Chapter 00081: Hmph! Flatterers and Sycophants
# Hmph! Flatterers and Sycophants
Chapter 81
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 81: Hmph! Flatterers and Sycophants
Chen Kaige was brimming with enthusiasm.
Tian Zhuangzhuang, on the other hand, was indifferent, as he had always been a laid-back person.
Li Shaohong was more of a follower.
The three of them quickened their pace, passing through a green area, and soon caught sight of the main building.
In front of the building, a small square was bustling with people.
A blue BJ130 light truck, independently produced by Beijing's Second Automobile Manufacturing Plant, was parked there.
The truck was loaded with Spring Festival goodies, and union staff were standing on it, handing out the items.
Why does everyone want to work for a good company? Aside from the usual benefits, the perks during holidays like these are enough to make others green with envy.
Decades later, good companies would still be good companies, but there would also be a lot of places where employees would get two rice dumplings for Dragon Boat Festival, one mooncake for Mid-Autumn Festival, and a few red packets in the group chat at the end of the year, which they would scramble for as their year-end bonus...
"Come and sign here!"
"One calendar, a basket of apples, a crate of pears, a portion of ribbonfish, and a box of candies and pastries!"
"When will the rice, flour, oil, and other staples be distributed?"
"Tomorrow!"
In those days, fruits were packed in baskets or crates, not cardboard boxes.
Ribbonfish and calendars were standard items in the holiday packages.
As the three approached, Chen Qi was also there, watching the commotion.
Li Shaohong went over first, greeting him with a smile, "Hello, you must be Little Chen, right?"
"And you are?"
"My name is Li Shaohong. Both my parents work at the factory. I've heard a lot about you..."
"Not at all, not at all. I've heard so much about you. I knew there were a few top students studying at the Beijing Film Academy, but I never had the chance to meet them."
Chen Qi was both surprised and delighted to meet such an important person.
Li Shaohong then introduced the other two.
Wow! Chen Qi was over the moon.
He took a big step forward, grabbing the director's hand with genuine enthusiasm, "I've heard so much about you! Uncle Chen always talks about you, saying how talented you are. I've been wanting to learn from you for a long time!"
Uncle Chen? Who was that? The director was momentarily confused, but he was here to stir up trouble, so he put on a stern face and said, "No need to be so polite. I heard you wrote a script. I dabble in writing myself, so maybe we can..."
The director was about to mock him when someone suddenly called out, "Little Chen! Little Chen!"
"Director Wang!"
Chen Qi turned around and quickly ran over to Wang Haowei, saying, "These apples are quite heavy. Should I carry them for you? I can deliver them to your place later. I have my bike."
"Sure, why else would I call you over?"
Chen Qi lent a hand and then ran back, apologizing, "Sorry about that. Please continue."
"I was saying, we could discuss..."
"Little Chen!"
Jiang Huaiyan also called out from the side, "Can your bike carry more? Help me with mine!"
"Sure, load it up!"
Chen Qi ran back again, accidentally kicking Jiang Shan in the process.
Jiang Shan dodged and stuck out her tongue at him, giggling.
"Since you're already carrying two, you might as well take mine too."
Shi Wenxin—Ge You's mother—was visibly annoyed as she collected her items.
"Every year, they distribute things at the main building. How many times have I told them? We still have to move everything ourselves! My son is frail. Are you expecting me to carry this, or should Old Ge do it?"
"You're a senior employee. We'll deliver it to your home. Why would you need to carry it yourself?" The union staff member said with a cheeky grin.
"Never mind. Last year, you sent me a basket of rotten apples... Thanks, Little Chen!"
"Ge You and I are like brothers. Your business is my business."
These big directors and artists, when they put down their cameras, are just ordinary people.
They fight for housing, strive for better benefits, worry about daily necessities, and get excited about holiday perks.
The three of them watched from the side.
Li Shaohong remarked, "He seems to know everyone. Quite popular."
"Just a flatterer!" the director snorted coldly.
Suddenly, someone called out, "Kaige!"
"Dad!"
It was Chen Huaikai, who had come to pick out some apples.
He muttered, "Every year, they give us these rotten apples. Nothing good... Oh, Little Chen, this is Kaige. You two should get to know each other. Kaige, this is your Uncle Qi, no, wait, you two..."
"We've already met. Let me help you with that!" Chen Qi said with a smile.
"No need, no need..."
With his son around, Chen Huaikai naturally wouldn't let an outsider carry the load.
He waved at the director, "Come over here! What are you standing there for?"
"No sense of initiative. Look at him, always ready to help!"
"Uh..."
