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

Chapter 552 Li Xuejian's Little Thoughts

Liu Peiran, script in hand, sat on the sofa, quickly considering the pros and cons. Afraid that Liu Yimin would notice, she could only keep pretending to drink tea to cover it up.

Liu Yimin pretended not to know anything, got up and looked at the August 1st Factory compound in the cold wind. The wind howled and withered leaves rolled around on the ground. The August 1st Factory workers who were queuing up to receive supplies were happily rubbing their red ears, not feeling cold at all.

Some people wore crocheted earmuffs, had cigarettes in their mouths, and chatted and laughed with others while keeping their heads down. They would occasionally glance at the office staff receiving their benefits, as if afraid that it would be their turn and they would miss out.

The cold wind outside contrasted sharply with the warmth inside. Two figures running from next door caught Liu Yimin's attention. After observing their figures for a while, he thought they looked like Li Jun and Zhai Junjie. It seemed that the two had already received news of Liu Yimin's arrival at the August First Film Studio.

Li Jun was carrying a jug of oil, so he was running rather slowly, and Zhai Junjie kept urging him on from ahead.

"Yimin, what are you looking at?"

Liu Yimin said with a smile, "It's nothing, it'll get lively soon. It's always more lively in your big factory during the festival, with long lines of people."

"Lively? You really don't know the cost of living when you're not in charge. With so many people, the New Year's benefits will cost a lot of money. Nowadays, factory workers' wages are not high. If the factory doesn't give them something, they won't be able to have a good New Year. If the factory doesn't have money, the workers will complain, whether they say it or not."

Liu Peiran shook his head. As a state-owned enterprise, they have an obligation to ensure that their workers live a good life, regardless of the level of their operations.

"Director Liu, let's not just talk about that. How's the script?" Liu Yimin asked.

Liu Peiran said, "I just carefully considered the bold parts again. They seem bold, but there's nothing too outrageous. They're bold and unconventional, but they're always on a tightrope. It's very difficult to grasp the right balance, but you've done a great job."

As soon as Liu Peiran finished speaking, Li Jun and Zhai Junjie knocked on the office door. Seeing the two men covered in sweat, Liu Peiran gestured towards the oil in Li Jun's hand with his lip: "Old Li? You've come to give me a gift during the New Year!"

Without saying a word, Li Jun placed the oil on the table: "Factory Manager Liu, this is peanut oil sent from my hometown. It makes stir-fries and cooking very fragrant."

"Director Liu, this is a token of my appreciation," Zhai Junjie said.

"What's in it for you?"

Zhai Junjie shamelessly replied, "Of course, my feelings are in my heart."

"You two, stop playing these tricks on me. You both ran like mad when you saw Yimin was here. I've never seen you bring a can of oil to my house before. What? You're trying to sabotage me because Yimin is here?" Liu Peiran said with a laugh.

Zhai Junjie chuckled, picked up the script that Liu Peiran had placed on the table with both hands, and ran to the side to study it with Li Jun.

Liu Peiran looked at Liu Yimin, who continued the previous conversation with Liu Peiran: "Director Liu, you are bold but not overstepping the bounds, and you don't want to make things difficult for our film production. Of course, we think this way, but others may not think the same way."

"We've already expressed our stance to the General Political Department. We'll film first, and we won't submit the script for their review. We'll discuss it after filming is complete. If any problems arise, it's not your responsibility; it's a mistake in our factory's decision-making."

After Liu Peiran finished speaking, she leaned close to Liu Yimin's ear and whispered, "Do you think the two of them are a good match?"

"I think it's okay, the key question is whether you think it's okay?"

Liu Peiran laughed and said, "Then it's those two. Zhai Junjie did a good job in 'The Battle of Taierzhuang,' and Li Jun has always been good."

After making up her mind, Liu Peiran also wanted to tease the two of them, so she walked up to them and snatched the script away: "It's no use for you two to look at it, the director has already been decided!"

"It's settled?" Li Jun's voice immediately rose ten octaves. He stared wide-eyed at Liu Peiran, then looked at Liu Yimin, who sat motionless on the sofa.

Liu Yimin shook his head cooperatively. After confirming with his eyes, Li Jun said indignantly, "Director Liu, pat your chest and say it: in the entire August First Film Studio's directing room, who can compare to me in directing this kind of grand historical drama!"

Zhai Junjie chimed in, "Director Liu, who has our factory decided on? Tell us so we can hear whether they're suitable or not."

"Oh ho, you two are so powerful in the factory and so domineering in the office. What? Do you think you're the boss among dozens of directors, Li Jun?" Liu Peiran pointed at his nose and cursed.

Li Jun snorted coldly: "Even if I'm not the boss, in this kind of drama, I, Li Jun, am not necessarily the second in command."

