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

Chapter 533 Re-entering the Front Lines to Offer Condolences
In order to inspire audiences' enthusiasm for the film, China Film Group had several articles published before its release, telling viewers how great the film was.

After its release, the entire film industry paid close attention to the film, and Liu Yimin was no exception.

Liu Peiran took Liu Yimin to visit several cinemas and saw the enthusiasm of the moviegoers, which made them realize that ordering a second movie was not a difficult task.

With over 300 copies distributed to such a large market as China, the problem of supply falling short of demand became apparent the very next day.

In some places, there is only one copy of a film in the city. This copy is carried around to cinemas all over the city. Even if the film distributors work themselves to death, they still can't satisfy so many viewers.

Three days later, film companies from various regions expressed their desire to reorder the copies, and Ding Daming immediately became arrogant.

"You saw it?"

"Look!"

Is it good? Are many people watching it?

"many!"

"Why didn't you buy it back then?" Ding Daming asked with a smile.

The group fell silent. Fortunately, Ding Daming didn't have time to joke with them; he was busy with the release of "Hachiko" in Hong Kong and Macau, and preparations were underway in Southeast Asia and North America.

The China Film Group has already shown the film to its partners in various regions, and they have all expressed great interest. Translation in North America and other regions will also take some time.

When the second film ordering meeting was held, a week had passed since the premiere of "Hachiko: A Dog's Tale". After Ding Daming finished announcing the numbers, a group of people eagerly began to announce theirs.

The final second order yielded 600 copies, almost double the number from the first order.

“That’s right. There are very few good films produced domestically in the domestic market. Now that we finally have one, you should give it your full support,” Ding Daming said with high spirits.

"Mr. Ding is right!" The provincial managers echoed, asking when the copies would be ready and sent to cinemas across the country.

"I'll go back and urge them on the August First Film Studio, so don't be too anxious. There are still some good films coming up. 'Brotherhood of Blades' has been filmed and is currently being edited, and the crew of 'The Overseas Chinese' will be back soon. It's almost Chinese New Year, so everyone can have a good meal."

Ding Daming strode out of the conference room with his chest out and head held high. When he got to his office, he called Liu Yimin and Liu Peiran to share the good news.

Ding Daming also told the two that the film would be released in Hong Kong and Macau tomorrow, in Southeast Asia on the 23rd, and in North America and other places at the earliest in mid-December or January.

"President Ding, I understand. If there's any good news, don't forget to let us know. We're all waiting for good news from China Film Overseas!" Liu Yimin said.

Ding Daming said, "Comrade Yimin, thank you so much. Thank you for your efforts in promoting Chinese films on the world stage. I truly hope that one day, Chinese films can also reach the world stage like Hollywood films."

If I can achieve this, then my role as the general manager of China Film Group will not have been in vain.

"Mr. Ding, you have to eat one bite at a time and do things one step at a time. As long as you're making progress, you're successful!"

After hanging up the phone, Ding Daming hummed in his office.

Just after hanging up, the General Political Department called, saying they were forming a cultural performance troupe to comfort the frontline workers and hoped Liu Yimin could participate.

"Comrade Yimin, the New Year is just around the corner, and the soldiers on the front lines are also homesick. They are working very hard to defend the country and guard the border. Therefore, in addition to our personnel, we will also be bringing a batch of supplies this time."

Liu Yimin asked, "Sir, who are the people, and when is it approximately? I have two meetings to attend at the end of December, and I'm worried about scheduling conflicts."

"Is it the Institute of Literature's year-end meeting? Don't worry, Comrade Yimin, we'll only be there for ten days. We'll leave on the 24th and return on December 6th. This time we'll go and return on military transport planes. As for the personnel, they're comrades from the General Political Department's Drama Troupe. They've rehearsed a series of inspiring plays, including 'Our Hero - Deng Jiaxian,' and they're just waiting to present them to the soldiers on the front lines."

“Okay, I agree to participate,” Liu Yimin said.

"Alright, Comrade Yimin, thank you. With your participation, our performance was a complete success."

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yimin began to think about arranging his departure from Beijing. Zhu Lin, hearing that Liu Yimin was leaving again, did not show any unusual expression: "Teacher Liu, don't worry. I've been busy for almost a month, and I'll have a lot more free time from now on. I'll spend more time with the two little ones."

"Thank you for your hard work!" Liu Yimin said, shaking Zhu Lindi's hand.

“It’s alright, that’s just the nature of our jobs, we have to obey the decisions of our superiors. If I go to perform in other places, you’ll have to worry more about things at home.” Zhu Lin leaned on Liu Yimin’s shoulder and hugged his arm.

