Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 156, Section 154: Supporting Brother Nan!
In early December 1997, winter was already in full swing in Nanjing. The sycamore leaves had all fallen, leaving only the gnarled branches pointing towards the gray sky.

A cold wind swept across the Yangtze River, carrying damp chill that seeped into every corner of the city.

However, what was colder than the winter day was the heart of the Jiangsu Film Company's management; and what was more fervent than the cold wind was the anticipation of countless movie fans for the film "30 Days".

This heat wave was not blocked by provincial borders.

The radio signal of Jinling TV's main channel, carrying the laughter of the programs and the calls of commercials, spread beyond the barriers of administrative divisions to the surrounding areas.

Its coverage area can theoretically reach parts of the neighboring Anhui Province, especially counties that are across the river from or geographically connected to Nanjing, such as Gangcheng and Chucheng, especially the subordinate Jiaocheng and Ancheng, as well as some peripheral areas of Wucheng.

In these areas, some well-located or well-connected television sets can occasionally receive blurry images and slightly noisy signals from Nanjing, the provincial capital.

In a county in eastern Anhui, a young couple in their early twenties, Zhang Wei and Li Li, are the beneficiaries of this faint signal—or rather, the beneficiaries who are currently ecstatic.

Zhang Wei is a die-hard Stephen Chow fan, obsessed with his nonsensical comedies, and often goes to video arcades to watch his movies.

They can almost recite classic lines from currently obscure films like "A Chinese Odyssey" or "Flirting Scholar".

Influenced by him, Li Li also developed a strong liking for Stephen Chow.

The two were young workers at a machinery factory in the county town. They lived a simple life, and their greatest entertainment was pooling their money to go to the movies or renting Hong Kong film videotapes.

On the evening of December 4th, the two of them, as usual, tuned to Jinling TV, whose signal was intermittent. The screen was showing the commercial break after the broadcast of the "Super Girl" competition, from the top 600 to the top 300.

Suddenly, an advertisement that wasn't particularly well-made but was packed with information caught their eye:
"Good news for movie fans in Nanjing! The Lunar New Year blockbuster '30 Days,' starring Stephen Chow and Li Xiaoran, will be released citywide starting tomorrow (December 5th)!"

The scene rapidly switches between movie clips—Zhou Xingxing's slightly different serious expression, Li Xiaoran's gentle demeanor, and those misunderstandings that elicit laughter.

The subtitles clearly listed the cinemas showing the film: Heping Cinema, Yancheng Theater, Dahua Cinema, Shuguang Widescreen Cinema, Qinhuai Theater, Qinglongshan Cinema, etc.

"Synchronized with Beijing! Let laughter ring in the New Year!"

At the end of the advertisement, ticket information even flashed: 15 yuan, 20 yuan (VIP seats).

"Brother Wei! Look! They're showing '30 Days' in Nanjing! Stephen Chow's new movie!" Li Li excitedly shook Zhang Wei's arm.

Zhang Wei stared wide-eyed, leaning closer to the television, afraid of misreading a single word.

"Really! It really is a movie starring Stephen Chow! And it's being released in Beijing at the same time!"

He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Go! We have to go! We'll go tomorrow!"

The news caused an uproar in their small circle, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

Upon hearing the news, two other couples who also loved Stephen Chow decided to join the "expedition" without hesitation.

December 5th, Friday, a day off. Early morning, just as dawn was breaking, the air was bitterly cold.

Along a dirt road in the outskirts of the county, three slightly old "Happiness 125" or "Jialing 70" motorcycles were already running, with plumes of white smoke billowing from their exhaust pipes.

Zhang Wei carefully helped Li Li fasten the buttons of her thick cotton coat, and then put a hand-knitted woolen hat and scarf on her, leaving only her excited eyes showing.

He also specially covered Li Li's knees with an old military overcoat to prevent her from catching a cold on the road.

The other young men also helped their female companions take precautions against the cold.

Despite their rudimentary equipment, the young people's fiery passion was enough to withstand the bitter cold.

"Hold on tight! Let's go!"

With a shout from Zhang Wei, three motorcycles carrying six expectant hearts roared onto the provincial highway leading to Nanjing.

The journey of several dozen kilometers was not easy under the traffic conditions of the late 1990s.

The road was uneven and full of potholes, and the cold wind felt like knives on their faces. Even though they were fully armed, by the time they arrived in Jinling city, their hands and feet were already ice-cold and their faces were covered in dust.

But they didn't have time to rest. Following the list of cinemas they had written down, they went straight to the Dahua Cinema, which was also quite famous recently.

Dahua Cinema, located on Zhongshan South Road, is one of Nanjing's oldest and most prestigious cinemas. With an elegant atmosphere and nearly 1200 seats, it was one of the main cinemas screening "30 Days".

However, when they arrived, they saw a prominent sign in front of the ticket window that read "Tickets for today's '30 Days' are sold out."

The crowd did not completely disperse. Many viewers who had come from afar or arrived late gathered at the cinema entrance, discussing and sighing, unwilling to leave.

"No way? They're sold out so early?" one of his companions groaned.

