1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

Thinking of this, Cheng Xuemin couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Li Lianjie, but he also knew that this was the result of market selection.

He changed the subject, asking Tang Guoqiang, "Comrade Guoqiang, what are your plans for the future? Do you currently have any film crews on hand?"

Tang Guoqiang pondered for a moment and said, "I'm waiting for the factory's arrangements for now. But... I'd also like to try out some different roles. Director Cheng, if your Eastern Depot has any suitable scripts, don't forget your little brother."

This was partly a joke and partly a test.

Cheng Xuemin laughed heartily, not taking the bait directly: "No problem, no problem, we'll definitely cooperate if there's an opportunity!"

The four chatted for a while about interesting things that happened on set and the scenery of Mount Lu, and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious.

But Cheng Xuemin could sense that Li Lianjie had a subtle competitive spirit and a hint of loss when facing Tang Guoqiang.

After all, as outstanding young actors, who wouldn't want to win such a prestigious award?

No one was destined to sleep soundly at the guesthouse that night.

Just as Cheng Xuemin was chatting with Tang Guoqiang and preparing to wash up and rest, there was a gentle knock on the door again.

This time, his voice carried a hint of cautious probing. Huang Jianzhong sighed and looked helplessly at Cheng Xuemin.

Cheng Xuemin rubbed his temples, gesturing for him to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, two figures nimbly slipped in, carrying a faint scent of face cream and the coolness of the night dew.

It turned out to be Zhu Lin and Gong Xue.

Zhu Lin's face showed excitement at having done something wrong, while Gong Xue was a little embarrassed, but her eyes were sparkling.

"Xuemin! Director Huang! Lian Jie! Are you still awake?" Zhu Lin whispered, like a thief, "We've stolen Comrade Gong Xue for you!"

Gong Xue looked tired from rehearsals, but she was full of energy. When she saw Cheng Xuemin, she immediately complained, "Xuemin! I've been waiting for you! You have no idea how exhausted I've been these past few days!"

It turned out that as soon as Gong Xue arrived at Lushan, he was conscripted by the arts and culture group of the awards ceremony.

Although this awards ceremony didn't have the red carpet, celebrities, and glamorous stage of later generations, it still included several cultural performances to create a festive atmosphere.

Gong Xue, a versatile performer with acting and singing skills, a good image, and a great reputation, was naturally entrusted with an important task: to organize several young artistic talents to rehearse the programs to be performed at the ceremony.

She was so busy she barely had time to breathe, and today she led a group of young people in practice all day long, her voice almost hoarse from shouting.

Having just finished rehearsals, upon hearing that Cheng Xuemin had arrived, she didn't even go back to her dormitory but dragged her roommate Zhu Lin over to find him.

"Xuemin, you brought me to Lushan, you have to save me!" Gong Xue said half-jokingly and half-seriously. "The organizing committee gave us a task: to put on a few substantial and innovative programs."

I've choreographed a large-scale chorus performance of "The Sun and Moon Shine Together," and we also have a rough draft of a dance, but it feels like it's missing something. As the chief planner, you should give us your feedback and guidance!

Cheng Xuemin was completely overwhelmed when he heard this. He hadn't even finalized his own speech yet, so how could he possibly have the energy to guide the program?
But looking at Gong Xue's eager eyes and Zhu Lin's supportive stance, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Li Lianjie, who had been lying down, sat up abruptly upon hearing the commotion, exclaiming, "Rehearsing a program? That sounds like fun! Take me with you! I've been doing somersaults and acrobatics since I was little!"

Cheng Xuemin had a sudden inspiration. That's it! Ready-made conscripts!

He immediately put on a stern face and said to Li Lianjie, "Little Li, do you want to participate?"

"Let me think about it!" Li Lianjie nodded vigorously. That's just his personality; wherever there's excitement or attention, he'll definitely join in.

"Alright! Comrade Gong Xue, how about this, let's have Xiao Li join your program too. Doesn't he have a background in martial arts? We can do a martial arts performance, or incorporate martial arts moves into the dance, it'll definitely be amazing!"
"Why not use this readily available labor?"

Cheng Xuemin then sold Li Lianjie out.

Gong Xue's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands, saying, "That's right! How come I didn't think of that! Little Li's kung fu is so beautiful, adding it will definitely make a great effect! It's settled then!"

