1979 Golden Age

Chen Qi spent his first Spring Festival after traveling back in time, and it was also a very boring Spring Festival.

His parents' unit also distributed a lot of things, including a calendar, a hairtail, and an apple set. The calendar was a thick one with rough paper that could be nailed to the wall and a page torn off after a day.

He had no benefits.

He was seconded to the Beijing Film Studio and was not considered a formal employee. He did not work for a long time in the cooperative and did not even receive a salary. In the eyes of those who did not understand him, he was just a slacker!

But he received 800 yuan, which was the manuscript fee for the script of "Tai Chi", hehe!

There was no Spring Festival Gala in those days. The first one was in 1983. However, in 1979 and 1982, CCTV held two literary evenings in the form of recorded broadcasts, which were considered the predecessors of the Spring Festival Gala.

Now all provincial administrative regions have TV stations. In two years, even cities and counties will be allowed to have TV stations.

Domestic TV dramas will usher in a rapid development stage. Chen Qi kept it in mind. When the time comes, he will write a few TV drama scripts. This is called film and television flourishing. The female stars are one family...

When he returned to work after the Spring Festival, he went to Ningxia with Li Wenhua without stopping to visit the last sword master in China.

…………

Ningxia Wushu Team.

In the office, Yu Chenghui sat on a stool.

He was in his early forties, of medium height, with a thin waist and shoulders, his shoulders were hugged, his hands were big, he had a thick beard, half of his head was bald, but he had long hair on the back of his head, and he was wearing a worn sheepskin coat.

Looking at his face, his eyes were shining, his eyebrows were raised, and he looked at Chen Qi and the others like an eagle observing its prey.

If this image and momentum were placed in a martial arts novel, it would be "highly bulging temples, obviously a master"!

Li Wenhua was a little timid and didn't dare to look him in the eye, but at the same time, he felt like he had seen a rare treasure. He had to bring him into the crew! Otherwise, it would be a waste of talent!

"Yu Hai wrote to me, saying that you want to make a martial arts film and look for martial artists all over the country?"

"That's right. Coach Yu recommended you, so we came all the way here. I won't say anything empty today. Your image is very suitable for one of our roles. I wonder if you are interested in playing it?"

"I am very grateful for your visit, but..."

Yu Chenghui's voice was steady and powerful, and he said bluntly: "I have no plans to make a movie. I can only say tolerant."

"Don't rush to refuse. How about I tell you about the play?"

Having come from afar, Yu Chenghui still had to give him some face. Immediately, Li Wenhua began to talk about the play, talking about how important "Tai Chi" is, how much the factory attaches importance to it, and how it will serve the people and add luster to art if it is filmed...

Every word was on point.

Yu Chenghui listened politely, but he didn't agree with it.

He was a few years older than Yu Hai. He learned martial arts in a sports school and was selected for the Shandong Wushu Team. In the 1960s, he injured his leg and went to work in a machinery factory, but he didn't give up martial arts.

Later, he quit his job and visited practical masters from all over the country, studied ancient books, and compiled a set of two-handed sword techniques, called Mantis Sword.

The so-called two-handed sword is not holding a sword in each hand, but holding a big sword in both hands.

He is now teaching martial arts in the Ningxia team. He just feels that the world is too small, and he wants to participate in national-level competitions to promote the two-handed sword. He has different ideas from Yu Hai and doesn't pay much attention to movies.

Li Wenhua talked for a long time, but Yu Chenghui still shook his head: "I'm really sorry, Director Li, I'm not interested in your movie."

"Please consider it..."

Li Wenhua was anxious and didn't know how to persuade him. Chen Qi waited until he was out of words before he said: "Coach Yu, I heard that you created a set of two-handed swords?"

"That's right."

"We promise you that you can show your two-handed swords in the movie."

Yu Chenghui's eyes lit up.

This is not over yet, Chen Qi said again: "We have gathered the best players from martial arts teams all over the country. We have set up a tower with seven masters sitting in it. They will show leg skills, wrestling, stick skills, hard qigong, boxing, and ninjutsu. You can just treat ninjutsu as a joke. It's just a movie!

Then the male protagonist will challenge, and fight layer by layer.

You are the last one!"

What is the point?

This is the point!

There is no first in literature and no second in martial arts. Who will submit to whom?

Chen Qi made it clear that we had found so many good players and wanted you to be the final boss. This was very comforting to hear.

Even Yu Chenghui couldn't help but feel emotional and proud. He hesitated for a while and said, "If you really let me show you my two-handed sword, then I will agree!"

"Okay, it's a deal!"

After taking down Yu Chenghui, Chen Qi breathed a sigh of relief. He was tired from running around, but it was finally done.

…………

“Old factory director, I wish you a happy old age, good health and all the best!”

“You and I, why are you still taking things? It’s so polite!”

“It’s my duty. It’s a holiday!”

In the factory director’s office, Zhang Xinyan, who had spent the Spring Festival in Hong Kong, came to Beijing again leisurely and brought some gifts to Wang Yang. He sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, and didn’t look anxious at all. He smiled and said:

“The preparations for Shaolin Temple are going smoothly! Comrade Fu Qi went to see Mr. Liao, and Mr. Liao went to the State Sports Commission, and finally the Wushu Team agreed to lend me Li Lianjie.”

“Oh? Congratulations, this way, it can be said that half of the success is achieved.”

"You can say that I have sent people to various martial arts teams to select actors. They must have real kung fu. Those good seedlings and champion-level players, all of them should be found for me. I want to make "Shaolin Temple" into a real martial arts blockbuster!"

Zhang Xinyan is ambitious and passionate.

Wang Yang's facial features are unbearable, and he is uncomfortable. That guy is full of bad water!

Chen Qi once mentioned a point of view to him that the current domestic filming speed is too slow. Of course, there are various reasons such as seriousness and responsibility, pursuit of artistic quality, and hardware facility limitations, but subjectively, there are also factors of human procrastination and laziness.

Why?

Because filming is like working, with a subsidy of 50 cents a day. No matter how good the film is, there is no bonus. No matter how high the box office is, it has nothing to do with the main creators. There is a lack of material incentives.

Zhang Xinyan came to the mainland to film, and he also had this tone, slow and unhurried, but Chen Qi has already started to roll!

"Okay, I have to go. I'll have to bother you for a while."

"You can stay as long as you want, as long as you don't mind."

"The Beijing Film Studio is full of great artists. I can't wait to ask them for advice every day. And that friend Chen Qi, I often chat with him and it's very pleasant... Oh, by the way, why didn't I see him this time?"

"He's on a business trip and will be back in a few days..."

Wang Yang's expression became more and more strange. He sent him to the stairs and waved his hand: "Xinyan, then I wish you all the best and success!"

"I will definitely take advantage of the good words of the old factory director!"

Zhang Xinyan was in high spirits and full of emotions. He staggered and laughed as he walked down the stairs.

(No more...)