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

The next day, Fu Qi and Shi Hui, the couple, had already arrived!

They had clearly come directly from the airport, their faces showing signs of fatigue from the long flight, but they were in good spirits.

"Hello, Teacher Cheng! Mrs. Cheng, Director Huang! Jia Zhao! And Ms. Gu!" Fu Qi stood up and greeted them warmly. "We just arrived. We heard you were staying here as soon as we got off the plane, so we're just in time to have a meal together!"

"Mr. Fu, Mrs. Fu, you must be tired from your journey!" Cheng Xuemin smiled and stepped forward to shake hands.

Huang Jianzhong and Feng Jiazhao exchanged pleasantries, while Aunt Gu Qiuna was busy communicating with the proprietress to add tableware and arrange seating!
Everyone took their seats!

Dinner was a simple Niçoise fish soup, Niçoise salad, roasted vegetables and fresh baguettes, accompanied by a local rosé wine.

Although it was simple, the ingredients were fresh and the taste was authentic, so everyone enjoyed the meal!

During the gathering, the conversation naturally revolved around the Cannes Film Festival!

Fu Qi brought the latest news: the people from Jiahe and Cinema City have indeed arrived and are staying in several large hotels near the Palais des Congrès, the main venue in Cannes!
It is said that no fewer than ten film crews or production companies came to Hong Kong this time, bringing various types of films, including martial arts films, comedies, and art films, all hoping to try their luck at Cannes!

"Hong Kong films have really mobilized all their resources this time, quite a lineup!" Fu Qi said with a sip of wine. "However, apart from our 'Redemption,' it seems that there are no other films that have actually made it into the main competition."

"Most of the others are non-competitive screenings or market transactions. Teacher Cheng, we're the only one representing our group this time, so the pressure is high, but the opportunity is also great!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded, without saying anything more.
There is pressure, of course, but for him, having a clear goal makes him feel at ease.

Halfway through the meal, a burst of laughter and footsteps came from outside; the women who had been shopping were returning.

Feng Jiayou, Gong Xue, Zhu Lin, and the others all had rosy cheeks from exercising, their eyes were sparkling, and they were carrying several paper bags printed with Nice scenery, clearly having made quite a haul!

"Auntie, Xuemin, Mr. Fu, Sister Shihui! Look what we bought!"

Feng Jiayou ran in excitedly, showing off several brightly colored silk scarves and straw hats from the paper bag like a treasure, "The things here are so pretty, and not expensive at all!"

Gu Qiuna smiled and took the scarf, looking at it: "Hmm, it's a local specialty of Nice, hand-dyed, it's nice to wear for fun!"

Gong Xue and Zhu Lin also showed off the small handicrafts and postcards they bought, while Li Lianjie showed great interest in a strangely shaped seashell from the local area!

The atmosphere in the restaurant became more lively and relaxed because of their return!
Seeing the carefree smile on Feng Jiayou's face, Cheng Xuemin was completely relieved, knowing that today's outing had completely dispelled her last bit of travel fatigue and alienation from the foreign land!
I rested for a day in Nice and adjusted to the time difference.

On the morning of the third day, the convoy arranged by Gu Qiuna carried everyone along the coastline towards Cannes, which was 20 kilometers away.

As the car entered the Cannes city center, the atmosphere of the film festival immediately enveloped us!

The streets were lined with colorful flags and posters bearing the Palme d'Or logo, and movie advertisements were everywhere.

The number of pedestrians has increased significantly, many of whom are film industry professionals with badges and hurrying around, as well as journalists from various countries carrying cameras and microphones.

The air was filled with the scents of coffee, perfume, and sea breeze, as well as an invisible, restless, and exciting heatwave.

Their accommodation was a well-located, mid-to-high-class hotel that Gu Qiuna had booked in advance through her connections.

While it may not be as luxurious as the Peninsula or as expensive as the top hotels next to the Conference Palace, it is clean and convenient, being only a ten-minute walk from the main venue, the Conference Palace.

After settling their luggage, the group did not rest. They immediately headed to the conference hall to register and familiarize themselves with the venue, led by Cheng Xuemin!

The Palace of Conferences is a massive modern building that faces the azure Mediterranean Sea and is truly magnificent.

The iconic red carpet has been laid out in the open space in front of the building, extending all the way to the entrance.

On both sides of the red carpet, the photography area was already packed with cameras and microphones, and many reporters and technicians were making final adjustments.

