Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 257, page 255: A Minor Victory
The lights in the theater went completely dark, with only the light from the screen illuminating the focused and expectant faces.

The opening sequence of "The Birth of a Nation" carries the solemnity and power unique to that era, and the majestic music instantly captures everyone's attention.

In the vast Gobi Desert, amidst raging sandstorms, a team appears so small against the backdrop of heaven and earth, yet marches forward with unwavering determination.

Wang Sheng composed himself and focused his attention on the film.

Although he knew the final form of the film and even that its behind-the-scenes operations were inextricably linked to him, at this moment, as a mere viewer, he was still captivated by the epic grandeur of the opening.

The cinematic language is simple yet powerful, vividly conveying the weight and determination of being "ordered to serve in a time of crisis."

Wang Sheng's hands were still being held tightly.

On the left, Fan Xiaopang's hand was initially tense, even a bit stubborn, but as the plot deepened and General Feng Shi delivered his powerful mobilization speech on the Gobi Desert, her tightly clenched fingers gradually relaxed, as if she were overwhelmed by the greater power in the film, leaving only her fingertips unconsciously resting on the back of his hand, conveying a slightly cool touch.

On his right, Gao Yuanyuan's hand always lay obediently in his palm, their fingers intertwined. Occasionally, her fingers would tighten slightly because of the difficult situation the characters in the drama faced or a moment that was exhilarating, as if she were sharing her inner turmoil with him.

She watched intently, her profile appearing exceptionally soft in the changing light of the screen, her eyes sparkling with the light of being moved by lofty ideals and the spirit of sacrifice.

It wasn't just the three of them; at this moment, similar scenes were playing out in cinemas across the country that had evening screenings.

In major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, cinemas in core business districts can achieve an occupancy rate of 50% to 60%.

For a non-commercial, patriotic film, this is a very respectable achievement during the evening screenings.

Among the audience were middle-aged couples who looked like intellectuals, young employees who came for education either organized by their workplace or on their own initiative, and some college students who were curious about this period of history.

They watched quietly, occasionally letting out a low sigh or a suppressed gasp.

In many ordinary prefecture-level cities and even county towns, cinemas with relatively simple conditions also maintain an occupancy rate of around 30% to 40%.

For many small-town residents who are used to returning to family life after eight o'clock, being able to sit in a movie theater at nine or ten o'clock at night is already an unusual experience.

The stories of our ancestors on the screen, who created miracles in extremely harsh environments by using abacuses and manual labor, struck our hearts with a simple yet powerful force.

In an era when most cinemas didn't even have the concept of "midnight screenings," screenings after 9 PM were considered the last prime time slots.

The reason why "The Birth of a Nation" was able to achieve such a stable attendance rate during this period is not only due to the unprecedented publicity and the boost from Wang Sheng's widely influential film review, but also because it accurately met the needs of the times.

1999 was a special year.

The pride of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China is intertwined with the anticipation of a new era.

The public harbors a complex and turbulent emotion that needs an outlet for release and resolution.

What "The Birth of a Nation" shows is how a generation, with amazing will and wisdom, straightened the backbone of the nation when the country was poor and weak and faced enormous external pressure.

This spirit of striving for excellence, this shocking silence, deeply comforted and inspired the audience in front of the screen.

In the film, Li Xuejian's portrayal of General Feng Shi, with his roar of "Develop the atomic bomb, stand tall!", echoed in the silent theater, bringing tears to the eyes of many.

The character Lu Guangda, played by Li Youbin, vividly portrays the integrity and patriotism of an intellectual when he learns that the Soviet experts have withdrawn and all the documents have been burned. His hunched back straightens up in an instant.

When the mushroom cloud, symbolizing victory and dignity, finally rose on the screen, the majestic and stirring soundtrack blended perfectly with the visuals, and many viewers couldn't help but applaud.

The applause was not only for the success of the heroes in the film, but also for the rapidly rising nation in reality, eager to be recognized by the world.

The lights gradually brightened, and the end credits began to roll.

Fan Xiaopang let out a long sigh of relief, as if she had just been freed from that tense emotion. She released her grip on Wang Sheng's hand, rubbed her slightly sore eyes, and said with a rare seriousness in her tone, "The filming is really good... It makes one feel heavy-hearted, yet also very uplifting."

Gao Yuanyuan slowly released her hand from Wang Sheng's, her fingertips seemingly still lingering on the warmth of his touch. She softly echoed his words, her eyes still glistening with emotion: "Yes, those scientists and soldiers have it so tough. After seeing this, I feel like my usual worries don't matter anymore."

"..."

It was past 10 p.m. when I left the movie theater.

The cool autumn breeze swept over us, dispelling the gloom and excitement that had settled in the theater.

The night sky over Beijing was unusually clear, with only a few stars visible, their brilliance contrasting with the still-dazzling neon lights on the ground.

The army had already driven their car to the cinema entrance and were waiting.

The three of them got into the car, and for a moment no one spoke, as they seemed still immersed in the afterglow of the movie.

"I'm a little hungry," Wang Sheng said, breaking the silence. "Let's find a place to get some late-night snacks."

"Okay, Mr. Wang," Dajun replied, skillfully driving his Audi A6 into the flow of traffic.

At this time of day, there weren't many restaurants still open. Dajun easily found a late-night eatery that was famous for its congee and stir-fries and had a fairly elegant ambiance.

After we sat down, we ordered a few light dishes and porridge.

While waiting for the food to be served, Fan Xiaopang and Gao Yuanyuan whispered a few words about a few scenes in the movie, their tone full of longing and admiration for the pure idealism of that era.

Wang Sheng mostly just listened, occasionally taking a sip of tea.

Years of hard work have finally translated into tremendous momentum, allowing such a high-quality domestic film to be shown to so many people in the very year of its release. It was all worthwhile.

Good movies should not be buried.

The food was served, and the simple late-night snack tasted especially delicious because of the mental feast that had just taken place.

Fan Xiaopang seemed to have a good appetite, eating half a bowl of porridge and some vegetables.

After finishing our late-night snack, it was already 11 p.m.

Dajun drove the three of them back to the hotel where Wang Sheng was staying.

The car came to a stop in front of the hotel.

The three of them got on the elevator.

The atmosphere froze subtly for a moment.

Fan Xiaopang was the last to exit the elevator. She glanced at Wang Sheng, then quickly looked at Gao Yuanyuan beside her, whose eyes and brows were already unconsciously revealing a hint of anticipation and joy. A faint blush rose to her face, and her voice was several octaves lower than usual, carrying obvious embarrassment and regret: "Um... Brother Sheng... I... I'm not feeling well tonight..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear—it was her period.

Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng's gaze lingered on her face for a second before he nodded knowingly, his tone flat and even: "Okay, then go back and rest early."

Standing beside Wang Sheng, Gao Yuanyuan's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing Fan Xiaopang's words, as if stars had fallen into them.

She tried hard to suppress the urge to smile and said to Fan Xiaopang with feigned concern, "Bingbing, you should go back and get some rest, drink plenty of hot water, and keep warm!"

But the lightness in his tone was impossible to hide.

Fan Xiaopang felt a pang of jealousy as he watched Gao Yuanyuan's smug expression of "lucky victory," but there was nothing he could do.

She gave a reluctant "hmm," whispered "Goodnight, Mr. Wang, goodnight, Yuanyuan," and then dragged her somewhat heavy steps toward her room alone.

(End of this chapter)