1979: The child's mother is a celestial being.

Chapter 219 Spring Festival Gala Rehearsal (Please Subscribe!)
"Kaige, have you read Director Chen's new novel?"

Chen Kaige had just entered the director team's common office when he heard the question. He looked in the direction of the voice and saw Zhang Yimou. He nodded to him and said, "I've seen it."

"How do you feel?" Zhang Yimou continued to press.

"How did you feel?" Chen Kaige thought of the scene last night when he, a dignified eight-foot-tall man, cried his heart out with his wife after reading the novel. He immediately dared not recall it and casually replied, "I was quite moved. Why are you asking this?"

At this point, Zhang Yimou stopped beating around the bush and stated his purpose directly: "I feel that Director Chen's novel is very suitable for adaptation. Kaige, are you interested?"

"You mean, you want me to take the photos?"

Chen Kaige hadn't originally intended to, but Zhang Yimou's question made him somewhat tempted.

But he quickly remembered Director Chen's speech at the annual meeting yesterday—Director Chen said that his next film was a romance film, which was none other than "Under the Hawthorn Tree".

Instantly, he not only extinguished the tiny spark of his own fervor, but also gave Zhang Yimou a deep look:
"You, Zhang Yimou with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, are actually advising yourself to compete with Director Chen for the directorial rights? Are you trying to ruin me?"

At this moment, Zhang Yimou was unaware of Chen Kaige's thoughts, but he had seen the fleeting glint in Chen's eyes, so he nodded emphatically to him and said:
"Yes, this is a rare opportunity."

"Forget it, Director Lingzi asked me to be her assistant director yesterday, and I've already agreed. So, you should try to find someone else for this opportunity."

Chen Kaige was actually a little unsure whether Zhang Yimou was faking his madness or deliberately trying to harm him, so he simply refused to play along.

After saying that, he left the office.

Zhang Yimou watched him leave, hesitant to speak, but ultimately did not try to persuade him further.

He then approached Peng Xiaolian and Zhang Jianya, but both of them ended up working on Liu Guoquan's film "Hijacking".

"Why are these directors unwilling to take on such a great opportunity?"

After careful consideration, Zhang Yimou guessed the problem that Chen Kaige was worried about.

But what if the romance film Director Chen is talking about isn't an adaptation of "Under the Hawthorn Tree"?

"No, I need to go and verify this with Director Chen."

Since Zhang Yimou had the courage to write a letter to the leaders of the Ministry of Culture in order to get into university, he naturally knew how to seize every opportunity.

But when he arrived at Chen Fusheng's office, he found it empty.

He then knocked on the door of the secretary's office next door and asked Tong Jiang inside, "Secretary Tong, where did Director Chen go?"

"Director Chen went to CCTV to work on this year's Spring Festival Gala. Comrade Yimou, is there anything you need to see Director Chen about?"

"Spring Festival Gala~" Zhang Yimou pondered the word for a moment, then asked Tong Jiang, "Secretary Tong, do you know what Director Chen's next film is?"

"Hmm?" Tong Jiang looked at Zhang Yimou with some confusion. "Why are you asking this?"

Zhang Yimou did not hide his purpose and told Tong Jiang everything.

"You want to adapt 'Under the Hawthorn Tree'?" Tong Jiang was slightly surprised when he heard Zhang Yimou's idea.

"Hmm, I feel that Director Chen's novel is very suitable for adaptation, but if Director Chen himself wants to make it, then forget it."

Tong Jiang nodded, thought for a moment, and looked at Zhang Yimou again: "As far as I know, Director Chen's next film has nothing to do with his novel, but if Comrade Yimou wants to adapt the novel, he still needs to get Director Chen's consent."

Zhang Yimou was delighted to hear this and quickly replied, "Of course, thank you for clearing up my doubts, Secretary Tong."

"It's nothing. Is there anything else?"

"That's all, Secretary Tong, you can continue with your work. I won't disturb you any longer."

