Exciting 1979!

Chapter 420 Female Celebrity Scandals
5月4号北大校庆刚刚过完，接着5月8号又是校图书馆建馆80周年庆祝会。

Wei Ming, a librarian, also participated and received praise from the librarian, Mr. Xie Daoyuan. Wei Ming felt quite embarrassed, as he was just popular but far from being conscientious in his duties. Fortunately, people didn't have high expectations of him.

The event had just ended when a young man named Ding Wu rashly approached Wei Ming.

After several days of dissemination, the song "Goodbye" has spread throughout major universities in Yanjing. Ding Wu, a recent graduate of the Yanjing Academy of Arts and Crafts, liked it very much after hearing it and came to find Wei Ming. This was not his first time here, but because Wei Ming takes so many days off, this was the first time they had met.

"Hello, Teacher Wei! I've finally met the real god!"

When this future lead singer of the Black Panther and Tang Dynasty bands, and one of the important founders of Chinese rock music met Wei Ming, he acted like a complete fan. He studied fine arts and was involved in rock music, so he should have been cool and arrogant, but he greeted Wei Ming with a smile and spoke cautiously.

“You want to sing ‘Goodbye’? If you want to, then sing it.” Wei Ming said indifferently when he heard that Ding Wu wanted to sing this song with his band.

"Teacher Wei, it's not just about singing; we might also record an album and perform. I've made up my mind. With two months left before graduation, we want to spread this song throughout universities across the country, not just Beijing University, but also Tianjin and Shanghai!"

At this time, recording and releasing songs didn't make much money; it was mostly about gaining some fame, which would make it easier to pick up girls and recruit people to form a team in the future. Moreover, Wei Ming was well aware of Ding Wu's abilities; he had listened to "Dreaming Back to the Tang Dynasty" countless times.

In addition, this song is more suitable for a band to sing, so a drum set is still very necessary. Therefore, Wei Ming agreed to let Ding Wu's Locust Band sing "Goodbye" as long as they don't claim to be the only original singer.

"Just give this song back to me when your band breaks up." Wei Ming knew that their band wouldn't last long, and they hadn't signed a contract, nor would they get paid if they had.

"Don't worry, we brothers won't fall apart. Thank you, Teacher Wei!" Ding Wu was overjoyed.

However, Wei Ming's promise of never breaking up with his rock band went in one ear and out the other, while Ding Wu organized and joined at least four bands before finally settling down with Tang Dynasty.

Next, Wei Ming listened to Ding Wu talk about the various forces in Beijing's rock music scene.

At this time, there is a band called "Wanlima Wang Band" at the Second Foreign Language School. It is composed of the surnames of the four founders and mainly covers the music of the Beatles and Bee Gees.

Last year, a group of people from the China Conservatory of Music formed the Aris Band, which mainly covers Japanese rock songs.

"Our Locust Band is the first band to want to do Chinese rock!" Ding Wu said proudly.

"Wow, that's amazing! Keep it up, I hope you can make a big splash out of nothing."

After seeing Ding Wu off, Wei Ming rode his motorcycle to the Forbidden City, bought a ticket to get inside, and then found the crew of "The Empress Dowager" filming in the inner palace.

Their production team called it "The Empress Dowager's Reign Behind the Curtain," and it was later edited into two movies. What they are filming now is actually "The Burning of the Yuanmingyuan."

At this time, the Anglo-French allied forces had not yet invaded, and Yehenara had just entered the palace, and was in the early stages of cultivating a relationship with Emperor Xianfeng.

When Wei Ming arrived at the film set, he was recognized by the staff of Beijing Film Studio and taken inside to observe; tourists are not allowed to enter.

Liu Xiaoqing's acting skills are beyond question, honed over many years. Liang Jiahui, although younger, has never played a major role, and his language is not compatible with mainland actors, resulting in a somewhat misunderstanding. However, he is still passable.

Wei Ming knew this guy's talent. His kung fu improved greatly in one film. By the second half of filming, specifically the part in "Reign Behind the Curtain," it was significantly better than "The Burning of the Yuanmingyuan." He successfully made himself the youngest Best Actor in the history of the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Li Hanxiang had noticed Wei Ming's arrival long ago, but he remained calm and didn't greet him until the scene was finished.

Wei Ming: "I just came to see if there's anything in the script that needs adjusting."

Let's also take a look at Liu Xiaoqing. She's been embroiled in scandals lately, which has caused a huge controversy. However, after watching the scenes between the male and female leads, he found that there were no problems at all.

