A widower's entertainment

In November 1996, the weather in Beijing began to turn cold, and the howling wind added a touch of bleakness to the city.

Of course, in this kind of weather, those who need to go to school will still go to school, and those who need to go to work will still go to work.

Fortunately, some of the students in university live on campus, while those still in high school and junior high school don't live too far away. They've always gone to school on their own, since schools don't require parents to come to the school to let students go home these days.

Although the weather is getting colder, the house is warm and cozy.

On such a day, Lin Youcheng was at home with his daughter Lin Zhaoyuan, but he never expected that someone would come to visit him in this cold weather.

The person who came was also there to discuss the script, but it wasn't the director; it was Wang Xiaobo.

This was something Lin Youcheng hadn't expected.

The last time I saw Wang Xiaobo was at Cha Haisheng's wedding. Wang Xiaobo had mentioned to Lin Youcheng that he was now writing movie scripts. However, I never expected that Wang Xiaobo would visit me now because of a movie script.

"What's wrong with the script? Is there a problem?"

Wang Xiaobo looked distressed and said, "Director Zhang Yuan is not satisfied and keeps asking me to make changes."

"I've revised it so many times, but he's still not satisfied!"

Lin Youcheng also knew that the script Wang Xiaobo was currently writing, "East Palace West Palace," was an adaptation of Wang Xiaobo's short story "Like Water's Tender Feelings."

As for director Zhang Yuan, he is also a formidable figure. He graduated from the Directing Department of Yanjing Film Academy and independently completed the film "Mama" in 1990 with his own funds. It was the first independent film in China and the first work of the graduates of that film academy. However, the film was banned as soon as it was completed. It was not until 1998 that the Ministry of Film and Television issued a lifting of the ban, which restored Zhang Yuan's qualification to participate in the production of film and television works by domestic film and television companies.

However, the film *Mama* won the Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the Nantes Three Continents Film Festival. His subsequent music video for Cui Jian, *Let Me Sprinkle Some Snow*, won the Best Asian Music Video Award at the American Music Video of the Year Awards. Following this, his second independent film, *How to Grow in Yanjing*, reflecting the spirit of contemporary Chinese youth, was considered the first rock film in China and was also banned. Crucially, he was also prohibited from working in the film industry again.

After that, I started making music videos for people's songs.

The film "East Palace West Palace" is also taking an unconventional approach, because "Like Water's Tenderness" tells a story about lovers with the same surname.

In fact, due to the special nature of the subject matter and its impact on mainstream social consciousness, this short story caused a great uproar when it was first published. In particular, the story is quite bold in its depiction of the repression of surnames, the contradictions and conflicts between surname characters, and the changes in the power and control of characters. It not only shows the distorted development of culture under the heavy pressure of society.

This story is so special that it caught Zhang Yuan's eye, who wanted to adapt it into a movie.

Wang Xiaobo was truly aggrieved, feeling that being a screenwriter was very torturous. He said, "I really wrote it over and over again, and I don't know what his requirements for the script were. He was always dissatisfied and revised it many times. I thought that version of the script was already very good, but Zhang Yuan still wanted me to revise it."

Well, listening to Wang Xiaobo's words, Lin Youcheng knew that Wang Xiaobo was really suffering from Director Zhang Yuan's demands for revisions.

"I don't even want to write anymore. Let him change it however he wants!"

Wang Xiaobo became increasingly angry as he spoke, and his heart even felt a little uncomfortable.

Lin Youcheng wasn't so angry when he heard Wang Xiaobo talk about this at Cha Haisheng's wedding. Now he really feels bad. He also knows that Wang Xiaobo came to his door to talk about scriptwriting.

After all, among all literary novelists, Lin Youcheng's identity as a screenwriter is undoubtedly strong.

That's why Wang Xiaobo specifically came to ask for advice at this time.

Lin Youcheng knew that Zhang Yuan's upcoming film, "East Palace West Palace," was actually a story set in Beijing, specifically a story about a marginalized area. In a series of police raids targeting spies, Alan, a writer representing marginal culture, and Xiao Shi, a police officer representing mainstream culture, staged a subversive confrontation...

Lin Youcheng didn't know what to say, because the director was dissatisfied.

