Literary Master 1983

Chapter 341 Zhang Li Wants to Study

The entire crew was in a frenzy trying to produce these four episodes.

Television filming at that time required videotapes, and in order to save costs, the filming did not strictly follow the plot development.

So, they would take a few shots here and a few shots there.

When it came time to put together the first four episodes, they had to take bits and pieces from the videotapes scattered all over the floor, piecing them together to create a complete story.

The director of CCTV's drama center, the assistant director of the drama series, and the editor worked tirelessly in the editing room, making rough cuts, then fine cuts, then copying the footage, and after that, there was still recording, sound channels, dubbing...

You're asking about Wang Fulin?

Wang Fulin deserted.

He was too nervous, afraid that the TV series would be rejected. After the farewell dinner, Wang Fulin went south to relax.

On the day of the screening, Yu Qie discovered that Wang Fulin himself had not come.

What happened? Brother Lao?
Today is a great day for you, everyone. The reason we are gathered here today is...

"Where are the others?" Yu Qie asked.

"Director Wang went to Anhui Province to relax. He's uncertain and doesn't dare to face the situation. If we're rejected... he might have to retire."

He actually escaped the task of opening a bottle of Moutai and settling accounts with the company?

I cannot understand.

Ruan Ruolin, director of the CCTV Television Center, told Yu Qie: "Teacher Yu, actually our TV series has never been well-regarded... If it weren't for the investment you brought in and the support of some consultants, it would probably have failed long ago."

It turns out that during the preparation of the TV series "Dream of the Red Chamber", Beijing Film Studio also launched a film version. The director was Xie Tieli, a director who, along with Xie Jin, was known as one of the "Two Xies".

This film version not only has a larger investment scale, but Director Xie's qualifications are also far superior to Wang Fulin's, making Wang Fulin so ashamed that he wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground.

That wasn't the end of it. Writer Cheng Huangmei visited CCTV twice, meeting with the station director and demanding the cancellation of the TV series. "Dream of the Red Chamber is a great work; not a single punctuation mark can be changed!"

Cheng Huangmei is the head of the film department, the vice-goat of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and also Yu Qie's colleague at the School of Literature.

"How come I didn't know about this?" Yu Qie asked, puzzled.

Cheng Huangmei was the deputy editor-in-chief of the "Literary Gazette," and I had met him many times. Our relationship was at least respectful and courteous, if not harmonious. Why would he attack me?
Doesn't he know I'm vengeful?

You may be highly experienced and senior now, but you'll still have to leave eventually. What will you do when it's my turn to take the lead?

Ruan Ruolin said, "That was many years ago. You were still repeating a grade back then."

At this point, Ruan Ruolin chuckled to himself: "Vice Chairman Cheng did criticize us, but with Mr. Shen Congwen here, and with you too, we've managed to withstand the pressure, so he hasn't said much."

"In response to criticism from some writers, we invited many other writers to support us. Teacher Wan Jiabao, Teacher Zhou... there were too many to list."

Oh, I'm relieved.

I can't afford to trip someone up just because they don't know about it and want to offend them.

After that, the TV series began to be reviewed. This was a small, dark room at CCTV specifically used for reviewing films. When Yu Qie and the others arrived, the room was already packed with people, mostly retired cadres who had come after hearing the news.

Among them were many big shots whom Yu Qie also knew.

Interestingly, Cheng Huangmei was also there. Brother Huangmei was quite surprised to see Yu Qie come in person. He nodded, then stared intently at the TV series with a serious expression.

He was ready to find fault.

Yu Qie deliberately sat down next to Cheng Huangmei. Seeing this, the others sensed there was going to be some excitement and quickly moved a little further away.

Among Chinese writers, some enjoy studying ancient scripts, while others prefer film and television. Cheng Huangmei belongs to the latter group; he produced a large number of film reviews. Anyone who says there were no professional film critics in China during this period clearly doesn't understand the situation.

During this period, writers were kings, and they ran rampant in the literary and artistic circles.

But Cheng Huangmei is not only a film critic, he is also a judge, which is terrifying.

