Chapter 00108: Gong Xue's Changed Life
# Gong Xue's Changed Life
Chapter 108
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 108: Gong Xue's Changed Life
June, summer in the capital.
The willow trees in the courtyard of the Beijing Film Studio swayed in the warm breeze, and the flower beds were in full bloom, everything brimming with life.
This was the best time of year in the north, when the weather wasn’t too hot yet, just comfortably pleasant.
Chen Qi had put on a short-sleeved shirt but still wore long pants and his imported sneakers.
He hurried to the studio, carrying a thermos.
The thermos was also bought at the Overseas Chinese Store.
He had received so many overseas remittance coupons that they were about to expire, so he had to spend them quickly.
He often went there to browse, and the pretty salesgirl had even given him her contact information.
Chen Qi tore it up as soon as he left the house.
Hmph!
If she could give it to me, she could give it to others too.
I’m not that kind of guy!
By the time he arrived at the studio, filming had already started.
After the incident with Xiong Xinxin, the crew seemed to have turned their luck around, and things were going smoothly.
Yuen Woo-ping and the team were working together more seamlessly than ever.
There were seven fight scenes, and considering the movie’s runtime and pacing, some cuts had to be made.
The first two fights were quick and decisive.
The third fight, featuring the Miaojiang Stick King, was more detailed.
The fourth fight, showcasing hard qigong, and the fifth fight, featuring Feng Hualian, were also quick.
Well, it would be hard not to make Feng Hualian’s scene quick.
The sixth fight, involving the Drunken Monk, was also detailed, followed by the final boss battle.
Yuen Woo-ping and Yu Cheng-hui had spent a long time discussing and decided to go with a Tai Chi sword versus dual swords.
One style was elegant and fluid, like a swimming dragon, combining movement and stillness, hardness and softness.
The other was powerful and aggressive, with long thrusts and short strikes, like a surging river.
This duel took five days to film!
It was the first time Yuen Woo-ping had pushed his mental and physical limits so hard.
When he finally called “cut,” he nearly collapsed, but he also felt an immense sense of pride.
Dual swords! I designed the dual swords! Those Hong Kong martial arts guys are still stuck in their southern fist routines.
The mainland martial arts actors were all very dedicated, and the Yuen brothers were impressed, but that was about it.
Because Hong Kong stuntmen were even more hardcore.
Most Hong Kong stuntmen were uneducated and came from poor families.
They had nothing but their lives to throw into their work.
It usually went like this:
“Action!”
“Jump!”
“Send him to the hospital!”
There was no safety gear at all.
They’d jump from several stories high.
While filming, an ambulance would be waiting on set, and hospitals would keep beds reserved for them.
Insurance companies wouldn’t even touch them.
And they treated stuntmen like dirt, pushing them to the limit.
For example, there’s the infamous story of Sammo Hung cutting safety wires…
The mainland was just behind in terms of conditions, but they at least treated their actors with some respect.
Compared to Hong Kong, it was much more humane.
“Good!”
“Break!”
Today, they were filming indoor fight scenes.
During the break, Yuen Woo-ping wiped his sweat and sat next to Chen Qi.
He noticed Chen Qi sitting there calmly, sipping hot tea from his thermos. “Aren’t you afraid of burning yourself?”
“Drinking hot tea in the summer is good for you. It helps expel dampness from the body.”
“Haha, sometimes I think you’re like a Cantonese person, always talking about expelling dampness and health. All you’re missing is making soup.”
“If you wait until you’re 30 to start taking care of yourself, it’s too late. You’ve got to start young!”
“Well, I’m already 35. I guess I’m too late.”
Yuen Woo-ping joked for a bit, then suddenly said, “Ah Qi, I have an idea. I think Jet Li has the potential to be a huge star. The mainland’s martial arts film industry is still behind. I want to take him to Hong Kong.”
“You can’t take him.”
“Why not?”
“He’s part of the national martial arts team, which is under the Sports Commission. He often goes abroad for performances, which means his household registration, identity, and work relations are all controlled by the government. If you want to take him, and the government doesn’t agree, he won’t even be able to leave the mainland! He’d be an illegal immigrant in Hong Kong. Are you planning to smuggle him out?”
“Why wouldn’t the government agree?”
“He’s a key sports talent cultivated by the state. They’re counting on him to win medals and perform abroad!”
“Is there really no way around it?”
“Maybe you could get the head of Hong Kong’s film administration to come? The Beijing Sports Commission is at the bureau level.”
Yuen Woo-ping laughed awkwardly.
He didn’t really understand all these bureaucratic terms—bureaus, departments, offices… To put it simply, the head of Hong Kong’s police force is a big deal, right? He’s in charge of all the police in Hong Kong, a major figure in Hong Kong movies.
What level would that be equivalent to in the mainland?
