1979: The child's mother is a celestial being.

Chapter 227 Three Refusals and Three Declinees (Please Subscribe!)
"Hello comrade, is this 'Popular Cinema' magazine new?"

"It's new. Look at the date, January 21st, which was yesterday."

"Okay, give me one, and these too. You can calculate the total cost."

"Brother, you bought a lot."

"Hehe, these are what I use to pass the time on the train."

"Where is Big Brother going?"

"Capital."

"Judging from your accent, you're a local, right?"

"Yes, a local."

"The New Year is almost here. Are you going to the capital on a business trip or something?"

"It's not a business trip, I'm going to my son's house for the Chinese New Year."

"Oh, brother, you're so lucky!"

"Haha, not bad, not bad. It's mainly because my son is ambitious."

At the entrance of a bookstore not far from Jiangcheng Railway Station, the person chatting with the clerk was none other than Professor Chen.

Because school was on holiday, and his wife and son's family were all in Beijing, he also bought a train ticket to Beijing.

But traveling alone on a long train journey can be a bit boring, so before boarding, Old Chen planned to buy some magazines to pass the long and tedious time on the train.

The bookstore staff had just placed this issue of "Popular Cinema" magazine on top, and Old Chen didn't care. After getting in the car, he picked up "Popular Cinema" and started reading.

Soon, he saw his son's name.

"At the recently concluded annual meeting of the my country Film Association, renowned Chinese director Chen Fusheng, speaking on behalf of young directors, stated that young directors in the new era should play three roles: first, as students, inheriting the spirit of craftsmanship; second, as pathfinders, bravely scaling artistic heights; and third, as bridges, embracing the open world."

"Director Chen also stated that Chinese cinema is currently at a crucial juncture, carrying forward the past and forging ahead into the future. As young directors, we feel a great sense of responsibility. This responsibility lies not only in making one or two films that are both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, but also in how to use the perspective and language of our generation to tell the Chinese stories that belong to this great era."

Seeing his son becoming more and more capable and soaring higher and higher, Old Chen felt gratified, but also somewhat complicated.

I wiped away my tears, watched that part twice, and then continued reading.

Soon, Chen Fusheng's name reappeared.

"At the end of the conference, the list of judges for the 3rd Golden Rooster Awards was selected."

The list is as follows:
Honorary Chairman: Xia Yan
Chairpersons: Yuan Wenshu, Zhang Junxiang
Committee members: Yu Ming, Wang Yan, Situ Huimin, Cheng Ying, Chen Huaikai, Zheng Dongtian, Chen Fusheng…

……

"Brother-in-law, are you a judge for the next Golden Rooster Awards?"

Chen Fusheng had just gotten home from get off work when he saw his sister-in-law holding a copy of "Popular Cinema" magazine. He paused for a moment, walked over, picked up the magazine, glanced at it, and said with a slightly helpless expression:
"I told them I might not have time, but they actually filled in my name."

"Huh? Really? Such a good thing, and you're not happy about it, brother-in-law?"

"It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that I'm going to the United States after the Chinese New Year, and the Golden Rooster Awards are being held around that time, so there might be a time conflict," Chen Fusheng explained.

"Then why did they still choose you?" Liu Xiaoli asked, putting down her magazine.

"That just means your husband is important."

"What a jerk!" Liu Xiaoli retorted irritably, though she actually believed it in her heart.

Liu Xiaowei covered her mouth and laughed, then said, "Brother-in-law, you're so narcissistic!"

Chen Fusheng didn't refute, went into the kitchen to wash his hands, and greeted his mother: "Mom, Dad said his train is at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

"Departing at 9 AM tomorrow or arriving at the destination?"

"We've arrived at the station, so Mom, do you want to come with me to the train station to pick up Dad tomorrow morning?"

"You're not going to work anymore?"

