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

Chapter 256 Please Call Me Director Zhu Lin

The last stop was the fire lookout tower in Saihanba Forest Farm, which is a fire prevention facility used in Saihanba.

The workers on the fire lookout towers are all couples, and they have to spend six months of fire prevention time there.

Every hour, we need to use binoculars to look around the forest and report any fires immediately.

"Over the past twenty years, we have planted more than 800,000 mu of forest. If a fire were to break out, the losses would be enormous! The lookout towers are located at an altitude of one or two thousand meters. They offer a high vantage point with a wide field of vision and telephone access, making fire prevention extremely convenient!"

Secretary Wang explained.

A group of people arrived at the watchtower, panting. It was still summer halfway up the mountain, but by the time they reached the summit, it was almost winter.

On the tall watchtower, two people were looking down the road with binoculars. When they spotted the group, they immediately shouted, "They're here! They're here!"

Normally it's just the two of them, but any visitor from the mountain can make them happy for days.

Later, due to the successful tree planting in Saihanba, and inspired by the "sea of ​​pines", the Wanghuolou (Fire Watch Tower) was renamed Wanghailou (Sea Watch Tower).

When they arrived at the lookout tower, the couple who were looking out for the fire were already waiting for them. Their clothes were a bit worn, but they looked like they had taken good care of themselves.

They were invited to walk inside. When they reached the top of the tower, a simple table was placed on the roof with a notebook filled with densely written duty logs.

There were also several well-worn magazines and a single volume of the novel that Liu Yimin had given him as a gift.

Old Zhang, the fire lookout, laughed and said that he could recite some of the plot points by heart: "We feel bitter, but when we think about the characters in the book, we don't feel bitter anymore!"

Just then, the phone rang at the lookout tower. Old Zhang, one of the lookouts, chuckled awkwardly, "It's from the other lookout towers. They all know that Comrade Liu Yimin and the reporter came here, and they're calling one by one to ask about your news."

Secretary Wang said to Old Zhang, "Go ahead and answer the call. Tell them we're here!"

"Comrade Liu Yimin, they want to speak with you!" Old Zhang said, holding the phone.

Liu Yimin smiled as he took the phone and greeted the person on the other end. The person on the other end only said "Comrade Liu Yimin" before falling silent. After a while, they said "Goodbye" and hung up the phone.

Several in a row were like this. Old Zhang said helplessly, "They probably don't know what to say. We fire lookouts usually communicate by phone. We only know the voice, not the person. We can't even recognize each other when we meet."

Pierre stood on the watchtower, taking photos continuously, and then interviewed Mr. and Mrs. Zhang before officially concluding his trip to Saihanba.

Before parting, everyone received gifts from the forestry workers. Pierre received a wooden camera with the slogan "Long live Sino-French friendship" written on the base.

This moved Pierre to tears, and he kept kissing the gift.

A worker behind them couldn't help but mutter, "The paint isn't even dry yet!"

Everyone smiled at each other. Yang Zhi hadn't translated for Pierre, so he couldn't understand and thought they were just reluctant to part with him, muttering the word "friendship" over and over again.

Liu Yimin received a wooden pen engraved with "Presented to Comrade Liu Yimin by a Forestry Worker" and a few lines of poetry: "Motherland, my beloved motherland."

In mid-August, I returned to Yanjing and finally saw Pierre off.

Inside the courtyard, Zhu Lin's voice startled Liu Yimin awake, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Teacher Liu, it's time to take your medicine!"

Liu Yimin looked at Zhu Lin warily; this scene seemed familiar!
What medicine should I take?

"Oh dear, Teacher Liu, you're really delirious with fever! You have a fever!" Zhu Lin smiled at Liu Yimin, reached out and touched his forehead, feeling that it wasn't so hot anymore.

Liu Yimin shook his head to clear his mind before saying, "I've forgotten all about it!"

After seeing Pierre off, it rained on the way back from the airport. He got caught in the rain and developed a fever.

“You’re usually in good health; a rain shower wouldn’t cause a fever. But you were too tired in Saihanba, and you went up to an altitude of one or two thousand meters. Your body was too exhausted, so of course you got a fever.”

"But after taking this medicine today, I should feel much better."

Zhu Lin put the medicine into Liu Yimin's mouth, and he swallowed it with the thin rice porridge.

