Chapter 00178: A Hundred Flowers
# A Hundred Flowers
Chapter 178
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 178: A Hundred Flowers
"Inviting me to join the Shanghai Film Studio?" Chen Qi raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"I'm doing just fine at the Beijing Film Studio. Why should I go to Shanghai?"
"Let's be frank. I'll speak my mind. You've been at the Beijing Film Studio for so long, yet you've never been officially transferred in. That's strange in itself. Old Wang is someone who values talent, and he must have discussed this with you. The fact that it hasn't happened yet means there must be some issues you two couldn't agree on. Am I right?"
"..."
Chen Qi just smiled without saying a word.
Wang Ligu, feeling more confident, continued, "I won't make wild guesses. I'll just say this: whatever the Beijing Film Studio has, the Shanghai Film Studio has it too. And what the Beijing Film Studio doesn't have, the Shanghai Film Studio still has! We are the most progressive, boldest, and most avant-garde film studio in the country, always at the forefront of the times. The Beijing Film Studio, being in the capital, is bound to face certain restrictions. But we value you very, very highly. If you're willing to come, we may not be able to offer you a high position, but in terms of power, we fully support you in making your own film. You can choose the topic, the script, the creative team, and even oversee the production and distribution. The studio won't interfere at all!"
Wang Ligu was truly sincere, even offering housing as an incentive.
"We're building a 'Shanghai Film Village' as part of our employee benefits. It's a complex with proper plumbing. If you come, you'll definitely get a place there!"
"Haha!"
Chen Qi laughed and nodded repeatedly.
"Thank you, really. I can feel your sincerity."
To be honest, he was a bit tempted.
The offer was quite generous, and most people would jump at it.
Seeing this, Wang Ligu added fuel to the fire.
"We know you have a partner you work well with. If you agree, we guarantee she can be transferred here as well."
Chen Qi immediately knew he was referring to Gong Xue.
But mentioning her only made him want to roll his eyes.
He had gone through so much trouble to get Gong Xue to the Beijing Film Studio.
Why would he send her back now? That would be ridiculous!
"What are my chances?"
"What?"
"Director Wang, you came to me because of the success of *The Tai Chi Master*, right? I understand. The conditions you've offered are indeed generous, and I'm moved. But I want to ask... If I fail at your studio, will I get a second chance? Or even a third?"
"Well..."
Wang Ligu hesitated.
"Or to put it another way, throughout all the ups and downs of my career, Director Wang has always supported me, which is why I've been able to get through it all. Do you have that same level of trust in me? The Shanghai Film Studio may be stronger in some areas, but I'm quite settled here. I don't want to move. I can only apologize."
"Alright, it was presumptuous of me to ask."
Wang Ligu was puzzled.
This guy wasn't officially in the Beijing Film Studio, yet he didn't want to leave.
What exactly was he after?
...
Over the next few days, Chen Qi received a steady stream of visitors, experiencing the kind of busy life his friend Jia Yin often talked about.
"Hmph! If you're not high-ranking enough, I won't even bother meeting you!"
The visitors could be divided into three groups: one represented by Aunt Wang from the administrative agencies, another from the film industry, and the third from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
Their goals were similar—they all wanted to recruit him!
Surprisingly, Wu Tianming, representing the Xi'an Film Studio, also came.
He wasn't the studio head yet—that would happen in 1983. At the time, the fifth generation of filmmakers like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige were just starting out, and their work was quite different from the mainstream Chinese cinema of the time, so they weren't well-received.
But Wu Tianming had a keen eye for talent and strongly supported the fifth generation.
He produced films like *Red Sorghum*, *The Black Cannon Incident*, *King of the Children*, *The Horse Thief*, and *The Swordsman in Double Flag Town*, which propelled the Xi'an Film Studio to its peak.
Before that, the Xi'an Film Studio was practically a nobody.
Chen Qi warmly welcomed Wu Tianming.
Wu had come to ask for a script, hoping Chen Qi would sell him a martial arts film script.
Coincidentally, Chen Qi had just finished *The Soccer Heroes*, so he handed it over.
The story combined martial arts, soccer, and comedy, and it was quite good.
It sold over 200 copies back then.
Chen Qi had so many good ideas that he didn't mind parting with this one, considering it a way to make a new friend.
The people from China Film Corporation came twice, but Chen Qi's uncle turned them away both times.
Chen Qi himself couldn't be bothered to deal with them.
He finally had some free time to relax.
...
