1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 124 The Xie Family of Dongshan (Godfathers' Monthly Tickets!!)

Wuhan at this time.

A phone call came.

"Hello, is this the Shengli Cultural Troupe?"

"Yes."

"I am Xu Sangchu, the director of Shanghai Film Studio! I would like to ask if Comrade Zhou Xu is with your Shengli Art Troupe?" Xu Sangchu asked.

At the beginning of the year, the August First Film Studio planned to adapt "Garland at the Foot of the Mountain" into a film, but the novel failed to pass several reviews because it depicted the unhealthy practices within society and the army, as well as the impoverished lives of people in old revolutionary base areas.

So, even though this novel has been published for quite some time, the August First Film Studio, the film studio most deserving of adapting it into a military novel, hasn't taken any action. Other film studios, however, have…

"Comrade Zhou Xu is not here. He has gone to Nanjing to study. Is there anything you want to tell us?"

Xu Sangchu apologized and then called Xie Jin: "Old Xie, you happen to be on a business trip in Nanjing. I heard that Comrade Zhou Xu is in Nanjing. Could you go and find out about the copyright issues of 'Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain'?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Jin finally nodded and said, "I understand."

…………

After tidying himself up, Zhou Xu left the school.

Once outside, we took a car.

The JS Provincial Drama Theatre is located at No. 20 Xiaohuowa Lane in Nanjing, which is almost 20 kilometers away from here.

It would take almost an hour by car.

Taking the bus is, of course, much slower.

He passed by Pukou Railway Station, the terminus of the Jinpu Railway, with its English-style station building, platforms, and corridors. The surrounding area was bustling with activity, including a coal port, ferry crossings, and barge services.

If you look closely, it has a distinct Republican-era feel.

Tsk? It seems this used to be the capital. The traitor Wang Jingwei ruined its reputation, and Chiang Kai-shek blew up people's graves.

When you arrive at Xiaohuowa Lane, you'll find yourself in an old residential area with some old apartment buildings and narrow alleys. There are vendors selling breakfast and snacks, as well as bicycle repair shops.

Arrived at the location.

Zhou Xu went directly to the drama theater.

As soon as he arrived at the theater entrance, he saw Yao Fanghua, who had already finished her makeup, gently waving to Zhou Xu through the crowd.

The costume she wore accentuated her graceful figure, and her Republic-era makeup was exquisite and perfectly suited to the character. Her slightly upturned peach blossom eyes, with a touch of light red rouge at the corners, made her eyes shine as if they were filled with light. Even the plain silk flower tucked behind her ear exuded the gentle charm of the character.

If he had to say, Zhou Xu felt that Yao Fanghua was the most beautiful person he had ever met.

Of course, Tao Huimin hadn't fully matured yet, and Liu Xiaoli is more mature now. Liu Xiaoli's peak was after having children! Pshaw.

"You've come? I thought you wouldn't!" Yao Fanghua said, pursing her lips.

"How could I not come to see a show when the tickets are free!"

There aren't many forms of entertainment now, but arts like drama and Peking Opera are actually very popular. The Beijing People's Art Theatre, the Shanghai People's Art Theatre, the Jiangsu Drama Theatre... well, these big theater troupes can all survive.

Some small theater troupes can earn several thousand yuan by performing at a single venue.

"Let me take you inside!" Yao Fanghua waved and waited for Zhou Xu to walk to her side before moving.

"You acted in this scene?" Zhou Xu looked at her attire, which resembled that of a lady from the Republican era.

"Of course, I've been studying for ten years! I'm on my way to becoming a leading actor, and I hope you'll see more of my performances in the future."

Zhou Xu immediately said, "Don't call me 'you,' it's too formal."

"Okay, then can I call you Zhou Xu?" Yao Fanghua took a direct leap from teacher and comrade to calling you by your name. Zhou Xu slowly nodded.

“I feel like we’re friends now. Can I ask you a slightly personal question?” Yao Fanghua suddenly looked over halfway through her walk.

"go ahead?"

"How many children do you have?"

"...Huh?" Isn't this going against the grain? Shouldn't I be asking myself if I have a boyfriend/girlfriend right now?
"I am an only child!"

"Oh! Only children are quite rare. It seems your family treats you very well, right?" Yao Fanghua stroked her chin.

"Mm." Zhou Xu nodded.

The two entered the hall, where Yao Fanghua gave them internal tickets, which were for the second floor.

Zhou Xu went straight to the second floor.

From the second floor, you can look down directly at the stage. Yao Fanghua said a few more words to him: "Zhou Xu, I play the cousin in 'Home'."

Soon, the curtain rose.

In 1954, the Jiangsu Drama Theatre staged the play "Family," adapted from Ba Jin's novel of the same name. The play tells the story of the decline of the "Gao Family," a large feudal family during the Republic of China period, and the struggle and awakening of the younger generation under the constraints of traditional ethics.

The script was written by the master Cao Yu.

