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

Just as the Yanjing Film Studio playground was bustling with noise and the Feng family in the courtyard were celebrating,

Thousands of miles away in northern Shaanxi, the Loess Plateau sinks into a vast silence as dusk falls!

But in Chengjiawan, a small village built against the mountain, there was a brightly lit and noisy place that contrasted sharply with the silence of the surrounding countryside!
That's Cheng Xuemin's house at the east end of the village!
The newly built cave dwellings with three holes and a spacious courtyard are among the bright and spacious courtyards in Chengjiawan!
And at this moment, this courtyard has become the focus of the entire village!
It wasn't just the new kiln, but also the brand-new 14-inch Kaige brand black and white television set inside the kiln.

This is unique in the entire commune!
Since the television was brought back, Cheng Xuemin's house has become the cultural center of Chengjiawan and even several nearby villages.

Every evening, neighbors and villagers from all around would stroll over to Cheng Xuemin's courtyard after dinner!
Cheng Xuemin's parents are extremely hospitable and love lively atmospheres.

My son has made something of himself. He's a prominent intellectual and a high-ranking leader in Yenching, a pioneer of reform and opening up, and a pioneer in foreign exchange earnings, bringing great prestige to our family.

The elderly couple's pride is reflected in their warm welcome to guests.

The courtyard was furnished with long benches, small stools, and even a few flat stones. An electric wire was strung up at the entrance of the cave dwelling, with a 40-watt light bulb hanging from it, illuminating the courtyard brightly.

The television was placed on a square table directly in front of the cave dwelling, with the screen facing the courtyard.

As more people arrived, there wasn't enough room inside, so they crowded into the courtyard, a sea of ​​heads, all tilted back, staring at the small, snow-flickering glass screen.

Tonight will be no exception!

Before it was completely dark, people started arriving at the courtyard one after another!

Cheng Xuemin's father, with a pipe in his mouth, squatted on the threshold, squinting at the increasingly full yard. The wrinkles on his face smoothed out, revealing the simple and contented smile of a farmer.

Cheng Xuemin's mother was busy running around, carrying a large iron kettle and pouring water for the villagers one by one. There weren't enough rough porcelain bowls, so some of the young men used their own enamel mugs to collect the water.

The air was filled with the smells of tobacco, sweat, and loess, as well as the aroma of roasted peanuts, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

"Uncle, what's on today's show?" Old Man Shuan, who lives on the hillside and keeps his dog, asked in a loud voice. He has poor eyesight and always likes to sit in the front.

"The evening news, followed by... international news? No, today isn't Monday, it's Tuesday, they'll be showing movies then!"

Cheng Xuemin's father tapped his pipe and said slowly.

"Good news from the news broadcast! Let's see what new policies the country has!" said the brigade accountant, a tall, thin man wearing glasses. He was one of the few people who could fully understand the news.

"I heard Xue Min went abroad again recently? And to that... France again?"

The brigade secretary, Cheng Xuemin's uncle, who was squatting next to Cheng Xuemin's father, took a puff of his homemade cigarette, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, and casually asked.

He was the village's former Party Secretary, and his information network was better than others'; he had vaguely heard some things about it!
When his son was mentioned, Cheng Xuemin's father straightened his back unconsciously and his smile deepened.

Before she could even speak, Cheng Xuemin's mother, who was inside handing out peanuts to the children, had sharp ears. Hearing the question, she immediately lifted the curtain and peeked out, loudly replying, "That's right!"

"You know about him too, sir? He's going to France! That place called... what's it called, Na!"

"Attend that film festival! They say all the filmmakers in the world go there to compete!"

Cheng Xuemin's mother's face shone with pride, her tone filled with undisguised arrogance, as if her son hadn't gone to a film festival, but rather to take the imperial examination and become a scholar!
"Oh! France? That's a really far place! It must take a whole day and night to get there by plane!" An old woman sewing shoe soles next to her stopped her needlework and asked in surprise.

"Of course! Jiayou went too! She called to tell me a while ago!" Cheng Xuemin's mother became even more enthusiastic.

He simply moved a small stool to the doorway, joined the conversation, and continued, "They say they're going to broaden their horizons! Foreigners are watching movies made in China!"

A buzz of discussion immediately filled the courtyard.

Going abroad is an extremely rare and extraordinary event for these farmers who toil in the fields.

Going to France with his wife, this Cheng family lad has really made something of himself!

"So... what was the result? Did you win an award? Did you win the grand prize?" a young man asked eagerly.

