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

Chapter 531 Our Hero—Deng Jiaxian

"The Pilgrimage of One Man" is a journey of enlightenment and emotion, while "Our Hero - Deng Jiaxian" is a journey of patriotism and emotion.

The actor who played Deng Xiaoping perfectly captured the patriotic fervor of a young man.

"Xiao Deng, we're going to set off a 'big firecracker,' but this is a top-secret national secret. Are you willing to live in anonymity for the rest of your life?"

"I'm willing!" The voice boomed on the stage: "If I do this well, my life will have meaning, and it will be worth dying for."

In his later years, lying in a hospital bed, the actor portrayed Deng Xiaoping's frailty and unwavering spirit with remarkable skill. Liu Yimin visited Deng Xiaoping and spoke to the actors about Deng Xiaoping's condition at the time, which they carefully noted down.

Ouyang Shanzun and Zhu Lin both looked at Liu Yimin, who said, "Perfect, very perfect!"

As they left the rehearsal room, Liu Yimin said to Ouyang Shanzun, "Director Shanzun, let me ask Professor Xu about his son."

“Alright, just ask. We should prioritize the feelings of Deng’s family,” Ouyang Shanzun said.

Most of the tickets for the plays "The Pilgrimage of a Man" and "Our Hero - Deng Jiaxian" have been sold, and the Beijing People's Art Theatre has kept a portion for itself.

The next day, before Liu Yimin could even ask, Professor Xu, Deng Lao's wife, arrived at the Chinese Department.

Liu Yimin put down what he was holding and quickly walked over to Professor Xu, asking, "Professor Xu, what brings you here today?"

"Yimin, why didn't you invite me to the play?"

"I"

"What? Are you afraid of upsetting me?" Professor Xu asked with a smile.

"I originally wanted to ask Comrade Zhiping first, that the Beijing People's Art Theatre would like you to take a look."

"Why ask him? Just ask me directly. Our two colleges are a bit far apart, but still closer than his."

Professor Xu Luxi works at Yenching Medical College, which was originally a college under Yenching University. It became an independent college during the major reorganization of departments and colleges and is now Yenching Medical University.

After 2000, Yenching Medical University was merged back into Yenching University.

"If you'd like to go, I'll pick you up then," Liu Yimin said with a smile, pulling out the theater tickets from his pocket.

"No need, I can go by myself. I'm not that fragile. I'm also planning to write Deng Xiaoping's autobiography and memoirs." Professor Xu took the theater tickets and prepared to leave. Liu Yimin quickly accompanied Professor Xu to the outside of the Chinese Department.

Professor Xu said, "You should stay here. You're not only in charge of the Chinese Department's courses, but you also have to manage the Institute of Literature. Don't worry about this old woman."

"Professor Xu, let me see you off."

Professor Xu insisted on not being seen off, so Liu Yimin took her to the edge of Weiming Lake, but was then turned back.

Liu Yimin walked back to the Institute of Literature and Art, where students and teachers were discussing the matter. Some were talking about Deng Xiaoping's achievements, while others were discussing the deep affection between the couple.

They wanted to greet Professor Xu, but they didn't know how to start a conversation, so they could only watch him leave and swallow their words.

Liu Yimin spoke a few words to them and then returned to his office. A short while later, he returned with a document in his hand and found Wu Zuxiang.

"Professor Wu, the broadcasting company wants to produce it on a cassette tape. What do you think?" Liu Yimin asked.

Wu Zuxiang's "Dream of the Red Chamber" has been told for nearly half a year and is about to be finished. It is time to put the production of cassette tapes on the agenda.

"I think it's a good thing. This way, more people can hear it and understand it. I, Old Wu, have finally made a name for myself!" Wu Zuxiang said happily.

Liu Yimin knew that Wu Zuxiang would not have any objections, so he said, "The other main issues are copyright licensing and the revenue from the tapes."

Wu Zuxiang, who didn't understand copyright, said, "The Institute of Literature and Art paid for it, so do I still have the copyright to produce the cassette tape?"

