Entertainment Era: My Good Sister Is All Over the World

A new sky-blue sheet covered the bed, as smooth and soft as the surface of still water. The wrinkles in the sheet spread out in all directions. It was as if he had sat on a piece of broken glass.

—Feng Jicai, "The Flower-Paved Fork in the Road" (1979)

……

After Zhang Guoli and Wang Gang finished their noodles, they went to the Beijing Film Studio together.

However, even with Wang Gang's guarantee, Gang Wei did not let Zhang Guoli in.

Because Wang Gang is not an employee of Beijing Film Studio.

Wang Gang was now in a bit of a predicament.

At this moment, Huang Wenbin rode his bicycle to the front of the door and saw the two of them.

Huang Wenbin couldn't help but wonder, "How did these two end up together?"

Is fate really that mysterious?

With just one more sled, the future trio will be complete.

Huang Wenbin got off his bicycle and asked, "Teacher Zhang, Teacher Wang, what happened? Why aren't you going inside?"

"Huh, you know me?" Wang Gang looked surprised and scrutinized Huang Wenbin several times, but couldn't recall him at all. "Why don't I remember you?"

"Who are you?"

Zhang Guoli was the same; he was quite certain he had never seen this incredibly handsome young man before.

"It's enough that I know you." Huang Wenbin didn't explain further, but Chong Gangwei said, "These two are actors that Director Chen Huaikai specifically requested to see. They've come here to audition. Let them in."

Huang Wenbin has been almost inseparable from Chen Huaikai these past few days, and the staff inside and outside the Beijing Film Studio have all remembered his face.

With the assurance of an "insider," Gangwei naturally stopped stopping Zhang Guoli and readily let him in.

"My name is Huang Wenbin, and I am a writer."

Huang Wenbin, pushing his bicycle, introduced himself to the two men, saying, "I'm also the screenwriter for director Chen Huaikai's new film, 'Let the Bullets Fly'."

"What a promising young man!" Wang Gang's small eyes immediately lit up as he praised, "He's going to embarrass us all to death."

At this time, Zhang Guoli was a little introverted and not good at speaking, so he just smiled cautiously.

"Actually, I recommended both teachers to Director Chen."

Huang Wenbin said with a smile, "I've seen a play that Teacher Zhang Guoli acted in before, and I've also listened to Teacher Wang Gang's radio drama 'The Gadfly.' I think you two are quite suitable for the two roles in this play, so I mentioned it to Director Chen. I didn't expect him to actually invite you over."

"Then we really have to thank you!"

Wang Gang solemnly cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Huang Wenbin: "You've given me such a great opportunity, to make a movie, and one directed by Director Chen at that. It's my honor."

Zhang Guoli kept glancing at Wang Gang, thinking to himself that this fat guy really knew how to talk; his mouth never stopped, just like the straight man in a crosstalk performance.

"I want to thank you too!"

Choosing an opportune moment to speak, Zhang Guoli said to Huang Wenbin with a sincere expression, "If it weren't for your recommendation this time, I might not have had the chance to return to Yanjing."

Huang Wenbin said, "Then you should audition well and try your best to get those two roles."

"Of course." Wang Gang nodded, then pointed to Zhang Guoli, "Um, his bag was stolen at the train station, so he needs to get a new letter of introduction, otherwise the guesthouse won't let him stay."

Huang Wenbin finally understood why Zhang Guoli was so anxious.

So, he said with a smile, "Okay, then I'll ask the editor in the literature department to write you a letter of introduction. Stay at the guesthouse for now, and when you have time, go to the police station to get your stolen items back."

"That's great, thank you so much!" Zhang Guoli finally breathed a sigh of relief; otherwise, he would have been sleeping on the streets tonight.

He thought about calling the police and decided against it.

I lost some clothes, a few dozen yuan, and some letters. Even if I report it to the police, I probably won't be able to get them back.

As long as he has a place to stay, that's fine. He can have his wife send him some more money.

Right now, through an introduction from someone at the railway art troupe, he's dating a girl and they're planning to get married in the next couple of years.

Huang Wenbin brought Zhang Guoli to the Literature Department and explained the situation to Liang Xiaosheng.

Liang Xiaosheng expressed his understanding, saying that other authors who came to Beijing had encountered similar situations before.

After reporting to his superiors, the factory quickly issued Zhang Guoli a new letter of introduction and booked a room for him at the guesthouse, though it was a double room.

