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

Chapter 202 is about escorting brotherhood.

Inside the rehearsal room, most of the lights had been turned off, leaving only the five of them standing in front of the stage.

Seeing Lan Tianye interrupt, Su Min immediately spoke up as well.

Ouyang Shanzun looked at the two and asked, "What? Comrades, do you think I'm not a good teacher?"

Lan Tianye shook his head and quickly denied it.

“Old Lan, I’ve given you a lot of pointers since you became a director, haven’t I?” Ouyang Shanzun said.

Lan Tianye said, “Shan Zun, of course you are good at directing plays at our Beijing People’s Art Theatre, but being good doesn’t necessarily mean being suitable. I voluntarily applied to become a director after being an actor. I personally experienced the arduous journey and mental process of becoming a director, so I am the most suitable person to teach. I don’t seek to be the best, but the most suitable.”

Upon hearing this, Su Min also said, "Speaking of turning from actor to director, it's not just you, Lao Lan, who did it too!"

To be able to train a renowned female director would be the first major milestone in their lives.

Zhu Lin looked at Liu Yimin, unsure of what to do!
Liu Yimin laughed and said, "Aren't you three being narrow-minded? You can direct a play together as a group of three, so why can't you teach students together? Comrade Zhu Lin, come here, call him Teacher Shan Zun, Teacher Lan, and Teacher Su."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Lin hurriedly called out, but the three of them hadn't reacted yet.

Liu Yimin said, "The order of the three teachers is not important!"

Seeing that Su Min was about to speak, Liu Yimin said, "The one with more strokes comes first!"

Su Min thought about his two characters and for the first time felt that he was at a disadvantage because he had fewer strokes.

"You!" Ouyang Shanzun was both amused and exasperated. "Alright then, from now on, the three of us will be Zhu Lin's teachers. In a few days, I'll bring you my rehearsal diaries from all these years so you can take a look and digest your past experiences."

Lan Tianye said, "Yimin, you'd better treat our three disciples well from now on. If you do anything to hurt her, we three old folks won't stand for it."

“Look at you two,” Su Min said. “I think the three of us should come up with a teaching plan, with each of us teaching a different aspect, so that there won’t be any conflicts. Yi Min, Xiao Lin, you two go out, the three of us old guys will discuss the teaching plan.”

"Alright, you three get busy!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Zhu Lin excitedly said goodbye to the three people one by one, clenching his hands tightly with emotion.

Once outside, Liu Yimin asked in bewilderment, "Why did you suddenly decide to become a director?"

Zhu Lin kicked the corner of the wall and said, "I just want to become more powerful. Look at all the people who go to your courtyard house. I can't let you lose face!"

Liu Yimin found her reasoning amusing and quickly said, "You should follow your own interests. Don't make things difficult for yourself. Interest is the best teacher."

"Being a director and an actor are not contradictory. Teacher Lan is both an actor and a director, and I think he has a very good balance. Besides, I think that if an actor is to hone their acting skills and become a work of art, then..."

The director uses their abilities to connect the actors and the work, working together to create a work of art.

Just imagine how amazing it would be if I could direct a famous film.

Actually, my family was against me becoming an actress. We are a family with a scholarly background, after all. My mother didn't support me, but my father did. However, I felt that he was still unwilling. He only supported me because I liked it.

I used to think that it was a great thing for actors to perform and have their work seen by the audience, but now I think that directors have a greater impact on a work than actors.

Besides, I can't be an actor forever. In the future, when people come to my house and see me, they can greet me by saying, "This is Director Zhu Lin," not "Actor Zhu Lin."

Zhu Lin whispered her reasons for wanting to be a director, and Liu Yimin looked at her and said, "Since you want to be a director, you'll have to endure some hardship, even more hardship than being an actor."

"I'm not afraid, I'm willing to learn. I'm not a delicate girl, I can endure hardship!" Zhu Lin smiled happily when she heard Liu Yimin support her decision, and expressed her determination.

If Liu Yimin had to choose between the director and the actors, he would definitely prefer the director!

“Teacher Liu, maybe I can direct your scripts in the future. You write the scripts at night, and I direct them during the day. What do you think?” Zhu Lin rested her chin on her hands and looked out the window.

Liu Yimin laughed and said, "Alright, if you do a bad job, don't blame me for using dirty tricks."

After the two chatted and laughed for a while, Zhu Lin asked Liu Yimin what he was doing there, and Liu Yimin explained his purpose.

"You've been to the cultural center?" Zhu Lin asked in surprise.

"I only stayed for one summer vacation. The comrades there took good care of me, especially the curator, Lao Zhang, who gave me a subsidy that was higher than their salaries," Liu Yimin said.

