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

"Therefore, we urgently summoned Comrade Xuemin back today, partly to hear a report, and partly because, after discussion, we decided to establish a temporary, emergency working group."

"A veteran from the industrial sector personally took charge, serving as the team leader to coordinate comrades from various relevant departments."

"Comrade Xuemin!" The old leader turned his gaze to Cheng Xuemin, "I appoint you as the special advisor to this working group and the deputy head of the negotiation team, to assist the working group in all subsequent negotiations and coordination with the Japanese side regarding the fulfillment of the bet, especially the technology transfer part!"

"Your main task is to use your understanding of the Japanese situation and your keen business acumen to work with the working group to ensure that by the end of the month, you bring back the $400 million in foreign exchange and as much and as good a list of technology and equipment as possible!"

Cheng Xuemin was shocked!
Although he had expected it, upon hearing the formal appointment, especially the opportunity to work alongside the industry leader as the deputy head of the negotiation team, he still felt a heavy responsibility and immense trust.

He immediately stood up, straightened his back, and said in a strong voice, "Thank you for the organization's trust! I will do my best to cooperate with the leaders and complete the task! I will never let down the expectations of my old leader!"

The leader in charge of the industrial sector also stood up, walked up to Cheng Xuemin, patted him hard on the shoulder, and looked at him with expectation and trust: "Good! Comrade Xuemin, I've heard Liao Gong and Wu Lao praise you many times! You have courage and insight, you're a good prospect!"

"This negotiation with the Japanese side is going to be a tough battle! They lost money, so they'll definitely try to make up for it elsewhere. They'll use technology blockades, exorbitant demands, and create obstacles!"

"We need to be fully prepared! You're familiar with the situation, so offer your suggestions. Let's work together well and make this a resounding success! It will set a good precedent for the subsequent import work!"

"Yes!" Cheng Xuemin nodded emphatically. He could feel the strength emanating from his leader's hand; it was a heavy entrustment!
The old leader in the main seat smiled with satisfaction. He looked around at everyone present and concluded, "Comrade Xuemin has made a great contribution to the country this time and opened up a new chapter."

"Films can earn foreign exchange and also be used to exchange for technology. This shows that comrades on the cultural front, as long as they have broad minds, dare to struggle, and are good at struggling, can achieve great things!"

"The upcoming negotiations will be a challenging but crucial task. Comrade Xuemin, I'm entrusting them to you!"

"Remember, uphold your principles, fight for your interests, but also pay attention to your methods and approaches, ensuring you are reasonable, advantageous, and restrained. The nation is your strong backing!"

"Please rest assured, senior leader!" Cheng Xuemin and the other leaders said in unison.

"Good!" The old leader in the main seat nodded in final agreement, glanced at Cheng Xuemin, then looked at Liao Gong and Wu Lao, and said, "You should hurry up and arrange and implement the specific tasks."

"Comrade Xuemin just got off the plane and then attended such an important meeting. Let him go and rest for a while."

"But time waits for no one. Your working group should take the lead immediately, set up the framework of the working group, and determine the relevant personnel as soon as possible. I need to see the preliminary work plan and the timetable for contact and negotiation with the Japanese side by tomorrow morning at the latest."

"Yes, please rest assured, I will take care of it immediately!" the team leader replied promptly, demonstrating his decisive and efficient work style.

"Comrade Xuemin!" Old Liao looked at Cheng Xuemin, his tone softening, but still carrying a hint of advice, "Go home and rest first, get some time to adjust to the time difference, but don't let your guard down."

"I will have Secretary Yang compile the relevant working materials, the backgrounds of the Japanese personnel, and a list of potential technical requirements, and send them to you as soon as possible. You need to familiarize yourself with them quickly. The subsequent negotiations with the Japanese side may be very difficult, but also very crucial!"

"Understood, Elder Liao! I will make the most of every minute to prepare!" Cheng Xuemin replied solemnly.

This meeting is now concluded!

Several leaders stood up one after another, and Cheng Xuemin and the other leaders respectfully saw the retired leaders off.

Old Liao walked at the back, patted Cheng Xuemin on the shoulder again, and said in a low voice: "Keep your cool and go for it. The country and the people need capable and daring young people like you."

"Yes!" Cheng Xuemin felt a surge of warmth in his heart and nodded emphatically.

After the leaders left, only Cheng Xuemin, the team leader, and Secretary Yang, Liao Gong's secretary, remained in the reception room.

The team leader glanced at his watch and said to Cheng Xuemin, "Comrade Xuemin, you should go back and rest too."

