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

Chapter 243 Zhu Lin Wins Two Awards
Liu Yimin couldn't help but wonder about the success of "Mr. Donkey": was the early 1980s truly the best era for art films?

In 1981, China also lacked films, but not as much. In recent years, the major film studios have been working hard, and more than 100 films were produced in China last year.

After careful consideration, Liu Yimin concluded that this might indeed be the best era for art films.

Firstly, people nowadays love reading. Judging from the millions of copies sold for magazines and novels, the number of people who enjoy reading is enormous.

These people have read "Mr. Donkey" and have some understanding of the novel's content. It can be said that they were potential viewers of "Mr. Donkey" even before the movie was released.

Secondly, there are relatively few high-quality and artistic films available nowadays, so through word of mouth, people are willing to go to the cinema to watch them.

By the 1990s, the number of televisions in China had increased dramatically, along with the surge in video arcades and karaoke bars, leading to a rapid decline in moviegoers and a market shrinking by nearly 60 percent.

Although the number of people receiving education has been increasing, people's enthusiasm for literature has plummeted, and pornographic novels have replaced literary novels, becoming the new favorite of the times.

It's normal that art films are no longer popular.

The sudden upward trend of "Mr. Donkey" was an unexpected surprise for Liu Yimin.

Liu Yimin arrived at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, where a rehearsal was underway.

With the premieres of "Mountains High and Rivers Long" and "Red River Valley" just around the corner, some central media outlets have already begun preparing to report on them. Recently, during rehearsals, reporters have started to watch, take photos, and conduct interviews on site.

After the interview, we will work with the Beijing People's Art Theatre to publish the news of the premiere in the newspaper, and solemnly inform readers and the theater industry across the country that these two plays will be performed as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet.

Liu Yimin sat to the side, and he politely declined all interview requests from reporters.

After Yu Jiajia from China Youth Daily arrived, Liu Yimin accepted her interview, which made many people envious of Yu Jiajia.

From Liu Yimin's very first interview, it was almost always Yu Jiajia who conducted the interviews. Liu Yimin has hardly ever been interviewed by other media outlets, which has left many people puzzled as to why!
Some say the two have a close relationship, while others say it's because Yu Jiajia often supports Liu Yimin through news reports, making them a community of shared interests.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, what do you think of these two plays?" Yu Jiajia asked with a smile.

Liu Yimin smiled faintly: "Although these two plays are my works, they are the result of the joint efforts of the directors and actors of the Beijing People's Art Theatre. From last autumn until now, they have put in unimaginable hardship. I believe these are two very excellent plays. The spirit of national unity and joint resistance against foreign aggression embodied in them is worthy of our learning!"

After a few more questions, Yu Jiajia asked Liu Yimin how confident he was about the two plays. Liu Yimin told her that he was very confident, not only in himself, but also in the actors and directors of the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Shanzun and Lan Tianye, who were standing nearby, gave Liu Yimin a thumbs up.

After the interview, Yu Jiajia sat down and chatted with Liu Yimin. Yu Jiajia talked about self-employed individuals, saying that many people of age who cannot find work have started to engage in self-employment.

The organization is considering whether to issue a document encouraging young comrades to be self-reliant and stop relying on others.

"The development of individual businesses is still restricted by policies. You can explore policy-related avenues to help those engaged in individual businesses break through unreasonable shackles."

Liu Yimin said.

“Comrade Liu Yimin, your views are indeed different. I thought you would look down on individual business owners like everyone else!” Yu Jiajia said.

“There’s nothing shameful about earning a living with your own hands, and it’s not like you’re making dirty money! I remember there was a newspaper article last year saying that Zhang Huamei from Wenzhou got the first individual business license. In terms of individual businesses, the South is still moving faster,” Liu Yimin said.

“That’s true. Beijing is the capital, so you have to be careful about all policies here. It’s not like the South. I heard that many people here have already made a lot of money and improved their lives,” Yu Jiajia said.

"Is this one of your reporting directions?"

Yu Jiajia's expression shifted: "I think I can make a trip to the south and get some firsthand interview materials! Comrade Liu Yimin, I think I should just call you Teacher Liu, just like Comrade Zhu Lin did!"

"Fine, just pretend you didn't say anything, I'll pretend I didn't hear anything!"

"Haha, Comrade Liu Yimin, I think you could write something like this too. It's also a subject for reform literature. You boldly advocate for reform literature, so you should contribute to its development!"

As soon as Yu Jiajia finished speaking, Zhu Lin came over after rehearsal, wiping his sweat with a towel as he asked the two of them what they were laughing about.

