1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

The cheers from his nephew Feng Liwen also drew the attention of the audience members queuing to buy tickets at the cinema entrance.

When they discovered that this kid really did look exactly like the little guy in the poster, they were all surprised and curious.

This immediately sent little Feng Liwen soaring into the sky.

Feng Jiayou carefully protected her son, Little Squirrel, from being jostled by the crowd, her eyes fixed on the poster, and whispered:

"I heard this movie is quite touching. I wonder how Liwen's acting is."

"He must have acted very well!" the grandmother said happily. Although she didn't know much about movies, she was overjoyed to hear that her great-grandson had been in a movie.

Cheng Xuemin didn't speak, but silently observed the people and atmosphere around him.

He could sense that the audience had high expectations for the film.

Xie Jin's skillful portrayal of delicate emotions, coupled with the timeless theme of maternal love, has the potential to evoke strong resonance in today's relatively simple cultural consumption environment.

However, the actual effect depends on the film itself.

Tickets checked for entry.

The cinema's interior is spacious, with an intricate plaster pattern on the dome, dark red velvet walls, and heavy brown-red artificial leather seats.

The lights dimmed, with only the green light for the emergency exit glowing faintly.

The noise gradually subsided, and a solemn and expectant silence filled the air.

The screen lights up, first with a news briefing, then with the logo of the Yenching Film Studio, and the statues of workers, peasants and soldiers rotate in the light.

The main film begins.

The theme music, melodious yet slightly melancholic, begins, and the scene depicts a typical street scene in a small southern town in the early 1980s, bustling yet full of life.

Gong Xue plays Lin Xia, a single mother who lost her husband at a young age and works in a clothing factory. She raises her son Xiao Qiang, played by Feng Liwen, in a poor but warm life.

The film uses delicate strokes to depict the daily life of a mother and child who depend on each other for survival:

Lin Xia sews clothes late at night under the lamp while Xiao Qiang obediently writes beside her; Lin Xia saves her meal money to buy her son the comic books he has longed for; Xiao Qiang is bullied at school, but he forces a smile for his mother when he gets home...

Feng Liwen's performance exceeded Cheng Xuemin's expectations.

Although the little guy hadn't received any professional training, he portrayed the innocence of a child, his natural dependence on and love for his mother, with remarkable naturalness.

In several close-up shots, the deep affection in his bright, clear eyes easily touches the heart.

Looking at her "son's" sensible and heartbreaking appearance on the screen, and then at the bewildered little squirrel in her arms, Feng Jiayou's eyes began to redden slightly, and she subconsciously hugged her son tighter.

The plot progresses.

Lin Xia's factory is experiencing a decline in profits and is facing layoffs.

To keep her job and support her son's schooling, she had to work overtime, which led to her illness.

One night, she fell into a coma with a high fever and was found by her neighbors and taken to the hospital.

Young Xiaoqiang sat by his mother's bedside, holding her burning hot hand, tears streaming down his face, murmuring, "Mommy, get well soon. Xiaoqiang will be good, Xiaoqiang will never make you angry again..."

Sobbing began to break out sporadically in the movie theater.

Teacher Gu, Feng's mother, took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of her eye. Her eldest sister-in-law, Ke Yumei, turned her face away. Her second sister-in-law, Sun Juan, had already quietly wiped away her tears!

An even greater challenge is looming: Lin Xia's condition requires a substantial amount of money for surgery, and the factory's compensation and the family's savings are far from enough!

When Xiaoqiang was desperate, his biological father, who had abandoned his wife and children years ago and was confirmed to be unable to have more children, came back and agreed to cover the medical expenses, but only if Xiaoqiang left Linxia and returned to the Lin family to acknowledge his ancestors and receive a better life and education!

Faced with a life-or-death decision and her son's future, Lin Xia, lying pale on her hospital bed, went through a heart-wrenching struggle!

Gong Xue's performance reached a climax here!
She didn't wail or make any dramatic gestures; she simply looked at her bewildered son and the gray sky outside the window with her eyes brimming with tears, filled with despair and reluctance, yet forced to appear strong.

All the pain, helplessness, maternal love and sacrifice were condensed in those slightly trembling lips and tearful eyes!
When she finally used all her strength to gently say to her son, "Go with Dad... Mom will wait for you to grow up..." her voice was as light as a feather, yet so heavy that it broke down the psychological defenses of all the viewers.

