Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 67 A little farewell is better than a new love

After submitting the manuscript.

Zhang Yan continued to take his younger sister on trips around the country, but this time they didn't go up mountains or down to the sea. Instead, he took her to the TV station to broaden her horizons—after all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Zhang Fang's best option after graduation would be to work at the TV station.

He also went to see the post-production of "Tianjin Wei". Zhang Yan originally thought that post-production was just editing, dubbing and music, but after seeing the scene, he realized that the most time-consuming part of this TV series was actually color grading.

Color grading, in this context, refers to the use of technical means to fine-tune the color tone of an image in order to highlight emotional expression and the texture of the picture.

“Making TV series is different from making movies. Movies must be strictly reduced, while TV series can at most add one more episode.”

Ma Huiwu explained, "On the contrary, in terms of color grading... our two cameras are not the same model, and the color tones produced are slightly different. Many shots must be color-neutralized before they can be edited together."

There was no other way. The two cameras were provided by the TV station and Tianjin Film Studio, one German and one Japanese. In the end, we could only take a compromise and adjust the overall color to be a little yellowish so as to cover up the original difference.

Zhang Yan wasn't really satisfied with this color scheme; he felt it looked a bit tacky and didn't match the urban feel he was trying to emphasize.

Especially in the part about recreating the case, he referenced the atmosphere of European and American suspense dramas when he wrote the script, but the color tone doesn't have that feeling at all.

"You shouldn't even hope for that."

Ma Huiwu pointed to his nose and said, "Europeans and Americans have more defined facial features, so they look better when photographed with strong contrasts in lighting. But it doesn't work for Asians."

"If you don't believe me, go watch some Japanese dramas. The Japanese aren't technologically backward, are they? Yet they rarely use this kind of high-contrast filming method."

Although the post-production visit was short, Zhang Yan gained a lot from it. He realized that there were so many things to consider when transforming text into images.

By the 28th of the month.

Zhang Fang was finally able to call and check her college entrance exam scores. Her final score was 407, which was actually a little lower than usual, but she should have no problem getting into the Broadcasting Institute.

Upon receiving the news, the girl excitedly jumped onto Zhang Yan's back, squeaking and chattering like a monkey.

Soon after, her parents called, asking them to send Zhang Fang back to her hometown to settle down, so she wouldn't get too wild outside and cause trouble at school.

Of course, the main reason was that she was afraid she would disturb Zhang Yan's work.

So on the 29th, Zhang Yan drove his sister back to their hometown. This time they encountered a toll booth on the way, but fortunately the fee was not much, and they were allowed to pass after paying 20 yuan.

Back to Hengjiang.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the newspaper's staff quarters, they saw Zhang Xingguo and Sun Xiaohong craning their necks and looking out from the roadside.

"Dad, Mom~"

Before the Santana had come to a complete stop, Zhang Fang pushed open the door, got out, and rushed towards it with open arms: "So you guys missed me that much!"

As soon as he lunged forward, Sun Xiaohong grabbed him, slapped him on the buttocks, and yelled, "You brat, didn't you say you could get 430?"

"Uh~"

Zhang Fang was stunned for a moment before she said coquettishly, "Oh well, the score is already high enough, what difference does it make if I get a few more or less points?"

Seeing that his parents' expressions were a bit off, Zhang Yan asked, "Did something happen?"

Upon asking, I learned that another major carjacking and murder had occurred in his hometown. During the escape, he encountered a police checkpoint, shot and killed two police officers, and stole the car.

No wonder the elderly couple were so worried that they went to wait at the gate of the courtyard.

Sun Xiaohong said worriedly, "Try not to drive long distances in the future. It's safer to take the train. At most, you'll just lose some money."

"Don't worry, once the owner gets back, I won't even have anywhere to drive it," Zhang Yan comforted her, then smoothly changed the subject, saying, "Compared to that group from last year, who's more arrogant?"

"That guy last year was just plain reckless!"

Zhang Xingguo scoffed, "He took a gun and went to Beijing to see the Monument to the People's Heroes. I don't know what he was thinking—his accomplices were surrounded by the armed police and didn't even know what was going on."

Sun Xiaohong quickly added, "I think the crackdown shouldn't stop!"

The family chatted and laughed as they returned to their small apartment upstairs.

Although Sun Xiaohong kept scolding her daughter for being carefree and only thinking about going out to play, and almost failing her exam, she still cooked half a table of her daughter's favorite dishes.

As for the other half of the table, it was naturally filled with Zhang Yan's favorite dishes.

That evening, as the family lay in bed, Sun Xiaohong began to imagine her daughter's academic success and her son's future—buying a house in Beijing and marrying a beautiful and virtuous wife.

Zhang Xingguo comforted Zhang Yan, telling him not to worry, as few writers can maintain their peak performance for long, and he shouldn't be discouraged by temporary setbacks.

It seems that my father has been subscribing to the Popular Fiction Newspaper and has also noticed the decline in sales.

Listening to his parents' nagging and admonitions, Zhang Yan felt more at ease than ever before. After drifting off to sleep, he dreamed of that LCD screen again.

