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

Rumble!
If the announcement of the Palme d'Or was like detonating a bombshell!
At that moment, the words "400 million US dollars, our side wins, and we admit defeat on the spot" were like a series of nuclear bombs exploding one after another in the conference room!

The explosion left everyone dizzy and terrified!
A brief, absolute silence!
Then came a deafening, completely out-of-control uproar, screams, table-pounding, and chair-dragging sounds!

"Four...four hundred million?! US dollars?! We won? We really won?!"

"My God! Four hundred million US dollars! All at once?!"

"The Japanese side admitted it?! On the spot?! They...they really admitted defeat?!"

"The Palme d'Or plus four hundred million US dollars! My God! Cheng Xuemin... he's going to tear the sky apart!"

"Quick! Pinch me! Am I dreaming?!"

"We won! We won everything! A double victory in art and commerce! Unprecedented! Unheard of!"

Vice Minister Liu was completely stunned. He sat there blankly, his eyes unfocused, his ears ringing. He barely heard what the secretary said after that. His mind was filled with the words "four hundred million US dollars" and "I, Fang Sheng".

Four hundred million US dollars... what does that even mean?
What fraction of the country's annual foreign exchange earnings does this represent?

Just like that... we won it back?
Just one movie?
He felt a strong wave of dizziness, as if his worldview had been turned upside down at that moment.

All the previous doubts, anger, and accusations now seem so ridiculous and so powerless!
Faced with such irrefutable facts and a glorious victory, any words are as pale as paper!

Director Zhang suddenly stood up. Due to the sudden movement, the chair fell backward with a loud crash, but he was completely unaware of it. He just stared intently at his secretary, then suddenly turned his head to look at Liao Gong. His chest heaved violently, and his face was filled with extreme shock and an almost absurd excitement.

We won! We really won!
Moreover, the victory was so clean and decisive that the opponent had to admit defeat on the spot!

This is not just a victory of money, but also a victory of national prestige and a tremendous victory of morale!

Previous concerns about international repercussions have vanished in the face of this glorious victory!

Now all he can think about is how to use this victory to gain a greater strategic advantage in diplomacy and public opinion!

Unlike Director Zhang, Director Wang did not lose his composure, but the knuckles of his hand holding the teacup turned completely white from the force, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

He gulped down a large mouthful of the long-cooled strong tea; the icy liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the raging fire burning in his chest.

Four hundred million US dollars!

cash!

Settlement at the end of the month!

With this money, how many bottleneck projects could be launched immediately?

How much urgently needed technology and equipment can be imported immediately?

What a tremendous boost this will be to the country's economic development!

Cheng Xuemin...this man is truly a national hero!

No, it's a national treasure!
Old Wu was so excited that he couldn't speak, he just clapped his hands vigorously, tears streaming down his face.

Wang Yang, the former director of Yanying Film Studio, was both crying and laughing, like a child, waving his arms and legs in the corner, shouting incoherently in a way that no one could understand!
Liao Gong quietly watched the crowd in the conference room erupt in a frenzy of excitement, losing their composure and becoming ecstatic. The faint smile on his face slowly widened, transforming into a deep, gratified, and relieved smile.

He gently raised his hand and pressed it down!
The action seemed to have a magical power; the waves of ecstatic cheers gradually subsided, but the flushed faces and shining eyes of everyone could not be concealed!

"Did you all hear that?" Liao Gong's voice rang out, carrying a smile, as well as a sense of relief and authority after everything had settled. "We got the Palme d'Or! We won back four hundred million US dollars!"

"Comrade Cheng Xuemin did not let down the trust of the organization, nor did he disappoint the expectations of the people of the whole country! He fought a brilliant and historic victory in his own way!"

His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering especially on Vice Minister Liu's face for a moment, before he slowly said, "Now, does anyone still think that granting him full authority is risky or reckless?"

Vice Minister Liu blushed, lowered his head in shame, his lips trembling, and finally managed to squeeze out a sentence:
"Lord Liao...I...I was wrong! I was short-sighted, I didn't understand the situation, I...I apologize to the organization!"

Liao Gong waved his hand magnanimously and said, "Alright, Lao Liu, ignorance is no excuse. Now is not the time for self-criticism!"

