Chapter 00194: Taming the Eagle
# Taming the Eagle
Chapter 194
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 194: Taming the Eagle
At the Shichahai Sports School, in a quiet corner of the training ground, Zhen Zidan sat alone, his head bowed as he read a letter from his mother in the United States.
His family was originally from Guangdong.
They had immigrated in the 1970s.
His father was now a newspaper editor, while his mother, who had practiced martial arts since she was young, was skilled in both Baguazhang and Taijiquan.
In the U.
S., she had started a small group to teach martial arts to both Chinese and foreigners.
The letter mentioned that his parents had heard from Hong Kong that the movie *Tai Chi* was a huge hit and might soon be released in the U.
S.
They planned to take their students and friends to see it and urged Zhen Zidan to keep practicing martial arts diligently, hoping he might one day star in movies too.
Zhen Zidan chuckled bitterly.
Of course, he wanted to act in movies.
He was green with envy over Jet Li's success.
But opportunities like that didn’t just fall into one’s lap.
He didn’t even have any friends in the martial arts team—back then, he had extremely low emotional intelligence and was completely unaware of it.
It wasn’t until later that he gradually improved.
“Zhen Zidan!”
Just as he was about to start training, a senior called out to him, “Someone’s here to see you!”
“Oh!”
He ran outside and was immediately delighted to see Director Li Wenhua, the man who had once scouted actors for films.
Though Zhen Zidan wasn’t the most socially adept, he knew how to show respect to someone older and of higher status.
He quickly greeted, “Hello, Director Li!”
“Hmm,” Director Li nodded. “We’re working on a new film and are looking for actors. Would you like to be in a movie?”
“Yes, Director! I’d love the opportunity!”
Director Li frowned slightly.
Zhen Zidan’s Mandarin wasn’t great, but that could be fixed with dubbing.
He asked, “How old are you?”
“Eighteen!”
“Oh? The same age as Jet Li?”
“Yes!”
“Can you demonstrate a set of moves?”
Without hesitation, Zhen Zidan launched into a flurry of punches and kicks.
Officially, he was 173 cm tall, though he might have been a bit shorter.
He had a neat side part and a handsome face, but there was always a cold, fierce look in his eyes—the kind that made people think he was tough and ruthless.
Director Li nodded thoughtfully. “Alright, that’s enough. Wait for news.”
“Director, what’s the movie about?”
“*Tai Chi 2*.”
Zhen Zidan gasped. “What role would I play?”
“That hasn’t been decided yet. Just wait for the news.”
As Director Li turned to leave, Zhen Zidan stood frozen for a moment, then jumped three feet in the air with excitement.
He rushed back into the training ground but suddenly stopped, realizing he didn’t have a single friend to share his joy with.
Meanwhile, Director Li was almost out of the sports school when he heard someone running after him. “Director Li! Director Li, wait!”
“Xiao Li? Why are you chasing me?”
It was Jet Li, dressed in a red tracksuit and wearing a hat since his hair hadn’t fully grown back yet.
He caught up and said, “I heard you were here and came to see you. Why didn’t you look for me?”
“I wasn’t here for you. I finished my business, so I’m leaving.”
“But weren’t you here for *Tai Chi 2*?”
“Oh, I came to talk to Zhen Zidan. He might play a small role. Why?”
“What about me? Didn’t Brother Qi say it would be the original cast?”
“Your situation is a bit complicated. Xiao Chen has been swamped lately and hasn’t had time to deal with this. Just wait for news…”
“But, I—!”
Before Jet Li could finish, Director Li was already gone.
Jet Li was beyond frustrated.
What did “wait for news” mean? Was he not even guaranteed a role in *Tai Chi 2*? If he didn’t get the part, who else could play it?
Among the *Shaolin Temple* crew, Jet Li was the most troubled.
He had been back for a while now, carrying this worry every day.
He didn’t dare tell his coach and had to pretend to be a good kid, training with everyone else.
Come on! He had won five gold medals, and he was a sensation in both mainland China and Hong Kong.
And they still wanted him to train?
It was a huge letdown.
He had been waiting for Chen Qi to discuss *Tai Chi 2*, but Chen Qi never showed up.
Instead, Director Li brought him this uncertain news, which only made him more anxious.
Jet Li went to the administrative office and lingered outside for a long time before finally mustering the courage to knock on the door.