“Of course, the Institute of Literature and Art bought the rights to your lectures, not the audio recordings. If the tapes are sold, you must get a share. It’s impossible for the broadcasting authorities to keep all the money,” Liu Yimin said.

Wu Zuxiang said with a chuckle, "Is there really such a good thing?"

“Of course, you’ll have to talk to the broadcasting company about the production and the specific revenue sharing,” Liu Yimin said.

Wu Zuxiang asked Liu Yimin how much he should ask for. Liu Yimin was not very knowledgeable about copyright for magnetic tapes, but the royalties in later generations were generally between 8% and 15%.

Wu Zuxiang found the conversation tedious and handed the negotiations over to the Institute of Literature and Art, who would then take over Wu Zuxiang's role and the two parties would split the money.

“This is a pleasant surprise for me. It would be a loss for a scholar like me to talk to them. You have to go,” Wu Zuxiang said.

Liu Yimin said quietly, "Professor Wu, I am also a scholar."

"You? Yes, yes, you are too, but you're not a traditional scholar. You can be a scholar, or you can be a Confucian businessman. Consider the portion allocated to the Institute of Literature as my contribution to the Institute. We spend money, but we also need to earn money for the Institute!"

“Okay, here are two tickets to the play. You can go if you want,” Liu Yimin said.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yao immediately turned around: "Yimin, what about mine? I'm really looking forward to seeing 'The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry'!"

"Here you go, here you go." Liu Yimin made a "shh" gesture. If even the old professors came to ask Liu Yimin for tickets, he wouldn't have that many.

When Zhu Lin returned to the courtyard house after get off work, she called to tell them to eat first, as she would be getting off work later that day.

Today, Aunt Liang from next door brought over two pumpkins. Ximei not only stir-fried them, but also made pumpkin millet porridge.

The two little ones especially loved to eat it. Liu Yimin said with a smile, "Dad was sick of eating it back in our hometown, but you two are treating it like a delicacy."

Liu Yu took a sip of millet porridge: "Dad, it smells so good and tastes so sweet."

"Don't drink too much even if it's sweet, or you might wet the bed at night."

Xi Mei said with a smile, "It's much better now. Sometimes she tells me when she wakes up."

"Thank you for your hard work, Ximei. Also, see if there's anything at home tomorrow and send some to Aunt Liang, it's only fair!" Liu Yimin said.

"it is good."

After Liu Yimin finished eating, Zhu Lin returned from the Beijing People's Art Theatre, saying that the leaders of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense wanted to watch the rehearsal, which had delayed them.

The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense approved the application, and Zhu Lin and Ouyang Shanzun both breathed a sigh of relief, as they were both afraid of serious problems.

“There’s definitely no problem. If the actors aren’t nervous, then you, the director, shouldn’t be either,” Liu Yimin said.

Zhu Lin nodded and sat down to eat.

Liu Yimin went into the study and made a phone call to his old leader, asking if he wanted to attend the premiere of the play "Our Hero - Deng Jiaxian".

“Yimin, I do want to go, but my health isn’t quite up to it lately. I’ll go to the Beijing People’s Art Theatre when I’m feeling better,” the old leader said.

"Okay, take good care of yourself. Your health is the most important thing."

Not long after Liu Yimin hung up the phone, it rang again. It was his old superior calling, saying that he would try his best to get there.

Did you invite Comrade Xu Luxi?

"Invited, Professor Xu will also attend."

"Okay, okay, please keep an eye on her emotions. Professor Xu is not young anymore."

"Okay, don't worry."

On November 1st, at the premiere of "The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry," Frank stood next to Liu Yimin, having come over to join in the fun and see how the Chinese drama team's rehearsals went.

Frank felt a great deal of regret upon hearing that "The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" was about to begin filming.

Liu Yimin patted Frank on the shoulder: "You've got so many scripts, you can't film them all at once. Frank, don't bite off more than you can chew!"

