The literary era since 1979

After working overtime to catch up on the work, they finally completed a version of "As You Wish" that was acceptable to Deng Lijun and others before returning to China.

Although there are still some flaws in the arrangement and soundtrack, the merits outweigh the flaws, especially since this is not the final version.

Once they arrive in Yanjing, Fang Yan can get help from big names in the mainland music scene, since he still has some influence with Qiao Yu and others.

Teresa Teng was extremely grateful, and before returning to her home country, she generously treated him to a meal at the restaurant of "Sushi Master" Jiro Ono.

At this moment, the plane carrying the group was slowly landing at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Wearing fluffy earmuffs and wrapped in a thick down jacket, Gong Xue waited quietly, undeterred by the cold.

Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long before Fang Yan's familiar face appeared in my sight. I was overjoyed, but also surprised.

Two women were traveling with Fang Yan; the one in front of him was chatting and laughing with him, while the one behind him was quietly carrying his luggage.

Because they were both wearing masks, the woman in front even seemed afraid that someone would recognize her, and she was wearing a wool knitted hat, covering her entire face so that only her bright eyes were exposed. With every frown and smile, it seemed that autumn water could overflow from them.

Gong Xue wasn't jealous or resentful about it; he was just curious about who this woman was.

However, before Fang Yan could reveal the secret herself, Deng Lijun took off her mask right in front of her and greeted her warmly.

"Lijun!"

Gong Xue was first surprised, then asked in confusion, "Why did you two come back together?"

The dialect simply explained the whole story.

"So that's it."

Gong Xue said enthusiastically, "It's hard to get a taxi at this time of year. Why don't you two just take our car and we'll give you a ride to the hotel?"

Deng Lijun felt bad, "Wouldn't this be too much trouble for you?"

"No need to be so polite. Since you've come to Yanjing, you're a guest, and as your sister, it's my duty to do my part as a host."

Gong Xue took Deng Lijun's arm and coaxed her towards the parking lot.

Although Yanjing in February didn't experience the continuous snowfall of January, the lingering chill of winter still persisted.

Warm air blew out of the vents, gradually dispelling the chill inside the car and making the atmosphere of conversation even more lively.

“I read in the newspaper a long time ago that you would be performing on the Spring Festival Gala this year, and my family has been looking forward to it for a long time.”

Gong Xue smiled and said, "Could you tell your best friend which songs you sang? That shouldn't be against the rules, right?"

"What's wrong with this?"

Deng Lijun directly named "Wishing We Last Forever", "Small Town Story" and "As You Wish".

Gong Xue let out a soft "Eh?", "I know the first two songs, but I don't think I've ever heard 'As You Wish' before? Is it your new song?"

Teresa Teng nodded and said that this was a song she had asked Fang Yan to tailor-make specifically for her again.

Gong Xue cast a curious glance at Fang Yan, as if to say, "You're involved in this too?"

Fang Yan said, "Lijun hoped to use this Spring Festival Gala opportunity to change the stereotype of her being a 'sweet song' among the Chinese people, but the song she negotiated with the Spring Festival Gala program team could not achieve this goal, so she asked me to write a song with a different style from her sweet song queen style."

"Yes, yes, it's really well written!"

Deng Lijun recounted the whole story in detail.

Gong Xue glanced at Fang Yan again and again out of the corner of his eye, his curiosity growing stronger.

Having been married for so long, Fang Yan naturally knew what she was thinking, and chuckled:
"Aren't you eager to hear how Li-Jun sings 'As You Wish'?"

"That's right!"

Deng Lijun suddenly realized what was going on and was about to sing a song for Gong Xue when she saw Gong Xue shake her head and politely decline, saying, "Please don't!"

Fang Yan and Deng Lijun were quite surprised and turned to look at them with questioning eyes.

Gong Xue explained, "Although I really want to hear your new song as soon as possible, since it was specially prepared for the Spring Festival Gala, I'll wait until the Gala to listen to it. Otherwise, wouldn't it lose its novelty and anticipation?"

"Haha, Xiao Xue makes a good point." Deng Lijun covered her mouth and chuckled.

Gong Xue asked, "By the way, Lijun, do you have any other activities planned after your performance at the Spring Festival Gala?"

Deng Lijun carefully reviewed the events, then gently shook her head:
"I'll probably go straight back to the hotel. Sigh, I guess I'll only be able to spend New Year's Eve with my assistant this year."

How about this?

Gong Xue took the initiative to invite him, "If you'd like, why don't you come to our house after you finish singing and have dumplings with us for the New Year?"

Deng Lijun was tempted, but she was also afraid that her sudden intrusion as a stranger would disturb Fang Yan's family.

