My era, 1979!

Chapter 152 Being an actor is really tough, Comrade!
On the 12th, Xu Chengjun set off for Nanjing.

He considers visiting troops, holding discussions, and conducting field research as one of the most important activities this year.

Having the support of the military was a kind of protection in those days.

He's currently in the NJ Military Region, and if he has the chance in the future, he'd like to go and see the front lines in the south.

It's not just about self-interest; it's about genuinely wanting to visit and comfort the most admirable people of this era.

His older brother, Xu Jianjun, was also there.

Xu Chengjun arrived at the train station early in the morning. Among the Shanghai cultural figures who went to the NJ Military Region with him was an old acquaintance, Ru Zhijuan.

As soon as the express train's whistle swept across the Suzhou River, Xu Chengjun gave up his window seat to Ru Zhijuan.

Trains from Shanghai to Nanjing are divided into three types: ordinary passenger trains, ordinary express trains, and special express trains.

Of course, there are also temporary covered wagons.

It will be obsolete in a few years.

The railway will use some freight boxcars to operate temporary trains, typically using carriages like the P50.

The temporary covered wagons are cheap, costing only 3 yuan from Shanghai to Nanjing. However, they are extremely slow, taking more than 10 hours to travel. The wagons are also poorly lit, making for a very bad travel experience. As a result, not many people ride them, and they are mainly used for short distances.

Express trains are much more expensive.

The ticket price is 7.5 yuan. The fastest train, number 14, runs from Shanghai to Nanjing with only one stop in between, taking 3 hours and 59 minutes to complete the entire Shanghai-Nanjing journey.

The metal carriage reeked of coal smoke. The soldier next to me was engrossed in reading "PLA Literature and Art," occasionally glancing up at the "Qingming" magazine in their hands with curiosity in his eyes.

This young soldier was specially sent by the NJ Military Region to pick them up.

"Your poem 'Red Silk' truly captures the thoughts of soldiers."

Ru Zhijuan spoke first, glancing over the section in the magazine about "Huang Siyuan carving wooden combs," and said, "Last time I talked to the comrades from the front-line cultural troupe, they said that when the officers and soldiers read this section, many of them thought of objects from their own homes."

As a well-known figure in Shanghai's cultural circles, Sister Ru has participated in many similar outreach activities.

Xu Chengjun had just refilled his enamel mug with hot water when he heard this and laughed: "It was just a random thought. I heard my older brother say that when they were on the front lines, they had to hide the spools of thread sent from home when they were mending their clothes, so I thought I should write that in."

Ru Zhijuan nodded, then suddenly changed the subject: "What do you plan to talk to the officers and soldiers about this time when you go to the NJ Military Region? You can't just read excerpts from novels, can you?"

"Let's talk about whatever comes to mind. What they need more is emotional comfort than any specific form of solace."

Xu Chengjun blew away the steam from the rim of the cup. “However, many soldiers said they wanted to write letters home, but were afraid they wouldn’t write them well. I thought it would be better to teach them to start by recording small things, such as the sweet potatoes they ate today or the moon they saw when changing shifts. Just like the bedsheets in your book ‘Lilies,’ true feelings are hidden in small things.”

"That's a good idea."

Ru Zhijuan's eyes lit up, and she pulled a notebook out of her canvas bag. "The last time I went to the army, a young soldier told me that he had written a poem but didn't dare show it to anyone, afraid that people would say he 'lacked spirit.' Don't you think we're putting too much importance on 'literature'?"

Xu Chengjun took the notebook, turned to the page with the bookmark, and read a crooked poem: "A steel gun on my shoulder, the moon in the sky, when I miss home, I see the clouds like cotton woven by my mother."

He pointed to this sentence, looked up and said, "Literature is meant for the majority of people. We have already gone through the process of moving from classical Chinese to semi-classical Chinese, and from semi-classical Chinese to vernacular Chinese. Why not go a step further and make literature something that more people can understand?"

"So you also support the development of popular literature?"

The development of Chinese literature in the 1980s was actually accompanied by a binary debate between popular literature and serious literature.

This happened not long ago.

The inaugural issue of the magazine "Yilin" published "Death on the Nile," which sparked controversy about popular literature.

Feng Zhi, then director of the Institute of Foreign Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, criticized the magazine's selection of topics as "degenerate," arguing that it did not conform to the publishing tradition since the May Fourth Movement.

Meanwhile, Gauss, the director of the JS Provincial Publishing Bureau, stated that there was nothing wrong with introducing healthy Western popular literature, reflecting the different understandings of popular literature in academia and the publishing industry, and indicating that there was a debate at the time about whether popular literature should have a place in the literary landscape of the new era.

"I don't support popular literature, nor do I support serious literature, but I've always been puzzled as to why literature has to be divided into serious and popular?"

"A good story is one that is serious or popular."

"So how do you think literature should be categorized?"

"By dividing literature into serious and popular genres, we naturally separate certain groups of people. How is this any different from how ancient scholars used classical Chinese to distinguish social classes?"

Ru Zhijuan suddenly laughed, but didn't respond to his words. People of this age all have their own opinions.

