Literary Master 1978

"Do you remember the party at our house that day?"

Li Hanxiang did not answer Lin Chaoyang, but asked him a question instead.

Lin Chaoyang nodded, "I remember."

"Do you remember Xu Guanwen?"

"He's a big star, of course I remember."

When people in later generations mention the comedy king of Hong Kong movies, the first person they think of must be Stephen Chow.

But what many people don't know is that before Stephen Chow came out of nowhere, when Hong Kong people mentioned comedy movies, the first person they thought of must be Xu Guanwen.

Different from the nonsensical style that Stephen Chow is good at, Xu Guanwen is a cold-faced comedian, and his performances and works are often integrated with a strong sense of humanity. This style is unique in the Hong Kong film industry in the 1970s.

Every work he made was a hit, and Xu Guanwen dominated the film industry, and by the way, he also brought his three brothers to fame.

The stories of the four brothers of the Xu family, both literary and martial heroes, have always been a good story in the Hong Kong film industry in the 1970s and 1980s.

Unfortunately, after he became popular with "Modern Bodyguard" in 1981 and won the first Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actor, his career became bumpy.

First, the cooperation between the Xu brothers became less, and then he retreated behind the scenes to write, produce and direct "Seven Heroes" and "Teppanyaki" and other works that failed at the box office and reputation.

The successive blows made this once popular movie star fall into a long period of low tide.

"Compared to acting, Big Brother Wen actually likes to write and direct more. Unfortunately, his writing and directing seem to be unpopular with the audience without his acting. The audience may want to see him act in movies more."

Xu Guanwen's famous work is "The Warlord" directed by Li Hanxiang, so the two have a good relationship. "Big Brother Wen" is a nickname between the two, because Xu Guanwen is the eldest in the family.

Finally figuring out who wanted him to write a script, Lin Chaoyang couldn't help but ask curiously, "I'm a mainland screenwriter, isn't he afraid that the script I wrote won't work in Hong Kong?"

"You don't understand his current entanglement and dilemma. Big Brother Wen has no shortage of scripts and movies to shoot, but he is different from ordinary movie stars. He has his own pursuits.

He wants to be a screenwriter and a director, telling the stories in his heart to the audience, instead of just being an actor forever.

But the audience only likes to watch him play these things, which is the fundamental reason why he fell into a trough."

Listening to Li Hanxiang's words, Lin Chaoyang thought, "Oh, talent doesn't match ambition!"

A precise comment made Li Hanxiang's expression a little embarrassed. He had just praised Xu Guanwen for his pursuits, but he didn't expect to be wiped out by Lin Chaoyang with cruel reality.

In the film and television industry, comedy requires the most talent and audience appeal, and it is also the most tiring.

Whether in China or abroad, many actors who became famous for comedy either retired or struggled in a pile of bad plays. In short, they could not escape the judgment of "running out of talent".

Therefore, these people will seek breakthroughs when they reach a certain age, but few succeed.

Xu Guanwen is certainly not without talent, but his talent is more in acting, but he insisted on getting stuck in that dead end, and the result is predictable.

After experiencing a few years of lows in later generations, Xu Guanwen thought about it and returned to the old path.

In the late 1980s, he successively launched works such as "Detective Chocolate" and "Chicken and Duck Talk". After returning to the old path, he became popular again.

But unfortunately, his popularity did not last for a few years, and he was knocked down by his junior Stephen Chow, and finally faded out of the film industry in the early 1990s.

After the embarrassment, Li Hanxiang did not dwell on this issue, but continued to say to Lin Chaoyang:

"Both "Behind the Curtain" and "The Chess Master" are your screenwriters, and both have achieved remarkable results in Hong Kong, which fully demonstrates your talent in this area.

Talent is not limited by region. As long as it is a good work, everyone will appreciate it.

If you can write an excellent script for Big Brother Wen, maybe you can help him change his acting style and let him soar to the sky from now on!"

Lin Chaoyang smiled and said, "If transformation is so easy, he would not be in a low period now."

Li Hanxiang asked, "So you don't want to help him write the script?"

"That's not the case. As long as the price is right, the script can still be written."

Li Hanxiang thought to himself that it is true that it is easy to change the country, but it is difficult to change one's nature!

"How much does he plan to pay?" Lin Chaoyang asked.

"As long as the script is excellent, 200,000 Hong Kong dollars!"

Li Hanxiang made a "V" with his hand, and his tone was full of confidence. This number is much higher than the royalties that Lin Chaoyang paid him for writing the script of "Behind the Curtain".

But Lin Chaoyang remained calm after hearing this. Li Hanxiang saw his expression and asked: "Why? Still think it's too low?"

"Yes."

"Isn't this much higher than the fees you get for writing other scripts?"

"It's a different time now."

Lin Chaoyang didn't explain anything, but Li Hanxiang understood it as soon as he thought about it.

The scripts handled by Lin Chaoyang, whether in the mainland or in Xiangjiang, have no difference in box office and reputation, and all of them are big hits.

If a movie is like this, some people may say it is the director's credit, but the problem is that every movie is like this, who can shamelessly erase Lin Chaoyang's credit?

Li Hanxiang's idea is not wrong, but Lin Chaoyang is not interested in this matter. The main reason is that writing scripts for others is becoming less and less cost-effective for him now.

Compared with the royalties earned from writing movie scripts, he may get more rewards from writing novels and earning royalties.

While the two were talking, Zou Shifang had been listening quietly beside them.

He met Lin Chaoyang in 1978, when Lin Chaoyang was still an ordinary librarian in the library of Yanda University.

When he occasionally went to the Chinese Department to take classes, he would meet Lin Chaoyang who was also taking classes, or when the May Fourth Literary Society organized activities, they would also invite Lin Chaoyang to participate.