Li Lianjie was a little dumbfounded that she had taken on the job with just one sentence, but since the words had already been spoken, she could only scratch her head and chuckle.

So, Cheng Xuemin, who was originally planning to rest, was once again conscripted by the female comrades.

The group, disregarding the late hour, began their discussion in the dim light of the crowded room.

Gong Xue first described the program that was already somewhat in place.

The grand chorus of "The Sun and the Moon Shine Together" is the highlight; it's magnificent, politically correct, and definitely going to be performed.

There is also a group dance reflecting youth development, but the choreography is still relatively traditional.

What guidance can Cheng Xuemin offer?
Gong Xue and his team had worked hard to rehearse for several days, so he couldn't just dismiss their entire effort at the drop of a hat.

He listened carefully to Gong Xue's description, and was quite satisfied when he heard that "The Sun and Moon Shine Together" had been arranged into a magnificent chorus. This was how the song should be sung.

He nodded repeatedly in approval: "Great! The arrangement of 'Sun and Moon Shining Together' is excellent! It's powerful and emotionally resonant! Let's stick with it!"
The idea for that group dance was good, but the choreography could be made a bit more lively to reflect the energy of young people.

Then, he changed the subject and focused on the newly recruited laborers: "The key is that Little Li's martial arts performance needs to be well-designed."

It can't just be somersaults; there needs to be a storyline and aesthetic appeal. For example, it could be designed as a short segment about a young person learning martial arts to protect their country, accompanied by rousing music…

This immediately opened up a new way of thinking.

Gong Xue and Zhu Lin became excited, adding their own comments one after another. Li Lianjie also got into the swing of things, immediately demonstrating several impressive combinations of movements, which drew cheers from the crowd.

The discussion was in full swing when Gong Xue suddenly looked at Cheng Xuemin with a sly smile: "Xuemin, just giving guidance isn't enough. You have to step in yourself and give us some support!"

Cheng Xuemin was taken aback: "Me? Why would I go on stage? I'm tone-deaf and uncoordinated."

"You're being too modest!" Gong Xue continued with a smile. "One part of the ceremony is a medley of outstanding film songs."

The organizing committee specifically requested that we sing "The Blood-Stained Glory." This song is currently the main theme; it has to be sung at every event.

You're one of the original singers of this song, and a key contributor to the success of "Tai Chi," so you have to sing along with me! Otherwise, it's politically incorrect!

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xuemin felt a chill run down his spine.

"The Bloodstained Glory" is indeed a must-sing song at various events nowadays, and if he doesn't perform it, it's easy for people to criticize him.

Seeing the expectant looks in Gong Xue and Zhu Lin's eyes, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree: "Okay...okay. But I'm telling you in advance, if I sing off-key, don't blame me."

"Don't worry, Xuemin, I'll lead you in singing!" Gong Xue patted his chest and assured him.

This whole ordeal lasted until well past midnight.

After seeing off the still-enthusiastic Gong Xue and Zhu Lin, Cheng Xuemin collapsed onto the bed, feeling even more exhausted than after a day of filming.

Huang Jianzhong was already snoring loudly, Li Lianjie was still excitedly studying martial arts moves, only Cheng Xuemin was staring at the ceiling, thinking that this awards ceremony was more complicated than making a movie.

The next morning, Cheng Xuemin was dragged to the rehearsal site by Gong Xue, in the commune's auditorium.

Sure enough, once he entered this circle of women and artistic talents, those colleagues who wanted to discuss the "foreign exchange earning plan" with him could no longer barge in directly.

Cheng Xuemin was happy to have some peace and quiet, so he simply spent all his time in the rehearsal room, ostensibly to provide guidance, but actually to escape the boredom.

He watched as Gong Xue efficiently directed the choir in rehearsing "The Sun and the Moon Shine Together," corrected the young dancers' movements, and pulled Li Lianjie aside to work out the newly added martial arts segment.

Gong Xue was extremely serious and dedicated to her work. Even when her voice became hoarse, she didn't bother to drink water. Cheng Xuemin secretly admired her for that kind of dedication.

No wonder she came from the General Political Department's Cultural Troupe. Despite her gentle and delicate appearance, Gong Xue is a beautiful and charming girl from Jiangnan.

But when it came to her actually stepping in to take charge, she wasn't intimidated at all, and she really did it convincingly!