"It's a pity you didn't ask for another ticket. We could have gone to the movies together with Comrade Zhang," Zhu Lin said regretfully.

Liu Yimin: "I thought you weren't here today. You're rehearsing 'The Flames of War in Beiping.' I'll go check if there are any tickets left."

Zhu Lin followed Liu Yimin with a grin, but unfortunately, the few tickets reserved for inside were all gone. Zhu Lin sighed regretfully and went with Liu Yimin to the entrance to wait for Director Zhang.

Old Zhang arrived late; by the time he got there, the audience had already started entering.

Upon seeing Liu Yimin, he said awkwardly, "Oh dear, the capital is so big, I accidentally got lost. I had to ask the bus driver for directions before I could get here."

"It's okay, it's okay, there are still ten minutes before it starts!"

Old Zhang wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief: "And who is this comrade?"

“This is Zhu Lin!” Liu Yimin said.

Zhu Lin extended his hand and said, "Hello, Director Zhang, Teacher Liu just mentioned that you took good care of him when he was at the cultural center."

"Teacher Liu? Your student?" Old Zhang looked at the two of them in confusion. Goodness, he has students now.

Zhu Lin chuckled, "He's my teacher, he usually teaches me literature." After saying that, he leaned closer to Liu Yimin affectionately.

Old Zhang immediately understood: "Oh, Yimin, not bad, not bad, a good girl, a good girl!"

"Let's go, Comrade Zhang!" Liu Yimin gestured.

"Yimin, the play 'The Flames of War in Beiping' is so well done, I've heard about it all over our county. We're really benefiting from your work now, I'll have plenty to brag about to Yang Yushan and Lao Sun when I get back." Old Zhang excitedly looked around at the Beijing People's Art Theatre building.

He had never been to this stage, the pinnacle of domestic drama, nor had he ever heard of any plays performed by the provincial drama troupe.

"The Beijing People's Art Theatre is truly remarkable. Look at this building—magnificent and grand!"

The two sat in the audience, and Liu Yimin quietly explained some things to Lao Zhang. Once the performance officially began, Liu Yimin stopped talking and started watching the show intently.

When Wen San'er appeared, Old Zhang looked at everyone in the restaurant eating so happily and chatting so enthusiastically, and suddenly felt as if he were really in an old Beijing restaurant.

For several hours, Old Zhang didn't want to blink. Only when the performance ended and the actors came on stage to take their bows did Old Zhang blink and happily applaud.

He said to Liu Yimin, "The actors from Beijing People's Art Theatre are amazing! They're like characters from your novels come to life. They came to Beijing and saw a play, so the trip was worthwhile!"

Liu Yimin said, "The actors at Beijing People's Art Theatre are all very dedicated. They often rehearse for several months. Bai Lianqi, played by Yu Shizhi, is 53 years old. He even lost weight for this role."

As they left the theater, Zhu Lin suddenly appeared from the side and followed behind the two.

Liu Yimin asked in confusion, "You didn't go home?" "I just went to the rehearsal hall to experience what it's like to direct the actors," Zhu Lin joked to himself, as he began to exercise his directorial authority in front of the empty rehearsal hall.

"Look, you're in a hurry again, but your willingness to make progress is commendable."

The three rode towards the guesthouse of the history museum, with Old Zhang sizing up Zhu Lin while trying to gather information.

Zhu Lin answered each question frankly and generously, and his insights on literature impressed Lao Zhang.

Upon arriving at the guesthouse entrance, Old Zhang called out to Liu Yimin, "Yimin, do you need anything?"

"Isn't it inconvenient? Don't you still have to go to the provincial capital to report?" Liu Yimin asked.

Old Zhang said, "It's incredibly convenient. Our county's bus is waiting for me in the province. Even if it's a large item, I can help you bring it back. There are several other comrades on the train back too. There's strength in numbers."

Liu Yimin was immediately intrigued: "Old Zhang, when are you leaving?"

"Your train leaves at 1 p.m. tomorrow. If you need to bring your things, you still have half a day!"

"Okay, I'll come find you tomorrow. Will you be there in the morning?"

Old Zhang nodded, and Liu Yimin excitedly grasped Old Zhang's hand: "Oh, Old Zhang, you've really helped me a lot. My older brother is probably getting married soon and wants to buy some things for the house, but unfortunately, I can't carry all the big items back by myself on the train."

"Your older brother is getting married?"

"Yes, I've started dating someone, and we're getting along really well," Liu Yimin said with a smile.

"Okay, if you need my help tomorrow, just come and call me."

"No need, no need, I'll bring the things tomorrow!"