The story unfolds along the lines of the fates of the three Gao brothers:

Juexin's compromise and tragedy: As the eldest son of the family, Juexin is weak-willed and forced to give up his love for his childhood sweetheart, his cousin Mei, and accept a marriage arranged by the family.

Juemin's Resistance: Juemin has a strong personality. When his family forces him to marry the niece of Feng Leshan, a rich young lady, he resolutely refuses and even runs away from home. In the end, he breaks the feudal marriage contract through his own struggle and wins the freedom to be with his lover, his cousin Qin.

The awakening and departure of the third brother, Juehui...

The older generation was indeed talented.

Zhou Xu clapped after reading it.

As for the role played by Yao Fanghua, it is an important supporting female character, namely the cousin Qian Meifen.

Speaking of which, the role of Qian Meifen was played by Chen Xiaoxu in the 1987 TV series "Family Spring and Autumn". At that time, "Dream of the Red Chamber" was broadcast and then "Family Spring and Autumn" was broadcast. She was severely criticized because her portrayal of Qian Meifen also had the flavor of Lin Daiyu.

She eventually went into business because she couldn't succeed in acting.

Zhou Xuyi? Lin Daiyu has had such a big influence on him? Why is he thinking about Lin Daiyu again?

The play is over, and what follows is cool applause.

Because "Home" is a classic piece by the JS Provincial Drama Theatre.

After the performance, Zhou Xu waited in the same spot because Yao Fanghua wanted to treat him to dinner. He couldn't very well be a person who broke his promise, could he?
After a while, Yao Fanghua, having removed her makeup, ran over: "Hey! You're still waiting here!"

Fine beads of sweat appeared on her face, or perhaps they were water droplets.

"Didn't you invite me to dinner? So I'm waiting! Besides, I've come all this way, how could I go back on an empty stomach!" Zhou Xu said.

"Okay, if I said I'd treat you to a meal, I will." Yao Fanghua smiled and put her hands on her hips, looking rather cute.

Zhou Xu felt that most people were attracted to good looks to some extent, and he was no exception. He even had a bit of a crush on this pretty girl.

He wasn't too fond of Liu Xiaoli because she was too pragmatic.

The two were just about to walk outside.

"Sister?"

Someone outside was calling.

"Wang Fuli! It's you!" Yao Fanghua turned around and saw a round-faced girl with curly hair running towards them.

Zhou Xu glanced at it.

Wang Fuli was the female lead in "Legend of Tianyun Mountain". She met Xie Jin when she went to the Shanghai Film Studio to borrow a videotape. At that time, Xie Jin was preparing to film "Legend of Tianyun Mountain" and thought she was good.

Of course, nowadays when making movies, the main consideration is whether it's suitable or not, not the star power or looks.

So Wang Fuli isn't considered pretty, but she can still act in movies.

"What happened?" Yao Fanghua asked.

After filming, Wang Fuli was transferred to the provincial drama troupe, where she became Yao Fanghua's junior apprentice. "Did your master just call you?"

"I still have something to do!"

"Then I'll go back and tell them."

Yao Fanghua nodded: "Thank you for making this trip."

Yao Fanghua turned around and said, "Are you stunned? This girl is indeed clever."

"No, they just look like acquaintances." Zhou Xu shook his head.

"Tch~ Everyone's an acquaintance, you men~"

"..." He blinked without refuting.

We soon arrived at a restaurant. Nanjing truly loves ducks; no duck can leave Nanjing alive. Salted duck, pressed duck, roast duck…

Yao Fanghua ordered: salted duck, sweet and sour pork ribs, large meatballs, and finally, the Three Herbs of Nanjing.

People in Nanjing love to eat wild vegetables. In the 80s, government canteens often included seasonal vegetables such as Malantou, chrysanthemum leaves, and artemisia in their menus. They were stir-fried with lard and were fresh, fragrant, and delicious. These "Three Herbs of Nanjing" are also one of the characteristics of Nanjing cuisine.

Zhou Xu enjoyed the meal.

He stood up to pay.

Yao Fanghua immediately walked over: "I'll pay!"

"fine……"

At this point, she immediately reached out and grabbed Zhou Xu's hand, saying forcefully, "Although I'm an actress now, I still get paid... I said I'd treat, so I'll treat!!!"

This attitude is absolutely genuine.

Zhou Xu felt the girl's palm was soft and yielding, so he pulled her hand back, saying, "Okay, okay, I won't do that anymore..."

"Hmm." Yao Fanghua squinted at Zhou Xu before falling silent. "You can't do this again next time! Others are others, and I am me. Others may like you paying, but I keep my word."

"Mm." Zhou Xu nodded, pursing his lips.

This girl is so straightforward, yet she knows everything.

It reminded him of He Saifei; indeed, Jiangnan isn't just full of sweet girls, it also has hot girls.

"Then I'll take you home first!" Zhou Xu walked in front, and Yao Fanghua walked behind.

