Chapter 00119: Riding the Hype
# Riding the Hype
Chapter 119
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 119: Riding the Hype
In this era, box office numbers couldn’t be accurately counted—they were all rough estimates.
Take "Shaolin Temple," for example.
It was widely rumored to have earned over 100 million at the box office, and even the official sources claimed so, but there was no solid data to back it up.
The most reliable indicator was the number of film copies sold.
Selling 100 copies meant breaking even; 200 copies, a small hit; 300 copies, a big hit; and 400 copies? That would go down in history.
Half a month after the release of "Romance on Lushan Mountain," the hype continued to grow.
Copies of the film were being printed day and night, shipped all over the country.
While the audience was just enjoying the spectacle, the film’s growing influence began to draw attention from the film, literary, and critical circles.
Some praised it to the heavens, while others tore it apart.
"The fusion of grand love and personal love is masterfully done. The film intertwines the deep patriotic sentiments with the sweet romance of the protagonists, striking a chord with the emotional and spiritual aspirations of our times. It deserves to be celebrated!"
"Though 'Romance on Lushan Mountain' only features two main characters, it carries a sense of collective joy. It’s the kind of joy that comes from emerging from darkness into light. Every blooming flower, every carefully composed shot, every moment the characters run—it all conveys a sense of pure delight."
"A man and a woman, wandering through mountains and rivers, indulging in romance—this is nothing but a promotion of hedonism, a thoroughly bourgeois lifestyle!"
"While so many in our country still struggle to put food on the table, you’re busy making films about love and romance. This is completely out of touch with China’s reality!"
"Capitalism is corrupting us!"
As the screenwriter, Chen Qi also received a lot of attention.
The film’s sold-out screenings attracted whispers from the so-called "evil gods" of the literary world: "Young screenwriters don’t understand life. They’re detached from reality, relying solely on imagination to create their works. This is unacceptable."
And that was the polite criticism.
Some were far less kind:
"Artistic garbage, pandering to the low tastes of the petty bourgeoisie. We should follow the path of the masses, but we must reject vulgar aesthetics. Don’t just trail behind the masses!"
"By the end of the film, I finally understood—apparently, the conflict between the two parties was just a historical misunderstanding, and the four-year-long Liberation War was also a big misunderstanding. What a colossal misunderstanding!"
Chen Qi had written several short stories for "Story Club," but none had garnered mainstream attention.
Now, with just one screenplay, he was suddenly thrust into the spotlight.
After all, film was the mainstream of the mainstream, the focal point of all attention.
The fame brought by "Romance on Lushan Mountain" was split between Gong Xue and Chen Qi.
As for Wang Haowei, Tang Guoqiang, and Zhang Jinling—they were already established stars.
As the screenwriter, Chen Qi found himself back in the newspapers, this time with even more coverage than his previous appearance in the China Youth Daily.
...
Jixian County was located north of the Yellow River, at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains.
The area was dotted with scenic landscapes.
The "Tai Chi" film crew had moved from Xinxiang to Jixian, a place that wasn’t particularly wealthy—though, to be fair, there weren’t many wealthy places in those days.
The crew stayed in an old guesthouse, filming in Xiaodianhe Village during the day and returning at night.
The food and accommodations were poor, but everyone was used to such conditions, so no one complained.
Today was overcast, and the lighting wasn’t up to standard, so Li Wenhua gave everyone the day off.
Gong Xue stayed in her room, using a brick to prop up one leg of her desk as she read letters, occasionally giggling to herself.
The hype around "Romance on Lushan Mountain" hadn’t affected them much.
When Gong Xue went out, no one recognized her—after all, the film hadn’t yet reached the county-level cinemas.
But she knew she was famous.
The Beijing Film Studio had forwarded several fan letters to her, all written by male admirers, each one overflowing with passionate, heartfelt emotions.
"Ugh! Sister Xue, this letter is so cringy. Let me read it to you."
Huang Qiuyan happily volunteered to read the letters.
