Chapter 00140: Heading South
# Heading South
Chapter 140
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 140: Heading South
Outside the small auditorium.
Chen Qi was teaching Fu Mingxian how to play a game.
"Are you ready?"
"Ready!"
"Then I'll start counting... 1, 2, 3, freeze!"
He quickly turned around.
About ten meters away, a line was drawn on the ground.
Fu Mingxian started from this line, tiptoeing forward.
As soon as she heard his command, she froze in place, tense.
"You moved!"
"I didn't!"
"Then why are you swaying?"
"I-I-I, it's the wind!"
Chen Qi didn't argue with the child.
He turned back and continued counting, "1~2~3~ freeze!"
This game was very, very old, and it had different names in different places.
When he played it in his previous life, it was called "Red Light, Green Light, Stop."
He deliberately went easy on her, pretending not to notice when she moved several times.
He waited until she got closer and closer, then tapped her on the back.
She thought she could run back at lightning speed, but her short legs held her back.
Chen Qi took a few big strides and caught her in one go.
"You cheated!" Fu Mingxian shouted.
"You did it on purpose! You know I can't outrun you. Let me go, and we'll play again!"
"Life doesn't give second chances, Xiao Ming!"
"Who are you calling Xiao Ming?"
"Then what should I call you? Xiao Xian?"
"That sounds awful! I have a nickname..."
Fu Mingxian rolled her eyes and said proudly, "But I won't tell you!"
"Alright, Xiao Ming!"
"Don't call me Xiao Ming!"
"Got it, Xiao Ming!"
"Hmph!"
Chen Qi turned around and saw Jiang Shan walking toward the living area with her backpack.
She didn't even glance at him, only letting out a cold snort.
"Shan Shan, no classes this afternoon?"
"Nope!"
"Have you eaten? Let me treat you to a meal."
"No need!"
"Starving isn't good."
"Don't worry about me! Mind your own business!"
Jiang Shan glanced at Fu Mingxian, paying special attention to her outfit.
She usually thought she was quite fashionable, but compared to someone who came from Hong Kong, she felt a bit rustic.
What "Brother Xiao Chen"? He's just a big jerk!
Chen Qi was left speechless, shaking his head.
Women were truly incomprehensible.
"Mom!"
At that moment, a few people came out of the small auditorium.
Fu Mingxian ran over and complained, "He's so mean! He called me Xiao Ming!"
"Pfft!"
Shi Hui couldn't help but laugh.
She patted her daughter's head and said, "He's just teasing you... Xiao Chen, you can call her Zhi Zhi. Her nickname is Zhi Zhi."
"Got it, Auntie! Are you done chatting?"
"Yes, we had a very productive day. It's about time to leave."
Fu Qi walked over and shook hands with Chen Qi again, saying, "We'll take Zhi Zhi around Beijing for a few days before heading back. We won't come to the Beijing Film Studio to say goodbye. Next spring, we'll see you in Hong Kong!"
"You'll have to come back once more to show the film to Mr. Liao," Chen Qi reminded him.
"Oh, right, right! I got so emotional earlier for nothing!"
Everyone laughed.
In the winter of Beijing, it felt as warm as spring.
Fu Qi and Shi Hui waved goodbye, holding their daughter's hand, and got into the car, driving out of the Beijing Film Studio's gates.
Wang Yang kept waving until the car's taillights disappeared, his face full of nostalgia.
Chen Qi knew that the old man wasn't just nostalgic for the couple but also for the passionate years of the past.
Not just the old man, even he felt a unique surge of emotion.
Struggling with heaven brings endless joy, and struggling with people brings endless joy!
………………
At this point, Gong Xue had "seen through" those TV drama people.
They were so slow!
To put it another way, they were perfectionists.
Chen Qi accompanied Yang Jie to watch a few actors.
The candidates for Bao Zheng included Bao Guo'an (Cao Cao), Li Po (Dong Zhuo), Feng Enhe (Station Master Wu), Tong Chao (Commander Lei in "Under the High Mountain"), and Lü Xiaohe, among others.
Yang Jie had her own aesthetic requirements.
The face had to be full, definitely a big face, the height couldn't be too short, the skin had to be a bit dark, the eyebrows had to be thick, and there had to be an air of authority and integrity.
For Gongsun Ce, she even tried Chen Daoming.
