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

Chapter 458 Jiang Da Asks for a Book
At Yenching University, Liu Yimin is attending the graduation ceremony for senior students. During the stirring strains of the graduation song, Liu Yimin reads his graduation message to the graduates.

Li Liangrong from Fudan University sat in the audience at the graduation ceremony of the Chinese Department of Yenching University, listening to the "Graduation Song" and feeling the power of the legacy of the Chinese Department of Yenching University.

After the graduation ceremony, Li Liangrong asked Liu Yimin why he chose the "Graduation Song" from the era of national salvation as the graduation song for the Chinese Department of Yenching University.

"It's very simple. Every student, regardless of the era, must shoulder the responsibility of serving the country. There are also responsibilities in peacetime. Forgetting this responsibility is a failure of education."

Li Liangrong said, "It seems that there is still a lot we in the Chinese Department of Fudan University should learn."

Liu Yimin returned to his office and walked towards the graduate thesis defense venue next door at 3 p.m. Upon seeing Liu Yimin, the professors participating in the defense could no longer contain themselves.

"Never mind, Yimin, your thesis has been approved." Wu Zuxiang waved his hand helplessly.

Liu Yimin said with a smile, "Professor Wu, I'll be going now!"

"Let's go, let's go!" Wang Yao said impatiently.

On June 5, 1985, Liu Yimin officially received his master's degree from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Yenching University. In September, he officially began his doctoral studies.

Liu Yimin looked at his graduate diploma and first showed it to Cao Yu at the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

"I must be the most relaxed mentor in the world, I don't have to worry about anything," Cao Yu joked.

Liu Yimin replied with a smile, which made Cao Yu burst into laughter again.

Cao Yu discussed "Uncle Tom's Cabin" with Liu Yimin: "I got a lot of book reviews written by foreigners through some friends. Looking at the content, you've completely captured the hearts of foreign readers!"

"In fact, readers from different cultural backgrounds share a common point: people all over the world like tough guys who take control of their own destiny and never give in. When this is placed in the context of slavery, it takes on a different meaning."

“If you take this story out of its background as a story about slaves, it can stand alone.” Cao Yu pondered Liu Yimin’s words and understood the key point.

"If this were placed on a fascist battlefield, it would be a heroic and moving story."

"You have a better grasp of the story than I do. What kind of reaction do you think this movie will have in the United States?"

"I think if this movie is well-made, it should be able to earn tens of millions of dollars without any problem."

At this time, the American film market, like the American literary market, was in a state of extreme decline.

When Chinese filmmakers went abroad for research, people from the West told them directly that the glory of Chinese films was temporary because Chinese people watched less television. They believed that once television became more prevalent, people would definitely go to the cinema less often.

Chinese filmmakers didn't believe it, but they were actually right. After the widespread adoption of DVD players in China, the scale of the Chinese film industry shrank rapidly.

Movies are like cinemas, but the movie-watching experience in cinemas isn't that great, so who would want to go?

The development of cinema technology has essentially saved cinemas.

"Tens of millions, let's wait and see. The American film market isn't just in America, it's also in Europe. If it becomes a hit, it will quickly solidify your status as a screenwriter in Hollywood." Cao Yu was very much looking forward to seeing what the Americans would make.

After leaving Cao Yu's office, Liu Yimin did not watch the rehearsal at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, but went directly to the Beijing Film Studio.

Wang Yan and the crew of "The Most Beautiful Youth" have returned to the Beijing Film Academy. They have edited the first two episodes and invited him to take a look.

Half a month after returning, Wang Yan's face had darkened. The chapped skin from winter had just healed, but the April and May sun had given him many sunspots.

"Is it this hot in Saihanba?" Liu Yimin couldn't help but ask.

Wang Yan touched his face and said helplessly, "Of course, but it's mostly from the wind and sand. As long as the filming goes well, it's nothing."

"Comrade Yimin, I've missed you so much! I've been looking forward to seeing you. I've been standing here waiting and waiting, and finally you've come to visit."

Liu Yimin knew who it was as soon as he heard the tone, and turned to look at Feng Xiaogang, who came out of the side office: "What are you doing at Beijing Film Studio?"

"I was waiting for you. Actually, I should have gone back to Yanjing TV a long time ago." Feng Xiaogang has now retired from the army and become a graphic designer at Yanjing TV. This time, he went to Saihanba with Wang Yan's crew.

Liu Yimin chatted with Feng Xiaogang for a few minutes, then Wang Yan pulled Liu Yimin away and whispered, "Xiao Feng's skills are alright, but it's this guy..."

"What's wrong?"

