Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 196 Teacher Liu, what's the rush?
"Yes, seeing how warmly our compatriots in Hong Kong welcomed us, I couldn't help but shed tears when I closed the show! All the major newspapers in Hong Kong were commenting on 'Mr. Donkey' and 'The Flames of War in Beiping,' and of course, 'Wang Zhaojun.'"

Look, these are comments from Hong Kong's *Ta Kung Pao*, *Wen Wei Po*, and *Hong Kong Commercial Daily*. They say this is an opportunity for Hong Kong people to learn about the mainland through drama. The success of the performance is a victory for cultural exchange between Hong Kong and the mainland, and also a victory for Chinese culture.

The Hong Kong edition of Ta Kung Pao was originally a mainland newspaper. After the liberation, the mainland was reorganized, leaving only the Hong Kong version of Ta Kung Pao. Wen Wei Po was established through a collaboration between the former Shanghai Wen Wei Po and Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Commercial Daily was the only newspaper founded after the founding of the People's Republic of China that could be distributed in mainland China.

These three are all well-known pro-China newspapers. At the same time, there are also pro-China and pro-unification newspapers. The pro-China newspapers are the lackeys of the British Empire, but now, the "Sun" is not only not setting, but is almost extinguished.

You is bald.

Later, it evolved into left and right, and the bald guy was completely finished.

It is normal for the three newspapers to lavish praise on the success of the play's performance in Hong Kong.

Lan Tianye said, "You think they are leftists, so you'll definitely say that. Let me tell you, those so-called centrists also think that this performance in Hong Kong is a victory for the mainland, and they highly praised the brilliance of the play. They even reported on the scene of Hong Kong people queuing up to buy tickets for the play."

Meanwhile, the right-wing faction, looking dejected in the newspapers, had no choice but to reluctantly acknowledge our success.

"When we returned, many Hong Kong people held our hands to see us off, and some elderly people said that they were waiting for us, waiting for us! Ordinary people in Hong Kong felt the importance of the country in 67."

In 67, a conflict broke out between the Chinese and the British in mainland China, which directly and powerfully supported the workers' movement at the time.

The three of them spoke excitedly, their faces flushed, clearly feeling triumphant.

"At the last performance in Hong Kong, both 'Mr. Donkey' and 'Wang Zhaojun' broke the 100-show mark. 'Wolf Smoke Over Beiping' premiered later, but it is estimated that it will also break the 100-show mark soon."

"A good script is the foundation of our confidence as directors and actors. Otherwise, even the most skilled cook can't make a meal without ingredients. No matter how capable we are, we can't create a script that everyone likes," Su Min said.

Zhu Lin said with a smile, "When I went to buy clothes on the street, some people recognized us and insisted on giving us a discount."

Ouyang Shanzun looked at Liu Yimin, pointed at Zhu Lin and said, "Now you believe me! We should perform more in Hong Kong so that everyone can get to know us and strengthen their sense of identity."

"Though we wear Western clothes, our hearts remain Chinese! Although Hong Kong has not yet returned, the people must keep their hearts turned towards the mainland. As long as we do this, it will return one day. The will of the people cannot be defied!"

As Lan Tianye said this, tears welled up in his eyes.

"Old Lan and I used to secretly rehearse patriotic plays in Beiping. Ah, those were tough times!" Su Min patted Lan Tianye's hand. The two old friends sometimes sat down to chat, and it was already decades ago.

As they reminisced about the past, Ouyang Shanzun and the other two began to sigh with emotion. Zhu Lin boiled water, Liu Yimin brewed tea, and then placed the watermelon they had bought the day before in front of them.

As the sun rose higher and the area under the ginkgo tree grew warmer, the five people moved to the shaded corridor. Liu Yimin had intended for them to come inside and chat, but none of them wanted to go in; they insisted on enjoying the scenery in the courtyard.

Besides witnessing the warm welcome from the people of Hong Kong, the three of them also felt the gap between the two places. The skyscrapers in Hong Kong had a great impact on them, and they gained a deeper understanding of reform and opening up.

"We need to speed things up so we have the right to talk. Some things can't be resolved through talk alone; you need to stand up for yourself and have something that makes them afraid to do anything!"

After sharing their experiences and insights in Hong Kong, Lan Tianye couldn't resist moving his chair closer to Liu Yimin.

His old friend Su Min knew what he was up to as soon as he saw his posture, so he spoke first: "Yi Min, we all know you've written a new book. So what? The three of us will each take one, it's my turn now!"

Lan Tianye's eyes flashed with anger as he glared at Su Min and said, "Old Su, can you let me speak first?"

