Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 872 Strategic Shift
Zhang Xuansong held the teacup and, without caring that the water was still warm, gulped down the entire cup of tea.

He then put the cup on the table, panting heavily, and gestured to Zhou Zhengdong, saying, "Before, I would drink three or four pots of water a day at most, but these past few days it's been reversed, and I can't stop now, I drink more than ten pots a day."

There's really no way around it. Hundreds of people surround us every day. We can't drive them away or run away. We can only let them surround us and tell them stories.

My mouth was so dry from talking that I had to drink water every now and then.

If I drink too much water, I'll have to go to the toilet. I'm missing a leg, and I'm sitting on the table, so it's inconvenient for me to get up and down.

They suffered a lot!

Zhou Zhengdong was taken aback and clicked his tongue, saying, "That must be quite a hardship."

Lin Yuanxiang, who was standing next to him, wiped his face with a handkerchief and stuffed it into his pocket. Hearing Zhang Xuansong's complaints, he couldn't help but say, "He deserves to suffer. If it weren't for the incense offerings of Chaoyang Temple, and the fact that Xiao Fan had to make that movie, would things have turned out like this?"

Okay, now the incense at Chaoyang Temple is burning brightly again. Judging by the popularity of this movie, it should last at least five or six years. After all, it takes about the same amount of time for a movie to be shown from the city to the countryside.

Even five or six years later, people who come to Beijing on business or for leisure will still come here to burn incense.

Moreover, there are three or four more movies waiting for Xiao Fan to film. If he finishes all the movies, he won't have to worry about his family line for eight or ten years.

But what does this have to do with us?!

As he spoke, he put his hand on Li Shangde's shoulder to show that they were on the same side. "He dragged us to Chaoyang Temple every day and assigned us tasks, with each of us responsible for dealing with a group of old men."

Why is the old lady all alone...?

Li Shangde quickly patted him on the shoulder, "That's not the point."

Lin Yuanxiang said "Ah", nodded and said, "Then let's not talk about that. Anyway, his wife is still alive, and the old lady can only watch helplessly no matter how many people there are."

Zhang Xuansong immediately became displeased and turned to look at him. "What do you mean by 'just watching'? I didn't intend to do anything. I've said before that I'm doing this for your own good. Who knows if those old ladies' husbands are still around? What if they are? Wouldn't it be easy for you two old bachelors to cause misunderstandings?"

I'm different. I have family, a whole extended family. Although we don't live together, we still get together one day a month. This proves that I'm upright and have a good family tradition. Besides, I'm a war hero in a movie, so people definitely won't gossip about me..."

Lin Yuanxiang: "Tui. It's like everyone's a war hero."

After saying that, he turned to Chen Fan and said, "Tomorrow, no, let's do it today. Write a script for me based on the story I told you. You don't need to show off like your third master did, making four or five parts. Aren't you afraid people will get tired of it? Just make one for me. I'll get to experience being a war hero."

"You should take a rest."

Li Shangde rolled his eyes nimbly with one eye, "Isn't it chaotic enough already? Enough is enough. Let's think of a way to get through this."

Hearing him say that, Lin Yuanxiang fell silent and, together with Zhang Xuansong, stared longingly at his precious apprentice.

Chen Fan chuckled and gave Jiang Lili a wink.

Jiang Lili immediately moved the freshly washed fruit over and said with a smile, "Master, Second Master, Third Master, don't rush, have some fruit to soothe your throats first."

Jiang Tiantian quickly grabbed the water bottle and poured water for the three of them, saying with a smile, "We'll figure out a solution slowly; there will definitely be one."

Zhou Yali stared wide-eyed at Zhang Xuansong with excitement, "Third Master, aren't you just like a movie star now?"

With the three of them interrupting, Zhang Xuansong and the others were no longer in a hurry.

Turning to look at Zhou Yali, Old Zhang grinned widely, revealing his back teeth, and said cheerfully, "Movie stars are nothing to me. I'm old enough to be buried soon, I don't care about such things."

Lin Yuanxiang curled his lips in disgust, "Hey, stop smiling like that, you're practically drooling."

Zhang Xuansong rolled his eyes at him, not wanting to talk to him.

Zhou Zhengdong and Zhao Wanru, who was holding their son, sat to the side, both unable to suppress their laughter.

No wonder Old Zhang doesn't even live in his own home, only going back once a month. The rest of the time he insists on hanging out with his two old buddies. It's quite something, isn't it?

Chen Fan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked with a hint of curiosity, "Third Master, with you in this state, Master Yang and Master Han from the Tai Chi and Xingyi schools must be having a hard time too, right?"

