The literary era since 1979

Chapter 327 Looking up at the stars
Chengdu, Emei Film Studio.

Fangyan followed Teng Jinxian, Zhu Lin and their group to the guesthouse.

On the red brick pillars of the corridor, there are thick iron wires, on which colorful clothes are hung, as well as quilts and sheets, swaying gently in the breeze.

Zhu Lin suddenly stopped at the door and pointed at the house number above. "Teacher Fang, this is your room."

"Thank you."

Fangyan took out the key and opened the door.

Han Sanping reminded, "Our factory director has specially asked the canteen to prepare a welcome banquet at noon to welcome you."

Fangyan said: "You are so polite."

"No, no, you are here in Chengdu, and Emei Film Studio must show its hospitality."

Han Sanping said: "If Teacher Fang has any other requests, please feel free to ask and we will do our best to arrange them for you."

Fang Yan looked at the future leader of China Film Group and even the entertainment industry, smiled and said:
"I really have something to trouble you with."

"please say."

After looking at Han Sanping, Zhu Lin looked at him again, picked up the thermos and poured hot water for the three of them.

Fangyan said directly that he hoped Emei Film Studio could arrange a car for him in the next few days, and it would be best if the driver was familiar with Chengdu.

"Of course this is no problem!"

Han Sanping mistakenly thought that he wanted to go sightseeing and collect folk songs. "Chengdu is the land of abundance and the capital of gourmet food. We welcome professional gourmets like you, Mr. Fang. It would be great if you could write a few good articles about Sichuan cuisine."

"I have always longed for the delicious food in Chengdu, but..."

Fangyan explained that they should deal with business first and talk about food later, and he had to go to the editorial office of Science Fiction Literature and Art first.

"Science fiction?"

After Han Sanping heard the purpose of his trip, he turned to look at Zhu Lin and said, "In that case, how about letting Zhu Lin be your guide?"

Fang Yan was startled, and his eyes met Zhu Lin's. When their eyes collided, she agreed without hesitation: "Okay!"

Han Sanping said, "Teacher Fang, even though she has only been at Emei Film Studio for more than half a year, she is quite familiar with Chengdu and can be a guide." He looked left and right, "Besides, you two are old acquaintances, why not take this opportunity to catch up."

There is something in the words!
Fangyan rolled his eyes and said that he and Zhu Lin had a clean record. Be careful, or I’ll sue you for slandering me. He slandered me!
"I need to go to the cafeteria to see how the meals are arranged. Excuse me." Han Sanping asked Zhu Lin to stay. "Teacher Fang, you can tell her about your schedule for the next few days."

"Then I'll trouble you."

Fang Yan shook hands with him, then he and Zhu Lin escorted the man out of the room.

There were only a man and a woman left in the huge bedroom. As the door closed, it was so quiet at this moment that you could hear a pin drop.

"Cough cough."

Zhu Lin coughed and said, "Teacher Fang, besides going to Science Fiction Literature, where else are you going these days?"

Fangyan said without hiding his intention to visit Sichuan Literature and Mr. Ma Shi Tu.

He is the author of the original novel of "Let the Bullets Fly", and is known as one of the "Five Elders of Shu" along with Li Yaotang, Zhang Xiushu, Sha Ting, and Ai Wu.

He is a well-known figure in the literary circles of Sichuan and even the whole country. He is also the head of the Sichuan Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Sichuan Writers Association.

Since General Fang had come to his territory, he had to pay a visit and meet this literary giant both for official and private reasons.

"I've noted it all down, Teacher Fang."

Zhu Lin took a sip of water to calm himself down.

Fang Yan walked to the windowsill, opened the window, and a spring breeze blew gently into the room.

"How are you doing at Emei Film Studio?"

"pretty good!"

Zhu Lin said: "In fact, as long as I can be an actor and have roles to play, I will be very satisfied." He then shared the interesting things that happened when he was filming "Legend of Liyuan". Because it involved Sichuan Opera, he went to the countryside with the Sichuan Opera Troupe, studied under Sichuan Opera actors, and practiced morning and night.

Fang Yan said: "I watched that movie too."

Zhu Lin's eyes lit up, "Really? What do you think?"

“It’s the same review as in Popular Cinema.”

Fangyan smiled faintly, and the magazine's column "New Flowers in the Silver Garden" listed Zhu Lin as one of the five golden flowers of Emei Film Studio.

Pan Hong is as pure as narcissus, Li Ping is as gorgeous as rose, Fu Lili is as beautiful as peony, Li Kechun is as pure as magnolia, and Zhu Lin is as gentle as autumn chrysanthemum.

"This this……"

Zhu Lin's face flushed instantly, "Teacher Fang, if there's nothing else, I, I'll leave first."

"and many more."

Fangyan took out a bag of crystal candy and handed it over.

"This is?"

"Wedding candy."

"Wedding candy?!"

Zhu Lin stared blankly with a complicated expression.

Fangyan grinned and said, "We just got married not long ago."

Zhu Lin opened his mouth and asked, "Teacher Fang, who is so lucky to be your wife?"

Fangyan said the name "Gong Xing" without thinking, "If there is a chance, I will definitely introduce you two to each other."