"Now is the time for all of us to open our eyes wide, clench our fists, prepare to reap the rewards of victory, and fight well in the next tough battle!"

He wiped the smile from his face, his expression turning serious and resolute as he said:

"The glory of the Palme d'Or should be widely publicized by the cultural authorities! This is an excellent opportunity to invigorate the national spirit and demonstrate cultural confidence!"

"As for the four hundred million US dollars..." Liao Gong's gaze sharpened as he looked at Director Wang, Director Zhang, and the others. "The joint working group that was just established, get it running at full speed immediately!"

"I need to see a detailed Hong Kong handover plan within 24 hours! Diplomatic support, business coordination, financial channels, security guarantees..."

"We must ensure that every step is flawless! This $400 million, along with the existing technology contracts, must be secured in full, without missing a single penny or missing a single clause!"

"Yes!" came a unified and resounding response from inside the meeting room.

This time, there were no dissenting voices, only a united determination to achieve final victory.

The decision-making storm in Yanjing finally subsided with the good news from Cannes, and the focus quickly shifted to the next target: Hong Kong!

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Cannes, France, the night is deep, but no one is asleep.

The lights of the cinema palace had not yet been completely extinguished, but the center of the revelry had already shifted!
The lingering impact of the awards ceremony, the awe-inspiring effect of the Palme d'Or!

Especially the dramatic ending of that bet involving astronomical sums, it was like throwing ice water into a pot of boiling oil!

It instantly ignited the entire Cannes scene, and with urgent reports from major news agencies, it traveled at the speed of light to every corner of the world.

In Cannes, every bar, café, and even street corner that stayed open all night was packed with excited crowds.

Filmmakers, journalists, film critics, tourists, local residents...

Everyone was passionately, almost shouting themselves hoarse, discussing the same topic.

"My God! The Palme d'Or! And it's a Chinese film! This is incredible!" "Did you see the Chinese director's expression? He was as calm as a philosopher!"

"What's even crazier is that bet! Four hundred million US dollars! My God, I've never seen so much money in my life!"

"That Japanese bastard, her face turned white! God, if I were her, I'd want to jump into the Mediterranean right now!"

"Redemption! I have to see this movie immediately! What's so magical about it?!"

"I heard the bet was confirmed on the spot! The Japanese can't back out even if they want to! The whole world's cameras are on them!"

"Tomorrow! Tomorrow all the newspaper headlines will be about it! The Oriental Miracle! The biggest dark horse at Cannes! The most expensive film gamble in history!"

Immediately after the awards ceremony ended, reporters from Reuters, AFP, and AP rushed to the radio and telephone booths.

The rapid clatter of keyboards, the excited voices of reporters, and the whirring of telex machines formed the background noise of tonight's news front!
"Urgent! Headline! Cannes Palme d'Or winner is a shocker! Chinese film 'Redemption' takes the crown! Attached: A massive off-field betting scandal involving $400 million, with China emerging victorious!"

Special Feature: A Triumph of Eastern Philosophy? Understanding How "Redemption" Conquered European Judges!

"Live from the scene: The Japanese representative looked ashen-faced, while the Chinese director remained calm and composed. It was a cultural showdown worth four hundred million US dollars."

"The ultimate collision of commerce and art: the most dramatic night in Cannes history!"

The BBC, CNN and other TV stations have already interrupted their nightly news broadcasts with breaking news. The hosts reported the news from Cannes in an incredulous tone, with the scene constantly switching between the moment when Cheng Xuemin held the Palme d'Or, the hurried departure of Tsuchino Nako, and the close-up of the poster for the movie "Redemption" full of oriental connotations!
Television viewers around the world were either awakened from their sleep or glued to their screens to witness the start of this legendary night!
In the midst of this global information explosion and heated debate, the stylish but unassuming hotel near the old town of Cannes where Cheng Xuemin was staying seemed like a strange patch of tranquility in the eye of the storm!
Outside the hotel, reporters who had caught wind of the news set up their cameras and microphones, blocking the entrance completely. Flashes went off frequently as they tried to capture any figures coming in or out.

The hotel manager and security guards were on high alert, barely managing to maintain order, repeatedly stating that Mr. Cheng needed to rest and that there were no interviews scheduled at the moment.

