Chapter 00080: The Little Poetry Prodigy
# The Little Poetry Prodigy
Chapter 80
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 80: The Little Poetry Prodigy
A few days before the Spring Festival, at the General Political Department Drama Troupe.
On a bitterly cold morning, Gong Xue finished packing and stepped out, still clad in her military overcoat, with her hat, gloves, and scarf tightly wrapped around her, leaving only her eyes exposed.
She glanced around, feeling slightly nervous as she approached a figure.
"Did you forget anything?"
"No."
"Let's go then!"
Chen Qi mounted his bicycle, his long legs swinging effortlessly.
Gong Xue followed a few steps and gracefully sat on the back seat, one hand clutching her bundle tightly, the other gripping the edge of the seat.
Suddenly, she felt a pang of regret.
A few days ago, he had come to deliver some manuscripts and asked when she was going home.
Then he offered to see her off, but she didn't want to trouble him.
But he insisted, and she politely declined.
Yet he persisted, and she finally agreed...
Now she was starting to regret it because she felt awkward, unsure where to place her hands or what to say.
Fortunately, Chen Qi was a chatterbox, braving the wind as he spoke, "I wrote a script for a martial arts film. I went out to find actors recently and just got back."
"You, the screenwriter, personally went to find actors?"
"I took on the role of a planner, so I can be involved in the whole process."
"Wow, congratulations!"
Admiring strength is human nature, especially when it's a close friend.
Gong Xue was genuinely happy for him, saying sincerely, "Look at you, only 19... no, 20 years old. How many people your age have achieved what you have? You've already written two scripts. Compared to you, I feel like I've wasted my life. By the way, who's the director?"
"Li Wenhua, have you heard of him?"
"Yes, yes, he used to be a very famous cinematographer. How's your relationship with him?"
"Good, very harmonious."
"That's great. He's a senior, so you should communicate more with him. But with your personality, I doubt you'll make any mistakes."
"Why do you sound like my mom, giving me advice?"
"I'm speaking as a friend who's older than you, genuinely concerned for you... Fine, I'll stop."
Gong Xue knew he couldn't see her, so she wrinkled her nose and let out a soft huff.
Hmph!
Speaking as a friend who's older than you...
Chen Qi smirked, thinking to himself, "You draw such clear lines now, but one day I'll make you call me 'daddy'!"
Braving the cold wind, they rode to the train station.
The Spring Festival travel rush in this era was different from later years.
Most people relied on buses, and it wasn't until the coastal developed areas attracted a large number of migrant workers that trains became the main mode of transportation.
But with China's massive population, even though fewer people took trains at the time, the station was still packed and bustling.
From Beijing to Shanghai, passing through Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, and Jiangsu, many people were on short trips, like Gong Xue, returning home to visit family.
No seats were available, so they stood.
Gong Xue placed her bag on the ground, pulled down her scarf, and exhaled softly.
Her lips were beautifully shaped, with a graceful arch on the upper lip and a full, yet not overly thick, lower lip, like a freshly bloomed flower.
"There's still over an hour left. You can go back now, I can wait by myself."
"It's fine, I'd just be sitting around if I went back."
"That's too much trouble for you."
"You said I'm your only good friend, how could I not help?"
"I never said 'only'!"
Gong Xue whispered her rebuttal, more to herself than to him.
She didn't have any friends from her hometown, so every year she would carry a big bag and leave quietly on her own.
This was the first time someone accompanied her, and Chen Qi was quite considerate, bustling about, buying magazines, snacks, and even a roll of toilet paper.
It felt different.
Finally, it was time to board.
Passengers lined up, and Chen Qi bought a platform ticket—common at the time to see people off onto the train.
Later, platform tickets were abolished, and the sight of relatives and friends saying goodbye on the platform became a thing of the past.
"It's a window seat, that's good!"
"I'll put your bag here, so you can keep an eye on it."
"Take this out, there's some food inside."
