Chapter 00168: Where’s the Contract
# Where’s the Contract?
Chapter 168
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 168: Where’s the Contract?
As evening approached, the first spring rain of the capital city began to fall.
Wang Yang returned with Li Wenhua, both physically and mentally exhausted.
Just as they stepped through the factory gate, Gong Xue suddenly ran up to them.
"Director!" she called out.
"You... oh, you’ve been waiting here all this time," Wang Yang said, slightly surprised.
"Director, why didn’t Xiao Chen come back with you?" Gong Xue asked anxiously.
"His situation is a bit complicated. He has to stay there for now until the investigation is complete... Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he comes back safe and sound!" Wang Yang reassured her.
But his words only made Gong Xue’s face turn even paler.
Wang Yang knew she and Xiao Chen were close, but he didn’t have the energy to explain further.
He waved his hand and took a few steps forward before suddenly stopping and turning back.
"Xiao Gong, did you guys bring anything back with you?" he asked.
"Do you mean luggage?" Gong Xue asked, confused.
"No, not luggage. Something... special," Wang Yang said vaguely, unsure how to describe it.
Miraculously, Gong Xue seemed to understand.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Xiao Chen did give some things to Mr. Fu Qi. Mr. Fu Qi will be coming to the capital in a couple of days."
"Fu Qi is coming?" Wang Yang was taken aback but nodded thoughtfully.
"Oh, that’s good... You can go now. Don’t worry, everything will be fine."
The two of them entered the factory, and Li Wenhua whispered, "Will Xiao Chen be okay?"
"That Fang Yurong keeps emphasizing the political implications of this, and even the Ministry of Culture can’t ignore it. This has gone beyond just the film industry. Xiao Chen has to stay there to assist with the investigation. I’ll try to reach out to some old comrades to see if we can get him out. If something happens to him, I’ll never forgive myself! Don’t just worry about him—we’re in trouble ourselves. I’m sorry you got dragged into this."
"I’m just an old man who’s lived a mediocre life. Being able to work with you on something revolutionary is worth it!"
...
Wang Yang said everything would be fine, but Gong Xue hadn’t even seen Xiao Chen.
How could she believe him?
She racked her brain, then hopped on her bicycle and rushed to the Youth Daily newspaper office.
The sudden appearance of the big star caused quite a stir, and the staff quickly gathered around to gawk.
"Ah! Gong Xue, what brings you here?"
"Did someone invite you for an interview?"
"Hello, hello! I’m looking for reporter Yu Jiajia!" Gong Xue said hurriedly.
After a while, Yu Jiajia sauntered out, her eyes lighting up.
"Oh, I heard you went abroad. Did you come back just to see me? Missed me, huh?"
"Let’s talk outside!"
The two of them stepped outside and stood under the shelter of the entrance to avoid the rain.
Gong Xue quickly explained the situation.
Yu Jiajia caught some rainwater in her hand, thinking.
"All I can do is publish some news and stir up public opinion. But the problem is, we don’t have any material to work with."
"*Tai Chi* was a huge hit in Hong Kong and Berlin. You can write about that!"
"To stir up public opinion, we need solid evidence—preferably original news articles or photos from overseas. I can’t just write based on hearsay. That won’t be convincing."
"But Xiao Chen hasn’t come back today. We don’t even know how he’s doing!"
"Right now, you just have to trust him. That guy’s sharp—he won’t let himself get hurt. Let’s wait and see..."
Gong Xue slowly crouched down, biting her lip, feeling both anxious and helpless.
...
At this time, the Ministry of State Security hadn’t been established yet, but there were departments with similar functions.
Xiao Mo was part of one such department—young, capable, sharp, and skilled, he was highly regarded.
The next day, Xiao Mo and a colleague showed up at the Beijing Film Studio.
Both of them looked ordinary, blending into the crowd without a second glance.
They first met with Wang Yang, then headed to the guesthouse and entered Room 302.
"Wow, so many books?"
"I heard he’s a screenwriter, a cultured man."
"You take this side, I’ll take that side..."
Their task was to search the room and then interview the people around Chen Qi.
