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

Chapter 246 The theater was shaken; a great success!

At the Shanghai Film Studio, Zhang Mengzhao received a telegram and explanation from Zhu Lin that he could not attend the awards ceremony. He took the telegram to Huang Zumo and felt very sorry.

"To receive two awards at once is such an honor! It will be a celebrated story in the entire film industry. Zhu Lin just gave it up like that!" Huang Zumo said with a look of regret.

Shanghai Film Studio will definitely be going to accept the Best Feature Film award. Huang Zumo feels that the award ceremony will be incomplete without Zhu Lin accepting the award.

However, despite their regret, neither of them could influence Zhu Lin's decision.

The two men went to the factory manager's office and found Xu Sangchu. After hearing what was happening, Xu Sangchu pondered for a moment and then said:

"Comrade Zhu Lin's choice is the kind of choice an actor should make. Don't think that this makes it imperfect. In my opinion, Comrade Zhu Lin's refusal to attend the Hundred Flowers Award and Golden Rooster Award ceremony for the sake of acting will be a beautiful story in the film industry in the future!"

Xu Sangchu explained it to them, and the two of them finally understood.

From the news perspective, receiving two prizes at once is big news, but refusing to receive two prizes on the spot is even bigger news. If you dig deeper into the story behind it, it sounds even more touching.

"When you speak, you should emphasize how Comrade Zhu Lin gave up such a great honor for the sake of the play. You all need to broaden your thinking."

The plays "Mountains High and Rivers Long" and "Red River Valley" are about to premiere. These are national-level theatrical projects, and we need to weigh their importance carefully. Tomorrow I'm going to Beijing to see these two plays in person. After the premieres, if possible, our factory should start preparing!

As soon as Xu Sangchu finished speaking, Huang Zumo's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward: "Director Xu, why don't I not go either? I'll go to Yanjing with you!"

"Old Huang, your nose is sharper than anyone else's. I'm telling you, this won't do. If the whole crew doesn't go, we'll become a laughing stock," Xu Sangchu said with a laugh.

Zhang Mengzhao tugged at Huang Zumo's sleeve: "Old Huang, it really wouldn't be right not to go!"

Just then, the phone rang in the factory manager's office. Hearing the voice on the other end, Xu Sangchu smiled.

Slowly, the smile on his face faded, his brows furrowed, and finally he said "I'll think about it" before hanging up the phone, his face ashen.

"What's wrong, factory manager?" Huang Zumo asked cautiously, sensing something was amiss, and prepared to leave.

"It's nothing, just a bunch of people coming out again to gossip. They advised us not to go to Hangzhou to accept the award, saying that it's not honorable for a film like this to win an award. If we accept the award, the whole of Shanghai will lose face!"

Xu Sangchu spoke with a furious expression.

"Which department is this? They're meddling way too much. The higher-ups have already said that we need to emancipate our minds, that the arts and literature circles should let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend, and that we should make more diverse artistic works. How dare they make phone calls like this?" Zhang Mengzhao was also very angry after hearing this.

"So, are we still going or not?" Huang Zumo asked.

"Go, of course we're going! Not only are we going, but we're going in a big way! Lao Huang, Lao Zhang, you two lead the team to receive the award. I'll go to Yanjing, and that'll be the end of it for the script. Lao Huang, the director's job still needs to be decided by the studio, so don't overthink it."

Huang Zumo nodded outwardly, but inwardly he sighed. Xu Sangchu's words were essentially a rejection of him.

As they left the factory manager's office, Zhang Mengzhao offered Huang Zumo a few words of comfort and then said with a smile, "Old Huang, come on, I'll treat you to a movie after get off work!"

"what movie?"

"Donkey Water!"

"I've seen it. It's a very well-made film. Wang Yan is a very capable director at the Beijing Film Studio!" Huang Zumo commented.

Seeing Huang Zumo's response, Zhang Mengzhao dropped the topic of watching the movie. Suddenly, he remembered Liu Yimin's request for him to buy a few bottles of wine and deliver them to Yanjing. Xu Sangchu was going to Yanjing; wasn't this a perfect opportunity?
So he took Huang Zumo out of the factory to buy wine, just to relax!

Xu Sangchu acted quickly, arriving in Yanjing two days before the premieres of "High Mountains and Long Rivers" and "Red River Valley," carrying wine as he went to Liu Yimin's courtyard house.

Liu Yimin was quite surprised to see Xu Sangchu and invited him in: "Director Xu, what brings you here?"

"I came because you were here!" Xu Sangchu joked.

