Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 282 What do you think of me, Old Li?
As dinner was approaching, several main actors from the crew that Li Hanxiang had invited came to his room one after another.

"The Burning of the Old Summer Palace" and "The Last Emperor" are said to be two movies, but the stories are connected, revolving around the three main characters: Emperor Xianfeng, Empress Dowager Cixi, and Empress Dowager Ci'an. There are also several supporting characters with larger roles, but only two of them are here today.

The actor who plays the devil Liu Yixin is Zhang Tielin from Yenching Film Academy, who is now a senior. Li Hanxiang's film is his first trip to the big screen. Before that, he had only filmed a one-episode TV series "There is a Young Man" for CCTV.

As a student with very little acting experience, he was extremely honored to be chosen to play the second male lead in Li Hanxiang's film.

Compared with the two male actors who have almost no acting experience, the three actresses selected by Li Hanxiang are relatively experienced.

Zhou Jie, who plays the role of Concubine Li, is a dancer from Shanghai. She is extremely talented and was spotted by the Shanghai Song and Dance Theater at the age of 13. She had already made her mark at the age of 15 and has starred in large-scale national dance dramas such as Banping Mountain, Fengming Qishan, Xiaodaohui, and Mulan Piaoxiang. She is now a well-known dancer in Shanghai.

In history, Concubine Li was good at dancing. In Li Hanxiang's imagination, this role must be a perfect combination of beauty and dancing talent. He tried many actors and was not satisfied with any of them until someone recommended Zhou Jie from Shanghai.

When Zhou Jie came for the audition, she did not try out a role, but performed a dance. She was recognized by Li Hanxiang and got the role of Concubine Li.

In addition to Concubine Li played by Zhou Jie, Cixi and Ci'an were played by Zhang Jinling and Liu Xiaoqing, two leading actresses from Yanying Studio.

Zhang Jinling has been active in the film industry since the early 1970s. Many classic films such as "Crossing the River Reconnaissance", "From Slave to General" and "The River Runs Through It" made her a household name in China in the 1970s.

Compared with Zhang Jinling, Liu Xiaoqing debuted a few years later, but her rise in the film industry is even more rapid than Zhang Jinling.

"Little Flower" in 1978, "Looking at the Family" in 1979, "The Mysterious Buddha" in 1980...

Although she has only been in the industry for a few years, each movie she starred in has become more popular than the last, and she has become one of the most famous actresses in the Chinese film industry.

Zhang, Liu, and Li Xiuming are known as the "Three Golden Flowers" of Yanying Studio in the film industry.

"The Burning of the Old Summer Palace" and "The Last Emperor" required huge investments and received full support from government departments. Yanying Studio, as the leading domestic film studio, also had to contribute.

Zhang Jinling and Liu Xiaoqing are both very famous in China, and they took advantage of this opportunity to successfully become the heroines of the movie.

Li Hanxiang introduced the names and corresponding roles of several people one by one. When Lin Chaoyang heard that Zhang Jinling would play Cixi and Liu Xiaoqing would play Ci'an, he was stunned for a moment but didn't say anything.

After introducing the actors, everyone followed Li Hanxiang's lead to the hotel restaurant.

"I have no special intention in inviting you all to dinner today. The filming of the movie will start in a few months. Next, everyone will prepare for the filming. I hope everyone can get familiar with the roles as soon as possible, and I wish our filming can go smoothly!"

Li Hanxiang finished his opening remarks while holding up his glass and drank it all in one gulp. Several actors also toasted happily, with Liu Xiaoqing being particularly active.

After everyone finished drinking, they found that Zhang Jinling, who played Cixi, just took a symbolic sip of the wine and put it down.

Everyone at the table had different expressions when they saw this. Li Hanxiang was a big director from Hong Kong, and all those present were young actors. When having dinner with such a big director, even if they couldn't drink, they should at least offer him a first glass of wine. Zhang Jinling's behavior was too disrespectful.

Liu Xiaoqing secretly tugged at the corner of her clothes. Zhang Jinling smiled apologetically and said to Li Hanxiang, "Director Li, I'm sorry, I don't know how to drink. Please forgive me."

