Chapter 172: Good-looking is the most important
The National Excellent Short and Medium-length Novels Selection is considered to be one of the earliest literary awards in China. In terms of influence, it cannot be compared with several literary awards named after literary masters in later generations, but it is still very influential in the literary circle.
Especially for those writers who have not yet become famous, winning such an award will undoubtedly greatly increase their popularity and network of contacts.
On the contrary, for already famous writers like Lin Weimin and Jiang Zilong, the bonus is very limited, at most it is just an additional honor.
After the award ceremony, Lin Weimin's life returned to normal.
That day, Lin Weimin received a call from Ren Hao, saying that the filming of "The Cliff" had been completed and the crew was disbanded on the spot. Next, he would come to Yanjing to do the post-production of the TV series, which was expected to take two or three months.
After agreeing to have dinner together when they were free, they hung up the phone.
Two days later, Lu Yao's "Life" was officially released for sale. Lin Weimin called Lu Yao specifically to tell him the news.
Lu Yao was a little excited on the phone, "I want to buy 100 copies and give them away!"
Lin Weimin felt that this sounded familiar.
Shit, isn’t this what Yoko said?
"Don't rush to spend the money yet. I withheld your manuscript fee, which was 1,300 yuan. You still owe me 700 yuan!"
"I'll return the book to you next time."
Lu Yao's tone revealed an attitude that showed he regarded money as dirt.
"Don't download the next book. You can pay it back next time you print more copies."
"Well, it's settled then."
Qu Xiaowei found Lin Weimin that afternoon.
"Can you lend me the courtyard next to the Forbidden City?"
"Why do you want to borrow the house?"
Qu Xiaowei gave Lin Weimin a look and said, "You don't care about me at all!"
"My buddy is getting married in half a month. Haiyan's parents, brothers and sisters, and several relatives will come over then, so I have to find a place for them to stay, right?
I plan to let them stay for a few more days and have a good time in Yanjing. It is too inconvenient to stay in a guesthouse. That day, your home will be like my mother's home."
This reason was very sufficient, and Lin Weimin threw the key to Qu Xiaowei.
"You go and pack it up. We have all the big stuff, but if you want to live here, you'll need to add some bedding and daily necessities."
"Okay, just leave it alone."
Qu Xiaowei left in style.
Lin Weimin looked at his back and felt that this thief Sun had become a little too proud of himself recently.
In mid-April, Qu Xiaowei and Liu Haiyan got married. They had obtained their marriage certificate more than half a month ago, and their wedding ceremony was held today.
Weddings in the 1980s were relatively simple, but Qu Xiaowei's family was not poor. Unlike the general trend of holding weddings at home in that era, the Qu family held the wedding and banquet in Huifeng Hall.
In the late Qing Dynasty, a number of restaurants with built-in opera stages and large banquets appeared in Yanjing. They were named "tang". Those who ate in the tang were not ordinary nobles, and those who could hold banquets in the tang were not ordinary families.
These dining halls witnessed various festive events in the upper class society in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.
In the past, there were eight great halls in Yanjing City. There are different names for them, but the most common ones are Huifeng Hall, Huixian Hall, Fushou Hall, Tianfu Hall, Fuqing Hall, Tonghe Hall, Qinghe Hall, and Juxian Hall. Each of these eight halls has its own characteristics and particularities.
However, Huifengtang is the only one that has survived to this day.
Huifengtang opened in 1858 and specializes in Shandong cuisine. It was originally located on Wanyinsi Street outside Qianmen, and later moved to Cuiwei Road. The store still hangs a plaque bestowed by the Empress Dowager Cixi.
Their family only caters for weddings and funerals, not individual banquets.
Qu Xiaowei's family held the wedding and wedding banquet here. Apart from anything else, the bride Liu Haiyan's family were all very happy.
On the wedding day, Qu Xiaowei's family found a Lada as the wedding car, which was extremely high-end in 1982.
Lin Weimin's two-wheeled motorcycle can only be used to pick up passengers and relatives.
After helping out for a long time, Lin Weimin was finally able to sit down and eat during the wedding banquet. Huifengtang's specialty is traditional Shandong cuisine combined with Jiaodong seafood, but Lin Weimin stared at the "Nine-Turn Large Intestine" on the table and kept picking at it. It is not easy to eat such a decent "large intestine".
Zheng Guo and Yao Shuzhi also came today and sat next to Lin Weimin. When they were almost done eating, they started chatting. Lin Weimin asked, "When are you two going to do it?"
Yao Shuzhi looked at Zheng Guo, who was still busy with the food in his bowl. "It will take until next year, right?"
Lin Weimin observed the expressions of the two men. This was probably what was called the difference in offensive and defensive momentum.
At first, it was Zheng Guo who was interested in Yao Shuzhi, and he needed his help to get her. Now that he has succeeded, Zheng Guo is no longer anxious, and it is Yao Shuzhi who is anxious.
