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

After a brief period of excitement at home, Cheng Xuemin went to work at Yan Film Studio with his brother-in-law, Feng Jiazhao!
The black sedan drove out of the alley and merged into the street!
In the car, Feng Jiazhao focused intently on the road ahead, occasionally glancing at Cheng Xuemin in the passenger seat through the rearview mirror.

Cheng Xuemin closed his eyes, seemingly resting, but the slight rise and fall of his chest and the fingers gently tapping his knees showed that he was not at peace inside!

“The factory… is going to be lively!” Feng Jiazhao said, breaking the silence in the car.

"Hmm!" Cheng Xuemin responded, opened his eyes, and looked out the window at the street scene flashing by.

Familiar streets, familiar buildings, familiar flow of bicycles and pedestrians.

It felt like a long time had passed since I left, even though it had only been ten days.

But this time when I returned, my identity and the responsibilities on my shoulders were different!
The car approached the familiar gate of the Yanjing Film Studio.

When the gatekeeper, Old Sun, saw the license plate from afar, he poked half his body out of his little hut, his face beaming with a fawning smile tinged with pride, and waved vigorously.

Feng Jiazhao honked his horn in response and slowly drove in!
It was during the morning working hours, and the factory area was even busier than when I arrived.

But as soon as Cheng Xuemin's car entered, it was like a magnet, instantly attracting countless eyes!
"Look! It's Cheng Xuemin's car!"

"Factory Director Cheng Xuemin is back!"

"Director Cheng! Good morning, Director Cheng!"

Greetings rose and fell in waves!
Some people recognized Cheng Xuemin and called out his name directly; others didn't recognize him but recognized the factory director's car and guessed the identity of the person inside, looking around curiously.

Many people simply stopped in their tracks or leaned out of workshop windows or office building windows.

Feng Jiazhao drove the car directly to a relatively isolated area deep within the factory grounds, which was jokingly referred to as the East Factory.

That was a special economic zone established by Cheng Xuemin, focusing on the development of new foreign exchange earning projects and foreign cooperation!
As soon as the car stopped in front of the two-story building in the branch factory, a young girl wearing blue overalls and with two braids rushed out of the building like a gust of wind. It was Liu Xiaoli, the fairy mother!

"Teacher Cheng! Teacher Cheng, you're finally back!"

Liu Xiaoli's voice was clear and crisp, filled with undisguised excitement and eagerness.

Her cheeks were flushed from running, and her bright eyes were fixed on Cheng Xuemin, who had just gotten out of the car.

"Xiaoli!" Cheng Xuemin nodded to her, a smile appearing on his face.

I didn't take my mom to Cannes, France this time; she must be itching to go!

"Teacher Cheng, you really..." Liu Xiaoli gasped for breath, leaned closer, and lowered her voice, but couldn't suppress her excitement, "You really won that... the gold medal at the Cannes Film Festival?"

"That Golden Palm? Zhu Lin and Gong Xue told me about it quietly last night when they came back! I couldn't sleep all night!"

She spoke rapidly, her eyes darting between Cheng Xuemin's face and his empty hands, as if searching for something.

Looking at her expectant yet uncertain expression, Cheng Xuemin found it both amusing and poignant.

The news spread really fast, which shows how much attention the factory is paying to this matter!
He didn't answer immediately, but turned around, reached into the car, and picked up a rectangular object carefully wrapped in dark velvet from the back seat.

Upon seeing the package, Liu Xiaoli's eyes widened instantly, and she held her breath!
Cheng Xuemin slowly unfastened the velvet buttons and peeled it off layer by layer!

In the morning light, a dazzling golden ray of light shone out first, and then, an elegantly shaped trophy with outstretched palm leaves was presented in its entirety before Liu Xiaoli's eyes.

The golden leaves shimmered with a restrained yet noble luster in the sunlight, and the French inscription and the Cannes Film Festival logo engraved on the base were clearly visible.

“Golden… Golden Palm!” Liu Xiaoli gasped, her voice trembling slightly.

She almost instinctively reached out her hands, then suddenly stopped, looked up at Cheng Xuemin, her eyes full of longing and inquiry.

Cheng Xuemin smiled and handed the trophy forward.
Liu Xiaoli then carefully held the heavy golden trophy in her hands.

The cool metallic touch came from her palm, yet it seemed to carry a scalding temperature, burning right into her heart.

She lowered her head, examining every detail of the trophy with almost reverence.