During his four years in college, he watched Lin Chaoyang write one wonderful work after another, and his reputation rose with it.

Now he has graduated from college for more than two years. When they met again, Lin Chaoyang had already become a famous writer with a national reputation, and the one who was talking and laughing was a great director like Li Hanxiang.

Others begged to write scripts for 200,000 Hong Kong dollars, but Lin Chaoyang was indifferent.

You have to know that he is a Yanda graduate, and his salary for more than two years of work is only more than 60 yuan.

There was a huge gap in front of Zou Shifang, and he couldn't even feel any envy and jealousy, because the money was beyond his concept.

Understanding Lin Chaoyang's mentality, Li Hanxiang didn't say anything else. He certainly couldn't force others to do such things. He changed the topic and everyone continued to chat and laugh.

Tony Leung asked Lin Chaoyang that some film and television companies in Hong Kong wanted to invite him to star in a movie. Would he like to star?

Li Hanxiang was very kind to Tony Leung. Because he was going to shoot "Fire Dragon", Tony Leung certainly couldn't agree to those film contracts now, but the remuneration given to him by those production companies really made him excited.

Listening to Tony Leung's distress, Lin Chaoyang smiled and said, "If you want to make money, you can take more movies while the production company recognizes you now. If you want to hold this bowl of rice for a long time, you still have to look at the script and the behind-the-scenes lineup."

Tony Leung's expression was subtle when he heard this, because most of the production companies and movies that came to him didn't even have a script, and only said which star would be invited to play the leading role.

Such an impetuous atmosphere is in line with Lin Chaoyang's stereotype of Hong Kong movies.

He said to Tony Leung in a deep voice: "You may make less money by making a good movie than by making ten bad movies, but you will definitely make more than ten movies in the future."

Tony Leung thought for a while, and finally nodded seriously, "I understand what you mean."

He regarded Li Hanxiang and Lin Chaoyang as mentors in his acting career, and attached great importance to their opinions. He was determined to plan his future path according to Lin Chaoyang's guidance.

After dinner, everyone said goodbye.

Like Lin Chaoyang, Zou Shifang came here by bicycle. After the two separated at the intersection, Zou Shifang couldn't help turning his head to look at Lin Chaoyang's back.

The distance between the two was getting farther and farther, just like the gap between them. Zou Shifang was filled with emotion.

After returning home from Donglaishun, Lin Chaoyang's face was red from the cold wind. On the way back, he was thinking whether he should buy a four-wheeled vehicle, otherwise it would be too painful in winter.

He had just pushed the bicycle to the corner when Tao Yushu came out of the main room and said to him: "Chaoyang, there are guests at home!"

"Who is it?" Lin Chaoyang asked.

"Nie Weiping!"

Lin Chaoyang was a little surprised to hear this. According to the date, the China-Japan Go Challenge should be coming soon. Why did he come to his home?

After entering the house, Lin Chaoyang saw Nie Weiping sitting on the sofa. After shaking hands and greeting each other, Lin Chaoyang asked: "It seems that the challenge match is about to be held soon? How come you have time to come to me today?"

"I came to see you for the challenge match. Are you free tomorrow?"

Although he didn't know what Nie Weiping wanted to see him for, Lin Chaoyang still said: "I am free."

"That's great! I'll treat you to a movie tomorrow."

Lin Chaoyang was a little confused when he heard this. He didn't know what Nie Weiping was up to.

Nie Weiping smiled and explained: "Watch "The Go Master"! The day after tomorrow is the China-Japan Go Challenge Match. Our strength is not as good as the Japanese. We lost the first game and the team members are under great pressure.

Captain Hao said that he would lead the team members to watch "The Go Master" to boost everyone's morale.

I thought, if I want to boost morale, I have to call you, the author!"

The competition is about to start. Can you go to the movie to be more reliable?

Although they complained in their hearts, Nie Weiping and the others were watching "The Chess Master" after all, so this was also a support for themselves.

Besides, what if they really won?

No, not what if, but they must win!

In the first China-Japan Go Challenge, Nie Weiping defeated three players and swept the three top players in the Japanese Go world, creating a legend.

In the same challenge, there was another young Chinese player who performed bravely.

He was Jiang Zhujiu, who played in the second game and was only 22 years old.

When the Chinese Go community was feeling melancholy and depressed about the prospects of the China-Japan Go Challenge, Jiang Zhujiu stood up.

First, he won 2.5 points against Yoshiki Iida with white in the second game, and won Kobayashi Akira in the middle game with black in the third game. Then in the fourth, fifth, and sixth games...

Jiang Zhujiu completed the "Penta kill" against the Japanese team by himself, and finally lost to Kobayashi Koichi.

Kobayashi Koichi is a top player in the Japanese chess world. Apart from Nie Weiping, almost no one on the Chinese team can compete with him, so Jiang Zhujiu still won honor despite his defeat.

His heroic performance made those Japanese players who had boasted before the game feel ashamed. It not only greatly frustrated the arrogance of the Japanese team, but also relieved the anger of Chinese Go enthusiasts.

Memories flashed through his mind, and Lin Chaoyang said, "Okay, it's just right to go meet the national players tomorrow."

At this time, Tao Yushu said, "Chaoyang, take Dongdong with you tomorrow."

Lin Chaoyang turned his head to look at her. There was a light in Ms. Tao's eyes, and that light made people feel kind and familiar.

Back then, it was hoping that the husband would become a dragon, and now it is hoping that the son will become a dragon!

Lin Chaoyang glanced at Xiao Dongdong who was playing with toys. The blue and white striped tumbler doll swayed under his movements, causing him to burst into crisp and loud laughter.

Son, Dad also went through this, you just need to get used to it!