Chapter 00141: The Great Beauty
# The Great Beauty
Chapter 141
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 141: The Great Beauty
Gong Xue knew that Yang Jie was older than Wang Chongqiu, but she hadn’t expected the age gap to be so large.
She asked, “How did the two of you manage to get together back then?”
“We worked in the same unit. He was a cameraman, and I was a director. We had a lot of overlap in our work. At first, I didn’t think much of it. I mean, what would a guy in his twenties want with me, right? But as we spent more time together, we realized we were a good match. Don’t laugh, but I know I have a strong personality, and Chongqiu is naturally soft-spoken. He always listens to me, and I think that’s great!” Yang Jie said with a smile.
“Didn’t anyone object?”
“What do you think? You should be asking if anyone supported us…”
Yang Jie sighed as she recalled those days. “Back then, no one approved. The unit leaders were against it, our friends were against it, and my parents had passed away early, leaving only my younger sister, who was even more opposed. She’s older than Chongqiu, after all. There was a lot of gossip too. People said I was an old cow eating young grass, that I was looking for a lover or a son, and some even said Chongqiu was just trying to curry favor with me, that he was after my connections… All nonsense! What connections did I have? It was just a lot of criticism, but my personality is stubborn. The more people told me not to do something, the more I wanted to do it. I didn’t care what they thought! We’ve made it through all these years. Sometimes I think about it—I’m getting older, and Chongqiu is still in his prime. If back then…”
Yang Jie paused, then waved her hand and laughed. “Forget it, let’s not talk about that!”
With every word Yang Jie spoke, Gong Xue’s face grew paler.
Just then, Chen Qi and Wang Chongqiu returned with four large mugs filled with freshly boiled water. “What are you talking about?” Chen Qi asked.
“We’re discussing our itinerary. I want to visit the Shanghai Film Studio, the Shanghai Theater Academy, the Song and Dance Troupe, and the Quyi Troupe first, then take a trip to Zhejiang. Are you coming with us?” Yang Jie asked.
“I’ll follow you. I need to go to Zhejiang to watch *Shaolin Temple*. After that, I’ll head back on my own.”
“That works. You can stay with us at the guesthouse.”
Chen Qi turned and noticed Gong Xue’s expression. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m feeling a bit stuffy and uncomfortable. I’ll go stand in the hallway for a while.”
Gong Xue got up and walked over to the hallway.
It was already winter, and the windows were closed.
The train car was cold, and the atmosphere wasn’t exactly pleasant.
Time on the train always seemed to pass both quickly and slowly.
The four of them ate, chatted, and occasionally dozed off.
Before they knew it, the sky had darkened.
Outside, everything was pitch black, and the light inside the train car was dim.
The train stopped at every station, with passengers coming and going, starting journeys, ending them, parting ways, and reuniting—just like the myriad experiences of life.
Yang Jie leaned on Wang Chongqiu’s shoulder and fell asleep again, while Wang Chongqiu tilted his head back, also dozing off.
At times like these, Chen Qi was grateful for his young body, which could endure and stay awake.
If it were his middle-aged self from his past life, staying up all night would have been torture.
He took out his thermos, which contained a faintly sweet amber-colored liquid, and whispered, “Here, have some.”
“What is it?”
“Honey water. There’s only a little bit, so I’m not sharing it with them.”
“You’re really something, always full of little schemes.”
“Resources are scarce, you know. Drink it quickly. It’s not good to let it sit for too long.”
Gong Xue took the thermos and took a small sip.
The liquid had been warm when poured in and was still warm now.
It was sweet and fragrant, and the sugar lifted her spirits.
She drank half of it and felt much better. “You have the rest.”
“You’re not going to finish it?”
“No, this cup holds a lot. I can’t drink any more.”
Chen Qi took the thermos back and deliberately drank from the spot where her lips had touched, slurping loudly. “Who added sugar to this? I don’t remember it being this sweet!”
Gong Xue glared at him, then glanced at Yang Jie and Wang Chongqiu, who were still asleep.
She whispered, “How long are you planning to stay?”
“Probably three days in Shanghai, then two days in Zhejiang, and then I’ll head back. By the way, aren’t you going to invite me to your house?”
“You want to come?”
“Well, since I’m here, I might as well pay a visit.”
“…”
Gong Xue twisted the hem of her clothes, silent for a long while before finally saying, “I didn’t tell my family beforehand. If I suddenly bring you home, I’m afraid something might go wrong. I think… I think it’s better to ease into it.”
“I understand.”
“Yeah…”
Gong Xue felt a little guilty and, under the table, reached out to hold his hand.
…………
They arrived in Shanghai first.
Chen Qi followed Yang Jie and her group as they scouted for actors.