Although the film festival officially opens tomorrow, the pre-festival atmosphere is already very strong!

Cheng Xuemin noticed that there were no famous twenty-four steps leading up to the entrance of the conference palace!

At that time, the Cannes Film Festival still had a red carpet ceremony, but it had not yet developed into the highly standardized, star-studded, and even theatrical fixed process that would later emerge.

Walking the red carpet is more of a collective appearance for the film's main creative team, and the atmosphere is relatively solemn!

This made him nod slightly in approval. It lacked the ostentation and awkwardness of later films created to grab attention, and perhaps it could focus more on the film itself!

They completed the registration process as instructed and received their film festival credentials and information packs.

Cheng Xuemin holds the highest-level Golden Palm Guest pass, which grants him access to all areas;
Feng Jiayou, Huang Jianzhong, Fu Qi, and others have filmmaker credentials; Gong Xue, Zhu Lin, Li Lianjie, and other actors have actor credentials.

Holding these well-made badges printed with their photos and names, everyone felt truly integrated into this film festival, feeling both excited and a little nervous.

Just as they were receiving their credentials and familiarizing themselves with the venue layout, Cheng Xuemin caught a glimpse of two familiar figures out of the corner of his eye.

He stood somewhat awkwardly in the nearby rest area, his eyes occasionally scanning the crowd, as if searching for something.

It's Andy and Red, the two male leads from "The Redemption"!
The characters they played were based on Andy and Red from the original "The Shawshank Redemption." However, in Cheng Xuemin's heavily modified version, they were given new names and backgrounds, but Cheng Xuemin and the crew still habitually referred to them by these two code names in private.

Both are North American actors who were previously unknown, minor celebrities whose fame was unknown.

Cheng Xuemin asked his aunt Gu Qiuna to find him in the United States. He has solid acting skills, but lacks experience on the big screen and international stage!
Cheng Xuemin gestured for the others to wait a moment, then led Gong Xue over.

"Andy, Reed!" Cheng Xuemin greeted them with a gentle smile.

Upon hearing the sound, the two turned around and saw Cheng Xuemin. Their faces immediately showed relief, but also great respect and nervousness. They quickly stepped forward to greet him.

"Director Cheng!" Andy's voice was a little tight. He was a bit older, around forty years old, with a refined yet resolute appearance, just like the character Andy in the film.

Reed was younger, in his early thirties, with an ordinary appearance but expressive eyes. He nodded repeatedly, looking somewhat at a loss.

"When did you arrive? Have you arranged your accommodations?" Cheng Xuemin asked.

“We arrived the day before yesterday, Director Cheng! Ms. Gu has already arranged accommodations for us, they're nearby!” Andy replied, his voice still tense.
"We...we just didn't expect that we could actually come to Cannes and walk the red carpet...we...we were a little unsure."

Reed chuckled sheepishly and rubbed his hands together: "Yeah, Director Cheng, it's like a dream!"

"I thought the script was good when I was filming in Hong Kong before, and I was very dedicated to my acting, but I never dared to think that I could get to this point... What if I embarrass myself on the red carpet later?"

Looking at the two foreign actors, who at this moment resembled two naive and nervous students, Feng Jiayou felt both amused and somewhat sentimental.

Cheng Xuemin patted Andy on the shoulder and said, "Relax, just think of it as attending a big movie party."

"Follow me, follow the crew. Smile when you should smile, greet people when you should greet them. You don't need to do anything special!"

"I'll stand in front of the reporters when they ask questions. Your main task is to showcase the style and spirit of our 'Redemption' crew to the world, and that's enough!"

After Cheng Xuemin reassured them, their emotions calmed down a bit, but the excitement and unease in their eyes were still obvious.

For them, the Cannes red carpet is undoubtedly a dreamlike highlight of their career and even their lives, a time of both pressure and glory.

Just then, a burst of laughter and conversation with a Cantonese accent came from the side.

Cheng Xuemin turned his head and saw the Yuan brothers, Yuan Heping and Yuan Changren, walking and chatting with several Hong Kong filmmakers as they walked towards him!
Yuan Heping still had his signature round face and wore sunglasses, while Yuan Changren appeared more refined.

They also spotted Cheng Xuemin, their eyes lit up, and they immediately changed direction!
"Teacher Cheng! This must be Mrs. Cheng! What a coincidence to run into you here!" Yuan Heping greeted her from afar with a loud voice and a warm smile on his face.

The Yuan brothers also brought "The Thousand Faces of Dunjia" to Cannes this year, which was included in the non-competitive midnight screenings section.

