Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 752: Those who came are from Xiying Studio
"How about this, if you want to promote this book "To Live", I will provide you with some material. When Yu Hua wrote this book, he got inspiration from your country's famous song "Old Black Slave". I think you can do something in this area." Fang Minghua said.

"Really?"

Fang Minghua told Demi that it was just after the Spring Festival in 1992 that Yu Hua accidentally heard an American folk song "Old Black Slave". She was moved by the old black slave in the song who had gone through hardships but still embraced the world, so she wanted to write such a novel.

He wrote the book "To Live" in an 8-square-meter rental house in Yanjing. In the voice of an old farmer, he narrated to us the rough life of Fugui. Like an old black slave, Fugui had a difficult and rough life, but he tried hard to move on.

"This story is very interesting. Let's work on it so that readers can better understand the book." Demi immediately took out her notebook and wrote it down.

Fang Minghua thought that was the end, but he didn't expect Demi to still ask him about the interesting stories between him and Yu Hua.

Ok
Fang Minghua thought about it and told the story of how he pretended to be his cousin in order to see him when they first met.

Demi giggled when she heard this: "Although I have never met Mr. Yu Hua, I think he is a very interesting person."

Yeah, very interesting guy.

A joke teller.

Then, Fang Minghua took out a three-inch plate, on which were Mo Yan's "Big Breasts and Wide Hips" and Wang Anyi's "Song of Everlasting Sorrow", including brief introductions of the two writers. He gave it to Demi as a book to be published by the publishing house.

“There’s no need to rush. Just translate it and publish it based on market conditions,” Fang Minghua said finally.

"OK! Mr. Minghua, I will ask you a short story about these writers when the time comes." Demi said with a smile.

After explaining all these things, Fang Minghua was about to leave. Demi originally wanted to report financial matters to him, but Fang Minghua refused.

What's so good about it?
The financial statement audited by Zhang Qing Accounting Firm has been sent to his email and there is no need to repeat it.

After leaving the publishing house, Fang Minghua didn't wander around, but took a taxi home directly.

It was raining outside, cold and damp, but it was still comfortable at home, especially sitting on the sofa by the fireplace, reading a book, and petting the cat named Huahua. It was a very pleasant thing.

When I opened the door today, I saw Zhou Xuemei sitting on the sofa, still wearing her reading glasses and knitting a sweater. There was a cradle next to her, and a baby was sleeping inside it.

"Minghua, I just received a call from Los Angeles, claiming to be Wu Tianmin from Shengshi Film and Television. He said that they have already negotiated with Warner Bros. Pictures and will sign the contract soon. He hopes you can go to Los Angeles and take a look at the specific information and send it to your email." Zhou Yunmei said.

What's there to see about the contract?

I guess this is Song Tangtang’s request.

Just go
When Wu Tianmin, Zhang Yimou and others come to Los Angeles, we should go and visit them.

"Okay, I'll go up and take a look later."

Fang Minghua replied with a few words but did not rush upstairs. Instead, she looked at her daughter in the cradle, touched her cute little face, and kissed her gently before going upstairs contentedly.

In his bedroom, Fang Minghua opened his laptop and found an email from Wu Tianmin in his hotmail. It introduced the negotiation process in detail and invited him to help check the contract. It also included the specific address of the hotel where they were staying.

Fang Minghua did not refuse and immediately sent an email saying that he would come the next day.

Having made the decision, Fang Minghua immediately bought a ticket and boarded a plane to Los Angeles the next morning.

Li Li originally wanted to drive her there, but Fang Minghua refused.

There's no need. I can go alone with a small group of people.

More than two hours later, the plane arrived in Los Angeles, and Wu Tianmin and his friends naturally lived in Burbank, where Warner Bros. Pictures was located.

After having a quick meal at a KFC at Union Station, Fang Minghua changed trains and finally arrived in Burbank, where he found the Portofino Hotel where Wu Tianmin's team was staying.

At the lobby bar, Fang Minghua first registered a room, and then asked Wu Tianmin about their room. Fang Minghua went up to the fourth floor and knocked on the door of room 416. Soon the door opened, and Zhang Yimou appeared at the door, wearing a sweater and only a pair of long johns underneath, holding a book in his hand and muttering something.

“Could you say it again??”
Any questions?
Seeing that it was Minghua, Zhang Yimou smiled: "Minghua? Come in quickly."

"What are you doing?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Learn English. I learned some when I was in college, and I handed it all over to the teacher. Sigh."

Zhang Yimou shook his head. He already looked worried, and now he looked even more worried.

Fang Minghua laughed out loud and walked in. Wu Tianmin was half leaning on the bed watching TV. When he saw Fang Minghua come in, he smiled and came over to hug her.

He was actually wearing long johns!

"Minghua, thank you for your hard work, Yimou. Take out your tea and pour it for Minghua. The coffee in this room is really bad." Wu Tianmin ordered.

"Okay." Zhang Yimou was busy boiling water.

"The hotel you are staying in is of low quality. I saw from the lobby that it is only a 2-star hotel. How much better can the conditions be? Why don't you stay in a better hotel?" Fang Minghua asked.

"You don't know, but we are spending the company's money now. We have to make do with it for now. Once the contract is signed and the project is officially launched, we will spend the crew's money and then get a better one." Wu Tianmin explained with a smile.

Smart.
"Minghua, drink your coffee first. I'll go call the others over." Wu Tianmin was about to walk out but was stopped by Zhang Yimou.

"Brother, you talk to Minghua, I'll go call him."

"Well, there's no need to call those two foreigners, and there's no need to call the translator either. We are all from Xijing, why do we need a Chinese translator?" Wu Tianmin ordered.

"Are those two foreigners from Zhang Qing and Meng Dawen's firm?" Fang Minghua asked as he sat down on the bed.

"Yes, they are both very professional. One is responsible for the legal clauses in the contract, and the other is responsible for the financial accounts. They helped us a lot in this negotiation. Otherwise, we really wouldn't have been able to deal with the people at Warner Bros."

Fang Minghua laughed: "After all, this is the United States. We are unfamiliar with the place. After working together a few times, we understand their routines."

"There will be a next time?" Wu Tianmin was a little surprised.

"Of course, the second Harry Potter book has been released and I expect filming to start around this time next year."

"Ouch. It's become a series."

As the two were chatting, the door of the room was pushed open and several people followed Zhang Yimou in.

Lu Le, Cao Jiuping, Tao Jing, Du Yuan.
Fang Minghua knows them all.

A total of five people came in, only one of whom was an employee of Shengshi Film and Television, and was responsible for logistics and finance.

Zhang Yimou actually brought the main members of his creative team here!

These people also knew Fang Minghua and greeted each other. Fang Minghua smiled and asked, "Most of you are from the Xi'an Film Studio. You are coming to the United States as a group. Director Liu won't stop you?"

"What are you stopping?" The speaker was Du Yuan, the only woman here.

Du Yuan and Zhang Yimou are from the same hometown and were classmates at the Beijing Film Academy in 78. The two have worked together for more than ten years. She is the one who is in charge of all the editing of Zhang Yimou's films.

She was in her early forties with short hair, and spoke quickly in standard Guanzhong dialect: "The factory is about to close, and the director of Emen is eager for Emen to leave, and he can also get a management fee from Shengshi Film and Television. He hopes that all of you will leave, the more the better!"

(End of this chapter)