1990: Starting from Baojia Street

Zuo Li was sitting alone on the sofa watching TV. He probably hadn't watched the Spring Festival Gala in two or three years.

It's not that he doesn't like watching the Spring Festival Gala, but every time during the Chinese New Year, his family plays mahjong, so it's really not interesting for him to watch the Spring Festival Gala alone.

A family-friendly program like the Spring Festival Gala should be watched together to be fun.

"Touch, Nijo."

"What a fool."

"Oh, you know you want a note from the other side, but you still dare to call me twice."

"I don't know how to play cards, so I can't listen to cards."

"It's better not to listen to the cards than to pay for the firecrackers."

"Okay, okay, here comes the next one."

The mahjong table is in the living room, only one or two meters away from Zuoli.

Hearing the sound of the elders playing mahjong, Zuo Li rolled his eyes. If he had known better, he would have gone to Fa Xiao's house to see it. At least Fa Xiao's mahjong table was not in the living room, so it wouldn't be so noisy.

Zuo Li's mother had just played a hand of cards and heard the music coming from the TV. While shuffling the cards, she turned to look in the direction of the TV.

"This music is quite familiar."

"Well, "Memory of the Forbidden City," you didn't really like listening to it before." Zuo Li replied.

"Oh, it's that piece of music. It sounds different, but it's still quite interesting. Oh, this young man playing the flute is quite handsome. He's an actor."

"What kind of actor? He is the author of "Memory of the Forbidden City", Zhou Yan."

"He is Zhou Yan. I thought Zhou Yan was an old man, but I didn't expect him to be so young."

"Zhou Yan has only graduated a few years ago, how can he be an old man?"

"Aren't those musicians all old men? This is the first time I've seen such a handsome one." His mother said to her poker friends, "Look, this Zhou Yan is so handsome."

"Yes, he looks just like Li Ming."

"What Lai Ming, like Tony Leung Chiu Wai is very aggressive."

"I don't even look like him, Andy Lau."

"It's nothing like Liu Dehua."

"Hurry up, hurry up, grab the card."

……

Zuo Li felt like his head was going to explode when he heard their discussion.

However, their discussion also revealed a problem.

In China, many people have listened to Zhou Yan's music, and some know Zhou Yan's name, but most people don't know what Zhou Yan looks like.

But after this Spring Festival Gala, people will most likely remember Zhou Yan's face.

After all, Zhou Yan's appearance is easy to remember, and the Spring Festival Gala is not just broadcast once, but will be broadcast every day in the future. In other words, Zhou Yan will appear in front of the audience every day for a while.

Zuo Li was previously the president of the Zhou Yanyan Normal University Support Club. After several years of development, the support club has become quite large.

However, the number of support club members is still far behind the number of fans of well-known pop singers or actors.

And everyone is not that crazy. Even some members of their support club didn't know what Zhou Yan looked like at first. They joined the support club because they liked Zhou Yan's music.

But Zuo Li feels that the situation will change after this Spring Festival Gala. And he believes that Zhou Yan will definitely have many more female fans.

Zhou Yan's looks are so lethal to all ages.

……

Zuo Li's guess was not wrong. After the Spring Festival Gala, Zhou Yan's face not only appeared in the Spring Festival Gala every day, but also frequently appeared in major news.

After the Spring Festival Gala every year, the program of the party is the top priority discussed by major media. Every year, there are a few programs that attract people's attention.

The same is true this year. In addition to the popularity of several language programs, "Memory of the Forbidden City" is also very popular.

The reason is very simple, just because "Memory of the Forbidden City" is one of the few pure music that ordinary audiences are familiar with.

In the past, non-language programs, such as traditional dramas and ethnic music, had a relatively narrow audience.

Although "Memory of the Forbidden City" does not have as wide an audience as those language programs, it is much better than previous performance programs.

Zhou Yan himself can clearly feel that his face has become more famous.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, he went to the airport and was quickly recognized by passers-by, so much so that he had to put on a hat and sunglasses.

In the past, when he traveled alone without disguise, although he might be recognized by others, the probability was still relatively small.

But this time he was recognized as soon as he showed his face.

……

This time when Zhou Yan arrived in Berlin, he did not ask anyone from Tomson to pick him up, because Jia Guoping knew that he was coming to Berlin and volunteered to pick him up at the airport.