Li Hanxiang said, "No, it's just that the female lead will be taking a break for a while, and we'll be focusing on filming her scenes soon."

Why are you asking for leave?

"They said they were going to Xi'an to attend the Golden Rooster Awards and Hundred Flowers Awards ceremony."

"Oh." Wei Ming breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Liu Xiaoqing was about to leave the director behind for another gig.

After filming, Leung Ka-fai rode up to Wei Ming's old bicycle and said, "Ah Ming, you're here! I'm going out to eat. Are you coming? It's on me."

Liu Xiaoqing immediately said, "Just him?"

Liang Jiahui immediately said, "Come on, come on, Liu Zi, you come too."

So the young people left the Forbidden City together. Wei Ming observed Liu Xiaoqing's expression; he seemed completely unaffected, which showed his strong inner strength.

Recent rumors are circulating about Liu Xiaoqing's film "The Wilderness," which she filmed last year. There are rumors that the film was made into two versions: an international version and a domestic version. The domestic version is rumored to have failed censorship, while the international version is rumored to have Liu Xiaoqing performing without clothes in the film.

Although kissing scenes are no longer a taboo subject since "Romance on Lushan Mountain," nude scenes may have to wait a few more years before they become commonplace in the arts and culture scene.

This rumor has even appeared in some reputable newspapers. Wei Ming only thought of coming over to check on her mental state after seeing it in the Peking University Library.

However, it seems that Liu Xiaoqing is acting as if nothing happened and still has the mood to freeload, while Liang Jiahui eats meat at every meal, something that even a top-tier mainland star like her can't do.

Moreover, while eating Liang Jiahui's food, she patted her chest and said that if Ah Hui couldn't make it in Hong Kong in the future, he could come to the Beijing Film Studio to seek refuge with her.

Also having dinner with us was a kind-hearted young man named Zhang Fengyi. Thanks to "Rickshaw Boy," he has already made a name for himself in the Chinese film industry, even though he hasn't graduated from university yet. However, among the four people present, he felt that he had the lowest status and the narrowest knowledge.

Hearing Liu Xiaoqing say this, he asked in confusion, "Someone like Ah Hui, whose first film was the male lead in a film directed by the great director Li Hanxiang, shouldn't be able to make a living in Hong Kong, right?"

Liu Xiaoqing, who had just boasted, said guiltily, "I meant in case, of course, the possibility is very small."

Wei Ming smiled and said, "Wrong. It's not that the possibility is very small, it's that the possibility is very high. He probably has no future in the Hong Kong entertainment industry."

"Why?" Liu Xiaoqing and Zhang Fengyi asked in unison.

Wei Ming looked at Liang Jiahui: "Do you know that yourself?"

Leung Ka-fai nodded: "I know, but I'm not afraid. I'm from Hong Kong and I'm Chinese. Why can't I film in places in China? Why should I be allowed to?"

Seeing their puzzled expressions, Wei Ming explained the intimidating power of the four words "Freedom Association" in Hong Kong, which left the two speechless. Taiwan was indeed outrageous.

Leung Ka-fai laughed and said, "If I can't make it in Hong Kong, I'll go to Teacher Ah Ming's place. Surely he won't let me go hungry."

Wei Ming laughed and said, "Sure, you have experience in magazine publishing. I can introduce you to 'Madman Comics' later."

Liu Xiaoqing chuckled after hearing this, trying to hide his embarrassment at having just boasted.

However, she soon found herself in an even more awkward situation. A few days later, the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards sent out invitations to the upcoming awards ceremony. Gong Xue and Zhu Lin both received notifications, indicating that they were both nominated for awards. Even Xi Zi was invited. Her uncle and aunt were too busy, so they asked Wei Ming to take Xi Zi to Xi'an.

Wei Ming was naturally invited as well.

This means that Liu Xiaoqing, who had two representative works last year, "The Mysterious Buddha" and "Xu Mao and His Daughters," didn't receive a single nomination. The worst part is that she had already taken leave in advance, which really annoyed her.

She wasn't sure if it was because of the recent rumors, but she had already started thinking about writing an autobiography to clarify the rumors.

It needs to be clarified that even Gong Xue and Zhu Lin were discussing this gossip when they were together.

"Do you think Liu Xiaoqing really filmed those kinds of scenes where she's not wearing clothes?" Gong Xue found it hard to believe. Let alone taking off clothes, she couldn't even accept kissing in a movie.

Zhu Lin: "It should be true, right? The newspapers have already said it, how could it be false?"

