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

Cheng Xuemin's expression turned serious, and he was about to speak to report his initial thoughts and preparations!
Suddenly, the office door was pushed open with a loud bang!
The force with which the door was pushed this time was greater than the combined force of Liang Xiaosheng's two previous attempts. The door slammed against the wall with a dull thud, and the entire door frame seemed to vibrate!
A tall, slightly overweight figure with graying hair but an extremely vigorous spirit swept in like a gust of wind.

The man was about fifty years old, with a round face and a pair of black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. His eyes behind the lenses were wide open, flashing with excitement, urgency, and disbelief. He was breathing rapidly and his forehead was covered in sweat, clearly indicating that he had run all the way here!
It's Xie Jin who's here!
Xie Jin completely lost his usual composure and demeanor as a great director!

As he entered the room, his gaze swept across the room quickly before settling on Cheng Xuemin on the sofa.

He didn't even have time to greet the old factory director behind the desk before striding up to Cheng Xuemin.

Then, he stretched out two large hands and grabbed Cheng Xuemin's arms without saying a word. The force was so great that Cheng Xuemin's arms hurt a little!

"Xuemin! Xuemin! It really is you back! I just heard you were back at the shed, and you even brought... brought..."

Xie Jin's voice was loud and clear, trembling slightly with excitement!
He looked Cheng Xuemin up and down carefully, as if trying to confirm if the person in front of him was real. "Are they telling the truth?"

"You really...you really won...you won the top prize at Cannes? The Palme d'Or?"

He asked his questions urgently and quickly, his breathing was a little unsteady, and his eyes were fixed on Cheng Xuemin, afraid of missing any subtle change in his expression.

That eagerness, that anticipation, that almost overflowing excitement, surpassed even Liang Xiaosheng's.

If Liang Xiaosheng's passion was a kind of obsessive madness, then Xie Jin's excitement at this moment was a deeper and more profound emotion—witnessing history and the realization of dreams!
Cheng Xuemin felt somewhat helpless being caught by him, but he could understand the old director's feelings!

Xie Jin is someone who truly understands and loves film, and also has a deep understanding of the gap between Chinese and world cinema!
He was exposed to foreign films when he was young, and he has a clearer understanding and a deeper yearning for top international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice and Berlin than most people!

For him, the Palme d'Or is more than just an award!
It is also a symbol, a sign that Chinese films have truly gained recognition from the world's authorities!

A dream he may have longed for in his heart, yet felt was out of reach!

"Old Xie, don't rush, sit down and talk slowly!" Cheng Xuemin tried to calm Xie Jin down.

"How can I not be anxious?!" Xie Jin not only didn't let go, but gripped even tighter.

His voice rose an octave, and he practically spat in Cheng Xuemin's face as he spoke urgently:
"Tell me quickly! Is it true? Is it the Palme d'Or? Where's the trophy? Where's the trophy they're talking about?"

As he asked the question, his gaze swept across the office like a searchlight!
Immediately, his gaze fixed on the open, deep red velvet box on the old factory director's desk.

Inside the box, the golden, glittering object radiated an alluring and noble glow under the sunlight streaming through the window!

Xie Jin's voice abruptly stopped!

His grip on Cheng Xuemin's arm loosened involuntarily.

He was frozen in place, as if he had been frozen in place!
Only those wide-open eyes were fixed intently on the gold on the table, unblinking.

His breathing seemed to stop for a moment, his chest stopped rising and falling, and the excitement, urgency, and doubt on his face all froze!

Then it slowly transformed into extreme shock and an almost reverent gaze!
The air in the office seemed to freeze!
The old factory director didn't speak, but just silently watched Xie Jin.

Cheng Xuemin sat quietly, and he could hear Xie Jin's breathing gradually becoming heavier.

The stillness that lasted a few seconds felt like an eternity!

Then, Xie Jin made his move!
He suddenly shoved Cheng Xuemin away!
Yes, it's about swinging it away, and the movements are even a bit rough!
His entire attention, his very soul, seemed to be drawn to the trophy.

Cheng Xuemin was pushed so hard that he swayed on the sofa!
Xie Jin couldn't care less!

He rushed forward, almost lunging at the old factory director's desk, leaning forward, his hands braced on the edge of the desk, his eyes less than a foot away from the Palme d'Or trophy.

