The literary era since 1979

On the first day of the first lunar month, the sound of firecrackers could still be heard everywhere in the alleys, and children were chasing each other, playing and laughing.

Gong Xing packed her luggage for Shanghai. On the second day of the first lunar month, her married daughter had to return to her parents' home with her husband and children. Of course, it was too late to take the train, so she took a flight from Yanjing to Shanghai. The ticket cost sixty or seventy yuan, which was equivalent to an ordinary family's monthly salary.

Then I went to the study and saw Fangyan reading the letter sent from Japan over and over again.

"You've been reading these letters for a few days, but you haven't finished reading them yet? Is there something important?"

“It’s not too big, but it’s not too small either.”

Fangyan did not express the lovesickness that Keiko Matsuzaka expressed in the letter, but instead mentioned two things that were also mentioned in the letters from Kurihara Komaki and Shochiku Film Company. One of them is that the Japanese remake of "The Ring" will be released during the Obon Festival, also known as the Ghost Festival, in August.

Another thing is that this year marks the 30th anniversary of cultural exchanges between the two countries. Kurihara Komaki, Matsuzaka Keiko and others will visit China with the Japanese Haiyuza Theater Company.

"Time flies so fast."

Gong Xing couldn't help but sigh.

"you do not say."

Fang Yan glanced at his watch and said, "It's almost time. We should leave for New Year's greetings. We have to catch a flight in the evening."

"I've already divided up the things that should be given to whom. Please take them all into the car."

Gong Xing followed the dialect and went from house to house to wish Shen Shuang, Zhang Guangnian, Wang Zengqi, Ding Ling, Wang Meng and others a happy new year.

The time agreed with Wan Jiabao was 10:, and they both rang the doorbell on time.

Wan Fang opened the door with enthusiasm, "Happy New Year!"

Fang Yan and Gong Xing said in unison: "Happy New Year."

Wan Fang smiled and said, "Come in, come in, Dad has already made tea and is waiting for you."

The atmosphere in the living room quickly became lively. Wan Fang and Gong Xing were whispering to each other, glancing at Fang Yan and Wan Jiabao from time to time.

After a brief greeting, Fangyan started talking seriously about the Cultural and Educational Foundation's sponsorship of the National Awards for Outstanding Drama, Opera and Opera Scripts. He told the whole story, from the gambling king's charity gala to the "one dollar charity donation" by Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest.

"This is a good thing!"

Wan Jiabao's tone was filled with joy, and he praised generously.

Fang Yan took a sip of tea and said, "No, no, you are too kind."

"You always bring me surprises."

Wan Jiabao smiled and said, "Perhaps you don't know yet, but the foundation you founded previously donated heavily to the Mao Dun Literature Prize, which made many comrades in the literary and art circles want to ask you for sponsorship. However, due to various circumstances, no one was embarrassed to ask you first."

Fangyan took the initiative to offer a step forward: "Civilization is a whole. Material civilization and spiritual civilization are two sides of the same coin and neither is indispensable."

"Yes, in addition to spiritual honor, material incentives are also indispensable. Since the Mao Dun Literature Prize has received your donation, and there is also the 'International Writing' literary exchange project, more and more writers in the literary world are beginning to pay attention to and invest in the creation of novels."

Wan Jiabao's eyes were full of appreciation and satisfaction.

Dialects say that drama and spoken drama are about to usher in a period of flourishing vitality.

"I hope so."

Wan Jiabao sighed, and then mentioned the visit of the Japanese Haiyuza Theater Company to China this year, where they exchanged new plays and performed dramas.

Hearing this, Gong Wei lowered his voice and asked, "What is the new play?"

"New drama is our Chinese drama." Wan Fang explained that during the Republic of China period, a large-scale reform movement occurred in the field of opera, which absorbed elements of European drama and Japanese new schools. In order to distinguish it from traditional opera, it was called "new drama", or "civilized drama."