"It doesn't matter who speaks first or last, just because you speak first doesn't mean it's yours," Su Min said sarcastically.

Liu Yimin glanced at Zhu Lin, who gave him a helpless look.

Liu Yimin laughed and said, "So, Teacher Lan, you came in here to hold me accountable!"

Lan Tianye said, "Look at you, when I asked you back then, you were still hiding it from me?"

"Let me make this clear first, I'm not hiding it from you. At the time, I hadn't even written it yet. I just had an idea, and it wasn't certain whether I could actually write it down. I couldn't just fire off the news and then disappoint you again," Liu Yimin quickly said.

"Besides, with the expedition imminent, we couldn't afford to shake the morale of the troops!"

At this point in Liu Yimin's story, Lan Tianye smiled and pinched his nose in agreement.

"Could you show us the script? When it comes to staging a play, we need someone who can direct a big production!" Ouyang Shanzun volunteered.

"This is a draft, but it's almost there. Let me show it to you."

With the three heads huddled together, no one could see clearly. Liu Yimin then placed the photos he had taken in Aba next to them, letting them look at them for themselves. One of the three was bound to be involved in directing this play, so this was a way for them to get a feel for the set design beforehand.

Zhu Lin, standing beside him, also picked up and looked at the photos. After examining them for a long time, he held up one photo and looked at Liu Yimin: "Teacher Liu, who is this girl? Standing on a horse, she looks so dashing!"

Liu Yimin took it and said, "A comrade named Zhuoma gave you the dried yak meat."

"Oh, it's so beautiful, so vibrant and pure, just like a snow-capped mountain," Zhu Lin said, looking at the photo of Zhuoma, who had a long face and wore a red coat with a white brocade lining.

Her skin is a little dark, but this adds a touch of wildness to Zhuoma.

Su Min, who was standing next to him, looked up from the photo and said, "Yi Min, you must have used up a lot of film, right?"

"That's right. It took me a lot of effort to get these color films from the Friendship Store. I've almost used up all the ones I bought." Liu Yimin wasn't lying; the large stack of photos in the file folder next to him was proof of that.

“I’ll talk to Lao Yu later and ask him to make up for this part of the cost in the script fee,” Ouyang Shanzun said.

“AUV, a leader is a leader, showing consideration for the people!” Liu Yimin said with a smile as he approached Ouyang Shanzun.

Lan Tianye said with dissatisfaction, "Shan Zun, you are abusing your power to win over and corrupt our screenwriters."

"What? You think we shouldn't give this money?" Ouyang Shanzun said without looking up.

Lan Tianye quickly replied, "Of course you should! I didn't say you shouldn't!"

After watching it, the three of them wanted to say something, but Liu Yimin said, "This is part one; there will be a sequel. Also, like I said before, you guys should discuss the director internally!"

"Slippery!" After a morning, the three wanted to leave, but Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin pulled them into the yard for a meal, where the two of them made noodles together.

Sanhua gradually became more active, hopping from branch to branch trying to catch small birds, but unfortunately catching nothing and startling away several cicadas. Unintentionally, her actions brought a welcome quiet to the yard.

While eating watermelon and chatting in the afternoon, the three of them started thinking about how to film the movie, each of them acting as the director.

Liu Yimin chatted with Zhu Lin on the side, constantly lamenting how tiring it was to perform outside.

As the group left, Ouyang Shanzun said with a smile, "Zhu Lin, you should rest at home for a couple more days. You performed in both 'Mr. Donkey' and 'Wang Zhaojun,' so your workload was heavier than others. You should get some rest. Here are two more days off for you."

A fleeting look of surprise crossed Zhu Lin's face, and she quickly expressed her gratitude.

"It's alright, it's alright. Anyway, we can't rehearse that many scenes in the next couple of days."

However, Ouyang Shanzun added, "Yimin, you'd better work hard on the script and try to finish the next one as soon as possible."

After seeing the three off, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin returned to the study. Zhu Lin pressed Liu Yimin down in front of the desk and told her to focus on writing the script, while she tidied up the bookshelf next to her.

The asparagus fern in front of the table has completely survived. After removing the withered leaves, it is completely unrecognizable as having ever withered.

Sanhua paced back and forth at the door of the study, as if wondering if she could come in.

With a clatter, Liu Yimin turned to look at Zhu Lin, who was hurriedly putting the things back in their place. She stood up, dusted off her clothes, and looked at Liu Yimin with a strange expression: "Teacher Liu, are you still drinking that?"

She is a doctor, and she knows the effects of Shen Gui Yang Rong Wine.