No matter the era, resources always tend to concentrate in big cities.
In this day and age, the art scenes in Beijing and Shanghai were teeming with talent, with numerous art schools and a new generation of outstanding young artists.
In just two days, Chen Qi had seen four great beauties: Zhao Jing, Zhou Jie, Dong Zhizhi, and Li Jianqun. (Pictures at the end of the chapter.)
Zhao Jing was 23 years old, an actress from the Shanghai Film Studio who had studied Peking Opera and Yu Opera.
Her notable works included *The Romance of the Brush* and *Red Skirts Are in Fashion on the Street*, though she was still a newcomer at the time.
Historically, she and Gong Xue were both considered golden flowers of the Shanghai Film Studio.
Zhao Jing had delicate features and a gentle, graceful demeanor.
Zhou Jie was 19, and Dong Zhizhi was 20. Both were from the Shanghai Song and Dance Theater and were among the top beauties of the 1980s.
Zhou Jie had starred in *The Burning of the Imperial Palace*, *Reign Behind the Curtain*, and *The Legend of Yang Guifei*.
She was also accomplished in dance, having led performances at the Spring Festival Gala twice.
Later, she moved to the United States to open a dance school.
Her beauty was versatile, blending classical and modern styles.
Dong Zhizhi was the epitome of classical beauty, having starred in the TV series *Xi Shi*.
She retired from acting relatively early.
As for Li Jianqun, Chen Qi had suggested her under the pretext of her being a student in the stage design department at the Shanghai Theater Academy.
Yang Jie wouldn’t have thought to look for actors there.
When Li Jianqun was called over, she looked completely bewildered.
Yang Jie introduced herself first, and then Chen Qi stepped forward with a smile. “Nice to meet you. I’m Chen Qi.”
“The screenwriter for *Romance on Lushan Mountain*?”
Li Jianqun was surprised.
“You know me?”
“I’ve read about you in some magazines.”
Li Jianqun gave him a few more glances.
He really was very young.
Yang Jie began asking some basic questions and learned that Li Jianqun was 23 years old, from Wuhan.
She had studied dance as a child but switched to art after an injury.
She was set to graduate the following year and had no acting experience.
But Yang Jie thought her demeanor was excellent, especially her eyes, which seemed to shimmer with a touch of melancholy.
In other words, she had a somewhat sorrowful appearance.
The character of Qin Xianglian didn’t allow for much creative freedom—her stereotype was that of a tragic woman, always weeping.
If she were portrayed differently, the audience might not accept it.
“Are you interested in acting? I mean, I can’t promise you’ll be chosen, but I think your looks and demeanor are quite good. There might be an opportunity,” Yang Jie finally asked.
“Acting…”
Li Jianqun, who was about to graduate, had been thinking about which unit she’d be assigned to.
She hadn’t considered acting before.
After a moment of thought, she nodded. “If you give me this opportunity, I’d be very willing to participate.”
“Good. Leave me your contact information, including your home address, so I can reach you.”
After chatting for a while longer, Li Jianqun left.
Chen Qi made a point of shaking her hand and said with a smile, “You studied art. I hope we’ll have a chance to work together in the future.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
After she left, Yang Jie asked curiously, “You seem to think highly of her?”
“There are many beautiful women, but truly talented ones are rare. Of course, I’d value her!”
Chen Qi smiled.
Li Jianqun was decent as an actress, but as a costume designer, she was exceptional.
She had worked on the costume designs for *The Legend of Yang Guifei*, *The Emperor Tang Minghuang*, *Empress Wu Zetian*, *The Kangxi Dynasty*, *The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom*, and more.
Especially the first three—they were the pinnacle of Tang Dynasty aesthetics in Chinese film and television.
No other Tang Dynasty dramas since have matched their quality.
Chen Qi’s collector’s instinct kicked in, and he was eager to bring her into his team.
He kept urging Yang Jie to cast her as Qin Xianglian.
Playing Qin Xianglian would mean going to Beijing, and going to Beijing would give him a chance to recruit her.
While at the Shanghai Theater Academy, they also stumbled upon a male actor named Wang Bozhao, who would later play the White Dragon Horse in *Journey to the West* and get beaten up by Nicholas Tse and Dicky Cheung.
Yang Jie thought he was handsome but in a frivolous way, with a playboy aura that made him perfect for the role of Chen Shimei.
Chen Qi completely agreed!
He didn’t want Zhang Tielin to play Chen Shimei.
Chen Shimei was the male lead, and Zhang Tielin was more suited to playing a lecherous villain under the male lead…
(Wang Bozhao, Zhao Jing)
(Zhou Jie)
(Dong Zhizhi)
(Li Jianqun)
(End of Chapter)