Liu Peiran scrutinized the two men with a stern gaze, making Li Jun and Zhai Junjie feel uneasy. Suddenly, they turned around and exchanged a glance with Liu Yimin, and the two burst out laughing.

Li Jun and Zhai Junjie exchanged a glance: "What are you laughing at? If you don't want us to film, then we won't. Lao Zhai, let's go!"

Li Jun was about to leave with the peanut oil in his arms when Liu Peiran laughed and said to Liu Yimin, "Look how stingy he is. He probably took this oil home himself. He heard you were coming, so he rushed over without even putting it in his house."

"Director Li, Director Zhai, don't be in such a hurry!"

"Yimin, we're going back now. We haven't brought the cabbages home yet!" Zhai Junjie said in a low voice.

Liu Peiran chuckled: "If you two leave, you'll definitely regret it!"

"What do you mean?" Li Jun asked.

"Director Li, Director Liu has already decided to hand over the film to you. He was just teasing you earlier," Liu Yimin revealed the truth.

Upon hearing this, Li Jun exclaimed "Oh dear!" and shoved the peanut oil into Liu Peiran's hand, saying, "Director Liu, I was just about to take the oil directly to your house!"

"Director Liu, I knew you had a discerning eye!" Zhai Junjie grabbed Liu Peiran and almost choked him.

Liu Peiran pushed Zhai Junjie away and returned Li Jun's peanut oil: "Look, these two have dog-like faces. Old Li, Old Zhai, you two should take a good look at the script, listen to what Comrade Yimin has to say, and try your best to make it well."

The three people sat down next to Liu Yimin and asked him what his requirements were for the filming.

"I don't have many requirements, the main thing is to choose the right actors. Who should we choose? Our country has already produced many films of this kind, and we already have classic actors with iconic looks. We'll choose from these people, such as Gu Yue, who plays the old man, and Shao Honglai, who plays Li Zongren in 'The Battle of Taierzhuang'."
Sun Feihu and Liu Xitian were chosen to play the bald man, Chen Lao Z.

Li Jun and Zhai Junjie took notes and nodded frequently as they listened to Liu Yimin's words. Liu Yimin was talking about classic actors, actors who had played historical figures for many years.

After Liu Yimin finished speaking, the two expressed their complete agreement and said they would send invitations to the actors once the production team was established.

Liu Peiran said, "What Comrade Yimin said is exactly what I said."

"Director Liu, what about the funding? The higher-ups aren't supporting it; are we the only ones who can afford it?" Li Jun asked hesitantly.

"The General Political Department isn't against it; it's mainly up to us on the filming process. Of course, we'll have to raise the initial funds ourselves. So, we need to manage this money carefully. I've seen that there aren't many war scenes in this film, so we can save a lot of money in that area."

"We'll put up one million for filming first, and then raise the rest ourselves. You two need to be frugal this time, like landlords." Liu Peiran said earnestly.

Liu Yimin inquired about how to raise funds, and Liu Peiran smiled slyly, preparing to ask the Film Bureau. "Director Chen Bo is retiring and doesn't want to get involved anymore. But a new director is coming, and he'll definitely want to achieve something. Our script looks risky, but if it's filmed well, it'll be a huge success. I'll ask the new director for the money then," Liu Peiran said smugly.

After Chen Bo, the director of the Film Bureau, came Teng Jinxian, the director of Emei Film Studio. He was ordered to go to Beijing to manage domestic film affairs. He was the first in China to propose the concept of vigorously developing mainstream films and to provide financial support for them.

If Liu Peiran finds Teng Jinxian, he might actually be able to get the money.

Li Jun and Zhai Junjie exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing their worry. They were afraid that if they ran out of money while filming and Liu Peiran didn't get her payment, the entire crew would have to disband.

But since things had come to this, there was nothing they could do but pray that the funds would arrive in time.

The script for "The Founding Ceremony of the People's Republic of China" was submitted to the August First Film Studio, which put one matter at ease. Now, there's no need to worry about delaying the filming schedule of "The Founding Ceremony of the People's Republic of China" when I go abroad.

Liu Yimin stood up and tugged at the hem of his shirt: "Alright, that's all I came here for. Now that I've finished, I'll head back."

"Let's chat a little longer. Anyway, it's almost Chinese New Year, and besides being busy with New Year's preparations, there's not much else to do," Liu Peiran said.

"Director Liu, I'm different from you. I'm going back to my hometown for the New Year." Liu Yimin asked another question about the movie "Deng Jiaxian".

"Director Yan Jizhou is currently in Mianyang, Sichuan Province, and filming is in full swing. They went to Lop Nur a while ago, and it is estimated that filming will not be completed until February."

Liu Peiran explained that the Ministry of Culture, the General Political Department, and the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense all paid close attention to this film and inquired about it many times.