He bent over, head bowed, like a most devout believer gazing upon a sacred object, or like a most demanding appraiser scrutinizing a treasure!
"This...this is..." Xie Jin's voice was dry, trembling with disbelief.

He reached out, his fingers pausing in the air several times before finally, slowly and very gently, touching the golden palm leaf.

His fingertips traced the cool, smooth metal surface with such gentleness as if caressing a butterfly's wings, as if afraid that even the slightest bit of force would defile or damage this sacred object!
“The Palm of Gold…it really is the Palm of Gold…” Xie Jin murmured to himself. This time, his voice was very soft, but it contained a huge emotional wave.

His fingers followed the contours of the palm leaf, slowly moving to the crystal base and stroking the words engraved on it!
He could clearly feel the raised and recessed marks on his fingertips!

Suddenly, his shoulder trembled violently.

This tall, slightly overweight, and famous director, who was known for his absolute authority on set and even a somewhat fiery temper, suddenly had tears welling up in his eyes without warning.

A distinct layer of moisture quickly gathered and spread in his eyes behind his lenses!
"Old Factory Director... this... this really is what Xuemin brought back from Cannes? We really got our copy of 'Redemption'?"

Xie Jin didn't look up; his gaze remained fixed on the trophy, his voice choked with emotion and heavy with nasal tone.

He seemed to need to get the final, definitive confirmation from the old factory director to verify the scene before him that was too beautiful to be true, to the point of being unreal!

Looking at Xie Jin's appearance, the old factory director felt a mix of emotions.

He understands Xie Jin!
Xie Jin was about ten years younger than him, but he was also considered a pivotal generation in Chinese cinema!
Having experienced the films of the Republican era, the arts and literature of the early days of the People's Republic of China, and the upheavals, Chinese cinema has gone through arduous exploration and slow recovery.

Their generation has a deeper sense of distance from the international film stage and a stronger desire for it!

Today, this trophy, symbolizing the highest honor, is right in front of us, carried home by the young people in our own factory.

This kind of impact is something that outsiders can hardly comprehend!
"Old Xie, it's true!" The old factory director's voice softened, filled with certainty and emotion. "Absolutely true!"

"The Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d'Or, Best Film. All the awards and certificates are with Liu Xiaoli, there's no mistake!"

"This is the trophy, just brought back from France, it's still warm!"

Upon hearing the old factory director's affirmative answer, Xie Jin's tense shoulders suddenly slumped down, not out of relaxation, but out of exhaustion following a massive emotional release.

He took a long, deep breath!

Then, he made a move that surprised both the old factory director and Cheng Xuemin.

He stretched out his hands, not carefully lifting the trophy like the old factory director, but grabbing it from the velvet box with a somewhat reckless motion.

But once he grasped the trophy, his movements became incredibly gentle, as if he were holding a rare and fragile piece of porcelain. He hugged the trophy tightly to his chest—yes, hugged it, like a father embracing a child he had lost and found, like a traveler holding a token that proved he had reached the finish line!
He pressed the trophy tightly against his chest, lowered his head, and gently rested his forehead on the cool crystal base.

The eyes behind the lenses finally couldn't withstand the accumulated moisture, and two streams of hot tears rolled down without warning, running down his slightly round cheeks and into the corners of his mouth, without him even noticing.

"Great...great...we have the Palme d'Or...we have Chinese films too..."

Xie Jin's voice was choked with sobs, almost incoherent, and tears dripped onto the golden leaves of the trophy before sliding down.

His body trembled slightly with excitement, and he held the trophy tightly in his arms.

The old factory director felt a lump in his throat as he watched this scene.

It took Xie Jin quite a while to calm down.

He loosened his grip on the trophy, but still held it tightly in his hand. He raised his other hand and hastily wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve, completely disregarding his image.

He raised his head and looked at Cheng Xuemin, his eyes still red, but the light in them was surprisingly bright.

"Xuemin!" Xie Jin's voice was still a little hoarse, but it had returned to its usual loud and clear tone, even more powerful than before. "Well done! You're amazing!"

"You dragon, you soared to the heavens in a single flight! And brought this thing back with you!"

He shook the trophy in his hand vigorously, and the trophy reflected a dazzling light in the sunlight.

"The Palme d'Or! Something that so many filmmakers dream of touching and seeing! Today, thanks to you, Xie Jin, I not only saw it, but I also got to hold it! This life has been worth it!"