Although Yang Zhenlong, Han Qingshan, Yang Chenfeng, and Yang Congling have all joined the Jiangnan Film Studio, with the older ones becoming rehired workers and the younger ones becoming regular employees, it is currently the Spring Festival. Given the special working hours of the film studio, which are not like those of ordinary workers who work on a fixed schedule, they should be at home in Beijing at this time.

When a movie becomes popular, the first and most popular people should be the main actors. Now that even Zhang Xuansong, the "real-life inspiration" behind the movie, is receiving such acclaim, there should be even more people "following" him in the Yang family.

Upon hearing Chen Fan's words, Zhang Xuansong immediately retorted, "Them? They'll never have peace and quiet!"

Mentioning the actors, even Lin Yuanxiang chuckled, immediately interrupting Zhang Xuansong and grinning, "This is the first time I've seen Yang Zhenlong and Han Qingshan so disheveled. Before the movie was even released, they, their families, and their workplaces already knew about it. Many organizations and even their local street office issued letters of introduction; quite a few people knew about it."

Moreover, after filming, some of the people went back to their original workplaces, and they brought news that the movie would be released on the first day of the Lunar New Year, so many people went to buy tickets to support it.

When the movie was released, these colleagues from the same workplace and neighbors from the same street spared no effort in promoting it.

As soon as the movie ended, hahaha…

Before Lin Yuanxiang could finish explaining, he burst into laughter, unable to speak.

Zhang Xuansong quickly seized the opportunity and continued, "As soon as the movie ended, many viewers didn't go home but ran straight to their houses, blocking the entire alley. I heard that some people who urgently needed to use the toilet couldn't get out and had to use spittoons at home even in broad daylight."

That's how it is in the alley, but Yang Zhenlong's family is in even worse shape. Their front door was damaged by the crowd, and the threshold was trampled to pieces. They finally managed to wait until dark, when the onlookers dispersed and went home. That old man, Yang Zhenlong, didn't even bother with the New Year celebrations; he packed his bags that very night and took his grandchildren by train back to Jiangnan!

Chen Fan's mouth dropped open in disbelief. Was it really that exaggerated?

Lin Yuanxiang had finished laughing and sighed, "Old Yang is indeed shrewd and clever. He ran away that very night and got away with it. We're the ones who are in trouble."

He glanced at Zhang Xuansong as he spoke, "Because of this old man, I never have a moment of peace."

Zhang Xuansong, though unconvinced, retorted, "Tell me, when have you ever been truly successful in your life? If it weren't for my influence, would so many people be chasing after you, wanting to hear our stories from back then?!"

Lin Yuanxiang, “tui…”

Li Shangde, "Help me get one too."

Seeing that another commotion was about to break out, Chen Fan quickly said, "Well, three masters, how do you intend to resolve this? If it's just about preventing those people from coming, there's nothing I can do. After all, Chaoyang Temple is there; you can't just stop people from coming." Zhang Xuansong's eyes flickered slightly. "From what you're saying, if a direct approach won't work, an indirect one will?"

Lin Yuanxiang quickly said, "If you tell us not to go to Chaoyang Temple, that won't work either. If we stay at home, we'll be just like Yang Zhenlong's family, blocking the alleyway completely."

Besides, there's a movie theater right there in Dashilan, which is much more convenient. People would just come and crowd around after the movie; it's better to go to Chaoyang Temple instead.

Li Shangde sighed, "We can't just not go home, can we? We have somewhere to go, but it's the retirement home for veterans, and those old guys are just as annoying."

Zhang Xuansong snorted twice, "They're even more annoying than the audience. At least the audience asks questions, but those old guys are all sarcastic and can't even speak properly."

Chen Fan dared not participate in their comments. They were old comrades-in-arms for decades, and their mutual teasing was a sign of deep friendship. If he joined in, it would only be considered that he did not know the rules.

He pretended not to hear and said directly, "Then let's stay here for a while. If that doesn't work, how about leaving the capital for a period of time?"

"You stay here?"

Zhang Xuansong turned his head and looked around. "This place is quite nice, but it's too deserted. There's not even one more person to talk to."

Lin Yuanxiang glanced at him sideways, "Xiao Fan, your third master is just so hard to please. He complains that it's too quiet here, and too noisy at Chaoyang Temple. He can't stand noise or quiet."

Zhang Xuansong immediately turned his head, "Aren't you?"

Li Shangde waved his hand, stopping the outbreak of war for the nth time, and turned to Chen Fan, asking, "When are you leaving the capital?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan knew his master's choice and immediately smiled and said, "The ninth day is the day when Baiyun Temple holds the Jade Emperor's birthday celebration. On this day, all the Taoist temples in the capital will also reopen. I will definitely represent Chaoyang Temple to participate."

