Chapter 00113: Who’s the Crazy One
# Who’s the Crazy One?
Chapter 113
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 113: Who’s the Crazy One?
Chen Qi arrived at the studio.
The set was designed to resemble an indoor scene from Chenjiagou.
The filming was supposed to be completed in the past couple of days, after which they would move to outdoor locations.
However, when he arrived, he noticed that Li Wenhua was nowhere to be seen, and the entire crew had come to a halt.
“Where’s Director Li?” Chen Qi asked.
“No idea. He was in the middle of filming when he suddenly got called away. Sister Xue was also called away,” Li Lianjie replied.
“Do you know where they went?”
“Uh, I think it had something to do with an investigation… Now that everyone’s gone, what should we do?” Wang Qun asked.
“I’ll go find out more. You guys can wrap up for now.”
Chen Qi then went to look for Wang Yang.
Wang Yang also looked troubled. “Someone wrote a complaint letter to the Film Bureau, and now they’ve come to investigate.”
“Complaining about me?”
“No, the first complaint is about Li Wenhua misusing production funds, and the second is about Gong Xue getting into the Beijing Film Studio through connections.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“It is ridiculous, but once a complaint letter is filed, they have to investigate.”
“Old Director Wang, it seems like there are quite a few opponents in the studio, huh?”
Chen Qi suddenly felt sympathy for Wang Yang.
How could anyone manage to hold power in such an environment? It must be exhausting.
Of course, deep down, he knew the root of the problem was himself.
Those people couldn’t touch him directly, so they targeted the people around him.
Even if nothing came of it, they could still make life difficult for you.
In any case, the crew was temporarily shut down.
Li Wenhua and Gong Xue were being questioned, and others were also being interviewed.
Chen Qi himself was questioned by two officials from the Film Bureau.
“Director Li is an upright person. He would never misuse funds. I’ve been involved in The Tai Chi project from the beginning, and I know everything about it. We can release the financial records to prove there’s no truth to this!”
“Gong Xue initially collaborated on Romance on Lushan Mountain. Personally, I think she has a good image, strong professional skills, and a kind and gentle personality. She’s never had a fight with anyone. She was approved by Director Wang to join the studio because the studio was lacking young, talented actresses. The idea of her getting in through connections is utterly absurd!”
“Alright, Comrade Chen, that’s enough for now. We’ll continue to look into the matter.”
The officials were about to leave, but Chen Qi wasn’t about to let them go so easily. “Comrades, I’m not very familiar with these procedures, so I’d like to ask a question. If the complaint turns out to be false, will the person who filed it face any consequences?”
“That’s not something you need to worry about. We’ll handle it.”
“Then I’d like to ask, does every complaint lead to an investigation?”
“Of course. Listening to the voices of the masses is part of our duty.”
“Oh, I see. You really have a tough job!”
Chen Qi nodded, then suddenly changed the topic. “Comrades, I also have a grievance to report. I’d like to file a formal complaint right now. Will you accept it?”
“Uh…”
The officials were taken aback.
What was going on? But since they had already said they would listen to complaints, they couldn’t back down now. “If you have something to report, you can submit a written statement…”
“I’ll write a statement, but I’d also like to make an oral report. You might have heard of me. I’m a returned educated youth who used to sell big-bowl tea at the Qianmen Cooperative. I’ve been featured in the China Youth Daily, and I write in my spare time. Thanks to Director Wang’s trust, I was temporarily transferred here. I’m extremely grateful. I thought I had achieved my life’s goal. I thought I could finally work toward my dreams. But who would have thought that this place is nothing like what I imagined!”
Chen Qi didn’t care how the officials reacted and just started venting: “They call themselves intellectuals, cultured people, and veterans of the arts. They look down on me for selling big-bowl tea. They make things difficult for me at every turn, mocking me at every opportunity, and constantly trying to trip me up. Yes, I sell big-bowl tea, but I’m not ashamed of my profession. My fellow educated youth and I earn our living through honest work. We stand tall and proud. What right do they have to look down on me? Do they think the arts make them superior? Do they think the arts give them the right to feel superior? Do they think the arts give them the right to openly, shamelessly, and blatantly discriminate against working people?! Since you’re here today, I want an explanation. I’m making an oral report now, and I’ll write a formal complaint later. I’ll list every single person who discriminates against laborers. I believe you’ll be able to stand up for me!”