Liu Yimin waved his hand and unconsciously hummed a song on his way back. He wanted to bring something home during his winter and summer vacations, but unfortunately, he could only bring small items.

With Lao Zhang back this time, Liu Yimin needs to make some good plans.

"Teacher Liu, is your older brother getting married?" Zhu Lin wondered to himself.

"Yes, but the date hasn't been set yet. They both work at the mining bureau and live close by."

After seeing Zhu Lin off, Liu Yimin went straight to the courtyard house and didn't go back to school. With Sanhua around these past few days, there were far fewer rats in the yard; they weren't caught, they were scared away.

When Liu Yimin is not around, Zhu Lin will come over to feed him when she is at work.

Liu Yimin looked at Sanhua and said, "When are you going to catch mice?"

Sanhua glanced at Liu Yimin disdainfully and slowly closed her eyes.

"Good, good, good, you're quite good at playing dead!" Liu Yimin laughed in anger. Not only was he a spy cat, but he was also a lazy cat.

He threatened to send the mouse away if it wasn't caught, but when that didn't work, he lay down on the bed and went to sleep.

The next morning, Liu Yimin opened the door and saw Zhu Lin standing there, looking at him excitedly.

"Zhu Lin, why are you here so early?"

"Let's go buy a wedding gift for our eldest brother!"

Liu Yimin: "."

Liu Yimin borrowed a pedicab from People's Literature and Art Publishing House, with Zhu Lin following beside him. Liu Yimin joked, "The pedicab driver has a bodyguard following behind him."

Zhu Lin joked, "As my bodyguard, I will absolutely not let Teacher Liu get beaten up."

Upon arriving at the mall, Liu Yimin walked to the television counter and listened carefully to the salesperson's introduction. Next to the televisions on the counter was a sign that said they could only be looked at but not touched.

It seems like touching it and leaving a fingerprint will ruin it.

"These televisions are all good; they are made in our country. Which one would you like, comrades?"

“This is the Peony brand color TV!” Liu Yimin said, pointing to it.

Zhu Lin said, "My family has a Yanjing brand black and white TV, which is very durable. However, sometimes we have to tap the back cover to make it snowy."

The Yanjing brand television was manufactured in Tianjin; this factory produced China's first television set.

Nowadays, there are many TV brands in China, most of which produce black and white TVs, while color TVs still rely more on imports.

The Peony brand color TV was jointly developed by Yanjing TV Factory and Xiao Rizi. In reality, there was no production line; it was mostly assembled.

"How much, comrade?"

"Thirteen hundred yuan!"

Liu Yimin went to the cashier to pay and handed over the industrial coupons in the form of overseas remittance certificates. He then spent more than thirty yuan to buy a radio.

Now that the village has electricity, all these things work. I was originally thinking of buying a standing oscillating fan, but then I realized it would be too big and difficult to carry, so I had to give up on that idea and bought two small sitting fans and a TV antenna instead.

He spent over 1,500 yuan at once, but Liu Yimin didn't mind. Money only counts when it's spent.

They thoughtfully wrapped the television in a cloth, tied it securely, and placed it on the tricycle before riding it towards the guesthouse.

Zhu Lin originally wanted to buy a gift, but Liu Yimin stopped her, as she was already out of money.

When they arrived at the guesthouse, it was almost 11 o'clock. Old Zhang was worried that Liu Yimin would be late, and he paced around anxiously in the room. He was relieved when he saw Liu Yimin.

Liu Yimin treated Lao Zhang and the others to a meal, and then delivered the goods to the train station on his tricycle.

Old Zhang looked at the items and laughed, "You really treat your older brother well, with a big color TV and a big fan!"

Liu Yimin said, "Old Zhang, my older brother is also very good to me. Look at this watch on my arm, my older brother lent me money to buy it. When I was in school, my family was poor, and I relied entirely on my older brother. When I was studying at the county high school, he would walk to the school from time to time to bring me money."

"You two brothers are both great. When your eldest brother gets married, I, Old Zhang, will also come and ask for a drink at the wedding!" Several people, each carrying something, bid farewell to Liu Yimin warmly.

"Thank you all for your help!" Liu Yimin said apologetically.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, for the sake of the braised pork you made for lunch, we have to escort it back safely. We came here to escort national treasures, and we're going back to escort brotherhood."

The person next to Lao Zhang spoke up, saying that he worked at the Provincial Museum and had a very good chat with Liu Yimin during dinner today.

"goodbye!"

"Goodbye, Comrade Liu Yimin, may you shine brightly in Yanjing on behalf of the literary circles of Henan Province!"

(End of this chapter)