In this era, people still trusted the authority of newspapers and television, which is why the advertisement for Shengui Yangrong Wine on Shanghai TV triggered a buying frenzy. People believed whatever they were told back then; this was the era when advertising was most effective.

Gong Xue sighed, "Liu Xiaoqing is truly willing to sacrifice for art; I'm far inferior to her." As they were talking, there was a knock at the door. Zhu Lin called out, "Who is it?"

No one answered.

Gong Xue: "It should be Xiao Wei."

The two went outside to check, and sure enough, it was Wei Ming. The two of them were becoming more and more careful, and they locked the door when Wei Ming wasn't there.

When Wei Ming came in, Zhu Lin wanted to leave, but he refused.

“It’s more comfortable at home. But after we go to Xi’an in a few days, I’m afraid you two won’t even be able to touch hands anymore.” Wei Ming said pitifully, and Zhu Lin’s heart softened, so she decided not to leave and to let Wei Ming go after everything was over.

Gong Xue: "I thought you weren't coming, it's so late."

Wei Ming: "President Ma of Peking University has passed away. I just finished helping out. I'm not going to say anything more. Give me some water, I'm thirsty."

Gong Xue went to make him some tea, but the naughty boy couldn't wait even a short while and immediately hugged Zhu Lin and started kissing her.

Hearing the sound of water coming from the two of them, Gong Xue felt thirsty.

Wei Ming reignited the adventurous spirit in the two of them. Thinking that Liu Xiaoqing had started filming scenes without clothes, it was clear that the social atmosphere was becoming more and more open, so the two of them decided to go all out.

In the end, Zhu Lin was too lazy to suggest that he leave; at worst, he could just hide in the secret room.

Nothing particularly noteworthy happened that night, except that Wei Ming was unusually fierce and returned to the stage once more. It seems he had been holding back for a while, or perhaps he was releasing his pent-up energy in advance for his upcoming trip to Xi'an.

There was still more than a week before the awards ceremony in Xi'an, plenty of time. Meanwhile, the Cannes Film Festival had already opened. Unfortunately, "The Legend of Sealed Book" was not yet finished, so it was destined to miss Cannes.

However, there is one domestic film that was shortlisted for the main competition this year, namely Shanghai Film Studio's "The True Story of Ah Q", starring Yan Shunkai and directed by Cen Fan, the ex-boyfriend of Wei Ming's aunt Xia Meng. The two are also a pair of ill-fated lovers in the great era.

Wei Ming's thoughts had already flown to the international stage in faraway Europe. When he got off work, his colleague told him that someone else was looking for him.

After he went up, the person who came up identified himself as Fan Hansheng, deputy director of the editorial department of "Huacheng" magazine.

“Teacher Wei, I came here in person specifically for ‘District 9’. This novel has caused a huge sensation in Hong Kong, and I personally love it very much. I hope that its simplified Chinese version can be published in our magazine, ‘Flower City’.”

Wei Ming also knew that the novel was a hit in Hong Kong. Amin sent him two letters in a row, her excitement and pride evident in her words.

One letter contained her reading notes, and the second was other media reports about the novel. Although they only showed Wei Ming the positive aspects, the fact that so many newspapers were discussing it showed that it had some influence. There were even entertainment newspapers that claimed that Run Run Shaw and Raymond Chow were interested in adapting it into a science fiction blockbuster. Wei Ming would have to ask the two bosses about this himself later.

Wei Ming led Fan Hansheng out of the library and found a place to sit down and chat by Weiming Lake.

"Director Fan, you are the first editor from a well-known literary journal to take the initiative to come to us."

Wei Ming believed that after half a month, domestic literary journals must have known about the existence of "District 9" and probably had all read it. However, this kind of hardcore science fiction novel had never appeared in mainstream domestic literary journals before, especially since it was about foreign events and the main characters were all foreigners.

So even though District 9 is far more literary than Wei's science fiction novels, none of his old friends contacted him.

Fan Hansheng laughed and said, "This is our 'Flower City,' just like the city of Guangzhou. We dare to be the first in the world. My personal visit this time represents the sincerity of 'Flower City,' which cannot be expressed by writing or making a phone call."

The magazine "Huacheng" is indeed quite bold. A few months ago, it published Yu Luojin's novel "A Fairy Tale of Spring" based on her personal experience, which caused a huge uproar and was criticized by many mainstream media. As a result, the magazine was ordered to be recalled by the relevant authorities, and soon the price of this magazine, which was originally priced at one yuan, rose to ten yuan on the street stalls.

Of course, in terms of risk, District 9 should be less risky than Springtime Tale, but it still contains some explicit content, especially the two scenes involving the mob boss and the alien shrimp.

