The literary era since 1979

Murdoch decided to listen to Fangyan's advice and set up a production company outside of 20th Century Fox to specialize in investing, producing and distributing independent films. The name was temporarily called "Searchlight", and the first destination was set to be the Cannes Film Festival in France in the near future.

After leaving Phoenix, Fangyan had a great time in California for a few days with Lin Qingxia, Mike, Xiaomei and others.

Afterwards, everyone separated temporarily. Lin Qingxia returned to her Hong Kong, while Fang Yan took his younger sister back to Yanjing, ending the happy and long vacation.

After a long flight, the plane carrying the brother and sister arrived at the Capital International Airport.

Fangyan went straight to Nanluoguxiang. As soon as he entered the alley, he noticed that it was slightly different from the past.

There seemed to be a faint smell in the air, a smell of vinegar, wine, and a bit of soy sauce.

"What does this smell like?"

Fang Yan wrinkled her nose.

Fangyan said nothing, but noticed that some neighbors were whispering not far away, and he didn't know what they were talking about.

Just as I was planning to ask them, I suddenly heard a loud shout beside my ear:
"It's bad, it's bad, the price of non-staple food is going to go up in the next two days!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the neighbors who had been chatting animatedly just now, as if they had heard the starting gun, hurried to their houses one by one, as if they were in a hurry to withdraw money. The rest seemed to have already made preparations and rode their bicycles to the supply and marketing cooperative.

A group of old men and women passed by the brother and sister. The more Fangyan looked at them, the more weird and strange it seemed to him. He walked into the house with full of doubts.

As luck would have it, he saw Yang Xia holding Gong Xian's hand and walking towards him.

"Mom, sister-in-law, what's wrong with you?"

Fang Yan looked left and right.

"You guys are finally back, come quickly, follow Xiaoxiang and I to Wangfujing!"

Yang Xia looked impatient.

"Mom, why are you in such a hurry to go to Wangfujing to buy something?"

Fangyan cast a questioning look.

"Of course we'll grab whatever we can get. If we're a step late, we won't be able to buy anything!"

Yang Xia said anxiously, "Xiao Xing, drive the car over here quickly."

"Mom, I'll go with her."

Fang Yan and Gong Xian looked at each other and asked in a low voice, "What happened? Why are people rushing to buy like crazy?"

"It's all because of the 'price challenge'."

Gong Xing sighed helplessly.

Fangyan suddenly understood what was going on. In August of this year, major media announced that the dual-track pricing system would be abolished.

Except for continuing to control the prices of a small number of commodities, price controls will be lifted on other commodities, allowing prices to appreciate rapidly to a certain level in a short period of time, directly changing the original distorted price situation. It is expected that the price appreciation will be between 30% and 50%.

This measure is called "price breakthrough".

However, as soon as the news came out, ordinary people, who were very sensitive to even a penny price increase, immediately became panicked and uneasy about the rising prices. They started scrambling to buy goods, resulting in a buying spree that swept across the country, making the already rising prices even higher.

There were even bank runs, and the more this happened, the greater the panic buying became.

"When the news came out, every household was busy withdrawing money and buying things. No one knew how high prices would rise the next day."

Gong Xing said that he had just finished the post-production work of "Farewell My Concubine" when he was called by Yang Xia to help.

"This can also be regarded as enhancing the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law."

Fangyan made a joke in a joking tone.

"Stop making sarcastic remarks here."

Gong Xing rolled his eyes, "You don't know how hard my mother and I have worked these days, but you are so good at enjoying a good life..." "Thank you for your hard work, it's really hard for you."

Just as the two were being affectionate with each other, Yang Xia's frightened voice was heard again in the yard.

"Yanzi, Xiaoxiang, is the car coming?"

"mom!"

Fangyan stepped into the courtyard, "I know the whole story, we don't need to buy so many things."

"Of course I don't need it. I only have a bathtub for vinegar, a water tank for soy sauce, and two drawers for MSG..."

Yang Xia immediately became unhappy.

Fangyan was shocked, "Oh my god, how long will it take for us to use all the firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea you bought?"

"This is just the beginning. You haven't been to a shopping mall so you don't know."

Yang Xia described vividly that since the "price breakthrough", the shopping malls have been crowded with people every day, like a swarm of locusts passing through a border. Everything on the shelves has been sold out, starting with the three major items, refrigerators, color TVs, and washing machines, then to salt, soap, wool, and toilet paper. People basically buy whatever they see, for fear that if they don't buy today, the price will go up tomorrow. Not long ago, it was even announced that price controls on famous cigarettes, liquor, gold and other items would be lifted.

The result was a rapid increase in the prices of tobacco, alcohol and gold, leading to an even more frenzied buying spree.

"If you believe me, let's not join in the fun."

Fangyan consoled him, "We've already bought enough of these things. They'll last our family for a long time. There's no need to buy more."

"No, no, no..."

Yang Xia opened her mouth.

Fangyan tried to persuade her again and again with all his heart, and with the help of Gong Xing and his younger sister, he finally calmed her restless heart.

"Mom, my brother is right. You should first take a look at the gifts we brought back from Hong Kong and the United States!"

Fang Yan held up the bags in her hands and said, "Oh, there's also the trophy I just won, the Nebula Award!"

Hearing this, Yang Xia's attention was gradually diverted.

When everyone returned to the house, they saw that the space in the lobby, bedroom and other places was occupied by flour, rice and other things.

Even on Fang Yan's bed, there were two quilt covers, one bright red and one emerald green, embroidered with auspicious dragons and phoenixes.

Yang Xia said seriously, "These are all necessary things for daily life, food, clothing, and bedding. We will need them in the future anyway, and they won't go bad if we leave them alone. Just buy some more. As for the quilt covers and blankets, they will be the dowry when Yan Zi gets married in the future."

"mom!"

Seeing the little sister's embarrassed look, Fangyan laughed out loud.

Gong Xing was also at a loss for words, so he quickly grabbed the Nebula Award trophy and pulled him from the bedroom to the hall.

Fangyan took out a can of Jianlibao from the refrigerator and while drinking it, he briefly recounted his experiences in the United States.

Gong Xing was shocked when he heard that Fox was interested in buying the overseas distribution rights of Farewell My Concubine.

And when he heard that Francis Coppola, the famous director of "The Godfather" series, attended the Cannes Film Festival specifically to watch "Farewell My Concubine", he froze like a sculpture, his heart was surging like a storm, and he couldn't believe it at all.

"Are you surprised? Are you happy?"

Fangyan smiled.

"What...what should I do?"

Gong Xing was panicked and at a loss as to what to do.

"What to do? Of course, be prepared to participate in the Cannes Film Festival."

Fangyan grabbed her shoulders with both hands and gave her an encouraging look, saying, “You are the director of Farewell My Concubine. You have to be more confident!” (End of this chapter)