Eight bottles of Ginseng and Cinnamon Nourishing Wine were neatly placed in the corner. Xu Sangchu teased, "Yimin, this wine would be a good gift, wouldn't it!"

“Quite good!” Liu Yimin and Xu Sangchu exchanged a glance, both understanding the meaning in their eyes.

What brings you to Yanjing this time?

"What? Did I come to Yanjing specifically to see you?" Xu Sangchu retorted.

"You need to have a reason for contacting me!"

I missed you, how was it?

"Oh, Director Xu, please don't be funny with me!"

"I really came here to see you. I'd like to go to the Beijing People's Art Theatre to see a play and participate in a performance commemorating the 30th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet," Xu Sangchu said, revealing his purpose.

Xu Sangchu congratulated Liu Yimin again, saying that his film "Mr. Donkey" was excellent.

"We film studios were all vying for it, but to be honest, Beijing Film Studio was still very strong. Old Wang really cared about movies. Take the matter of getting a share of profits for the film studio, for example. He deserves to be called the big brother of the film industry."

Xu Sangchu said sincerely.

"If Director Wang heard this, he would be very happy!"

"I certainly wouldn't say that to his face!"

As the two chatted, Zhu Lin returned from the Beijing People's Art Theatre. Upon seeing Xu Sangchu, he greeted her warmly as "Director Xu." Xu Sangchu smiled and looked at Zhu Lin: "It's been a while, Comrade Zhu Lin. How are you doing at the Beijing People's Art Theatre? If you're not happy there, you can come work at our factory!"

Upon hearing that Zhu Lin was now studying directing, Xu Sangchu exclaimed in surprise, "You've really changed a lot in just a few days! Comrade Zhu Lin, I'll be the first to support you when you direct a play in the future."

The three chatted for a while before Xu Sangchu left.

Zhu Lin watched Xu Sangchu's retreating figure and asked Liu Yimin, "What is Factory Director Xu doing here?"

"I guess it's for the scripts of 'Mountains High and Rivers Long' and 'Red River Valley,' but I want to see how the stage plays are first!" Liu Yimin analyzed seriously.

"That must be it!" Zhu Lin said with a smile, and then praised as usual, "Teacher Liu, you're really amazing!"

Liu Yimin looked at her with a half-smile: "Which aspect are you referring to?"

"Pah!" Zhu Lin pinched his arm, then blushed and stomped out of the courtyard: "I'm leaving!"

On May 23rd, the entire Beijing People's Art Theatre was bustling with activity, everyone on edge preparing for the afternoon's performance. Early in the morning, the Imperial Guards arrived to inspect the security arrangements, checking the entire theatre building and making thorough preparations.

Even the usually relaxed Liu Yimin became nervous upon seeing this scene.

Apart from a few leaders who were wearing military uniforms, the rest of the people were in civilian clothes. After checking and finding no problems, they began to deploy people to guard the area.

Starting in the morning, cooking is no longer allowed on the third and fourth floors; everyone has to eat in the cafeteria. There are people watching over each of the third and fourth floors.

After rehearsing once in the morning, everyone checked their movements after lunch break, and no further rehearsal arrangements were made.

Cao Yu personally oversaw the rehearsal, repeatedly giving instructions to the directors. After finishing, he looked at Liu Yimin and asked, "Yimin, how are you? Nervous?"

"It's alright. The script has been polished so many times. Now it all depends on the actors. Compared to me, they are under much more pressure!"

"Don't worry, the actors have all been through countless trials and tribulations!" Cao Yu said.

Around 3 p.m., Zhou Yang and Xia Yan from the Ministry of Culture arrived, and their arrival further heightened the tense atmosphere.

Xia Yan glanced at the plainclothes officers around him and said to Liu Yimin with a smile, "Don't be nervous, we're safe!"

At 4 p.m., the audience outside had already started ticket checking. In addition to ticket checking, plainclothes officers also quietly conducted a security check.

Most people only felt that the ticket check was slower than usual and did not find any other abnormalities.

After the audience finished checking their tickets and sat down, it was already around 5:30. The official performance was scheduled to start at 6:00, and some people began to wonder why so many people in the front row hadn't arrived yet.

Immediately afterwards, footsteps sounded at the door, and a group of people slowly walked to the front row and began to sit down. Because of the lighting, everyone assumed they were ordinary audience members.

Just listening to them speak, I noticed their accents were quite mixed, and they walked very politely to each other, as if they all knew each other.

Liu Yimin sat in the second row, while Cao Yu, Zhou Yang, Xia Yan, and others sat in the front row, introducing the play to the leaders.

From the side, Liu Yimin could see that all the leaders had faint smiles on their faces and looked very relaxed.