He often heard Cheng Xuemin's father say that Xuemin made movies to win awards, bring glory to the country, and earn foreign exchange in US dollars!

This question stumped Cheng Xuemin's mother!
The light on her face faltered, and her voice lowered, carrying a hint of uncertainty and anticipation: "Well... they haven't called from Yanjing yet!"

"Um and him, we've been waiting for news these past few days!"

Cheng Xuemin's father paused for a moment as he tapped his pipe, a barely perceptible hint of urgency flashing in his cloudy but clear eyes.

But he quickly masked it with more tobacco smoke!
He's the head of the household; no matter how much he worries, he has to keep a straight face!

"Xuemin is very capable, he'll definitely succeed!" The brigade secretary's uncle chuckled, reassuring him. "Even if he doesn't win an award, just going to that place and seeing such a grand scene will bring honor to our country and our Chengjiawan!"

"That's it!"

"Xuemin is a man destined for great things!"

The villagers echoed his sentiments, but their tone carried a hint of uncertainty.

After all, it's a foreign country, foreign territory, foreign awards, who knows how easy it is to win?
"It's almost 7:30, the evening news is about to start!" someone shouted.

Everyone's attention was immediately drawn back to the television!

The static on the screen flickered, and the familiar opening theme music of "Xinwen Lianbo" (the evening news program on CCTV) began to play, solemn and dignified.

The courtyard became much quieter instantly, with only faint coughs and children's murmurs.

Cheng Xuemin's mother also stopped talking, straightened her clothes, sat up straight, and stared intently at the screen.

Cheng Xuemin's father was still squatting on the doorstep, but he no longer smoked his pipe; he just held it in his hand and squinted at it.

"...The following is a news report that our station has just received!"

The male announcer's voice came through the television speakers, sounding exceptionally clear and loud in the quiet courtyard.

Screen change!

The azure sea, swaying palm trees, long red carpet, and countless flashing lights dazzled the eyes.

Then, the camera freezes!
A golden palm leaf-shaped trophy gleams brilliantly under the dazzling lights!

Inside the cave dwelling and in the courtyard, everyone instinctively held their breath.

Although they couldn't understand the foreign language subtitles, the exotic scenery, the grand occasion, and the glittering trophy all visually captivated them!
"...At the recently concluded 33rd Cannes International Film Festival, the film 'Redemption,' directed by Cheng Xuemin, a pioneer of reform and opening up and a pioneer in foreign exchange earnings, and co-produced by Yanjing Film Studio and Oriental Film Studio, stood out from numerous competing films and won the festival's highest award: the Palme d'Or!"

This is the first time a Chinese film, and indeed an Asian film, has received this top honor in the world of cinema, achieving a historic breakthrough!

The announcer spoke clearly and distinctly, each word like a hammer blow striking the eardrums and hearts of everyone in the courtyard.

The name Cheng Xuemin was clearly and accurately written!
Palme d'Or!

I don't know what kind of award this is!
But the highest award!
First time winning!

A historic breakthrough!
At the entrance of the cave dwelling, the handful of peanuts that Cheng Xuemin's mother was holding, which she was about to hand to the child next to her, fell to the ground with a thud, rolled a few times, and got covered in yellow dust. She froze there, her eyes wide open, her mouth slightly agape, as if someone had suddenly grabbed her by the neck, unable to make a sound, only her chest heaving violently.

She stared intently at the television screen, where movie clips and award presentations were flashing by rapidly.

On the threshold, Cheng Xuemin's father suddenly jerked his pipe down, almost dropping it.

He suddenly stood up, his movements so abrupt that his vision went black for a moment and he swayed. The brigade secretary next to him quickly helped him up.

Cheng Xuemin's father waved his hand, broke free, and straightened his hunched back at that moment. He staggered forward two steps and squeezed to the front of the crowd, almost pressing his face against the TV screen.

He stared intently at the screen, his ears perked up, afraid of missing a single word.

His cloudy eyes first showed blankness, as if he couldn't believe it, then extreme shock, which made his face tremble.

The courtyard was deathly silent for about two or three seconds.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden and shocking news.

They watched the TV, then glanced at Cheng Xuemin's mother, who stood stiffly at the entrance of the cave dwelling, and then at Cheng Xuemin's father, who had squeezed in front of the TV with his back to them and his shoulders trembling slightly.

Then, it was as if someone had dripped a drop of water into a pot of boiling oil!

With a loud bang!
The whole courtyard erupted in chaos!