Li Jun said, "The last time I communicated with Lao Yan, he was still talking about how a scene needs to be polished several times to fully restore the scene and characters at that time, not only the plot, but also to show the complex psychology of the characters."

Liu Yimin nodded in relief, but Liu Peiran held him back, insisting that they have lunch at the August First Film Studio before leaving. After lunch, Liu Yimin immediately drove to the Beijing People's Art Theatre and used the lunch break to teach Zhu Lin how to drive for a while.

He was relieved once Zhu Lin had fully mastered the skill.

When Liu Yimin got home that evening, he saw a somewhat familiar figure standing at the entrance of the residential complex. He told Zhu Lin to slow down and roll down the window to see who it was.

"Li Xuejian? What are you doing here!" Liu Yimin asked curiously.

Li Xuejian bent down and saw Liu Yimin sitting in the passenger seat: "Professor Liu, don't worry about the holiday. Some local specialties were sent from my hometown. I'd like to give you some to try."

"You came looking for me? Why don't you go inside?"

"The security guard won't let you in, and I don't know which building you live in!"

"Get on the bus quickly, get on the bus quickly."

Li Xuejian quickly got into the car, finally able to relax his hands which were carrying things. The rope had made his fingers white, his feet were numb from the cold, and his ears were even colder.

“You can just come in next time. My home is in the north building. If the security guard checks my identity, he can call home and say someone is home,” Liu Yimin said.

Zhu Lin and Liu Yimin practiced driving for a while after they returned. Li Xuejian almost questioned her life choices, feeling uneasy, afraid that the two of them wouldn't pass by the door today.

"Professor Liu, you'll get it in time. Practice makes perfect. Director Zhu, your driving skills are excellent," Li Xuejian praised.

When Zhu Lin heard someone praise her driving skills, she shyly tossed her hair and said, "Hey, it's not that hard!"

As Li Xuejian entered the house, the heating blew for a while, and his body warmed up. However, the alternation of heat and cold made him very itchy.

Liu Yimin invited Li Xuejian to his home for dinner and asked him the purpose of his visit. Li Xuejian gave a vague answer, saying that he just wanted to come and see him.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Liu Yimin didn't ask any further. After dinner, he pulled him into the study to chat. Li Xuejian looked at Liu Yimin's study, his gaze lingering on it.

After a while, Liu Yimin understood what Li Xuejian meant; he couldn't stop talking about the Beijing People's Art Theatre.

How is Director Zhu doing during rehearsals at the Beijing People's Art Theatre?

"Comrade Liu Yimin, the Beijing People's Art Theatre has recently produced quite a few excellent plays?"

"Comrade Yimin, Beijing People's Art Theatre"

Good heavens, this person is asking about the transfer to the Beijing People's Art Theatre that Liu Yimin told him about. Liu Yimin was too busy when he got back, and he completely forgot about it.

Liu Yimin handed him a cup of tea, then made a phone call to Yu Shizhi. Yu Shizhi was also reading in his study at the time, and was surprised to hear Liu Yimin's words, because Liu Yimin had never called his home before.

"Yimin? What's wrong?" Yu Shizhi asked curiously.

Liu Yimin glanced at Li Xuejian, who stared intently at the teacup in her hand, saying nothing, her fingers nervously tapping on the cup.

"I've discovered a great actor. It would be a loss for our Beijing People's Art Theatre if he doesn't join us."

So Zhi straightened up, thought for a moment, and asked cautiously, "Yi Min, what is your relationship with him?"

“Hey, what are you thinking? He’s a drama actor from the General Political Department, about to retire. You might even recognize his name, Li Xuejian,” Liu Yimin said.

Yu Shizhi finally breathed a sigh of relief: "I thought you were trying to get someone to help me out, you scared me half to death. I've heard of him, he's a good actor. I'll have him come over tomorrow and see what he's like. The Beijing People's Art Theatre has limited spots, but good actors should still be given a chance."

"Okay, then please take care of it."

"Don't mention it, Yimin. I'm not talking about you. Look how much you care about our Beijing People's Art Theatre. Staying with us back then might not have been any worse than you becoming a professor." Yu Shizhi felt that it was a regret for the Beijing People's Art Theatre that Liu Yimin did not stay.

"Haha, although I'm not a formally employed staff member of our Beijing People's Art Theatre, I'm practically one. All the good things I do are reserved for our theatre."

Yu Shizhi said with a smile, "Okay, if you have any good actors, please search for them for our Beijing People's Art Theatre. Putting aside everything else, we can never have too many good actors."

"Row."

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yimin smiled and looked at Li Xuejian: "Sorry, I went abroad after I came back and forgot about it."

"It's nothing, I know you're busy, this is nothing to me," Li Xuejian quickly replied.

(End of this chapter)