As the bell rang, everyone's attention turned to the stage.

Two plays were performed today, which was a huge test for both the actors and the audience. Everyone had to sit for several hours, which was no joke.

A half-hour break was scheduled between the two sessions, plus a short intermission, for a total of fifty minutes.

Liu Yimin watched the rehearsals countless times, and he watched them with extra care today.

The actors' brilliant performances allowed history to unfold before everyone once again, like an ancient scroll.

The moment the hidden soldiers emerged, thunderous applause erupted in the Beijing People's Art Theatre. When countless soldiers fell in battle, sobs could be heard from the corners of the theater.

When the braid was finally transported back to Tibet, the soldiers' relatives were circling the bountiful wheat fields on both sides of the road, carrying butter tea, barley wine, and hada scarves.
As the procession passed by, the people bowed and offered hada scarves, barley wine, and butter tea.
The theater erupted in applause, and the announcer announced: "Comrades, in thirty minutes a performance of 'Red River Valley' will begin."

When Liu Yimin returned from the restroom, someone came to call him, saying that a leader was looking for him.

Walking to the front row, Cao Yu waved to Liu Yimin. Comrade Wu, whom he had met before, stood up and said, "Comrade Yimin, we meet again. You've been working hard on rehearsals lately!"

“It’s what I should do!”

Comrade Wu introduced Liu Yimin to the playwright. Before Liu Yimin could extend his hand, Comrade Wu pointed at Liu Yimin to the person next to him and said with a smile, "Our playwright is very young! Young comrade, thank you for giving us such a wonderful play, and for giving the people such a wonderful play!"

"Yes, young comrade, you write very well. I've read several of your novels. The literary and artistic circles need young people like you. Keep up the good work, and go all out!"

The atmosphere in the front row was very lively, and the people in the back could only see the people in the front row laughing, but they didn't know what they were saying.

“Let me tell you, Yimin comes from a revolutionary family. His uncle was a soldier under Lao Pi and sacrificed his life on the road to the liberation of the motherland in 47. His father was an old militiaman who fought against bandits!”

"Oh? He's a good young comrade!"

Just as "Red River Valley" was about to begin, Liu Yimin was about to return to his seat when someone pushed him to the front row and moved to Liu Yimin's original seat.

The style of the beginning of "Red River Valley" is not as fast-paced as that of "High Mountains and Long Rivers". Instead, it is very sad because of the girl's sacrifice to the river.

Then a grand drama about Han and Tibetan people fighting against the British unfolded, and people in the front row would occasionally turn their heads and chat quietly, expressing their opinions on the play.

Just like the previous drama, the final scene ignited everyone's anger on the one hand, and moved everyone to tears on the other hand to the sacrifices of the Chinese people and the heroes who went before them one after another.

After the performance of "Red River Valley" ended, the lights below did not come on. Instead, led by Zhu Lin and accompanied by the other actors' dance, they recited a short essay on the theme of "Common Homeland".

China belongs to everyone; it belongs to the Chinese nation!

As the recitations concluded, the two celebratory plays officially came to an end. Just as everyone was preparing to leave, the audience in the back rows suddenly unfurled banners that read "Warmly Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" and "Let's Jointly Protect Our Common Homeland."

Some people even shouted at the stage, "Where is Liu Yimin?" and "The script is well written."

The leader next to him smiled at Liu Yimin and said, "Young comrade, it's your turn to go up and show your face, screenwriter!"

Liu Yimin walked up with a smile, waving his arms. All the lights shone on Liu Yimin, and everyone in the theater could clearly see what he looked like.

As the audience applauded Liu Yimin, they slowly left the venue. After everyone had completely left, Liu Yimin waved his arms for a full half hour.

"Teacher Liu, let me massage it for you!" Zhu Lin said with a smile from below the stage.

As is customary, Liu Yimin was supposed to go backstage to celebrate with the actors, but Cao Yu came over and said that a leader wanted to see him.

Liu Yimin walked over, accompanied by Comrade Wu from the United Front Work Department and Xia Yan and Zhou Yang from the Culture Department. Some of the people next to him had seen the photos before, while others he had never met.

"Such excellent theatrical works must be vigorously promoted so that everyone can see them! Comrades from the United Front Work Department and the Ministry of Culture should not be lazy. Let comrades from the TV station and film studio come over and put these two works on television and on the movie screen."

Let our projectionists take it to the grasslands and the plateaus, so that people all over the country can see it!

The officials from the United Front Work Department and the Ministry of Culture nodded and said they would take immediate action.

"Young comrade, I heard you spent a long time traveling around Aba. How is that place now?"

(End of this chapter)