The graceful curve of the leaves, the delicate patterns, the unfamiliar French letters on the base…

This is Cannes, a symbol of the highest hall of fame that filmmakers all over the world dream of!

And now, it's in my own hands, brought back by Teacher Cheng Xuemin, by their Eastern Depot, no, by Chinese filmmakers!

“It’s real…it really is the Palme d’Or…” Liu Xiaoli murmured, her eyes instantly reddening.

She studied dance and acted in movies; even though she was just a young manager in the factory, she understood the weight of this trophy better than most people.

This is no ordinary honor; it is a breakthrough from zero, a thunderclap that heralds Chinese films' true entry into the world stage!
"Old Zhao! Old Zhao, come quick! The Palme d'Or! Teacher Cheng brought the Palme d'Or trophy back!" Liu Xiaoli suddenly raised her head and shouted excitedly into the small building, her voice trembling with tears, yet full of joy.

Soon, Old Zhao, the branch factory's accountant, a meticulous old accountant with gray hair and reading glasses, came running out of his office upon hearing the noise, carrying an abacus in his hand.

He paused when he saw the gold trophy in Liu Xiaoli's hands, adjusted his reading glasses which had slipped down to the tip of his nose, and squinted to examine it closely.

Immediately, a smile as bright as a chrysanthemum bloomed on his face, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "Good! Good! Good! Director Cheng, you have brought great honor to Chinese filmmakers!"

Liu Xiaoli, already holding the trophy, turned to several young employees from Yanying Film Factory who had gathered around after hearing the commotion, as well as some workers from other workshops and departments who had been drawn over by the noise.

She held the trophy up high, as if displaying a rare treasure, then carefully lowered it so that everyone could see it clearly!
"Look! This is the Palme d'Or, the highest award at the Cannes Film Festival! Our Professor Cheng brought it back!"

"My God, is it made of real gold? It's so shiny!"

"It must be gold-plated, right? But even if it is gold-plated, it's still amazing!"

"Let me touch it! Let me touch it and share in the good fortune!"

"Get lost! Be careful not to break it! This is a national treasure!"

The workers crowded around, chattering away, their faces beaming with surprise, excitement, and pride!
Someone tried to reach out and touch it, but was slapped away by someone nearby.

Some people stood on tiptoe and craned their necks to see;

Some people couldn't wait to describe it to those who came later: "See that? Gold! Palm leaves, the highest award from abroad!"

The scene became somewhat noisy for a moment!
Feng Jiazhao parked his car and walked over. Seeing the scene, he smiled and shook his head, saying to Cheng Xuemin, "Look how excited these kids are!"

Cheng Xuemin smiled but didn't say anything more.
"Alright, Xiaoli, you've shown off enough, put it away." Then, seeing that it was almost time, Cheng Xuemin called out, "Put the trophy away carefully, and in a little while... take it to the old factory director's office."

"Yes, Teacher Cheng!" Liu Xiaoli responded loudly, clutching the trophy even tighter in her hands as if holding fragile glass. Cheng Xuemin shook his head, gestured to Feng Jiazhao, and the two turned and walked towards the main building of the factory.

The factory's main building is a three-story Soviet-style building with a gray exterior and square windows.

As Cheng Xuemin walked to the small square in front of the building, he heard a loud, bell-like voice coming from an open window on the third floor:

"Xuemin! You've finally decided to come back, kid! Get your ass up here right now!"

It was the voice of the former factory director, Wang Yang!

The voice was full of energy, carrying undisguised joy and urgency, penetrating the slightly noisy sounds of the factory area in the morning and clearly spreading throughout half of the factory area!
That shout had an immediate effect!
Originally, only some employees near the East Depot heard the commotion, but now it's widespread, affecting the main building, all around it, various film studios, editing rooms, dubbing studios, administrative offices...

From behind every window and through every doorway where the sound could be heard, even more heads popped out instantly.

People asked each other questions, looked around, and all eyes were focused on Cheng Xuemin, who was walking towards the main building entrance.

"It's the old factory director!"

"The old factory director is calling for Cheng Xuemin!"

"Cheng Xuemin is back?! When did he come back from France?"

"Did you hear that? The old factory director looks so happy, did he win an award?!"

"I think they probably won an award, otherwise the old factory director wouldn't have shouted like that so early in the morning!"

……

The discussion quickly spread, becoming even more heated than it had been in front of the building assignments!
Countless gazes fell on Cheng Xuemin's back, some with admiration, some with curiosity, some with envy, and some with simple excitement.

"Good morning, old factory manager! I'm coming right now!"