“Liu, you’re right, but you don’t understand the feelings of a director.” Frank then pointed to the people in line and said, “Liu, most of them are elderly people.”

"It's normal for older people to read and share their stories."

Liu Yimin said this, but seeing that they were all from the older generation, he couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

The audience for the play was mainly composed of people in their forties and fifties, followed by those in their sixties and seventies; there weren't many elderly people. At this moment, Mr. and Mrs. Zhu walked over, and Mr. Zhu remarked with emotion, "It seems that audiences with a certain maturity and experience still enjoy watching this kind of play."

"Mom and Dad, what did you have for dinner?"

"I just ate some rice, it'll do," said Zhu's mother.

"We can't just make do; we have to eat well. Mom, you're a doctor; you can't neglect yourself."

Mr. Zhu said, "We're in a rush today, but your mother usually cooks very lavish meals."

After Frank greeted Zhu's parents, he asked Liu Yimin what he thought of the audience.
"Looking at it, it's not bad. You saw this? You still dare to take pictures?"

“Film is different from stage plays; film is more expressive,” Frank said.

Frank didn't have high expectations for the play, but after seeing it, he changed his mind.

After the play ended, Frank kept giving a thumbs up: "Although I didn't understand what was being said, the actors were really good. Miller said when he returned to America that China has a group of good actors, and it seems that's true."

“Yes, this drama has few characters and a slow-paced plot. Without an actor with strong acting skills, it would be impossible to attract the audience,” Liu Yimin said.

"That's why some movies are basically made around the main character, and the character is even more important than the story. Or rather, in these kinds of movies, the characters themselves are the story."

As Yu Zhi took her bow on stage with tears in her eyes, the middle-aged and elderly audience members below applauded enthusiastically.

Wang Yao and Wu Zuxiang shouted loudly, "Good!"

An audience member shouted at Yu Zhizhi, "Old Yu, will we be able to see you perform again in twenty years?"

"As long as I have the energy, I will keep acting!"

Yu Shizhi has been with the Beijing People's Art Theatre for decades, and audiences have watched him grow from young to old, long since regarding him as a friend.

After meeting with the actors, Liu Yimin wanted to chat with Wang Yao and Wu Zuxiang for a few minutes, but the two had already left in a taxi.

Zhu's parents didn't go straight home; instead, they went to the courtyard house, where Zhu Lin told them to stay that night.

Liu Yimin dropped Frank off at the Yanjing Hotel. When he returned and heard that Zhu's parents wanted to leave, Liu Yimin quickly said, "Mom and Dad, why don't you stay here? It's getting cold, and it wouldn't be worth it if you caught a cold tonight."

“Alright, then we’ll stay here,” said Zhu’s mother.

Liu Yu and Liu Lin clung to Zhu's mother's legs, wanting to sleep with her.

The next morning, the old leader called Liu Yimin and told him that he would be attending the premiere of "Our Hero - Deng Jiaxian" that evening.

"Don't get too excited, kid. If you don't do a good job, I'm going to yell at you."

"Don't worry, there's absolutely no problem. I'll be waiting for you at the entrance of the Beijing People's Art Theatre tonight."

In the afternoon, Frank delivered a large package of documents about the events surrounding the Kennedy assassination. However, Liu Yimin didn't have time to look at them and had him leave them in the study.

"Liu, how's the Green Book coming along?"

How's the post-production of "Hachiko: A Dog's Tale" going?

"almost."

"I'm almost there too!"

Frank: "."

Liu Yimin invited Frank to see a play that evening, but Frank declined because he felt he couldn't understand Chinese.

"I'm planning to stroll around Liulichang tonight and buy some Chinese artifacts. I've heard there are many genuine ones. I've recently become fascinated with Chinese culture," Frank said with a longing look.

"what do you want to buy?"

"Bronze artifacts!"

Liu Yimin suppressed a smile: "Okay, okay, don't buy too much!"