Cheng Xuemin kept his promise and practiced "The Bloodstained Glory" with Gong Xue several times. Fortunately, he had released tapes with Gong Xue before, so there were basically no problems.

The day's rehearsal was intense and fulfilling. Cheng Xuemin occasionally offered some small suggestions, but most of the time he watched this group of enthusiastic young artists working hard towards a common goal.

This pure atmosphere temporarily dispelled some of the restlessness in his heart.

As evening fell, the setting sun gilded the peaks of Mount Lu with a golden edge. The People's Theater, the only theater in Guling Town, was already bustling with activity.

This era is different from decades later. Although there are no red carpets, no flower arches, no crazy fans and flashing spotlights, the atmosphere is exceptionally enthusiastic.

Residents of nearby towns and communes, workers from nearby factories and mines who had heard the news, and even movie lovers who came from JJ city, had already crowded the theater entrance early on.

People, young and old, with faces beaming with festive joy and curiosity, stood on tiptoe and craned their necks, waiting to see the movie stars.

The sounds of various dialects, children playing, vendors hawking their wares, and people selling melon seeds and soda mingled together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

When the artists and cultural workers attending the ceremony began to enter the venue under the guidance of the staff, the scene instantly erupted in cheers!

"They're here! Look! That's Zhu Lin! The one who played Li Xiuzhi!" A middle-aged woman excitedly pointed to the entrance.

"Li Xiuzhi! Li Xiuzhi, look this way!" several young girls shouted shrilly.

Zhu Lin wore a simple plaid coat today, with a slightly shy smile on her face, and kept waving to the crowd.

Her appearance triggered the first wave of excitement, with cheers rising and falling.

Cheng Xuemin clearly saw that many people were calling out "Li Xiuzhi" instead of Chen Shaoqi from Tai Chi, which shows the profound influence of "The Herdsman".

Immediately afterwards, Gong Xue entered the room.

She changed into a more vibrant red sweater, and her smile was bright and generous.

"Gong Xue! It's Gong Xue! Zhou Yun!" The crowd stirred again, especially the young people, whose shouts were particularly enthusiastic. The bold love story in "Romance on Lushan Mountain" made her an idol in the hearts of countless young people.

"Comrade Gong Xue! Sing a song!" someone egged on, which drew a burst of good-natured laughter.

Gong Xue's popularity is catching up with Zhu Lin's, and even shows signs of surpassing her.

Zhang Yu, who entered next, also received enthusiastic applause, but her performance was slightly less enthusiastic than the previous two.

Cheng Xuemin looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhang Yu, the leading lady of the Shanghai Film Studio!
It has to be said that Zhang Yu in this era was not only the leading lady of the Shanghai Film Studio, but also, to put it bluntly, the leading lady in all the major film studios across the country!
If Zhang Yu hadn't chosen to go abroad to pursue a master's degree at the height of her fame, how could Liu Xiaoqing have risen to prominence later?
But now!
The epic kiss that made Zhang Yu an overnight sensation, breaking through worldly conventions, was directly stolen by Cheng Xuemin, a time traveler, and grafted onto Gong Xue's head.

Without "Romance on Lushan Mountain," Zhang Yu's only notable work now is "Night Rain on Bashan Mountain," which has significantly diminished her fame.

At best, he's now relegated to sitting at the same table as Liu Xiaoqing.

It's clearly unrealistic to expect them to surpass Zhu Lin and Gong Xue's table.

When Tang Guoqiang appeared, dressed in a sharp Zhongshan suit, a roar of sound erupted from the audience, no less than that of Gong Xue's entrance, and the sound came from a wide range of sources.

There were screams from young women and wives, praises from older women, and even calls for Shutun from teenagers!

"Tang Guoqiang! The prince from 'The Peacock Princess'!" An old lady exclaimed excitedly, pulling her friend aside. "Look at this young man, he's so handsome!"

Tang Guoqiang, with his signature slightly shy and gentle smile, nodded frequently, eliciting an extremely enthusiastic response.

Cheng Xuemin sighed inwardly. The title of "housewife killer" and "original pretty boy" was indeed well-deserved; his popularity among the people was too high.

When it was Li Lianjie's turn to enter, the atmosphere was equally enthusiastic, with many young people shouting Yang Yuqian's name and cheering for his agile skills and handsome appearance.

