Hong Kong Entertainment 1979: A Beating Up the Manager at the Start

The next day, Li Jiangbo didn't get up until noon.

He plans to take a stroll around Yanjing today, hoping to run into the Queen of the Women's Kingdom from the simulator.

In his memory, Zhu Lin is now 27 years old, a year older than Zhao Yazhi.

In the simulator, he went to the hospital before he saw Zhu Lin.

Li Jiangbo didn't want to take his chances or get sick, so he made a direct call to the August First Film Studio.

......

Staff dormitory at Yanjing Institute of Technology.

Zhu Lin, who was reviewing his studies, was suddenly attracted by a shout.

"Zhu Lin, come down and answer the phone!"

Zhu Lin hurriedly ran to the stairwell and looked down. It turned out to be a security guard from the security department.

"They're here!"

after a while.

Zhu Lin arrived at the security office, picked up the telephone receiver on the table, and said, "Hello, this is Zhu Lin."

"Hello, Comrade Zhu Lin, this is Lu Xu, the production manager of the August First Film Studio."

"Director Lu, hello, hello, what can I do for you?"

"Here's the thing, I'm passing on a message from the famous Hong Kong director, Li Hanxiang. He'd like to invite you to audition for his film. I wonder if it's a convenient time for you?"

Zhu Lin was stunned when he heard this. He had been a dancer in the communications corps' cultural troupe, but that was 70 years ago.

Since her demobilization, she has been working at the Institute of Hygiene, and has had no time to dance anymore.

How did director Li Hanxiang find out about her?

Never mind, she has already quit her job at the research institute and is preparing to apply for the Beijing Film Academy's amateur acting training program next year.

Now that I have the opportunity to become an actor directly, why not take it?

Thinking of this, Zhu Lin cautiously asked, "Director Lu, are we going to Hong Kong?"

"No need, Director Li Hanxiang happens to be in mainland China. Just come to the Beijing Film Academy for your audition next Tuesday at 9 a.m.

"Okay, Director Lu."

After Zhu Lin hung up the phone, he was quite excited. It was like someone had delivered a pillow when you were sleepy!

However, she suppressed her joy; it was just an audition opportunity, and it was hard to say whether she would succeed.

I still can't give up on studying, so I'll go out and play for a little while, just a little while...

Zhu Lin was defeated by her own playful nature. She closed her notebook, got dressed, and went shopping!

Li Jiangbo, wrapped in a trench coat, walked along Wangfujing Street, where department stores, Dong'an Market, and Xinhua Bookstore lined both sides of the street.

Pedestrians wore dark cotton-padded coats, and bicycle bells rang incessantly. There were several young people wearing bell-bottoms and floral shirts.

Li Jiangbo stood bored in front of the calligraphy and painting shop, looking at the calligraphy and painting inside that was so obviously fake.

He was about to fly to Chang'an tomorrow, and a strange sense of unease welled up inside him. Perhaps this was the feeling of longing for home.

Just as he was lost in thought, he heard a piercing sound.

"Ah! Thief!"

As soon as Li Jiangbo turned his head, he saw a figure in military green running past him.

Without a second thought, he pinned the figure to the ground.

"Let me go, kid! Mind your own business!" the thief threatened as he struggled.

Li Jiangbo used his knee to brace himself against the thief's back and firmly gripped his hands. "Robbing in broad daylight, you've got some nerve."

A crowd gradually gathered around, and a panting figure squeezed through the back of the crowd to the front.

"Th-thank you..."

Li Jiangbo looked up and saw Zhu Lin, whom he had just asked someone to find! What a coincidence!

"Check if anything is missing from the bag."

Zhu Lin picked up the backpack and checked it. "Everything's there...and the money isn't missing either. Comrade, what should we do?"

Just then, two market management personnel in blue uniforms pushed through the crowd, asking, "What's going on? What's going on?"

"This man is a thief; he just snatched this young lady's bag."

