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

"Reporting to the commander!"

Gong Xue stood at attention, his posture upright.

"Hmm, at ease!" Commander Wang nodded, looking her up and down, his gaze sweeping from her hair to her ankles as if inspecting a valuable piece of equipment. "You didn't slack off during your trip, did you?"

"Don't let your efforts go to waste! No matter how lively it is outside, you have to keep your roots here!" She pointed to the wooden floor under her feet.

"Reporting to the commander, no! I've been practicing every day!" Gong Xue replied clearly.

During her time in Cannes, she did try to find time to practice every day.

The cramped space in the hotel room and the deserted beach in the early morning were both places where she practiced alone.

This is a habit ingrained in her bones from years of training, and it's also a way for her to maintain inner order!
"That's good!" A very faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Commander Wang's face, a recognition of his best soldiers.

She gestured for Gong Xue to come to the side and talk to her!

The two walked to the window in the corner of the rehearsal hall, where it was relatively quiet. The window was open, and they could see the lush sycamore trees in the courtyard outside.

"How's it going in Cannes? Is everything going smoothly?" Commander Wang asked, his tone more casual than before, more like an elder inquiring about a junior's journey.

"It went very smoothly, Commander. I've broadened my horizons!" Gong Xue replied, as concise as ever, which is her usual style.

"You won an award?" Commander Wang looked into her eyes and asked directly.

She knew the best actors in her troupe well; Gong Xue was aloof but extremely strong-willed.

If he hadn't won an award, he would never have brought up the word "winning" on his own initiative. Commander Wang had heard Han Qiaoyue's shouting and her vague answer just now!

Gong Xue's fingers, which were placed at his side, curled up almost imperceptibly before relaxing.

She met Commander Wang's gaze, nodded, and said in a steady voice, "Yes, I got one!"

Commander Wang responded with an "oh," his face expressionless, and nodded without asking what the specific award was.

In her view, film festivals have a wide variety of awards, such as the Jury Prize, Best Actress Award, and Artistic Contribution Award.

As one of the main actresses, Gong Xue's outstanding appearance and performance that fits the character make her a worthy candidate for Best Actress nomination or a similar minor award, which is a consolation prize and deserves encouragement.

Judging from Gong Xue's calm demeanor, and even his somewhat evasive approach to the details, it's probably not a major award, perhaps just an encouragement prize.

It's normal for girls to be shy and embarrassed to talk about not winning big prizes.

She didn't want to put pressure on Gong Xue, and she didn't want to create unnecessary comparisons or gossip within the troupe.

He then naturally stopped asking questions and instead patted Gong Xue on the shoulder as encouragement.

"Winning an award is a good thing. It shows that your performance has been recognized and that you've brought honor to the troupe!" Director Wang's tone softened. "You've come back just in time!"

"The August 1st Army Day is just around the corner, and the task of performing for the troops has been assigned for this year. It's a large-scale event, and we'll be going to several military regions in the south. The time is tight and the task is heavy!"

"You're the mainstay of the troupe, so you'll definitely be taking on a major role this time. You'll probably not only be the lead dancer, but also have several solo performances. It's a heavy responsibility!"

Gong Xue's eyes narrowed, his body straightened slightly, and he answered clearly, "Yes, Commander, I'm ready at any time."

"Yes, that's good enough." Commander Wang nodded in satisfaction, then seemed to remember something, pondered for a moment, and said, "For this performance, in addition to our usual programs like 'The Red Detachment of Women' and 'The White-Haired Girl,' the troupe would also like to put on one or two new programs!"

"Especially in terms of songs, it would be best to have a new song that is relevant to the present moment, can boost morale, and that the soldiers like to listen to and sing."

"The songs you got from Comrade Xuemin before, such as 'The Moon on the Fifteenth,' 'Night at the Military Port,' and 'Sending Off Comrades,' are all very good and very popular! They're played everywhere, and even the military region leaders praised them at meetings! The melodies are great, and the lyrics are inspiring!"

She paused, seemingly considering her words, "You see, this time when we went to visit the troops, the time was tight and the task was heavy. The comrades in the troupe's creative team racked their brains, but they couldn't come up with a particularly satisfactory new song in a short time."

"If it's convenient for you, could you... trouble Comrade Xuemin again? Ask him to write another new song suitable for our troupe's performance?"

"The theme should revolve around the close relationship between the military and the people, and praise the spirit of soldiers in the new era. It should be uplifting, touching, and preferably a bit popular so that soldiers can easily learn and enjoy singing it."

"Of course, it won't be for nothing. The troupe will pay the creation fee according to the highest standard!"

Should Xuemin write another new song for the group?
Gong Xue was stunned!
She never expected Commander Wang to suddenly make this request!