The director had no choice but to step forward.
In an instant, his left hand was weighed down by a portion of ribbonfish, and his right hand by a basket of apples.
Suddenly, life felt very distant.
"What are you all doing here?"
Today, the area downstairs was particularly lively.
Wang Yang had also come out to join in.
The director immediately put on a smile, his thick eyebrows practically touching the ground, "Old Director!"
"We just came back from a stroll."
"Ah, I see. Go ahead and collect your things."
The director wanted to make small talk, but Wang Yang ignored him and instead waved at Chen Qi, "Little Chen, come here!"
"Old Director, what's up?"
"Let's talk over there."
Wang Yang led him to a quiet spot and said, "We've got news from Hong Kong. Yuen Woo-ping is asking for 100,000 Hong Kong dollars. If we bring in martial arts instructors, they'll cost 15,000 a month, and they'll get paid even if they get sick or injured."
"That expensive?"
"I think they're just trying to scare us off, knowing we're not well-off."
"Let's wait until after the New Year. I'll come up with a story to trade with them and see if that works."
"Make sure you have backup plans. Don't put all your eggs in one basket."
After giving his instructions, Wang Yang left.
Chen Qi ran back again, apologizing, "I'm really sorry. What were you saying earlier?"
What was I saying? The director, now carrying the ribbonfish, walked away, not wanting to deal with such a mundane person.
Tian Zhuangzhuang, however, found him quite interesting and said with a smile, "Will you be coming back after the Spring Festival? Let's find some time to chat and get to know each other."
"Sure, sure. Let's meet up when we have time."
Chen Qi's bike was already loaded with several packages.
He hopped on and rode off to deliver them to the nearby apartment buildings.
As he passed the three of them again, Tian Zhuangzhuang waved at him, while Li Shaohong glanced over but didn't react.
The director, however, kept his eyes straight ahead, clearly holding a grudge.
Chen Qi thought to himself, "Of course, I know they're petty. Why else would I use a pseudonym?"
...
Feng Xiaogang once said something along the lines of:
"I come from a humble background. To make a name for myself, I had to go against my own principles and flatter others. People like me and Zhang Yimou, we had to carve our own paths. We had no connections to rely on."
In the art world back then, it was all about who you knew.
Tian Zhuangzhuang took the entrance exam for the Beijing Film Academy in 1978. He finished in half an hour and went outside to enjoy an ice pop.
The exam question was to analyze the film "Heroic Sons and Daughters."
His father had starred in it, and he had grown up listening to his parents' friends discuss how it was made.
Later, when he entered the academy, while his classmates were still getting familiar with the equipment, Tian Zhuangzhuang was already shooting short films.
The three giants of the cinematography department—Zhang Yimou, Hou Yong, and Lü Yue—were his cameramen.
After graduation, he went straight to work at the Beijing Film Studio.
Chen Kaige, whose family background wasn't as strong, was assigned to the Children's Film Studio.
Zhang Yimou, with no connections at all, was sent to the distant Guangxi Film Studio.
To secure the role of cinematographer for the groundbreaking film "One and Eight," Zhang Yimou made a bold promise to the studio: if the film failed, he would work as a photography assistant for ten years.
What others could do before graduation, he had to gamble his youth for.
It was the same for actors.
For example, Hu Jun's father was a singer with the Naval Political Department's Song and Dance Ensemble.
When Hu Jun auditioned for the Central Academy of Drama, he sang "O Sole Mio" in Italian.
Then there's the "Beijing Circle's" Guan Xiaotong.
Her grandfather, Guan Xuezeng, was the chairman of the Beijing Quyi Artists Association.
She starred in "The Promise" at age 8, "The Treasure Hunter" at 11, and "If You Are the One 2" at 13. Who could compete with that?
Wang Jingwen (Faye Wong) was even more impressive.
Her grandfather was a "legislator" in Taiwan Province.
In his later years, he moved to Hong Kong for retirement, which allowed their family to relocate there.
Chen Qi's family background was ordinary, but it was still better than Feng Xiaogang's and Zhang Yimou's.
Now that he was working at the Beijing Film Studio, he had to deal with these second-generation elites.
Li Shaohong was a small fry and not worth his time, but the director was a different story.
Even if the director didn't pick a fight, Chen Qi was itching to provoke him.
In his younger days, the director was proud but still had some sense of propriety.
He wouldn't dare act too boldly in front of his seniors.
But after winning the Palme d'Or, he completely let loose...
As for Tian Zhuangzhuang, Chen Qi thought he might be worth befriending.
It could be a useful connection in the future.
(End of chapter)