Chapter 00115: Romance on Lushan Mountain Premieres
# "Romance on Lushan Mountain" Premieres
Chapter 115
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 115: "Romance on Lushan Mountain" Premieres
After finishing their scenes, Yu Chenghui, Sun Jiankui, and others immediately joined the "Shaolin Temple" crew, following Zhang Xinyan to Zhejiang.
The Shaolin Temple was in severe disrepair, dilapidated and run-down, with only a few elderly monks barely making ends meet by growing vegetables.
When Zhang Xinyan went to scout the location, an old monk had just taken off his robe and was preparing to write an application to join the Communist Party.
This was clearly not a suitable place to film.
Zhang Xinyan, being from Zhejiang, decided to shoot in his hometown instead.
He chose the Guoqing Temple in Tiantai County as a stand-in for the Shaolin Temple.
The abbot of Guoqing Temple personally taught the actors the proper etiquette for worship and even lent over a hundred monks to the crew.
Other locations, such as the Yuewang Temple and Lingyin Temple, were also used as filming sites.
Thanks to Chen Qi's interference, the progress of "Shaolin Temple" wasn't delayed at all.
In fact, it was even faster.
Zhang Xinyan still hadn't chosen a female lead.
Chen Qi didn't want Gong Xue to play the role anymore, as she wasn't quite suited for the part of the shepherdess.
Moreover, if "Tai Chi" and "Shaolin Temple" were too similar, it wouldn't make much sense.
Besides, Chen Qi had other projects to prepare for.
Ding Lan was a better fit for the shepherdess role.
Historically, after filming "Shaolin Temple," she was recruited by Wang Yang into the Beijing Film Studio.
The old studio head had a keen eye for talent and always picked the right people.
Ding Lan had starred in several martial arts films and was one of the most representative female action stars in mainland China.
She married someone from the Beijing Film Studio.
This person later carried out dangerous missions for the country, risking his life.
In his later years, he lived alone in a villa in the suburbs of Beijing, with someone taking care of him—no information about him could be found online, so of course, we can't say more here.
Ding Lan divorced him in the late 1980s, married a Singaporean, and moved to Singapore.
She also starred in "The Unbeatables," "Journey to the East," and the Stephen Chow version of "The Deer and the Cauldron."
…………
In the heat of July, the green train had turned into a stuffy can.
The little airflow coming through the windows wasn't enough for everyone, and the worst kind of odor from a crowded space filled everyone's airways.
Li Lianjie, Yu Hai, Gong Xue, Wang Qun, Ji Chunhua, and others still had scenes to film and were on this train heading to Xinxiang, Henan.
Ji Chunhua played the role of "Ghost Face," whose character design included half of his face covered by a large black birthmark.
He repeatedly harassed Chenjiagou and had a significant role in the film.
At the moment, he was walking down the aisle with a bald head, no eyebrows, and a thermos in hand.
The crowded passengers automatically made way for him.
He returned with hot water and placed it on Chen Qi's table.
"Brother Qi, here's your water!"
"Thanks, take a seat for a while. Don't keep wandering around."
"My butt hurts from sitting. Standing feels better."
Ji Chunhua stood next to Chen Qi, watching him sketch in his notebook.
"What are you drawing?"
"I bought a courtyard, but it's too run-down. I need to rebuild it, so I'm thinking about how to design it."
Li Lianjie was very sensitive to such matters and immediately chimed in, "You bought a courtyard? Where? How much did it cost?"
"Not much, five thousand."
"Five thousand?!"
Li Lianjie was shocked, counting on his fingers.
With a monthly salary of 88 yuan, it would take nearly five years to earn that much.
He was incredibly envious and whispered, "Hey, writing scripts for Hong Kong is so profitable. If you write a few more, you could become a millionaire!"
"Becoming a millionaire with Hong Kong dollars is a bit tough. I need to submit my work to the U. S. and earn dollars. That's the way to get rich fast!"
"You're bragging again. How are you going to submit to the U. S.? Can you even write in English?"