The two officials turned pale.
A few years ago, just saying these things could have gotten someone dragged out for public humiliation.
Even though it was the era of reform and opening up, the 1980s were still a time of uncertainty, and people were still very cautious.
“Comrade Chen, keep your voice down! Keep it down!”
“Why should I keep my voice down? I’m in the right. The country stands with the working class. What do I have to fear?”
“Yes, yes, you’re in the right, but this matter… oh dear!”
One of the officials was younger and less experienced, while the older one quickly realized what was going on and said, “Comrade Chen, please don’t write that letter. We’ll look into the issues you’ve raised. As for the other complaints, we’ve already investigated them, and they’re completely unfounded!”
“Really?”
“Yes, really!”
Goodness, if you slap the label of “discriminating against laborers” on someone, who could possibly handle that?
After much persuasion, the officials managed to calm Chen Qi down and then quickly left.
They went straight to Sun Wenjin’s office and said bluntly, “Old Sun, you’re in charge of discipline in the studio, but you’ve done a terrible job! As film workers, we should focus on art, not stir up trouble!”
“…”
Sun Wenjin’s face turned red and then pale.
He had been excited when he heard about the complaint and the investigation, but now he was being scolded instead?
The Film Bureau officials left halfway through their investigation, like a firecracker that fizzled out without making a sound.
“That Chen kid is a bit crazy. He’s always ready to flip the table, with no regard for the bigger picture!”
“He’s not even from the film industry. How can you control a guy who sells big-bowl tea?”
“I heard a lot of people at the Beijing Film Studio don’t like him. What if they keep filing complaints against his crew?”
“Let them. Whoever wants to deal with it can deal with it. Just don’t come to me!”
…………
Internal strife only tortures yourself.
Going crazy tortures others.
Of course, you’d choose the latter…
Chen Qi was experienced, but he was still angry.
Damn it! What kind of era is this, where people file complaints at the drop of a hat? If you push me too far, I’ll file complaints too.
If you want to stir up trouble, I’ll escalate it.
If you want to play the civilized game, I’ll get rough.
Who doesn’t know how to act like a hooligan?
Of course, from another perspective, it also showed that the authorities really did care about the voices of the masses.
It was the era when the working class was king.
This storm hadn’t even fully brewed before Chen Qi managed to quell it.
He suddenly felt like a lone warrior, challenging the current norms, protecting the people around him, and uniting more and more comrades to move forward together…
Nighttime.
At the entrance of the guesthouse, Zhang Jinling came running downstairs with a smile. “I called her down for you. She’s been hiding in her room crying. Go comfort her.”
“Why are you smiling so suggestively?”
“Oh, come on, you think I’m blind? I can see what’s going on between you two.”
Zhang Jinling tactfully made herself scarce, while Gong Xue slowly walked out of the building, her eyes red and her hands fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.
Chen Qi, holding a bag, looked at her and said, “Shall we take a walk over there?”
“Okay.”
There was a quiet path behind the guesthouse that led north.
Later, the area would be filled with rental houses, but for now, it was empty.
The two of them strolled along the path, illuminated by a single streetlamp.
The atmosphere was quiet and dim.
Gong Xue stopped under the streetlamp, unwilling to go further. “It’s too dark up ahead. Let’s talk here, okay?”
“Sure. I went home today. Guess what I saw?”
When a woman is upset, it’s best not to comfort her directly about the issue.
The more you comfort her, the worse she’ll feel.
Instead, bring up a different topic to distract her.
If it’s something she’s particularly interested in, it’ll be even more effective.
Gong Xue was feeling down, but she didn’t want to ruin the moment, so she asked, “What did you see?”
“I saw a poster for Romance on Lushan Mountain outside a movie theater. It’s set to release on July 5th!”
(End of chapter...)