"My goodness! It's Xuemin! It's Brother Xuemin!"

"It's the Gold Award! The highest award!"

"News Broadcast! CCTV News! They're broadcasting Xuemin again!"

"China's first time! Asia's first time! It was Xuemin who won!"

"Oh my god! Am I dreaming? Pinch me!"

"It's true! It was on TV! It was on CCTV news, how could it be false?!"

Exclamations, gasps of surprise, and cries of disbelief instantly drowned out the subsequent broadcast on television.

Everyone stood up, jostling, standing on tiptoe, craning their necks, trying to see and hear every image and every word on the television.

The children were caught up in the adults' excitement, and even though they didn't quite understand, they joined in shouting and jumping!

The brigade secretary was also dumbfounded. He had just comforted the team by saying that even if they didn't win an award, they would still look good.

But in the blink of an eye, the prize was won back!

It's still the highest award, a historic breakthrough!
He slapped his thigh suddenly, his voice trembling with excitement: "Incredible! Incredible! Yuben Guiqin! Did you hear that?"

"Scholar Wu won a world-class award! He's on CCTV news! My goodness!"

Cheng Xuemin's mother finally recovered from that huge shock!

Unlike the others who shouted, she didn't rush to watch TV. Instead, she slowly turned around, her back to the TV, facing the excited crowd in the yard.

Her face was expressionless, only her lips were trembling uncontrollably, and her eyes quickly turned red.

But she didn't cry out. She just stood there, her hands, calloused and cracked from years of hard work, gripping her clothes tightly, her knuckles white!

These are not tears of sorrow, but tears of extreme ecstasy, pride at its peak, emotions overflowing beyond measure, an excitement that can only be released through tears!
Cheng Xuemin's father also turned around.

He didn't cry, but the muscles in his face were taut, his lips were pressed into a line, and his eyes, which had witnessed fifty years of wind, frost, rain, and snow on the Loess Plateau, were frighteningly bright at that moment.

Shock, ecstasy, and pride surged within!
"Why are you crying!" Cheng Xuemin's father spoke, his voice hoarse but unusually steady, carrying the strength of a head of the family, a pillar of strength. "It's a good thing that our son is doing well; we should be happy!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xuemin's mother nodded vigorously, trying to smile, but as soon as she opened her mouth, tears streamed down her face even more fiercely. She hurriedly raised her sleeve to wipe them away, but no matter how she wiped, she couldn't dry them.

At this moment, the announcer's voice on the television rose again, filled with inspiring power:
"...While achieving great artistic success, the international distribution of the film 'Redemption' also achieved a historic breakthrough."

"The film's overseas distribution rights have been enthusiastically received by the international film market, and agreements have been reached with several major North American distribution companies. It is expected to generate more than US$50 million in foreign exchange earnings for my country. This is a new record for foreign exchange earnings for a single Chinese film..."

"Fifty million US dollars?!"

This time, even the villagers who were initially somewhat bewildered were completely stunned by this number.

They may not fully appreciate the artistic significance of awards like the Gold Medal!
But they have the most intuitive understanding of money, especially the US dollar!
Fifty million!
It's still the US dollar!

How much would that cost?

How much grain can we buy?

How many new kilns can be built?

How many roads can be repaired and how many television sets can be purchased?
The entire courtyard was once again engulfed by an even more intense wave of sound!
"Fifty million! US dollars!"

"Scholar Ming made a movie that earned the country fifty million US dollars!"

"My God! That's a huge sum of money!"

"Yuben Guiqin! You've raised a golden baby! No, a golden nugget! No, a mountain of gold!"

"A real dragon has truly emerged from our Chengjiawan!"

Exclamations and gasps rose and fell!

The way everyone looked at Cheng Xuemin's parents completely changed!

If before it was envy of the Cheng family's son for being successful and becoming a high-ranking official in Yanjing, now, his eyes are filled with awe and reverence!
Appearing on the national news and winning a world-class award is already impressive enough, but to earn the country fifty million US dollars is even more astonishing!
This is beyond simply being successful; it's practically reaching the heavens!
He is the reincarnation of the God of Literature and the God of Wealth!

The news report about Cheng Xuemin ended, and the camera switched back to the broadcast booth to start the next news item.

But none of the people in the courtyard paid attention to what happened next.

Everyone was still immersed in the immense shock and excitement brought about by those brief one or two minutes.

The crowd surged forward, surrounding Cheng Xuemin's father and mother.

A cacophony of questions and congratulations flooded in like a tidal wave.

……

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