept over every face present, whether excited, serious, or worried. His fingers no longer tapped the table, but gently pressed on the copy of the telegram, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure.

"But!" Liao Gong repeated, his tone as steady as a mountain, yet carrying an undeniable sense of conviction, "Comrade Cheng Xuemin's decision to take on this bet with the Japanese in Cannes was not a rash act, much less a heroic adventure!"

He paused, then said clearly, word by word, "He consulted with the authorities about this matter."

boom!
These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the silent conference room!

Vice Minister Liu's eyes widened suddenly, his anger freezing instantly, replaced by incredulous astonishment.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.

Director Zhang's serious face was furrowed with brows, his lips were pressed tightly together, and his eyes were filled with shock and incomprehension!

The leader in charge of publicity, Zhou, stopped pushing up his glasses in mid-air, his eyes behind the lenses filled with astonishment.

Even Director Wang, who usually prefers to face reality, looked extremely surprised, clearly unaware of the situation.

A collective gasp filled the conference room, along with the soft creaking of chairs shifting slightly.

All eyes were on Liao Gong, filled with questions and an urgent need for answers.

Liao Gong took in everyone's reactions. He picked up his teacup, took another sip of cool tea, seemingly calming his emotions or organizing his thoughts.

"It was on the very night that Japanese woman, Naoko Tsuchino, first mentioned that absurd bet to Cheng Xuemin!"

Liao put down his teacup and began to narrate in a calm voice, as if he were talking about an old story that had nothing to do with him: "Comrade Cheng Xuemin gave a detailed report to the domestic authorities through encrypted channels!"

"The telegram was very long. It not only explained the bet itself, but also analyzed the Japanese intentions. They wanted to acquire our technology without spending any money or spending very little, and even to undermine our morale..."

The meeting room was quiet, with only Liao Gong's calm voice echoing.

Everyone listened intently, their expressions shifting from initial shock to seriousness and deep thought.

"This telegram was delivered to me immediately!" Liao Gong continued, tapping his temple lightly with his finger. "After reading it, I sat in my office for a full two hours!"

"The $200 million technology contract is crucial for the upgrading and transformation of related industries in Shanghai and even the whole country, and its importance is self-evident!"

"And the additional two hundred million US dollars in cash offered by the other party is an astronomical figure. If they win, they'll make a fortune; if they lose, they'll lose everything. The risk is extremely high!"

He raised his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at Vice Minister Liu: "Old Liu, you're right, this isn't child's play. Therefore, the pressure we face is no less than any of yours!"

Vice Minister Liu's expression shifted several times, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back, only his brows furrowed even more tightly.

"But!" Liao Gong uttered the word for the third time, each time with greater force than before, "I have weighed the pros and cons repeatedly!"

"Weigh the value of the technology itself, weigh Cheng Xuemin as a person, weigh the situation at the time, and weigh the potential risks and benefits!"

"Finally, I made a decision." Liao Gong's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, carrying a decisive force. "I personally gave instructions and, as quickly as possible, sent a top-secret reply to Comrade Li Jianguo at the Chinese Consulate in France through special channels."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire room, each word spoken with resounding authority:
"The reply was very simple, containing only one sentence: This matter is of great importance, and a decision should be made as appropriate. Comrade Cheng Xuemin is granted full authority to handle matters related to this technology transfer and related derivative matters during the Cannes Film Festival."

The color drained from Vice Minister Liu's face. He moved his lips, but finally slumped back in his chair, looking at Liao Gong with a complicated expression.

So that's how it is!

No wonder... no wonder that kid dared to be so audacious!
Director Zhang's tightly furrowed brows did not relax, but the doubt and anger in his eyes were gradually replaced by a deeper contemplation.

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the table!

If this is an authorized act, then the accusation of disorganization and lack of discipline, at least at the most crucial procedural level, is unfounded.

The nature has completely changed!
A look of understanding flashed in Director Wang's eyes, followed by deep admiration.

His gaze toward Liao Gong held a newfound respect.

In that situation, facing such enormous risks and temptations, making such a decision to authorize someone required not only courage, but also an extremely accurate judgment of Cheng Xuemin as a person and of the situation!

This is an absolute gamble!
……

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