Literary Master 1978

For some reason, Lin Chaoyang felt that the twinkling light in Li Shifei's eyes was a bit dangerous.

"Okay, it's great to be young, full of inspiration, and extraordinary creative efficiency!" Li Shifei praised Lin Chaoyang happily, and then asked him for the manuscript to have a sneak peek.

After getting the manuscript, Li Shifei sat quietly on the sofa and read it for a long time. He sat there motionless, not even thinking about drinking water.

It wasn't until Tao Yushu made some noise when he returned home that he woke Li Shifei up.

"It's so late?" Li Shifei looked at his watch, a little embarrassed, "Chaoyang, I'm sorry to bother you."

"It's okay, stay home for dinner tonight."

Lin Chaoyang was preparing dinner in the kitchen, while Li Shifei chatted with Tao Yushu.

First, they talked about Tao Yushu's pregnancy and resignation. She is now four months pregnant and her belly is slightly bulging, but she moves like the wind without any impact.

Then Tao Yushu asked Li Shifei what he thought of Lin Chaoyang's new work. He pondered for a while before speaking.

"Chaoyang's selection of materials for this new work is very bold, and it can be said to be a breakthrough in the past.

However, his bold breakthrough is also right. "Crossing Guandong" is full of gems and has left a profound impression on readers.

If the new work chooses a realistic-themed story, it will certainly be safe, but I am afraid it will be difficult to surpass "Enter Guandong".

Readers will inevitably compare these two works. Even if the new work is of good quality, it may not win much reputation.

The subject matter Chaoyang has chosen now is much more novel and bold, and the writing... is surprisingly good.

His talent is really enviable. He can write whatever he likes. Reading his novel reminded me of George Orwell's "1984".

Although the two are different in form and content, the core is very similar.

In the same suffocating world, in the same imaginary society, the protagonist's life is determined by a dictator.

Humanity and personality are stifled by power, freedom is deprived, and even thoughts are suppressed.

Alas, I understand that Chaoyang still wants to reflect the painful experiences and lessons of those ten years. "

Lin Chaoyang, who was busy in the kitchen, was speechless when he heard this. Why do you cultural people have such rich associative abilities?

During the meal, Lin Chaoyang asked Li Shifei: "Old Li, what are your plans for coming back? When will you leave?"

If he was in Yanjing, Lin Chaoyang would definitely have let Li Shifei stay at home. Unfortunately, now that he is in Xiangjiang, the space at home is really cramped and it is difficult to accommodate guests.

Listening to Lin Chaoyang's question, Li Shifei did not answer immediately.

He rushed to Xiangjiang in a hurry this time, mainly because of Lin Chaoyang's letter.

"Crossing the Boat" and "Crossing the Guandong" brought Huacheng Publishing House a huge success, and at the same time, they also had very considerable economic benefits. Naturally, they could not just sit back and watch a cash cow like Lin Chaoyang be pried away by Yanjing Publishing House.

Before Li Shifei came this time, he didn't expect that Lin Chaoyang's new work was almost completed. He originally wanted to check it out with Lin Chaoyang and then leave.

Now that he has read the new work, he no longer thinks so.

As the saying goes, those who are near the water get the moon first. When Lin Chaoyang was in Yanjing, Huacheng Publishing House was beyond their reach, and Yanjing Publishing House poached corners and acted unscrupulously.

Well now, Lin Chaoyang has come to Xiangjiang, and his new work is about to be finished.

This was a God-given opportunity, and Li Shifei made up his mind that he must win Lin Chaoyang's novel.

"I came here specifically for your new work!"

What's the meaning? Why don't you leave if you can't get the manuscript?

Li Shifei had no way of knowing Lin Chaoyang's psychological activities. He continued, "I will discuss the royalties with the company later and I will definitely give you a satisfactory price."

Lin Chaoyang nodded and did not put any more pressure on Li Shifei.

In the evening, after Li Shifei left, Tao Yushu said, "Chaoyang, my sister-in-law is taking me to the Clear Water Bay studio tomorrow. Do you want to go with me?"