Lin Chaoyang didn't wait for Li Hanxiang to speak, and said with a smile: "Who of you poured wine for Comrade Jin Ling? Female comrades don't drink, so please give her tea instead."

Zhang Jinling cast a grateful look at Lin Chaoyang, but everyone's eyes were still on Li Hanxiang.

Li Hanxiang acted as if nothing had happened and waved his hand generously, "It's okay. We are not the drinking crew. If you want to drink, drink. If you don't want to drink, don't force yourself. Having fun is the most important thing."

Hearing his words, the atmosphere at the table suddenly relaxed.

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that Lin Chaoyang was trying to smooth things over for Zhang Jinling. Li Hanxiang had a fierce face and looked ferocious when he smiled. When he wasn't smiling, he looked terrifying.

Several young actors had little contact with him and were instinctively a little scared. Seeing how nonchalant he was, no one thought he was really magnanimous. Instead, they all thought he was giving face to Lin Chaoyang.

The young actors were very happy to be able to participate in the new work of a great director like Li Hanxiang, and several people at the table toasted Li Hanxiang frequently.

The atmosphere at the banquet gradually became relaxed. The film was scheduled to start shooting in July and August. Li Hanxiang arranged some pre-shooting exercises for the actors as a way of experiencing life.

Among them, Tony Leung's homework was the most difficult. In addition to cultural courses, he had to go to Inner Mongolia to live with herdsmen.

He really didn't understand why he had to go to Inner Mongolia to experience life when he was playing the role of an emperor. He had never dared to ask Li Hanxiang this question, but today, after drinking a little, he took advantage of the alcohol to ask the screenwriter Lin Chaoyang.

"The Qing dynasty declined after Emperor Qianlong, and even lost power and humiliated the country in the later period. People after us are always filled with indignation when we talk about it.

But to be realistic, the Qing Dynasty's training of the heir to the throne was the most rigorous among many dynasties. Emperor Xianfeng was an average emperor with a weak character. You could say he was incompetent, but in terms of personal qualities, he had many advantages.

According to historical records, his writing and painting skills were among the best among the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. He was also fond of riding and hunting. When he was a prince, he followed his companions in hunting in Nanyuan. While chasing a group of wild animals, he fell off his horse and injured his thigh.

Later rumors that he was a cripple came from here.

In fact, he was not crippled, but he had injured his thigh from falling off horses twice and had a hidden illness.

So, from a personal perspective, he is both civil and military.”

After listening to Lin Chaoyang's explanation, Liang Jiahui nodded in understanding, "So that's how it is. Thank you Mr. Lin for clearing up my confusion."

"You're welcome."

Liu Xiaoqing sat next to Lin Chaoyang, and when Tony Leung asked him for advice, her eyes were fixed on the two of them without blinking.

"Mr. Lin is really knowledgeable."

Lin Chaoyang looked at Liu Xiaoqing. In his impression, Liu Xiaoqing had a face that had undergone plastic surgery after she turned sixty, but the Liu Xiaoqing in front of him had a face as white as a silver plate, eyes like water apricots, and youthful and lovely. He said in a friendly manner, "'Mr. Lin' is what they call me in Hong Kong. You can just call me by my name."

"I'll call you Comrade Chaoyang. I'll offer you a glass of wine."

Liu Xiaoqing toasted Lin Chaoyang with a glass of wine and said, "I like all your novels. I went to see The Shepherd twice when it was released. The character of Li Xiuzhi is really well written. It's a pity that Director Xie Jin didn't ask me to play the role."

There was regret in Liu Xiaoqing's tone, but what it revealed more was a sense of pride.

She became famous at a young age and has a very flamboyant personality, so it's not surprising that she has such thoughts.

"You are so famous. After starring in Director Li's movie, your fame will rise to a higher level. You will have the opportunity to work with Director Xie in the future."

"Thanks to your good words, I will give you another toast."

After drinking another glass of wine, Liu Xiaoqing asked Lin Chaoyang, "I heard that Director Xie is preparing the movie "The Garland Under the Mountain" that you wrote?"