"Comrade Zhu Lin, I have a question for Teacher Liu!"

"Ok?"

Yu Jiajia teased, "Look at how wary you are. Alright, alright, from now on I'll still call you Comrade Liu Yimin. Comrade Zhu Lin, the interview I did with you last time went really well. How about we do another exclusive interview after this play performance is over?"

"Another interview? I don't think I have much to say!" Zhu Lin said hesitantly. After the last interview, he reviewed it and felt that what he said was a mess. He could have said it much better, but he was nervous at the time and stammered.

"Comrade Zhu Lin, you are both a director and an actor, and your identity is very representative."

Yu Jiajia talked for a long time, but Zhu Lin still didn't budge. He only said that he was thinking more about rehearsals now, and that he would talk about the interview later.

Yu Jiajia nodded reluctantly. Some of the other reporters also came over to ask Zhu Lin, but in the end they all shook their heads in disappointment and left.

However, they didn't give up on interviewing Zhu Lin. If they didn't interview Zhu Lin, there were others—directors, actors, and most people wouldn't refuse an interview.

Ouyang Shanzun came over and told Liu Yimin: "Tomorrow, comrades from the Ministry of Culture and the United Front Work Department will come to conduct a final review. After watching the rehearsal, if there are no major problems, the performances will proceed in sequence during the official performance!"

Should I be there?

"What do you think?" Ouyang Shanzun asked with a smile.

"Then I'll do it!"

The next morning, Liu Yimin, Cao Yu, and others stood at the door again to welcome Zhou Yang and Xia Yan from the Ministry of Culture and several people from the United Front Work Department into the rehearsal room.

This time, there were a few more people from the United Front Work Department, but Comrade Wu, the person in charge, was missing.

The representative said they had been too busy lately, and Comrade Wu had asked them to come and take a look. Before leaving, he specifically instructed them not to make any major revisions for the comrades from the People's Art Theatre unless there were any major problems.

"Thank you, Comrade Wu, for your support and understanding of our work at the Beijing People's Art Theatre!" Cao Yu said with a smile.

The group walked in cheerfully, the atmosphere much better than last time. As soon as they were seated, the rehearsal officially began.

The roar of powerful ships and cannons echoed in the rehearsal room. Accompanying it were shouts of resentment and fury.

Xia Yan said to Cao Yu, "Watching it the second time brings a different feeling. I feel like it's even more effective than last time."

"This was performed exactly as it was on set!" Cao Yu said. The two plays lasted nearly six hours. After watching them, Zhou Yang and Xia Yan were the first to stand up and applaud, then looked at the people from the United Front Work Department and asked them if they had any questions.

From a broader perspective, there are no major problems.

"If there are no problems, then let's leave it at that. We shouldn't disturb the comrades from the Beijing People's Art Theatre's rehearsal!"

Zhou Yang's words left the United Front Work Department personnel speechless, and they helplessly followed the crowd out.

Xia Yan didn't leave. Instead, she went to the cafeteria with Cao Yu for a meal. After the meal, she took Liu Yimin to the office to enjoy tea.

"Yimin, the aftereffects of 'Mr. Donkey' are really strong!" Xia Yan said with a smile.

"I didn't expect it either. I thought this kind of art film wouldn't have a big market!" Liu Yimin said honestly.

"Works with profound meaning often don't circulate as widely as popular works from the start. I think the success of 'Mr. Donkey' is inseparable from the cheers and encouragement of many comrades. They analyzed the film, allowing everyone to gradually understand it, which led to the later enthusiastic viewing!"

Xia Yan analyzed while fanning himself with a fan.

Cao Yu said, "Old Shen, you're in charge of film production. I think we should encourage more high-quality films. In order to make more films, the film studios produce a lot of bad ones. Some of them are never released, which is a complete waste of funds."

"Old Wan, change is not something that can be achieved overnight. The relationship between China Film Group and film studios is extremely difficult to sort out! Over the past ten years, the film industry has suffered a major blow, and our system and way of distributing benefits are difficult to change in a short time."

Xia Yan began to analyze the situation for Cao Yu in detail: "The film studio said that China Film Group took too much, but is that really the case? China Film Group only handled the money once and didn't get much. The bulk of it went to the film companies in various places and the local governments."

What did the local government do with this money? It supported cultural undertakings. Cultural centers, film projection agencies, and the vast rural projectionist workforce are all supported by this money.