The manager glanced at the thief, then at Li Jiangbo and Zhu Lin.

"Alright, we'll take him away for processing. Would you two like to go to the police station together to give a statement?"

Li Jiangbo shook his head. "It's not convenient for me. How about this, I'll leave my name and contact information. Contact me if you need any cooperation."

Zhu Lin hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll also leave my name and contact information."

After the two managers took the thief away, the crowd dispersed, seeing that there was no more excitement to be had.

The two stood on the street, and for a moment they were silent.

Zhu Lin broke the silence, "Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I would have lost all my study materials. I have an exam soon..."

Li Jiangbo asked in confusion, "An exam?"

In his memory, Zhu Lin was working at this time! Why is she taking an exam?

Zhu Lin smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's an amateur acting training class at the Beijing Film Academy. I've always loved acting; I used to dance in a performing arts troupe, and now I want to try acting."

Upon hearing this, Li Jiangbo remembered that Zhu Lin entered the Beijing Film Academy in 80 and then developed her career in the film and television industry.

"That's great! It's good for young people to have dreams."

Zhu Lin carefully examined Li Jiangbo. "Comrade, you're not from around here, are you?"

Li Jiangbo nodded. "I'm from Hong Kong. My surname is Li and my given name is Jiangbo."

Zhu Lin blinked her big eyes and extended her hand. "Hello, my name is Zhu Lin."

Li Jiangbo half-grasped Zhu Lin's small hand and said, "Hello."

Suddenly, Zhu Lin seemed to remember something. Her eyes widened as she looked at Li Jiangbo, her small hand covering her mouth. "Hong Kong? You wouldn't happen to be the Hong Kong director that Director Lu was talking about, would you? But I seem to remember that director's name is Li Hanxiang..."

Li Jiangbo smiled and nodded, "That's right, I asked Director Li Hanxiang to help me make the contact."

Zhu Lin was instantly dumbfounded; this was too much of a coincidence!

After a long while, she finally reacted, "You...then you are...?"

"I am also the director and an investor in this film."

This remark shocked Zhu Lin again. Is he also a director? Or an investor? Why does he look so young?

Li Jiangbo immediately saw Zhu Lin's confusion. "I'm nineteen years old now. I made some money this year and started a film and television company, so I became an investor."

Zhu Lin was speechless. What on earth was this?! He'd seen talented people, but never anyone this talented. Starting a company at nineteen?! Were you even trying to fly to the moon?!

As the two strolled along Wangfujing Street, Zhu Lin couldn't help but ask the question that had been on her mind: "How did Director Li know about me?"

Li Jiangbo explained with a smile, "I've seen some performance materials from mainland cultural troupes in Hong Kong, and your photo is in them. I think your temperament is very suitable for a role, so I asked around."

Zhu Lin said somewhat embarrassedly, "That was several years ago... I'm working at a research institute now, and I haven't danced in a long time."

"But you want to act. Otherwise, you wouldn't have quit your job to take the training course."

Zhu Lin looked at Li Jiangbo in surprise, "How did you know I quit my job?"

"Just guessing. If I were still working, I wouldn't have time to prepare for the exam."

Zhu Lin nodded. "Director Li, what film is Director Li Hanxiang making? Is it strict?"

Li Jiangbo shook his head. "Sorry, I can't tell you that. You'll find out after you pass the interview."

Zhu Lin shrugged. "Alright then!"

The two chatted as they walked, and soon arrived at the south entrance of Wangfujing.

Li Jiangbo glanced at his watch. "I should go back. You..."

Zhu Lin's cheeks flushed slightly. "I'm going home. Director Li, thank you so much for today. Not only did you help me get my bag back, but you also gave me this opportunity."

Li Jiangbo smiled and said, "Opportunities are earned! If you didn't want to act, you wouldn't have quit your job to take the exam. I just happen to need actors, and you just happen to want to act."

After saying goodbye, Li Jiangbo turned and went back to the hotel.