The Clearwater Bay set is the home base of Shaw Brothers and has produced hundreds of films over the decades.

Li Hanxiang has deep connections in Shaw Brothers. If Tao Yushu wants to be familiar with the film industry, it is natural that he must be familiar with the film shooting process. Shaw Brothers' Clear Water Bay studio is a very suitable place.

"I'm not going, I have to rush to finish the manuscript."

Lin Chaoyang plans to finish the novel quickly in the next few days, and then start writing the script, aiming to complete it within a month.

Early the next morning, Zhang Cuiying drove specially to pick up Tao Yushu.

Clear Water Bay Studio, as the name suggests, is built in Clear Water Bay, located in the east of Xiangjiang, far away from the city center. If you go there by yourself, it will take at least an hour by bus and subway.

Zhang Cuiying drove Tao Yushu and they arrived in half an hour.

The sign on the side of the road at the intersection reads "Shaw Brothers Studios, Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong) Pictures Company".

Not far from the main entrance of the studio is the administrative building. The two English abbreviations "SB" are huge on the roof. If Lin Chaoyang came and saw it, he would definitely feel full of humor.

After parking the car, the two got out of the car. Zhang Cuiying waited at the entrance of the set for a while, and then a baby-faced young man ran out from the set.

"Mrs. Li!"

"Axi!"

The two greeted each other, and Zhang Cuiying introduced them to both parties.

The young man's name is Huang Jiaxi. He just has a baby face, but he is actually thirty-six years old. He is now a producer of Shaw Brothers.

When he first joined Shaw Brothers, he worked as an oddball on Li Hanxiang's crew, and step by step he rose from being a scriptwriter to a producer, and Li Hanxiang's support was indispensable.

Huang Jiaxi led the way, Zhang Cuiying and Tao Yushu followed two steps behind, and quietly introduced the situation to them.

In May in the south, the Clearwater Bay Studios was full of greenery, with vines growing everywhere, and the buildings were hidden in large tracts of green.

Walking up along the Yinying Road inside the studio, there is the Shaw dormitory on the left, the Shaw Building on the right, and the Shaw Villa at the end.

Huang Jiaxi pointed to Tao Yushu while walking and introduced: "That's the No. 2 dormitory. Cheng Peipei, Ti Lung, David Chiang, Lin Dai and other people all lived here before."

The movie stars he introduced were all very popular in the 1960s and 1970s. When he mentioned these names, a bit of pride flashed across his face.

"I'll take you to the studio I'm supervising!"

Huang Jiaxi led the two to the studio. There are a total of 10 studios in the Shaw Studios, which can meet different filming needs. The movie he is supervising is "Modern Cinderella", which is shot in Studio 6.

When Tao Yushu and others entered the studio, the filming was in progress.

"Ka-ka-ka! Hey, pretty girl, can you be more expressive? Don't look so blank. Are you crying?"

A bespectacled fat man sat on the director's chair. He looked relaxed and didn't have any anger when he spoke, but his tone was very hurtful.

The actress he called "pretty girl" stood there, somewhat at a loss.

"The director of our play is Wang Jing, the one sitting on the chair. The male lead is Chen Baixiang, and the female lead is Maggie Cheung, who was the Hong Kong sister two years ago. She is really pretty!

But... her acting is a bit poor."

Huang Jiaxi introduced the situation to Tao Yushu and others, and couldn't help complaining about the female lead's acting.

A scene was NG, and the crew had to prepare again. The complaints of a group of behind-the-scenes staff filled the studio without any reservation.

"What are you doing? It's not a close-up. How can this be NG!"

"She's just a vase. It's enough to be pretty!"

Tao Yushu looked at the scene in front of her with curiosity. It was her first time to come to the filming site in person. She was curious about everything.

She could feel the embarrassment and shame of the heroine even from a few meters away.

Tao Yushu could understand the reason why these staff members complained. If they NGed once, they would have to do more work. Of course, everyone was unhappy.