"Congratulations, Teacher Fang."

After Zhu Lin expressed his congratulations, he didn't say anything else. He just turned around silently and left the room without looking back.

There were chaotic footsteps in the corridor. She peeled a White Rabbit and chewed it. It was not as sweet as she had imagined, but slightly bitter and astringent. …………

The next day, when Wang Fulin contacted the Sichuan troupe to come to Emei Film Studio for an audition, Fang Yan had already set off for Science Fiction Literature and Art.

Besides the driver, the other person traveling with them was Zhu Lin, who was wearing a white dress and light makeup.

"Why, didn't you sleep well last night?"

Fang Yan noticed the faint dark circles at the corners of her eyes.

"Looking at the script, I accidentally forgot the time."

There was a hint of melancholy between Zhu Lin's brows.

Fang Yan smiled and said, "Then let's take a nap in the car. We still have a long way to go to the publishing house."

"Alright."

Zhu Lin subconsciously looked out of the car window, sighed deeply, and closed his eyes.

Before he knew it, a long time had passed before a sign with the words "Science Fiction Literature and Art" appeared in Fangyan's sight.

At the door with a sign hanging on it, Yang Xiao, Yao Haijun, Tan Kai and others stood in a neat row.

"It's coming! It's coming! It's finally here!"

"We are saved! Science fiction and literature are saved!"

"Chinese science fiction can also be saved!"

"Hurry, people are coming down, let's go up quickly."

Seeing a ridiculously young man getting off the car, everyone immediately surrounded him and shouted "Teacher Fang" in unison.

"Hello, hello."

While greeting them, Fangyan introduced Zhu Lin, who was acting as their tour guide.

Yao Haijun was so excited that he was incoherent, "Teacher Fang, I have been looking forward to seeing you for so long! Finally, you are here!"

Zhu Lin was puzzled when he saw them looking at Fang Yan as if he were a savior.

"Teacher Fang, I hope you don't mind."

Yang Xiao smiled awkwardly but politely, "They have heard of you for a long time, and they are so excited to meet you today."

"It's my honor to meet you."

Fangyan walked into the building and looked around. The office was empty and deserted, like a ghost building.

"Is it a holiday today? Why is there no one here?"

Zhu Lin was extremely surprised.

"That...that..."

Yang Xiao said embarrassedly that there were only eight of them left in the publishing house.

Zhu Lin was greatly shocked. He looked up at Fang Yan and saw that he was startled at first, then his face became solemn and his brows furrowed.

"It seems that last year's 'spiritual pollution' had a great negative impact on you."

"you do not say!"

Yao Haijun was about to complain when Yang Xiao glared at him, "If you say it's not big, you're definitely lying. But if you say it's big..."

"Old Yang, let's stop being so stubborn in front of Teacher Fang." Tan Kai said, "Teacher Fang, to be honest with you, Science Fiction Literature has reached its end. Maybe the next issue will be the last one, and it will also be the end of Science Fiction Literature."

Fang Yan said seriously, "Has it become so serious?"

Yao Haijun said helplessly that without funds and a stable source of manuscripts, sales were only 600 copies. To make matters worse, the "Notice on the Implementation of Self-Financing for Journal Publishing" issued at the beginning of the year eliminated even the last bit of subsidy.

"But no matter what, we will find a way to hold on."

Yang Xiao said worriedly, "If Science Fiction Literature and Art also stops publishing, I'm afraid no one in China will engage in science fiction anymore."

Fangyan comforted him, "Don't be so pessimistic. As long as a nation still has curiosity and can still look up at the stars, this nation can still engage in science fiction, and the entire science fiction literature will not die out."

"Teacher Fang!"

Yang Xiao, Yao Haijun and others looked like they had grabbed the last straw, their eyes filled with hope and emotion.

“Oscar Wilde said that we all live in the gutter, but some of us still look up at the stars.”

Fang Yan said: "You are such people, even though you are in a low point, you still look up at the stars."

"Look up at the stars, look up at the stars..."

Yao Haijun and the others couldn't help but be moved, and even Yang Xiao had tears in his eyes.

When I was young, my material conditions were not rich, and the literary works I could read were very limited, and science fiction works were even fewer.

However, a novel published by Ma Shi Tu titled "The Combination of Science and Fantasy" completely opened the door to her yearning for the world of science fiction.

"I thought it was so novel and innovative. I had never seen such a work before. I didn't expect there was such a combination of science and literature. So I applied to be transferred from the factory to the magazine and became the editor of Science Fiction Literature and Art."

Yang Xiao was filled with emotion, "I didn't expect it to turn out like this..."

"It's a bad thing, but it's also a good thing. We're already at the bottom, so no matter how we move forward, it's progress. Every step is uphill."

Fangyan took out the manuscript of "The Ring" and the Japanese novel published by Yuhikaku from his bag.

All of a sudden, it attracted the attention of everyone present, including Yang Xiao and Yao Haijun.

Zhu Lin looked at him surrounded by the crowd and realized why he was in such a hurry to come to the editorial office of Science Fiction Literature and Art.

Teacher Fang, Teacher Fang...

(End of this chapter)