After the two met, Jia Guoping looked at Zhou Yan up and down and said with a smile, "Now that he is a big star, he is fully equipped when traveling."

Zhou Yan also looked at Jia Guoping up and down, "It seems that the food here in Germany is average, and he has lost a lot of weight."

"The economic level in Stuttgart is pretty good, and the pace of life is pretty good, but the food is a bit different."

"Where's my sister-in-law?"

"She has been busy with her classes recently and has no time to pick you up. Let me apologize to you."

"What are you apologizing for? I'm out of town. Stuttgart isn't close to here. When did you come here?"

"I came here yesterday morning, just in time to join in the excitement of the film festival. There is not much excitement in Berlin usually, but it is quite lively during the film festival."

Zhou Yan nodded. Compared to the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, the Berlin Film Festival is indeed very lively.

Let’s not talk about Cannes. Tickets are not sold to ordinary audiences, and only professionals can participate.

Although Venice also sells tickets, the number of events is not good and the service is not good. After all, Venice is only a very small city and cannot accommodate too many people.

Berlin is different. They will try their best to meet the viewing needs of ordinary audiences. Moreover, Berlin is a much larger city, so all supporting facilities are very good. Food, accommodation, transportation, etc. are very convenient for audiences from other cities. .

It is said that nearly 10,000 professionals came to Berlin to participate in the film festival this year, including 2,000 to 3,000 journalists alone, and there were more than a dozen film exhibition locations.

Not to mention the spectators who came to join in the fun. I heard that hundreds of thousands of people poured into Berlin during this week.

For a city like Berlin, this is a rare lively event.

After leaving the arrival hall, the two took a taxi and headed to the hotel. On the way, Zhou Yan asked Jia Guoping, "How is your study here?"

Jia Guoping scratched his head, "The coursework here is not easy, and the professors are also quite strict. Not to mention getting a degree in advance, it is good to get the diploma on time. But my professor is still more optimistic about me, and now he is asking me to Preparing for next year’s Brahms Year Modern Music Composition Competition.”

Zhou Yan couldn't help but sigh. Fortunately, he didn't listen to his teacher's advice and come to Europe to study, otherwise he would have been trapped.

But if he studies abroad, he will most likely go to Paris.

At that time, Shi Wanchun wanted him to study abroad, so he planned to ask Liu Lin to write a letter of recommendation for him. Liu Lin had studied at the Paris Conservatory of Music and had a good relationship there, so he also wrote a letter of recommendation to the Paris Conservatoire.

The study atmosphere in Paris may be more relaxed than that in Germany.

Zhou Yan was also happy for him when he heard that Jia Guoping was going to participate in the Brahms Year Modern Music Composition Competition. Although this competition is not well-known, it is still important. If Jia Guoping can get the ranking, it will be very helpful to his future.

Musicians are very particular about being divided into gangs. This is true both at home and abroad. It is even said that it is even more serious in many places abroad.

Since Jia Guoping's professor asked him to participate in this competition, he should be confident. Even if you don’t win the first prize, you won’t leave empty-handed.

"What are your plans after graduation? Should you stay here or return to China?" Zhou Yan asked again.

Jia Guoping smiled and said, "Of course I'm going back to China. I told you before I came here that I won't stay abroad for a long time. It's nice here, but it's not our home after all. It's not just the food I'm not used to, there are a lot of things." I’m not used to it, but it’s more comfortable in China. I actually miss my days in school, where I don’t have to think too much every day, just teach students well, and I can also do academic research.”

After hearing Jia Guoping's words, Zhou Yan nodded secretly.

It's not easy to think like this these days.

The current economic level in China is very different from that in Europe and the United States. After many people come, it is difficult to go back.

Those musicians in the early days went abroad one by one and never returned. They said it was because the music level abroad was high and they wanted to pursue art.

In fact, there is still a big gap in living standards between China and abroad, and we are unwilling to go back and endure hardships.

Of course, Zhou Yan can also understand that human nature is like this, everyone wants to live a better life.

But precisely because of this, it is even more admirable that Jia Guoping is so determined to return to China.

"I will keep your dormitory for you. If nothing happens, I will go back and clean it. You can go back to live at any time." Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Jia Guoping was quite moved and patted Zhou Yan on the shoulder, "Thank you, brother. I look forward to the day when we can go back and reunite."

