Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

On his way to the Beijing Film Academy, Yang Che received a call from Benshan.

"Uncle Benshan...yes, she's having a concert in Shenyang on September 9th...no, I can't go, I really can't go, I have to go to the United States, I've already booked my plane ticket."

"That's a pity. I didn't want to bother them since you weren't here."

"Hehe, don't bother, she's not one to enjoy crowds."

After chuckling, Benshan said, "There's something else. Remember when we talked about that rural story in the mountains? I chatted with He Qingkui about it, and he called me today saying he'd like to talk to you too. How about this, is it convenient for you?"

"Send me his phone number, and I'll talk to him."

"Okay, fine. I'll make this clear from the start: I'll calculate your screenwriting fee, a bit lower than He Qingkui's, okay?"

"No, I was just opening my mouth and expanding on your ideas. If I start charging you money now, what will that make me? How am I supposed to make a living after that?"

"One thing at a time, you're showing me the way..."

"Uncle Benshan, how about this, you can give me a share of the script, and the screenwriter will really consider it."

"Really?"

"Uncle Benshan, that's not very honest of you."

"Haha, I was just thinking it wouldn't be appropriate to directly ask for money!"

"..."

Later, Yang Che called He Qingkui. They exchanged pleasantries, and then He Qingkui talked to him about the mindset of farmers migrating to cities for work, saying that this was the reality…

"I traveled a long way through the rural areas of Northeast China, and 99% of them had gone to work in the cities. Almost none of them returned to their villages to start businesses, and those who did were raising cattle or leasing land..."

Yang Che realized that he seemed to have gotten himself into a troublesome matter, so he said, "That's true, but going to the city to work can be a second part, I'm just suggesting it."

He Qingkui smiled, said nothing, and ended the call by saying they would talk again when they had a chance.

Yang Che curled his lip. This inexplicable arrogance of a scholar was both admirable and annoying.

Unlike the Beijing Film Academy campus right now, which is breathtaking, delightful, and brimming with youthful energy.

Yang Che carried a file bag and strolled slowly along the campus road, showing no signs of being a student. His mindset was more like that of a tourist who had graduated many years ago and was returning to campus for a visit.

In early September, the sky was high and the clouds were light in Beijing, the weather was pleasant, and people exuded a sense of comfort and ease...

If I happen to run into someone I know, I usually just nod in greeting.

Yang Che.

Yang Che turned around and saw a round-faced, round-eyed, and rather cheerful girl, Cui Yi, who played the maid Xiao Xi in "Wrong Carriage, Right Groom." Wen Zhengrong was also there, smiling at him.

Hello! Is there anything I can help you with?

Cui Yi asked with a smile, "Do you have a cassette tape or CD of the song 'You Exist in My Song' that you wrote for Wang Fei?"

"No, that's a movie theme song; it won't be released until October."

Wen Zhengrong chimed in, "You guys better hurry up, the longer you drag this out, the more pirated copies there will be."

Yang Che didn't explain much, he just smiled and nodded in agreement.

Chatting with young and beautiful girls is pleasant, but getting down to business is more important.

Afterwards, on the way to the Academic Affairs Office, I encountered a group of freshmen from the Class of 00 wearing camouflage uniforms walking in a line toward the school gate. They were on their way to the Armored Forces Engineering Academy (Armored Forces Engineering Academy) for military training.

Yang Che vaguely heard people in the group discussing him, so he smiled and waved. He was a sunny and cheerful young man.

A boy called out, "Yang Che, I'm from the management department, can I hang out with you?"

Yang Che glanced at the teacher in charge, who was smiling, and asked, "What's your name?"

"My name is Zhang Chi!"

Before Yang Che could reply, the teacher in charge of the team said, "Zhang Chi, you pull out the last patch of grass on the training field yourself today."

"Ha ha ha ha"

The team was filled with laughter, and Yang Che was naturally laughing too.

so good.

At the very back of the line, Ma Shu from the vocational high school class gazed into the distance with a complex expression, while Han Wenwen beside her wore a disdainful look... inwardly cursing, "Bastard, and who knows who this bitch is..."

There were many, many more people watching that figure as it entered the teaching building, each with their own thoughts.

College students, especially freshmen, tend to think of themselves as the most important people in the world. However, this doesn't apply to art school students, who are generally more mature and understand the workings of the world much earlier than liberal arts students.

There aren't many reasons; it's simply because they've been constantly competing and comparing themselves to others since they were young.

Afterwards, Yang Che paid his tuition and completed various enrollment procedures. The teachers jokingly said, "Welcome to the school, Mr. Yang."

This year's directing department has no undergraduate program, only one continuing education program and one graduate program.

For a long time, the success rate of the directing department at Beijing Film Academy has been extremely low. Only in the last two years have we seen Cheng Er and Wu Shixian emerge; otherwise, for seven or eight consecutive years, not a single undergraduate graduate has gone on to become a director. It's truly tragic...

It's said that it's difficult for actors to get ahead, but it's a hundred times harder for directors to get ahead.

After completing the formalities, Yang Che knocked on Hou Keming's office door.

"Teacher Hou."

Hou Keming was very happy: "You're here, come in, sit down. I was planning to talk to you about this during the class meeting tonight, but it's perfect that you're here."

Yang Che sensed something was wrong, but said, "Teacher Hou, I've come to ask for leave."

Hou Keming's lips twitched: "I know you're busy, but you don't have to take a day off on the first day."

"No, that's not it. I have to fly to Canada on September 7th to film a horror movie there. After returning to China in the middle of the month, I'll be going to your province to film a movie, the one you've probably heard about, the one I'm working on with Jiang Wen."

Hou Keming opened his mouth, then gave a wry smile: "Fine, I got it. I was just saying I'd let you speak as a graduate student representative at the opening ceremony on September 10th."

Yang Che simply smiled.

Hou Keming muttered to himself, "Then let Zhao Pengxiao do it."

Yang Che chimed in, "Old Zhao is capable."

Zhao Pengxiao is a 35-year-old program director at Beijing TV, and he's currently pursuing a master's degree. There are three others like him, such as Zhu Yudong, a literature planner for CCTV's science and education channel, and four others who are studying abroad. Everyone is quite busy. They're just waiting for Li Chen, who is studying abroad and teaching, to have more free time.

Therefore, the goal of this year's graduate students in the directing department is very consistent: to obtain that diploma.

Even so, Yang Che was still assigned a dormitory. You don't have to stay there, but you have to pay for it.

Yang Che didn't go. After leaving Hou Keming's office, he went to the company and planned to come over in the evening for a class meeting to get to know each other and collect the books.

After all, his graduate studies were, frankly speaking, a result of mutual benefit.

in the afternoon.

Yang Che had just entered the tower courtyard after another busy day when Wang Fei called.

Yang Che looked at Da Meiyuan, who was drinking water from a teacup under the grapevines, and felt a headache coming on.

"Feed".

Wang Fei's cold voice rang out: "Where?"

Yang Che blew a kiss to Gao Yuanyuan, then walked towards the main house: "Tower Courtyard."

"What, you're still not coming today, are you?"

Gao Yuanyuan sensed something and looked up at her boyfriend.

"I'll go over tomorrow; Yuanyuan has a stomachache."

Wang Fei didn't say anything and hung up the phone directly.