"Oh dear, you've misunderstood. Those are local specialties sent over by the Shanghai Film Studio, probably for me to give away. And look at these milk candies, they were sent over there too."

Zhu Lin chuckled at Liu Yimin's anxious look, half-covering her mouth as she said, "Teacher Liu, what's the rush?"

"I'm not in a hurry!"

Zhu Lin laughed and said, "Yes, yes, you're not in a hurry, I'm the one who's in a hurry."

The Beijing People's Art Theatre crew had just returned, and Cao Yu and Wan Fang had also returned from Beijing. Liu Yimin arrived at Cao Yu's home ahead of time to welcome them back from the United States.

The two returned home exhausted, but their faces were unusually excited. Wan Fang, in particular, had bought a lot of things, her purse bulging.

"Teacher, senior sister!" Liu Yimin took the things from his hands and placed them in the living room.

Cao Yu nodded to Liu Yimin, and Wan Fang smiled and said, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness in welcoming me, your senior sister."

Li Yuru said, "This is a meal that Yimin and I cooked together. We spent several hours making it. You two wash your hands and faces, and quickly taste it to see if it suits your taste."

After washing his face, Cao Yu slumped heavily onto the sofa, his exhaustion impossible to conceal: "Three countries, so tiring! I never want to go out again unless it's absolutely exhausting!"

“I’m already tired from traveling to so many places, let alone you,” Wan Fang said, taking a sip of tea.

Wan Fang, being young after all, was in much better health and happily recounted his experiences in America, including its cities. Li Yuru listened attentively, occasionally asking questions.

“Buildings in the US are indeed tall. I have to say, we still have a long way to go to catch up,” Wan Fang said, her voice tinged with a sigh and a hint of frustration.

Cao Yu said, "The United States is, after all, an old-fashioned communist country. When I went there before, they were already like that. In recent years, the international situation has changed, and Western Europe has moved closer to them, which has made them a lot of money. No wonder they are rolling in money."

“We came from nothing, and maybe if we seize the opportunity presented by the policies, we can develop very quickly,” Liu Yimin said.

Cao Yu laughed and said, "I like to hear that. In the 1950s and 60s, our industrial development was so fast. As long as we concentrate our efforts, I believe we can catch up. We're not afraid of being slow, we're only afraid of standing still!"

Wan Fang nodded, and after finishing her meal, she took out the gifts she had bought from her bag. Wan Fang had specially bought Li Yuru a set of clothes, and Li Yuru was overjoyed when she saw them.

It's not about how good the clothes are; it's about Wanfang's approval of her, and that's the most important thing.

Even a simple gift can make Li Yuru extremely happy.

Wan Fang took out a hat and put it on Liu Yimin's head. It was a brown cowboy hat from the West. Li Yuru burst out laughing when she saw him wearing it in the room.

“I’ve seen this hat in some behind-the-scenes footage; Americans wear it. It can protect them from the sun when they go out to do field research. Look how tanned I am now.” Wan Fang led Liu Yimin around the living room, and all three of them agreed that it suited them well.

"Thank you, senior sister!"

"You're welcome, you're welcome. Anyway, it's not my money, hahaha!"

Wanfang spent all her money on the trip abroad on Cao Yu's money; Wanfang couldn't have bought so many things on her own salary.

Wan Fang then asked Li Yuru to go into the room to change her clothes. When she came out, everyone applauded and said she looked beautiful. Li Yuru has a good temperament, and the red light jacket looked very appropriate on her, without giving the impression of being too brightly colored.

However, Li Yuru also said, "Is it inappropriate for me to wear such a bright color out?"

“Master’s wife, no one is more suitable than you.”

Li Yuru circled around again: "Now we can go outside and chat with Keyou. When Yimin came back from France, I could talk about France; when he came back from Aba, I could talk about Aba; and now that you've come back from America, you can talk about America if you hear anything new. It really is just as Yimin said, 'A scholar can know everything under the world without leaving home.'"

Wan Fang also bought herself a set of clothes, a thin autumn trench coat. If she walked the streets of Yanjing, she would definitely be a fashion trendsetter.

"American shopping malls have a lot of things, clothes, shoes. When I walk on the street and see them, I realize that clothes can be worn like that. But I also think there's something wrong with it; they're dressed too casually."

Wan Fang offered a critical perspective on American society.

Seeing that Cao Yu was quite tired, Liu Yimin prepared to leave so that they could adjust to the time difference.

Cao Yu rubbed his temples and brows, supporting himself as he said, "Don't go, I have some good news to tell you!"

(End of this chapter)