Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 147 You are the real "Geng Hua"

After two days and two nights on the train, plus several hours on mountain roads, Liu Yimin's muscles ached and he was exhausted. As soon as he got to his room, he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep in a "T" shape.

Around 10 p.m., Liu Yimin slowly woke up. Looking at the dark room and the shadowy figures outside the window, it took him a long time to realize that he was already in Lushan.

Liu Yimin felt a strange pain in his head and an empty stomach. He walked out of the room and saw a room with a light on. He had just reached the door.

Zhang Mengzhao saw Liu Yimin inside and quickly opened the door, saying, "Yimin, you're finally awake! You must be exhausted from those few days on the train."

"Editor Zhang, were you waiting for me?" Liu Yimin's voice was weak from just waking up.

“Yes, if you don’t wake up soon, we’re going to go to sleep. This is Director Huang Zumo. Director Huang won’t be able to sleep tonight if he doesn’t see you.”

Zhang Mengzhao introduced Huang Zumo to Liu Yimin. Huang Zumo was rather thin and had his hair neatly combed, indicating that he usually paid great attention to his image.

As expected of someone from Shanghai, dressed in a leather jacket, he's at the forefront of modern fashion.

Zhu Lin sat down next to Liu Yimin, greeted him, and immediately went outside.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, please sit down. It's my honor to have such a good script to film. I feel that this movie will be the best movie I've ever made." Huang Zumo grasped Liu Yimin's hand and hurriedly asked him to sit down.

"Director Huang, I'm just the one who lays the foundation. Whether the building turns out well or not depends on you. I've heard Editor Zhang praise you; you've directed quite a few good movies."

Liu Yimin's words made Huang Zumo blush. Did he really not know whether he had directed a good movie or not?

"Whether a building is good or not depends on whether its foundation is solid. No matter how important a director's ability is, it still depends on whether there is a good script. For a director, a good script is no exaggeration to say that it is a major opportunity in his life."

Huang Zumo now regards Liu Yimin as a benefactor in his life. Big directors have countless good scripts, and it is not easy for small directors to get good scripts.

You either find a bargain or you get trained within the factory.

After expressing his gratitude, Huang Zumo began to tell Liu Yimin about the filming progress, going through everything in detail and asking Liu Yimin if he had any suggestions.

"Director Huang, Writer Zhang, I'm just here to be a deaf man's ears—a mere decoration. I'm good at writing scripts, and you're good at making movies. Leave the professional work to the professionals. I won't interrupt. I'm just here to enjoy the scenery of Mount Lu."

After talking for a while, Liu Yimin finally regained his energy and spirit.

"It's a pity you're a bit late; the waterfall's peak flow season has passed!" Huang Zumo said regretfully.

"If you can't see the waterfall during the high water season, then see the waterfall during the dry season! I'm luckier than Li Bai; he never had the chance to see Mount Lu during the dry season."

Huang Zumo glanced at Zhang Mengzhao and said with a smile, "You're quite generous!"

A delicious aroma wafted from outside the room. Liu Yimin sniffed, realizing his stomach was empty. Zhu Lin opened the door and said with a smile, "Try my shredded pork noodles. My skills aren't great, so don't laugh at me."

Liu Yimin's appetite was whetted. He took the chopsticks from Zhu Lin and said to the group, "I'll show you how to eat noodles!"

"Eat quickly. Zhu Lin was worried you'd go hungry, so she specially prepared the ingredients in the kitchen, just waiting for you. If you don't wake up all night, she might sit here until dawn."

Zhang Mengzhao teased Zhu Lin, making her blush instantly. Feeling the touch of their fingertips, she lowered her head, a smile playing on her lips, and returned to the kitchen to fry eggs.

After Huang Zumo realized what was happening, he looked up and laughed a few times: "So Yimin is the real Geng Hua!"

Perhaps because he was so hungry, the shredded pork noodles tasted exceptionally good. By the time Zhu Lin brought over the egg, Liu Yimin's bowl was already empty.

Zhu Lin exclaimed in surprise, "So fast?"

"It's mainly because the noodles you made were so delicious!" Liu Yimin said with satisfaction.

After chatting for a while, Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin came out of their room and delivered the things they had brought to Zhu Lin's room. Zhu Lin lived on the second floor of the small courtyard. The all-wood building had a musty smell of wood mixed with the smell of mothballs.

"These are the clothes your aunt and uncle brought you, and some food too."

"Thank you, you must have had a long journey. I can't possibly eat all this, so let me give you some. The food here is different from what we eat in the north, and most of the crew are from Shanghai." Zhu Lin quickly divided the food he brought into two portions.

After distributing the items, Zhu Lin started talking about the filming again. She talked on and on, with both complaints and excitement. Zhu Lin told him that they had to change into all sorts of different outfits frequently for the shoot, and that she had worn more new clothes in the past few months than she had in over twenty years.