"Let's go see Heping!" Zhang Wei was unwilling to give up, so he led everyone to the Heping Cinema, which is located near Xinjiekou.

This cinema is also quite large, with a capacity of nearly 1000 people.

The result was the same as before—the gates were locked, and the tickets were sold out.

Next, they visited almost every major cinema listed in the advertisements in the city center, including the Yancheng Theater (approximately 800 seats) and the Shuguang Widescreen Cinema (approximately 900 seats), only to receive the same response each time. Their hopes were dashed, like being doused with cold water time and time again.

The excitement on Li Li's and the other two girls' faces had long been replaced by redness from the cold and disappointment. They nestled beside their boyfriends, their eyes dim.

"Damn it, what a wasted trip..."

Zhang Wei spat, rubbing his frozen hands, his heart filled with frustration and guilt towards his girlfriend.

A group of boys huddled together, sighing and discussing whether they should just find a place to eat a bowl of hot wontons and then head home.

Just as they were feeling disheartened and preparing to accept reality, a middle-aged man wearing a military green cotton coat, with his neck hunched and eyes darting around, silently approached them.

He lowered his voice, as if exchanging a secret code: "Hey buddy, want tickets? For '30 Days'."

Zhang Wei and the others were taken aback and looked at him warily.

They had heard of scalpers, but this was the first time they had ever encountered one in person.

"Are you kidding me? They're all sold out, how come you still have tickets?" one of his companions questioned.

"Hehe," the scalper chuckled smugly, revealing a set of teeth stained yellow by smoking, "I have my ways. Afternoon show, prime time, the 6 pm show, good seats!"

As he spoke, he gestured with his eyes to a relatively warm corner not far away: "Let's talk over here."

The boys exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, and then followed the scalper to the corner of the wall.

The girls stayed where they were, watching with a mixture of curiosity and worry.

"How much?" Zhang Wei asked directly.

"The original price was 15, now selling for 30. The 20 is now selling for 40," the scalper announced.

"Holy crap! Double the price? Why don't you just rob someone!" another boy blurted out, looking pained.

Their monthly salary is only a few hundred yuan, and the original price of the movie ticket was already not cheap, so doubling the price is even more unacceptable.

"Dude, you can't say that." The scalper gave him a "you guys don't know what's going on" look: "Look at this scene, how many people want to see it but can't get a ticket? I take a risk with these tickets too. Besides..."

He abruptly changed the subject, glancing at the girls stamping their feet in the distance, a knowing, knowing smile playing on his lips. His voice, lowered further, carried a seductive quality:

"It's so late, it's already dark, and you're riding a motorcycle dozens of kilometers back with a girl? How unsafe is that? How inconsiderate of someone!"

He paused, looking at the thoughtful yet slightly confused expressions on the young men's faces, and further "enlightened" them: "It'll be eight or nine o'clock after the movie. This city of Nanjing is brightly lit. How much would it cost to find a clean and affordable little hotel? Let the girls get a good night's rest and go back refreshed tomorrow. Isn't that better than braving the cold wind and traveling at night? This opportunity... hehe, isn't it more valuable than the movie tickets?"

That said it all, and the boys instantly understood.

A look of realization flashed across his face, followed by embarrassment, and then their eyes met, revealing an unspoken excitement and determination.

Yes, we came all this way, only to miss the movie. My girlfriend was disappointed, and I lost face too.

If... if we could stay, then the meaning of this expedition would be completely different!

Zhang Wei gritted his teeth, glanced at Li Li's somewhat frail figure in the cold wind, and felt a surge of protectiveness and a strange expectation welling up inside him: "Okay! I want two... no, six! We want them all!"

He said it to the scalper with absolute certainty.

Although the price was painful, the thought of what might happen that night made the "investment" seem incredibly worthwhile.

The other two boys quickly nodded and took out their money.

The transaction was completed discreetly and swiftly.

Clutching the few movie tickets that had doubled in price, were slightly wrinkled, yet carried boundless hope, the young men walked back to their female companions with their backs seemingly straighter, their faces regaining their radiance, their previous dejection completely gone.

"You got the tickets?" Li Li asked in surprise, her eyes lighting up again.

"Yeah! Got it! The 6 PM show!" Zhang Wei waved the tickets in his hand, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible pride and mystery: "Tonight... we won't go back. We'll stay in Jinling for one night and leave tomorrow."

The girls were taken aback at first, then their faces flushed red. Some lowered their heads shyly, while others playfully punched their boyfriends. But their eyes showed no opposition; instead, they were filled with shy and sweet anticipation.

The cold wind still blew, but at this moment, these six young hearts were enveloped by immense joy and a kind of ambiguous warmth.

They thronged around, searching for video arcades and other places to while away the afternoon, waiting for prime-time movies, and for the unknown and enchanting stories that would follow in the winter night of Nanjing.

At the movie theater entrance, the scalper in military green, counting the thick wad of banknotes in his hand, shrank back contentedly and disappeared once again into the crowd of potential customers waiting for "enlightenment".

"30 Days" brings not only laughter and tears on the screen, but also the desires and glimmers of change quietly ignited in the lives of countless ordinary people off-screen.

(End of this chapter)