Chen Daoming had just been assigned to the China Television Drama Production Center as an actor.
He was 25 years old, scholarly and fair-skinned.
As for Zhan Zhao, Chen Qi recommended Wang Qun.
The trio from the Taiwanese version of "Justice Bao" was deeply ingrained in people's hearts, but he couldn't find them anywhere.
It was just six episodes, what more could they want? But Yang Jie was strict.
She tried one after another and finally settled on Wang Qun as the lead because he actually knew martial arts.
Chen Qi also recommended Ge You, Xie Yuan, and Zhang Guangbei.
The first two got minor roles, and Zhang Guangbei lucked out with a supporting role as one of the four guards—Wang Chao, Ma Han, Zhang Long, or Zhao Hu.
Brother Yunfei was so grateful, never expecting that a chance encounter would actually land him a role.
Zhu Lin didn't have a suitable role.
She couldn't play the spoiled princess or Qin Xianglian.
She could play queens, empresses, matriarchs, intellectuals, or scientists.
Just standing there was enough.
It was hard to imagine her crying and taking two children to find Chen Shimei.
Then there were endless meetings, discussing how to shoot the series.
Even after selecting all the actors, they had to undergo intensive training to learn the etiquette and systems of the Song Dynasty, understand who Bao Zheng was, and write character biographies.
This was standard practice at the time.
So Gong Xue followed Chen Qi's advice and decided not to waste time... or rather, to make effective choices.
"Choo-choo!"
"Rumble!"
On a train heading to Shanghai, Gong Xue stared out the window, lost in thought.
The scenery flew by, mirroring her restless heart.
Right after Fu Qi and Shi Hui left, Yang Jie approached her, saying she needed to go south to select actors.
The post-production of "Tai Chi" only had technical issues left, and Chen Qi had a few days free, so he agreed to accompany her.
Mainly, he wanted to check on Jet Li's condition at the "Shaolin Temple" set.
"Tai Chi" was set to release during the Spring Festival in Hong Kong, and the team would go there to promote it.
They might not be home for the New Year.
So Gong Xue took a few days off to visit her parents first.
Thus, Yang Jie, Wang Chongqiu, Chen Qi, and Gong Xue ended up on the same train.
And her heart was in turmoil.
Should she invite him to her home or not? If she did, how should she introduce him? What if her parents objected? What if he got upset?
Her habitual overthinking kicked in again.
"Pass me the rice bowl. I'll wash it."
"Let's go together. Don't do it all by yourself."
Chen Qi had bought a few packs of instant noodles at the Overseas Chinese Store.
It was the first time any of them had tried it, and it was delicious.
At that time, instant noodles were a luxury item.
Most people couldn't get their hands on them.
They were mostly imported, with very few domestic options.
They came in paper bags, each containing two taels of noodles, costing fifteen cents and requiring noodle coupons.
Chen Qi and Wang Chongqiu took four enamel mugs to wash.
Yang Jie looked at Gong Xue across from her and continued to persuade her, "Our series is almost ready. We'll definitely start filming next year. You're the perfect choice for Qin Xianglian. Why don't you reconsider?"
It will definitely start filming next year...
Gong Xue pursed her lips and said, "Director Yang, I really don't have the time. Look, I can't even go home for the New Year. I have to go back early."
"What a shame! You're such a great fit!"
Yang Jie was deeply regretful.
"The Cultural Revolution caused a gap in talent in the arts. They're either too old or too young. The middle layer is missing. If you don't take the role, we'll have to lower Qin Xianglian's age."
"Why not raise it?"
"Those older ones aren't pretty enough. I can't tolerate an unattractive female lead in my series. It's my pursuit of classical aesthetics."
Yang Jie was firm, then laughed.
"Chongqiu knows my habits well. He couldn't shoot beautiful women before, but now he can."
"You two have such a good relationship. How long have you been married?" Gong Xue asked casually.
"Eleven years. He was 26 then, and I was 40."
"Oh... How much did you say?"
"I was divorced before. My ex-husband worked at the Beijing Film Academy. I remarried at 40, and we have a 14-year age difference."
Yang Jie said without a care.
"Ah??"
Gong Xue blinked.
(The end...
Has anyone tried "Jian Shou Qing"? Is it really that delicious?)
(End of chapter)