Later, Zhang Yimou returned to his workstation. He picked up the latest issue of "Yanjing Literature and Art" magazine again, and after quickly scanning through "Under the Hawthorn Tree," he suddenly had a 'bold' idea.

"Since Kaige and the others don't dare to film it, how about... I try directing it myself?"

The moment the idea popped into Zhang Yimou's head, it immediately took root and sprouted in his mind.

However, Zhang Yimou also knew that he was a photography major 'student' who had graduated less than half a year ago. If he were in a film studio, he would still be struggling to gain experience as a photography apprentice. Now, he wanted to become a director directly. Even he himself felt that this idea was a bit far-fetched and unrealistic.

But this is Oriental Company, and their boss himself is not from a professional background. Although Zhang Yimou doesn't dare to compare himself with Director Chen, he still wants to take a chance.

Like I said, what if it works out?
Of course, despite the gamble, Zhang Yimou wouldn't leave things unprepared. He then went to Director Chen and applied to direct "Under the Hawthorn Tree" himself.

That's not a real gambler, that's a fool. The boss definitely wouldn't agree.

As for what preparations should be made? Actually, the best way to showcase a director's skill is through the storyboard...

At this moment, Chen Fusheng, who was in CCTV's Studio One, was unaware that someone had their eyes on his film "Under the Hawthorn Tree," and even less aware that the person was Zhang Yimou.

He is currently watching other people rehearse on stage.

"Where did my chicken go? Oh, where did the chicken go? Host Ma, my prop is missing, the chicken..."

"It didn't fly away, did it?"

Can a roast chicken fly?

"It's too hot inside."

"You can't fly even if it's hot, don't be ridiculous..."

The skit currently being rehearsed is called "Eating Chicken," performed by Ma Ji, Jiang Kun, and Wang Jingyu. It is also one of the most memorable programs from this Spring Festival Gala in history.

Shortly after the performance ended, director Huang Yihe looked at Chen Fusheng sitting next to him and asked, "What did Director Chen think?"

Seeing that Huang Yihe would ask for his opinion after each rehearsal, he stopped being polite and commented after thinking for a moment: "Not bad, the effect would be even better if there were audience members to cooperate."

"Indeed."

Huang Yihe nodded. This young director Chen always managed to pinpoint the core issues perfectly in his comments, so he also liked to ask him for advice.

After that song "Eating Chicken," we rehearsed a few more programs, and then all the programs were rehearsed.

Chen Fusheng picked up the program schedule in front of Huang Yihe and took a look, and found that there were only 26 programs.

He couldn't help but frown and said, "Director Huang, you have too few programs. You don't even have enough time to fill them all."

"At that time, we will enable online viewers to request services via phone..."

"That's not enough."

Huang Yihe sighed helplessly and continued, "It's really not enough, so we're still soliciting programs from various arts and culture organizations."

Deng Zaijun thought of the dance that Liu Xiaoli performed in "Journey to the West" that had amazed many people, so he suggested, "Director Chen, why don't you have your wife contribute another performance?"

"I guess Director Deng, you want Xiaoli to dance, right?"

Seeing Deng Zaijun nod, Chen Fusheng shook his head and said, "Xiao Li has to take care of her child now, and she hasn't danced in a long time. She's not in good shape anymore. There are only forty days left until the Spring Festival Gala. That's not enough."

At this point, Chen Fusheng paused for a moment, then added, "However..."

"But what?"

"However, I can help you extend the runtime a bit."

"Director Chen, stop keeping me in suspense and just say what you have to say."

"Here's the thing, my movie 'Die Hard' will be released during the Spring Festival. If you need, I can give you the trailer to watch during the intermission."

"This……"

"Don't worry, my film is a key national project."

Huang Yihe and Deng Zaijun exchanged a glance. They mainly followed Huang Yihe's opinion. After considering it for a while, he finally nodded to Chen Fusheng.

"Okay, but I have one more condition, and I hope Director Chen can agree to it."

"Director Huang, please go ahead."

"Director Chen must know quite a few people from Hong Kong, right? Could you invite a few Hong Kong singers to our Spring Festival Gala?"

……

(End of this chapter)