Cheng Huangmei asked bluntly, "You also acted in 'Dream of the Red Chamber'?"

"I made a cameo appearance."

"Then what are you..."

“My wife, Zhang Li, has been playing Xue Baochai for several years. I came to see the sample footage. She’s been eagerly waiting at home.”

Will Yu Qie charge forward for love?

In the movie "East Wind Prevails West Wind", Yu Qie gave Zhang Li a gold-inlaid jade pendant, which is considered a beautiful story and is known throughout the country.

Cheng Huangmei laughed and said, "I know. Even when writing film reviews, I would never target the actors! The fault can only lie with the director and screenwriter, and at most with the consultants."

“It’s fine to criticize the consultant, I can handle it. But try not to criticize Mr. Shen, you know his personality, he’ll overthink it.”

Those nearby couldn't help but laugh when they heard what they said.

Upon hearing this, Yu Qie shamelessly declared, "I am speaking entirely from a fair perspective."

The TV series officially began airing. This was a sample episode, and the technical staff had specifically explained the situation. During the playback, the entire room was completely silent; everyone watched intently, and after the first episode finished, no one moved.

Assistant director Sun Guizhen was still very nervous, craning her neck to see Yu Qie's expression.

Yu Qie gestured for her to calm down.

Then came the second episode, with a one- or two-minute break in between for changing the tapes. If anyone was dissatisfied, they could voice their concerns directly.

There is no information about the situation on site.

Yu Qie stared intently at Cheng Huangmei, a leading figure in the anti-Dream of the Red Chamber movement, to see if he would say anything, but Cheng Huangmei remained silent.

After the second season ended, no one moved, and no one even went to the toilet.

That was the third episode, the fourth episode… They played all the sample episodes for the entire morning. The lights came on in the room, and just then, Yu Qie heard Cheng Huangmei ask, “Hey, what’s going on? What about the rest?”

They haven't seen enough!

The assistant director immediately knew it was a success! Without even going on stage, he loudly announced, "We've only edited four episodes. If you gentlemen want to see more, you'll have to wait until the film passes the review."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone burst into applause. Cheng Huangmei said, "I haven't seen Yu Qie yet, where is he?"

Yu Qie said, "I had a cameo role in it. I played an emperor, but I didn't even say two words."

"What a pity, what a pity!" Cheng Huangmei slapped his thigh and looked Yu Qie up and down. "To be honest, my biggest dissatisfaction is with Jia Baoyu. At the time, I felt that no one in China could play Jia Baoyu."

"But I think you're quite suitable."

“Me? Jia Baoyu?” Yu Qie pointed to himself.

You must be stunned by what you're seeing.

I'm more than half a head taller than Daiyu and Baochai, and I've built up a muscular physique, but you've made me Jia Baoyu?

Cheng Huangmei shook his head: "It's not you now, it's the official photo taken when you first entered university, on the front lines of Laoshan. You were so young back then, and you look almost exactly the same size as Gong Xue."

"That's right, it's a pity I took the wrong path. I accidentally got into Yenching University, and then I accidentally became a writer. I regret it very much."

The entire audience burst into laughter, and the screening of "Dream of the Red Chamber" was successfully completed.
-
Gulou Street.

Yu Qie returned and recounted the events of the film screening meeting, which made Zhang Li and Chen Xiaoxu's eyes light up.

Hearing that Yu Qie had specifically sat next to Cheng Huangmei, the two of them gritted their teeth, very worried.

Upon hearing that Yu Qie was described as someone who could play Jia Baoyu, Zhang Li said, "I've thought so for a long time. It's a pity that being an actor is such a waste of time, and you're not even guaranteed to be successful."

Chen Xiaoxu chimed in, "After the TV series airs, people definitely won't criticize the director and screenwriter, but rather us!"

Indeed, their status was relative. When the show first aired, many viewers called to express their dissatisfaction: Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai weren't portrayed like that!
Instead, they praised the costumes, makeup, and props.

The film version of Jia Baoyu was played by a female actress, who far surpassed Ouyang Fenqiang; Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai were played by two great beauties, Tao Huimin and Fu Yiwei; even Wang Xifeng was played by the award-winning actress Liu Xiaoqing, so the cast was much stronger.

