Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 689: I didn’t catch any fish, but I did catch a script.

Early the next morning, Fang Minghua took his fishing gear and drove out. After picking up Bai Miao from the Writers Association’s staff quarters, he headed straight for Fenghe River.

Today they went to the Xitou Zhang Reservoir, which is located west of the bridgehead of Xiehan Village. The environment here is quiet, the water quality is first-class, and the fish are easy to catch. It is the place that Jia Pingwa was looking for.

The two drove to the reservoir, took out their fishing gear and got ready. Not long after, they saw Jia Pingwa driving his car up and joining them.

It is early April now, spring in Xijing, and flowers and willows are green everywhere. Sitting by the reservoir, Fang Minghua feels very comfortable.

As for whether you can catch the fish or not, that is not important.

The three of them naturally chatted while fishing.

"Hello, Minghua, do you know Zhang Rui, a writer from Gansu Province?" Jia Pingwa asked.

"How come you don't know him? He's the vice chairman of the Gansu Writers Association. His novel The Story of a Horse Thief was made into a movie The Horse Thief by Tian Zhuangzhuang of Xi'an Film Studio a few years ago. What's the matter?"

"I went to Lanzhou on a business trip a few days ago and met him. He said he had written a TV script with others and wanted to see if your wife's company was interested in filming it.

"Oh, what's the name of the script?" Fang Minghua looked at the fishing float and asked without turning his head.

"It's a historical play called "Prime Minister Liu Luoguo"

"what?!"

"Why are you making such a loud noise? The fish was about to take the hook but you scared it away!" Bai Miao said dissatisfiedly.

"That's right Minghua, why are you so excited?"

"Oh, sorry, I didn't expect Zhang Rui could write scripts." Fang Minghua hurriedly covered up.

"Prime Minister Liu Luoguo"
This was a very popular TV series in the 1990s. Li Baotian, Zhang Guoli and Wang Gang pioneered historical dramas in mainland China.

The subsequent "Kangxi's Private Visits" and "Iron Teeth and Bronze Teeth Ji Xiaolan" series were all produced to follow suit.

If I could get this script, I would be able to solve my wife's problem.

Thinking of this, Fang Minghua said, "Okay, then ask Zhang Rui to send the script over and let me take a look at it first."

"Okay, I'll call him when I get back."

That day, Fang Minghua fished for a long time and only caught a three-inch small crucian carp, but he was in a good mood on the way back.

I didn't catch any fish, but I did catch a script.

In the evening, the whole family was preparing to have dinner. Song Tangtang came down from upstairs and saw Fang Minghua humming a ditty and looking relaxed. She asked, "Did you catch some big fish today? Did you make soup for the children?"

"No! I went to the kitchen and saw that Dad only caught one small fish today. It was so small." My daughter Ruirui interrupted and gestured with her little hands.

His son Lele quickly added: "It was eaten by Xiaodouya!"

Ah?
Song Tangtang couldn't help but laugh in surprise when she heard this.

"Minghua, what are you so happy about?"

"Hey, there's some good news. I went fishing today and Pingwa said his friend, Zhang Rui, vice chairman of the Gansu Writers Association, wrote a script called "Prime Minister Liu Luoguo" and wanted to know if your company would like to film it."

"From the name it seems to be a costume drama? Where's the script?" Song Tangtang asked.

"He went back and called Zhang Rui. It will probably be mailed to Xijing in a few days."

Sure enough, five days later, Jia Pingwa brought a thick stack of scripts.

"Take your time to look at it. If you can take a picture, let me know. I'm going to work now."

"Okay, let me take a look first."

Fang Minghua sent Jia Pingwa away, took back the script and started reading it impatiently in the living room.

What the hell!

It was indeed the historical "Prime Minister Liu Luoguo". Before coming to this era, Fang Minghua had only watched this TV series once, and his impression was not very deep, but the drama style of this TV series was exactly the same as the script.

There are also several main characters: Liu Yong, He Shen, and Qianlong.
Real hammer!
Let’s take a look at the script writers: Qin Peichun, Shi Ling, Zhang Rui, and Bai Hua.

Zhang Rui is indeed one of the script writers.

Before coming to this era, Fang Minghua certainly would not pay attention to these people, but now after working in the literary world for so many years, he knows that these people are not unknown.

Qin Peichun is a member of the Shanghai Writers Association, a member of the Drama Literature Society, and a famous screenwriter of children's plays. He has created children's plays such as "Shasha the Wild Goose" and "Flying White Horse".

Shi Ling: Screenwriter of the Central Experimental Theater. He is the author of the novel "Empress Dowager Cixi's Journey to the West" and the TV drama script "The Silent Song".

Bai Hua: Writer and screenwriter, he has written scripts such as "The Stars Are Shining Tonight" and "Yang Guifei", and the novel "There is No Greater Sorrow than a Dead Heart".

And Zhang Rui is no unknown person either.

In the evening, after Song Tangtang got off work and had dinner, Fang Minghua went upstairs to give the script to his wife.

"Pingwa brought the script this morning. Take your time reading it. I'm going to help the child with his homework." After saying that, Fang Minghua went downstairs.

I watched the two kids finish their homework, then went to listen to my daughter play the piano. Finally, I chatted with the two children for a while, played with the German Shepherd dog Xiao Dou Miao in the yard for a while, looked at my watch and saw that it was almost ten o'clock, so I urged the two children to wash up and go to bed.

I have to go to school tomorrow.

After arranging the children, Fang Minghua pushed open Song Tangtang's study door and saw his wife still reading a script there, her brows slightly frowned.

Seeing that it was Fang Minghua who came in, Song Tangtang raised his head and asked, "Have you read the script?"

"I saw it and I think it's good."

"Very good? Is this a historical drama? I remember that Liu Yong in the history books was not a hunchback, right? And the highest position in the Qing Dynasty should be the Grand Councilor, there was no such thing as a prime minister!"

"Yes, you are right." Fang Minghua said with a smile:

"It's clearly stated in the script that it's based on historical records and folk legends, mixing official history, miscellaneous history, folk tales and even stand-up comedy together, using a teasing and playful style to satirize corruption and treachery. Don't take it as official history."

"But will this work? Will the audience accept it?" Song Tangtang was a little worried.

Fang Minghua did not answer, but asked: "Have you seen the TV series "The Story of Qianlong" filmed by Zheng Shaoqiu?"

"No, I've heard of it, but the drama wasn't broadcast in mainland China. I heard it was very popular when it was broadcast in Taiwan." Song Tangtang told the truth.

"Hey, then why don't you watch pirated discs?" Fang Minghua complained.

Song Tangtang is right.

This TV series is not currently being broadcast in mainland China! It seems to have only been shown on TV after the millennium.

Song Tangtang glared at him and said, "As a film and television professional, I respect the creations of my colleagues and never watch pirated discs!"

I @#￥%……&
"This drama 'Prime Minister Liu Luoguo' is obviously also a parody, but it is more humorous and down-to-earth. I think ordinary audiences will like it, so I suggest you watch 'The Parody of Qianlong'."

"Since you said yes, then I'll shoot!" Song Tangtang made the decision.

"Let's read "The Story of Qianlong" first."

"Then go buy me the genuine disc."

"This TV series is not broadcast in mainland China, so how can there be authentic copies on the market? They are all pirated!"

"Then I won't watch it!" Song Tangtang said with a firm face.

"OK then"

My wife really does what she says. She has never watched any pirated VCDs in the house.

(End of this chapter)