After the wedding, Lin Weimin helped Qu Xiaowei send her relatives from her natal family back to the courtyard house next to the Forbidden City.
"Oh, thank you so much Weimin today." said Liu Haiyan's mother.
"Auntie, you are too polite. Xiaowei, Haiyan and I are all friends, and this is the way it should be. Auntie, if there is nothing else, I will leave first."
"Weimin, don't be anxious, come and sit for a while."
Liu Haiyan's mother added: "It's really hard to find a friend like you even with a lantern!"
Liu Haiyan's mother had long heard from her daughter about Lin Weimin's identity: he was a famous writer and an editor of the Chinese Literature Society. He rode a motorcycle when he went out, and even the courtyard house they were living in was his.
My son-in-law is pretty good, but compared with Lin Weimin, he is not as good.
"Thank you for the compliment, Auntie." Lin Weimin said politely.
Liu Haiyan's mother asked: "I heard from our Haiyan that you are still single now?"
"Oh, yes." Lin Weimin was a little surprised.
"Why don't you have a friend?"
Lin Weimin said perfunctorily: "I haven't met the right one yet."
As the two were talking, Liu Haiyan, who had just seen off the guests, happened to walk into the room. She was dressed as a bride, and when she saw her mother talking to Lin Weimin, she immediately recalled the conversation between her mother and her second aunt last night.
"Mom, you guys should go to bed early and stop chatting. Weimin has to go back to work in the afternoon."
Being interrupted by her daughter, Liu Haiyan's mother glared at her secretly, then smiled and sent Lin Weimin out of the house.
After Lin Weimin left, Liu Haiyan's mother scolded her, "You just got married, and you've already forgotten your family?"
Liu Haiyan said impatiently, "Mom, please stop trying to match us up. Weimin is a great writer after all. He's good-looking, rich, talented, and has a respectable job. What kind of person can't he find? How many female comrades have expressed their affection for him? It's because he has too high standards and doesn't like him."
"Your second sister isn't bad either, okay?"
"My second sister is not bad, but she is better off! Just give up on this thought."
Liu Haiyan's mother was scolded by her daughter, who accused her of forgetting her mother now that she had a husband. Liu Haiyan comforted her mother and left the house.
At this time, Lin Weimin had already left. Liu Haiyan gave Qu Xiaowei a bitter smile and said, "My mother hasn't given up yet."
Qu Xiaowei laughed and said, "Normal. Weimin is now the flesh of Tang Monk in Journey to the West. Which woman wouldn't be envious when seeing him?"
Then Qu Xiaowei brought up the example of Huang Anyi who came to Yanjing a few days ago, "Anyi has been interested in Weimin since she was at the Institute of Literature Research. This time, I think she still hasn't given up on this idea."
Liu Haiyan wondered, "Hey, do you think Weimin is really stupid?"
Qu Xiaowei thought for a moment and said, "It's true that he doesn't understand romance, but he's not that stupid. He probably just doesn't like her."
"So what kind does he like?"
"What else could you like? Someone like a fairy." Qu Xiaowei summed up.
After all, he is Lin Weimin’s good friend, and Qu Xiaowei got to the point right away.
Looking good is the most important thing.
"Don't think about that old bachelor. It doesn't matter what he likes. What matters most is what I like."
Qu Xiaowei hugged Liu Haiyan, who was still thinking, with a malicious smile on his face.
Liu Haiyan gave him a coquettish look.
The two of them rode their bicycles and leisurely headed towards their love nest.
In mid-April, the annual performance of "The Intouchables" came to an end.
Throughout the season, the play became increasingly popular and had a greater impact, and its fame had spread beyond Yenching.
Yi Shizhi found Lin Weimin and said that the Zhijiang Repertory Theatre hoped to obtain the performance authorization for "The Intouchables".
To use the script of "The Intouchables", it is inevitable to collect more royalties, and Lin Weimin is happy to see this happen.
"In China, the only truly powerful troupes are probably our Yanjing People's Art Theatre and Shanghai People's Art Theatre. They have a fixed number of plays every year, and they even rehash old plays from time to time. As for other local drama troupes, they are restricted by various factors and do not produce many plays that are both well-received and popular. The biggest problem is the script."
So Shizhi said worriedly.
In recent years, the domestic cultural sector has been thriving, and the drama industry has also benefited a lot. However, compared with the rapid development of other industries, the development of drama still seems a little insufficient.
“It’s impossible to achieve success overnight. Drama is an art form that requires soil to cultivate an audience. It can’t be achieved in a hurry,” said Lin Weimin.
Yi Shizhi nodded, "That's right. Okay, then it's settled. I'll notify Zhijiang that the script of The Intouchables is used, and I'll ask them to send you the payment invoice later."
"Okay, I'll do as you say."
After coming out of the People's Art Theatre, Lin Weimin ran into Han Zhuangzhuang who was hanging out with Liang Guanhua.
Why does this boy only hang out with men all day?