Came to the door.

The two were still chatting. She was holding one hand in her palm and the other hand behind her back. As an actress, she walked with a rhythm and cadence.

They strolled leisurely to the door and chatted idly.

"Where are you from? You sound like you're from Sichuan?"

Zhou Xu said, "I'm from Enshi."

"That's right, it was also in Sichuan hundreds of years ago."

Enshi, Chongqing, and other places used to belong to Sichuan, but they were later separated from Sichuan.

"That's great! You have a girls' club over there? What's it like?"

"I'll take you to see it next time I have the chance."

"..."

As they approached the door, they saw an old man standing there, looking around with a lively air.

Wang Fuli, whom he had just met, walked over in front of him.

The two are talking about "The Legend of Tianyun Mountain".

Zhou Xu recognized him at a glance—it was Xie Jin!
To be honest, Zhou Xu is a fan of Xie Jin. After learning about his life, Zhou Xu admires him greatly.

Xie Jin's life was even more unforgettable and "scarred" than his plays.

In the 1960s, he was sent to the countryside, and that's when his father committed suicide. He survived the darkest period of his life.
After he had three sons and a daughter, he was suddenly struck by bad news: all three children had intellectual disabilities, with the third and fourth children being the most severely affected and unable to take care of themselves.

He was in his sixties when illness took away his third son, and in his eighties when illness took away his eldest son.

His eldest son is the only one of his four children with normal intelligence. He studied in the United States from a young age, returned after completing his studies, took up the mantle, and inherited his mantle.

What was once my only hope has suddenly vanished.

White hair sends off black hair.

You tell me, the world is strange.

Mr. Bean, who loves creating comedy, actually suffers from depression; Hai Zi, who wrote "Facing the sea, with spring flowers blooming," committed suicide...

Despite his long and eventful life, Xie Jin's films were imbued with the "truth, goodness, and beauty" of humanity and reflected a "humanitarian pursuit."

In Yu Qiuyu's "A Cultural Journey", he describes Xie Jin as follows: "Xie Jin was a descendant of the 'Dongshan Xie Clan', but he never boasted or became proud of his ancestors' illustrious achievements, which reflects his noble character of not seeking personal gain."

In addition, Yu Qiuyu also wrote an epitaph for Xie Jin, which, in just 56 characters, encapsulates Xie Jin's brilliant life.

Many people say that Yu Qiuyu is a bad person, but even so, he still praises Xie Jin so highly, which shows just how charismatic Xie Jin was.

"Alright. Zhou Xu, I've arrived. The station is at the entrance of our theater. There should be another bus in about ten minutes!" Yao Fanghua stood at the entrance, blinking as she spoke to Zhou Xu.

Upon hearing this, Xie Jin turned and looked over.

He glanced at Yao Fanghua, paused for a moment, and thought that this girl was really promising. He quickly turned to Zhou Xu and asked, "Zhou Xu? Are you Comrade Zhou Xu?"

Xie Jin took out a photograph from his pocket, compared it with Zhou Xu's face, and quickly nodded: "It seems you really are Comrade Zhou Xu?"

Zhou Xu: "..."

Do you mean I'm not a real person?

"I am Zhou Xu."

"Did you write 'Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain'?" Xie Jin immediately walked over and extended a hand!

Zhou Xu shook hands with Xie Jin: "I wrote it."

Xie Jin was overjoyed. He immediately waved the hand he was holding vigorously and said, "It really is you! Comrade Zhou Xu, I've actually wanted to collaborate with you for a long time. I came to Nanjing because I heard someone say that you were here."

"Looking for a collaboration?"

Xie Jin glanced at Wang Fuli and said, "Well, Xiao Wang, you can go back first. I need to talk to Comrade Zhou Xu about something..."

Wang Fuli nodded and left.

Zhou Xu had no choice but to turn around and say, "Well... Comrade Yao, you should go back and rest first. I'm going to talk to Director Xie Jin about something."

Yao Fanghua nodded.

"By the way, shall I invite you back next time? Do you have time?"

"Are you asking if there's an appointment? There's no one else here!" Yao Fanghua shook her head.

Ok.

Zhou Xu stroked his chin. "Huh? Does that mean she doesn't have a boyfriend?" "Pah!"

He turned to Xie Jin and said, "Let's go, Director Xie Jin, let's talk over here."

Xie Jin and Zhou Xu were taking a walk. Xie Jin's face was square, and it was clear that Zhou Xu wasn't making fun of him; it really was square!
He continued, "Our factory director called me and said that the August First Film Studio had reviewed 'Garland Under the Mountain' several times but it hadn't passed the review, so the literature department of our Shanghai Film Studio wanted to ask you to acquire the copyright of 'Garland Under the Mountain'."

-

Nanjing is so great, I don't want to stay in Wuhan anymore. I'll move to Nanjing when I become famous.

Oh, and please vote for me with your monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)