It can't compare to "Redemption" in the Democracy Competition section, but just being able to appear in Cannes is a testament to its strength.

Of course, we also have to thank screenwriter Cheng Xuemin for making their film "The Thousand Faces of Dunjia" a box office hit in Hong Kong, giving their Yuan's Film Company's debut film a huge success! "Director Yuan, Master Yuan, long time no see! This is my wife, Feng Jiayou!" Cheng Xuemin greeted them with a smile, shaking hands and introducing them!

Feng Jiayou also nodded politely in acknowledgment.

"Teacher Cheng is amazing this time! 'Redemption' has been nominated for the main competition, bringing glory to Hong Kong cinema, or rather, to Chinese cinema!" Yuan Heping said with a smile, his envy barely concealed.

"Director Yuan, you flatter me. The fact that your film 'The Thousand Faces of Dunjia' can be screened at Cannes is proof of your strength," Cheng Xuemin said politely.

Yuan Changren pushed up his glasses and said in a more direct tone, "Teacher Cheng, your 'Redemption' crew will definitely be the highlight of this red carpet event."

"We from the Qimen Dunjia team are just here to join in the fun and learn something!"

Looking at the Yuan brothers, Cheng Xuemin suddenly had a joking thought. He raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said, "Director Yuan, Master Yuan, you wouldn't be thinking of inviting me, the screenwriter, to walk the red carpet with your 'The Thousand Faces of Dunjia' to support you, would you?"

This was half a joke, half a sarcastic remark.

Everyone knows that Cheng Xuemin is a mainland Chinese who is universally reviled by the right-wingers in the Hong Kong film industry.

The Yuan brothers are not yet at the point where they can openly side with Cheng Xuemin and his fellow leftists, so they obviously won't step forward to invite Cheng Xuemin to walk the red carpet with them.

If that's the case, wouldn't the Yuan brothers be declaring to the Golden Horse Film Bureau that they've directly sided with the leftists and that the Golden Horse Film Bureau can just blacklist them?
Sure enough, the smiles on Yuan Heping and Yuan Changren's faces froze for a moment, and then they looked a little embarrassed.

Yuan Heping chuckled twice: "Teacher Cheng, you're too kind. There will be opportunities! Your 'Redemption' is in the main competition section... We're just... just saying hello and wishing Teacher Cheng the best of luck!"

Yuan Changren quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, I wish Teacher Cheng all the best and hope he wins the Palme d'Or!"

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the two excused themselves, saying they needed to familiarize themselves with the venue, and hurriedly took their leave.

Watching their slightly hurried figures, Feng Jiayou couldn't help but chuckle and whispered to Cheng Xuemin, "Look at you, you scared them."

Cheng Xuemin smiled but didn't say anything.
The business world is like a battlefield, and film festivals are no exception. Sometimes, a well-timed warning and a clear statement of position are necessary!
The next day, July 7, the 33rd Cannes International Film Festival officially opened.

In the afternoon, the red carpet area in front of the conference palace was already packed with people.

Outside the police cordon, there were layers upon layers of spectators and movie fans, waving national flags and posters, and shouting the names of their idols.

Along the red carpet, the photography areas on both sides were already a sea of ​​white light from the flashes, and the sound of shutters was as dense as a downpour.

The live broadcast van of the TV station, the sound of the host connecting live, and shouts and screams in various languages ​​mixed together to create a deafening cacophony.

Cheng Xuemin brought along the cast and crew of "Redemption" and "Shaolin Temple," including director Huang Jianzhong, screenwriter Feng Jiazhao, lead actors Li Lianjie, Gong Xue, Zhu Lin, Andy, and Red, as well as family members and film music consultant Feng Jiayou.

Also present were Fu Qi and Shi Hui, a couple from Great Wall Pictures, along with their aunt Gu Qiuna, who were waiting at their designated spots in the starting area of ​​the red carpet.

Cheng Xuemin wore a well-tailored black suit and white shirt today, without a tie, and his collar was slightly open, making him look calm yet casual.

Feng Jiayou was wearing a modified lotus root-colored cheongsam chosen for her by Gu Qiuna, with a beige knitted cardigan over it.

She was both dignified and had an oriental charm. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, and she wore light makeup, making her stand out among the Western-style dresses around her.

She held Cheng Xuemin's arm tightly, her fingers gripping slightly with nervousness, but she tried her best to maintain a proper smile.