"How could that be! You, Yanzi, and I are all good friends. How could good friends bear to let their good friend spend the New Year alone?" Gong Xue said with a smile. "Besides, if my mom, my sister, and my sister-in-law knew that their favorite singer was spending the New Year with them, they would be so happy!" Then she winked playfully at Fang Yan. "What do you think, sir?"

Fang Yan said, "What Xiao Xue said is exactly what I wanted to say. If Li Jun doesn't mind, why don't you spend this Year of the Horse with us?"

Deng Lijun's eyes lit up, "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you two! I'm really going!"

"Of course I'm telling you that!"

Fang Yan confidently declared that he would personally go to CCTV to pick up the person.

………………

With the Spring Festival Gala broadcast date drawing ever closer, the final rehearsal is in full swing.

Meanwhile, Fang Yan's appointment letter had also been issued. Fortunately, since learning of the transfer order from Wang Meng in advance, he had started to hand over the work and tasks of the editor-in-chief of Xiangjiang Sanlian Bookstore in the second half of the year, and had also properly arranged the affairs of Xiangjiang Publishing, Media and other companies.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to find the time to create new works.

At present, the first draft of "Those Things of the Ming Dynasty" has been completed. The work of proofreading and reviewing can be handed over to the editorial department of "People's Literature" after the New Year. As for "The Great Ming Dynasty", it is the most important thing for Fang Yan to do. After all, whether or not the Ming Dynasty can be popular depends on both of them!

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Lunar New Year's Eve finally arrived on the 26th.

Fang Yan didn't spend the Spring Festival in Nanluoguxiang or Shichahai this time; instead, her whole family moved to a newly completed commercial apartment in Fangzhuang.

Han Yuemin and Fang Hong lived right across from each other. They bought the apartments in Fangzhuang when the development opened, just for the convenience of visiting each other.

Hurried footsteps sounded outside, along with the little sister's silvery laughter: "Brother, sister and brother-in-law are here!"

Fang Yan stretched and came out of the study, bowing to Han's mother and Han Yuemin's family of three to wish them a Happy New Year.

Happy New Year to all my brothers and sisters!
"Happy New Year!"

Han Yuemin smiled back, "Yanzi, I heard from Mom and your sister that you're being transferred back to the mainland from Hong Kong after the New Year?"

“Yes, back to my old workplace, People’s Literature.” Fang Yan had previously gone to Sanlian Bookstore in Hong Kong for two reasons: first, at the request of Xiao Zi and Pan Yaoming, to help the bookstore revitalize and turn a profit; and second, to build up his resume and qualifications in preparation for taking over as editor-in-chief of People’s Literature. Now that the time was right, he naturally returned.

Han Yuemin grinned, "That's great! It'll be easier for us to stay in touch now."

Fang Yan keenly noticed, "Judging from what my brother-in-law said, is the company facing some difficulties in its operations again?"

"To be honest, there is something I really need your advice on."

Han Yuemin said that last year, "Gymnastics Prince" Li Ning retired, and then Li Jingwei extended an olive branch, inviting him to join Jianlibao. He also promised to help Li Ning realize his promise to create a sportswear brand. Now, half a year has passed, and Li Jingwei wants to fulfill his promise to Li Ning.

However, since Jianlibao was a beverage company and had no experience in the clothing industry, they chose to have them affiliated with Jianlibao's clothing company.

"Does Li Jingwei want us to fund Li Ning in creating her own sportswear brand?"

Fang Yan raised an eyebrow. "Does Jianlibao still want to set up a sports-related company for Li Ning, so we can share our production management experience?"

"That hasn't been officially decided yet. Li Jingwei only said that if money is needed, Jianlibao can provide it."

Han Yuemin shook his head slightly.

"No, Jianlibao cannot fund this; we must invest in Li Ning."

Fang Yan suggested that since the clothing company currently does not have a business in sportswear and footwear, it would be better to use Li Ning's reputation and connections to help him establish his own personal sports brand. Han Yuemin could take a loss and let Li Ning hold 51% to 55% of the shares.

"What! He didn't contribute a single penny, yet he owns such a huge share?"

Han Yuemin hesitated because the capital of the company that Li Ning wanted to establish was not a few hundred thousand or a few million, but tens of millions.

"Brother-in-law, you're too narrow-minded."

Fang Yan patiently explained to him new concepts such as "angel investment" and "clothing brand".

Gradually, Han Yuemin was convinced by the blueprint he was presented with, "If what you're saying is true, then Li Ning really does have to be invested in."

"Furthermore, not letting Jianlibao contribute money is also to avoid unpleasant disputes over Li Ning's ownership when the family business is divided in the future."

The dialect speaker pointed out that although the affiliated company is nominally collectively owned, it is actually a private enterprise.

The ownership of the clothing company, whether it was Li Ning's or Han Yuemin's, with Jianlibao has never been clearly defined.