Liu Yimin strained himself and said with a smile, "It's really good to have a doctor in the family!"

Zhu Lin pushed the syringe with his hand and said with a smile, "Another injection is safer!"

After the injection, Zhu Lin patted him gently: "Okay, put it on!"

Liu Yimin turned around and laughed, "You've already taken them off, why put them back on!"

Zhu Lin gasped as Liu Yimin dragged her onto the bed. Looking at Liu Yimin, Zhu Lin's eyelashes trembled: "Teacher Liu, what are you doing!"

"It's only fair to reciprocate!" Liu Yimin said shamelessly.

"what?"

"Get a shot!"

Done!

Zhu Lin tapped Liu Yimin's head with her finger: "Teacher Liu, if you keep going like this, your illness will never get better!"

"I feel refreshed now!"

After getting dressed and getting out of bed, Liu Yimin moved around for a while, and his health indeed improved.

"Have the teacher and his wife returned from Beidaihe?" Liu Yimin asked.

"They're back! They've returned from Beidaihe. Teacher and his wife look much better!"

"Wow, this is a great place to recuperate! Would you like to go again?"

"I'm afraid I don't have time! Teacher Liu, you can go by yourself and come back in September!" Zhu Lin said helplessly after considering it for a moment.

"Forget it, what's the point of being alone!"

Liu Yimin went into his study and showed Zhu Lin the manuscript of the novel "Button". He hadn't been idle during his week in Saihanba and had actually finished "Button"!

Zhu Lin gently held the manuscript paper and began to read it with an elegant posture.

"Zhang Huamei, shall we use your original name?" Zhu Lin asked to himself.

“I sent a telegram to inquire, and Zhang Huamei agreed to use her original name.”

Liu Yimin originally wanted to use the pseudonym "Zhang Mei" because he was afraid that the novel would cause him trouble. However, Zhang Huamei told him in a telegram that he could use his real name.

Yu Jiajia told Liu Yimin that Zhang Huamei had told her in her letter that once the novel was published, she could show it to others and tell them, "This is about me, Zhang Huamei!" Liu Yimin smiled and thought that Zhang Huamei's business path would probably be easier in the future thanks to this novel.

After all, fame is very important to a person.

If you were buying buttons, would you rather buy Zhang Huamei's or someone else's? Of course, you'd rather buy Zhang Huamei's.

"The scene where they grab the button in the second rainstorm is where the emotions of the entire novel explode. The rain washes away the past, and a rainbow appears after the rain, which is a metaphor for transformation," Zhu Lin commented.

Liu Yimin smiled and asked in return, "What do you think about adapting it into a stage play?"

"Adapting it into a stage play will definitely not be able to compare with a large-scale play like 'Red River Valley.' After all, such plays have large scenes, a strong sense of history, and the audience doesn't even need to see too much of the plot to be emotionally stirred enough."

Similar to *Mr. Donkey*, it's a small-scale, high-quality production related to the reform and opening-up policy, strongly reflecting the times and advocating for reform and opening-up. In short, I think it could be adapted into a stage play, but comparing it to *Red River Valley* or *The Flames of War in Beiping* would be very difficult!

Zhu Lin started analyzing the situation seriously, counting on his fingers.

"If you were the director, how would you arrange it?"

"Me?" Zhu Lin put down his manuscript, stood up, paced around the study, and began to speak eloquently and logically.

After saying that, he deflated again: "It's easier said than done. The makeup and costumes don't need much work, and the actors don't even need to change their own clothes; they can go straight to the set."

"Teacher Lan just transitioned to directing and started doing so already. You've been learning from them for almost a year now, so you should be quite familiar with all aspects of it!"

"Of course I know it!" Zhu Lin answered quickly, followed by another powerful and impressive statement.

The following day, Liu Yimin came to the Beijing People's Art Theatre, showed the manuscript of his novel to Cao Yu, and asked for his opinion.

After reading it, Cao Yu sighed at the hardships that small vendors had faced in the past few years.

"Peddling and selling goods have been professions since ancient times, and they are the way of life for many ordinary people. The development of the individual economy has not only made life more convenient for the people, but also boosted the national economy," Liu Yimin said.

“Yimin, you’re right. With the development of these small businesses, a group of people will gradually get rich, and then they will transform themselves and start doing big business. Wasn’t that how the Shanxi merchants were before?”

"Some Shanxi merchants made their fortunes by selling out their country!"

