The literary era since 1979

The news that "Farewell My Concubine" won the Oscar for Best Picture was broadcast on CCTV's "News Broadcast" that day.

The news spread quickly throughout the country, and newspapers of all sizes reported and commented on this major event.

If Weibo, Tik Tok, Kuaishou and the like existed these days, they would definitely be number one on the trending searches list!

As a result, the cultural, film and other departments issued instructions to theaters across the country, requiring "Farewell My Concubine" to be re-screened in the coming days.

With such surging public opinion, people's attention and discussion on Fang Yan, Gong Xing, Zhang Guorong and others once again soared.

For example, at Mizuki University, you can see students everywhere on campus discussing "Farewell My Concubine" or holding a novel under their arms.

"Swallow, congratulations."

Sun Ling showed Fang Yan the Guangming Daily which published photos of the Oscar Awards ceremony.

"Hey, are you envious?"

Fang Yan raised her eyebrows playfully.

"Yes, yes, I envy you for having such a good brother and sister-in-law."

Sun Ling noticed that she was holding a magazine in her hand and asked in surprise, "What are you reading?"

“The latest issue of People’s Literature.”

Fang Yan waved the magazine in front of her.

"A literary magazine?"

Sun Ling became more and more puzzled. The literary craze in the early 80s had faded, and today's young writers no longer liked to read this kind of magazines.

Fang Yan lowered her voice and said, "This issue contains a novel written by my brother."

"Really!?"

Sun Ling suddenly became interested.

"This book tells the story of Yenching students living in the United States. Aren't we planning to study for a master's degree in computer science in the United States in the future?"

Fang Yan handed over People's Literature. "My brother said that I must read this novel carefully and be mentally prepared in advance."

As soon as Sun Ling took it and took a closer look, he saw that the opening story was about Wang Qiming, an outstanding cellist in China, and his wife Guo Yan, who had just landed in New York. Guo Yan's aunt, who came to pick them up at the airport, actually sent them to a dilapidated basement, left them $500 and left.

The couple went from being shocked and confused at first to feeling wronged and humiliated. Guo Yan burst into tears sadly.

Wang Qiming originally hoped to continue to work in his profession in the United States and make use of his professional expertise. However, his "American Dream" was shattered almost at the beginning. When he first arrived in the United States, even the most basic living conditions became a luxury for them.

After all, jungle playing on American servers was not popular in the 80s, so the operation of “Brothers, I’m going to get food again” was not popular!

Seeing such an inhumane scene, an expression of disbelief appeared on his face:
"Isn't this too much?"

"I don't understand."

Fang Yan raised her chin.

"What do you mean?"

Sun Ling frowned, "We are relatives after all. This is too insulting. Either don't help, or stop being so annoying."

"This is the difference between Eastern and Western cultural values."

Fang Yan said that in the eyes of her westernized aunt, helping the couple with the paperwork to come to the United States, picking them up from the airport and arranging accommodation, lending them living expenses, and introducing Wang Qiming to work in a Chinese restaurant, this has exceeded the Western standard of favors. However, in the eyes of the Chinese who grew up under the influence of Eastern culture, her aunt is too unkind and snobbish, as if she was deliberately demonstrating to them and letting them experience the ups and downs of society. "Huh?"

Sun Ling exclaimed, and his three views were somewhat impacted.

"My brother once said that new Chinese immigrants in the United States will be confused about their identity."

Fang Yan said: "They are neither Chinese nor American. They are stuck between Eastern and Western cultures and cannot fit in anywhere."

"This this……"

Sun Ling was shocked.

Fang Yan said quietly, "Either return to the familiar China where you belong, or completely abandon the Chinese culture, morality, and values ​​that you once had, and actively adapt to the American social Darwinism law of the jungle, where the fittest survive."

Sun Ling thought she was exaggerating at first, but when he continued to read on, he saw that Wang Qiming went from being a dishwasher in a Chinese restaurant to a millionaire owner of a garment factory by selling out his wife, doing whatever it took, and violating moral standards in just two or three years, and that he went from being a penniless poor boy to a wealthy Chinese businessman who entered the upper class, and moved his residence from a dark basement to a mansion in Queens, New York. His eyes widened.

However, behind the realization of the American dream, his dignity as an artist was robbed by the reality of life, his beloved wife was robbed by the Americans, his beloved daughter was robbed by Western culture, and even his good friend Da Li struggled for many years in the United States to get a green card but failed.

Finally, because the US economy fell into a cyclical recession and his real estate investment suffered heavy losses, Wang Qiming gambled everything in Atlantic City in order to have a chance of survival. However, his luck ran out and he lost everything in gambling. He also died in an accidental car accident...

When he saw that Wang Qiming’s American dream was completely shattered, he couldn’t help but tremble with fear.

I was happily planning to go to the United States after graduation, but now a novel has shaken my mind.

Is it heaven or hell on the other side of the ocean?

This question also lingers in the minds of everyone at the Yanjing Television Drama Art Center.

"Teacher Fang's novel must be filmed!"

"'Going abroad fever' is a hot topic in today's society. As long as our TV series focuses on the lives and mentality of people caught up in the whirlpool of 'going abroad fever', it will catch the audience's attention. It is only a matter of time before it becomes as popular as 'Desire' and 'Editor's Story'!"

No one present disagreed with what Zheng Xiaolong said.

But there is a huge problem facing Lu Xiaowei, that is, it is impossible to shoot "Yanjing Natives in New York" in China, and it must be shot overseas, or even in New York, USA. The cost of filming this movie is not calculated in RMB, but in US dollars!
"Even if we calculate it based on 20 episodes, the cost would probably be hundreds of thousands, or even millions."

Su Ya made a rough calculation.

Feng Xiaogang, Zhao Baogang and others looked at each other in confusion, as the Television Drama Art Center could not afford the money.

At this time, the profit model of TV dramas is single, and there is a high probability that they will lose more than 50%. Even popular dramas such as "Desire", "The Story of the Editorial Department", and "The Inspector General of the Song Dynasty" are still unable to make ends meet.

"Desire" invested 102 million yuan and only recovered 50 yuan, while "The Story of the Editorial Department" invested 150 million yuan and only recovered 90 yuan.

Fortunately, most TV dramas are sponsored by state-owned enterprises or banks provide loans, otherwise there would be no money to film.

"Well, how about going to the bank to get a loan?"

Zheng Xiaolong said hesitantly.

"This is not 100 million RMB, this is 100 million USD. Which bank would dare to take such a big risk and lend it to us?"

Lu Xiaowei frowned.

"In my opinion, why don't we wait until Mr. Fang returns to China and discuss this with him?"

As soon as Feng Xiaogang said this, he immediately won everyone's nods of approval. When in doubt, always ask in dialect! (End of this chapter)