However, young Xiaoqiang could not accept life without his mother and repeatedly tried to return to her side.

However, during one attempt, she encountered a heavy rain that put her life in danger. Lin Xia became agitated by this and fell down the stairs, becoming mentally unstable.

"Waaah..." Feng Jiayou could no longer hold back. She buried her face in Cheng Xuemin's shoulder and sobbed softly, her shoulder trembling.

The handkerchief in my hand was already soaked through!
The little squirrel seemed to be affected by its mother's emotions, or perhaps it was frightened by the way its mother looked sick in the movie. It pouted and started to cry softly as well.

Teacher Gu's tears flowed even more fiercely, but she still forced herself to sit up straight, constantly wiping them with a handkerchief, and said in a low, heavily nasal voice to the woman next to her:
"Gong Xue... she acted so realistically... how much pain must that mother be in...?"

The eldest sister-in-law, Ke Yumei, was crying so hard she couldn't speak, she could only nod repeatedly.

Second sister-in-law Sun Juan burst into tears, then quickly covered her mouth to avoid disturbing others.

The old woman also raised her sleeve to wipe her eyes, muttering, "What a tragedy... This child has such a hard life... And the mother has it even worse..."

It's not just Cheng Xuemin's family!
Throughout the entire movie theater, suppressed, low sobs filled the air!
Almost no female audience member was spared; young girls hugged each other and cried, middle-aged women wiped away their tears and sighed, and even some elderly ladies silently wiped away their tears in the dark!
Although most of the men tried to hold it in, you could see many of them secretly rubbing their eyes or deliberately straightening their backs, but they dared not meet the eyes of the mother and son on the screen!
The air was thick with an overwhelming sense of sorrow and emotion, occasionally broken by suppressed sobs that still escaped, adding to the tragedy!

Cheng Xuemin felt his eyes getting hot!

He wasn't heartless; the film's delicate emotional portrayal and the actors' outstanding performances also moved him. But he was examining it more from the perspective of a producer and a visionary screenwriter!

He knew perfectly well that Gong Xue's performance as Lin Xia was more than just a matter of acting well!
She almost became one with the character, and with her highly empathetic performance, she touched the softest part of the hearts of the audience in the entire movie theater!
The impact and shock of this performance are immeasurable by data!

He thought to himself: This film is a success!

Gong Xue will be hailed as a legend with this film. At least in the hearts of mainland audiences, her image as a suffering and loving mother will be unshakable for a short time!

The ending of the movie is open and full of hope!

More than a decade later, Xiaoqiang, now an adult, returned as a child actor after completing his studies. In the old house where he and his mother had once lived together, he found his mother, who had become a madwoman!
Mother and child embrace, sunlight flooding the humble room!
The theme music played again, this time conveying warmth and strength amidst the sorrow.

Lights on!

The audience in the movie theater seemed to still be immersed in the emotions of the film and did not get up immediately!

The sobbing had not completely stopped, and many people sat silently with red eyes, seemingly needing some time to calm down!

Packing things has slowed down considerably!

"Let's go!" Cheng Xuemin gently patted Feng Jiayou, who was still sobbing softly on his shoulder, and then took the little squirrel from her arms, who was tired from crying and a little sleepy.

The family quietly walked out of the cinema with the flow of people!
The cool night breeze brushed against my face, easing the burning sensation in my eyes. But the heavy feeling of emotion and bittersweetness in my heart lingered for a long time!

Once inside the car, the atmosphere remained somewhat silent.
After a long while, Mrs. Feng finally let out a long sigh of relief and said in a voice still nasal, "This movie... is really well made!"

"Old Xie really put in the effort! Gong Xue... truly brought Lin Xia to life! After watching it, I felt both sad and... warm inside!"

“Yes, Mom!” Feng Jiayou wiped her slightly moist eyes and added, “I never expected it to be so touching. Liwen acted so well too, he wasn’t shy at all, it kept my heart pounding!”

"Liwen is great!" said Feng Jiazhao, the eldest brother, confidently as he drove. "Our Feng family has produced a young actor! But the most amazing one is Gong Xue. Her eyes, her expressions... absolutely incredible! I think this film is sure to be a hit!"

Holding the sleeping squirrel, Cheng Xuemin looked out the window at the colorful streetlights and said slowly, "This movie is very likely to set a new movie-going record."