His handsome and calm face flashed through my mind instantly; he must be overwhelmed with work and under immense pressure right now.

There are countless eyes watching him back home, and countless issues awaiting his attention...

How could I possibly bother him with something as trivial as writing songs for the cultural troupe's performances?

However, the expectation in Commander Wang's eyes was genuine!
This is not a personal matter, but a mission, for the sake of the troupe's performance and to bring a better show to the soldiers.

As a member of the performing arts troupe, she has a responsibility to do her best!

Moreover... deep down, a very subtle voice told her that this might also be a legitimate reason to see him again.

Gong Xue pursed her lips, her pale lips forming a thin line before relaxing.

She looked up at Commander Wang, and finally nodded. Her voice was soft but clear: "Okay, Commander! I... I'll take some time these next couple of days to go to Yan Film Studio and talk to him about it!"

"But he's definitely very busy lately, so he might not have time..."

"I understand, I understand!" Commander Wang nodded repeatedly, his smile becoming more genuine. "It's just something I mentioned, to see how it goes. It doesn't matter if it works out or not, don't feel pressured!"

"After all, he is now a famous director and a pioneer of reform and opening up who has made great contributions to the country. It's no wonder he's busy."

Commander Wang saw Gong Xue's reaction and knew exactly what was going on!

Pity!
The falling flowers yearn for the flowing water, but the water remains indifferent. How come Comrade Xuemin got married so early?!

Now it's all good!

They were the pillars of the General Political Department's cultural troupe, and now it's unclear what will happen to them!

Gong Xue was unaware of Commander Wang's inner thoughts, and simply replied in a low voice, "Yes, I understand, Commander, I'll give it a try!"

"Okay, then you should go back to the team and get back to training as soon as possible to make up for any missed training during your short trip. We'll let the team know about the specific departure time and program schedule."

After giving his instructions, Commander Wang turned around and strode briskly to instruct several actors practicing jumping movements on the other side.

Gong Xue walked back to the barricade, picked up the military water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip of the cooled boiled water inside.

The cool water slid down my throat, but it seemed unable to suppress the slight ripples in my heart.

I need to say goodbye to him, and I also want to ask him to write a song...

She leaned against the cool barre, gazing out the window at the familiar sycamore leaves, glistening in the summer sunlight.

But his thoughts drifted to the Yanying Factory on the other side of the city, wondering what that person was busy with at that moment and what situation he was facing.

Unexpectedly, the news broadcast on Beijing TV that very evening reported on the matter!
The very next morning, during a break in rehearsals, the political commissar of the cultural troupe personally rushed into the rehearsal hall with several copies of the People's Daily, still smelling of fresh ink.

Usually, important editorials or news items are read aloud by the political commissar during group study sessions!

But today, the political commissar's face was flushed with excitement. As soon as he entered, he clapped his hands vigorously, attracting everyone's attention.

"Comrades! Quiet down! I have some fantastic news to share with you all, so that we can all learn from it!" The political commissar's voice was loud and clear, with intonation.

The actors stopped what they were doing and curiously gathered around. Commander Wang also came over, looking at the political commissar with some doubt!

The political commissar unfolded the People's Daily in his hand, pointing to the front page headline. The huge, bold headline and the accompanying photo of Cheng Xuemin receiving an award in Cannes stood out prominently in the sunlight.

"Look! Everyone, look! This is the front page headline of today's People's Daily!" the political commissar read excitedly. "Our film 'Redemption' won the Palme d'Or, the highest prize at the Cannes Film Festival, generating over 50 million US dollars in foreign exchange!"

"Comrades! The Palme d'Or! It's one of the highest honors in world cinema! Fifty million US dollars! What an incredible contribution to foreign exchange!"

"This is the pride of our country and a great victory for our literary and artistic front!"

His voice echoed in the rehearsal hall, and everyone froze, their eyes turning to the newspaper and the photograph.

In the photo, Cheng Xuemin is young and composed, holding a golden palm leaf trophy, his gaze calmly looking ahead.

"Comrade Cheng Xuemin, well done! You have brought glory and honor to Chinese filmmakers!" the political commissar continued, his tone full of pride.

The rehearsal hall was quiet for a few seconds, then suddenly erupted into chaos!

"The Palme d'Or? The highest award?"

Fifty million US dollars? My God!

"It really is him! It's in the newspapers!"

"It was mentioned on the evening news yesterday! My mom even called to ask if I knew the person!"

"Gong Xue! Didn't Gong Xue just come back from France with him? Gong Xue!"

"Gong Xue, come quick! The newspaper! The front page headline!"

All eyes instantly shifted from the newspapers to Gong Xue, who was still leaning against the barre on the outskirts of the crowd.

His gaze held disbelief, immense shock, fervent excitement, belated realization, and a hint of astonishment at being "deceived."

