Then they sat down and the food was served.

Financially, each unit was not well-off these days, especially the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, which had just been reestablished and was even more stretched with funding.

Normally the food in the canteen of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles is not that good. Today, in order to serve these veteran artists well, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles has spent a lot of money.

There were noodles, sesame cakes, scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, bean paste and chili sauce. Although there were no meat dishes, the table was still filled with a wide variety of dishes.

Lin Zhengjun ate a sesame seed bun with bean paste and scallions, and the sauce flowed from the corners of his mouth.

Tang Xiaofu took out a handkerchief and wiped the oil stains from the corners of his mouth. She said half teasingly and half jokingly, "You are an artist, but you can't eat more elegantly. You must be a starving ghost. I've never seen you eat so lavishly at home."

Lin Zhengjun laughed and said, "This morning, County Magistrate Bai kept urging me to leave. I didn't eat enough!"

"I know. I know."

Tang Xiaofu cracked an egg, peeled it, and put it in Lin Zhengjun's bowl of noodles.

Li Peifu glanced at Tang Xiaofu beside Lin Zhengjun and asked with a smile, "Zhengjun, who are you dating?"

"Yes, her name is Tang Xiaofu. She was an educated youth who came to Yanjing to work in the countryside. The story idea of ​​'The Shepherd' was mine and it was written by her. This time she came back to Yanjing with me to visit relatives." Lin Zhengjun said.

"Hello, Teacher Li!" Tang Xiaofu greeted them gracefully.

"Oh, I'm not a teacher. You are the ones who have published works in People's Literature!"

Li Peifu, on the contrary, felt a little uneasy and envious. He and Zhang Yigong looked at each other and raised their eyebrows.

The two of them knew what was meant by the look in each other's eyes. This guy Lin Zhengjun was something special. Not only was his girlfriend so beautiful and talented, but she was also an educated youth from Yanjing!

"You are Chu Kuangren?"

"You are really young and promising!"

“The Horse Herder is so well written!”

The veteran artists also liked Lin Zhengjun very much. When they heard that he had arrived, several of them came over to greet him.

Even Chang Xiangyu came, holding Lin Zhengjun's hand, smiling kindly, and said in a thick Central Plains accent: "Comrade Zhengjun, you are really right, and your novel is really well written. After dinner, we two mothers must have a good chat. I have a lot to say to you!"

They could relate to the novel “The Horse Herdsman” written by Lin Zhengjun.

Especially Chang Xiangyu, who loved her motherland and her people so much and had a good family background. During the special ten years, she was also locked up in a barn in Zhoukou together with Peking Opera performer Sun Yumin and was criticized.

At that time, only eight model operas were allowed to be performed. Traditional dramas involving emperors, generals, talented men and beautiful women, and even demons and monsters were considered feudal dregs and were absolutely not allowed to be performed.

Moreover, traditional opera writers were treated as monsters and demons summoning the spirits of feudal ideology and were dealt with!

After Chang Xiangyu regained her work and reputation, she lived an extremely simple life. There was no furniture in her house, not even a sofa. When she ate, she often only had stir-fried cabbage.

But she loved the opera industry and never forgot to promote the development of the motherland's literature and art. She went to factories, mining enterprises and rural fairs to perform for workers and farmers for free all day long. She was so busy that she never complained or felt tired.

Lin Zhengjun's works are well written and everyone likes them. What's more, he is young and handsome, which makes him lovable. So he instantly became the darling of the delegation!

"Okay, okay, I also want to listen to your teachings!" Lin Zhengjun was very happy.

In his previous life, he often listened to Chang Xiangyu's singing on TV and radio. He never expected that he would see her in person in this life.

After dinner, the artists walked and chatted in groups of three or five in the quiet courtyard of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the atmosphere was very good.

"Zhengjun, do you smoke?"

"No. You guys smoke yours!"

"Can you have inspiration for writing without smoking? Smoking is the most basic prerequisite for becoming a good writer."

"I don't like smoking. It makes my mouth smell bad and it's addictive."

"What are you addicted to? I've been smoking for more than ten years and I'm not addicted."