On the hotel's top floor, a suite with a spacious terrace overlooking part of the bay's night view was brightly lit!

In the living room of the suite, two young diplomats brought by Counselor Li were quietly and quickly organizing some documents, their faces showing both barely concealed excitement and exhaustion!

Cheng Xuemin stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a glass of water, quietly watching the dazzling night view of Cannes and the dark Mediterranean Sea in the distance.

The Palme d'Or trophy sat on the coffee table behind him, its velvet box open, reflecting a calm and dignified luster under the light!

His expression was calm, even too calm, a stark contrast to the clamor outside the window and the world around him that was boiling over for him.

Only those familiar with him, such as Counselor Li who had just come in after coordinating matters outside, could see a hint of relaxation after extreme tension, and a sharp glint of calm planning running rapidly in the depths of his deep eyes.

"Xuemin, people outside are going crazy!" Counselor Li took off his coat, loosened his tie, and had a wry smile and barely suppressed excitement on his face. "My phone hasn't stopped ringing since I left the cinema."

"The embassy, ​​the domestic authorities, the French Ministry of Culture, and all sorts of media outlets... are all asking about you, about 'Redemption,' about that bet. You're now completely famous worldwide!"

Cheng Xuemin turned around, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing on his lips: "Being famous worldwide isn't necessarily a good thing, Counselor Li!"

"Now more eyes are watching us than ever before. We must be extremely careful with every step we take from here on out."

He walked to the coffee table and gently brushed his fingers across the cool leaves of the Palme d'Or trophy, feeling the real texture.

"The real battle will be fought in Hong Kong at the end of the month. The Japanese won't be willing to suffer such a huge loss, and the handover process will likely not be peaceful!"

Consul Li's expression hardened, and he nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, things have already started moving back home!"

"Lord Liao personally took charge and established a joint working group, operating 24 hours a day, to ensure the smooth handover! Diplomacy, commerce, security, finance... every aspect will be closely monitored, and we will not let the cooked duck fly away!"

"With Liao Gonghe and the domestic authorities overseeing things, I feel much more at ease." Cheng Xuemin nodded and took a sip of water.

He appeared calm, but his rapidly processing brain was handling a massive amount of information:

The global media's reaction, the possible moves of film distributors in various countries, the possible obstacles the Japanese might throw at them, the initial plans after securing the $400 million, and the reassessment of the copyright value of "Redemption"...

Just then, there was a light, rapid knock on the suite door.

A young diplomat strode over, peeked through the peephole, and whispered back:
"Director Cheng, Counselor Li, it's Brian, the American publisher. He insists on seeing you immediately, saying he has something extremely important and urgent."

Cheng Xuemin and Counselor Li exchanged a glance.

coming!

As expected, and it came so quickly!

"Please invite him in!" Cheng Xuemin put down his water glass, walked to the main seat on the sofa and sat down. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes had already entered a different state!
That's the state of calm assessment and precise control that belongs at the negotiating table.

The door opened, and Brian practically burst in.

This well-known American film producer, who usually sports a typical Hollywood shrewd smile and has his hair meticulously combed, looked rather disheveled at this moment.

He had sweat on his forehead, his tie was slightly askew, and he was clutching a bulging briefcase tightly in his hand.

In his other hand, he held several newspaper special editions that were clearly fresh out of print, still smelling of ink, with huge headlines proclaiming:

The Palme d'Or miracle!
A $400 million bet has rocked Cannes!

"Cheng!" Brian called out as soon as he entered, panting heavily, his voice slightly exaggerated, his face a mixture of extreme excitement, envy, and impatience.

"God! You've made history! No, you've detonated a nuclear bomb! Look outside, look at these newspapers! The whole world is going crazy for you! Going crazy for 'Redemption'!"

He waved the newspaper in his hand, strode to the sofa opposite Cheng Xuemin, and almost slammed down on it, casually tossing his briefcase at his feet. Leaning forward, his blue eyes gleamed with a light like dollar signs.

"Cheng, my dear friend and business partner!"

Brian spoke rapidly, his voice filled with unwavering enthusiasm, urgently stating, "We must talk immediately! Immediately! Right now! Time is money, no, time is more valuable than money!"

“Every minute, the value of ‘Redemption’ is skyrocketing! We must seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

……

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