"Too worldly and slick, too good at flattery," Wang Yan said.

Liu Yimin didn't speak. Wang Yang, the director of Beijing Film Studio, came over and walked into the screening room with the two of them.

Wang Yang rarely accompanies Liu Yimin to review films anymore, so Liu Yimin figured he must have something to discuss with him now.

After seeing the vast expanse of yellow sand and the afforestation efforts in Saihanba, Wang Yang pulled Liu Yimin into his office. A little while later, Deputy Factory Director Zhu Dexiong also came in.

"Director Wang, please say whatever you want to say," Liu Yimin asked.

After brewing the tea, Wang Yang revealed his purpose: "Didn't our institute propose to make more movies about Chinese kung fu to promote our culture and make money overseas?"

"Right, Director Wang, I remember the Ministry of Culture has some preferential policies, right? You don't expect me to get those policies for you, do you?"

After the year-end summary meeting last year, Wang Yang and Liu Peiran from the August First Film Studio discussed and put forward some suggestions for developing Chinese kung fu films.

After compiling their suggestions, Liu Yimin submitted them to Xia Yan. Xia Yan was quite satisfied after reading them. After discussing with the Film Bureau, he specially established a group to support the development of domestic kung fu films.

The group itself isn't the key; the money is. There's dedicated funding for martial arts films, with bonuses for well-made ones. Most importantly, an agreement has been reached with China Film Group Corporation that film studios can receive an additional 5 to 10 percent of the overseas box office revenue for this type of film, on top of the existing profit sharing.

After the news came out, the various film studios were very excited, but after the excitement subsided, they realized they had been excited for nothing—there was no script.

Wang Yang said, "The most difficult thing to obtain now is a script, and the ministry doesn't provide funding for every type of kung fu film. If that were the case, all the film studios would be lining their own pockets by claiming subsidies, and the Ministry of Culture would be completely drained."

This was suggested by Liu Yimin. The approach was for ordinary film studios to finance the production, with subsidies and bonuses awarded based on the quality of the film. For films with excessively high production costs, the Film Bureau could review the script; if the script was deemed good, it could provide initial funding.

"So, you want me to write a notebook for you?"

Wang Yang couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "Which film studio wouldn't want that? Yimin, you are now an internationally renowned screenwriter. I believe that if you show your skills in this area, the effect will definitely be different."

"The matter raised by our institute can't just be all talk and no action; that would damage your reputation as the First Deputy Director."

"Director Wang, don't try to sweet-talk me. But I can give it a try. Our research institute can't afford to fail before it even gets off the ground!" Liu Yimin said helplessly.

“Okay, we’ll make an exception. As long as the script is good and makes money, our Beijing Film Studio can give you more script fees. I heard from comrades who have returned to China that you can sell a film script for tens of thousands of dollars in the United States. This amount of money is too little for you in China, but this is the only way for now.”

"Factory Director Wang really knows everything about international affairs without ever leaving the country!" Liu Yimin said with a smile. Zhu Dexiong said, "Yimin, I think the State Administration of Foreign Exchange should award you an award for outstanding foreign exchange earnings at the end of the year."

"Haha, Director Zhu, then I'll have to trouble you to mention it to the leaders of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange when you meet them, and ask them to give the Institute of Literature and Art a little more foreign exchange quota," Liu Yimin said.

As Liu Yimin walked out of the Beijing Film Studio, he couldn't help but sigh. Both the film studio and the animation studio were in the same boat, lacking suitable scripts, especially those capable of gaining traction internationally.

Back home, Zhu Lin came over happily: "Teacher Liu, I passed the audition for the 'Journey to the West' TV series."

"Huh? Isn't their film crew in another city?"

"Director Yang Jie made a last-minute trip back to Beijing."

In 1985, a major incident occurred in the production team of "Journey to the West": they ran out of money. CCTV had invested three million yuan and thought it was a sure thing, but after filming for a short time, the money ran out. CCTV even suspected that director Yang Jie had embezzled the money and rushed to check the accounts. In the end, they found that filming "The Four Great Classical Novels" was indeed expensive.

In her previous life, Zhu Lin auditioned for a role in a film crew. Now, Zhu Lin is a two-time Best Actress winner and a director at the Beijing People's Art Theatre. She is no longer the slightly famous Zhu Lin, so her treatment is naturally different.

"Director Yang said he initially thought I wasn't quite suitable, but after an audition, he decided it was me," Zhu Lin said.

"Director Yang has a good eye. If she's mistaken, I'll send her a telegram to plead your case." Liu Yimin said with a smile as he walked into the living room.