"I'll go and gather the necessary personnel and set up a working group right away. By this afternoon at the latest, I'll have my secretary send over the preliminary work arrangements and a list of the key documents you need to prepare. We'll stay in close contact."

"Okay, boss, please take care of yourself too!" Cheng Xuemin said.

"I'm in great shape, I'll be fine fighting tough battles!" The team leader laughed heartily, shook Cheng Xuemin's hand firmly, then turned around and strode away, clearly ready to get back to work immediately.

Secretary Yang said to Cheng Xuemin, "Comrade Xuemin, the car has been arranged to take you home."

"I will send over the relevant materials this afternoon!"

"Thank you for your help, Secretary Yang!" Cheng Xuemin said.

Stepping out of the building that had witnessed countless important decisions, and getting back into the Hongqi sedan he had arrived in, Cheng Xuemin leaned back in the seat and felt a deep wave of exhaustion wash over him.

The continuous international flights, the tense negotiations in Hong Kong, followed by reports and orders from higher levels kept everyone on edge.

The moment I relaxed a little, the jet lag and physical exhaustion became immediately apparent.

But his brain remained highly active!
Meanwhile, at the Yanjing Film Studio.

It was already late at night. Feng Jiazhao, who had just arrived at the factory, first spent a lot of time asking where his car was.
I was told they might be with Xiao Wang, the old factory manager's driver!
Following Feng Jiazhao, they hurried to find the driver, Xiao Wang, and unexpectedly ran into the old factory director, Wang Yang, who had just come out to get up in the middle of the night!
Upon seeing Feng Jiazhao, the old factory director, Wang Yang, exclaimed in astonishment, "Jiazhao?!"

"Ah?! Old factory director, you're still up at this hour?" Feng Jiazhao was also quite surprised and quickly stepped forward to greet him.

Is it really Feng Jiazhao?
The old factory director, Wang Yang, stared wide-eyed, his voice filled with surprise and confusion, and asked, "You...you're back?"

"Didn't we say we'd stay in Hong Kong with Xue Min for a couple more days to finish that copyright negotiation? It's only been one night, hasn't it? What happened?"

No wonder the former factory director, Wang Yang, was surprised!
This morning he also received a call from Fu Qi in Hong Kong, who briefly said that the negotiations had made progress but were very complicated, and that Cheng Xuemin and his team might have to stay for another day or two.

How come people are already in the factory so quickly, even though it's only dark now?

Upon hearing this, Feng Jiazhao's expression turned grave, and he quickly lowered his voice, saying, "Old factory director, something has happened, but it's a big and urgent matter. We didn't come back on our own; we came back by special plane!"

"A private jet?" Old Factory Director Wang Yang nearly dropped the chamber pot in his hand, his voice trembling. "What private jet? Whose private jet?" Feng Jiazhao lowered his voice even further, but with barely concealed excitement and lingering fear, and said, "It was arranged personally by Old Liao to pick us up from Hong Kong!"

"The negotiations were just starting to make progress this afternoon when Brother Xuemin was called away by an urgent phone call from Yanjing. It was from Old Liao who wanted to see him!"

"Then Secretary Yang arranged for us to go to the airport immediately, take a private jet, and fly back overnight!"

Mr. Liao! Urgent call! A special plane will be dispatched overnight to bring him back!

These words rang in Wang Yang's ears like thunder.

The color drained from his face in an instant, then flushed red again, and his hand holding the chamber pot trembled slightly.

Although he was the director of Yanying Film Studio and could be considered an arts and culture cadre, Liao Lao's rank was not someone he could easily meet.

For Mr. Liao to personally make a phone call and send a private jet to pick someone up overnight, that must be an incredibly important matter.
"Then...what about Xuemin? Where is Xuemin? Didn't he come back to the factory with you?" Old Factory Director Wang Yang asked anxiously, his eyes darting behind Feng Jiazhao, fearing that something might have happened to Cheng Xuemin.

"As soon as Xuemin got off the plane, Secretary Yang picked him up and took him straight to..."

Was it that $400 million bet that caused the trouble?
Something unexpected has happened?!
In an instant, countless thoughts swirled in the mind of the old factory director, Wang Yang, leaving him in a state of turmoil, filled with shock and fear, yet also with a faint, inexplicable excitement.

Cheng Xuemin was someone who came from Yanying Studio. Although his relationship with the newly established Oriental Film Studio is now linked to it, his roots are still in Yanying Studio!

"Old factory director, don't worry!" Feng Jiazhao saw the old factory director's panic and quickly helped him up, explaining, "Xuemin left very calmly and told us not to worry, saying he had an important mission."