She took a piece of milk candy out of her bag and handed it to her: "Chatting with you reminds me of when I first started writing. Back then, I always thought about writing about 'great times,' but later I realized that great times are hidden in the everyday lives. This time, going with you will allow me to have more practical conversations with the officers and soldiers."

After the train passed Zhenjiang, the rice paddies outside the window gradually became more numerous.

The soldier sitting next to me finally mustered up the courage to come closer, clutching a crumpled notebook in his hand: "Teacher Ru, Teacher Xu, I... I've also written something, could you take a look at it for me?"

Just as Xu Chengjun was about to take it, Ru Zhijuan reached out and took it first. She flipped through a couple of pages, looked up at the soldier, and smiled: "Well written! You've captured the warmth of the wind while on guard duty, much better than I did when I was young."

The soldier's face flushed red, and he scratched his head, saying, "I just wrote it randomly, afraid it wouldn't meet the 'standard'."

"Where are there so many standards?"

Xu Chengjun patted him on the shoulder, "You wrote from the bottom of your heart, and that's the best standard. When we get to Nanjing, we might be able to read your manuscript to our other comrades."

Amid the roar of the train, Ru Zhijuan looked at the scene before her and suddenly said to Xu Chengjun, "Look, this is the meaning of our visit."

It's not about lecturing them, but about letting them know that their lives and their thoughts are worth writing down and remembering.

"Chengjun, Chengjun? Stop daydreaming, we're here!"

"This is the reception area for the Nanjing Military Region?"

"Let's gather here to register first, then we'll rehearse the show this afternoon, chat with the soldiers tonight, and go to the grassroots units tomorrow—we'll take the military region's jeep then."

Ru Zhijuan patted the military jeep beside her; the green paint on the vehicle was still covered in dust, urging Xu Chengjun to take a good look.

"You're quite composed; you were still revising your draft on the train. I didn't sleep well before coming here, always worried that I wasn't fully prepared."

As Ru Zhijuan spoke, she thanked the soldier driving the car again: "Thank you for your hard work, comrades. I'll need your help again tomorrow."

"No trouble!"

The soldier saluted them, his gaze falling on the sample copy of "Red Silk" in Xu Chengjun's hand. "Teacher Xu, could you sign this for me? Our whole company is passing around your novel!"

Xu Chengjun quickly took the pen, while Ru Zhijuan laughed and joked from the side, "You're the 'darling' of the soldiers now, much more popular than this old woman."

"Aren't there some people from the arts and culture scene here today? I'm nowhere near as good as them!"

"The young people who acted in 'Little Flower' also came over."

"Then who can compare to Liu Xiaoqing and Chen Chong?"

Ru Zhijuan laughed along when she heard that.

The popularity of "Red Silk" propelled Xu Chengjun to become the undisputed most famous person in the military.

But no one in the military is more popular than a female celebrity.

Once inside the "Buddhist temple," there was really no other way.

Inherent disadvantages.

A blue tent was set up at the entrance of the camp, and a banner with red background and white characters stood out: "Warmly welcome comrades from the literary and art circles to perform for the Nanjing Military Region!"

Xu Chengjun looked around and saw soldiers training in formation on the parade ground, their shouts deafening. Not far away in the equipment area, two soldiers were running fast, carrying logs, their uniforms soaked with sweat.

"These are all backbone companies of the military region. They came here to assemble right after coming off the exercise field, and they especially wanted to meet you."

Ru Zhijuan pointed to the line and suddenly her eyes lit up. "Look over there, almost everyone has arrived."

Xu Chengjun looked in the direction she pointed and saw that a lot of people had already gathered around the tent.

Chen Chong, wearing a light blue shirt, was talking to Tao Yuling, holding a notebook in her hand, occasionally glancing down to jot down a few words.

Liu Xiaoqing, wearing a floral dress, was chatting with the soldiers about the behind-the-scenes of filming "Little Flower," and her laughter carried far.

Tang Guoqiang stood to the side, mimicking a soldier's stance with a young soldier. His thick eyebrows and big eyes made him look exactly like "Zhao Yongsheng" in the movie.

"Teacher Tao! You've come too! I'm Xu Chengjun, a writer who can barely be considered one."

Xu Chengjun went to greet her first, and Tao Yuling held his hand, smiling warmly: "I've heard that you can write, young man. I've read 'Red Silk,' and Huang Siyuan's tenacity is quite similar to the 'Second Sister' I played before."

Tao Yuling is also a veteran performing artist.

In 1976, she returned to the front-line drama troupe after the policy was implemented. As a well-known performing artist, she starred in military-themed works such as "The Story of Liubao" and was a representative figure in the military region's literary and artistic circles.

Xu Chengjun had just finished exchanging pleasantries.

Tang Guoqiang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Comrade Chengjun, I'm so glad to finally meet you! When I talked to the soldiers about the 'carved wooden comb' part in 'Red Silk,' many of them were reminded of their families. Your words are even more moving than the performance."

"Hello, Comrade Guoqiang, I have read your novel 'Little Flower' several times."

"Then we should have a chat tomorrow."