A large portion of the money China Film Group received went back to the Ministry of Education, which then distributed it among everyone. Old Shen, take your Beijing People's Art Theatre's special funding this time, for example; it all came from China Film Group's profits. Everyone's really struggling!

Xia Yan's point is simple: my country's cultural undertakings are entirely supported by film profits. Local profits support local cultural undertakings, while China Film Group's profits support the nation's cultural undertakings.

"Alright, I'm not going to listen to your complaints. You can worry about your own problems. Have some tea!" Cao Yu chuckled, afraid that Xia Yan might say something like, "Can't you Beijing People's Art Theatre be a little more understanding of the department and ask for less money?"

Xia Yan suddenly looked at Liu Yimin and asked, "Yimin, are you curious about the Hundred Flowers Awards selection?"

Liu Yimin smiled and shook his head.

Aren't you curious?

"Mr. Shen, is the result out yet?" Liu Yimin asked.

"It's out! Guess who won? If you guess right, I'll write you a calligraphy piece!" Xia Yan said smugly.

Liu Yimin smiled slightly. Xia Yan thought this was a closed-book question, but little did he know that it was an open-book question for Liu Yimin.

"Really?"

"A word is settled!"

"Romance on Lushan Mountain, Zhu Lin!"

Xia Yan paused for a moment, then smiled and clapped his hands: "You guessed right, Lao Wan, I'll borrow your office for a bit, I need to write a few words!"

"Okay, do whatever you want!" Cao Yu didn't get up, but pointed to the desk behind him.

As Xia Yan wrote, he said, "I estimate that the telegram from the Shanghai Film Studio will arrive in a little while. This year's Hundred Flowers Awards ceremony will be held in Hangzhou, and the winners have already been notified to their respective organizations."

Zhu Lin was in the rehearsal room when he received a telegram from Shanghai Film Studio, inviting him to Hangzhou to attend an awards ceremony.

"Romance on Lushan Mountain" won the Best Feature Film Award, and its lead actress, Zhu Lin, won the Best Actress Award.

Zhu Lin read the telegram over and over again three times before finally confirming it. His chest heaved with excitement, his cheeks flushed, and then he burst into tears of joy.

I had fantasized about winning an award, but I never expected it to actually happen.

Zhu Lin wanted to run to Cao Yu's office to tell Liu Yimin, but then thought it inappropriate. Back in the rehearsal room, Ouyang Shanzun was the first to notice Zhu Lin's unusual behavior and asked what was wrong. Zhu Lin then gave Ouyang Shanzun the telegram.

Upon seeing this, Ouyang Shanzun shouted for everyone to come and see: "Old Lan, Old Su, Xiao Zhu has won the Hundred Flowers Award—Best Actress!"

A group of people gathered around to congratulate him. Zhu Lin sat in his seat, unable to calm down. He smiled and hugged everyone while wiping away tears.

A little while later, another telegram arrived. It was from the Film Association, informing her that Zhu Lin had won the Best Actress award at the first Golden Rooster Awards, and also inviting her to Hangzhou on May 23 to attend the awards ceremony.

The Golden Rooster Awards are newly established, and this year is the Year of the Rooster, also symbolizing the rooster crowing at dawn. The award ceremonies held by the two organizations are simultaneous and in the same location.

If Zhu Lin attends this awards ceremony, she can receive two awards by herself.

The actors and several directors of the Beijing People's Art Theatre were all happy for Zhu Lin's award. Hearing the commotion in the office, Xia Yan put down her pen and said with a smile, "They must have been notified."

Liu Yimin and Cao Yu went to the desk and saw that it was written on it:

[A good screenwriter writes a good story—a gift from Xia Yan to Yimin in May 1981.]

"Mr. Shen, your handwriting is excellent!" Liu Yimin praised.

Cao Yu picked up on Liu Yimin's words and joked, "The good thing is that it was written by Lao Shen!"

Xia Yan glanced at the two of them and said with a smile, "You two, teacher and student, are quite interesting. Let's go see Comrade Zhu Lin!"

The three people walked into the rehearsal room. Everyone was still celebrating. When they saw the three of them come in, someone reported to Cao Yu and the others the reason for the celebration.

After Yang Lixin finished speaking, he saw that Cao Yu and Liu Yimin remained expressionless and realized that they already knew.

Liu Yimin patted Yang Lixin on the shoulder and smiled slightly.

"Teacher Wan, Elder Shen, Yimin!" Zhu Lin said, barely suppressing his excitement as he stood up.

P.S.: The next chapter was censored. I blurred out the scenes, but it still got censored.

(End of this chapter)