You're lucky if you can buy a real one, let alone a lot of real ones? Do you think a foreigner like you would even have a chance to buy a lot of real ones? Especially since they're bronze artifacts!
In the evening, Liu Yimin finished dinner early at home and went to the Beijing People's Art Theatre, while Zhu Lin simply did not come back.

Cao Yu was also inside checking the final preparations. Before the audience arrived, the old commander arrived first.

Liu Yimin and Secretary Li helped the old leader to the performance hall of the Beijing People's Art Theatre. They originally wanted him to go to his office first, but the old leader felt it was too much trouble and decided to go directly there.

"This is a good location," the old commander said with a smile.

The old leader sat down and asked Liu Yimin many questions, mainly about the literary and artistic circles and his scripts.

Suddenly, the old leader changed the subject: "Yimin, did you know that a Democratic Baptist Party has appeared on the island?"

"Nobody told me about this," Liu Yimin said honestly.

“The Democratic Baptist Party was established on September 28th, so it’s normal that you don’t know. Their party platform is very interesting, and it seems that they could become a progressive force.”

The Democratic Baptist Party (DPP) was originally a political party that advocated unification. Its main members in the early stages were pro-unification. Later, it can be said that it was possessed and became the TD party.

The United States did not contribute anything, and Liu Yimin did not believe a single punctuation mark.

"We must guard against US intervention. One of the key methods the US uses to control other countries at low cost is to create chaos, create opposition to the Party, then control the opposition, and finally use the opposition to defeat the ruling party and rule the country."

The US has always used this approach, and it's surprisingly effective. Even if it doesn't achieve its goal, the cost is minimal.

After Liu Yimin finished speaking, the old leader realized the seriousness of the matter: "You're right, you're right, we need to think about it carefully."

The old leader didn't say anything more. Liu Yimin got up and walked out of the performance hall to prepare to welcome Professor Xu Luxi.

Just as I arrived at the gate, I ran into Professor Xu, who was walking into the courtyard.

Liu Yimin waved his hand: "Professor Xu, this way. The old chief is here."

"The commander is here? I'll go see him," Professor Xu said.

Today's audience for the play included people of all ages, as well as many military personnel in uniform.

When the old leader saw Professor Xu, the two shook hands and chatted. The old leader told her to remember to mention any difficulties she encountered to the organization.

"Old Deng is gone, the organization must take good care of you. The Beijing People's Art Theatre has chosen a good title—Our Hero, Deng Jiaxian!"

Professor Xu said, "Old leader, we have no difficulties. Deng Xiaoping said that we can't always ask the organization for help. Besides, I am a professor, and my living conditions and treatment in China are already better than many people. We are already doing very well."

Cao Yu saw the two chatting and sat down without saying a word.

As more and more people entered the venue, many of them holding banners that read "Eternal Memory of Deng Xiaoping," Professor Xu wiped away tears of emotion.

At the very beginning of the play, Professor Xu and the old leader's thoughts were taken back to decades ago, when Deng Lao returned from the United States and was preparing to make his mark in the field of science.

At that moment, Professor Qian Sanqiang was busy preparing for the development of the atomic bomb. When the old leader saw the actor playing himself, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Inside the performance hall, everyone's eyes were fixed on the stage, watching how the country prepared for and developed the atomic bomb more than 30 years ago.

The scientists' bold statements were met with frequent applause from the audience.

They experienced that era from the perspective of ordinary people, and looking back at the scientists, it's a completely different feeling, a completely different sentiment.

Upon seeing Old Deng on the hospital bed, Professor Xu could no longer hold back his tears, while Liu Yimin and Secretary Li helped wipe them away.

The old leader looked at Cao Yu and said, "Comrade Jiabao, you at the Beijing People's Art Theatre need to work harder and treat this as a patriotic education drama so that more people can watch it."

"Old Chief, we plan to have the troupe work overtime and perform in the morning, inviting university students and primary and secondary school students from our city to watch the performance at different times."

P.S.: Thank you to the user "残夏tv" for the 300 coins and to the user "小猫爱刷牙" for the 100 coins.

(End of this chapter)