Moreover, the recent crackdown on pornography in the publishing industry has led to the censorship of "Rose Dream," published by Yanbian People's Publishing House, which is considered a focal point in the history of modern Chinese publishing.

Wei Ming then said, "I have the original simplified Chinese manuscript here. Why don't you review it in Yanjing? If you have any questions, let me know now. I won't go to Guangzhou to revise it. I'll be going to Xi'an in a few days."

Seeing that Wei Ming had agreed, Fan Hansheng was overjoyed and shook hands with Wei Ming: "That's great! I believe that a science fiction novel of the quality of 'District 9' will definitely set off a science fiction craze in the literary world."

Wei Ming doesn't have such ambitions, but the ideological content of "District 9" will at least not be criticized in China. It is a clear allusion to the political situation in South Africa, and there is currently no comparable work in China.

Next, Wei Ming arranged for Fan Hansheng to stay at the Peking University Guesthouse. Within three days, he resolved the issue of revising the article. Fan Hansheng was very bold and did not delete some of the satirical sexual descriptions in the novel.

At the same time, through Wei Ming's explanation, he also understood some of the hints in the novel that he had not understood before, such as Ai Zi.

As for the novel's prediction about Guangzhou's future, Wei Ming didn't tell him. If Fan Hansheng still lives in Guangzhou in the future, when he takes the subway one day and sees a group of young black men around him, he will probably have a sudden realization.

~
Last year, the Golden Rooster Awards and Hundred Flowers Awards were presented in Hangzhou; this year, they were presented in another historical city—Xi'an.

On the 22nd, Wei Ming took Xizi on a plane to Xi'an. Gong Xue and Zhu Lin insisted on taking the train together to avoid suspicion, departing a day earlier than Wei Ming.

Along with them were other colleagues from the Beijing Film Studio, such as Li Xiuming and Zhang Jinling, both of whom received nominations and invitations, but Liu Xiaoqing, who was also one of the "Three Golden Flowers," did not.

"Brother, do you think I can win Best Actor this time? Xiaomei in my class said that if I win Best Actor, she will marry me in the future."

"Xiao Mei? What's her real name?" Wei Ming asked.

Xi Zi said something, and Wei Ming said, "Don't worry, she'll still marry you even if you don't win Best Actor."

This Xiaomei is Wei Ming's second younger brother's wife and Erwa's mother.

Xizi then asked, "Brother, do you hope that Aunt Xue or Sister Lin will win the award?"

Wei Ming asked in confusion, "Who told you to ask that?"

“My mother,” Xizi said innocently.

Wei Ming breathed a sigh of relief. That's what I was thinking. He's so young, what does he know? It must have been taught by an adult.

“There are two awards, of course I hope to get one for each of them,” Wei Ming said, displaying the self-awareness of a master of impartiality.

Because he went to Xi'an, Wei Ming missed Liang Xiaosheng and his girlfriend Jiao Dan's wedding. However, before leaving, Wei Ming asked Liu Zhenyun to give a gift on his behalf, so as to help Liang Xiaosheng alleviate his financial difficulties.

When Wei Ming and his brother arrived in Xi'an, Gong Xue and Zhu Lin had just arrived as well.

However, at the guesthouse, Wei Ming first met the host, Xi'an Film Studio's deputy director, director Wu Tianming, who was also Wei Ming's old friend.

Wei Ming immediately gave him a copy of "Harvest" magazine that he had been reading on the plane.

"Old Wu, have you read Lu Yao's latest novel?"

"Lu Yao? No."

Wei Ming pointed to the magazine "Harvest" and said, "You must take a look; it's called 'Life'."

“Okay, okay, I’ve been following Lu Yao’s work closely too.” Wu Tianming accepted the money. He had just finished filming the movie “The River Without Beacon,” which was also adapted from the literary work.

Next, Wu Tianming wanted to extend his hospitality by treating Wei Ming and his brother to dinner. Wei Ming smiled and said, "You don't mind having two more people, do you?"

Soon, Xizi found Gong Xue and Zhu Lin, all thanks to his sweet talk.

Gong Xue was the female lead in Wei Ming's "The Herdsman" and "Mom, Love Me Again," which is understandable for Wu Tianming. However, Zhu Lin was the female lead in "Joyful Reunion" and "Du Shiniang," one a Shanghai Film Studio production and the other a Changchun Film Studio production. What does that have to do with you, Teacher Wei?

He didn't understand, but he was deeply shocked to see the two beauties walking side by side!
(End of this chapter)