He had never encountered anything like this before. This was partly due to his status, and partly because most of the film scripts he wrote were complete and ready for filming. This is why Hollywood film companies flocked to his scripts. There was no other reason than that he was extremely professional.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to be used directly for filming.

"If the director isn't satisfied, just let him revise it himself. Don't make things difficult for yourself."

Lin Youcheng was well aware that these were all the director's own ideas.

For example, when he was filming the movie "Atonement" with Chen Aige, he directly said that he wanted to film it according to his script, and Chen Aige agreed at that time.

While this is partly due to Lin Youcheng's different status in the literary circle, sometimes, if the screenwriter's status is not high and the director has other ideas, the script can easily be changed repeatedly. After all, the director is the one who actually directs the filming, especially since even if the filming is done according to the script, there is still editing that can be done without following the script.

However, it is clear that Lin Youcheng does not believe that such a situation will occur on his side.

If there really is something to discuss, then we'll have a good talk with the screenwriter. You know, even the script for Director Li An's film "Strange Tales of the Human World" was written by him. If some plot points need to be modified or discussed again, Li An will discuss them with him. This is a kind of respect.

Of course, Lin Youcheng is not arbitrary. If the script changes are reasonable, he will not mind making changes.

"Just let him revise it himself. He graduated from the directing department and writes his own scripts. If he's not satisfied with something, let him revise it himself!"

Wang Xiaobo was also surprised that Lin Youcheng would tell him to stop making changes and let the director make the changes himself.

This was something Wang Xiaobo hadn't expected.

“You have to make things clear to him, otherwise this will never end. At worst, you can sell the adaptation rights of the novel to him and let him adapt it himself, or find someone else to adapt it.”

As Lin Youcheng spoke, he also thought that even now, no director or company dares to make him revise the script repeatedly.

If he's not satisfied, Lin Youcheng will simply give the script to another company. He won't keep revising the script repeatedly until the other party is satisfied.

After all, what exactly constitutes satisfaction for the other party is, to some extent, a matter of mystery.

He won't keep changing things like that.

Of course, no one would dare to ask Lin Youcheng to keep making changes now.

Well, it's not impossible. If his daughter, Lin Zhaomei, isn't satisfied, he might keep revising the manuscript.

Whether or not to revise the manuscript ultimately depends on the individual. Lin Youcheng thought of Lin Zhaomei and realized that he might find it difficult to refuse her request to revise the manuscript. However, if his daughter Lin Zhaomei really kept asking him, her screenwriter father, to keep revising the manuscript, he could accept it once or twice, and even three or five times. But if it continued, his fatherly love might be tortured to the point of near extinction.

It might even involve his daughter, Lin Zhaomei—

Well, that's just a possibility. He didn't think his daughter, Lin Zhaomei, would make things so difficult for him as a father.

Lin Youcheng stopped thinking about it and saw that Wang Xiaobo seemed to be seriously considering the issue.

However, Lin Youcheng noticed that Wang Xiaobo looked very unwell, and remembering that in another timeline, Wang Xiaobo would pass away from heart disease in April of the following year, he couldn't help but say, "You don't look well. Why don't you go to the hospital for a check-up?"

Wang Xiaobo was stunned for a moment, not expecting Lin Youcheng to suddenly say this to him.

"Do you look unwell?"

Wang Xiaobo himself didn't feel anything, but after hearing Lin Youcheng's words, he realized that his heart had been throbbing from time to time lately, and said, "I should be fine, it's just that sometimes I feel my heart suddenly tighten."

Upon hearing Wang Xiaobo's words, Lin Youcheng knew that what Wang Xiaobo said must be true, and quickly said, "Heart problems are serious and cannot be taken lightly. You must go to the hospital for a check-up."

Wang Xiaobo naturally nodded in agreement upon hearing Lin Youcheng's words.

However, he still discussed the script of "East Palace West Palace" with Lin Youcheng. Lin Youcheng knew that Wang Xiaobo still wanted to revise the script, so he gave some of his opinions based on Wang Xiaobo's script story.

If Director Zhang Yuan is still not satisfied after these revisions, then Lin Youcheng will directly tell Wang Xiaobo not to make any more changes.

Wang Xiaobo naturally agreed.

Since they had discussed the script, Wang Xiaobo didn't linger and naturally planned to go back.