Xiao Mo had a good impression of the room.
It was small but clean and tidy, though filled with books—piles of them even on the floor.
He flipped through a few and said, "These are all old books. Wow, some of them are from the Republic of China era..."
"He said he likes collecting books. Seems like it’s true."
"Find anything?"
"Nothing. Feels like this guy lives a simple life."
Xiao Mo picked up a copy of *English 900 Sentences*.
Inside, there were dense notes on learning experiences and phonetic translations, with signs of frequent use.
He handed it to his colleague, who glanced at it and put it in a bag.
"Huh? A script?"
Suddenly, he discovered a thick notebook with a bookmark inside, marking an unfinished outline.
"*The Ballad of the Capital*?"
"During the late Qing Dynasty, the country was weak, and foreigners flaunted their power, often taking opportunities to humiliate the Chinese... One day, a European pirate football team and the embassy team held a football match in the capital. This rare event attracted many Chinese spectators..."
"Nothing valuable here. This guy seems pretty clean. Xiao Mo, did you find anything?"
"Xiao Mo?"
The colleague turned around and saw Xiao Mo sitting on the bed, engrossed in reading.
"Damn it! You’re on a mission, not here to read!"
"No, no, come here!"
"What is it... just a story. The guy’s a screenwriter. Writing stories is normal."
"Look at the front!"
Xiao Mo flipped through the notebook and pointed to the self-made table of contents: *The Cotton Robe*, *Invincible Couple’s Legs*, *Wudang*, *Shanghai 1937*...
"Holy cow!"
The colleague’s eyes widened.
"Aren’t these the stories we love from *Story Collection*? Did this guy copy them?"
"Are you stupid? He wrote them!"
Xiao Mo slapped his colleague on the back.
"Think about it. His name is Chen Qi. He must be that ‘Qi’ guy!"
"Oh my! Then who’s the ‘Guai’ guy?"
"How should I know? Let’s ask around when we get back!"
The two of them suddenly felt a strange sense of excitement.
They hadn’t found any evidence of "collaborating with the enemy," but they had stumbled upon proof that Chen Qi was their idol. *Story Collection* was gaining popularity in the capital, and their unit was full of martial arts enthusiasts who loved reading it.
Of course, duty came first.
If Chen Qi really was guilty, he’d at most be given a proper burial.
But Xiao Mo already subconsciously believed Chen Qi was innocent.
After all, the stories he wrote were all about standing up for the weak, fighting against traitors, Japanese invaders, and Western bullies—filled with love for the nation and its people...
Later, the two of them continued their investigation at the Beijing Film Studio.
They also visited the cooperative and the neighborhood, though they hadn’t gone to Chen Qi’s home yet.
As they asked around, news quickly spread throughout the factory.
Those who had always disliked Chen Qi were overjoyed.
"Did you hear? That guy’s been detained!"
"I heard he’s already in jail. He’s in big trouble."
"Rumor has it he’s going to be executed after autumn!"
Jiang Shan burst into tears.
"Wahhh, is Brother Xiao Chen going to die?"
"Nonsense! Xiao Chen’s fine. Everyone they’ve asked has only good things to say about him," Jiang Huaiyan comforted his daughter.
...
While the investigation was ongoing, the Ministry of Culture was also discussing what disciplinary action to take against the Beijing Film Studio for its violations.
Meanwhile, over at China Film, they were only concerned about one thing: the contract.
"The contract still hasn’t been found?!"
Song Linming was getting anxious.
It was said that *Tai Chi* had earned foreign currency, but no one knew exactly how much.
And without evidence—like the contract—how could they claim anything? He wanted to seize the opportunity, but without the contract, it was impossible.
The film industry was like a sieve.
Within a couple of days, more and more people learned about the situation.
Even the directors of several production studios attending meetings in the capital caught wind of it.
"Old Wang’s done for! He’s finished!"
"Dealing with China Film is a slow tug-of-war. Old Wang was too aggressive this time."
"But seriously, how much foreign currency did they actually earn???"
(End of chapter...)
(PS: Some character names have been modified, as you all know.)
(Chapter complete.)