Gong Xue was overwhelmed by the care.
She was used to living independently and rarely experienced such attention.
Especially when the people nearby teased, saying things like, "Is this your boyfriend, miss?" or "What a handsome couple," and even joking about "a chubby baby," making everyone laugh and filling the carriage with a lively atmosphere.
The bell rang, and Chen Qi got off the train.
"Woo~~~~~~~~"
With a long whistle, the train clattered into motion.
Gong Xue waved at him through the window, watching as he gradually disappeared from view.
Her eyes lingered on the spot where he had been, lost in thought for a long time.
Apart from leaving her parents, it seemed like this was the first time she had felt the emotion of parting.
…………
"The filming was terrible, and he calls himself a famous director!"
"I've never seen such a 'famous director'—he cried when we criticized him, how embarrassing!"
"What kind of famous director is he? He used to work in art, and this is his first time directing."
On a street outside the Beijing Film Studio, two men and a woman, all in their twenties, walked toward the studio, discussing animatedly.
One was unkempt with a scruffy beard—his name was Tian Zhuangzhuang.
Another wore glasses, with sharp facial features and a deep voice—her name was Li Shaohong.
The third was tall and upright, with well-defined features and a gaze that seemed ready to recite poetry at any moment—his name was Chen Kaige.
These three were all children of the studio's elite.
In 1978, they had all been admitted to the Beijing Film Academy's directing department.
Now, during winter break, they spent their days idling around, doing nothing.
As one of the top film academies, the Beijing Film Academy often screened new films for students to critique.
But these individuals were all arrogant and looked down on everyone, often reducing directors to tears with their harsh criticism.
They were discussing a film they had seen a few days ago.
Although all three were from privileged backgrounds, there was a clear hierarchy among them.
Li Shaohong's mother was only an assistant director, making her family background the least impressive.
Chen Kaige's father, Chen Huaikai, mostly directed opera films and had a long career, but his status wasn't particularly high.
Tian Zhuangzhuang was the top dog.
His father was Tian Fang, the first head of the studio, and his mother was Yu Lan, who played Sister Jiang in Eternal Life in Flames and was one of the 22 Great Film Stars of New China.
She was also the head of the Children's Film Studio.
No matter how proud Chen Kaige was, he still had to flatter Tian Zhuangzhuang.
As the three entered the studio gates and continued walking, they suddenly heard a creaking sound behind them.
A guy on a rickety bicycle slowly passed by.
"Who's that? He looks unfamiliar," Li Shaohong wondered.
"A new recruit at the studio?"
"No, his name is... uh..."
Tian Zhuangzhuang, who had the best connections, thought for a moment and said, "Oh right, his name is Chen Qi. He was recently transferred here."
"Transferred? From which studio?"
"Not from a studio. I heard he used to sell big-bowl tea."
Chen Kaige's face twisted as if constipated, and he couldn't help but curse, "A tea seller can get into the Beijing Film Studio?"
"Apparently, he wrote a script. I'm not sure about the details."
"We've been so out of touch at school. The world is changing so fast—any Tom, Dick, or Harry can get in now? Let's go check him out and see what he's really made of."
They didn't dare mess with Tian Zhuangzhuang, but a newcomer? That was fair game.
Chen Kaige came from a good family, had talent, could write poetry, and had attended Beijing No. 4 High School—a prestigious institution.
About the kids from No. 4 High School, Chen Kaige once said, "Most of them are proud of their fathers' achievements, see themselves as natural revolutionaries, believe they have noble bloodlines and pure thoughts, and are destined for great things. They passionately yearn for glorious achievements..."
Listen to that—these kids were like that from a young age.
In 1978, he had aimed for Peking University's Chinese department but didn't get in, so he reluctantly settled for the Beijing Film Academy.
In the years to come, Chen Kaige remained full of ambition and self-admiration.
So, of course, he looked down on some lowly tea seller!
(End of Chapter)