“Xiao Li? What’s up?”
“Uh, I have something to discuss.”
“Sit down, sit down. Have some water!”
The martial arts team’s leader, surnamed Han, was very fond of his star athlete.
“I finished filming *Shaolin Temple*, and I heard *Tai Chi 2* is also in the works. I was thinking, I want to…”
“Oh, you want to act in movies? That’s fine! Your *Tai Chi* was so popular in both places, and it’s even earning foreign currency overseas. It’s brought great honor to our martial arts team. The sports committee leaders have even praised you by name. You’ll definitely be commended. If you want to act, go ahead. We fully support you.”
“Uh…”
Jet Li rubbed his hands nervously.
He had been part of the system since he was 11. His entire life—food, shelter, personal honors—was tied to the system.
It was hard for him to speak up, but after stammering for a while, he finally said, “What I mean is, I want to become a professional actor. I don’t want to compete anymore.”
His head drooped as he spoke, not daring to look at the leader’s face.
Sure enough, Leader Han’s cheerful expression vanished faster than a Sichuan opera face change.
His face darkened, and he said sternly, “You want to leave the martial arts team?”
“Yes.”
“Explain yourself. What’s going through your mind?”
Jet Li had been under these people’s control since he was a child, and it had conditioned him.
He said, “I feel like I’ve won enough gold medals. I’ve been abroad enough. I’ve achieved all the honors I can in the martial arts team. Staying here would just mean repeating the same things. I want to retire.”
“Retire? Have you ever heard of an 18-year-old national champion retiring? If you retire, our martial arts team will become a laughingstock. We can’t even keep our own star!”
Leader Han was both angry and anxious. “Xiao Li, we support you acting in movies. Why do you have to leave?”
“…”
Jet Li didn’t respond.
He truly felt there was nothing left for him in the martial arts team.
He wanted a bigger stage.
Leader Han tried to persuade him repeatedly, but Jet Li remained silent.
Finally, Leader Han slammed the table and shouted, “You’re a state employee! Your job and identity are tied to this place. According to national regulations, you can only retire if you’re injured or too old. Don’t even think about anything else!”
The martial arts team was under the sports committee.
Athletes were state employees.
The constraints were strong—you couldn’t just leave whenever you wanted.
You needed official approval—just look at how hard it was for Yao Ming to go to the NBA.
Seeing the leader’s reaction, Jet Li swallowed hard, feeling a bit scared, but he stood his ground. “Then, I’ll apply to transfer to the Beijing Film Studio.”
“I won’t allow it! The sports committee won’t allow it either! And don’t try to pressure me with connections. We’re two different systems. That won’t work… Alright, get out. Think it over. The martial arts team has never treated you poorly!”
As Jet Li slunk out, Leader Han angrily pounded the table again.
In his mind, the martial arts team had nurtured Jet Li, and now that he was famous, he wanted to leave.
That was ingratitude.
Plus, Jet Li was a huge star now.
Whether it was acting in movies, competing, or earning foreign currency, it all brought glory to the sports system.
How could they let him go?
Movies were the domain of the cultural system.
The sports system didn’t play by those rules.
Did Jet Li really think he could have it both ways?
…………
That night, Jet Li didn’t sleep a wink.
He tossed and turned, Leader Han’s words echoing in his mind: “Unless you’re injured, or too old…”
“Injured? Injured?”
For a brief moment, he even considered it, but he quickly pushed the thought away.
It hadn’t come to that yet.
After a sleepless night, the next day, he found an excuse to slip out and rushed to the Beijing Film Studio in a panic.
But he couldn’t find the person he was looking for.
Finally, he stopped Gong Xue and asked, “Sister Xue, where’s Brother Qi?”
“He went to Hangzhou!”
“What’s he doing in Hangzhou?”
“He’s in seclusion, writing. He’s also attending the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards. He’ll be back by the end of the month… Oh, he mentioned that your situation is complicated and told you to wait for news.”
Gong Xue walked off casually.
Jet Li was left dumbfounded and frustrated.
Wait for news? Wait for news? I’m about to hurt myself, and you’re telling me to wait for news?!
But there was nothing he could do.
Chen Qi had already established his authority in Jet Li’s mind.
If Chen Qi said to wait, then Jet Li had no choice but to wait.
(That’s all for today…
Tomorrow, there will be four more chapters.)
(End of Chapter)