However, Cheng Xuemin keenly realized that this enthusiasm was more directed at the symbol of kung fu star. In terms of the breadth of coverage and the degree of obsession, it was indeed lacking compared to Tang Guoqiang's audience appeal that "captivated" people of all ages and genders.

Li Lianjie herself sensed it; she smiled, but a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

Cheng Xuemin entered the venue with the factory leaders and several other guests on the stage, and the attention he received was relatively formal and restrained.

Most of the gazes were filled with curiosity and admiration, interspersed with comments such as "Look, that's Cheng Xuemin" and "A pioneer in foreign exchange earnings."

Upon entering the theater, the atmosphere became even more solemn.

A red banner reading "The 4th China Film Hundred Flowers Awards Ceremony" hung on the stage. The lights weren't bright, but they were enough to illuminate the densely packed seats below.

The front row was for guests and reporters, while the back was packed with audience members.

Cheng Xuemin was led to a seat on the stage. His seat was near the edge, next to the former factory director, Wang Yang.

Upon seeing him, Wang Yang chuckled softly, "How about it, Xuemin? This setup is no less tiring than filming a movie, is it?"

Cheng Xuemin nodded with a wry smile: "Yes, old factory director, the pressure is immense."

The ceremony officially began at 7:00 p.m.

To Cheng Xuemin's surprise, the person sitting in the main seat and giving a speech was actually the leading official of Jiangxi Province.

An awards ceremony for the arts and culture sector was so well-received that it attracted the attention of the local government leader, who came to give a speech.

This is indeed a very high standard, which demonstrates the importance the local government attaches to the film industry.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Seeing Cheng Xuemin's surprised expression, the old factory director quietly explained, "I heard that he only arrived this afternoon, close to evening. He wasn't originally scheduled to attend!"

"They only arrived this afternoon?" Cheng Xuemin thought to himself, no wonder they hadn't been greeted before.

"That's right!" The old factory director nodded repeatedly, and continued to say to Cheng Xuemin, "I don't think the organizers have that much influence; they're probably here for you!"

"They're after me?! Surely not?!"

Cheng Xuemin thought to himself, "Damn it! This makes absolutely no sense!"

Even the People's Publishing House, the organizers of the event, couldn't invite a high-ranking official from a remote region. So why could a mere eunuch like him, the head of the Eastern Depot, manage to attract such attention?

"Why not?" Old factory director Wang Yang rolled his eyes and bluntly said, "Xuemin, you need to know what 20 million US dollars in foreign exchange earnings from the film industry really means in various provinces and regions!"

Do you know how much foreign exchange earnings Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces made last year?

"How much?" Cheng Xuemin asked instinctively.

The old factory director, Wang Yang, glared at the kid again, annoyed. It was only recently that this kid had actually been holed up in the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song filming a movie and was unaware of the news in Yanjing.

Otherwise, the old factory director would really think that this kid was asking a question he already knew the answer to, deliberately trying to get the old man to say it himself, and taking the opportunity to flatter him.

Immediately, he said in an annoyed tone, "A meeting was held in Haizi before the old leader went south some time ago! At the meeting, the foreign exchange earnings reports of all provinces and regions across the country last year were announced!"

"Guess what?"

"Your film foreign exchange earnings are truly remarkable, far surpassing those of the province with the highest GDP in the country!"

"The entire Jiangxi province's annual foreign exchange earnings are only a little over ten million US dollars, which is only half of yours!"

"You alone are worth more than the entire province's total foreign exchange earnings from a whole year of hard work!"

"Tell me, when they hear that you, this god of foreign exchange creation, have descended upon their territory, can they still sit still in Nanchang? Wouldn't they drive over overnight?"

The old factory director's analysis and reflections were truly insightful, and Cheng Xuemin almost believed it to be true!

But that’s not right!

Cheng Xuemin hesitated for a moment, then wanted to ask, "So they came here specifically for him!"
But so far, he has not received any notification from Jiang Ganlin to receive him!
If they were really after him, wouldn't they have come straight for him?
Perhaps sensing Cheng Xuemin's confusion, the old factory director said directly, "He just arrived a little late, almost at night! And the first thing he asked when he arrived was where you were?"

"Knowing you're hiding among women, how can the leaders have the nerve to do that? Plus, the ceremony is about to start, so they'll probably call you in for a talk as soon as it's over!"

So that’s it!

Cheng Xuemin was speechless after hearing this!

……

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