Zhang Guoli didn't mind at all; on the contrary, he was very grateful.

Huang Wenbin returned to his room, but just as he put down his luggage, someone knocked on his door.

"Who is it?" Huang Wenbin was planning to take a nap.

A somewhat familiar voice rang out from outside: "It's me, Zhang Huaxun."

Zhang Huaxun?

Huang Wenbin suddenly remembered that this was the person who came to buy the script with the representative of the Shanghai Film Studio a few days ago.

That day, he casually improved the plot outline of "The Mysterious Buddha" for Zhang Huaxun, and even wrote the first act.

At that time, Zhang Huaxun had a burst of inspiration and stayed there, saying that he wanted to write the script as soon as possible.

Huang Wenbin slowly opened the door, and saw Zhang Huaxun standing outside with disheveled hair and a stack of manuscript papers in his hand.

Seeing the door open, Zhang Huaxun excitedly said, "Teacher Huang, I've finished the first draft of the script! Can you take a look?"

Hearing this address, Huang Wenbin was both amused and exasperated, and quickly waved his hand, saying, "No, don't call me teacher. In your eyes, I'm just a primary school student. Just call me Wenbin, or Abin."

"Okay, Ah Bin, can you take a look at the script for me?" Zhang Huaxun had been in seclusion for several days, not even having time to wash up, and came to find Huang Wenbin as soon as he finished writing.

"Teacher Zhang, go wash up first, I'll take a look at the manuscript." Huang Wenbin naturally took the manuscript paper and said to him.

Zhang Huaxun was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses: "Oh dear, I'm sorry, I've been so engrossed in writing these past few days... My apologies, I'll go wash up now."

Huang Wenbin moved a chair to the doorway and began to carefully read through the script.

It must be said that Zhang Huaxun truly deserves his reputation as a veteran screenwriter. His script is meticulously written, and his handwriting is also very neat, much better than Huang Wenbin's.

Huang Wenbin carefully read through the first draft of the script and had to admit that there were quite a few problems.

Zhang Huaxun, being a veteran screenwriter, was used to writing those kinds of perfect, heroic films. He immediately distinguished between the good and evil factions, making them easily recognizable from the first scene.

This is not a problem unique to Zhang Huaxun, but a common problem among directors of this era. Only a few great directors can break free from this constraint.

However, as restrictions on art and literature gradually eased, many directors also realized the importance of commercial films.

The film "The Mysterious Buddha" was one of the bold attempts at commercialization in mainland Chinese cinema. After its release in 1980, it eventually grossed over 100 million yuan.

However, director Zhang Huaxun has been heavily criticized. Some experts say that this film is all about "fighting and slapping," and its style is really low. It is a complete degeneration of art and should be canceled to avoid harming the public.

Huang Wenbin took a red pen and marked some problematic parts of the script.

Some of these are unnecessary details and need to be removed.

Some of these are precisely the exciting moments that can evoke the audience's emotions, and those need to be highlighted.

Then, some adjustments were made to the character designs of the protagonists and antagonists, removing some stereotypical descriptions and making them more lifelike.

After making the revisions, Huang Wenbin put down his pen and looked up to find that several people had gathered at the door at some point.

Besides Zhang Huaxun, there were Factory Director Wang, Chen Huaikai, and Liang Xiaosheng, plus a few other people I didn't recognize.

Huang Wenbin almost fell off his chair: "When did you guys get here? You scared me half to death."

"Well done!" Zhang Huaxun was the first to speak up, clapping his hands in praise: "When I was writing, I always felt that something was wrong. After Abin's revision, I understand now. It's because the character's motivation and personality were too rigid."

I wanted to make a commercial film that met the three principles of being "new, unusual, and strange," like "Drunken Master" or "Fist of Fury." But I'm not very good at commercial films. This change is just perfect! This is the script I wanted!

Beside him, Director Wang muttered to himself with some concern, "This change might cause a huge uproar after the film is released."

"What's there to be afraid of!" Chen Huaikai said with a smile, "Even the biggest waves will hit my movie first!"

That makes sense. "Let the Bullets Fly" is a very commercial film, and it won't appeal to traditional filmmakers. It will inevitably face a lot of criticism.

"Being a factory manager isn't easy."

Just thinking about that scene made Director Wang both happy and worried.

Huang Wenbin thought to himself, "This is just the beginning. There's more to come that will give you a headache."