In the blink of an eye, it was March.
The weather in Beijing finally warmed up, and the willow trees sprouted new buds.
Spring flowers bloomed, and the Beijing Film Studio campus came alive.
Early one morning, Chen Qi, Liang Xiaosheng, Ge You, Zhang Jinling, and the rest of their little group were busy helping Gong Xue move her things.
They loaded a bunch of random items onto a tricycle and pushed it along, with everyone helping on either side.
They walked from the guesthouse to the residential area at the back, then carried everything piece by piece into the apartment building.
Thanks to *The Tai Chi Master*, Gong Xue had received a tangible benefit: the Beijing Film Studio had allocated her a single dormitory room.
The conditions might not have been better than the guesthouse, but at least it was her own private space.
Staying in the guesthouse always made her feel like a visitor.
Chen Qi thought about Wang Ligu's words.
The contrast was stark.
The Shanghai Film Studio was building apartments with flush toilets, while the Beijing Film Studio was still stuck with these old apartment buildings.
"Where should we put this box?"
"Put it over there. I'll handle it!"
"What about this one?"
"Just leave it by the door!"
After another round of busy work, Gong Xue, feeling quite generous, laughed and said, "Thanks for all your hard work. I'll treat everyone to a meal!"
"Oh, are you treating, or is Little Chen treating?" Zhang Jinling teased.
"Of course, I'm treating! I'm paying!"
"Well, if it's you treating, the food might not be that great. If it's Little Chen, we might get a feast!"
"If you don't want to eat, then don't!"
The group laughed and joked as they left the studio and headed to a restaurant they often frequented.
Friends getting together was always a happy occasion.
As they ate and drank, Ge You suddenly pulled out a copy of *Popular Cinema* from his military-green canvas bag.
"I just bought this. There's big news inside. On May 23rd, the Hundred Flowers Awards will be held in Hangzhou. This year, they've also added the Golden Rooster Awards, and they'll be held together."
"What's the Golden Rooster Awards for?" Zhang Jinling asked.
"It's an expert award, decided by experts. We don't need to worry about that. Anyway, the voting for the Hundred Flowers Awards has started. Look!"
Ge You opened the magazine, and everyone looked at the voting section.
Unlike last year's 14 categories, this year they had removed categories like Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor/Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction, leaving only Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
"Huh? Looking at it this way, the Golden Rooster Awards seem pretty important!" Chen Qi said, surprised.
"How so?"
"All the categories that were removed from the Hundred Flowers Awards must have been moved to the Golden Rooster Awards. From now on, when people talk about Best Director or Best Screenplay, it'll be the Golden Rooster Awards. Doesn't that make it important?"
"That makes sense. No wonder you're making foreign currency!"
Ge You was now filled with envy and jealousy toward Chen Qi.
Compared to him, his own life felt like garbage.
He pulled out a pen and said, "Let's just fill this out now and cast our sacred votes."
"Sure, sure. Little Chen, you write!"
Chen Qi didn't hesitate.
He took the pen and smiled.
"There are three slots for Best Picture. Which ones do you like?"
"*Romance on Lushan Mountain*, of course!"
"Definitely *Romance on Lushan Mountain*. The other two can be whatever."
After some back-and-forth, they filled in *Romance on Lushan Mountain*, *Murder in 405*, and *The Seventh Rank Official*.
For Best Actor, they chose Tang Guoqiang.
When it came to Best Actress, everyone started teasing Chen Qi.
"Oh, Little Chen, who are you going to pick?"
"Yeah, yeah, I think Zhang Yu from *Evening Rain* is pretty good. Let's pick her!"
"Or Zhu Biyun from *Rouge*!"
"But the pen is in your hand. What we say doesn't matter. It's up to you!"
"..."
In this kind of situation, Gong Xue couldn't say much.
Her face was already red, torn between wanting him to pick her and not wanting him to.
Chen Qi didn't care about any of that.
He smiled and said, "When recommending talent, don't shy away from those close to you. If someone's good, they're good. Out of all the leading actresses last year, who was the most dazzling? The public's eyes are sharp!"
With a flourish of his pen, he wrote down Gong Xue's name!
(Thanks to *Ni Chang Yu Yi* for being a patron...
This month has felt so long.
It feels like I've been writing this book for two years.
But at least I haven't broken my promise—three chapters a day.
The book's doing well, thanks to everyone's support.
But tomorrow I need to take a break.
There'll only be two chapters, or my back might give out...)
(End of Chapter)