However, the movie flopped, and the actors were all involved in explosive off-screen news! This directly led to a positive turn in the reputation of the TV series.

Later, with each remake, the quality declined, and the TV series became legendary.

The things they had been working on for years were now over. Zhang Li and Chen Xiaoxu both felt empty inside. Yu Qie accompanied them to explore the sights around Beijing and even bought several bicycles, which they rode around Beihai Park.

That was what happened during the day; at night, it was about fulfilling Aunt Yu's instructions. Clang, clang, rumble, rumble.

—This bed seems to be falling apart.

Zhang Li pushed Yu Qie away: "We can't let this bed, which has been used since the Ming Dynasty, be ruined just because of us these past few days, can we?"

"It's alright, there are plenty of beds made of huanghuali wood."

"We can't waste it like that!"

Zhang Li couldn't accept it at all; a perfectly good thing had been ruined like this.

Chen Xiaoxu was different; she felt that as long as she was happy at the moment, she didn't need to care about anything else.

Enjoying life while you can is the best approach.

“When Deng Jie was making money by performing at various venues, she invited the two of us to join her. I would spend some of what I earned, otherwise I wouldn’t be happy; Deng Jie was different, she saved all her money as if it had never existed.”

Does Deng Jie have a boyfriend?

"I've never heard of that... Wait, why are you asking?"

Chen Xiaoxu was particularly vigilant.

It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.

I was just asking if Deng Jie and Zhang Guoli are together right now. If they are together, it means Zhang Guoli has returned from Antarctica.

If they're not together, then Old Zhang is still in Antarctica.

At that time, every member of the scientific expedition team had a copy of "Lurking," and Zhang Guoli may have also read Yu Qie's book.

Zhang Guoli later achieved great success in his career. Many years later, when the cast of "Dream of the Red Chamber" reunited, Zhang Guoli, who had no connection with the series, sat in the center of the group.

You have already chosen your path to death; this position is mine.

"Deng Jie is your friend. I've seen you two in frequent contact. She's not young either; she's much older than me. I'm just curious."

"I don't think so. Deng Jie has had a tough time. She lost her father when she was young and she works very hard at everything she does. If there were a man who treats her wholeheartedly, she would definitely agree to anything."

That is!

Otherwise, how could she have signed a "no-child" agreement with Zhang Guoli, who was in his second marriage?

Another annoying thing happened after the New Year.

Zhang Li had heard somewhere that eating spicy food could help you have a son, so she put a lot of chili peppers in her stir-fries. Chen Xiaoxu went along with her, not saying a word.

But Chen Xiaoxu was a girl from Northeast China, and she couldn't hold back after just a couple of bites. She stuck out her tongue and kept drinking water.

It's one thing if it happens once or twice, but Zhang Li does it frequently and even treats herself to extra meals.

Yu Qie couldn't take it anymore: "Why put so many chilies in this dish? Can't you all taste it?"

“I’ve heard that spicy food makes girls and sour food makes girls,” Zhang Li said.

"I've heard that sour foods mean a boy and spicy foods mean a girl. You've got it backwards, haven't you? Chen Xiaoxu, what do you think?"

Chen Xiaoxu nodded frantically.

Zhang Li was shocked and frantically inquired around. She realized she had indeed misunderstood the situation and quickly crossed out the prepared recipe, replacing it with a large amount of sweet and sour dishes.

Then she realized that Chen Xiaoxu had also eaten it.

What if things turn out badly?
Other things can be "unruly," but this... how can that be? For a moment, the relationship between the two was even a little awkward. Chen Xiaoxu only ate rice and didn't eat any vegetables. When Zhang Li got up, she felt ashamed and pulled Chen Xiaoxu to apologize.

Ultimately, it's all Yu Qie's fault.

Yu Qie took on all the responsibilities, cooking for a whole week straight, which spoiled the two of them with their tastes.

To make twice-cooked pork, you first need to boil the pork until it's 80% cooked, then slice it, stir-fry it to render out the excess oil, add fermented bean paste and stir-fry until the oil turns red, then add the pork slices and stir-fry, and finally sprinkle with scallions and garlic.

