Chapter 149 Autumn Nostalgia
A few days after Ren Hao returned to Qindao, news came that the TV series "The Cliff" was officially approved and planned to shoot 20 episodes.
Qindao TV is planning to launch a big satellite this time. No TV station in China has ever produced a 20-episode TV series. This should be regarded as the first long TV series in China. "Eighteen Years in the Enemy Camp" broadcasted on CCTV at the beginning of this year only had 9 episodes.
As agreed in advance, the script adaptation work will be undertaken by Lin Weimin, the original author, and the time limit is tentatively set at three months.
This time was too much for Lin Weimin, as he knew the story of "The Cliff" by heart. He had adapted it from the TV version of "The Cliff" and the movie version of "Above the Cliff". He adapted the script fluently and finished two episodes in just one day.
If he didn’t have a job, Lin Weimin would really like to take another “creative vacation”.
Unfortunately he didn't dare, for fear of being torn to pieces alive by Comrade Lao Meng.
It’s only three months anyway, there’s plenty of time.
The review of "The Sound of Wind" was much smoother than that of "Farewell My Concubine". There was no sensitive content at all and it was completely glorious and upright.
Xie Mingqing responded that there were no problems with the initial review and the re-review, and the next step is to wait for the meeting to make a final decision.
During this period, Lin Weimin had some free time again and would occasionally visit the People's Art Theatre.
The actor for Cheng Dieyi in "Farewell My Concubine" has finally been decided. The leading role is Yang Lixin, a young actor who had just joined the People's Art Theater not long ago and became quite famous in later generations. His son later also became an actor and has done quite well. His name is Yang Le.
That day, Lin Weimin went to take a look at his appearance. Compared with the gentle temperament of Zhang Guorong in his impression, he found that he had a bit more toughness. It was still a matter of appearance, but generally speaking, he had some of the charm of Cheng Dieyi.
Lin Weimin remembers that the dubbing of Zhang Guorong in the later TV series "Farewell My Concubine" was done by Yang Lixin, which can be considered a kind of fate.
After Yang Lixin took off her makeup, Ouyang Shanzun called her over and asked, "Teacher Lin, what do you think of Xiao Yang's appearance?"
Lin Weimin nodded. "Not bad. I have no objection."
Yang Lixin was overjoyed. Although director Ouyang Shanzun and screenwriter Lan Yinhai had both expressed their approval of him before, with the approval of Lin Weimin, the original screenwriter, he was more confident of getting the role.
He was admitted to the National Theatre of China in 1975, similar to Li Guangfu, and has played small roles in recent years.
"but……"
Lin Weimin pondered and said, "Xiao Yang!"
"Teacher Lin, do you have any advice?" Yang Lixin asked quickly.
"It's not really about giving me advice. I just want to tell you that the character of Cheng Dieyi has his own unique characteristics. If you can't play it out, not only will the charm of this character be greatly reduced, but the audience may even dislike him. So, you have to work hard."
Yang Lixin felt the pressure from Lin Weimin. He nodded vigorously and said, "Teacher Lin, I will definitely work hard to play this role well."
Ouyang Shanzun smiled and said, "Our B-role is a male dan seconded from the Peking Opera Theater. The theater has coordinated with them and plans to send several of our leading actors there to study for three months. This play involves a lot of Peking Opera scenes, and it will be difficult for them to perform the essence of the roles without training."
Lin Weimin highly recognizes the serious attitude of the People's Art Theatre, and believes that only with such spirit and attitude can good works be produced.
On the weekend, Lin Weimin came to the courtyard at No. 26 Yonghegong Street again, and this time he was followed by someone.
"Tiesheng! Tiesheng!"
Lin Weimin was shouting in the courtyard, and Han Zhuangzhuang followed suit, "Uncle Shi! Uncle Shi!"
When Shi Tiesheng came out of the house in his wheelchair, he saw Lin Weimin carrying a piece of meat and Han Zhuangzhuang holding a few cabbages in his arms.
"What are you two doing?"
Lin Weimin asked, "Where is my uncle?"
"I'm out on some business. I'll be back soon."
Lin Weimin picked up the pork and shook it. "I just cut the hindquarters. I'm craving dumplings. I asked my uncle to make some for me."
Shi Tiesheng smiled and said, "Okay, we'll improve the food tonight. But isn't it a bit too much?"
Lin Weimin glanced back and said, "Not much, not much at all."
Shi Tiesheng laughed in tacit understanding.
It was almost noon when Shi's father came back. When he heard that Lin Weimin was going to make dumplings, he hurried to the kitchen.
Lin Weimin and Han Zhuangzhuang helped him with chopping stuffing, kneading dough, and rolling out the dough. The three of them divided the work and the scene was very lively.
Shi Tiesheng was making dumplings in a wheelchair. It was obvious that he had practiced his skills, which were much better than those made by Lin Weimin.
Han Zhuangzhuang laughed and said, "Uncle, your bag is too ugly!"
Lin Weimin gave him a look, and Han Zhuangzhuang tactfully shut up.
"Why didn't I see Shi Lan today?" Lin Weimin asked.
"It's summer vacation now. I go out to play with my classmates every day and come back only after dark." said Shi's father.
Lin Weimin pinched a dumpling and placed it on the lid. "It's time to go to high school, right?"
"Yeah, it's really fast!" Shi Tiesheng's tone was filled with admiration.
The four people worked quickly and finished making several dumplings in just over an hour.