"We don't know the specifics, and he didn't elaborate. But judging from his demeanor, it doesn't seem like something bad!"

Old factory director Wang Yang steadied himself, took a few deep breaths, and forced himself to calm down.

Having been a veteran in the arts and culture world for many years, he quickly grasped the key point: Cheng Xuemin was fine, and it seemed he was going to report or receive a task, rather than being investigated or dealt with.

That's good, that's good...

As for the specifics, since Cheng Xuemin didn't say, it wasn't something he could inquire about, or rather, he wasn't at a position where he should know.

"It's alright, it's alright..." Old factory director Wang Yang murmured, wiping the fine sweat that had appeared on his forehead without him noticing, and couldn't help but ask again:
"So... how are the copyright negotiations going in Hong Kong? Have there been any results? Now that Scholar Min has left, who's in charge there?"

Feng Jiazhao said, "The negotiations are not finalized yet, but before Xuemin left, he put forward a new plan to bring the three major Hollywood companies into an alliance, let them contribute money and effort to distribution, and we will take the guaranteed minimum and a share of the profits."

"The specific details are being discussed with the assistance of Mr. Fu Qi and leaders from the Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong branch. Xue Min said the framework has been set, and the rest is up to them to refine the details!"

The old factory director, Wang Yang, was completely confused. What alliance? What guaranteed revenue sharing? Three major Hollywood companies had been brought into an alliance?

What is all this about?
But it sounds like Cheng Xuemin is in control, and the situation isn't bad.

He shook his slightly dizzy head and waved his hand, saying, "Forget it, these things are too complicated, I don't understand them either. As long as Xuemin is alright and the negotiations didn't fall through, that's fine."

"Jiazhao, you must be tired from your journey. It's getting late. Are you staying at the factory or going home?"

"Going home, going home!" Feng Jiazhao nodded repeatedly and said, "Old factory director, I was just planning to go to Xiao Wang's place to get my car keys and go home!"

"Jiayou is with Zhu Lin and Gong Xue right now, waiting for me to get the car so we can go back together!"

The old factory manager nodded repeatedly and said, "Oh right, right, Xuemin's car is with Xiao Wang. Go get the car keys quickly! Go get them now!"

"Jiayou has been away from you for over ten days now. She must be missing your little one terribly. She must be itching to get home!"

After Cheng Xuemin and Feng Jiazhao went to Cannes, France, their car was left parked at the factory!

Since they had nothing better to do, the old factory manager simply took it over and used it as his personal vehicle!
Now that Cheng Xuemin is back, the items must be returned to their rightful owner!

"That's right!" Feng Jiazhao nodded repeatedly. After talking to the old factory director, he went directly to the dormitory, found Xiao Wang, the driver of the factory shuttle bus team, and got the car keys back!

The dormitory area of ​​Beijing Film Studio consists mostly of red brick buildings constructed in the 1950s and 60s. The corridors are dimly lit, and the walls are covered with chalk drawings by children and mottled water stains.

As a key young actor in the factory, Zhu Lin starred in two sensational films, "Tai Chi" and "Shaolin Temple," which significantly improved her treatment, and she was assigned a single room.

Although the area is not large, it is considered quite good in this era, especially for single women.

Feng Jiazhao went to get the car, so Zhu Lin simply took Feng Jiayou and Gong Xue back to the dormitory together!

But before I could even use the key to open the door, the door next door creaked open.

A young woman wearing a floral nightgown with a light jacket casually draped over her shoulders leaned out. Her hair was a little tousled, as if she had just gotten out of bed.

It was Liu Xiaoli, the fairy mother who lived next door to Zhu Lin!
"Sister Lin? Is that Jiayou and Sister Gongxue? Are you back? I thought I heard your voices outside."

"Xiaoli? Did I wake you up?" Zhu Lin turned around and saw Liu Xiaoli come out, so she quickly greeted her happily.

"Oh my, it really is you!" Liu Xiaoli's face instantly lit up with a delighted smile. She rushed out of the room and took a few steps forward. By the light coming from inside, she carefully looked at the travel-worn Zhu Lin, as well as Feng Jiayou and Gong Xue, and said:
"You're back so soon? I heard the old factory manager say during the day that you might stay in Hong Kong for a couple more days!"

"We came back on a private jet..." Zhu Lin wanted to blurt out that she had come back on a private jet!
But when Feng Jiayou tugged at his sleeve, he quickly swallowed back the words that were about to come out!

……

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