However, on the way back, Lin Youcheng still reminded Wang Xiaobo to go to the hospital for a check-up.

Wang Xiaobo knew Lin Youcheng meant well, so he naturally nodded.

After Wang Xiaobo left, Lin Youcheng was still worried that Wang Xiaobo might not take it seriously and hadn't gone to the hospital for a checkup. So he made a special call to Wang Xiaobo's family to tell Li Yinhe about it, clearly wanting Li Yinhe to make sure Wang Xiaobo went to the hospital for a checkup.

Li Yinhe naturally knew that Wang Xiaobo had gone to Xinghua Hutong to discuss the script with Lin Youcheng. Since Wang Xiaobo hadn't returned yet, Lin Youcheng called to tell him about going to the hospital, which naturally made Li Yinhe very concerned.

Although Lin Youcheng only gave a word of advice, he noticed that Wang Xiaobo's complexion wasn't good, and after hearing that Wang Xiaobo had suddenly experienced heart palpitations, he suggested that Wang Xiaobo go to a major hospital for a checkup.

Li Yinhe naturally knew that Lin Youcheng meant well, since he had already reminded Wang Xiaobo, but he was still worried that Wang Xiaobo would not go to the hospital, so he called her again to tell her.

Li Yinhe was naturally very grateful to Lin Youcheng, and after Wang Xiaobo returned home, he naturally told Wang Xiaobo about it.

"It's not that serious, there's no need to go to the hospital for a checkup."

Li Yinhe said, "Brother Lin is right. Heart problems are not to be taken lightly. We must go."

Wang Xiaobo naturally knew that Lin Youcheng meant well, so he went to the hospital with Li Yinhe for a checkup. The results were not good; he was diagnosed with heart disease.

This incident both alarmed and relieved Li Yinhe, who was truly terrified because the doctor had said that if he continued without treatment and medication, who knew what would happen? He might suddenly fall ill and die.

She knew that Wang Xiaobo had been writing intensively for a long time and often stayed up late at his desk. This lifestyle must have aggravated his physical burden, but she didn't expect it to have reached this point.

"Fortunately!"

"Fortunately!"

Wang Xiaobo looked at Li Yinhe and was also shocked. He thought he was just too tired and ignored the warning signals his body was sending. He even chose to hide his discomfort from his family. He had previously shown obvious symptoms of heart disease, such as cyanosis of the lips, weakness, and sleep apnea, but he mistook these symptoms for dry air rather than signs of a serious illness.

It now seems that if things continue like this, he might really delay the diagnosis and treatment, and then...

Wang Xiaobo also felt that he dared not think about it anymore.

"fine?"

Hearing Wang Xiaobo's words, Li Yinhe was furious. She hadn't expected Wang Xiaobo to keep her heart condition a secret. She said directly, "What will I do if something happens to you!"

Seeing the tears in Li Yinhe's eyes, Wang Xiaobo felt very distressed and quickly said, "Nothing serious has happened. It's all going well with treatment, it's all going well with treatment!"

Although this incident was quite shocking, it was fortunate that it was detected beforehand, preventing the condition from being delayed and worsening.

Otherwise, who knows what terrible things might happen.

Li Yinhe and Wang Xiaobo later went to Xinghua Hutong to thank Lin Youcheng. If Lin Youcheng hadn't specifically called Li Yinhe to tell him, Wang Xiaobo probably wouldn't have gone to the hospital for a checkup and wouldn't have known that his heart condition was already very serious.

You still need to take good care of yourself; your health is the most important thing!

Lin Youcheng looked at Wang Xiaobo and could only say, "Health is the foundation of revolution!"

Wang Xiaobo naturally nodded repeatedly.

Li Yinhe also said, "That's right, he was still thinking of hiding it, enduring it, thinking that nothing would happen, but I was really scared!"

Hearing this, Xie Shuhua quickly said, "It's nothing, don't talk about that, the treatment will be fine."

Li Yinhe nodded as well.

Watching Wang Xiaobo and Li Yinhe leave, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but smile and say, "I hope everything will be alright from now on."

Upon hearing Lin Youcheng's words, Xie Shuhua stepped forward, grasped Lin Youcheng's hand, and said with a smile, "Everything will be alright from now on." (End of Chapter)