Without waiting to finish wrapping all the dumplings, put two curtains of dumplings into the pot first.
Father Shi made the dumplings himself and let Lin Weimin, Shi Tiesheng and others eat first. They didn't hesitate and started eating with their bowls in hand.
“Muamua, it’s delicious!”
When Lin Weimin watched Han Zhuangzhuang eat, he always thought of a pig rooting for food.
"Can't you eat with some manners?"
"Uncle, you don't understand. This is how the food tastes better."
The two of them were bickering, but they didn't stop eating at all.
Shi Tiesheng said, "By the way, Weimin, I recently wrote something. Can you help me take a look after dinner?"
"good."
The three of them worked at full speed and ate the dumplings they had made earlier. Even if Shi's father could make more, they would not be able to eat enough.
Lin Weimin and Shi Tiesheng were full, but Han Zhuangzhuang was still a little hungry, so he stood up to help Shi's father make dumplings.
Lin Weimin pushed Shi Tiesheng into his room and started to look through his newly written manuscript.
"After my legs were paralyzed, my temper became violent and erratic. When I looked at the flocks of geese flying north in the sky, I would suddenly smash the glass in front of me..."
"Autumn Memories" is one of the few essays by Lin Weimin that I have read in its entirety and was moved to tears.
When Shi Tiesheng went to the countryside, he first had back pain, then difficulty moving his legs, and finally found out that the problem was in his spine. During those years, Shi Tiesheng's father was still working in southern Yunnan, and his mother took care of his life and medical treatment.
Just as it is written in the article, Shi Tiesheng became extremely sensitive and moody in the early stages of his illness, and his mother was always by his side, taking care of him and tolerating him.
But things are unpredictable. That strong mother might be able to bear the burden of thousands of yuan of debt owed for her son's medical treatment, and could endure the hardship of serving a patient for the rest of her life, but she could never bear the blow of her lively son losing his legs.
She left, leaving behind a disabled son and an underage daughter.
Before she died, Shi Tiesheng's mother always told him that she wanted to take him to Beihai, saying that the flowers there were in bloom and she wanted to take Shi Tiesheng to see them.
But at that time, Shi Tiesheng was not the open-minded and optimistic man he is today, and he always rudely rejected his mother.
Until one day, when Shi Tiesheng was looking at the leaves falling outside the window, he finally agreed to his mother's request to go to Beihai.
His mother said she would take him to eat Fangshan after visiting Beihai. When Shi Tiesheng was a child, he loved the pea yellow there the most. She happily stood up and said she would go and prepare some, but after she left, she never came back.
The mother passed away, leaving Shi Tiesheng with endless longing and guilt.
"It's autumn again. My sister pushed me to Beihai to see the chrysanthemums. The yellow flowers are elegant, the white flowers are noble, the purple flowers are warm and deep, and they are blooming in the autumn wind. I understand what my mother didn't finish. My sister understands too. We are together and we must live well..."
Now these thoughts have turned into words on the manuscript paper, but have not yet turned into lead type, and they are filled with longing and guilt for my mother.
It was only less than a thousand words, but Lin Weimin burst into tears after reading it. "It's so well written!"
He stroked the manuscript and sighed, "We must get our manuscript published in Contemporary Magazine."
Shi Tiesheng smiled, his face full of satisfaction, "It's great to be published in your Contemporary Magazine."
He added: "Isn't it too short?"
Lin Weimin said, "What does it matter if it's short? Your essay will be included in the textbook. It's an honor for our journal to be published in Contemporary."
Shi Tiesheng was delighted at first, but then he became a little depressed. "What kind of textbooks are we using?"
For a writer, it is definitely an honor to have his work included in textbooks.
But Shi Tiesheng did not want to use this work in textbooks.
Lin Weimin realized his gaffe and changed the subject.
The two chatted in the room for a while. It was a bit stuffy, so Lin Weimin planned to push Shi Tiesheng to the tree outside the yard.
Passing by Han Zhuangzhuang who was still stuffing dumplings into his mouth, Lin Weimin said, "Just eat most of it, leave some for Shi Lan."
Father Shi smiled and said, "I'll leave them all for that girl, so don't worry about them."
Shi Tiesheng and Lin Weimin were sitting and standing, chatting under the tree.
Occasionally, when a neighbor came back from outside the yard or went out and saw Shi Tiesheng and Lin Weimin, they would always smile and say something to Shi Tiesheng, and would also mention Lin Weimin, "Is writer Lin here again?"
Lin Weimin replied with a smile: "Busy", "Have you eaten?"
As the two were chatting, Lin Weimin mentioned Qu Xiaowei. He heard that his girlfriend was transferred to Yanjing, and Shi Tiesheng was very happy for him.
"So, they should be getting married soon?" He meant getting married.
"Who knows? They didn't tell me the last time they met."
"I was wondering why Xiaowei has been coming less often recently? Turns out his girlfriend is here."
Lin Weimin said: "This boy is so obsessed with beauty that he forgets his principles!"
Shi Tiesheng smiled and said, "When you are in love, you have to do the same."
Lin Weimin waved his hand and said proudly, "That's impossible. As a man, how can I indulge in love affairs? I can't let women take up too much of my energy."
Shi Tiesheng looked at him for a long time before saying, "No wonder you are still single!"
"Nonsense! I just don't want to look for it."
Shi Tiesheng said slowly: "Then go find it!"
Lin Weimin looked embarrassed and said, "Look for it if you can."
(End of this chapter)
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