“Go ahead, pick them up and then go,” Chen Fusheng continued. “There’s nothing too important to do tomorrow. The Spring Festival Gala is having its third rehearsal, so I’ll just go check it out this afternoon.”

"Then you and Xiaoli go to rehearse. I'll go pick up your dad."

"It's alright, it won't cause any delays."

The next morning, Chen Fusheng first dropped his wife off at the CCTV entrance, and then went to the train station with his mother to pick up his father.

However, due to the train delay, Chen Fusheng did not appear on CCTV until the afternoon.

"Did you pick up Dad?" Liu Xiaoli asked as she saw her husband appear.

"Yes, I received it. His train was more than two hours late."

"Train delays are normal, as long as Dad is safe."

Chen Fusheng nodded, skipping the topic, and asked, "Have you rehearsed?"

"You're not here, how are we supposed to rehearse?" Liu Xiaoli had barely finished speaking when Deng Zaijun walked towards them and said, "Director Chen, you've finally arrived. Only your program hasn't been rehearsed yet. Do you want to perform in the next program, or take a break first?"

"No need to rest."

"Okay, then follow me."

Their two songs were quickly rehearsed. After all, they weren't professional singers, so there were bound to be some problems. Fortunately, it was their first Spring Festival Gala, so it was relatively rough, and the production team didn't nitpick too much.

Nevertheless, after stepping down from the stage, Chen Fusheng still sought out a professional music teacher on site to correct some of their problems.

"Teacher Wu, how did I sing just now?"

"Director Chen probably hasn't studied music theory, has he?" the music teacher asked instead of answering.

"How did you know?"

"Because there was absolutely no technique in your singing just now."

"No skill at all?" Chen Fusheng laughed. "Then it's all emotion."

"Uh..." The music teacher thought about it carefully and actually nodded: "Director Chen, your singing was indeed very emotional, but..."

"Just what?"

"But Director Chen, did you use a lot of falsetto in the chorus?"

"Yes, I can't sing without falsetto," Chen Fusheng said honestly.

"..."

The music teacher was speechless.

However, he still taught Chen Fusheng some pronunciation techniques.

He was studying diligently when Huang Yihe suddenly came over and interrupted him, saying, "Director Chen, after discussion among our directing team, we've decided to use your song 'I Believe' as the closing song. What do you think?"

"Isn't 'I Believe' a bit too suitable as the closing song?" Chen Fusheng thought for a moment and said.

"But among the songs we have, none is more suitable than yours."

"Let me see."

Chen Fusheng walked to Huang Yihe's seat and quickly scanned the program schedule.

There are about twenty songs, but none of them are suitable to be the finale.

Even his song "I Believe" is not suitable.

The production team chose his song simply because they were picking the best among the worst.

Although it wasn't on the program schedule, Chen Fusheng had it in his mind.

"Director Huang, 'I Believe' is really not suitable as the finale, but I have a new song that would be quite suitable for the last program."

"Really? What new song?" Huang Yihe asked expectantly.

I'll give it to you tomorrow.

"Okay, okay... Oh right, and the opening remarks, we also think Director Chen is more suitable for you."

"I am of lowly status and my voice carries no weight, no, no."

"Oh, Director Chen, don't be modest. No one is more suitable than you."

"Looking for your station manager."

Deng Zaijun also came over and advised, "The audience may not know our station director, but they do know you."

"Then we should find a highly respected senior, as I lack the qualifications," Chen Fusheng declined again.

"But you have a high status."

After declining three times, Chen Fusheng finally relented: "You really want me to go?"

"No one but you is suitable."

"Hey... okay."

"correct……"

"Do you have anything else to do?"

"Uh, one last thing, when you wish the audience a Happy New Year at midnight, could you also let Director Chen's daughter come on stage to wish the audience a Happy New Year?"

"This is acceptable."

P.S.: I need to take a break. My cousin is getting married tomorrow, and I have to go back to my hometown now. If I have time, I will resume updates the day after tomorrow, at the latest the night after tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)