"This brings us to another stage: when businessmen are pursuing profits, do they still remember their identity? Marx said that when profits reach 300%, businessmen are not even afraid of going to the gallows."

Cao Yu gently twirled his teacup. He had never been a businessman, and he wondered why businessmen weren't even afraid of the gallows.

However, he knew about the four major families and how terrifying hoarding and speculation could be.

He thought to himself, "This is why there's controversy surrounding the policy."

"It's simple. He doesn't believe the gallows will fall on him. If he did, he'd behave himself!"

Liu Yimin smiled contemptuously. How could a businessman not be afraid? He would be running away in terror at the mere sight of a knife.

"Teacher, what do you think about adapting it into a stage play?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Yu repeatedly tapped the table with his hand, seemingly quite conflicted. After a while, he smiled with relief and said, "Sure, literature and art serve the people. Our drama circle should also feel the spring breeze of reform and opening up!"

What he was agonizing over just now wasn't the plot of the script, but the stance the script represented.

Having figured it out, Cao Yu stopped worrying and went directly to Lan Tianye with the script. Lan Tianye had some experience in making small but beautiful films.

After reading the script, Lan Tianye smiled and said to Liu Yimin, "Finally, I don't have to share a rehearsal space with Shan Zun and Su Min anymore. I think this kind of script can be rehearsed in two to three months!"

"Then it's up to you!" Cao Yu said with a smile. This time, he didn't even consult Ouyang Shanzun and the others, and finally made the decision on his own.

Lan Tianye said with a smile, "I can't direct alone, I need an assistant director!"

"who!"

“Xiao Zhu, girls are meticulous, so they definitely have an advantage when giving acting advice to the female lead!” Lan Tianye said without hesitation.

“Okay, that’s what I meant too. Since you brought it up, I won’t say anything more. Zhu Lin, come here!” Cao Yu shouted at Zhu Lin.

Zhu Lin walked over, puzzled. Seeing Cao Yu's serious expression, he thought he had made a mistake. He secretly looked at Liu Yimin with a questioning look, signaling him to save the day!

"Dean Wan!" Zhu Lin addressed him respectfully, addressing him by his title.

"Starting today, you will be the assistant director of 'The Button,' with Comrade Lan Tianye as the director. You will learn from him. Once the script for 'The Button' is finished, you can start rehearsing immediately!"

Zhu Lin's legs went weak; happiness had come so suddenly that she nodded in agreement without even realizing it.

After Cao Yu left, seeing Lan Tianye and Liu Yimin smiling at her, she realized that this was real.

"Xiao Zhu, keep up the good work! Yi Min, hurry up and finish your script, I'm itching to write it. Sigh, I'm going to chat with Shan Zun and Lao Su. They're always so busy, unlike them, who have nothing to do!"

Lan Tianye patted Liu Yimin on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Liu Yimin and Lan Tianye exchanged a glance; Old Lan really understood him.

"Teacher Liu, thank you so much for your help again!" Zhu Lin said with a smile.

"Don't be so polite. I didn't say anything. It was Teacher Lan who suggested it."

Because of Liu Yimin's plays, I came to the Beijing People's Art Theatre, acted in movies, and won awards. After thinking it over carefully, I realized that I seem to be inseparable from Teacher Liu!
Sigh, it seems like we were never really going to be separated!
Zhu Lin made up her mind to do a good job as the assistant director and absolutely not let Liu Yimin down.

Taking a deep breath, he said to Liu Yimin, "Come on, Teacher Liu, let me show you around Director Zhu Lin's rehearsal space!"

The beautiful director Zhu Lin is about to arrive at her most familiar rehearsal venue!

Zhu Lin strode confidently through the rehearsal room door. There was no one rehearsing inside. He walked in with his hands behind his back.

"Zhu Lin? Are you serious?" Liu Yimin laughed out loud.

"Hmm?" Zhu Lin curled his lip and looked at Liu Yimin: "Comrade Liu Yimin, what did you call me?"

"Director Zhu Lin?"

"Comrade Liu Yimin, once we're outside the rehearsal room, you can call me Zhu Lin and I won't mind. But once we're back in the rehearsal room, you have to call me Director Zhu Lin!"

"Alright, Director Zhu Lin, let me show you around our rehearsal space!"

"Lead the way!"

"."

(End of this chapter)