But isn't this state a bit too unscrupulous?

Tao Yushu whispered to Zhang Cuiying, and Zhang Cuiying said:

"The people in the crew are like this. They complain when they are asked to do more work.

Maggie Cheung just debuted and is not famous. They dare to be so unscrupulous. Let's see if they dare to be so unscrupulous when Liza Wang comes!"

The two chatted and visited casually. With the producer Huang Jiaxi leading them, they came and went freely in the crew.

Wong Jing noticed the two women following Huang Jiaxi and suddenly stood up.

He greeted Zhang Cuiying enthusiastically: "Aunt Ying, why are you here on the set?"

"I brought my friends here to visit the set." Zhang Cuiying smiled and introduced Wang Jing and Tao Yushu to each other.

"Hello, Mrs. Lin!"

"Hello, Director Wang!"

Although she had been here for many days, Tao Yushu was still a little unaccustomed to the Hong Kong people's address to married women.

"Jingzai has really made a name for himself. He is now a big director!" Zhang Cuiying praised with a smile.

"Aunt Ying, please stop making fun of me. I'm just trying to make a living."

Wang Jing wore glasses and had a fat face. When he smiled, his eyes disappeared.

Wang Jing's father was Wang Tianlin. In his early years, he and Li Hanxiang both came from Yonghua Films, which was the predecessor of Dianmao. Zhang Cuiying watched Wang Jing grow up.

After a few more words of chatting, Wang Jing continued to film, and Zhang Cuiying and Tao Yushu watched with interest on the set.

"Modern Cinderella" is a typical romantic comedy film in the style of Wong Jing, so the actors' body language and facial expressions are required to be exaggerated.

In the morning, the heroine Maggie Cheung kept NG. The more Wong Jing scolded her and the more the staff complained, the more nervous she became and the worse her performance became.

Finally, Wong Jing waved his hand helplessly, "Let's eat! Let's eat!"

During the lunch break of the crew, Wong Jing came to talk to Zhang Cuiying again, "Aunt Ying, I'm sorry. The crew is too busy shooting, otherwise I would definitely treat you to a meal today."

"It doesn't matter, wait for the next opportunity."

"Okay, my dad will treat us, call Xiang Bo!"

"Stingy!"

Zhang Cuiying chatted with Wong Jing for a few words, and then asked Tao Yushu, "How is it, Yushu, are you used to the boxed lunches on the set?"

"This kind of food is already very good." Tao Yushu said with a smile.

Zhang Cuiying spoke Cantonese to Wang Jing and Mandarin to Tao Yushu. She introduced Tao Yushu vaguely just now. Wang Jing listened to the conversation between the two and couldn't help but look at Tao Yushu.

Judging from the accent, this "Mrs. Lin" must be from the mainland. She has a bright and beautiful appearance and outstanding temperament, not inferior to a star at all. I think she has an extraordinary background.

Wang Jing thought that Li Hanxiang had been filming in the mainland for the past two years. Maybe she was a high-ranking official who met in the mainland and came to Hong Kong to play. Otherwise, how could she let Zhang Cuiying accompany her?

"Mrs. Lin is from the mainland?" Wang Jing asked in poor Mandarin.

"Yes."

"Are you an actor?"

"No, I used to work as a literary editor."

Wang Jing said again: "Your appearance is so outstanding. When I saw you for the first time, I thought you were a movie star from the mainland!"

The fat guy flattered Tao Yushu loudly and clearly. Tao Yushu rarely enjoyed such treatment and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Zhang Cuiying laughed, "Jingzai, you don't want Yushu to be an actress, do you?"

"With Mrs. Lin's conditions, she is more than qualified to be the heroine, but I'm afraid she will lose her status."

Wang Jing's words not only praised Tao Yushu, but also took into account Tao Yushu's possible hidden identity. It can be said that he was thoughtful.

Tao Yushu smiled politely, while Zhang Cuiying smiled boldly, which attracted the attention of people around, including the heroine Maggie Cheung.