Chapter 00210: The Magazine
# The Magazine
Chapter 210
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 210: The Magazine
The script for Mama, Love Me Once More was sold to Beijing Film Studio for the same price of 2,000 yuan.
Before commercialization took hold, royalties couldn’t be handed out arbitrarily—there were strict national regulations in place.
Even without new standards, they had to follow the old ones.
Paying less was fine, but paying more was considered a violation.
For example, when Zhang Yimou was filming Red Sorghum, he invited Mo Yan to help adapt the script.
To pay him more, they split Red Sorghum into two parts, allowing them to pay him twice.
After reading the script, Wang Haowei agreed to let Wang Haowei direct it.
News soon leaked out—Chen the screenwriter had another new work, this time centered around a female lead, so touching that every woman who read it couldn’t help but weep.
Wherever there was a well, people were singing Chen’s praises…
Liu Xiaoqing, Li Xiuming, and others knew they had no chance, but they still tried.
Unsurprisingly, Gong Xue was cast for the role.
Her part in Tai Chi 2 was small, so she could transition seamlessly between projects.
Come to think of it, she had already broken distribution records twice—with Romance on Lushan Mountain and Tai Chi 1—earning double awards and a pile of honors.
Now, before Tai Chi 2 had even finished filming, she landed Mama, Love Me Once More, casting a deep shadow over all the actresses at Beijing Film Studio.
This only made everyone realize how important it was to have someone backing you, inadvertently opening the door to all sorts of unsavory dealings.
Don’t think that just because the '80s had social constraints, the entertainment world was conservative.
There were plenty of actresses knocking on directors’ doors at night, and just as many directors sneaking into actresses’ rooms.
Take Gai Lili, for example.
When she was at Beijing Film Studio, a cinematographer once entered her room, sat on the bed, and started talking about personal matters.
Gai Lili ran out, but her roommate—wearing thin clothes and half-covered by a blanket—chatted with the cinematographer quite enthusiastically.
Later, Gai Lili noticed that in the film, her shots looked terrible, while her roommate’s were all flattering.
In Mama, Love Me Once More, none of the other roles mattered much—the heart of the story was the mother and son.
Child actors were rare back then, so Wang Haowei didn’t overthink it and immediately cast a young actor named Fang Chao, known for his roles in Ah! Cradle, The Herdsman, and Bubbling Spring.
He had started acting at just two years old and was now five, having played many sons on screen.
Historically, Gong Xue had also played his mother in Under the Bridge, but that script was already finished and in the hands of Shanghai Film Studio—meaning she might miss out on it.
……
While Tai Chi 2 was being prepared steadily, Chen Qi was multitasking, busy with other matters.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Old Liang? Old Liang?"
"Hold on, hold on!"
In the hallway of the apartment building, Chen Qi knocked on the door curiously, hearing muffled noises inside.
After a moment, Liang Xiaosheng opened the door, looking extremely awkward.
"What are you doing, hiding a go—oh, you actually are hiding someone!"
Chen Qi’s eyes widened.
Inside stood a delicate-looking young woman, her face flushed but still greeting him politely.
"Hello, I’m Jiao Dan, a friend of Xiaosheng’s."
"Ohhh!"
"Ohhh!"
"Ohhhh!"
"Stop with the ‘oh’s! She’s my girlfriend!"
Liang Xiaosheng couldn’t stand his antics and cut straight to the point.
Chen Qi rolled his eyes.
"Obviously she’s your girlfriend—if she wasn’t, that’d be a problem… Nice to meet you. Old Liang and I are like brothers, so we talk like this. Don’t mind me."
"No worries! Xiaosheng talks about you often. I’ve been wanting to meet you!" Jiao Dan smiled.
Knowing Chen Qi must have business, Liang Xiaosheng turned to her.
"Why don’t you head back first? We need to talk."
"Now that we’ve met, why not have a meal together? I’ll go buy groceries—won’t take long."
Jiao Dan left briskly.
Chen Qi clicked his tongue in admiration.
"She’s a good one, Old Liang. You’re lucky. Does she know your situation?"
"I told her everything. She still wants to be with me. Her family’s well-off, yet she comes here to clean and cook for me. I don’t have much, so all I can do is treat her well."