If the ownership issue is not clarified, it will seriously affect the company's future growth, so this can be seen as defusing potential problems for the future.

"It has to be you, Yanzi, who always thinks long-term."

Han Yuemin smiled with satisfaction, "It was indeed a great thing that you came back to the mainland!"

Fang Yan added, "Of course! My brother is the editor-in-chief of People's Literature and the deputy editor-in-chief of People's Literature Publishing House. He's now at the level of a full-fledged department director!"

"Oh, I didn't realize Yanzi was such a fanatic about officialdom!" Gong Xue couldn't help but tease.

These words immediately drew laughter from everyone, filling the room and the surroundings with a joyful atmosphere.

Then, everyone sat in a circle around the table laden with delicious food, their eyes glued to the television.

The screen is showing the Spring Festival Gala. The 1990 Spring Festival Gala was still directed by Huang Yihe, and hosted by Zhao Zhongxiang and Ni Ping. However, it also introduced new elements. The gala adopted the format of the Red and White Song Festival and had four teams competing: a dance team, a song team, a skit team, and a crosstalk team.

Teams will compete against each other, and then viewers at home will vote by letter or phone to determine the top three teams.

Which teams do you think will win the championship, runner-up, and third place?

Fang Yan looked around, her eyes gleaming.

Gong Xue spoke first: "The sketch comedy team, right? This time, there's a sketch called 'The Protagonist and the Supporting Role' starring Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao."

"That's hard to say. I've seen in the newspapers these days that Teresa Teng will be performing at this year's Spring Festival Gala."

Fang Hong said, "I think the song team can win the championship, and I support Teresa Teng!"

One by one, everyone expressed their opinions. Some supported the skit team to win the championship, some stood with Fang Hong and supported the song team, and of course, some people voted for the crosstalk team. In the end, only Fang Yan remained at the table, silent and not casting his sacred vote.

The little sister stared intently at him, "Brother, do you think the song team is number one, or the skit team is number one?"

"This is really a tough choice."

The dialect is indeed true; it's truly difficult to choose between Deng Lijun's "As You Wish" and Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao's "Protagonist and Supporting Role".

Just as everyone was arguing, the appearance of Teresa Teng on screen immediately silenced the discussion.

When Zhao Zhongxiang asked Deng Liyun about her ancestral home, Deng Liyun replied sweetly and softly, "Uh, my father is from Hebei and my mother is from Shandong."

"Oh, from northern Hebei and eastern Shandong, this person has a great talent for languages. They can speak Cantonese, English, and Hokkien."

Ni Ping smiled and said, "You must speak the Ludong dialect quite well, right?"

Deng Lijun said, "The best dialect I can speak here is Ludong dialect."

Ni Ping looked surprised. Since she was from Weihai in eastern Shandong, she suggested that they exchange a few words in the local dialect.

"Miss Deng, which songs will you be singing today?"

"Ah, Sister Ni, today I'm bringing three songs to television viewers across the country."

When Deng Lijun said this, the audience and guests in the studio burst into laughter, applauded, and cheered.

Fang Hong, Yang Xia, and others felt a sense of kinship with Deng Lijun because of her Shandong dialect, which brought them closer together.

Gong Xue and Fang Yan exchanged a smile and quietly watched as Deng Lijun began to sing the first song, "Wishing We Last Forever".

"Yanzi, you've been drinking beverages all this time," Han Yuemin said. "It's the New Year, you should have some alcohol."

"Brother-in-law, I have to go out again in a bit." Fang Yan put his hand on the glass. "When I get back, I'll have a few more drinks with you."

Yang Xia asked in confusion, "You're going out on New Year's Eve? What are you going out for?"

Gong Xue replied, "Mom, Yanzi is going to pick up a friend to celebrate the New Year at our house."

Everyone looked at each other, all showing great interest in Fang Yan, their friend.

Yang Xia had expected Lin Qingxia, Wang Zuxian, Li Zhi, or Zhu Lin to be her wedding guests. However, at Shi Tiesheng and Chen Ximi's wedding, they all left a very deep impression on her. They were all very polite to her, and she even had the vague feeling that she was a daughter-in-law serving her mother-in-law.

"She's alone in Yanjing this year, so Yanzi and I thought we should invite her to our home so we can have a happy New Year together."

Gong Xue watched as Fang Yan picked up the car keys and then watched him walk quickly to the door.

Fang Hong shook her head. "So rushed? You haven't even had time to listen to all of Teresa Teng's songs?"

Just as everyone was filled with confusion, Teresa Teng was preparing to sing her third song. At this moment, the song's information appeared in the lower left corner of the television screen: the song title was "As You Wish," the singer was naturally "Teresa Teng," and the lyricist listed below was none other than "Fang Yan." (End of Chapter)