Gong Xing suddenly understood that the drama repertoires that had been exchanged before were basically "Thunderstorm", "Longxugou", "Tea House", etc. Although they are classics enough, they can't always be like this. Therefore, the drama industry has been constantly innovating and launching several modern dramas that can hold up the stage.

However, up to now, the only plays that can be shown off for international exchange are the "Shang Yang" plays.

Precisely because the production of well-received and commercially successful dramas is not high, the People's Art Theatre is faced with the dilemma of having no good plays to perform. The attendance rate has been greatly affected, and the business situation has become problematic. Therefore, there is an urgent need for one or two dramas that can both demonstrate the strength and style of the People's Art Theatre and be commercially successful.

"I discussed this with Shizhi, Tianye, and some other comrades from the People's Art Theatre."

Wan Jiabao said: "It would be best if we could write a new play before the visiting delegation arrives. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Wan Fang said, "Dad has been troubled by this matter for a long time. He even had a restless New Year."

"I'm old." Wan Jiabao said self-deprecatingly, "I may have had some talent when I was young, but now I'm afraid it has been exhausted. It's like the dregs of a medicine that has been boiled dry. How can it still have any medicinal properties? How can it compare to the six or seven o'clock sun like you?"

Fang Yan, Gong Xian and Wan Fang looked at each other and said, "You are really embarrassing us by saying that."

Wan Jiabao gave him an encouraging look, "The Yangtze River's waves behind push the waves ahead. We, the waves ahead, are destined to be overtaken by you, the waves behind. Judging from your current achievements, even if you don't achieve that, you're not far off."

Fangyan rubbed the wall of the cup with his hand and fell into long thought. French musicals like "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" were the first to be excluded.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Donkeys Get Water? Although it can be regarded as a good and exciting black comedy, it is not a milestone in the drama world.

Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land? I wonder if it has already been performed in Taiwan. It is possible that they will bump into each other, which would be a big problem.

"The Grand Cicada Gate" is quite suitable for being written into a drama, but Guo Baochang has not yet finished writing the script, so he has no idea where to start. In fact, if "Song Ci, Chief Inspector of the Song Dynasty" and "Farewell My Concubine" were not too long, making the adaptation difficult and time-consuming, they would be the best choices.

"It's okay, take your time, there's no rush."

Wan Jiabao personally refilled his cup with tea and said, "Don't leave at noon. Come have lunch with us."

Wan Fang patted Gong Xian's hand and said with a smile: "Dad knew you were coming to pay New Year's greetings, so he asked me to book a private room at Quanjude."

"Quanjude?!"

Fangyan's eyes lit up instantly.

"what happened?"

Gong Xing and Wan Fang looked at each other, full of confusion.

Facing Wan Jiabao's puzzled look, Fang Yan smiled confidently: "Sir, why don't we just write 'Quanjude'?"

Wan Jiabao said with great interest: "Tell me more about your ideas."

Fang Yan grinned and said, "Sir and Sister Fang have lived in Yanjing for a long time, so you must have heard of the origin of Quanjude, right?"

Seeing that he was keeping the secret, Wan Fang and Gong Xing rolled their eyes in annoyance, feeling anxious. But Wan Jiabao kept his composure and spoke concisely about Quanjude, saying that it had a history of 1864 years since its establishment in 122, but if you trace it back further, it was even longer.

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, a "Dejuquan" dried and fresh fruit shop originally located in the front gate of Old Yanjing was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Yang Quanren, who sold live chickens and ducks, bought the store and reversed the three characters of the old name to create a new name "Quanjude".

Then, the famous chef Master Sun was hired to take charge of the kitchen and introduced the imperial delicacy "hanging oven roast duck" to the public. After continuous development and improvement, Quanjude's roast duck gradually gained the reputation of "Among the delicacies of the capital, the best is duck". Coupled with the "whole duck banquet", "duck treasure series", and more than a hundred innovative special dishes, it gained the reputation of "the best restaurant in the world".

"Sir, I plan to write a story about the rise of Quanjude and write "The Best Restaurant in the World"!"

Fangyan looked around and spoke in a firm tone. (End of this chapter)