"You're welcome."

"By the way, I heard that you are now the assistant principal?"

"Well, it's just a vase. I don't usually do anything practical."

Jia Guoping smiled and said, "Aren't you just here to do practical things? The publicity of the school is also very important. It was only after I came here that I deeply realized that our school has too little contact with the outside world. Not just because of the distance, It’s also because others don’t know us very well. When we come out, we must always be aggressive and bring honor to our school. You did a good job. A classmate in our school asked about you a few days ago.”

"You coaxed me."

"Why am I coaxing you? They don't just pay attention to traditional music every day. You are now the assistant to the principal. If you move up the ladder, you should be the deputy director of the department. In two years, when I return to school, I may have to work with you. The guys are working.”

Zhou Yan joked, "Then you have to please me now, or I will have to wear little shoes for you when you go back."

"Of course, otherwise why do you think I would travel hundreds of kilometers to pick you up?"

"It's hard for you, but you learned how to flatter me when you came to Germany."

"It must."

The two were chatting when suddenly the driver in front said something, and Jia Guoping also replied.

Zhou Yan asked, "What did he say?"

"He asked us if we were here for the Berlin Film Festival, and I told him yes."

At this time the driver said something again.

"He asked us if we were Chinese." Jia Guoping smiled and translated for Zhou Yan, and then replied to the driver in German, "Yes."

The driver was quite happy to hear that they were Chinese, "Are you film professionals?"

Jia Guoping smiled and said, "I'm not, he is."

"Then do you know Y-chou? He is you Chinese."

Jia Guoping showed a surprised expression, "Do you still know about Y-chou?"

"Well, I know, isn't he the songwriter of "Yellow"? He is also the director of "The Flying Piano Boy". My son studies piano and loves this movie very much."

Jia Guoping glanced at Zhou Yan meaningfully, and then said to the driver, "Y-chou is also coming to Berlin to participate in the film festival this time."

"Really? Has he made a new movie?"

"It has been filmed, and the new movie is also related to music. You can pay attention to it. This movie was the box office champion in China last year, and it is very beautiful."

Jia Guoping was not lying, but he just omitted the attributive.

"Spring of the Cowherd" was the box office champion of non-imported films in mainland China last year, which is more rigorous.

In fact, Jia Guoping has not watched "Spring of the Cowherd Class". This movie is only released in the mainland. He hasn't seen it here yet, but it doesn't stop him from bragging to Zhou Yan.

Hearing what Jia Guoping said, the driver nodded and said, "Then I should really pay attention. I hope his new movie will win an award. In this case, we can see the movie soon."

Zhou Yan was standing nearby, listening to the two of them talking for such a long time. Seeing Jia Guoping's expression, it seemed that the content of the discussion was related to him, so he asked curiously, "What are you talking about?"

"The driver's son is a music fan of yours. I asked him to pay more attention to your new movie. He said he hopes the new movie will win an award so that he can see it soon."

"Oh." Zhou Yan nodded, "Then tell him, he doesn't have to win an award, and he will be able to see it soon. The film will be released in Germany at the end of March. It's hard to say in other cities, but Berlin will definitely be able to see it. of."

After Zhou Yan's movie was released in the mainland, companies soon came to contact him about overseas distribution. Now it has been confirmed that three countries will be released, namely the United States, Germany and France, and the United Kingdom, Italy and other countries should also be released soon. It will be settled.

Jia Guoping listened to Zhou Yan's words and translated them to the driver.

The driver said in surprise, "Thank you for sharing the news. I will definitely take my son to the cinema to watch it."

Jia Guoping turned to Zhou Yan and said, "I successfully helped you sell two movie tickets."

"I'll treat you to a big dinner tonight."

……

When they arrived at the hotel, they rested for a while and then set off to the Movie Palace.

Today, "Sense and Sensibility" happened to be playing in the movie palace, so Zhou Yan went over to watch it. If it was another movie, Zhou Yan would rest in the hotel.

His own "Spring of the Cowherd Class" had been screened two days ago and was also screened at the Cinema Palace.

There are more than 1,600 seats in the Movie Palace. When Zhou Yan and the others arrived, it was almost full. (End of chapter)