Stage plays can be rehearsed continuously, but movies cannot; you have to get into character quickly, otherwise it will delay the filming schedule.

"Let me massage your head. You look a bit uncomfortable. Your head hurts when you wake up in the evening. I happen to have studied acupressure points on the head."

Zhu Lin walked behind Liu Yimin, pressed down on his shoulders, and placed his hands on Liu Yimin's head without saying a word. His hands pressed on the acupoints, like a gentle breeze blowing across the top of his head, and the last trace of headache quickly dissipated at his fingertips.

"How strong was my touch? Does it hurt?" Zhu Lin asked softly, the warm breeze from the tip of his teeth making her scalp tingle slightly.

"It doesn't hurt. I didn't expect you to be such a good cook."

He's a craftsman!
Hearing the praise, Zhu Lin massaged even more vigorously. After about ten minutes, Liu Yimin rolled his eyes upward and saw Zhu Lin staring at him with a smile.

"Comrade Yimin, why don't you dare to look me in the eye?"

"It's so uncomfortable to look at things with your eyes rolled back!"

"Yes, I'll change seats."

After spending half an hour in Zhu Lin's room, Liu Yimin came downstairs and bumped into Zhang Mengzhao, who was sitting under the eaves of the courtyard. He asked in confusion, "Editor Zhang, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"The weather is dry, be careful with fire!" Zhang Mengzhao said quietly.

Liu Yimin: "Editor Zhang, you're actually a pretty nice guy!"

Zhang Mengzhao yawned, stood up and said, "I should go to sleep too. I knew it! In the middle of the night, how could a fire be started!"

Back in his room, Liu Yimin washed up carefully. Lying in bed, he was extremely bored, but then again, who isn't a craftsman at heart!

The next morning, with the crowing of roosters, Liu Yimin walked out of his room, looking refreshed. The crew members came over to greet him; some shook hands, while others came with copies of "Romance on Lushan Mountain" for him to sign.

Those who didn't have the book were pinching their thighs until they were bruised. What a great opportunity! Why didn't they bring their own? After this parting, they might never see each other again.

Apart from Zhu Lin, the other actors whose names you can recall are all from the Shanghai Film Studio.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, we have long admired you. We were overjoyed to hear you were coming. We welcome you to guide our work," said Guo Kaimin, who plays Geng Hua, excitedly.

"I wouldn't dare call myself a mentor, I just came to visit everyone!" Liu Yimin took out a bag of White Rabbit milk candy and several boxes of steamed rice cakes from the room and distributed them all to everyone.

After breakfast, Huang Zumo told Liu Yimin that there was a scene that he couldn't get right, and then he glanced at Zhu Lin.

"What play?" Liu Yimin asked.

Zhu Lin stood to the side, looking as if she had done something wrong, leaning against the wall with her hands tightly intertwined, while straining to hear what Liu Yimin had to say. Huang Zumo explained carefully, and Liu Yimin finally understood that it was Zhou Yun who had taken the initiative to kiss Geng Hua on the cheek in the scene, which Zhu Lin had been unwilling to film. As Huang Zumo spoke, Zhu Lin muttered something, which Liu Yimin didn't quite catch.

After glancing at her, he immediately turned his face away and stopped muttering.

"We're thinking that if we really can't film this part, we'll cancel it. But we still need to get your opinion as the author!"

"Let's shoot today then. It's getting colder and colder, and the actors won't be able to stand it. The sun is out today, so we can shoot indoor scenes after that."

Liu Yimin said calmly. Huang Zumo and Zhang Mengzhao exchanged a glance, then looked at Zhu Lin. Seeing that she didn't speak, they relaxed and said, "Then let's do it today!"

Liu Yimin walked up to Zhu Lin, stared at her for a moment, and then said, "Editor Zhang, prepare some ginger soup to take up the mountain to ward off the cold!"

"You're so thoughtful." Zhang Mengzhao immediately ordered someone to make ginger soup.

After packing their things, Liu Yimin, carrying his French camera, and the group headed up the mountain. His camera, hanging around his neck, immediately attracted the attention of a group of people; its silver body looked small and exquisite compared to the Seagull cameras available in China.

The Alsaflex is currently the world's most advanced 35mm SLR camera. The Seagull cameras currently available in China are twin-lens reflex cameras, with two lenses. One lens is used for framing, and the photographer looks down when taking pictures.

Upon hearing the price, Zhang Mengzhao nearly gasped for breath: "Father and Mother, this price is going to kill us!"

Huang Zumo, a director, cherishes cameras and video cameras, and he picked them up to examine them: "Goodness, I'm doomed!"

Throughout the journey, Zhu Lin kept his head down and remained silent. Seeing this, Liu Yimin deliberately slowed his pace, and the two of them trailed behind.

Zhu Lin glanced at it and hurriedly said, "I won't film that. How can I film that kind of movie? How am I supposed to find a girlfriend after that?"