Liu Yimin still needs to settle things at the school. Fortunately, with Liu Yimin gone, Yan Zhen is able to keep the Institute of Literature and Art in good order without any problems.

"Teacher, when is this year's conference scheduled?" Yan Zhen asked.

"Let's go with the 28th and 29th! You send out the notices first and compile a list of the expected attendees."

"it is good."

Yan Zhen walked out of the office, and Liu Yimin picked up the phone to discuss the profit sharing of Professor Wu's "Dream of the Red Chamber" cassette tape production with people from the Central Broadcasting Station.

Liu Yimin talked to them several times, but the talks were all unpleasant. They only wanted to pay a fixed copyright fee of three thousand yuan, instead of paying according to revenue sharing.

Deputy Director Yang Weiguang said, "Comrade Yimin, our cooperation has been quite pleasant. There's no need to ruin our relationship over such a small amount of money."

“You know we’ve had a very pleasant collaboration. This isn’t just about ‘Dream of the Red Chamber,’ it also relates to future collaborations. If we can’t resolve this, then we shouldn’t be making any more tapes!” Liu Yimin said calmly.

"No, Comrade Yimin, asking for royalties is really going too far. We don't earn much money anyway!"

"So you're doing charity work?"

"Comrade Yimin, oh my!"

"Let's hang up now. If we can't resolve this further, we shouldn't cooperate on the radio station either. Our Ministry of Education is going to establish an educational television station and an educational radio station. They've mentioned it more than once, asking us to open programs on the ministry's radio station," Liu Yimin said leisurely, now that he had the upper hand.

"No, Comrade Yimin, everything is negotiable. But you have to let us make money too, right?"

"I didn't say you couldn't make money. 70% is yours, why aren't you making it?"

“We have to give 70% to the distribution channels, so we don’t even get as much as you do. How about we add 20% to the 3,000 yuan?”

"Twenty-five, the royalties are split twenty-five."

"Alright! Twenty-five it is! Comrade Yimin, you've set a precedent."

"If it weren't for setting a precedent, would we even have the 'Youth Night Talk' program? Director Yang, you need to think long-term!"

"Let's sign the contract!" Yang Weiguang said, somewhat helplessly.

Yang Weiguang didn't mean he didn't want to give Liu Yimin the money; the main problem was that once he opened the door, things would be difficult later. Liu Yimin drove over and signed the contract with Yang Weiguang. Ten percent of the money would go to the Institute of Literature and Art, and fifteen percent plus three thousand yuan would go to Wu Zuxiang.

After signing the contract, Yang Weiguang shook Liu Yimin's hand and said, "Yimin, don't tell anyone about this."

“Yang Tai, this is definitely going to be the trend in the future. We can’t stop it no matter how hard we try. Besides, you can only sell your content if you have excellent content. Money is earned, not squeezed out.”

Helpless, Yang Weiguang changed the subject to Liu Yimin's car, joking that Liu Yimin's car was better than that of a vice minister.

"If you have any connections to buy a car, contact me. I really don't want to drive this thing."

"Really? Let me ask around for you. We media people are known for our excellent information network, if not for anything else." Yang Weiguang shook Liu Yimin's hand and saw him off.

Watching the Crown car drive away, Yang Weiguang shook his head: "Yimin, it's really hard to make more money off you!"

The market for these cassette tapes isn't large, but because they're educational and priced high, those who buy them are people who can afford them. Wu Zuxiang's scholarship on *Dream of the Red Chamber* is also very popular abroad; it's something that can earn foreign exchange.

By the end of November, the weather was already quite cold, and sitting in the car was so much more comfortable than before. They were supposed to move to the Overseas Chinese Apartments, but Liu Yimin wasn't home, so Zhu Lin couldn't go back to the Overseas Chinese Apartments at noon and had to continue living in the courtyard house.

The air conditioner isn't very effective at heating, but it's not too cold either.

After everything was settled, Liu Yimin went to the front line with peace of mind. On November 23, Liu Yimin arrived at the General Political Department early in the morning. There was a bus parked in the courtyard of the General Political Department, and a group of actors in military uniforms were standing next to it.

When Wei, the head of the General Political Department Drama Troupe, saw Liu Yimin, he shook hands and said loudly, "Comrade Yimin, it's been a long time! It's been a long time! We were overjoyed to hear that you were coming."

"Comrade Wei Wei is going too?"

"What? Yimin, do you think I shouldn't go?" Wei Wei walked over and said.

"No, I thought they were all from the drama troupe."