"Wow, you even know about writing in English. You've really seen the world after going abroad."
Chen Qi teased him, thinking to himself, that's why I need to find a way to go abroad and establish a reliable channel to earn more dollars.
He only had fifteen thousand yuan in savings.
Buying the house cost a third of that, and rebuilding it would be even more expensive and labor-intensive.
Construction would start in the second half of the year, and it would be lucky if it was completed by next year.
This gave him some financial pressure, similar to later generations: if you don't buy a house, life can be quite comfortable.
But once you buy a house, the pressure hits you hard.
Eating, drinking, watching movies, traveling—how much can you really spend? Can it compare to the cost of a house?
Xiaodianhe Village is in Weihui City, which is now called Jixian and belongs to the Xinxiang region.
Xinxiang is an extraordinary place with a long history and many significant events.
It's the hometown of Jiang Ziya and Bi Gan, and major historical events like Zhang Liang's assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang, the burning of Wuchao, the Chenqiao Mutiny, and the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove all took place here.
In the evening, they arrived in Xinxiang.
On the way to the guesthouse, they passed by a cinema with a large poster for "Romance on Lushan Mountain" outside.
Gong Xue leaned against the window, looking at her image on the poster, then turned back to find Chen Qi, who winked at her.
After settling into the guesthouse and having dinner, they rested for a while.
Chen Qi then knocked on a door.
It was opened by Huang Qiuyan, who deliberately teased, "Brother Chen, are you here to see me? What's the matter?"
"I know you're a good girl and will keep our secret, right? Here, I brought you something special."
He handed her some imported snacks he had prepared.
Huang Qiuyan opened a bag and started eating on the spot, mumbling, "I can only hold out for three hours. Don't stay out too late; it wouldn't look good."
"Got it, got it!"
Chen Qi looked past her, and Gong Xue, who had already prepared herself, blushed as she walked out with him in front of Huang Qiuyan.
Since he had become bolder, it was like breaking through a layer of paper.
They had agreed to watch "Romance on Lushan Mountain" together.
…
In summer, the sky darkens late.
At seven o'clock, there was still some light, and the streets were crowded.
Gong Xue wasn't too embarrassed.
After asking around, they found a nearby cinema and were both startled.
"My goodness, what's going on here?"
"Damn it!"
"I'll beat you to death, you little brat!"
The ticket booth was packed, with people pushing and shoving, waving their arms to get tickets first.
A few fights had broken out, and people were falling like bowling pins.
Gong Xue took a step back, frightened.
"Maybe we should come back another day. There are too many people!"
"We're already here! Wow, I thought this would be a romantic date, but it's turned into a market. Wait here, I'll get the tickets!"
Chen Qi rolled up his sleeves and squeezed through the crowd, fighting his way to the front.
Waving seventy cents, he managed to grab two tickets.
At that time, ticket prices ranged from twenty to thirty-five cents.
The government regulated prices, so black-and-white films and older movies were cheaper, while color films and widescreen movies were more expensive.
In a few years, when prices were deregulated, they would start to rise.
"That's it, no more tickets!"
The ticket seller shouted loudly, "You can buy tickets for the next showing. If you don't get them for the next one, you can buy them for tomorrow!"
"I want two tickets!"
"I want four!"
"Not that one, just 'Romance on Lushan Mountain.' Everyone says it's good!"
People continued to push forward recklessly.
Film screenings varied by region, and release times were different.
Gong Xue was stunned.
Was her movie really this popular?
"Come on, let's get inside!"
Chen Qi ushered her into the theater.
It was a standard old-style cinema with two levels, seating over a thousand people.
There was a stage at the front, which could also be used for events.
"Sit down! Keep your head low so no one recognizes you. I'll get some soda."
Chen Qi bustled around as the theater filled up.
It was packed, with adults chatting and arguing, children crying, and ushers' voices all mixing together in a noisy cacophony.
Soon, the lights dimmed, and the room fell silent.
"Romance on Lushan Mountain" finally began!
(End of Chapter)