Han Qiaoyue was the first to rush over, grabbing Gong Xue's arm and shaking it violently, her voice shrill with excitement: "Gong Xue! Gong Xue! Did you see that? The Palme d'Or! The top prize! Fifty million US dollars!"

"Why didn't you mention this yesterday! You only said you won an award! This isn't just an award! This is a huge award! My God!"

The other actors also swarmed around, chattering amongst themselves:

"Gong Xue, you're being way too modest!"

"Exactly! This is something I can brag about for a lifetime!"

"Tell us, what was it like when you received the award? Were you surrounded by foreigners?"

"Is that trophy really solid gold? Is it heavy?"

"Why didn't you tell us? That's so unfair!"

Gong Xue was surrounded, and her arm was a little sore from being gripped so tightly by Han Qiaoyue.

Looking at the excited, curious, and amazed faces before her, and hearing the cacophony of questions, she felt momentarily at a loss.

She didn't expect that Commander Wang and most of the members of the troupe were unaware that "Redemption" had won the Palme d'Or, generating $50 million in foreign exchange!

She thought that with yesterday's news broadcast and today's People's Daily publication, everyone should know.

Her habitual low profile and avoidance of details created a huge cognitive gap at this moment when information was not yet fully synchronized.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found herself at a loss for words!
How can you explain that you didn't intentionally hide it?

It seems unnecessary!
Describing the award ceremony? That would seem to contradict her original intention of not wanting to make a fuss.

"What are you all doing gathered here? Aren't you supposed to be practicing?" Commander Wang's voice rang out, carrying his usual authority, but upon closer listening, there was also a subtle, almost imperceptible, unease.

She parted the crowd and walked up to Gong Xue. Her gaze lingered on Gong Xue's face for a moment, her expression incredibly complex, a mixture of surprise, realization, and a slight embarrassment at being kept in the dark.

But more than anything, there was disbelief and a tremendous shock that followed!
Then, her gaze fell on the front page of the newspaper in the political commissar's hand. The bold black text and striking photo struck her mind like a hammer blow.

Palme d'Or!

Top prize!

Fifty million US dollars!
The weight these words together represent is worlds apart from what she had previously thought was a small award!

She remembered how she had casually comforted Gong Xue yesterday, saying "winning an award is a good thing," and how she had even asked her to ask Cheng Xuemin if he could help write a song!

The tone, implying "the other person is very busy, just give it a try, it's okay if it doesn't work out"... looking back now, it's just...

Commander Wang's face flushed red and then turned pale, but years of experience allowed her to quickly regain control of her emotions.

She took a deep breath, practically snatched the newspaper from the political commissar's hand, and stared intently at the headline for a good ten seconds.

The rehearsal hall was completely silent; everyone was looking at Commander Wang and Gong Xue!

Finally, Commander Wang put down his newspaper, looked up, and looked at Gong Xue again.

This time, her gaze lacked its previous casualness, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity!
She even displayed a degree of caution that she herself might not have realized when facing important figures or related parties.

"Gong Xue!" Commander Wang's voice was much calmer than usual, even a little hoarse. "This... what the newspapers are saying, is it all true?"

"Redemption won the top prize at Cannes? And it generated 50 million... US dollars in foreign exchange?"

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Gong Xue nodded slightly, his voice remaining calm, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"It's true, Commander! The Palme d'Or, the foreign exchange earnings... it's over fifty million US dollars."

Despite being mentally prepared, given that it's the front page of the People's Daily, is this something to joke about?
But hearing it confirmed by Gong Xue himself still caused a suppressed gasp and gasps of surprise to erupt in the rehearsal hall.

More than fifty million US dollars!

For the vast majority of people in this era, this is an unimaginable astronomical figure!

Commander Wang's Adam's apple bobbed as she looked at the girl in front of her, who remained aloof and indifferent, as if she were merely stating an ordinary matter.

I suddenly realized how superficial and ridiculous my previous understanding of "winning an award" was.

This is no small, insignificant award; it is a glorious achievement that has shocked the world and will be recorded in history!
Gong Xue, as the female lead of this film, personally participated in all of this, yet she spoke of it so lightly, so... modestly!
This low-key demeanor, in Commander Wang's view at this moment, was no longer just a matter of personality, but also revealed a calmness that came from having seen the world, an astonishing composure that matched the great honor.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, partly because of her previous misunderstanding, and partly because of the unspoken request she had made to have Gong Xue ask Cheng Xuemin to write a song for her.

Why would a director who has just won the world's highest film award and generated staggering foreign exchange revenue for the country write a song for an ordinary military performance?

This... the weight of this request is completely different from what I imagined!

This is no longer a request for help that can be asked casually; it is a request that requires serious consideration and may even be somewhat presumptuous.

……

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