Huang Jianzhong and Feng Jiazhao were also dressed formally.

Andy and Red were wearing rented, ill-fitting suits, and their movements appeared somewhat stiff, but their eyes sparkled with excitement and determination.

As the film crews walked the red carpet one by one, they were met with cheers and a barrage of camera flashes!
The presence and popularity of top-tier directors and stars from Europe and America made Feng Jiayou more directly aware of the global nature of this stage and the brutal hierarchy.

Finally, the staff signaled that they could prepare.

"Are you ready?" Cheng Xuemin turned his head and asked the team members beside him in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over each face.

Everyone took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.

"Let's go!" Cheng Xuemin said calmly, putting his arm around Feng Jiayou's waist and stepping onto the bright red carpet that leads to the temple of film.

The first step I took on it felt soft and comfortable under my feet.

Immediately afterwards, waves of sound and light, seemingly tangible, rushed towards us!
Countless cameras were instantly pointed at them, flashes going off wildly, making it almost impossible to open their eyes.

Shouts and questions in various languages ​​mingled together, most of which they couldn't understand, but they could sense the curiosity and inquiry in them.

Perhaps there's also a hint of scrutiny directed at Chinese cinema, this unfamiliar newcomer!
Feng Jiayou felt her heart pounding like a drum, her ears ringing, and her palms, which were holding Cheng Xuemin's arm, instantly became sweaty.

She instinctively wanted to lower her head and quicken her pace, but she felt the steady and powerful steps of the man beside her and the support from his arms.

She forced herself to lift her head, straighten her back, and maintain the perfectly curved smile she had practiced for so long, looking straight ahead.

Cheng Xuemin walked steadily, his pace neither hurried nor slow!

He wore a faint, composed smile, nodded slightly to the cameras on both sides, and occasionally stopped to cooperate with the photographer's instructions, allowing Feng Jiayou and the other members to turn around and be photographed from different angles.

He even briefly answered two reporters' questions in English, his voice low but clear and calm.

"Mr. Cheng, how is it like bringing your work to the Cannes main competition for the first time?"

"It's an honor and I'm full of anticipation. I hope the world can see a different Chinese story through our film."

Simple conversations, transmitted to the world through cameras and microphones!
As Feng Jiayou listened to her husband's fluent English and composed, fluent answers, her nervousness dissipated somewhat, and she even felt a sense of pride and honor!

Huang Jianzhong, Feng Jiazhao, Li Lianjie, Gong Xue, and Zhu Lin tried their best to keep up with the pace.

Andy and Red were a little clumsy at first, but with Cheng Xuemin's encouragement and eye contact, they gradually relaxed and learned to wave to the camera.

Fu Qi and Shi Hui, along with their aunt Gu Qiuna, walked a little behind, their faces beaming with pride. They were not only representatives of the production company, but also seemed like elders who had come to cheer on their own child.

They walked for several minutes on this short stretch of red carpet!
When they finally stepped onto the steps leading to the entrance of the conference palace, temporarily shutting out the surging sea of ​​sound and light behind them, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if they had completed an important ritual.

The atmosphere inside the entrance became much more solemn!
The festival organizing committee chairman and several jury members stood at the entrance, shaking hands and exchanging brief greetings with the filmmakers as they entered.

When Cheng Xuemin and his team walked up to the chairman!
The elderly Frenchman, with his white hair and refined demeanor, shook Cheng Xuemin's hand firmly, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment before he spoke in accented English:
"Mr. Cheng, welcome to Cannes. We are very interested in your film 'Redemption' and look forward to its screening tomorrow!"

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We also look forward to sharing this work with everyone."

Cheng Xuemin responded neither humbly nor arrogantly.

After a simple ceremony, they were led into the main venue, the Lumière Hall.

This is a giant screening room that can accommodate thousands of people. The interior is ornately decorated and brightly lit, and many people are already seated.

Following the instructions, they took their seats in the reserved area in the front row for the main competition cast.

Feng Jiayou sat in the soft chair, looking at the internationally renowned filmmakers around her, the kind you only see in movie magazines, and listening to the buzzing of conversations in various languages, still feeling a little unreal.

But the warmth of Cheng Xuemin's palm made her feel at ease.

The opening ceremony officially began; the lights dimmed and the screen lit up!
A brief opening video, the chairman's speech, the appearance of the judging panel... Feng Jiayou watched the whole process with great excitement, while also feeling a heavy sense of ceremony and fighting spirit.

……

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