Commander Wei explained, "This time, it's not just people from the General Political Department, but also actors from the Air Force Political Department."

The Air Force soldiers wore different clothes. Liu Yimin looked over and saw Li Xuejian. Li Xuejian looked so young now, only in her early thirties, and was joking with the female soldiers next to her.

Li Xuejian sensed someone watching him, followed Liu Yimin's gaze, and quickly walked over after seeing Liu Yimin: "Professor Liu, hello, my name is Li Xuejian!"

"No need for a salute!" Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Commander Wei, who was standing next to him, also greatly admired Li Xuejian. He became famous in 80 for playing LB in a play. Later, he also acted in Liu Yimin's plays "The Acacia Tree in the Minefield" and "Triumphant Return at Midnight". Liu Yimin had seen his performance during the military arts competition.

"Yes, Comrade Liu Yimin, I admire you very much. I was so excited to hear that you were going to join the delegation that I couldn't sleep. I hope to get your guidance."

"Haha, my acting skills are no match for yours!"

"No matter how well you act, it still comes down to your writing!"

Liu Yimin shook hands with Li Xuejian: "You have a very distinctive appearance and good acting skills. You will definitely have a bright future. I hope you can stick to your original aspiration in acting and become a qualified actor, an actor loved by the audience."

"Okay, I will remember these words."

Seeing Li Xuejian and Liu Yimin strike up a conversation, the others looked on with envy.

Once everyone was ready, the people from the General Political Department's Cultural Department met with them and told them to set off with peace of mind and to complete their mission successfully.

Liu Yimin then learned that the head of the delegation was Wei Wei, the deputy head was Head Wei, and Liu Yimin was the advisor to the delegation.

After getting into the car, Liu Yimin sat next to Wei Wei and said, "I never expected that the leaders of the General Political Department would give me an official position."

"Haha, the leaders of the General Political Department went to great lengths, afraid that you would be wronged!" Wei Wei laughed.

"Whoa!"

The car arrived at the airport, and the passengers boarded a transport plane and flew away from Yanjing. Coincidentally, Liu Yimin was going to Wenshan again, exactly the same place as last time.

"This time we're going to visit Laoshan and Malipo, the most intense battlefields," Wei Wei said solemnly.

The most intense battlefield also means the greatest risk. As the leader of the delegation, he was responsible for the lives of everyone in the delegation.

Liu Yimin comforted him, saying, "You experienced the Korean War, but this scene is much smaller compared to that."

"That's right. How can the Vietnamese compare to the Americans? Back then, the Americans' weapons and equipment were more advanced than the Vietnamese's are now. Besides, Vietnam relied on past spoils and aid; they didn't have their own production capacity. The Americans were different; they were really willing to use their artillery shells!"

During the long journey, Wei Wei talked to everyone about the battlefield of the Korean War, and continued talking until everyone returned home.

"The Most Lovable People, our soldiers were the most lovable, and today's soldiers are the most lovable too. Back when we were withdrawing back to China, the railway was bombed to pieces, and most of the soldiers had to walk back. When they returned home, they were ragged and covered in sour smells, sigh." Wei Wei waved his hand and didn't continue.

Compared to civilian airliners, military transport planes don't prioritize comfort, and several people experienced motion sickness, vomiting frantically into vomit bags.

After refueling once, we proceeded directly to Yunnan Province without rest. Upon arrival in Yunnan, we boarded a military vehicle and headed to Wenshan.

Wenshan looked much the same as when Liu Yimin last visited. The war dragged on for so many years and brought Vietnam to the brink of collapse, but the same was true for our country's areas near the front lines.

However, compared to before, military vehicles now travel at a much slower speed, lacking the sense of urgency and instead exuding a more relaxed atmosphere.

This also reflects the changing situation on the front lines. Now, we are in a very comfortable position on the front lines, even quite relaxed.

Military vehicles carried them to the front lines, where only sporadic artillery fire could be heard, and some soldiers were training on both sides of the road.

"Comrades, you should stay here and not go any further. It's too dangerous to go any further," the officer who received the vehicle said.

Upon hearing the gunshot, Liu Yimin suddenly asked, "Is that the sound of the high-powered machine gunners?"

"Comrade Yimin, you have very sharp ears, that's Gao Ji's voice."

"An air raid?"

"No, the heavy machine guns are firing horizontally at the infantry!"

"If you fire this shuttlecock, won't it leave pieces scattered all over the place?"

"Haha, Comrade Liu Yimin is so humorous. Comrades, this is the camp of our 235th Regiment, and our soldiers are conducting pre-combat training!"

(End of this chapter)