However, just as he braced himself, eager to see what new information he might come across this time, he saw the middle-aged author slowly type out a few large words:
[I'm stuck, please take a day off.]

…………

Zhang Yan didn't plan to stay long this time, otherwise he wouldn't have openly driven back to the family compound.

The next morning, before his relatives and friends came knocking, he bid farewell to his parents and left Hengjiang.

However, this time he didn't return to Tianjin, but went directly to Beijing to reunite with Chen Hong. As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Chen Hong was not only exceptionally attentive and caring this time, but also specially installed an air conditioner in the apartment, saying it would be more convenient for Zhang Yan to write.

Touched, Zhang Yan felt too embarrassed to keep his appointment with Jiang Shan—Jiang Shan was also filming a TV series and couldn't bother him for the time being.

However, he did secretly meet with Tao Hong and even paid for her tutoring classes.

Tao Hong naturally refused in every way, but in the end Zhang Yan paid the tuition fee directly, saying that whether or not she studied was up to her, but the money would definitely not be refunded.

Tao Hong had no choice but to accept it.

As they were about to part, Tao Hong gave a hint that they could rekindle their relationship, but Zhang Yan finally resisted the temptation this time—mainly because he was all dressed neatly, the temptation wasn't strong enough.

Back at Chen Hong's apartment, Zhang Yan felt 'completely innocent' and immediately straightened his back a bit more.

After two more days of living a simple life of three meals a day, Zhang Yan took Chen Hong to search for housing near the commercial center and tried posting some house-buying notices in the alleys.

As a result of his lack of experience, he was chased for two blocks by an older woman wearing a red armband on a bicycle.

Zhang Yan herself was fine, but Chen Hong simply couldn't run anymore, after all, she was wearing high heels.

"Auntie, can we accept the punishment?"

Zhang Yan, supporting the panting Chen Hong, said helplessly, "Just tell me how much you want to be fined."

"Posting advertisements illegally affects the city's appearance. According to regulations, you'll be fined 50 cents." The woman deftly pulled out a receipt, moistened it with saliva, tore off a piece, and handed it to Zhang Yan.

Hearing that it was only 50 cents, Zhang Yan and Chen Hong exchanged a glance, both feeling that they had been ripped off by running around these two streets.

However, upon seeing the elderly woman wearing the red armband, they felt guilty and ran away immediately, never even considering that they could accept punishment.

Taking the receipt, Zhang Yan pulled out a 50-cent copper coin from his pocket, handed it over, and asked, "Auntie, can we leave now?"

"No hurries?"

The older woman stared at Zhang Yan and Chen Hong and asked, "What do you two do?"

"What else can I do but buy a house?"

As Zhang Yan spoke, he showed the remaining small advertisements.

The middle-aged woman didn't even look at them, and said irritably, "I'm asking what jobs you do!"

Zhang Yan and Chen Hong looked at each other, wondering if posting flyers would result in a criminal record.

Because he really couldn't be sure, Zhang Yan vaguely said, "Just an ordinary worker."

The woman's eyes widened in shock: "Can an ordinary worker afford a house in Beijing? You're not some kind of criminal, are you?!"

"Uh~"

Zhang Yan could only awkwardly say, "Actually, I write novels, and the royalties are pretty good, so I'm thinking of buying an apartment in Beijing..."

"Oh, a writer."

The woman suddenly realized, and then asked, "What kind of house are you looking to buy? Do you have any specific requirements?"

"Didn't I already write it?"

Zhang Yan showed the advertisement again: "It needs to be a bit bigger, with more than four main rooms, preferably with the water and electricity systems already renovated, or if not, the renovation shouldn't be too difficult."

The woman nodded after hearing this: "Okay, then come with me."

Judging from the tone, it didn't sound like they were going to take him to the police station.

Zhang Yan couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "Are you also working as a real estate agent on the side?"

"What real estate agent? We're selling our own house because my son is going to America soon!"

Seeing the woman's smug and proud demeanor, Zhang Yan couldn't help but ask again, "How many houses do you own?"

"Just one set."

As the older woman led the way, she talked incessantly: "After we sell it, we'll rent a place to live first. Anyway, my son will definitely make a lot of money over there."

I heard that if you go to the United States, you can easily earn tens of thousands a month. When my wife, daughter-in-law, and I go there, we'll earn hundreds of thousands a month!

The money I save in a month is enough to buy several apartments in the Third Ring Road area.

If you buy this house, don't mess it up too much for me. Maybe in a few years I'll feel nostalgic and buy it back for you.

Even if I buy it back, I don't want to go back to China to live. The people at Dongda University are so uncivilized. Every day there are people urinating in the corners, spitting everywhere, petty thieves, and illegal vendors. There are too many to catch.

Look at the manners of Americans! I've heard they queue up for public transport and never jaywalk...

She went on and on, saying that Americans are all kind-hearted and love to help others; then she said that Americans respect privacy and never interfere in other people's affairs.

Zhang Yan ignored it all, but couldn't help glancing frequently at the red armband on her arm.

(End of this chapter)