He walked up to Cheng Xuemin, but this time he didn't grab his arm. Instead, he reached out and patted Cheng Xuemin's shoulder hard, so hard that Cheng Xuemin's body slumped slightly.

"Kid, well done! You've not only brought glory to our Beijing Film Studio and to Chinese filmmakers, but you've also given our country a great boost on the world stage! A truly impressive achievement!"

Cheng Xuemin dared not take credit for it, and instead said modestly, "Old Xie, you flatter me!"

"Without your support and guidance, and without everyone's help, I wouldn't be where I am today. All my film studies knowledge was learned from you!"

"Therefore, this trophy belongs to all those who have contributed to Chinese cinema."

"Hey! You can't say that!" Xie Jin waved his hand, interrupting Cheng Xuemin's self-deprecation. He still held the trophy firmly in his other hand, as if it were his trophy. "What's meant to be yours will be yours! It's your talent, your courage, and your perseverance that brought it home!"

“No one can take this away from us! Don’t you agree, old factory director?” He turned to the old factory director and asked.

The old factory director smiled and nodded: "Yes, Lao Xie is right! Xuemin, you deserve the credit for this!"

Xie Jin was even happier to receive the old factory director's agreement.

He looked at the trophy in his arms with obvious affection, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

He then abruptly looked up, staring intently at Cheng Xuemin, and asked, "By the way, Xuemin, come on, tell me all about it! What exactly is going on in Cannes?"

"How did those foreigners on the jury evaluate our film? Was the awards ceremony a grand affair? What was the audience's reaction?"

"Also, did those foreign journalists give you any trouble? Did they ask any tricky questions?"

He bombarded him with a barrage of questions, his face filled with eagerness and curiosity!
Clearly, simply seeing the trophy wasn't enough to satisfy him!

He longed to know the process, the details, and how Chinese films and filmmakers made their debut, conquered, and won that respect and glory on that highest international stage!
Looking at the undisguised desire in Xie Jin's eyes, Cheng Xuemin knew that if he didn't satisfy the old director's curiosity today, he would probably have a hard time getting away!
He nodded and gave a wry smile, then gathered his thoughts again.

The narrative then begins with the opening of the Cannes Film Festival, recounting the premiere of "Redemption," the audience's reactions, the critics' reviews, and the internal debates within the jury...

Of course, the bet with the Japanese women was to be kept secret for the time being!

Xie Jin listened intently, holding the trophy, pacing slowly around the office, sometimes frowning in thought, sometimes smiling, and sometimes unable to resist interjecting to ask a question about the details.

When he heard Cheng Xuemin describe how the entire audience stood up and applauded for several minutes after the screening of "Redemption," he clenched his fist and shouted, "Bravo!"

The old factory director listened quietly from the side!

Although he already knew some of the details from Cheng Xuemin's previous reports!
But now, listening to Cheng Xuemin's story again, especially seeing Xie Jin's excited and engaged expression!

Even the old factory director couldn't help but be drawn back into the atmosphere of that distant country's film festival, his heart surging slightly!

Cheng Xuemin spoke for more than twenty minutes before he could roughly recount the main experiences and feelings of his trip to Cannes.

The atmosphere in the office became both calm and passionate because of his simple yet powerful narration.

"Good! Well said!"

Xie Jin's voice regained its loudness, even becoming more resonant than usual!
"Xuemin, this trip of yours has not only brought you back an award, but has also opened a window and pushed open a door for Chinese filmmakers!"

We've let the world see us and hear our voices! This is more meaningful than a Palme d'Or trophy!

He walked up to Cheng Xuemin and solemnly handed the trophy back to him.

Cheng Xuemin took it with both hands and put it back into the velvet box!

Xie Jin watched as the trophy was carefully put away, and then he breathed a long sigh of relief, as if he had completed an important ceremony.

He clapped his hands and said to the old factory director and Cheng Xuemin, "Alright, the weight on my heart has finally been lifted!"

"Seeing the trophy with my own eyes and hearing the process firsthand, this trip was definitely worthwhile!"

"Old factory director, you must have more important matters to discuss, so I won't disturb you any longer."

"Xuemin, you just got back, so get some rest. After the factory's celebration party is over, I'll have to treat you to a good drink! We'll drink until we drop and have a good chat about the movie!"

...(End of this chapter)