"I get inspiration when I smoke, and I can write novels very quickly..."

"What a bunch of heresy. I have never smoked. This month, Xiaofu and I finished writing "The Love of the Hawthorn Tree", which is just 100,000 words. The head of the novel group of People's Literature, Mr. Cui Daoyi, has already taken the manuscript away and plans to publish it next month!"

"One hundred thousand words? A long novel! It's going to be published in People's Literature. Oh, you're going to be a regular contributor to People's Literature?"

"Zhengjun, you really hit the mark!"

Lin Zhengjun, Tang Xiaofu, Zhang Yigong and Li Peifu were sitting by the flower bed chatting and gossiping. When they learned that Lin Zhengjun had published a new work, they were shocked and envious.

"Comrade Zhengjun, did you have a good lunch?"

A greeting came from a voice with a strong Central Plains accent, and Chang Xiangyu walked over.

"It's delicious! Teacher Chang, please sit down!"

Lin Zhengjun quickly stood up and offered his seat to them. Zhang Yigong and Li Peifu, the two heavy smokers, quickly put out their cigarettes, their eyes filled with nervousness and admiration.

Just kidding, Teacher Chang Xiangyu has a very high status in the opera world and has made indelible contributions to the development of Henan Opera.

From the late 1970s to the late 1980s, it was the last glorious period of traditional opera.

Since television was not popular, opera was a genuine mass entertainment at that time.

Simply put, the market is good, and opera actors have the same status and popularity as film and television stars.

It is no longer popular in later generations and has become a niche art.

Most types of drama need government funding and subsidies to survive.

Henan Opera is the only opera genre that can support itself without government funding, and teacher Chang Xiangyu has made an indelible contribution to this.

New Century Central Plains TV also has a Chinese opera program called "Liyuanchun", which has a very high viewership rate.

Chang Xiangyu sat down beside the flower bed, held Tang Xiaofu's hand affectionately, and smiled kindly, "Are you the object of the army?"

"Yes, my name is Tang Xiaofu, I am an educated youth from Beijing, and I am going back with Zhengjun to visit my relatives this time."

"You are so handsome!"

"Not as pretty as you!"

Tang Xiaofu smiled sweetly.

Chang Xiangyu's appearance cannot be described as beautiful, but she is very dignified and generous, full of energy and spirit, especially her eyes are particularly bright, and she dresses neatly and neatly.

"Hahaha, this girl has such a sweet mouth. I'm old and you're still young. The future will depend on you to flourish literary and artistic creation..." Chang Xiangyu laughed heartily.

After a few pleasantries, Chang Xiangyu asked with a smile: "Zhengjun, you have written about the intellectuals who were sent down to the countryside. When will you write about the opera writers who were in trouble back then..."

"Teacher Chang, I would like to write, but I know how to herd horses and cattle, but I don't know opera. The singing, reciting, acting, fighting, and every smile and frown in it are all knowledge!" Lin Zhengjun scratched his head.

"If there are difficulties, we can overcome them. If you don't understand, I can teach you!"

Chang Xiangyu sighed and said, "During those years, Peking opera performer and founder of the Qi School Zhou Xinfang, the top martial artist of the Southern School Gai Jiaotian, Huangmei Opera master Yan Fengying, Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera performer Yan Huizhu were all tortured to death, and there were many more who were impacted..."

"Drama writers are definitely the most tragic group. Their experiences and their struggles are so heartbreaking and touching!"

"Now the attitude of the authorities towards traditional opera has undergone a fundamental change. They regard traditional opera as a part of excellent traditional culture. You write about this topic at the right time. If readers like it, the authorities will be happy too!"

"Once written, it will surely resonate widely among readers and cause a sensation across the country."

Lin Zhengjun smiled and said, "Teacher Chang, can you tell me about your experiences during those years?"

Oh, in my previous life, I wrote a work about a dramatist. First it was a novel, and later it was made into a movie. It became popular all over the country and won many awards internationally!

Lin Zhengjun has watched the movie and the original novel several times, and is very familiar with the plot and can recite it with ease.

But I just lack the professional knowledge of opera. But with Master Chang Xiangyu... now I have everything!