"I’m obsessed, I’m crazy, I’ve drunk a bowl of wine called Zhou Yun... I’ve never met a woman as wonderful as you. Every day after work, I go to watch 'Romance on Lushan Mountain.' Your every smile and frown is etched deep in my heart!"
"Stop reading! It’s so embarrassing!"
Gong Xue rubbed her arms, her skin crawling.
Huang Qiuyan shook her head and continued, "Wait, there’s more. Listen to this: 'I’m so lucky to be in the same city as you. Forgive my boldness, but my feelings are beyond words. I’ve decided to wait for you at the gate of the Beijing Film Studio next Sunday. If you grace me with even a glance, I’ll die without regret!'"
"..."
Huang Qiuyan finished reading and exchanged a look with Gong Xue.
Was this guy out of his mind?
"I’m not even in Beijing. Why would he wait at the Beijing Film Studio? Oh my god!"
Gong Xue buried her face in her hands, utterly baffled.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
She jerked her head up and said, "Don’t open it!"
"Why not?"
"It’ll be awkward if someone sees!"
"Come on, they’re here for me, not you. But since you’re here, it’ll look like they’re here for you."
Huang Qiuyan opened the door, and sure enough, it was Chen Qi.
"Brother Chen, here to chat again?"
"Yeah, you free?"
"Only if you brought snacks!"
Chen Qi waved the lunchbox in his hand and smiled.
"I saw someone selling vegetable buns downstairs, so I bought some. Want to try?"
"Yay! Don’t mind if I do!"
Huang Qiuyan grabbed the box and squatted in the corner, taking a big bite.
Thankfully, she was a martial artist and had a high metabolism from filming, or else Chen Qi would’ve turned her into a little chubby girl.
"Go ahead and talk. Don’t mind me. I can’t hear a thing!"
"..."
Gong Xue shot her a glare and whispered, "You shouldn’t come see me so often. What if someone sees?"
"We’re not doing anything wrong. Can’t we just chat? Oh, what’s this?"
"Letters forwarded from the Beijing Film Studio."
"From 'Romance on Lushan Mountain'?"
Chen Qi picked up one and skimmed it, chuckling.
"The audience really adores you. They see you as a beacon of hope, a muse of emotions, a dream goddess, a life goal... Huh?"
He paused.
Wait, did that make him Mark Chao?
"Here’s another one. I think it’s a bit over the top..."
Remembering Chen Qi’s advice to share her concerns, Gong Xue handed him the letter.
Chen Qi read it and raised an eyebrow.
So, even in the '80s, there were obsessive fans? The letter reeked of instability.
"You really need to be careful with this kind of person. You never know what they might do. But since we’re not in Beijing, there’s not much we can do."
Usually, their chats lasted as long as it took Huang Qiuyan to finish her snacks.
Today, the vegetable buns must not have been to her liking, because after just two, she shooed Chen Qi away.
As soon as he stepped out, he ran into Li Wenhua, who grabbed him.
"Perfect timing, Xiao Chen! Gather everyone. The county magistrate is here!"
"What’s the county magistrate doing here?"
"We’re famous now, thanks to 'Romance on Lushan Mountain.' When he heard you and Gong Xue were here, he rushed over!"
"Alright, I’ll call everyone."
Chen Qi quickly rounded up the crew and headed to the guesthouse’s first floor, where an older, amiable-looking man was waiting.
The man hurriedly said, "Director Li, please introduce us."
"This is Chen Qi, the screenwriter of 'Romance on Lushan Mountain'!"
"What a talent! I just got back from the provincial capital and heard how wildly popular the film is. When I found out the mastermind was right here in Jixian, I had to come meet you. My apologies for the sudden visit!"
"And this is Gong Xue, the female lead of 'Romance on Lushan Mountain'!"
"Pleasure to meet you!"
Having just emerged from turbulent times, officials in those days weren’t as pompous.
They were usually quite down-to-earth.
When a film crew came to town, the local government would often lend a hand.
The county magistrate knew "Tai Chi" was filming here, but he hadn’t expected two such big names to be part of the crew.
With "Romance on Lushan Mountain" being such a hit, of course, he had to come and ride the wave.
(End of chapter.)