Looking at Xu Chengjun's profile, Tang Guoqiang was also a little speechless.

You're a writer and you're so handsome!

Being an actor is tough, comrade!
As they were talking, Li Ruqing and Wu Jiang also came over.

Xu Chengjun also greeted them.

These two are renowned figures who came from the frontline cultural troupe and have entered the history of literature. Li Ruqing is good at creating works on military themes, with his representative work being "The Island Women Militia". Wu Jiang is known for "Red Sun".

Li Ruqing held a copy of "Island Women Militia" in her hand and handed it to Xu Chengjun: "The young man writes well, he's more talented than I was back then. Let's talk to the soldiers together this time and see what's in their hearts."

Wu Jiang pointed to the rehearsal area in the distance: "Let's go register and get our costumes first. The camp conditions are limited. The women have separate rooms to change, but we men will have to squeeze in at the canteen."

Xu Chengjun followed the group toward the canteen. As soon as he entered, he heard Liu Xiaoqing's voice: "Look at this dress of mine, is it okay to wear it to the visit? Isn't it too flashy?"

Tao Yuling helped her straighten her skirt, saying, "It looks good. Soldiers like a vibrant look, so don't be too reserved."

Chen Chong was borrowing a needle and thread from a young soldier to sew his shirt collar neater when he saw Xu Chengjun come in. He smiled and called out, "Teacher Xu, come and take a look. Are the stitches crooked? I don't usually do needlework."

Liu Xiaoqing joked from the side, "Why didn't you let someone else check your stitches?"

"What, can't I, as the older sister, watch?"

"Oh dear, Professor Xu is a great writer, he knows a lot!"

"Hey, I bet you're just too beautiful for a handsome man to walk past!"

"Hey, what? What are you saying?!"

Chen Chong blushed deeply.

In 79, Chen Chong was just 18 years old.

At the height of her success, she burst onto the scene with her role as "Zhao Xiaohua" in "Little Flower," winning the Best Actress award at the 3rd Hundred Flowers Awards for her pure and natural performance.

She also starred in "Overseas Chinese" (Huang Sihua), both of which were blockbuster hits of the year. She was the youngest "Hundred Flowers Award" winner at the time, a frequent cover girl for magazines, and extremely popular among students.

Not to mention in this military camp filled with masculine energy.

They were still students at Shanghai International Studies University, and they arrived a day earlier than Xu Chengjun and Ru Zhijuan.

Liu Xiaoqing suddenly called out to Xu Chengjun, "Teacher Xu, your little flower girl is calling you!"

Xu Chengjun: "You want me to do hard labor? I'm not going!"

"What hard labor are you doing? I'm telling you to look at beautiful women. Little Chen Chong has a crush on you!"

"Sister Xiaoqing!"

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around."

She left behind a string of silvery laughter. Xu Chengjun pursed his lips, thinking that this older sister's fierce energy was truly extraordinary.

Tang Guoqiang was adjusting his uniform in front of the canteen mirror when he suddenly turned to Xu Chengjun and asked, "Chengjun, do you think my uniform looks the part of the soldiers? Don't let people realize I'm acting."

"So alike! Much more like me."

But damn it, you were just acting. What soldier has "thick eyebrows and big eyes" like you?

Tang Guoqiang looked at Xu Chengjun's handsome face and felt a little jealous. This was the type that even he, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, thought was handsome.

"That's more like it, isn't it?"

"You're a 'pretty boy,' but who can compare to you? You're really something!"

"Hey! You're asking for it!"

"I've trained in boxing, I advise you to have some self-respect."

"I was just kidding," Tang Guoqiang said with an embarrassed smile.

"Chengjun, do you have any plans to make a movie out of your novel 'Red Silk'?"

"It's not even finished being serialized yet! How would I know?"

"Look, we have similar interests. If we really make a movie, please reserve a role for me."

Xu Chengjun:
"I don't need Huang Siyuan, just leave me Xu Jianjun."

"climb!"

You think you can be my older brother now, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes?! But it's definitely a pleasant time spending time with these young people.

Actors, actors!
Generally speaking, their emotional intelligence and insight are indeed far beyond those of their peers.

Even 18-year-old Chen Chong could chat with Xu Chengjun about everything.

Just as Xu Chengjun finished speaking, Li Ruqing came over with a registration form: "Come and register, everyone. At the symposium tonight, Chengjun, you talk to the soldiers about 'how to write a letter home.' Chen Chong and Xiaoqing, you prepare a scene from 'Little Flower.' Guoqiang, come with me and chat with the veterans about your combat stories."

"Comrade Chengjun, you still have to sing 'Waiting for Your Return in the North'!"

Li Ruqing frowned: "What kind of singing and playing?"

Comrade Xu Chengjun is a writer. Isn't it just making things difficult for him to sing?
Chen Chong: "You don't know, Teacher Li, right now the hottest singer in Shanghai is right in front of you!"

Li Ruqing: Huh?
As they were registering, a soldier's voice came from outside: "Teachers, the rehearsal area is ready. Let's go through the procedures first!"

(End of this chapter)