"Gong Xue's performance has transcended acting skills in the general sense. She has captured the most universal and profound emotional resonance of this era: maternal love!"
The resilience and selfless dedication in the face of hardship possess immense power!

He paused, his tone carrying a professional calm and foresight: "After this film, Gong Xue's position in the hearts of domestic film audiences will be firmly established!"

"From now on, it'll probably be a long queue to find her scripts. Our 'Redemption' is in Cannes, maybe it can also benefit from the popularity of this national mother!"

The people in the car nodded thoughtfully after hearing this.

Tonight's movie was more than just family entertainment; it allowed them to directly experience the powerful and moving force that film, as an art form, can possess!
We can also vaguely see the enormous potential and influence behind the cause that Cheng Xuemin is engaged in!
Back home, I settled the sleeping squirrel down!

Feng Jiayou leaned against Cheng Xuemin's chest, her fingers unconsciously twirling the buttons on his pajamas, and whispered:

"Xuemin, Gong Xue's acting was so good... Watching her in the movie, I almost forgot that she was Gong Xue. I felt that she was Lin Xia, a real, living, suffering, and great mother!"

"Yes, she got into character and drew the audience in too. That's the highest level an actor can achieve!" Cheng Xuemin stroked his wife's hair.

Feng Jiayou nodded in agreement, then looked at her son, Little Squirrel, who was sleeping soundly.

Her small chest rose and fell gently with her breathing, her face flushed with a healthy blush from deep sleep, and one little hand unconsciously clutched the corner of the blanket!

Feng Jiayou sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching her son, her gaze seemingly glued to his tender face, unable to look away!

Her fingers gently brushed across her son's soft hair, and the warm touch from her fingertips amplified the bittersweet feeling she had brought back from the movie theater—a mixture of emotion and maternal resonance—that surged up even more, welling up in her eyes!
The scene in the movie where Lin Xia and Xiao Qiang are separated by life and death is still vividly imprinted in her mind!
The immense pain of a mother watching helplessly as her flesh and blood are forcibly separated, yet feeling powerless to do anything about it, is like a cold hand gripping her heart!
Looking at her own tiny self, and thinking about how she and Xuemin would leave home with their luggage as soon as it was light tomorrow, she realized that...

Leaving this little guy, who was just over a year old, couldn't speak properly, and was completely dependent on his parents, at home for a full half month, Feng Jiayou felt her heart tightening and she could hardly breathe!
“Tomorrow morning…if he wakes up and finds none of us here…” Feng Jiayou’s voice was very soft, with a heavy nasal tone, as if she were talking to herself, or perhaps to Cheng Xuemin, who was also staring blankly at his son:

"Will he think we've abandoned him? Will he cry himself hoarse? Will his mother, grandmother, and aunt be able to comfort him?"

"He's a light sleeper and has been a bit clingy lately. If he wakes up in the middle of the night and can't find me..."

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, until it almost broke into a sob!

Tears rolled down her cheeks without warning, dripping onto the back of her hand, which lay cold on the side of the bed.

She suddenly raised her hand and wiped away her tears haphazardly with the back of her hand, but new tears quickly filled her eyes!
"Xuemin!" She turned to look at Cheng Xuemin, her eyes red and filled with struggle and reluctance, her voice trembling as she said, "Maybe...can I not go?"

"I...I really can't bear to leave him alone at home. He's so young...Just thinking about him crying and looking for his mother is like a knife to my heart!"

"France... France, let's go again next time, okay? This time... this time you take everyone, and I... I'll stay home with our son, okay?"

This statement was disjointed and full of contradictions!
She knew what the trip to Cannes meant to her husband, to film, and to the country!
She knew that her name was on the list because her husband had gone to great lengths to get it, and that it had been approved by the organization!

But at this moment, maternal instinct overwhelmed all reason and expectation!

The heart-wrenching farewell scene in the movie was like an infinitely magnified warning, making her develop an almost fearful resistance to the upcoming, brief separation!

Cheng Xuemin listened silently to his wife's tearful account, watching the tears rolling down her face. He felt as if something had hit him hard in the heart, leaving him feeling both suffocated and aching!

He understood his wife Feng Jiayou's feelings!

The power of film is immense; it amplifies emotions, and it amplifies fear!
As a mother, it is perfectly normal to feel such hesitation and retreat after just experiencing such an emotional storm about maternal love and separation!

……

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