"Uncle, would you like to invite Guanhua to your home for dinner tonight?"
"Okay, you cook."
Han Zhuangzhuang patted his chest and said, "No problem!"
When these two foodies came into the house, Lin Weimin's rice jar suffered.
While eating, Han Zhuangzhuang said, "Uncle, if you have time, please help me write a script."
Lin Weimin glanced at him sideways, probably meaning, young man, do you know what you are talking about now?
I'm a contestant who gets paid twelve yuan per thousand words, and you want me to write a script for you?
"Why do you want me to write a script for you? Isn't there enough drama in the People's Art Theatre for you to perform?"
Han Zhuangzhuang said, "But I can't get a role, so I'm just waiting for someone to assign it to me. Guanhua is even worse off, he's just a student in a training class, he can only do homework. Uncle, can you get me a script so we can both have fun?"
"Even if I wrote it, you guys wouldn't be able to get on stage."
“We entertain ourselves.”
Unable to resist Han Zhuangzhuang's pleading, Lin Weimin reluctantly agreed.
Unexpectedly, Han Zhuangzhuang began to make new requests, "Uncle, I think it would be best if our script had two protagonists. You can write that Guanhua and I are brothers who have been separated for many years..."
"roll!"
Han Zhuangzhuang is an example of someone who will open a dyeing factory if given some color.
"If you don't want to write, then don't write. Why are you scolding others?" Han Zhuangzhuang pulled Liang Guanhua and hid out with his head down.
Lin Weimin shook his head helplessly. He went to the study. Since he had promised Han Zhuangzhuang, it would not be a big deal to fulfill his wish.
Han Zhuangzhuang and Liang Guanhua, one is an actor who can't act in a play, and the other is a student in a training class. Lin Weimin has no intention of writing any serious works for you, a skit will be enough.
Skits were originally a project set up by performing arts units to assess the learning progress of students.
At the first CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 1983, Yan Shunkai performed "Ah Q's Monologue", using the performance form of "sketch" for the first time. With the powerful influence of the first Spring Festival Gala, sketches also became a popular performance form among the people.
Lin Weimin has watched so many skits that any one of them is a masterpiece.
He searched for the works in his memory. They couldn't be too far away from the present. They had to be in line with the current social environment and living conditions.
It’s not good if the actor’s role is too obvious. For example, in the sketches starring Chen Xiaoer, would there be so many laughs if he was not the leading actor?
After much thought, Lin Weimin came up with an idea for a skit.
If we were to say which sketch actor had the least presence on the Spring Festival Gala stage over the years, Teacher Huang Hong would definitely be on the list.
When he performed those skits, you felt that even if someone else performed them, no audience would notice.
"Yang Bailao and Huang Shiren" is a new version of a story.
The model opera, which was once a household name, was changed into a skit. Due to the changes of the times, the positions of Huang Shiren and Yang Bailao were swapped, and conflicts arose.
The two leading actors have equally important roles, without over-emphasizing the actors' personal traits, and it's a play within a play, making it a perfect work for Han Zhuangzhuang and Liang Guanhua to practice their skills.
Lin Weimin doesn’t remember when the Spring Festival Gala started to go bad, but at least in his childhood, it brought countless happiness to all Chinese people, and it can still provide him with material now.
It is also possible that the Spring Festival Gala has never been bad, but we are now more knowledgeable and experienced.
It took Lin Weimin an entire night to prepare the script for Han Zhuangzhuang. The next morning, he threw the script in his nephew's face.
Han Zhuangzhuang took the script with a suspicious look in his eyes, "Uncle, you finished it in just one night, don't fool your nephew!"
"Love or not."
Han Zhuangzhuang held the script in his arms and said, "How can I not want it?"
When he arrived at the People's Art Theatre in the morning, Han Zhuangzhuang was only rehearsing a role in "Farewell My Concubine". He had very little time to rehearse on stage every day. Most of the time, the young directors in the theater took these young actors to rehearse old plays to hone their stage experience and acting skills.
Taking advantage of the free time in the afternoon, Han Zhuangzhuang found Liang Guanhua and took out the script.
"Teacher Lin, so fast?"
"That's right. Don't you know my uncle has a nickname called 'Quick Gunner'?" Han Zhuangzhuang said proudly.
It was the first time Liang Guanhua had heard of this and he couldn't help but sigh at how efficient Teacher Lin was.
The two of them got together to study the script carefully, and they were laughing so hard after just a few minutes.
"Haha, Teacher Lin's script is so funny."
"Hey, it's interesting just thinking about it. Guanhua, you can play Yang Bailao."
"Okay. Oh, by the way, we still need a 'director' role."
Han Zhuangzhuang scratched his head and said, "We need to find someone else."
Liang Guanhua thought for a moment and said, "Let me get someone from our training class."
"This script is written by a female director, you need to find a female classmate."
"No problem, there are several female students in our class."
(End of this chapter)
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