Chen Qi snorted inwardly.
The Yuen family wants to take Jet Li? Even if you take him, you won’t be able to keep him.
I want him under my wing too!
…………
In Sun Wenjin’s office.
Gong Xue sat upright, her back straight, listening to the man’s lecture.
Her transfer paperwork, which had been delayed for two months, was now in his hands.
“…”
Sun Wenjin read through the few pages several times, then glanced at Gong Xue. “Last year, Liu Xiaoqing filmed Little Flower, and the studio head took a liking to her and wanted to transfer her here. This year, you filmed Romance on Lushan Mountain, and the studio head took a liking to you too, and wants to transfer you here. The Beijing Film Studio doesn’t have many young actors. You have potential, and I welcome you. But as the person in charge, I have to remind you of a few things, especially since you’re an educated youth. You must follow discipline, maintain the right attitude, and serve the people wholeheartedly.”
“I will definitely learn from my seniors and become a good actor who serves the people. I won’t let down the trust of you and the other leaders!”
Gong Xue’s fingers nervously tugged at her pants.
She had learned to spout these kinds of lines during her time in the countryside, always ready to make a statement.
“Good, I hope you mean what you say!”
Sun Wenjin’s tone softened a bit.
He liked this kind of attitude; it made him feel valued.
Then he thought of someone else, someone from the same crew who was so different.
How could they be so different?
He stamped the papers and signed them. “From now on, you’re a member of the Beijing Film Studio. You’re from Shanghai, so if there’s anything you’re not used to, you’ll have to adapt. You’re staying at the guesthouse, right?”
“Yes!”
“Stay there for now. The studio doesn’t have suitable dormitory space for you at the moment. Alright, go to the next room and get your photo taken for your work ID.”
“Thank you, leader!”
Gong Xue nodded vigorously and bowed deeply before leaving the room.
After getting her photo taken and stepping out of the main building, she finally let her excitement show, running toward the studio.
She had always dreamed of becoming a professional actor, and now that dream had come true.
She couldn’t wait to share the news with her parents, but since she’d have to write them a letter, she decided to tell her annoying little brother first.
“Xiao Chen!!!”
Huh?
Chen Qi was watching the filming when he heard her call out with three exclamation marks.
He knew something big must have happened.
He had an idea what it was, but he pretended not to know.
These things were always more fun when said out loud.
Sure enough, Gong Xue, trying to contain her excitement, whispered to him, “I got transferred! From now on, I’m a professional actor!”
“Wow!”
“Congratulations! Your dream’s finally come true!”
“I’ve had this goal since I was a teenager. It’s been ten years. I can’t believe I’m actually in the Beijing Film Studio. Life is so amazing…”
Yeah, yeah, so amazing!
I’ve changed the course of your life.
You didn’t go to the Shanghai Film Studio, and soon you’ll be the most popular actress in China!
Chen Qi thought to himself, watching her barely contain her joy.
He couldn’t resist teasing her. “Hey, don’t get too excited. Now that you’re in the studio, there’s a lot of stuff you’ll have to deal with.”
“Like what?” Gong Xue asked, puzzled.
“What’s your salary?”
“56 yuan!”
“56 yuan is enough for you to live on, but you didn’t get assigned a dorm, right? You can stay at the guesthouse while filming, but where will you live after that? The studio’s housing is really tight. Even the senior staff are waiting in line. You won’t get a place for at least ten years. The simplest solution is to set up a bed in some corner of the office. You’ll sleep there at night while people work there during the day. Or they’ll cram you into a shared dorm with a bunch of strangers, and you’ll be fighting over space every day. Now that you’re in the studio, you’ll have to act, right? But there are only so many roles. What if no one hires you? No roles mean no achievements, and no achievements mean no raises. You’ll be stuck with 56 yuan for the rest of your life! Food, clothes, housing, transportation—you’ll have to think about all of that. Before you know it, you’ll be in your thirties, then your fifties. No house, no roles, and then—oops, you’re retired!”
“You’re so annoying!”
Gong Xue was furious.
She clenched her little fist and gave him a light punch before turning to leave. “I’m not talking to you anymore!”
“Hey, that’s not fair. You’re speaking Shanghainese to me now? You can’t just focus on poetry and distant dreams. You’ve got to deal with the mundane realities too… Hey, mundane realities!”
Chen Qi shrugged.
He was just telling the truth.
The system was all about seniority.
Once you jumped in, you’d find yourself stuck in a bureaucratic quagmire.
But it’s okay.
I’ve got your back.
Just then, someone ran in and said, “Chen Qi, someone’s looking for you at the gate.”
“Oh, thanks!”
He put down his thermos and strolled to the gate.
When he saw who it was, he was surprised. “Mom? What are you doing here?”
(End of Chapter)