Liang Xiaosheng sighed.
The two did eventually marry.
Jiao Dan supported him through tough times, helping him become a famous writer.
Liang Xiaosheng earned decent money, but his family burdens were heavy—he was never well-off.
By the '90s, his younger siblings had lost their jobs, his older brother had mental health issues, and his parents were always in poor health.
He supported the entire family alone.
Chen Qi pulled up a chair and got straight to the point.
"Remember when I mentioned starting a magazine? Well, the publishing license is approved now, under my company’s name—no need to attach it to anyone else."
"I’m heading to Hong Kong soon, but before I go, I want to set up the framework. Ideally, we can launch the first issue by January next year."
"You said before you wanted a general-interest magazine—fiction, jokes, odd news, foreign excerpts… Wouldn’t cramming all that into one issue be messy?"
"Let’s start with fiction + odd news first—focus on martial arts, detective stories, fun tales, and bizarre anecdotes. If it works, we can branch out—special editions for digests, UFOs, romance, whatever."
Liang Xiaosheng nodded, understanding the vision.
He hesitated, knowing Chen Qi was here to recruit him but unsure how to bring up compensation.
Of course, Chen Qi was sharp.
"My company’s state-owned, a proper workplace. I won’t shortchange you. You make 47 yuan now, right? Come be my editor-in-chief—I’ll double your salary, plus separate pay for any writing. How’s that?"
When Liang Xiaosheng stayed silent, Chen Qi grinned.
"Why so shy? If you’ve got demands, say ‘em!"
"What about housing?" Liang Xiaosheng asked.
"At least at Beijing Film Studio, I have a dorm. If I join you, I’d have to move out. You’re still renting office space from them—where would you put the magazine staff?"
"My place at Lechunfang is almost done. We’ll use it as the editorial office and dorm for now."
"Don’t you trust me? I’ll get everyone proper apartments with indoor toilets sooner or later!"
"......"
Liang Xiaosheng thought for a long moment.
"Let me think about it."
"Sure! You know a lot of writers—help me scout a few editors. For the first issue, five or six people should be enough."
"What about distribution?"
"My parents! Honorary distribution team—free labor!"
Liang Xiaosheng laughed, having almost forgotten—both of Chen Qi’s parents worked at Xinhua Bookstore.
By the time Jiao Dan returned with groceries, the two had finished talking.
She quickly whipped up four dishes and a soup.
After eating, Chen Qi took off.
While cleaning up, Liang Xiaosheng told Jiao Dan about the offer.
"I don’t know much about this," she said, "but do you trust him?"
"Absolutely."
He nodded without hesitation.
"We’ve known each other for over two years—back when he was still selling tea on the street. I went to his place on behalf of the studio to discuss Romance on Lushan Mountain."
"Chen might talk nonsense, but he’s never let me down. He even co-wrote a novel with me and gave me half the pay. Thanks to him, I’m not as strapped for cash."
"I’m just nervous about a new environment. Who knows how it’ll turn out?"
"Are you worried his company might fail?" Jiao Dan asked.
"He’s offering me a formal position—even if it fails, he’d have to reassign me. That’s not the issue..."
"Then what are you worried about? You’re young, talented—this is the time to make your mark. You’d be editor-in-chief there. At Beijing Film Studio, would you ever get that role?"
Liang Xiaosheng realized she was right.
At the studio, he’d have to grind until he was 40 to maybe become head of the literature department.
With Chen Qi, he’d be in charge right away.
He had seen Chen Qi’s wild ideas in action—and deep down, he was already leaning toward joining.
……
After two days of consideration, Liang Xiaosheng agreed.
But for now, he stayed at Beijing Film Studio, secretly helping Chen Qi scout talent—because if he transferred, he’d have nowhere to live.
Chen Qi’s requirements were simple:
They need an editor’s eye and skills, but also the drive to write.
Content was everything for a magazine.
Chen Qi had plenty of stories in his head, but he couldn’t write them all himself.
These editors would double as his writing team—publishing under pen names for extra pay.
Surely some would be interested…
He briefly considered Yu Jiajia but dismissed the idea.
She was better off staying at the newspaper—she was thriving there and might not care for his small operation.
(End of Chapter)