Chapter 00084: Chen Qi, You Scoundrel
# Chen Qi, You Scoundrel
Chapter 84
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 84: Chen Qi, You Scoundrel
"Geng Hua, I'm leaving!"
"I don't blame you; I only blame the bad fruit my father planted that has fallen on my head. This departure may be a permanent farewell, but you must remember, on the other side of the Pacific, there is a heart that loves you deeply..."
In the dubbing studio of Beiying Film Factory, the scene was playing where Su Yun was writing a farewell letter to Geng Hua.
Gong Xue held the script, her voice choked as tears sparkled in her eyes.
"Good!"
Beside her, a dubbing director and a dubbing teacher praised, "Little Gong has a good understanding; she’s mastered the techniques so quickly."
"Indeed, that emotional connection was portrayed very well. Wipe your tears."
"Sorry to make you laugh!"
Gong Xue wiped her tears, trying to regain her composure and asked, "Teacher, is my level good enough to do it on my own now?"
"A few areas still need improvement, but overall, it's fine. It seems I don't need to step in after all!"
The dubbing teacher was on-site to guide her, but if she didn't perform well, he would have to take over himself.
Compared to acting, dubbing was much quicker.
In the future, a drama with dozens of episodes could be completed in a week.
It was a bit slower now, but a 90-minute movie could still be wrapped up in just a few days.
After a few more segments of dubbing, Gong Xue finished her tasks for the day.
After returning from the Spring Festival, she was immediately called to Beiying Film Factory, excited to witness the post-production of "Lushan Romance."
Yet a sense of melancholy filled her heart: if she couldn’t find another role soon, she would have to return to the army and wait for either the Shanghai or Beiying film factories to select her, but there was a chance she might not get anything...
As she approached the guesthouse, she spotted Chen Qi waiting downstairs.
"Little Chen!"
She jogged over, smiling.
"Looking for me?"
"How did you know I was looking for you?"
"Because I’m off work at this time!"
"You’ve become clever!"
Chen Qi chuckled and handed her a script, saying, "This is the action film I wrote. Familiarize yourself with it."
"Eh?"
For a moment, she didn’t react.
"Eh what? You’re my leading lady!"
"But I, I..."
"Just read it for now. I’m going up!"
Chen Qi dashed away, leaving Gong Xue staring for a while.
Glancing at the script, then at the door he disappeared into, her heart suddenly raced.
A powerful feeling, stronger than the one she felt that snowy night while walking, enveloped her.
She tried to suppress this feeling again, but found it difficult this time.
She was the leading lady! The main character of a movie; how many people fought for such a role? He just handed it to her, even though they were good friends.
Women came in various types: some valued looks, some valued money, some valued talent, others valued skill in work, and then there were those simple ones who would follow a man as long as he treated her well.
Chen Qi seemed to have all those traits packed into one, though the last one still needed verification.
In this era, women couldn’t easily resist… Well, that was debatable; when faced with a top-tier man, no one was safe.
...
Room 302.
Chen Qi had already become busy, with a photo album on his desk that Gong Xue had brought back.
The images of earthenware figures, flowing murals, and paper craft were vivid and lively, showing how much care was taken.
He finished his last bit of organizing and wrote four big characters on the cover: "Qimen Dunjia!"
He contacted Wang Yang to send a message to the leftists in Hong Kong, asking them for a small favor to invite Yuan Heping northward.
While he needed an invitation, the approach had to be right; they couldn't be the ones begging for help; it had to be the other way around.
Statements had two sides, depending on how you expressed them:
“A college student becomes a prostitute?? Society is declining!”
“A prostitute earns her tuition; what an inspiring model!”
“A businessman loves calligraphy and painting; indulging in art!”
“A cultured person dabbles in business; what a scholarly merchant!”
"…"
Chen Qi finished up the "Qimen Dunjia" script and sorted out the preparations for "Tai Chi."
In his heart, he believed the early arrangements for that film were ready; they just needed to begin shooting.
On the righteous side were:
Yang Yuqian — Li Lianjie,
Chen Zhengying — Yu Hai,
Chen Shaomei — Gong Xue,
Chen Shaojie — Wang Qun,
Little Peach — Huang Qiuyan,
Prince Rong — Liu Xun.
Wang Qun was Li Lianjie’s senior brother, playing Yu Hai's son, and Gong Xue's brother.
Due to Gong Xue's character being naturally weak, a skilled maid, Little Peach, would protect her closely, played by Huang Qiuyan.
Prince Rong was also a martial arts enthusiast but had a just character, helping Yang Yuqian a lot.
Chen Qi cast Liu Xun, who was still a teacher at the Peking Opera House.
He later developed a career in Hong Kong and taught at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, acting in many films like "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," "Once Upon a Time in China," and "New Dragon Inn."
This old man had exceptional acting skills; if he had a beard, he played a good guy, and without one, he played a villain.
He was indeed a diamond supporting actor.
His most famous role might be in "A Chinese Ghost Story 2," where he portrayed a huge centipede spirit...
On the villain side were:
Duan Wangye — Yu Chenghui, who had a treacherous right-hand man — Gui Mian, played by Ji Chunhua.
The six master fighters were:
The leg-master Jin Fengjin — Xiong Xinxin!
The wrestler Hao Erdu, whom Chen Qi couldn't have any say in, so Li Wenhua found a genuine Inner Mongolian man for the role.
The staff master Meng Meng — Sun Jian Kui!
The iron-clad Gongfu master Jiu Na Mo — Hu Jianqiang, a muscular man with a strong jaw, suitable for a sturdy character role.
As for the character Fenghuallen, cough cough, Chen Qi cast Ge Chunyan.
Ge Chunyan wasn't particularly beautiful, but her martial skills were excellent.
He couldn't really cast Fenghuallen directly; after all, she wouldn’t be born until nineteen years later!
The drunken monk — Li Deyi, a trainer at the Chinese Criminal Police Academy, specializing in grappling and combat, also skilled in both Yan Qing and Praying Mantis fist styles.
He was a short, sturdy man, fitting the character of a rough and boisterous monk.
He later also acted in films, with his representative work being "Martial Arts Chronicle."
“Under the spring breeze of peach and plum, a cup of wine; in the night rains of the Jianghu, ten years by the lamp!”
Chen Qi stretched lazily, satisfied with a line of poetry, stood up to stretch in the room, executing a few forms of the Eight Steps to Nirvana, feeling invigorated, both physically and mentally reaching a state of eagerness.
"Lushan Romance" was just a stepping stone; "Tai Chi" was what he truly wanted to do.
After "Tai Chi," there were countless ideas he wished to explore.
In the restrictive 80s, he had decided to focus on both film and magazine productions, earning some foreign currency first before establishing his foothold.
Once the 90s arrived, things would be…
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Just as he was thinking, the corridor suddenly echoed with hurried footsteps, heavy and seemingly filled with great anger.
Following that came a roaring voice from outside:
"Chen Qi!"
"You scoundrel! Get out here!"
"…"
Chen Qi rolled his eyes, calmly straightened his clothes, and went to answer the door.
It was Zhang Xinyan, his eyes wide with rage, his usually refined demeanor cast aside.
"You little brat! I considered you a good friend, and this is how you treat me?!!"
"You better give me an explanation!!"
Zhang Xinyan was no longer his usual relaxed self, pushing past Chen Qi as if ready to start a serious confrontation.
(Today ends here...)
(End of chapter)