Xi Mei quickly brought the food to the table, ready to eat. Zhu Lin kept talking about her meeting with Yang Jie, saying that Yang Jie's grasp of the plot of "Journey to the West" was amazing.

Liu Yimin and the others listened quietly to her story, occasionally offering a heartfelt compliment that made Zhu Lin feel quite flattered.

"what--"

"ah--"

"hiss--"

"Good!" (Applause)
At the end of June, Yenching University finally opened for the holidays. Liu Yimin wrote while preparing to take his two little ones to Beidaihe for a trip.

However, before they could even set off, a phone call came in. It was from Wei Junyi of People's Literature Publishing House, but the caller was from the Ministry of Culture.

"Yimin, come to the ministry. I have something to tell you," Wei Junyi said hurriedly, without saying what it was, rushing him like the house was about to burn down.

Fortunately, Liu Yimin lived in a courtyard house, not far from the Ministry of Culture. He arrived at the ministry in no time.

In the small conference room of the department, Xia Yan, Zhang Guangnian, Tang Dacheng and several others were present. Wei Junyi handed a book purchase list to Liu Yimin.

This is a purchase list for "The Battle of Taierzhuang", with approximately 500 copies, and three copies of "Amnesty 1959".

"Sister Wei, is there a problem with this book purchase list?" Liu Yimin asked curiously.

"Look at the company name on the signature."

"The signature is fine, but why is this purchase order sent directly to the publisher? A bookstore could easily handle this amount, right?"

“This is a newspaper from Hong Kong, the one across the street. They bought this batch of books to transport to the island, and they even let it slip that the leaders of the region across the street wanted to see them,” Zhang Guangnian said.

"Jiang Da, let him see if he wants to," Liu Yimin said indifferently.

Xia Yan chimed in, "This isn't an ordinary signal. If the other party wanted to see it, what channel couldn't they buy it through? Why would they choose this method? And why specifically mention that it was Jiang Da who saw it?"

"It would be strange if it were normal," Liu Yimin thought to himself.

"What does he want to do?" Zhang Guangnian asked, puzzled.

Liu Yimin said, "It's an attempt to show goodwill, but please don't ask me the specific reasons, I don't know either."

"This matter has been reported to the leadership; let's wait for their decision!" Tang Dacheng said.

They called Liu Yimin over in a flurry of activity just for this matter. Liu Yimin was quite helpless, mainly because what they said was useless!

The group discussed the matter and came to the same conclusion: the matter must be kept secret, and decisions must be made solely by superiors.

In the evening, a car stopped at the entrance of the courtyard house. Yang Xiuyun, who was talking to Aunt Liang outside, saw the car and hurriedly brought the two little ones back inside.

"Old Chief, please come in," Liu Yimin said.

The old leader laughed heartily a few times, walked into the courtyard and chatted with Zhu Lin and Yang Xiuyun for a while before heading straight into Liu Yimin's study.

Do you know why I came to find you?

"About the book."

"Yes, they've already agreed to sell these books to them," the old commander said. "Your book has certainly caused quite a stir."

“That’s normal. They’ll definitely read it, after all, this is a victory on the main battlefield. They want to see how we write about it, whether it’s with good intentions or bad,” Liu Yimin said.

"You know a lot, tell me, what is he trying to do?"

"I think Chiang Kai-shek is about to lose his temper and start showing goodwill. There has been a long period of communication between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. We have already shown goodwill, and they want to see how much goodwill we have."

Jiang Danian was getting old, and his three sons were no longer able to take over. His eldest son was in poor health, his second son's reputation was ruined because of the "Jiangnan Case," and his third son was lame.

The Jiangnan case refers to the alleged assassination of Jiangnan, a Chinese-American writer, solely because he wrote about his family's scandals. Even in the 1980s, spies still liked to use this tactic; the key point is that this tactic was used against the United States, so naturally the US couldn't pretend not to see it.

With various internal and external factors intertwined, Chiang Kai-shek began to test the mainland's attitude.

"Yes, that's what we thought too, so we decided to send them even more books. We're all one family across the Taiwan Strait, and we can't be separated for too long. We should strive for every opportunity we have," the old leader said.

"Yes, relatives are separated by the strait, and flesh and blood are divided between the two sides."

"You're quite politically astute. We proposed the Three Links in 79, but there was no response from the other side. It's been several years; it's time for a response."

In the study, the old leader told him about Huang Wei and others' attitudes when they heard about this: "They were also very excited and felt that we should let the other party see our sincerity."

The other party may have already read the book "The Battle of Taierzhuang".

(End of this chapter)