"Come on, don't frown, smile, I'll take your picture!" Liu Yimin said, raising his camera.

After striking a pose, Zhu Lin saw the shutter click and said, "It really won't work!"

"Come on, let's take a picture together!" Liu Yimin adjusted the settings and struck a selfie pose.

After several poses and a long walk, they finally arrived at the filming location—San Die Quan (Three Cascades Spring). Liu Yimin pointed to the pine trees next to them and said, "If we don't take pictures now, these will all turn into rime ice, and then with icicles hanging on them, it will be even more impossible to take pictures."

Zhu Lin knew it was true and didn't say anything, only muttering to himself. Liu Yimin smiled, ran over to Huang Zumo and whispered a few words, while Huang Zumo went to the photographer's position to take measurements.

“It’s possible to create a visual illusion. Your idea is good, but we need to have the actors come over and take a look at their positions.”

Huang Zumo smiled and beckoned Zhu Lin and Guo Kaimin over, saying, "You two can sit in those seats." Then, he specifically looked at Zhu Lin and said, "It's just a camera trick; we don't need to actually kiss. You should thank Comrade Yimin."

"Borrowing space?" Zhu Lin didn't understand. Liu Yimin explained it to her, and Zhu Lin looked at Liu Yimin excitedly: "You really have a way. This is the best way, the best way."

“Yimin, you can become a director. I think you should go to the Beijing Film Academy,” Zhang Mengzhao said.

It took quite a while to find the right angle before we finally got the desired effect. With that, all the exterior scenes were filmed. The crew erupted in cheers, and Huang Zumo happily exclaimed:
"Let's have dinner together tonight to welcome Yimin back. We'll rest tomorrow. Everyone, let's work hard and finish filming in one go."

The crew quickly poured a teacup of ginger soup for Zhu Lin and Guo Kaimin, who shivered as they drank it down in one gulp.

"Yimin, it all depends on you. Everything will fall into place as soon as you arrive."

The filming was finished, and the weight that had been pressing on Zhang Mengzhao for days was finally lifted.

On the way back, Zhu Lin's smile contained a hint of resentment: "Comrade Liu Yimin, you're bullying me. You had a plan all along, but you didn't say so, making me worry for so long."

"I have a surprise for you, but it won't be as fun if I tell you. You've been in Lushan for a few months now. How about you take me sightseeing in Lushan tomorrow?" Liu Yimin said with a mischievous grin.

Zhu Lin happily picked up a pebble and threw it into the pine forest in the distance: "Okay, anyway you can't find anyone else, you'll always need someone to carry your camera for you."

“I won’t let anyone else carry it either!”

"Honored! Honored!"

With the matter resolved, Zhu Lin felt much more relaxed, keeping both his mouth and hands busy.

That evening, on the first floor of the cabin, the crew organized everyone who needed to cook, and then took the money to buy a lot of ingredients nearby, indulging themselves to the fullest.

The production team's budget was 70 yuan, which was tight, depending on where the money was spent.

"Welcome, Comrade Yimin, this money was well spent!" Huang Zumo said to Zhang Mengzhao with a smile.

The delicious aroma of meat filled the entire courtyard, and several performers put on some shows for everyone's entertainment.

[Build a seven-star stove, and boil water from the three rivers in a copper kettle.]

We set out an eight-immortal table to entertain guests from all directions.

All who come are guests; all that matters is how you speak.

We meet and laugh, and then forget about it afterwards.

Zhang Mengzhao and Huang Zumo performed a piece called "The Battle of Wits," while Zhu Lin sang "Our Life is Full of Sunshine."

The flower of happiness blooms in my heart

Love songs drift on the wind

Our hearts fly to the distance.

Yearning for that beautiful revolutionary ideal
Oh, my dear one
Let's move forward hand in hand
Dedicate your youth and strength to the motherland.

This song was created after a meeting in 78. Xie Tian, ​​a director at the Beijing Film Studio, felt the changes of the times and commissioned a song with lighthearted lyrics to be used as the theme song for the movie "Sweet Career".

The hustle and bustle lasted until late at night before the courtyard quieted down, and the night mist hung in the air above the courtyard.

Early in the morning, Liu Yimin was woken up by a knock on the door: "Comrade Liu Yimin, get up!"

Zhu Lin stood in front of Liu Yimin wearing a double-breasted blue Lenin suit, with the scarf Liu Yimin had given her when he returned from France tied around her neck, and a handmade hair clip she had bought in Yanjing in her hair.

Zhang Mengzhao and his friends went to Guling Town for fun, while Liu Yimin and Zhu Lin went up the mountain.

Zhang Mengzhao said with a smile, "Yimin, you two should be careful not to catch a cold. It's cold in the afternoon, so come down early."

"Editor Zhang, how about we go together?"

Zhang Mengzhao waved his hand and hurriedly said, "No, no!"

(End of this chapter)