Cheng Xuemin quickly responded loudly and walked over in a few quick steps!
The door to the factory manager's office on the third floor was ajar. Cheng Xuemin raised his hand, knocked on the door, and then pushed it open and went inside!

He then greeted, "Old Factory Director!"

The old factory director, Wang Yang, strode over from the window. Instead of returning to his desk, he walked directly to Cheng Xuemin, looked him up and down, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, revealing undisguised appreciation and joy.

He reached out his large hand and patted Cheng Xuemin's shoulder heavily, so hard that Cheng Xuemin swayed slightly.

"Good job, lad!"

Wang Yang's voice was not loud, but it was firm and resolute as he said:

"I received the news of the Palme d'Or a few days ago! However, Director Liao instructed that it not be made public yet, so no one else in the factory knows that our film has won the biggest award at the international film festival except me!"

He patted Cheng Xuemin on the shoulder three times, each pat heavy.

"Sit down, sit down and let's talk!" Old factory director Wang Yang walked to the sofa in the reception area and sat down first, pointing to the single sofa opposite him.

Cheng Xuemin sat down as instructed, maintaining proper posture.
The smile on the face of the former factory director, Wang Yang, faded slightly.

Leaning slightly forward, his fingers tapping lightly on the sofa armrest, he looked intently at Cheng Xuemin and said:

"Xuemin, the award is a joyous occasion, a great thing! The ministry and the leaders above are very happy and attach great importance to it!"
This is a major achievement of our cultural front's reform and opening-up policy and its "going global" strategy! It is of extraordinary significance!

He paused, then changed the subject, his voice lower and more serious as he exclaimed, "But Xuemin, let's talk behind closed doors. You really dared to go to Cannes this time!"

"That's a whopping four hundred million, and it's a bet in US dollars!"

“At that time, Consul Li from the consulate sent a telegram back. Xuemin, do you know how we reacted?”

"I was almost scared to death!"

Meeting the old factory director's intense gaze, Cheng Xuemin nodded and said frankly, "Yes, old factory director!"

"Looking back now, it was indeed somewhat...risky. But the situation was pressing, and opportunities were fleeting. The Japanese were initially arrogant and their conditions were harsh. However..."

He abruptly changed the subject, a hint of sharpness creeping into his voice, "We have our confidence, we have our work. The Palme d'Or proves the value of that confidence. Fortunately, we won!"

"We won!" The old factory director slammed his hand on the sofa armrest with a loud thud, leaning forward with a mixture of lingering fear, relief, and barely suppressed excitement on his face.
"But you little brat, do you even know how big of a risk this is?! Four hundred million US dollars! My God..."

"Xuemin, I'm not blaming you. You did a great job, you did a fantastic job!"

“But ever since I received the telegram, I’ve never felt at ease! Every time I close my eyes, I see you slamming your fist on the table with the Japanese, betting on astronomical sums!”

He released his grip on the armrest, his fingers unconsciously tapping rapidly on his knees, revealing his inner turmoil.

"Old factory director, I'm sorry to have worried you and the department leaders!" Cheng Xuemin said sincerely. "This is something I insisted on doing."

"I considered the risks at the time, but I valued the opportunity even more. I felt it was worth the gamble to leverage the cultural influence of a film to generate a substantial $400 million in foreign exchange and break through the blockade and disdain imposed by the West and Japan in certain areas."

"It's proven!" He straightened his back slightly. "We won. The Palme d'Or is the best endorsement and the best bargaining chip."

"Yes! We won!" Wang Yang let out a heavy sigh, as if he wanted to expel all the pent-up frustration and worry that had been building up in his chest these past few days.

He then sat back down on the sofa, picked up the now-cold tea from the table, gulped down a large mouthful, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and his eyes sharpened again, filled with inquiry, as he said:

"So, what happened when Liao Gong urgently took you to the lake last night?"

"What exactly is the attitude from above? What specific instructions have been given to you and regarding this matter?"

This is the core of today's conversation, and it's also the issue that former factory director Wang Yang is most concerned about.

The Palme d'Or is an honor, a halo!
But the earth-shattering agreement involving $400 million in foreign exchange is the key to real interests, international relations, and higher-level strategic planning.

How should we view Cheng Xuemin's risky move of acting first and informing later?

Is it certain?
Is it criticism?
Or should merits and demerits cancel each other out?

What should we do next?
Since learning from Feng Jiazhao last night that Cheng Xuemin was rushed to Haizili as soon as he got off the plane, the old factory director Wang Yang barely slept all night!
……

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