It was no secret that Xie Jin was going to film "The Garland Under the Mountain". Lin Chaoyang said, "Yes. Why? Are you interested in this movie? There aren't many roles for actresses in it."

Liu Xiaoqing shook her head. "I heard that he was going to film Qiu Jin before that."

"That's true. I guess after finishing filming 'High Mountains', we'll probably film 'Qiu Jin'."

Lin Chaoyang finally understood that Liu Xiaoqing wanted to ask him about Qiu Jin.

"Qiu Jin" tells the story of Qiu Jin's heroic deeds. In the words of later film and television circles, this is a movie with a strong female lead, and with the blessing of a famous director, it is no surprise that an ambitious actress like Liu Xiaoqing coveted this movie.

It’s a pity that Lin Chaoyang didn’t know much about Qiu Jin, and after a brief conversation with Liu Xiaoqing, he dropped the topic.

The banquet lasted until after seven in the evening. People were either chatting or drinking. The atmosphere was much more lively than at the beginning.

At this moment, Zhang Jinling, who had been very reserved since she sat down, suddenly turned her head to the side, lowered her head and made nausea sounds.

Seeing this scene, everyone was stunned.

You didn't drink any alcohol, why are you vomiting?
When the thought came to mind, everyone suddenly felt disgusted.

We are having a meal together, and no one is going to force you to drink. It's fine if you don't want to drink, but you want to vomit when we drink. Do you feel sick just by watching us drinking?

Not only did everyone think so, even Li Hanxiang's face looked a little unhappy.

Before, Lin Chaoyang had tried to smooth things over for Zhang Jinling with good intentions, but in the current situation, he didn’t know what to say.

The biggest possibility he could think of was that Zhang Jinling was sick and she was forcing herself to attend the banquet today, but no one noticed any abnormalities in her health since she entered the door.

Just when the atmosphere at the table was getting awkward, Liu Xiaoqing said with a smile, "Director Li, Jin Ling is not feeling well today. I heard you were going to treat us to a meal, so I'm sorry not to come. I really can't hold on any longer, so please bear with me."

Li Hanxiang said nothing when he heard this.

Zhang Jinling followed her words and apologized to Li Hanxiang, "Director Li, I'm so sorry for ruining everyone's fun."

His expression eased a little, "If you are not feeling well, go and rest. Do you need someone to take you back?"

Although these words seemed gentle, they deprived Zhang Jinling of the right to continue sitting with everyone.

Zhang Jinling didn't seem to feel lost at all. She lowered her brows and said goodbye to Li Hanxiang and everyone else. "No need. I can go back by myself."

As she spoke, she stood up, and Liu Xiaoqing beside her took the initiative to support her, "Sister Jin Ling, let me take you out."

The two of them left in the gazes of the crowd, and Li Hanxiang, with a normal expression, asked everyone to continue eating and drinking.

After a while, Liu Xiaoqing came back and said a few words of apology on behalf of Zhang Jinling in front of Li Hanxiang, looking very sincere.

Although she was trying her best to hide it, Lin Chaoyang could still see that she was in a very happy mood.

After that, everyone ate and drank for nearly an hour before the banquet ended. Li Hanxiang was a little drunk. There was nothing wrong with it, but a few young people insisted on sending him back to his room.

"You guys go back first." Li Hanxiang grabbed Lin Chaoyang's shoulders and said, "Just let Chaoyang take me back."

Everyone left first, and Lin Chaoyang half-supported Li Hanxiang towards the room.

Before they reached the door of the room, they saw Zhang Jinling, who should have left, standing at the door of Li Hanxiang's room.

This……

Lin Chaoyang knew that the entertainment industry in the future was in chaos, and he had also heard about some of the chaos in the literary and art circles of this era, writers and female readers, directors and actresses...

Lin Chaoyang looked at Li Hanxiang and said, "How about...I should go first?"

Li Hanxiang, under the influence of alcohol, slapped him on the head, "Fuck you! What do you think of me, Li?"

I want to leave because I know who you are!

(End of this chapter)