Then, on the tenth day of the lunar new year, my uncle will return to the United States. He chartered a plane to pick me up, and I'll hitch a ride on their plane to Shanghai. I'll stay in Shanghai for a few days, and after Lili starts school, I'll fly to the provincial capital in southern China..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Shangde waved his hand and said, "That's too much trouble. Here's what we'll do: you call the Jiangying Film Studio, and we'll take the train there on the tenth of the month to have them pick us up."

"Yang Zhenlong and the others are over there, so let's see how they film."

He then turned to Zhang Xuansong and Lin Yuanxiang, saying, "I reckon that once the movie is out of theaters, there won't be as many people crowding around. Then we can come back."

The two looked at each other and nodded in unison, "It's settled then."

After a pause, Lin Yuanxiang suddenly said, "Wouldn't you say we're running away in a panic?"

Li Shangde narrowed his eyes slightly and chuckled softly, "No, at most it's a strategic shift."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuanxiang and Zhang Xuansong both gave a thumbs up, saying, "He's still the boss."

The others chuckled incessantly.

Seeing that they had made a decision, Chen Fan said no more and immediately picked up the phone to call Jiangying Studio.

……

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. During these two days, Zhang Xuansong and the other two did not go out again. They stayed here every day, drinking tea and chatting with Zhou Zhengdong.

They did arrange for Chen Fan to visit the old marshal's home, cook him a family dinner, and check on his recovery.

Chen Fan spent the rest of his time arranging the Jade Emperor's birthday celebrations at Chaoyang Temple.

Without Zhang Xuansong, Chaoyang Temple returned to its usual bustling state. ...A return to tranquility was impossible; a return to "tranquility" meant the absence of worshippers, which would mean Director Chen's film was made in vain.
The only problem is that the backyard presentations have suddenly stopped, and fewer and fewer people are coming for Zhang Xuansong.

February 24th, Sunday, the ninth day of the first lunar month.

This day is the birthday of the Jade Emperor in Taoism.

The Jade Emperor's Birthday, also known as "Heavenly Day," means the birthday of the Heavenly Emperor. More formally, it is the birthday of the Jade Emperor.

On this day, whether it is the Zhengyi sect or the Quanzhen sect, all Taoist temples in the world will hold grand birthday celebration ceremonies, chanting scriptures and offering praises.

If there are believers in the household, they must bow to the sky on this day and hold the most solemn sacrificial ceremony.

Ancient folk customs included worshipping the Jade Emperor and holding Taoist temples to offer sacrifices to Heaven. In some places, when celebrating "Heavenly Day," people would prepare incense, candles, and vegetarian dishes, and place them in open-air places at the entrance of courtyards and alleys to worship Heaven and pray for blessings from the Heavenly Emperor.

Let's leave aside the folk customs that follow; they certainly aren't as prominent nowadays.

Even if there are believers, at most they will quietly light incense at home and offer some sacrifices.

Nowadays, no one reports or investigates such matters. Not to mention that the meeting notice has been published in the newspaper, clearly stating the freedom of religious belief, even if it were reported, it is estimated that no one would care.

In the past two years alone, there have been quite a few people visiting ancestral graves to pay respects to their ancestors. As long as it's not like someone's ancestral worship ceremony with 108 Taoist priests, which has the suspicion of promoting "feudal superstition," the law will not punish the masses for such minor matters of worship.

But that was in the folk.

For religious communities, this day is especially significant because it's the day everyone has agreed to revisit.

That morning, Chen Fan drove to the backyard of Chaoyang Temple, where Lei Kongyun and Lei Kongfeng, who were already waiting, each carried a large bundle and immediately opened the car door and got in.

The reason for bringing the two of them was not because they were "supervisors" and "patrolmen," but simply because they were the strongest among all the young Taoist priests. This way, when they were carrying the divine banner later, they wouldn't sway and lose face for Chaoyang Temple.

Chen Fan started driving again and soon arrived at Baiyun Temple.

Today, Baiyun Temple was wide open, with two Taoist priests standing on either side of the gate, turning back those who wanted to enter, while welcoming fellow Taoists who came carrying their bundles.

Chen Fan felt a little embarrassed when he saw that everyone else had taken the bus to the nearest bus stop and then walked over, while he was the only one who had driven.

He then drove the car to the side of the road and walked over with Lei Kongyun and the other person, smiling as he asked, "Is it alright for me to park my car here?"

The young Taoist priest who was greeting guests glanced enviously at the van parked by the courtyard wall, and respectfully performed a Taoist curtsy, saying, "Replying to the Master, it's alright."

(End of this chapter)