The aroma was irresistible when it was served; it made my mouth water.

Next up is the classic Northeastern dish, "Di San Xian" (Three Treasures of the Earth). Later versions of "Di San Xian" were vegetarian, but this time they featured wild game. The game was blanched, then stewed, covered, and simmered for a short while, resulting in a dish with a glossy color and rich flavor.

"This is called the Maillard reaction. To put it simply, it's a chemical reaction that produces that caramelized aroma. Too high a temperature won't work, and too low a temperature won't work either. Let me teach you."

"From now on, you can cook for yourselves."

Yu Qie was quite pleased with himself.

If you let your two apprentices do their thing again, they won't be able to handle it.

The cooking skills were already lacking, and then they made things even worse, so naturally it didn't taste good.

Yu said, "You two are both educated people; don't believe in folk remedies."

"Children are all brought together by fate. Have you read Lin Huiyin's poem 'You Are the April of This World'? It's not a love poem; it's about children, who are as changeable as the April sky."

Chen Xiaoxu didn't think much of what he said, but Zhang Li felt very uncomfortable after hearing it.

Zhang Li had always wanted to study. She joined a performing arts troupe when she was around ten years old, and although she studied diligently afterward, she remained outside the university education system. Her husband, on the other hand, was a master's student at Yenching University—almost a doctoral candidate.

After much thought, she decided that she could go to school in two years.

I wholeheartedly agree with this.

Lin Yifu's wife raised their two children and continued her studies all the way up to her doctorate, without any delay.

American PhDs are indeed impressive; their quality is consistently high.

As long as you don't study engineering and push yourself too hard, there will be absolutely no problem.

In order to learn from Zhang Li, Yu Qie arranged to meet with Lin Yifu. Upon hearing this, Lin Yifu said, "I can introduce her to study at the University of Chicago."

Does the University of Chicago recognize degrees earned by Chinese performing arts troupes?

“This is all possible. Yu Qie, this is all negotiable. Actually, it would be a waste for you to pursue a PhD at Yenching University. Schultz said you could easily get an honorary doctorate.”

“I’m not Hu Shih. I need to actually get a doctorate before I can accept those honorary doctorates.”

"So, the University of Edinburgh, Pennsylvania? My lover's school."

"It's too far, that doesn't make sense. It would be best to stay at home and read a book at the same time."

Lin Yifu finally understood.

This is to give my wife something to do, so she won't have to think about this and that all the time.

“There are many schools in Beijing she can attend, but she has to take the entrance exams herself.”

"No problem, Zhang Li is really smart. She definitely knows what to do."

Yu Qie gave Lin Yifu and Schultz a very special gift: two bronze bottle caps with the Sanxingdui "sun" symbol printed on them, and the English book "Metro".

This is the collector's edition of Metro, from Harper's high-end library, with a limited edition of 10,000 copies, priced at $60 to $80 per book, with different prices for different batches.

In April, the Cervantes Prize, the highest literary award in the Spanish-speaking world, will be announced. Since there were no outstanding works last year that could rival "2666", Yu Qie has a high chance of winning the prize.

This would be the highest award Yu Qie has ever received, as it involves hundreds of millions of Spanish and Portuguese speakers worldwide. Historically, the winner's book has "sold like sausages and appeared on the streets."

Liu Xiangcheng, the journalist who followed Yu Qie, is also a Pulitzer Prize favorite for his photo "The Handshake of the Century," which will be awarded in April.

This means that the book Yu Qie gave away was very expensive.

"This book is very expensive, literally. These two bottle caps have been hyped up to exorbitant prices, like Chinese stamps."

Schultz was delighted to receive Yuche's gift and examined the two special bottle caps inside and out.

Yu Qie is the creator of this popular culture; those abstract economic principles have directly become existing phenomena in Yu Qie's work.

Lin Yifu remarked, "When we talk about why money has no value in the future, we'll talk about its bottle cap. It can be worthless, or it can be snapped up; the key is that people believe it has value."

"Yes, that's his skill."

(End of this chapter)